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MORGAN, MM?BRDIN
INDI^]^^^.
Historical and Biographical.
CHARLES ^LANCHARD, Editor.
CHICAGO:
F. A. BATTEY & CO., PUBLLSHERS.
1884.
F. W. Teeple.
PREFACE.
CV rr^HIS volume goes forth to our patx'ons the result of months of arduous,
I unremitting and conscientious labor. None so well know as those
who have been associated with us the almost insurmountable difficulties to
Y be met with in the preparation of a work of this character. Since the in-
^ auguration of the enterprise, a large force has been employed in gathering
T^material. During this time, most of the citizens of the three counties have
s^ J been called upon to contribute from their recollections, carefully preserved
\\<Sletters, scraps of manuscript, printed fragments, memoranda, etc. Public
N,*^ records and semi-official documents have been searched, the newspaper files
of the counties have been overhauled, and former citizens, now living out
of the counties, have been corresponded with, for the verification of the in-
formation by a conference with many. In gathering from these numerous
sources, both for the historical and biographical departments, the conflict-
ing statements, the discrepancies and the fallible and incomplete nature of
public documents, were almost apjDalling to our historians and biographers,
who were expected to weave therefrom with some degree of accuracy, in
panoramic review, a record of events. Members of the same families disagree
as to the spelling of the family name, contradict each other's statements as
to dates of birth, of settlement in the counties, nativity and other matters
of fact. In this entangled condition, we have given preference to the
preponderance of authority, and while we acknowledge the existence
of errors and our inability to furnish a perfect history, we claim to
have come up to the standard of our promises, and given as acciu-ate a
work as the nature of the suiToundings would permit. Whatever may be
the verdict of those who do not and ivill not comprehend the difficulties to
be met with, we feel assured that all just and thoughtful people will appre-
ciate our efiforts, and recognize the importance of the undertaking and the
great public benefit that has been accomplished in preserving the valuable
historical matter of the counties and biographies of many of their citizens,
that perhaps would otherwise have passed into oblivion. To those who have
given us their support and encouragement, we acknowledge our gratitude,
and can assure them that as years go by the book will grow in value as a
repository not only of pleasing reading matter, but of treasured information
of the past that will become an enduring monument.
April, 1884. THE PUBLISHERS,
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Introductoky Chapter
Act of Formation
Agricultural Society, First
Agricultural Society, Second
Anti-Slavery Movement
Associate Judges
Attorneys, Resident
Auditors
Auditor's Report May 31, 1883
Circuit Court, First
Circuit Court, Second
Circuit Court, Third
Circuit Court, Subsequent Terms of..
Clerks
Commissioners, County
Common Pleas Court, First
Common Pleas Judges
Coroners
County Before Its Creation
County Justices, First Session of
Court Houses
Early Settlers ,
Election Returns November. 1844
Election Returns November, 1856
Election Returns November, 1860
Election Returns November, 1868
Election Returns November, 1872
Election Returns November, 1876
Election Returns November, 1880
• Indebtedness, County
Indian Cession Treaty
Jails
Justices, County
Justices of the Peace, Early
Land Survey
Legal Cases, Important
Library, County
Medical Societies, County
Old Settlers' Association
Organization of the County
Paupers, County ".
Physical Features
Politics, County ,
Population of the County
President Judges of Circuit Court....
Press, The County
Probate Court, First
Probate Judges..
Railroads
Recorders
Roads, Common and Graveled.
Seminary, County
Statistical Items 44
Superintendents, County 39
Surveyors 38
Temperance Work 48
Treasurers, County 38
Treasurers' Accounts 41
Treasurer's Report, 1851 23
Military History 50
Bounty and Relief. 70
Calls for Volunteers 73
Call for Volunteers, Last 67
Calls and Enlistments 64
Capt. Scott's Company 57
Companies for the War 57
Death of Lincoln.
Disloyalty During the War
Draft of October, 1862
Draft of September 21, 1864
Enlistments in Winter of 1862-63
Enlistments in 1864 — Continued.
Enlistments, Renewed
Fall of Fort Sumter...
Fall of Pviehmond
Fourth of July, 1862
Fourth of July, 186.3
Gen. Morgan's Raid
Home Guards
Home Traitors
Martinsville Ritles '.—
Mexican War, The
Military Spirit
Militia System, The Old
Militia, The
Opening Scenes of the Great Rebellion
Pensioners, List of
Presidential and Gubernatorial Campaign
of 1864
Reception of Veterans
Return of Morgan County Boys
Roll of Honor
Troops Furnished, Summary of.
War Meetings 38, 52, 55,58,
Washington Township
Martinsville ^
Banking Enterprises
Development of the Town
'\ Donations ^nd^Sales of Lots
"^ Educat
Fir>*^nd Subsequent Buildings,
corporation
and Entries.
Manufacturing Interests.
Officers of the Corporation.
Population
Pork and Grain Trade
Present Business
Race Track, The Old
Religion
Secret Societies
Settlement, First
Town Treasurer's Report, 1863
Treasurer's Report, 1883
Brown Township
mooresville
Banking Business
Bear Stories
Business Enterprises
Business Pursuits, Present
Incorporation
Industrial Development and Incidents.
Industrial Pursuits ;
Mercantile Trade
Pioneers
Plat of Village
Pork Packing
Re igious Development
Reminiscences
Samuel Moore
Schools
Secret Societies
Snake Story
Jackson Township
Morgantown
Business Pursuits
Distilleries
Education
Entry of Land
Incid'ents of the Chase
Manufactories
Mills
Poll-Tax Payers, 1842
Religious Classes
Reminiscences and Notes
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Clay Township 119
Barnes Family, The 119
Brooklyn 121
CentertOD 123
Early Settlers IIU
Modern Brooklyn 122
Preachers 124
Teachers 124
Monroe Township 125
Business Interests of Monrovia 127
Christian Organizations 129
Monrovia, Town of 126
Pioneers, The 12.5
Poll-Tax Payers of 1842 126
Schools of Monroe 127
Underground Railroad, The 129
Harrison Township 131
Bluffs, The 133
Churches 136
Farm, The First 1.32
Incidents 132
Port Royal 133
Schools 136
Settler, First of the County 131
Settlers, Additional Early 133
Treaty with the Delawares.. , 131
Waverly Village 1.35
Waverly in Late Years 136
Ray Township 137
Butler Creek Settlement 137
Churches 141
Incidents and Improvements 130
Paragon Village 140
Poll Tax Payers of 1842 1.30
Schools 141
Adams Township 142
Churches 144
Eminence Village 145
Natural Resources 142
Schools 144
Settlement, Early 142
Jefferson Township 146
Hyndsdale Village 149
Lamb's Bottom 146
Poll Tax Payers of 1842 148
Religious Organizations 149
Schools 149
Settlement— Continued 148
Ashland Township 1.50
Alaska Village 153
Church Organizations, Early 153
Formation and Boundary....' 150
Manufactures 152
Pioneer Incidents 151
Poll Tax Payers 151
page.
Schools and Schoolhouses 152
Settlement, Early 150
Gregg Township 154
Education 1.57
Poll-Tax List of 1842 1.56
Religion 157
Settlement, Later 1.55
Villages 156
White Men, First 1.54
Madison Township 1.58
Churches 161
Incidents and Pioneer Customs 159
Pioneer, The First 158
Schools 161
Settlers, Early 1.58
Wild Animals 160
Green Township 162
Cleveland Village 167
Cope Village 168
Delawares, The 166
Educational Interests 166
Hunting Exploits 164
Milling Interests 164
Mysterious Death 166
Poll T«x Payers of 1842 163
Religious Interests 167
Settlement, First 162
Settlement— Continued 163
Wounded Deer, The 165
Bakee Township 168
Education 169
Evilsizer Family, The 168
Facilities for Worship 170
Poll-Tax Payers of 1842 169
Settlers, Permanent 169
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Adams Township 294
Ashland Township 334
Baker Township 363
Brown Township 217
Clay Township 260
Green Township 358
Gregg Township 342
Harrison Township 282
Jackson Township 245
Jefferson Township .326
Madison Township .3.52
Martinsville 171
Monroe Township 270
Mooresvllle 217
Morgantown 245
Ray Township 283
Washington Township 171
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Settlement, Organization, etc 371
Actof Formation 373
Agricultural Fair, Rules, Judges, etc 395
Agricultural Societies .391
Agricultural Society's Premium List .392
Associate Judges 406
Auditors, County 405
Auditor's Report 411
Circuit Court, First 376
Circuit Court Judges 406
Clerks, County 405
Commissioners, County 404
Condition of School Lands in 1846 412
Coroners, County 406
County Commissioners' Meetings .374
County Politics 384
County Poor 389
Entries of Lands, Fir-st .372
Erection of Townships 378
Free Public School Vote 407
Indian Cession Treaties 372
Indian Occupancy 371
Justices of the Peace, Early 404
Library, County 400
Old Settlers' Meetings 397
Old Settlers' Meeting Minutes .399
Old Settlers' Roll of Honor 399
Population of County .376
Presidential Electors, 1840 $85
Presidenti;il Electors, 1S44 386
Presidential Kk-ctors, 1856 386
Presidential Electors, isiio .. 386
Presidential Elettnr-, I^tU 387
Presidential Electors, is72 388
Presidential Electors, 1876 388
Presidential Electors, 1880 388
Press, County 401
Probate Court, First 377
Probate Judges 406
Prosecuting Attorneys 407
Public Buildings 382
Recapitulation of Taxes, 188.3 411
Receipts and Expenditures, County 407
Recorders, County 405
School Districts in 1882 413
School Enumeration, etc., in 1881 412
School Examiners and Superintendents 407
Seminary, County 401
Seminary Trustees 406
Sheriffs, County 405
Survey of Lands, First 372
Surveyors, County 406
Territory Attached to the County 381
Treasurers, County 405
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Military History 413
Adjutant General's Exhibit April 14, 1865.... 43;i
Attairs Preceding the Fall of Sumter 414
Army Correspondence 421
Assassination of Lincoln 438
Calls for Volunteers, Kew 428
Call for Troops, October, 1S63 429
Call of July, 1864 431
Call for Volunteers, Last 432
Capture of Richmond 438
Cavalry, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth 449
Closing Scenes of the Rebellion 439
Curious Editorial 427
Draft of October 6, 1862 424
Draft of October, 1864 431
Draft Statistics , 423
Enlistments 416, 424
Fourth of July, 1864 430
Gen Morgan 428
Infantry, Fourteenth 447
Infantry, Eighteenth 447
Infantry, Twenty-second 448
Infantry, Thirty-first 448
Infantry, Thirty-eighth 448
- Infantry, Fiftieth 44a
Infantry, Eighty-second 449
Infantry, Ninety-third 449
Infantry, One Hundred and Forty-fifth 450
Lee's Surrender 438
Letter from Murfreesboro 425
Meetings, War and Other 414,416,420, 426
Mexican War, The 413
Militia, County 413
Miscellaneous Incidents 434, 437
Oif for the War 416
Opening Scenes of the Rebellion 415
One Hundred Days' Men 430
Pension Roll 445
Political Campaigns of 1864 437
Recruiting 420
Relief and Bounty 440
Resistance to Military Law 427
Roll of Honor 447
Roll of Honor, Miscellaneous 450
Summary of Troops Furnished 434
Suspension of Active Work 425 ,
Volunteers, Infantry 416, 417
Volunteers, Cavalry 419
Volunteers, New Companies 422
Bloomington To^\^^[SHIP and City 451
Anecdotes 457
Artesian Well 468
Banking 469
Bloomington Factory 460
Bloomington Female College 475
Bloomington Mills 460
Bonded Indebtedness, 1877 467
Business Men, Early 457
Business Men, Present 462
Buyers of Lots 454
Churches of Bloomington 479
Corporation Meeting, August, 1858 465
Incorporation, First 463
Incorporation, Second 463
Incorporation of 1S59 466
Incorporation, City 467
Indiana College 477
Indiana State University 476
Industries 458
Land Entries, First 451
Merchants, Early 458
Merchants of the Sixties 462
Model School, The 475
Monroe County Female Seminary 472
Municipal Government, The 464
New Albany Railroad 461
Platting of the Village 453
Prices Current for 1858 462
Residents, Early 451
Resident, First 452
Schools of Bloomington 470
Secret Societies 469
Shinplasters 461
State University, The 478
Townsmen, Early 454
Town in 1830-40 458
Town in 1840-50 459
Town in 1850-60 460
PAGE.
Perry Township 481
C'hurches 485
Land Purchasers 483
Organization 484
Schools 485
"Seminary Township," The 482
Soil 481
Tax Payers of 1841 484
Timber 481
Bean Blossom Township 486
Anecdotes 488
Churches 494
Geology 486
Mt. Tabor 490
Poll Tax Payers of 1841 489
Schools 493
Settlement 487
Stinesville 492
Surface Features 486
Richland Township 494
Business Industries of Ellettsville 505
Churches 506
Earth .Structure „... 494
Ellettsville 503
Geological Tables 495
Incidents 500
Incorporation of Ellettsville 504
Narrative of James Parks, Sr 497
Poll-Tax Pavers of 1841 502
Richland Village 503
Schools 505
Settlement 496
Van Buren Township 507
Blue Spring Community 513
Growth and Development 509
Introduction 507
Land Entries _. 508
Morals, Township '. 511
Poll-Tax Payers of 1841 510
Schools 512
Settlement 508
Soil 507
Stanford Village 510
Stone 507
Timber 507
Indian Creek Township 514
Churches 518
Families. The First 515
Geological Structure 514
Government Land Entries 514
Milling Enterprises 515
' Poll Tax Payers 5I6
Schools 517
Villages 5I8
Virginia Iron Works, The 515
Clear Creek Township 519
Churches 526
Geological Formation 519
Land Holders 521
Poll Tax Payers of 1841 522
Schools 525
Settler, The First 521
Villages 523
Washington Township 527
Churches 530
Description 527
Education 530
Hindostan Village 5.31
Land Buyers 528
Soil 527
Tax Payers of 1841 529
Timber 527
Wayport 531
Benton Township 531
Cox Tragedy, The 535
Geology 531
Poll Tax Payers of 1841 533
Religious Classes 534
Schools 533
Soil 531
Timber 531
Unionville 535
White Settlement, The ,532
Salt Creek Township 5.36
Churches.... ,540
Friendship Village 540
Land Entries ,537
Natural Features 536
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Poll-Tax Payers of 1841 537
Public Sohools 538
Saltworks • 536
Polk Township 540
Chapel Hill Village 544
Churches 543
Counterfeiters 543
Elections, First 544
Land Buyers, Early 541
Origin of Name 540
Residents of 1842 542
Schools 543
Marion Township 545
Churches 547
Creology 545
Physical Description 545
PAGE.
Schools 547
Settlement 545
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Bean Blossom Township 612
Benton Township 666
Bloomington City 549
Bloomington Township 549
Clear Cieek Township 658
Indian Creek Township 653
Marion Township 674
Perrv Township 602
Richland Township,.... 628
Salt.Creek Township 670
Van Buren Township 642
Washington Township 665
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Introductory Chapter
Auditors
Church Statistics
Circuit Court, First
Clerks, County
Common Pleas Court, First
Coroners
County Buildings
f'reatibn of Townships
Election, P'irst County
Election Returns
Finances, Statement of
Indian Cession Treaties
Initiatory Legislative Enactments....
Items of Interest, Miscellaneous
Judges, Associate
Judges, Circuit
Judges, Common Pleas
Judges, Probate
Justices and Commissioners
Library, County
Medical Society, County
Meeting of the County Board, First.,
Old Settlers' Association
Paupers, County
Physicians, List of
Politics, County
Population
Press, The County
Probate Courts, First ,.
Recorders
School Commissioners, etc
School 1^'unds, Origin of
School Statistics
Seminary, County
Sherirts
Surveyors
Taxes for 1883
Treasurers
Treasurers' Reports
Military History
Bounty, Relief, etc
Calls for Troops
County in 18G3
County in 1864
Draft of October, 1862
Drafts of 1864-65
Enlistment in 1862
Enlistment Tables..
690
695
700
703
712
713
709
710
709
711
708
711
Fall of Fort Sumter 707
Infantry, Twenty-second 713
Infantry, Eighty-second 714
Infantry, One Hundred and Twentieth 714
Infantry, One Hundred and Forty-fifth 714
Mexican War, The 703
Militia Organizations 703
Number of Men Furnished 712
Pension Roll 715
Political Feeling in 1860-61 705
Roll of Honor 713
Volunteers 708
Washington Township 717
Altitudes, Table of. 718
Banking at Nashville 730
Census of 1872 727
Churches 731
Civil Division 719
Hedgesville 723
Incidents 722
Incorporation of County Seat 727
Industries 726
Jacksonburg 723
Land Entries 720-725
Minerals 717
Nashville 723
Oil 717
Organization 719
Poll Tax Payers of 1848 721
Salt 717
Schools 730
Secret Societies 729
Settlers, Early 720
Jackson Township 732
Churches 738
Drainage, etc 734
Formation of Township 7.34
Georgetown 737
Gold Depo.sits '. 732
Historical Items 737
Horse Races 738
Needmore 738
Poll-Tax Payers of 1848 738
Schools 738
Settlements, The First 735
Hamblen Township 739
Churches 744
Entries of Land 741
Incidents 743
Industries 743
Natural Wealth 739
Poll-Tax Payers of 1848 745
Schools 744
Villages 744
White Settlement , 740
Van Buren Township 746
Churches 749
Land Entries 748
Officers 747
Organization 747
Poll Tax Payers of 1848 748
Rocks 746
Schools 749
Settlement by White men 746
Streams 746
Timber 746
Villages 749
Johnson Township 751
Elkinsville 753
Era of Settlement 751
Incidents and Notes 753
Land Entries 752
Poll-Tax Payers of 1848 752
Surface and Soil 751
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Hamblen Township 785
Jackson Towu.ship 773
Johnson Townsliip 799
Nashville 753
Van Buren Township 795
Washington Township 753
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.
DESCRIPTION, ORGANIZATION, ETC
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
THE county of Morgan is in many respects one of the most favora-
bly located tracts of country in the State of Indiana. It is within
an hour's ride of the State capital, and is bounded on the north by Hen-
dricks and Marion Counties, on the east by Johnson, on the south by
Brown and Monroe, and on the west by Owen and Putnam. The county
contains 450 square miles, or 291,800 acres, and is watered by the West
Fork of White River, and by its branches. White Lick Creek, Mud
Creek, Big Indian Creek, Stott's Creek, Clear Creek, Burnett's Creek,
Rhodes' Creek, Mill Creek, and by other smaller streams. The valleys
are extremely fertile, and produce annually large crops of grain. The
numerous bluflfs along the principal water-courses are suitable for grazing.
There is an abundance of timber, consisting of poplar, walnut, white oak,
hickory, beech, maple and other varieties. An abundance of excellent
building stone is' found, and is near the surface and easily obtained. Na-
tive gold and copper have been found in small quantities. The sanitary
conditions are very favorable, as the porosity of the soil and the rolling
character of the surface prevent the development of malaria.
THE INDIAN CESSION TREATY.
The county was formerly the undisputed home of the Miami tribe of
Indians. Here they had lived for an indeterminate period of years,
unmolested by the whites. The earlier race, known as Mound-Builders,
so far as can be learned, left no traces of their presence in the county.
The case is different with the Indians. They were here when our fathers
came, and mingled freely with the white men. The rapid settlement of
the State after the war of 1812-15, and especially after the battle of
Tippecanoe in 1811, when the power of the Indians was completely
crushed, led to numerous treaties, whereby the Indians ceded to the Gov-
ernment various tracts of land, and retired toward the setting sun. The
Delawares, many years before, had obtained from the Miamis a large
tract of land in Central Indiana. In October, 1818, at St. Mary's,
Ohio, the Miamis and Delawares ceded to the United States a large tract
of land in Central and Southern Indiana, including the present county
of Morgan, except a small portion in the southwestern part, which had
been relinquished at an earlier date. This was scarcely done before the
white settlers began to invade the present county in search of homes, and
the survey of the lands was commenced.
12 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
THE LAND SURVEY AND THE EARLY ENTRIES.
Township 11 north, Range 2 west, which had been ceded by the In-
dians prior to 1816, was surveyed in that year by William Harris, and
was therefore the first land ' ohe county measured by a surveyer's chain
and compass. It was re-sarveyed by Thomas Brown in 1819. Township
11 north. Range 2 east, was surveyed in 1820, by B. Bentley; Township
12 north. Range 2 east, in 1820, by B, Bentley; Township 13 north,
Range 2 east, in 1820, by B. Bentley; Township 14 north, Range 2 east,
in 1820, by W. B. Laughlin ; Township 11 north. Range 1 east, in 1819,
by Thomas Brown ; Township 12 north. Range 1 east, in 1819, by
Thomas. Brown; Township 13 north, Range 1 east, in 1819, by Thomas
Brown ; Township 14 north. Range 1 east, in 1820, by Stephen Collett ;
Township 11 north. Range 1 west, in 1819, by Thomas Brown, and in
1848 (the islands) by A. E. Van Ness ; Township 12 north, Range 1
west, in 1819, by Thomas Brown ; Township 13 north. Range 1 west, in
1819, by John Milroy; Township 11 north. Range 2 west, in 1816, by
William Harris, and in 1819 by Thomas Brown ; Township 12 north.
Range 2 west, in 1819, by John Milroy; Township 13 north, Range 2
west, in 1819, by John Milroy. The date of the arrival of the first set-
tlers cannot be given, though it was probably 1818. Ten or fifteen fami-
lies arrived in 1819, and many more in 1820. All who came prior to
September 4, 1820, and, indeed, many who came after that date, were
" squatters," not owning the land upon which they lived until they
had taken out pre-emption papers under the ordinance of 1787, and
later Congressional enactments granting and modifying the right. It is
estimated that sixty or seventy families were living in the county on the
1st day of January, 1821. On the 4th of September, 1820, the lands
of the county were formally thrown into market for the first time. Those
who had come in previously hastened to the land office at Brookville, and
entered the claims they had squatted upon or pre-empted, and many
others, who had not yet been in the county, came in search of homes.
Perhaps two-thirds of the early settlers were from the Southern States,
mostly from Kentucky, but largely from Tennessee, Virginia and the
Carolinas. The following persons entered land in the county in the year
1820, after the 4th of September, in the township and range given with
each name : Philip Hodges, Township 11 north. Range 1 east ; Joseph
Townsend, same ; George Mathews, same ; Benjamin Freeland, same ;
Benjamin Huffman, same; John Case, same; Jacob Cutler, same; Jacob
Lafavre, same ; John Gray, same ; Joshua Taylor, same ; Joshua Gray,
same ; Thomas Jenkins, same ; Chester Holbrook, same ; Jacob Case,
same ; John Reed, same ; Nancy Smith, same ; Isaac Ilollingsworth,
same ; Presley Buckner, same. All these located in Township 11 north,
Range 1 east. The following persons entered land in 1820, after Sep-
tember 4, in Township 12 north. Range 1 east : John Butterfield, David
Matlock, Enoch McCarty, Benjamin McCarty, Jonathan Lyon, Martin
McCoy, Samuel Elliott, Jonathan Williams, Devalt Koons, John Connor,
Andrew Waymore, Larkin Reynolds, Thomas Jenkins, Joel Ferguson,
Reuben Most, John Graves. The following entered land at the same
time in Township 13 north, Range 1 east : Francis Brock, William
Ballard, Thomas Lee, Charles Vertreese, James Hadley, Eli Hadley,
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 13
William Rooker, Charles Reynolds, Isaiah Drury and Benjamin Barnes.
William Pounds located in Township 14 north, Range 1 east, same
time, i. e., horn September 4, 1820, to the close of the year. The fol-
lowing persons entered land during the same/inod in Township 11 north,
Range 1 west : James K. Hamilton, John Burnett, Samuel Newell, Fred
Barkhart, Daniel Stout, John Kennedy, Rice Stroud, Isom Stroud, An-
thony Vernon, Presley Buckner and Thomas Hodges. The above per-
sons, numbering fifty-four, were the only ones who entered land in the
county in 1820.
The following persons entered land in the year 1821 : Samuel Scott,
James Clark, Jacob Cutler, Thomas Hadley, Henry H. Hobbs,
Charles Reynolds, George Mathews, Jonathan Lyon, W. W. Drew,
Elisha Hamden, Thomas Irons, James Stott, Jonathan Williams,
John Hodges, John Butterfield, James L. Kidds, Edward Irons, David
Allen, Jacob Chase, John Marker, Edward Jones, Jacob Case, Joseph
Henshaw, Abner Cox, David Matlock, Thomas Dee, Joseph Frazier,
William McDowell, Samuel Jones, Thomas Beeler, John Leavell, Jesse
McCoy, Christopher Ladd, Joseph Bennett, Samuel Blair, David Price,
Joseph Sims, John Hamilton, John Barnes, George H. Beeler, Joseph
Beeler, Benjamin Mills, Robert Stafford, William Gregory, Cyrus Whet-
zel, Jesse Tull, Henry Rout, John Paul, Thomas Ingles, Joseph Bennett,
Thomas Gardner, William Goodwin, James Burch, Ezekiel Slaughter,
John McMahon, Jacob B. Reyman, John W. Reyman, Christopher Ha-
ger, Thomas Carey, Benjamin Carey, George Moon, Samuel Dodds, Jo-
siah Tomlinson, Eli Hadley, Abner Cox, James Curl and John Sells, all
of whom located east of the Second Principal Meridian ; and David Fain,
Hiram Stroud, Thomas Hodges, Philip Hodges, Wiley Williams, Abner
Alexander, Samuel Goss, William Anderson, Joseph Ribble, James Mc-
Kinney, Thomas Thompson and Reuben F. Allen, on the west side of the
meridian.
The following persons entered land in the year 1822 : Allen Gray,
John Gray, Alexander Rowand, I. Gray, William Townsend, Josiah
Townsend, Presley Buckner, James Reynolds, Jacob Cutler, Joshua Car-
ter, Benjamin Cuthbert, Martin McDaniel, Isaiah Drury, William Bales,
Elias Hadley, Jehu Carter, Moses Anderson, William McCracken, B. F.
Beason, John H. Bray, Jesse Overman, Charles Vertreese, Jacob Jessup,
Andrew Clark, Richard Day, William Ballard, Stewart Reynolds, Eli
Mills, Isaac Price, John and Enoch Summers, Charles Ketchum, George
Crutchfield, John Martin, Levi Plummer, David E. Allen, Benjamin
Mills, Hiram Mathews, Abner Cox, William Landers, Thomas Ballard,
Harris Bray, John Kennedy, Abraham Stroud, Fred Burkhart, John
Buckner and John Mannon, all locating east of the meridian line except
the five last named. The above lists include all who entered land in the
county prior to the 1st of January, 1823. Besides these there were a
comparatively few families living in the county who owned no land. They
would probably equal in numbers those named above who never resided
in the county, so that the above lists may be taken as showing to within
a close figure the population of the county at that time. Probably 170
families resided in the county by January 1, 1823. This would repre-
sent a population of about 800.
14 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
THE COUNTY BEFORE ITS CREATION.
The territory comprising Morgan County was a portion of that exten-
sive tract of country secured by cession from the Delaware and Miami
Indians in 1818, and known as the " New Purchase." The next legal
provision concerning the territory composing the county was an act of the
State Legislature approved January 20, 1820, the second section of the
act being as follows :
Section 3. That all the remaining part of the said New Purchase lying east of
the Second Principal Meridian, except so much of it as has been attached to the
counties of Fayette, Jackson and Wayne by former laws, and except so much of it
as is attached by the first section of this act to the counties named therein, be, and
the same is hereby formed into a new county, to be known bj' the name of Dela-
ware; and all that part of the said New Purchase lying west of the Second Priuci-
pal Meridian be and the same is hereby formed into a new county, to be known by
the name of Wabash.
This act made all of the present Morgan County east of the meridian
line a part of Delaware County, and all west of that line a part of Wa-
bash County. The first elections held in the county were before its crea-
tion, and after the passage of the above act, or during the years 1820 and
1821, and the returns went to the county seats of Delaware and Wabash
Counties respectively. It is impossible to tell where they are now, as
those counties then were widely diiferent in size, form and location from
what they are at present. In 1821, the rapid settlement of the territory
composing the county made it apparent to the settlers that a new county
ought to be created for their benefit, and accordingly at the session of the
Legislature of 1821-22 a petition from the residents was formally pre-
sented, praying that such an enactment might be passed. Accordingly,
the following act was introduced, passed, and approved by the Governor :
An Act for the Formation op a New County out of the Counties of Delaware
AND Wabash:
Section 1. Be it enacted hy the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That
from and after the fifteenth day of February next, all that part of the counties of
Delaware and Wabash contained within the following boundaries, to wit : Begin-
ning on the township line dividing Townships 10 and 11 north, where the line divid-
ing Ranges 2 and 3 east cross the same ; thence west to the center of Range 2 west,
of^the Second Principal Meridian ; thence north nine miles ; thence west tliree miles
to the line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 west ; thence north eleven miles to the corners
of Sections 19 and 20 ; thence east with said line twenty-four miles to the line divid-
ing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence south to the place of beginning, shall constitute and
form a new county, to be designated and known by the name and style of the county
of Morgan.
Sec. 2. That James Borland, of Monroe County ; Thomas Beazel3^ of Lawrence
County ; Phillip Hart, of Owen County ; John Martin, of Washington County, and
James Milroy, of Washington County, be and they are hereby appointed Commis-
sioners for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice for the said new
county agreeably tt) the provisions of an act entitled "An act fixing the seat of
justice of new counties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners above named,
or a majority of them, shall convene at the house of John Gray, in said new county,
on the first day of March next, and then proceed to discharge the duties assigned
them by law.
Sec 3. That the said new county of Morgan shall enjoy the rights, privileges
and jurisdictions which to separate counties do or may properly belong.
Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Monroe County to notify the Com-
missioners above named, either in person or by written notification, of their said
appointment, and the Commissioners of the county of Morgan shall allow tuem any
sum of money that they may deem just and equitable, who are hereby authorized
to allow the same out of any moneys in the county treasury in the same manner
other claims are paid.
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 15
Sec. 5. The Circuit and otlier courts of the county of Morgan shall be holden at
the house of Jacob Cutler, or at any other place the court may adjourn to in said
county, until suitable accommodation can be had at the county seat ; and so soon as
the courts of said county are satisfied that suitable accommodations can be had at
the seat of justice, they shall adjourn their courts to such place in said county as
shall be tixed on by said Commissioners for the seat of justice of said county, estab-
lished as directed by this act.
Sec. 6. The agent, Avho shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the
county seat of the said county of Morgan, shall reserve ten per centum out of the
proceeds thereof, and also of all donations to the said county, and pay the same over
to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to receive the -same for the
use of a library for said county, which he shall pay over at such time or times as
may be directed by law.
This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved December 31, 1821.
Samuel Milrot,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Jonathan Jennings, Ratlipp Boon,
Oovernor. President of the Senate.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
On the 1st of January, 1822, James Bigger was commissioned Sheriff
of the new county by the Governor, and empowered to call an election
for four Justices of the Peace, one Clerk and Recorder, and two Associate
Judges; but as he failed, in some manner, to do as directed, his commis-
sion was dropped or revoked, and Benjamin Cutler was commissioned on
the 16th of January, 1822, to take his place and call the necessary elec-
tion. This election was held early in 1822, with the following result:
Justices of the Peace — Larkin Reynolds, Samuel Reed, James Burris and
Hiram Mathews, all four of whom received commissions from the Gov-
ernor, dated May 22, 1822 ; Clerk and Recorder — George H. Beeler ;
Associate Judges — Jacob Cutler and John Gray, who were commissioned
March 18,1822.
FIRST SESSION OF THE COUNTY JUSTICES.
Prior to the year 1831, the County Board (now the three County Com-
missioners) comprised all the Justices of the Peace in the county. The first
County Board was the Justices elected as stated above. They met at the
house of Jacob Cutler, early in June, 1822, for the transaction of busi-
ness. One of the first acts was to divide the county into townships, and
order an election held in each for the necessary oflScers. The number of
townships erected at this time was four — Washington, Monroe, Ray and
Harrison. James Shields was appointed Treasurer of the county, and
Charles Beeler, Surveyor. The report of the Commissioners appointed
by the Legislature to locate the county seat, was presented to the board
at their first session, and formally accepted, and the Commissioners were
paid and discharged. Nothing further can be stated regarding the early
acts of the County Board, owing to the destruction of the records by fire
a few years ago. This loss was a great misfortune to the county.
THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT.
The first session of the Morgan County Circuit Court was beg un at
the house of Jacob Cutler, on the 25th of March, 1822, with Judge Will-
iam W. Wick in the chair. He presented his commission from Gov.
16 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Jennings constituting him President Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit,
for the period of seven years from January, 1822. On this commission
was the following indorsement :
State of Indiana, Third Judicial Circuit.
Be it remembered, that on the 12th day of February, A. D. 1822, personally
appeared before me. Miles C. Eggleston, President Judge of the circuit aforesaid,
the within named William W. Wick, who being duly sworn according to law, took
the following oaths, to wit : That he will supJDort the Constitution of the United
States, and of the State of Indiana; and that he will, to the best of his ability and
judgment, discharge the duties of his office as President Judge of the Fifth Judicial
Circuit of the State aforesaid faithfully; and that he has not since the 1st day of
January, 1819, either directly or indirectly, knowingly given, accepted or carried a
challenge to any person in or out of the said State, to fight in single combat with
any deadly weapon; and that he will not knowingly give, accept or_ carry a chal-
lenge to any person or persons to fight with any deadly weapon in single combat,
either in or out of the State, during' his continuance in his said office.
John Gray and Jacob Cutler produced their commissions as Associate
Judges, and George H. Beeler and Benjamin Cutler produced theirs as
Clerk and Sheriff respectively. Court was then declared open. The
first business transacted was the adoption of a seal for the court, an im-
pression of which was made on the record of the court. The next act
was to admit Hiram M. Curry, Craven P. Hester and Calvin Fletcher to
practice as attorneys at the court. The latter was appointed Prosecuting
Attorney. Larkin Reynolds add Jonathan Williams were appointed
County Commissioners to fill vacancies that had been made. Both the
Clerk and the Sheriff then gave their official bonds, with satisfactory
security, which were approved by the court. The first suit was a case in
chancery, Jacob Cutler vs. J. M. Cox. The defendant not being a resi-
dent of the State, the notice of the pendency of the suit was ordered
published four weeks in the Indianapolis G-azette, notifying him that un-
less he appeared at the next term of the court to answer, the complainant's
bill would be taken as confessed, and acted upon accordingly. The court
then adjourned.
THE SECOND CIRCUIT COURT.
This session was begun at the house of Jacob Cutler on the 23d of
September, 1822, present, John Gray and Jacob Cutler, Associate Judges.
It having been made manifest that a place for holding court had been pre-
pared at Martinsville, the new county seat, the Judges, in accordance
with the enactment for the formation and organization of Morgan County,
before proceeding to business, ordered an adjournment of the court to the
house of George H. Beeler, in the town of Martinsville. The court re-
assembled at 1 o'clock, P. M. Daniel B. Wick and James Whitcomb
were admitted to practice law at the court. The Sheriff returned the
following list of Grand Jurors : Jesse Stark, Conrad Burns, Benjamin
Hoffman, Jesse Mulhollen, Humphry Harris, Wilson Taylor, Thomas
Lee, Joshua Taylor, John Caldwell, Solomon Tucker,- James Donnard,
George Crutchfield, Eli Hadley, James Shields, William Hadley, Samuel
Scott, Sr., Thomas Reed and Isaiah Dressier. Stark, Mulhollen, Wilson
Taylor, Caldwell, Donnard and Crutchfield were not present. Samuel
Scott, Jr., and Richard Day were added to those present, and the Grand
Jury thus constituted were sworn and directed to retire under the charge
of Abraham Keedy, Bailiff. The first case at this session was William
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 17
Cooley vs. Jesse Smith, trespass vi et armis. The plaintiff was given
time to amend his declaration. The next case was the State of Indiana
vs. Edward Applegate, recognizance to keep the peace. The defendant's
•attorneys moved to quash the indictment, but after a spirited discussion
the motion was overruled, and Mr. Applegate was ordered to enter into
bonds at $100 to keep the peace toward Gideon Wells. The next case
was of the same nature, but William Pumroy was discharged from enter-
ing into bonds to keep the peace toward Brice Witcher, whose fears were
declared to be groundless. Ten cases came before the court at this session, of
the following character, in the order named : Assault and battery, recog-
nizance to keep the peace, same, chancery, same, assault and battery, pe-
tition for divorce (Rachel Morrison vs. Thomas Morrison), covenant
and assault and battery. Each Grand Juror was ordered paid 75 cents
per day, and the bailiff the same. Christopher Ladd was granted a
license to keep tavern at Port Royal. John Tiffany produced his commis-
sion as Coronor of the county, and Thomas L. Galpin, his as Sheriff.
The Grand Jury returned the following " True Bills : " Against James
Stotts, Sr., for assault and battery ; against John L. Johnston and Joel
Stroud for affray ; against Larkin Johnson and Michael Dittemore for
affray, and against George W. Preston for retailing liquor without a
license. The court then adjourned.
THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT.
This was begun at the court house in Martinsville, on the 1st day of
April, 1823, before Judge Wick, and John Gray and Jacob Cutler, Asso-
ciate Judges. Cephus D. Morris, Harvey Gregg, John Adams, Brecken-
ridge Smith, Bethuel F. Morris, Elkin Nayler and Isaac Nayler were ad-
mitted to practice law before the court. Thirty cases came before the
court at this session, the greater number being for assault and battery.
The Grand Jury returned eight " True Bills." The first Petit Jury were
summoned at this session to try the case of the State vs. G. W. Pres-
ton, for retailing liquor without a license. These men were Abner Cox,
James Linn, Isaac D. Koffman, William Gregory, Henry Pence, Joseph
Aulton, James Hadley, Thomas Reed, Jesse Rooker, Larkin Reynolds,
Humphrey Harris and William Townsend. The defendant was found
guilty, and damages were fixed at $2 and costs of suits. The plaintiff
moved an arrest or stay of judgment on such a verdict, which was
granted, and he was discharged. John Stipp was appointed to fill a va-
cancy in the Board of Commissioners. Joshua Taylor was granted a li-
cense to keep tavern. J. A. Breckenridge was appointed Prosecuting
Attorney, vice Fletcher, who was unwell. John Sims was granted a
license to keep tavern in Martinsville.
SUBSEQUENT CIRCUIT COURT ITEMS.
The October session, 1823, was held at the house of G. H. Beeler.
Judges Wick, Gray and Cutler were present. Edgar A. Wilson and
Daniel Goodwin were admitted to the bar, and Christopher Ladd was
licensed to keep tavern at Port Royal. In March, 1824, the court con-
vened at the court house. Gabriel J. Johnson and Hiram Brown
18 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
were admitted to the bar. In 1823, Edgar A. Wilson was admitted,
also Daniel Goodwin ; Hiram Burris in 1824; T. F. G. Adams,
Michael G. Bright and Philip Sweetzer, 1824 ; James Braman, Andrew
C. Griffith, W. W. Wick and Hiram Brown and Henry Hurst in 1825;
Henry P. Coburn, James Forsee, Benjamin Bull and William Herrod in
1826 ; James Morrison in 1829 ; Tilman A. Howard in 1831 ; G. F.
Waterman and W. 0. Ross, 1832; Ovid Butler, 1835; John Hutchen
and Mason Hulett in 1837 ; Harvey Brown, 1838 ; Henry Seacrest and
Algernon S. Briggs, 1839.
THE FIRST PROBATE COURT.
The first session of this court was begun at the house of George A.
Preston on the 2d of May, 1822, before Jacob Cutler and John Gray,
Associate Judges of the Circuit Court, who proceeded to appoint Jonathan
Watkins as County Commissioner to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
resignation of Larkin Reynolds. No other business was transacted at this
session.
At the September session, 1822, before the same Judges, the first bus-
iness was the issuance of a citation against Edward Applegate, guardian
of the infant heirs of Isaac HoUingsworth, deceased, commanding him to
appear on a certain day to exhibit a true inventory of all the "goods and
chattels, lands and tenements " of the deceased. Nancy Smith and John
Reed were summoned as witnesses. This court was held at the house of
Jacob Cutler. Nothing else was done until the 30th of September, when
Mr. Applegate appeared and presented the following inventory of the
goods, etc., of HoUingsworth, deceased :
" Four promissory notes, aggregating $132.75 ; four head of horses,
eight head of milk cows, two head of steers, one heifer, four yearlings,
five calves, feathers for two beds, three coverlids, five bed quilts, two
sheets, nine delf plates, pewter plates, dishes and spoons, one earthern
pitcher, one tin coffee pot, tea cups and saucers, one shovel-plow and two
hoes, a number of hogs, two metal pots, one drawer knife, one pigon and
churn, one small wheel, two weaving slays, two bells, two empty barrels,
one rifled gun, one dutch oven, two chairs, one man's saddle, seventy-
eight acres of land, one sieve, money on hand, $7, money collected from
James Stills, §11.25 ; property sold to wit : 100 pounds of pork, 663
pounds of pork, one hog sold, two sows and pigs ; property in Kentucky
as follows : One milk cow, one wagon and gears, one bed and bedding,
five counter-panes, three pillows, three sheets, one trunk, one pot, one
pigon, one ax, one tin bucket, two pewter plates, one pewter basin, one
chair; amounts due from two men, §5.50."
This inventory is given in full that all may know what constituted the
real and personal property of the old settlers. Joshua Taylor was ap-
pointed administrator of Hollingsworth's estate, and required to give bond
in the sum of §1,000 for the faithful performance of his duty. Larkin
Reynolds, Pressley Buckner and James Lang were appointed to appraise
the estate. Mr. Applegate was to support the heirs, and have the use of
the estate. This session was held at the house of G. H. Beeler in Mar-
tinsville.
In March, 1823, Thomas L. Galpin and Thomas Sailors were granted
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 19
testamentary letters as executors of the estate of Jacob Coss, deceased.
His personal estate was valued at |916.12^. And so the record goes on.
Among the estates settled up within the next few years were those of
Joseph M. Stotts, William Ballard, Isaac Overman, Conrad Burns, John
Paul, Ira Ashton, Edward Warren, William Beeson, Elijah Knight, John
Winter, Thomas Dickens, Robert Bradshaw, Ezra Wilcox, Thomas
Deakin, Benjamin Bucket, James P. Vance and John Douglass. The
first Probate Court held at the court house was in September, 1825.
Probate business Avas done by the Associate Judges of the Circuit Court
until 1829, at which time the first Probate Judge, John Matthews, took
charge of the court. In 1853, the affairs of probate were merged into
those of the Common Pleas Court, and in 1873 into the Circuit Court.
THE FIRST COMMON PLEAS COURT.
This was held before William G. Turick, Judge, beginning on the 8th
of April, 1853. The final settlement of the estate of John Sims, who had
died in 1843, and whose aff'airs had not yet been wound up, was the first
business before this court. One amount of personal property was so great
that the various inventories cover forty or fifty pages of the court records
The Common Pleas, which included probate matters, was a separate court
until 1873, when it was merged into the Circuit Court, and has thus re-
mained until the present (1883).
COUNTY COURT HOUSES.
The first courts of Morgan County convened at the log house of Jacob
Cutler, which stood about one block north of the northwest corner of the
public square in Martinsville. In 1823, the work of erecting the first
court house was begun, and in the autumn of 1824, the building was so
nearly completed that courts convened there for the first time, as shown
by the old court records. The building was a two-storied hewed-log
house, and was located on the southwest corner of the present public
square. The upper story was low, but little better than half a story, and
contained the jury rooms. The lower story was the court room. This
room was also the first meetinghouse, schoolhouse, lecture room, etc., of
Martinsville. The building was about 25x35 feet on the ground, and
was compactly built. This building was used until 1833, when the con-
tract of constructing a brick court house on the square was let to Giles B.
Mitchell for about |2,500. Mr. Mitchell was a practical brick-maker and
brick-layer, and completed the work in 1834; but the woodwork was not
finished until about two years later. The County Board was compelled
to issue " orders " for the greater portion of the contract price. These
orders depreciated considerably in value, though they were current funds
for all ordinary expenses in the county. The building was two-storied,
and was about 35x40 feet on the ground. It did not contain the county
offices. These were in business or private buildings until about 1843,
when small offices were erected on the square. About 1855, this build-
ing was so dilapidated and unsightly that a new court house began to be
talked of. The Gazette of March, 1856. having in view the incorpora-
tion of Martinsville, then strongly talked of, as well as the erection of a
new court house, remarked as follows : " The old court house, with its
20 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
crumbling foundation, cracked walls, diseased windows, shattered vane,
drooping spire and moss-covered cupola, looking, as Judge Hughes re-
marked from the bench at the last Circuit Court, ' like some bombarded
block-house,' overlooks one vast sea of conglomerated water, mud and
filth." The necessary pressure was brought to bear on the County Board,
and in March, 1857, orders were issued for advertising for bids to erect
either a combined courthouse and jail, or each to be built separately, the
total cost not to exceed $30,000. The contract was finally awarded to
Perry M. Blankenship at about that price, the jail and court house to be
built together. County bonds were ordered sold to meet the expense.
The building was completed in 1859, at a cost of about $32,000. This
is the present court house and jail. The court room is above, and offices
below ; the jail is in the northwest corner of the lower story, and the
belfry is on the southeast corner. The hall extends through the building
from north to south. The contractor evidently did his work well, as the
structure is now almost or quite as good as new. On the 31st of March,
1876, the records of the county in the offices of the Clerk and Auditor
were largely consumed by fire, supposed to have been done by some ras-
cally official, to conceal the evidences of his defalcations or other crimes.
This was a great calamity, and cost the county many thousands of dollars
to copy what remained of the half-consumed records. Had the old rec-
ords not been destroyed, this chapter might contain many items of inter-
est which it now wants.
COUNTY JAILS.
The first jail was a small log structure, which was erected on the
northeast corner of the square in 1824. It was built of heavy timber,
and answered the purposes of the county until 1826, when it was de-
stroyed by fire. Within three or four years, a brick jail was built about
where the jailer's house now is on the square by Mr. Sailors. The out-
side of the structure was of brick, the inside of heavy logs, and between
the two walls were about eight inches of broken stone. This was used
about ten years, when a much stronger log jail was built in the northeast-
ern part of town. This was used until the erection of the present com-
bined jail and court house in 1857-59.
THE COUNTY SEMINARY.
An early law of the State provided that certain fines and penalties
should be used as a fund to found and maintain a seminary of learning in
each county. A Trustee was appointed in Morgan County to care for
the fund as it should accumulate, John Mathis being the first. The law
provided that when the fund amounted to $400, the County Board at
their option could build a seminary. In the spring of 1824, the fund
amounted to over ^'rO. It ran up rapidly in the 30's, the receipts for
the fiscal year 1835 being $114.23 ; for 1836, $369 ; and for 1837, $79.
In the year 1838, the fund amounted to over $2,000, and about that time
the work of erecting a two-storied brick seminary was begun. The house
was a fine structure for that day, and cost in the whole about $2,000.
The first teacher was David Anderson, who taught alone. The second
teachers were Elijah and Hannah Parks. William H. H. Terrell is said
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 21
to have been an early teacher: He afterward became Adjutant General
of the State. Rev. Thomas Conley was another, as was a man named
Bigham. Excellent schools were held there, quite a number of students
coming in from abroad, paying tuition, and boarding with residents of the
town. After a few years, the institution largely lost its character as a
county seminary, and became virtually the school of Martinsville. Stu-
dents from distant portions of the county ceased to attend, and the insti-
tution lost the influence designed by the founders. While the schools
therein were at their best, the various expenses were paid from the tuition
charged students and from constant accumulations of the fund. The re-
ceipts to the fund in 1849 were $410.93. After the passage of the com-
mon school law in 1852, provision was made by the Legislature that
county seminaries should be sold, and the proceeds and subsequent col-
lections of the fund should be paid into the common school fund. The
seminary was accordingly advertised for sale, and finally, in 1854, trans-
ferred to Andrew Finley for $1,100. It passed through several hands,
and in 1856 went to Mr. Sparks, who transformed it into a woolen fac-
tory. Mr. Deturk occupied it for the same purpose during the rebellion.
It was torn down about 1864.
THE COUNTY LIBRARY.
An early law provided that ten per centum of the proceeds of the sale
of county lots should be used to found and maintain a county library.
The first books were purchased in the 30's, and a Treasurer and Libra-
rian appointed. Subsequent collections of the fund as fast as obtained
were invested in more books. About 500 volumes were finally secured.
The project was gradually abandoned. Township libraries were furnished
by the State in the 50's. An aggregate of more than 2,000 volumes was
secured. The McClure bequest also furnished the county with a library.
Many of these books may yet be seen scattered throughout the county.
All these libraries have been replaced with the newspaper — the most po-
tent " book " in ancient or modern times.
THE COUNTY PAUPERS.
The early care of the poor was more or less defective, but began soon
after the county was organized. It was customary to " farm out the pau-
pers " to the lowest bidders in the various townships, and this method often
resulted in placing the helpless or unfortunate in the hands of animals by
nature and hypocrites by practice. Sometimes they fell into Christian
hands, sometimes into barbarous hands. The plan of " farming them
out " continued without interruption until the first poor-farm was pur-
chased on the 22d of March, 1844. The farm was bought of Enoch
Graham for $1,200, and comprised 120 acres on Sections 25, 26 and 36,
Township 12 north. Range 1 east. On this farm was an ordinary dwell-
ing, which was afterward improved and enlarged, as were the stables and
■'storehouses. New buildings were also erected. A Superintendent was
placed in charge of the farm, and numbers of the county poor were re-
moved there. Many continued to be taken care of in the townships, and
this is true of the present time. A doctor was employed by the year or
22 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
visit to prescribe for the poor; he was called the " County Physician."
Nearly all the regular medical practitioners of the county have officiated
in that capacity. This farm continued to be the home of the paupers
until 1869, when, owing to its smallness, the County Board ordered it
sold and a new one purchased. William B. Taylor was appointed to carry
this order into effect. The old farm was sold to Michael Hammons in
July, 1869, for §2,700. The new farm was purchased of W. B. Taylor,
N. T. Cunningham and Jacob Adams, and comprised about 120 acres,
which cost about $12,000. The new brick poor-house was completed in
1871, and cost over §30,000, the brick and stone work being done by
J. E. and P. F. Douglas. This building is a credit to the county. The
annual poor expense of the county is now about §12,000. Among the
later Poor Superintendents have been G. W. Preston, 1867 (the poor-
house had twenty inmates then) ; Sampson C. Voyles, 1868 (thirty-one
inmates); Charles Day, 1870-75; William H. Dryden. 1876-78; J.
W. Duncan, 1879 ; Sylvester Jackson, 1880 ; George W. Walker,
18bl-83. For a number of years past, the orphan poor of the county
have been sent to Plainfield to be cared for and educated. The care of
the county for its indigent and helpless is a credit to the humanity of the
citizens. But few counties of the State show greater interest and care in
this respect.
THE FIRST AGR,ICULTURAL SOCIETY.
On the 20th of November, 1837, pursuant to a notice from the Coun-
ty Commissioners, a number of the citizens of Washington Township met
at the court house to organize an agricultural society, in accordance with
the provisions of a legislative enactment of the previous winter. W. H.
Craig was made Chairman of the meeting, and H. R. Stevens, Secretary.
John Eckles addressed the assemblage and stated the object of the meet-
ing. Much enthusiasm was manifested, and the following persons became
stockholders by subscribing their names to the constitution and by-laws,
and paying to the Treasurer §1 each : J. W. Bowzer, Benjamin Sweet,
John Eckles, P. M. Blankenship, James H. Sheppard, P. M. Parks, S.
E. Edwards, Benjamin Bull, Thomas F. Huff. Thomas Edwards, W. F.
Laughlin, Francis A. Harryman, William Sheerer, F. A. Matheny, W.
N. Cunningham, Thomas Miles, James Cunningham, Jonathan Carr, Eb
Henderson, Franklin Corwin, John Sims, W. H. Craig, Philip Ander-
son, William Lee, Charles B. Butler, Septimus T. Whiteman, Hewett
Nutter, William Walters, William Duncan and Hannibal R. Stevens.
The permanent officers were John Sims, President ; William Sheerer,
Vice President; H. R. Stevens, Cor. Sec; T. F. Huff, Ree. Sec; Ben-
jamin Sweet, Treasurer ; John Eckles. William A. Major, Thomas Miles,
John Butterfield, Sampson Canatry, G. W. Baker, John Hardrick, M.
D. Miller, Ephraim Goss, William Hadley, Luke Kennedy, J. H. Wood-
small, Cyrus Whetzell, Abner Cox and Grant Stafford, Curators. No
fair was held, as the organization soon died.
THE SECOND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. *"
The second organization of this character was effected in August,
1851, by the election of the following first officers : William H. Craig,
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 23
President; William G. Quick, Vice President ; James Jackson, Treas-
urer ; Larkin Reynolds, Secretary. One Director was appointed in each
township. The first fair was held on the open ground northeast of Mar-
tinsville (now in town), on the 25th of October, 1851. The following
premiums were paid : Best horse, William Cunningham, $5 ; second best,
William Knox, diploma ; best jack, William Cunningham, $2 ; second
best, William Knox, diploma ; best year old colt, Ira Hadley, $2
second best, William Hughes, diploma ; best sucking colt, William Knox
$1.50 ; second best, Henry Sims, diploma ; best brood mare, John A
Riggins, $•■} ; second best, Allen Hicklen, diploma ; best bull, Elijah Pad
dock, |4 ; second best, Grant Stafford, diploma ; best cow, Elijah Pad
dock, $2; best calf, Elijah Paddock, $1; second best calf, Elijah Pad
dock, diploma ; best yoke of oxen, James C. Henderson, |2 ; second best
James C. Henderson, diploma ; best boar, James Cunningham, ^2 ; sec
ond best, W. H. Craig, diploma ; best bushel of wheat, Joel Mathews
$1 ; second best, Isaac G. Fletcher, diploma ; best sixty ears of corn^
George W. Egbert, 50 cents ; second best, Robert B. Major, diploma
best saddle and bridle, Thomas Nutter, $1 ; best five yards of jeans, James
Stockwell, $1 ; best eight yards of flannel, Isaac G. Fletcher, $1 ; best peck
of onions, Isaac G. Fletcher, 50 cents ; best bushel of Irish potatoes,
Absalom Jarret, 50 cents ; best ten pounds of cheese, Amos Lawrence,
50 cents ; best butter, James Stockwell, 50 cents. The Treasurer's re-
port on the 27th of November, 1851, was as follows:
RECEIPTS.
Received by subscription $74 00
Received from county treasury 50 00
Total $124 00
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid for Secretary's books $ 1 50
Paid on account of premiums 35 75
Total $37 25
Balance in the treasury $86 75
The membership of the society about this time was seventy-five, con-
siderable interest being manifested. It is stated that about the time this
society was organized another started up in the vicinity of Monrovia.
The facts cannot be given. It is certain that four or five years later there
were two separate agricultural societies in the county, as an account of
their consolidation appeared in the Gazette, published at Martinsville.
The second fair was held at Martinsville in the southwest portion of the
town. A small yard had been fenced in, to compel the curious and others
to pay each a fee of 10 cents to see the exhibits. It is stated by Mr.
Ray that several citizens presumed that they could pass in without pay-
ing, and when they were refused admission unless the necessary 10 cents
was forthcoming, they went off in high dudgeon. The premiums paid
amounted to $128.90. James Prather exhibited a small but fine selection
of fruit. A. B. Conduitt delivered an address of about an hour in length,
which was published in full in the " State Agricultural Reports." On
the second and last day of the fair, the rain fell so incessantly that not a
lady appeared on the grounds. An excellent showing of live stock, grain
24 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
and vegetables was made. It is believed that the third or fourth fair was
held at Centerton, though this is uncertain. In 1855, it was held at Mar-
tinsville, the premiums paid amounting to $185. Each season the
County Board contributed from $50 to $200 toward paying the expenses
and fitting up the ground. The officers at this time were Giles B. Mitch-
ell, President ; Aaron Rose, Vice President ; Henry Sims, Treasurer ;
0. J. Glessner, Secretary ; W. H. Craig, Uriah Ballard, W. J. Brag,
W. G. Gray, Jackson Record, Nathan Gilbert, John B. Cox, James Eg-
bert, Cyrus Whetzel, Amos Lawrence, John C. Baker, Campbell Goss
and James Ainkle, Directors. No fair was held in 1856, owing to the
political excitement. In 1857, a large, well-attended fair was held at
Centerton. And so they continued with increasing prosperity in every
branch. Occasionally a year would pass with no fair, as during one or
more years of the rebellion. Sometimes the society came out in debt at
the end of the year. Some townships of the county took no interest
whatever in the success of the organization. Considerable jealousy has
existed between Martinsville and vicinity and Mooresville and vicinity,
which has resulted in the formation of two distinct agricultural organiza-
tions in the county. The one at Mooresville has led a precarious exist-
ence. One was organized there in 1870, with a membership of 165, and
a capital stock of $2,180, Fifteen acres of land were leased for ten years,
of Samuel Moon, on Section 36, Township 14, Range 1 east. It was
designed as a union organization with the southern part of Hendricks
County. Some excellent fairs have been held there. Utter failures have
also occurred. The society at Martinsville in 1879 bought of Morgan
County, for $1,536.75, twenty acres and forty-nine hundredths of an acre,
which had formerly belonged to the poor farm, and fitted up this ground
for fairs, the first being held there in 1880. The grounds compare favor-
ably with those of other counties of the State in buildings, fencing, sheds,
track, water and accommodations. At the fair of 1882, about 500 pre-
miums were paid, aggregating about $3,000. The present oflScers are L.
Sims, President ; John Nutter and L. Guthridge, Vice Presidents ; S.
M. Guthridge, Treasurer ; H. A. Smock, Secretary ; A. M. Thornburg,
Assistant Secretary; W. G. Bain, Superintendent; R. H. Tarleton, R.
S. Aldrich, John Kirkham, H. R. Stevens, N. T. Cunningham, Harvey
Gillaspy, N. Henley, Thomas H. Dixon, Henry C. Hodges and Merwin
Rowe, Directors.
COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETIES.
During the summer of 1855, there was organized at Martinsville the
"Morgan County Medical and Surgical Society." None but physicians
of the Allopathic school could become members, and the society was a
branch of the State Medical Society, and subject to about the same code
of ethics. Among the members were S. A. Tilford, R. H. Tarleton, B.
D. Blackstone, S. H. Schofield, W. W. Hoyt, A. W. Reagan, G. B.
Mitchell, W. A. Todd, W. C. Hendricks, J. J. Johnston, Dr. Patterson,
Dr. Spencer, Dr. Keiper and others. A Board of Censors was appointed,
and much interest was manifested in the discussion of topics of interest to
the profession. The society gradually went down, and within a few
years meetings were wholly abandoned.
HISTORY OF ♦morgan COUNTY. 25
Pursuant to call, a number of the physicians of the county seat and
other points in the county, met at Martinsville on the 25th of April,
1876, to organize a new medical society. Dr. Knight, of Paragon, was
made Chairman and Dr. Douglas, Secretary. A committee of three was
appointed to draft articles of association, and another committee of four
was appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws. Dr. J. H. Knight
was elected permanent President; F. M. Douglas, Secretary, and E. V.
Green, Treasurer. The following physicians have been members of this
society : P. H. Perce, F. M. Douglas, E. P. Ritchey, R. C. Griffith, J.
H. Knight, W. D. Monnett, W. S. Robertson, P. McNab, A. W. Rea-
gan, G. B. Mitchell, E. V. Green, Jesse Regan, C. M. Lindley, J. P.
Buckuer, U. H. Farr, S. N. Rundell, S. A. Tilford, T. Holliday, R. D.
Willan, James E. Clark, C. C. Holman, W. R. Curer, Charles Seaton,
John M. Snoddy, T. Stucky, W. E. Hendricks, W. P. Van Sant, J. C.
Marker and Grant Monical. The object of the society as stated in the
constitution is " the advancement of medical knowledge, the elevation of
professional character, the protection of the interests of its members, the
extension of the bounds of medical science, and the promotion of all meas-
ures adapted to the relief of the suffering, and to improve the health and
protect the lives of the community." "Any graduate in medicine of a
respectable medical school, who is in good moral and professional stand-
ing, upon signing the constitution and paying $3 to the Treasurer," may
become a member of the society by a vote of the members. Further than
that, any person upon the payment of $5 to the Treasurer, and the pres-
entation of a certificate of qualification to practice medicine, from the
Board of Censors of the society, may become a member by vote of the
members. The code of ethics of the American Medical Society was
adopted. The records of the society show great interest on the part of
the members. Essays on important medical subjects are read, and pro-
tracted discussions are had on the location, character and treatment of
disease. The society is a credit to the medical profession of the county,
though many of the most successful practitioners are not members.
Dr. Kennedy, of the county seat, an eclectic physician of great
prominence and skill, is one of the most successful practitioners of Mor-
gan County. He is about the only representative of that excellent school
of medicine. Homeopathy, which has made such wonderful strides in
success and popularity during the last few years, has, at present, no rep-
resentative.
MORGAN COUNTY POLITICS.
Unfortunately, owing to the destruction by fire a few years ago of
the tally sheets in the Clerk's office at the county seat, the results of the
early elections in Morgan County cannot be given. Old settlers state
that the county was Democratic by a small majority, when the full vot-
ing strength was out, though on "off years," when the opposing candi-
date was a man of unusual prominence and worth, he often managed to
wrest the spoils of office from his less fortunate antagonist. The county
was organized in 1822, but politics cut no figure until the remarkable
Presidential contest between Jackson, Adams, Clay and Crawford in the
autumn of 1824. The administration of Mr. Monroe had been so
pacific and conciliatory that former partisan lines had been almost wholly
26
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
obliterated, and an "era of good feeling" had apparently been estab-
lished. When the election of 1824 was transferred to the House of Rep-
resentatives, and it became known that the popular voice had been dis-
regarded by the choice of John Quincy Adams, party lines were again
strictly drawn, and the first decided political division in Morgan County
was experienced. The election of 1828 made satisfactory amends by seat-
ing in the Presidential chair, Andrew Jackson, one of the most popular
Presidents the nation has had since Washington. So much was he ad-
mired for the peculiar elements of his character, that he was re-elected in
1832. So firm a hold did he secure upon the popular heart, that citi-
zens throughout the county, during all the years from his administration
until the present, have proudly and publicly announced themselves as
"Jackson Democrats." The election of 1836 resulted in the selection
of Martin Van Buren, whose administration was compelled to shoulder
in 1837 one of the most disastrous financial crashes the country has ever
encountered. Speculation had run riot. The wildest visions of finan-
cial enterprise had taken possession of every breast. Everybody plunged
recklessly into debt under the insane delusion that final settlement would
be the careless pleasure of some future day. Jackson received the honors
of the speculative madness ; Van Buren reaped the harvest of tares and
cheat. When values, without warning, fell prostrate to the basis of act-
ual worth, the failures everywhere were appalling in numbers and mag-
nitude. Time alone soothed the desolate sea.
The contest of 1840 was in many respects remarkable. It was the
first time the " Great West" had come forward with a candidate. The
cultured States of the East ridiculed the pretentions of the friends of
Mr. Harrison by scornful allusions to the log cabins and the hard cider
of Indiana and the Northwest. The suggestions were caught up with a
shout by the friends of the Whig candidate, and in their thousands of
public gatherings hard cider and log cabins and canoes were the most
popular and prominent features. Mr. Harrison was elected, and the
Whigs were in ecstasies.
The contest of 1844 was really upon the question of the admission
of Texas into the Union. The Whigs opposed the admission, to prevent
an increase of slave territory, and the Democrats favored it for the oppo-
site reason. The election of Mr. Polk was a triumph of the Democrats,
and insured the admission of Texas. The partial returns given below
of this election in Morgan County were gathered from the half-con-
sumed records stored in boxes in the hall of the court house :
November, 1844.
DEMOCRAT
Polk and
Dallas.
WHIG
Clay and
Frelinghuy-
sen.
LIBERTY
Birney and
Morris.
44
54
106
56
3
37
252
8
Harrison
Brown . . . . . . .
7
Total
260
300
-J
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 27
This exhibit does not properly represent the result of the election in
Morgan County if the statements of old settlers are to be relied upon.
The election of Mr. Polk upon the issue above stated was taken by Mex-
ico as a settlement of the question that Texas would be admitted into the
Union. Mexico had threatened war wrth the United States in the event
of the annexation of Texas, and accordingly, when the latter was formally
admitted to the sisterhood of States early in 1845, war was declared. A
full company was raised in Morgan County for this war, reference to
which will be found in the military history of the county elsewhere in
this volume. In the meantime, a few Abolitionists had appeared in the
county, the most of whom were Quakers. They invariably polled their
votes for the Liberty or Free-Soil candidates.
In 1846, David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, introduced in Congress a
bill called the " Wilmot Proviso," which stipulated that slavery should
be excluded from all territory thereafter annexed to the United
States. This bill encountered the fiercest opposition from the Southern
Members of Congress, and was finally defeated, though it formed an im-
portant issue in the Presidential campaign of 1848, and was no doubt
one of the contributing causes for the formation of the Republican party
a few years later. The " Compromise of 1850," introduced in Congress
by Henry Clay, became a law, and was regarded as a wise measure by
both parties, though the old issues were quietly kept in mind during the
campaign of 1852. The Democrats seated Mr. Pierce, and Gen. Scott,
the Whig candidate, fresh with the laurels of victory from the battle-field,
was permanently retired.
In 1854, the adoption of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, introduced in
Congress by Senator Douglas, virtually repealed the compromises of 1820
and 1850, and kindled a flame of indignation, unknown before in the
history of the nation. The bill provided, among other things, that the
citizens of the new States, Kansas and Nebraska, should decide at the
polls whether slavery should be adopted or rejected. Open war in Kan-
sas was the result. Mass meetings were held throughout the North to
denounce the bill and adopt personal liberty bills. The Morgan County
Grazette, edited by Edwin W. Callis, in 1855 espoused the cause of the
new Republican party, and did more than any other cause to transfer the
administration of county affairs to the new party. The editorials were a
credit to the heart and brain of Mr. Callis, and to the party whose prin-
ciples he so ably and bravely advocated. The Democratic majority in
the county had begun to decrease about 1852. In 1855, it was less than
100, and in October, 1856, 0. P. Morton, the Republican candidate for
Governor, received a majority of eight votes over A. P. Willard, the
Democratic candidate. This, so far as known, was the first time the
Democracy had failed to carry the county. Both parties in the county
fought with all their strength over the November election, with the fol-
lowing result :
28
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
November, 1856.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN
Fremont and
Dayton.
DEMOCEAT
Buchanan
and Breck-
enridge.
AMERICAN
Filmore and
Donelson.
Washington
Jackson —
Green
Harrison —
Madison . . .
Clay
Brown
Monroe ....
Adams
Gregg
Jefferson . .
Ray
Baker
Total. .
200
74
27
33
46
187
207
330
127
113
46
307
194
2?4
58
123
61
100
37
165
45
61
120
1,570
1,528
This was really the first decisive victory for the Whigs. But the ex-
citement over the questions growing out of slavery did not die out with
this election. In 1858, the Supreme Court of the United States decided
in the Dred Scott case that slavery was a national institution, and could
not under the constitution be excluded from any State. This was fol-
lowed by renewed excitement. About this time, John Brown, an extreme
anti-slavery partisan, incited an insurrection of the slaves at Harper's
Ferry in Virginia, which resulted in the hanging of himself and several
of his followers. The South soon saw that the rapid settlement of the
North and the devolopment there of an uncompromising hostility to slav-
ery, would result in the selection of an anti-slavery Republican President
in 1860. They therefore declared that the election of such a man would
be regarded as a sufficient menace to the institution of slavery to warrant
a withdrawal from the Union. The citizens of Morgan County were awake
on all the exciting issues of the day. After the election of 1856, the
county went back to the Democrats, but only by a feeble majority, which
was decreased in 1858 and still more so in 1859. The contest in 1860 was
of the most exciting character. Both, or all, parties in the county
thoroughly organized, and mass meetings were held everywhere with
music, vocal and instrumental, and torch-light processions in bright uni-
forms. The result was as follows :
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
NovEjrBER, 1860.
29
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUB-
LICAN.
Lincoln
and
Hamlin.
NORTH-
ERN DE-
MOCRACY.
Douglas
and
Johnson.
SOUTH-
ERN DE-
MOCRACY.
Brecken-
ridge and
Lane.
UNION.
Bell and
Everett.
TOTAL.
284
150
81
67
42
314
85
196
147
39
158
47
145
271
128
72
117
56
44
198
111
90
209
45
30
145
13
1
2
2
5
1
1
1
;573
280
156
187
98
JeflEerson . • .
Madison
Harrison
Monroe ....
1
4
5
"'2"
359
287
314
237
273
210
78
296
Jackson .
Clav
Green . . . . .
25
7
1
1
""5""
Gress
Baker
Rav
Total
1755
1516
62
15
3348
Majority
163
The Republican majority continued to increase after this election.
The issue of 1864 was whether the war should be continued or abandoned.
Great concern was manifested over the result. The returns in Morgan
County were as follows : Lincoln and Johnson, 1,793 votes ; McClellan
and Pendleton, 1,283 votes, giving the Republicans a majority of 510.
The vote by townships cannot be given. The Republicans were over-
joyed, and the Democrats were correspondingly depressed. The result
of the election of 1868 was as follows :
November, 1868.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUB-
LICAN.
Grant and
Colfax
Washington...
Jackson
Green
Harrison
Madison
Brown
Monroe
Adams
Clay
Gregg
Ashland
Jefferson
Ray
Baker
Total . . .
Majority
372
182
47
46
60
125
214
159
70
139
75
42
2047
587
DEMO-
CRAT.
Seymour
and Blair.
172
234
33
159
116
55
46
109
75
53
34
1460
624
354
281
79
219
329
300
241
269
205
179
214
128
76
3507
30
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Great opposition had been brought to bear upon the administration of
Gen. Grant. He was severely criticised by the opposing party in the
various departments, especially in his financial management of the country
and in the civil service. Many Republicans were dissatisfied with his
management of the finances, and attributed the hard times to his adminis-
tration. The result was that many Republicans and Democrats united
to defeat his re-election in 1872. The following is the result in this
county :
November, 1872.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUB-
LICAN.
Grant and
Wilson.
LIBERAL
REPUB-
LICAN OR
DEMO-
CRAT.
Greeley
and
Brown.
W^asWnarton •
398
189
37
38
49
244
207
290
114
156
112
142
42
82
349
180
196
Harrison ....
43
Madison .
146
129
Clay
82
Monroe
41
Adams
135
42
Ray
70
Jefferson . . . .
63
Baker
34
Ashland
123
Total . .
2100
1633
Majority
467
Seventeen votes were cast in the county for the Bourbon Democratic
ticket — O'Connor and Julian. From this vote it will be seen that the
Republican majority had begun to decline. This was encouraging to the
Democracy. Soon after this, the Greenback or Independent party
sprang into life. Its origin was mainly due to the hard times resulting
from the depreciation of values in endeavoring to return to a specie basis,
and to strong opposition to national banks, and to the refunding of the
Government bonded debt. The old parties were divided by about the
same old issues. The result in the county was as follows :
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
November, 1876.
31
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUB-
LICAN.
Hayes
and
Wheeler.
DEMO-
CRAT.
Tilden
and
Hendricks
GREEN-
BACK.
Cooper
and
Cary.
421
194
28
40
55
182
276
321
126
144
111
139
45
85
386
210
218
43
144
111
141
45
150
91
109
71
45
180
4S
Jackson
5
31
10
Madison
10
Clay
7
4
6
Adams
6
Gresrc' .
9
4
Ray
2
Baker
4
Total
2167
1889
146
Majority
278
This was a still greater reduction of the Republican majority. The
Republican candidates were seated by an electoral commission ; and the
successful financial management in returning to a specie basis and the
general prosperity of the country were the causes which elected the Re-
publican candidates in 1880. The Greenback party had become quite
strong. The attack upon the national banks and upon Government bonds
was continued, and a reform was demanded in the civil service. The
election resulted as follows :
November, 1880.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUB-
LICAN.
Garfield.
and
Arthur.
DEMO-
CRAT. •
Hancock
and
English.
GREEN-
BACK.
Weaver
and
Chambers.
181
90
48
275
208
34 ^
154
62
217
130
51
346
189
506
157
150
50
153
117
217
89
46
216
107
147
45
88
469
5
Ashland
1
Baker .
2
Brown . . . ....
6
Clav
18
29
GrTP.SrS' . . .
11
Harrison
6
8
Jefferson . ....
2
Madison
6
2
Ray ....
2
Washington
35
Total
2891
2046
133
Majority :
345
"32 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Since this election, the Republican majority has been considerably
reduced. The Democrats are confident of carrying the county in
November, 1884.
POPULATION OF THE COUNTY.
The estimated population of the county in the summer of 1820 was
250. In 1830, the population was 5,593; in 1810, 10,741; in 1850,
14,576; in 1860, 16,110; in 1870, 17,^:28; and, in 1880, 18,899.
John Vawter was the census taker in 1820.
THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT.
In 1840, the Quakers living in the northern part of the county or-
ganized the Westfield Monthly Meeting of Anti-slavery Friends, at the
head of which were John Doan, Robert Doan, Eli J. Sumner, David Doan,
George Hadley, John B. Hadley, John Pfoff, William Hadley, W. E.
Carter, Asa Bales and many others. The Doans were especially active
in the movement. Before the organization of the meeting, back early in
the thirties, strong ground was taken in opposition to slavery. Mr. Sum-
ner, yet living at Mooresville, claims to have made the first anti-slavery
speech in the county. It was in a debate in a schoolhouse northwest of
Mooresville in 1835, with Rev. Mitchell, a Presbyterian minister, who
had come from Tennessee. The minister affirmed the right of slavery
and brought forward the Bible to sustain his position, but Mr. Sumner
managed to head him off with the same powerful authority, and was
awarded the victory by the judges. Late in the forties and during the
fifties this society helped ofi" scores of colored refugees who were traveling
by the Underground Railroad from stripes and bondage to the free soil
of the dominion of th.e British Queen. Many others in different parts of
the county were similarly engaged. In 1848, an organization was ef-
fected, and a county free-soil ticket put in the field, but the vote was less
than 100.
COMMON AND GRAVELED ROADS.
The acts of Congress early provided that five per centum of the pro-
ceeds of the sale of Government land in Indiana should be used to con-
struct and maintain roads and canals, three-fifths of such percentage to
be expended by the Legislature, and the remaining two-fifths by Congress.
The three-fifths of the five per centum became known as the " Three Per
Cent Fund," and was a Godsend to the early settlers, as it constituted al-
most their entire revenue for the construction of State and county roads.
The county was no sooner organized than the first installment of the fund
was received from the Auditor of State, and immediately expended upon
the first roads of the county. After many years, when this fund had
become well-nigh exhausted from the decrease in the sale of land, other
funds were devised, collected and expended. Early in the fifties, sev-
eral corporate organizations were effected for the construction and main-
tenance of toll and graveled roads, among those in the sixties being Clear
Creek Gravel Road Company, Monrovia & Bellville Gravel Road Com-
pany, Monrovia & Hall Gravel Road Company, Brooklyn Gravel Road
Company, Mooresville & Monrovia Gravel Road Company, White River
Valley Gravel Road Company, and others. Later, several others were
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 33
projected and built. Within the last five years, there have been con-
structed at county expense the following gravel roads : Martinsville & Rec-
ord's Ferry Gravel Road, five miles long, estimated cost, $6,042; the
Martinsville «& Mahalasville Gravel Road, six miles long, estimated cost
$7,820 ; the Taggart Station & Monroe County Line Gravel Road, two
and a third miles long, estimated cost $7,000 ; the Morgantown &
Johnson County Line Gravel Road, one and a half miles long, estimated
cost $1,700. The total estimated cost of the four roads is $22,562 ; the
county has three or four toll roads owned by private corporations now in
operation.
RAILROADS.
The old Martinsville & Franklin Flat-bar Railroad was built in 1847-52,
and the first cars came to the former place in the spring of 1853. The
grading of the road was done almost wholly by citizens along the route,
and when this was completed the Madison & Indianapolis Company fitted
it with iron and rolling stock, and operated it for about five years, when
the further running of trains was abandoned. At the close of the rebell-
ion. Gen. Burnside obtained possession of the road, put down T-rails,
put on a good class of rolling stock, and extended the road to Fairland in
Shelby County. After running a few years, the road again went down,
but some time afterward passed into the possession of certain New York
parties, and from them to the present management — the C, L, St. L. &
C. Company.
About the year 1853, the New Albany & Salem Company projected
the present Indianapolis & Vincennes road, and graded it through the
greater portion of the present length, and probably wholly through Mor-
gan County. But there, for some reason, the work was abandoned. At
the close of the war, Gen, Burnside secured control, and fitted the road,
mostly on the old grade, with suitable rolling stock. The old grade was
on the opposite side of the river from Martinsville. About the time Gen.
Burnside assumed control, the citizens of Morgan County donated $50,-
000 toward completing the road, with the proviso that the old grade
should be used. This offer was accepted by the company. But soon
after this Martinsville and vicinity came to the front, and offered the com-
pany $30,000 to cross the river, and locate a depot in the town, which
offer was accepted, and the road, thus altered, was completed. But the
citizens who had donated the $50,000, declaring that the contract between
them and the company, providing that the rolling stock should be upon the
old bed had been violated, refused to pay their donations, and suit was
brought to collect the amounts. After several years of lawing, a compro-
mise was effected, whereby one-half the donation was to be paid, but as a
matter of fact only about $15,000 of the $50,000 was received by the
company. Martinsville and vicinity had paid the $30,000 according to
contract. A few years ago the road was leased by the Pennsylvania
Company.
THE COUNTY PRESS.
The first newspaper published in Morgan County was established at
Martinsville early in the forties by James Richards. The sheet was a
small folio, was printed often upon paper obtained from the stores in
34 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
town, and upon a small wooden press, and was non-partisan. It con-
tained considerable news and was conducted a year or more, and then
abandoned. The second paper was established at Mooresville during the
summer of 1846 by Thomas L, Worth. It was a five-column folio, with
columns fully half an inch wider than the usual size, and was non-par-
tisan. It was called the Mooresville Chronicle, and cost "|2 per year
when produce was taken and ten per centum oif for cash in advance." In
1851 or 1852, it was removed to Martinsville, where the name was
changed to Morgan County Gazette. Mr. Worth issued it irregularly
until the 12th of May, 1855, when it was purchased by Edwin W. Callis,
■who enlarged it to a six-column folio, and fixed the subscription at $1.25
per annum. During the political excitement late in the fifties, and dur-
ing the war of 1861 to 1865, the paper under Mr. Callis exerted un ex-
tremely powerful influence over affairs in the county. Its Republicanism
and loyalty to the Government were of the most ardent character. In
1857, J. W. Howard was connected with the G-azette. T. F. Orner was .
associated with Mr. Callis from June, 1857, until the latter part of 1858
or the early part of 1859. A. A. Barrakman was his associate in 1861 and
1862 ; W. H. Smith during the first years of the rebellion, and J. V.
Mitchell for twenty months, beginning in October, 1870. In 1870, the
politics of the paper became Independent, and were subsequently gradu-
ally changed to Democratic. Several other important changes were made."
In about 1874, A. and L. 0. Callis, daughters of Mr. Callis, became own-
ers and publishers of the paper, Mr. Callis still remaining editor and
manager. The paper is now owned and published by Lizzie 0. Callis,
present State Librarian, and is edited by Mr. Callis, the veteran printer
who has been at its head for twenty-seven consecutive years. The paper
is the Democratic organ of the county, is ably managed, has a large, use-
ful circulation and a liberal advertising and job work patronage, and is a
credit to the editor and the Democracy of the county.
In July, 1856, P. S. Parks and C. S. Hilbourne established at Mar-
tinsville a Democratic newspaper called the Morgan County Monitor.
The sheet was a six-column folio, and was an able and earnest advocate of
the Democratic principles of that stormy period. After a few years,
various changes were made in the ownership and management, all of
which cannot be given here. The paper was called the Clarion during
the war. John Storey was connected with it during the early stages of
the rebellion. Hilbourne severed his connection with it in 1862 or 1863.
Leonard H. Miller published the sheet in 1868, secured a large circula-
tion and the proceeds thereof, and then decamped, it is said, between sun-
set and sunrise. About July, 1863, the name was changed to Morgan
County Express. During the latter part of the war, and later, the paper
■was o-wned and managed by W. B. Burns and B. H. Bainbridge. About
the year 1867 the paper was discontinued. Under some of the manage-
ments, the paper was bright, newsy, and exerted a strong influence over the
politics of the county. Under other managements, it led a precarious
existence, and was suspended for short periods.
Soon after the G-azette left the Republican party, in 1869 or 1870,
the prominent members of that party, feeling lost without an organ,
raised a subscription of about $800, and advertised for a practical printer
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. ^ r^y'^.A O
to come on and found a new paper at the county seat, and, accordingly,
W. H. Eagle, of the Danville Union, answered the call, purchased with
the money subscribed a full office outfit, and on the 11th of August,
1870, issued the first number of the Martinsville Republican, a seven-
column folio newspaper. J. G. Bain became editor, though he had no
pecuniary interest in the enterprise. Among those who had raised the
funds to establish the paper were T. B. Mitchell, J. J. Johnston, J. R.
Shelton, William Kennedy, J. R. McBride and a few others, in all about
eight. The paper encountered the severest opposition from the Crazette
and from the Democrats ; but after two years of incessant warfare, became
well established, with a steadily increasing circulation. About the 1st
of December, 1870, the entire office was sold to J. G. Bain and Henry
Smock, the latter, having been a practical printer in Chicago, becoming
publisher, and the former continuing as editor. About this time the
paper became an eight-column folio. During the latter part of 1874,
Mr. Smock sold his interest to Mr. Bain, since which time Shell Parks,
C. S. Crary, G. W. Ryan, John D. Whitted and Elmer Whitted have
been connected with the paper at different periods as writers, without
owning an interest. In May, 1882, S. W, Macy began work upon the
paper as associate editor, and is thus engaged at present. In the
autumn of 1874, the sheet became a seven-column quarto, and in
May, 1882, a six-column quarto, the entire paper being printed
on the new steam cylinder power press purchased at that time at
a total cost, including much new material, of over $1,200. This was the
first steam press ever in the county, and is the only one up to the present.
The paper is the official organ of the Republican party in the county, has
a wide circulation and a satisfactory job and advertising patronage, and
is ably edited and managed by Mr. Bain.
In about 1869 or 1870, Lang & Weil issued at Mooresville three
numbers of a paper called the Vindicator, which then died for the want
of breath. Prof. E. H. Dorland then took the office, with Benjamin
Dakin, and the sheet was issued successfully for about a year and a half
under the name Enterprise. P. T. Macy then bought the establishment,
and James H. Burke became editor, conducting it thus two or three
years, when Macy sold out to Charles McNichols, a young man yet in his
teens, who made a failure of the enterprise within a year, and the prop-
erty went back to Mr. Macy. Burke, who had gone to Ohio, came back
and took charge of the editorial department, and the paper became the
Herald. A. W. Handibo was connected with the office for a short time.
About 1874, Burke bought the paper and continued it until 1877, and
then sold out to E. F. Tennant, who ran the office until 18>0, when it
went to a stock company and became the Monitor. A. W. Macy, now
of the Martinsville Republican, became editor, but in September, 1881,
retired, and was succeeded by W. A. Hunt, the present editor and man-
ager. The paper has been Republican under all the managements, has
at present a larger circulation than ever before, and has a fair job and
advertising patronage.
Morgantown has enjoyed the luxury of several newspapers. In 1878,
William D. and John Eves began to issue a small neutral sheet, called
the Morgantown Qyclone. Unlike other storms of this nature, it created
36 HISTORV OF MORGAN COUNTY.
no destruction of life or property. After continuing a year or two, the
oflBce was sold and removed to Brown County. After an interval, the
same press was brought back, and George Allison, senior and junior,
started a new neutral paper called the Morgantown Sunshine. It seemed
so appropriate to have sunshine after a cyclone, that the contrast, as was
thought, would be so welcome that all would take the paper and contrib-
ute to its support. But the people seemed to love cyclone better than
sunshine, possibly after the theory that evil deeds seek the darkness, and
did not support the new paper as well as they did the old. The result
was its suspension. It was revived by R. M. Dill during the political
compaign of 1882, but it then died without prospect of future life. The
office was removed during the summer of 1883. ,
LIST OF RESIDENT ATTORNEYS.
Benjamin Bull, John Eakles, Larkin Reynolds, Sr., A. S. Griggs, Will-
iam G. Quick, William R. Harris, William P. Hammond, Daniel Mc ,
William W. Burns, Abraham A. Barrickman, Oliver R. Daugherty, Joseph
Barwick, Bazil Champer, William S. Shirlet, F. P. A. Phelps, C. F. Mc-
Nutt, George W. Grubbs, M. H. Parker, James H. Jordan, James V.
Mitchell. The above are among the more prominent of the older attor-
neys. A full list of the present legal practitioners will be found in another
chapter of this volume. The leading lawyers of the county seat at pres-
ent are F. P. A. Phelps, James V. Mitchell, James F. Cox, Levi Fer-
guson, Cyrus E. Davis, H. A. Smock, George A. Adams, John S. New-
by and A. W. Scott. Several of this number are young men just begin-
ning the practice of law. They are steadily gaining a lucrative practice.
A few attorneys of the town are long, lean and lank, pinched with slow
starvation, but with no fault except a hopeless and conspicuous mediocri-
ty. Mr. Cox is prominently mentioned in connection with the office of
District Attorney. There is also a strong sentiment from the county De-
mocracy to nominate him for Representative to the Legislature. No other
man of the county could make a stronger canvass.
IMPORTANT LEGAL CASES.
Several important decisions have been rendered at Martinsville. In
about 1852, a man named Flynn shot and killed Terrell. Before his
trial he broke jail and escaped, and his wife was tried as accessory before
the fact, and acquitted. A short time before the war, two men named
Burns and Sloan became involved in a drunken quarrel, which resulted in
the death of Sloan. Burns was tried and acquitted. During the war, a
Mr. Killian shot and killed a Mr.Hatley, but upon trial was acquitted. A
Mr. Gibson killed a man named Mann with a knife. Upon the first trial
he was sent to the penitentiary for twenty-one years, but upon the second
trial was acquitted. A few years ago two men named Price and Weamer,
living at Morgantown, engaged in an angry altercation, when Weamer was
killed by a blow on the head with a stone. Price was sent to
the penitentiary for life. The Tull-Rabb divorce suit about twelve years
ago attracted considerable attention. The celebrated divorce case of
Abbie McFarland vs. Hugh McFarland was tried in 1869, at the Morgan
County bar. It will be remembered that Hugh McFarland shot Albert
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 37
D. Richardson, the famous war correspondent of the New York Tribune^
for alleged improper relations with Mrs. Abbie McFarland. This led
to the divorce suit above mentioned, Mrs. McFarland then being a resi-
dent of Martinsville. Other important cases might be mentioned.
EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The first Justices of the Peace in Morgan County commissioned by
the Governor, were as follows : Larkin Reynolds, May, 1822 ; Samuel
Reed, May, 1822 ; James Burris, May, 1822 ; Hiram Mathews, May,
1822; Samuel Scott, July, 1822; Samuel Jessup, 1823; Thomas Hen-
ton, 1823 ; Josiah Drury, 1824 ; Benjamin Cutler, 1825 ; Thomas Reed,
1825; Jesse S. Rooker, 1825; Robert C. Stotts, 1825; William G.
Lear, 1826; Barclay Burris, 1826; John Mathews, 1826; Abraham
Fletcher, 1826; Samuel Wick, 1826; David Burris, 1827; Charles
Ventreese, 1827; William Landers, 1827; Cyrus Whetzel, 1827;
Ephraim Goss, 1827 ; Samuel Scott, 1827 ; Grant Stafford, 1827 ;
Henry Rats, 1828; David Withers, 1828; Abraham Lafevre, 1828 ;
Solomon Dunagin, 1828 ; Barclay Burris, 1828 ; William Bowles,
1828 ; William Ennis, 1828 ; James H. Lyon, 1829 ; Gideon Johnson,
1829; James Stotts, 1829; William Wilcox, 1829; Bernard Arnold,
1830 ; Thomas Hendeburgh, 1830 ; James Crawford, 1830 ; Mordecai D.
Miller, 1830 ; Daniel G. Worth, 1830 ; David Withers, 1831 ; Francis
Whitcher, 1831; William Burnett, 1831; George W. Baker, 1831;
William Cox, 1831; Daniel Vest, 1832: Johnson Burris, 1832; James
Newton, 1832 ; James W. Hayes, 1832'; Scott W. Young, 1832 ; Joel
Bean, 1833 ; Thomas McCarty, 1833 ; Charles B. Butler, 1833 ; Grant
Stafford, 1833 ; Isaac D. Hoffman, 1833 ; Jacob Seachrist, 1833 ; Will
iam Scott, 1833; Andrew Shell, 1833; Henry W. Brayrale, 1833
Joseph Summers, 1833 ; William Ennis, 1831 ; William Bowles, 1834
Alfred Mathews, 1834 ; James De Moss, 1834 ; Philip A. Foxworthy
1834 ; Nathan Langford, 1834 ; John Fee, 1834 ; Philip Zeigler, 1834
John W. Richards, 1834 ; Jacob Ellis, 1835 ; Gideon Johnson, 1835
Abraham Stutesman, 1836 ; Henry McAllister, 1836 ; Jesse Bradley
1836 ; Edward Bowman, 1836 ; D. W. Howe, 1836 ; David Lake, 1836
James Blair, 1836; Thomas Donagan, 1836; John B. Maxwell, 1836
Robert A. Campbell, 1836.
COUNTY JUSTICES AND COMMISSIONERS.
The Justices of the Peace in the county served as a County Board
until the fall of 1830, when three County Commissioners were elected.
The names of the Justices may be seen on another page of this volume.
The first County Commissioners were Joshua Taylor, B. Burris and
Ezekiel Slaughter. Among other Commissioners of the thirties, forties
and fifties, were Jonathan Lyon, Philip Hodges, G. W. Baker, B. Burris,
John Hadley, Joshua Taylor, Hewett Nutter, Andrew Whitesett, Will-
iam B. Taylor, John Hubbard, John Williams, Van R. King and Samuel
Rooker. Later came Aaron St. John, Lemuel Gentry, Jacob Adams,
John E. Greer, Rice E. Brown, Ephraim Hodges, C. Mathis ; John
Fesler, 1868; John L. Knox, 1869; John L. Knox, 1870; Joshua
Wooden, 1870 ; John A. Watkins, 1871 ; Robert Smith, 1872 ; J. C.
68 HISTORY OF xMORGAN COUNTY.
Rhea, 1873 ; Madison Avery, 1874 ; W. S. Beeson, 1875 ; Albert R.
Taylor, 1876 ; W. M. Duckworth, 1877 ; Calvin Mathews, 1878 : Will-
iam Rinker, 1879 ; John K. Coffman, 1880 ; John F. Hadley, 1881 ;
H. A. Staley, 1882 ; Thomas Singleton, 1883.
AUDITORS.
This was not a separate office until Benjamin Bull was elected and
commissioned in about 1840 ; Milton Guthridge, 1844 ; Barclay Burrows,
1848 ; W. J. Manker, 1856 ; W. A. S. Mitchell, 1862 ; Robert Johnson,
1866 ; Salem A. Tilford, 1870 ; John Williams, 1874 ; William G. Bain,
1878 ; George W. Prosser, 1882.
George H. Beeler, 1822; George A. Phelps, 1828; Hannibal R.
Stevens, 1833, vice Phelps (deceased) ; Stephen McCracken, 1840 ;
James Jackson, 1842 ; 0. R. Daugherty, 1849 ; Jefferson K. Scott, 1855 ;
* * * * J. J. Johnston, 1863 ; John Hardrick, 1867 ; Joseph
W. Pearcy, 1870 ; Willis Record, 1872 ; Samuel K. Harryman, 1876 ;
Thomas B. Mitchell, 1877 ; H. C. Hodges, 1878 ; John Hardrick, 1882.
RECORDERS.
George H. Beeler, 1822 ; G. A. Phelps, 1828 ; Hannibal R. Stevens,
1833; Stephen McCracken, 1840; Hiram T. Craig, 1857; J. W.
Andrew, 1865 ; H. T. Craig, 1870 ; W. W. Kennedy, 1876 ; William G.
Garrison, 1876 ; Henry H. Olds, 1882.
SHERIFFS.
James Bigger, January 1, 1822 ; Benjamin Cutler, January 16,
1822 ; Thomas L. Galpin, 1824 ; George A. Phelps, 1826 ; Thomas L.
Galpin, 1828 ; Hiram W. Craig, 1830 ; Jonathan Williams. 1834 ; H.
T. Craig, 1838 ; Jonathan Hunt, 1840; William Williams, 1842 ; Joseph
M. Worthington, 1844; T. P. A. Phelps, 1846; Joseph Johnson, 1850;
P. B. McCoy, 1851 ; Richard A. Williams, 1852 ; William Killian, 1856;
William E. Tansey, 1859 ; Henry Sims, 1860 ; William Hynds, 1862 ;
Willis Record, 1866 ; William W. Kennedy, 1870 ; Thomas Dixon, 1874 ;
John C. Comer, 1878; Wiley S. Haltour, 1882.
SURVEYORS.
Charles Beeler, 1822; William Hadley, 1822 ; * * * H.
T. Craig, 1852 ; J. S. Hoagland, 1855 ; Caleb F. Greenwood, 1857 ;
Jeremiah Hadley, 1859 ; Joseph T. Moore, 1861 ; Jonathan Hale, 1863 ;
Benjamin T. Butler, 1865 ; Isaac Jones, 1874 ; William H. Miller,
1875 ; Edgar A. Bourne, 1878 ; Mathew Mathews, 1882 ; Spencer
Hiatt, 1882.
TREASURERS.
James Shields, 1822; Noah Allison, 1825; John Sims, 1830; J. M.
Mitchell, 1838; John A. Graham, 1844; * * * John R. Roberts,
1852; Allen H. Burrows, 1854; John L. Knox, 1856; Ebenezer Hen-
derson, 1860; Jacob Adams, Sr., 1862; Jacob Adams, Sr., 1864; J.
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 39
R. Shelton, 1866; J. R. Shelton, 1868 ; George W. Egbert, 1870 ; John
N. Gregory, 1872; John N. Gregory, 1874; Jonathan Hadley, 1876;
Lemuel Guthridge, 1877 ; Elliott F. Branch, 1878 ; Elliott F. Branch,
1880; Charles Seaton, 1882.
CORONERS.
George Crutchfield, 1822; Samuel Scott, 1824; William Wilson,
1831; Richard S. Jones, 1888; Septimus T. Whiteman, 1839; Austin
Carr, 1839 ; Septimus T. Whiteman, 1839 ; Harvey Sheppard, 1841 ;
Sammerly G. Cunningham, 1843, who did not qualify ; J. H. Sheppard,
1843; Richard P. Johnson, 1844; Thomas Hardwick, 1846; Lloyd
Lee, 1848; C. R. Burk, 1849; Perminter M. Parks, 1849; Thomas S.
Phelps, 1850 ; Hiram Whetzel, 1851 ; E. T. Harryman, 1852 ; Andrew
T. Wellman, 1855 ; William Haase, 1856 ; Joseph Bradley, 1859 ;
Allen S. Seaton, 1860 ; Lloyd Lee, 1861 ; Harvey Baker, 1864 ; Har-
vey Chandler, 1866; Charles S. Twiss, 1868; P. R. xMarshall, 1870;
Thomas Singleton, 1872; Patrick Cane, 1874; H. C. Robertson, 1876;
Samuel N. Bundell, 1878; Elijah P. Ritchey, 1880; William A.
Hodges, 1882.
PROBATE JUDGES.
Hiram Mathews, 1829 ; Benjamin Bull, 1833 ; Solomon Dunegan,
1834 ; Algernon S. Griggs, 1841 ; George F. Waterman, 1844 ; John
W. Richards, 1846. (This office was abolished in 1852.)
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Jacob Cutler and John Gray, March 13, 1822 ; Samuel Reed, vice
Gray, 1824 ; Jared Olds, vice Reed, 1827 ; James Burns, 1827, vice
Cutler ; John Mathews, 1829 ; Benjamin Bull, 1833, vice Mathews ;
Solomon Donegan, 1834 ; Jonathan Hoffman, 1834. vice Burns ; Jesse
S. Rooker, 1836 ; Jonathan Hoffman, 1836 ; George Miller, 1842, vice
Huffman ; J. S. Kooker, 1842 ; Thomas McClure, 1842 ; Hiram Math-
ews, 1843, vice Rooker, deceased ; William Landers, 1849 ; Hiram
Mathews, 1849. (This office was abolished in about 1852.)
PRESIDENT JUDGES OF CIRCUIT COURT.
William W. Wick, 1822; Bethuel F. Morris, March, 1825, vice
Wick, resigned ; William W. Wick, 1834 ; James Morrison, 1839
David McDonald, 1842 ; James Hughes, 1853 ; J. M. Hanna, 1856
Solomon Claypool, 1859 ; Delaney R. Eckles, 1860 ; — Franklin, 1864
John C. Robinson, 1876 ; A. M. Cunning, 1882.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.
William G. Quick, 1853 ; George A. Buskirk, 1857 ; 0. J. Gless-
ner, 1865; T. W. Woolen, 1869; Richard L. Coffee, 1871. (This court
was created in 1852, and abolished in 1873.)
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.
The early examiners are unknown. H. T. Craig, 1854, two years ;
40 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Eb Henderson, 1856, two years; John Story, 1858, two years; B. D.
Blackstone, 18G0, five years ; Jonathan H. Henry, 1865, six months ;
Samuel S. Griffitt, 1865, two years and six months ; J. H. Henry, 1868,
eight months ; S. S. Griffitt, 1869, two years and four months ; Robert
M. Garrison, 1871, one year and four months; Hiram N. Short, 1872,
three years; R. V. Marshal, 1875, two years; H. N. Short, 1877, two
years; S. S. Griffitt, 1879, two years; E. W. Paxson, 1881, to date.
OLD settlers' association.
Morgan County has no organization of this character except
in connection with other counties. In 1869, a call was circulated through-
out the county for the organization of an old settlers' society, the meet-
ing to be held at Mooresville, and other counties were invited to partici-
pate. The call was signed by hundreds, and, in 1870, the first meeting
was held on the fair ground at that town. An enormous crowd assem-
bled from Marion, Hendricks, Owen, Johnson and Morgan Counties, and
a most enjoyable time was passed. The meeting was held on the 9th of
August, and James Blake, of Marion County, was President of the Day,
and Fielding Beeler, Secretary. Meetings have been held annually since.
As high as 10,000 people have assembled. The old settlers have no ex-
cuse in not recording their experiences. They recount their personal ex-
perience of early times to one another, but neglect to have a competent
scribe put it in writing, and thus the incidents so full of interest to their
descendants and so valuable, by way of example, to the growing popula-
tion and the coming thousands, are lost irretrievably. Such neglect
should cease. If necessary a collection of $10 should be taken on the
grounds and paid to some competent man to take a brief of everything
said, and then write it out in full in proper record books. Don't forget
this!
COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.
When the county was first organized it was compelled to issue
" orders " to meet the necessary expenses. The court houses of 1824
and 1834 were built in this way, the orders being afterward taken up as
the county funds allowed. Probably the first issue of real county bonds
was when the present combined court house and jail was built. They
were not wholly redeemed until after the rebellion. Smaller issues were
afterward sold to secure ready means to build various bridges. When the
new poor farm was bought and a new poor house built, about thirteen
years ago, more bonds were sold. In June, 1873, the Commissioners
sold 160,000 worth of county bonds to secure funds to build bridges
over White River, at Waverly, and at the county seat, and to fence the
court house square with iron. In 1876, they ordered $50,000 new bonds
issued and sold to refund at a lower rate of interest the old bonds which
were drawing ten per centum interest, the other $10,000 having been
paid before. The county farm bond debt raised the entire bond debt to
about $75,000. In May, 1882, the outstanding bonds amounted to
$60,500, which sum, in December, 1882, was reduced to about $50,000,
the present county bond debt.
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 41
RECEIPTS FOR 1822.*
June 29, from G. W. Preston, County Agent $364 02
June 29, from Jonathan Lyon, store license 20 00
August 5, from Christopher Ladd, tavern license 10 00
November 20, from Benjamin Cutler, County Collector. . . 103 81
November 20, from G. M. Beeler, tax on court writs 2 50
November 20, from delinquent tax collected 45
Total 500 78
EXPENSES FOR 1822.
August 4, cash paid County Justices $364 02
November, cash paid out on orders 103 81
Total $467 83
RECEIPTS FOR 1823.
February 11, from G. W. Preston, County Agent $54 00
April — , from Joshua Taylor, tavern license 10 00
May 29, from the County Collector 147 12
June 29, from Jonathan Lyon, store license 20 00
August 11, from G. W. Preston, i County Agent 165 91
September 20, from Jonathan Lyon, store license 20 00
October 4, from Samuel Moore, store license 12 00
October 4, from John Sims, tavern license 10 00
October 4, from Christopher Ladd, tavern license 10 00
November 6, from T. L. Galpin, County Collector 136 87
November 6, from Robert Bradshaw, ferry license 5 00
Total $590 90
EXPENSES FOR 1823.
February — , cash paid to County Justices $135 31
August — , cash paid to County Justices. 219 41
November — , cash paid on county orders 141 87
Total $496 59
The cash receipts for 1825 amounted to $665.56, and the expenses
to $660.36, exclusive of outstanding orders. The indebtedness of the
county was nearly $200. The outstanding orders were at a slight dis-
count, and were current funds in almost all transactions. The cash re-
ceipts for 1826 were $540.93, of which $218.20 was county revenue,
$229.61 was from the sale of town lots, and $64.25 from merchandise
and liquor licenses. The cash expenses for 1826 were $260.22. The
cash receipts for the year 1827, exclusive of the county revenue, were
$297.60. The county revenue was $241.08 ; the merchandise and liquor
licenses, $72.50 ; from the sale of lots, $178.03. The cash expenses
were $522.57, a few outstanding orders being taken up. The total cash
receipts for 1828 were $742.62, of which $241.13 was county revenue ;
$71.25 merchants' and liquor sellers' licenses ; $425.23 from the sale of
county lots. The cash expenses for 1828 were $794.46, more of the
outstanding orders being called in. The total cash receipts and expenses
of the county for the year 1829 were in full, as follows :
RECEIPTS FOR 1829.
January 5, from James Crawford, County Agent $74 50
January 5, from G. H. Beeler, tax on court writs 4 00
January 5, T. L. Galpin and P. Dicken, fees 4 50
* Taken from the Treasurer's ledger. This record does not include outstanding orders. The
county was really in debt at the end of each year.
42 ~ HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
January 5, from G. A. Phelps, County Collector 269 85
January 6, from James Crawford, County Agent 44 39
February 3, from C. Ladd, estray 8 50
February 10. from William Lander, estray 2 87
February 3, from G. H. Beeler, jurors' fees 13 50
February 9, from John Craig, liquor license 5 00
February 18, from Silas Stapp, merchandise license ..... 10 00
May 1, from James Crawford, County Agent 271 85
May 4, from G. A. Phelps, delinquent revenue 131 29
May 4, from Barclay Burris, grocery license 5 00
May 4, from John Hurst, liquor license 5 00
May 13, from Samuel Drake, merchandise license. 2 50
August 10, from T. L. Galpin, estray 7 12
September 1, from Sims & Drake, store license 1 66
September 1, from Washburn & Co., merchandise license 1 10
September 1, from Worth & Kelly, store license 10 00
September 1, from Samuel Moore, store license 10 00
November 12, from Sims & Drake, store license 10 00
November 13, from Washburn & Co., store license 10 00
November 13, from G. A. Phelps, County Collector 170 00
Total 11,072 63
EXPENSES FOR 1829.
January 6, cash paid to County Justices $427 24
April — , cash paid on sundry orders 11 37
May 5, cash paid to County Justices 271 85
May 5, cash paid to County Justices 169 79
November 9. cash paid on sundry orders 39 38
Total $919 63
The cash receipts and expenses for 1834 were in full as follows :
RECEIPTS FOR 1834.
January 4, from John Sims, store license $10 00
January 6, from Clerk, jury fees 13 50
January 6, interest on $200 loaned 16 64
January 6, from County Collector 655 68
January 22, from James Cunningham, store license 10 00
January 30, from Hiram Whetzel, grocery license 81
January 30, from M. D. Miller, estray 4 50
February 1, from Reuben Lambert, estray 1 75
February 3, from Caleb Staggerwalt, estray 1 75
February 7, from Clerk for jury fees 13 50
March 7, from Cyrus Whetzel, grocery license 1 66
April 17, from J. D. Fogg, circus riding 10 00
April 25, from R. L. Jones, grocery license 31
May 5, from H. R. Stevens, jury fees 9 00
May 5, from Hiram Whetzel, grocery license 10 00
May 5, from County Collector 65 00
May 12, from R. L. Jones, grocery license 3 34
May 19, from J. M. Mitchell, merchandise license 3 33
June 3, from John Fee, merchandise license 2 50
June 13, from Samuel Moore, store license 10 00
June 17, from H. R. Stevens, jury fees 13 50
July 17, from Miller & Co., exhibiting animals 5 00
July 22, from Michael Stockwell, grocery license 1 10
July 23, from Gideon Johnson, merchandise license 1 10
August 8, from Eplinger, estray 1 00
August 11, from S. Butler & Co., exhibiting animals 5 00
August 24, from John Weathers, estrays 26 00
September 2, from Gideon Johnson, store license 1 75
September 2, from John Fee, store license 10 00
September 4, from J. M. Mitchell, store license 10 00
September 17, from William Scott, store license 7 50
October 1, from Samuel & Henry Lawrence, grocery license 87
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
43
October 4, from Michael Stockwell, grocery license 81
October 9, from Jonathan Williams, estray 4 34
October 22, from Kelly & Worth, store license 10 00
October 22, from County Collector 172 53
November 3, from Lawrence Brothers, grocery license 10 00
November 7, from John Sims, estray 1 50
November -, from County Collector 53 00
November 3, from interest on $100 loaned 8 32
November 4, from J. W. Blankenship, grocery license 10 00
December 19, from Avery McGee, liquor license 37
December 20, from John Warren, liquor license 41
December 24, from John Cox, liquor license 25
December 26, from William Hasty, estrays 12 50
Total $1,210 12
EXPENSES FOR 1834.
January 8, cash paid to County Commissioners $ 795 57
January 8, cash paid on sundry orders 20 21
November 3, cash paid to County Commissioners 890 07
Total $1,705 85
This exhibit illustrates two important facts : 1. Money had previous-
ly accumulated in the treasury. 2. The county was either paying off old
outstanding orders, or was engaged in some public improvement, as, for
instance on the county buildings, or perhaps both. The total cash re-
ceipts for 1839 were as follows :
RECEIPTS FOR 1839.
January 3, from H. R. Stevens, jury fees $ 54 00
January 7, from W. Sheerer, County Agent 34 20
January 8, from Gideon Johnson, store license 5 00
January 8, from John Haines, grocery license 25 00
January 22, from S. L. Graham, estrays 75
January 22, from E. Pinswanger, store license 50
January 22, from A. Worth, store license 5 00
January 23, from H. C. Martin, store license 1 00
February 7, from E. St. John, store license 4 20
February 8, from H. Hamilton, store license 3 10
February 16, from Wiley Gregory, store license 1 04
February 18, from H. Collins, estrays 3 00
February 26, from John Hadden, estrays 6 00
March 5, from County Agent 43 80
March 5, from J. S. Killy, store license 5 00
March 5, from S. R. Trower, store license 5 06
March 6, from Wiley Gregory, grocery license 25 00
March 13, from L. M. R. Pumphrey, grocery license 4 00
March 18, from Samuel Moore & Co., merchandise license 83
April 2, from W. Sheerer, County Agent 47 23
April 13, from Craig & Major, merchandise license 33
April 13, from S. T. Durin, clock license 3 15
April 16, from L. D. Pond, wooden clock license 3 12
April 23, from H. Nespum, grocery license 18
May 6, from County Agent 35 00
May 6, from John Sims, store license ; 5 00
May 6, from N. Edwards & Co., store license 2 50
May 6, from Hadley & Bales, store license 2 50
May 11, from John Crandall, clock license 15 88
May 24, from Sluss, grocery license 1 37
June 27, from S. Moore & Co., merchandise license 1 66
June 28, from Otenstine & Goldsmith, merchandise license 83
July 15, from John Hudeburgh, grocery license 3 12
August 1, from David Wise, grocery license 44
August 5, from EHis Wise, grocery license 44
August 7, from D. P. Morris, grocery license 44
3
44 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
August 19, from A. B. Arnold, grocery license 31
September 3, from Hadley & Bales, store license 2 50
September 9, from G. N. Walbridge, store license 75
September 11, from John Buckner, store license 75
September 11, from John E. Clark, store license 75
September 16, from John Hudeburgh, store license 3 12
September 18, from P. M. Parks, store license 1 25
September 18, from J. M. & S. M. Mitchell, store license 83
September 30, from W. O. Fee, store license 84
November 4, from N. Edwards & Co., store license 2 50
November 4, from W. O. Fee, store license 5 00
November 4, from J. M. & S. M. Mitchell, store license . . 5 00
November 4, from P. B. McCoy, grocery license 25 00
November 4, from County Agent 50 00
December 14, from John Hudeburgh, gi-ocery license 1 00
December 14, from Samuel Moore & Co., mdse. license 83
December 31, from L. Goldsmith, merchandise license. . . 12
From poll tax on 1,496 polls 748 00
From property tax on $1,428,856 1,428 85
From road tax on non-residents 105 50
From county tax on ferries 24 00
From sundry delinquent collections 26 62
From interest on money loaned 34 20
Total $2,814 39
In 1840, the tax on 1,584 polls was $792, and the tax on $1,411,084
worth of property was $1,411.08. The ferry license amounted to $21.50.
The cash receipts of the county from June, 1841, to June, 1845,
amounted to $22,136.08. This included county revenue, proceeds of the
sale of lots, merchants' license, ferry and grocery license, jury fees, estray
receipts, seminary fund, interest on surplus revenue and various inci-
dental receipts. The cash expenses for the same period were $23,959.67.
The total receipts for the year ending June, 1849, were $8,954.84, and
the total expenses $6,332.02. The receipts for the year ending June,
1851, were $10,374.13, and the expenses $8,967.33. The receipts for
the year ending June, 1855, were $11,778.89, and the expenses were
$9,098.19. Receipts for fiscal year 1857, were $24,078.27, less $6,681.85
on hand at the beginning of the year, and the expenses were $17,828.30.
For the fiscal year 1862, the receipts were $21,374.09, and the expenses
$21,164.39. In 1867, the total receipts were $49,077.63, and the total
expenses $56,641.75. For the fiscal year 1875, the orders issued during
the year amounted to $33,749.53, there being outstanding orders at the
beginning of the year $5,374.51. The outstanding bonds amounted to
$60,000, making the total indebtedness $99,124.04. The orders re-
deemed during the year were $29,258.35. So much of the indebtedness
was paid off in 1876 that the Treasurer's statement showed that $156.48
had been overdrawn. For the fiscal year 1879, there was on hand at
the beginning of the year $7,065.81. The total receipts exclusive of this
amount were $27,236. The total expenses, less $7,703.49 remaining in
the treasury, were $26,598.32. The total receipts for the fiscal year
1881 were $128,248.70, exclusive of $59,043.46 remaining in the treas-
ury at the commencement of the year, and the total expenses were $131,-
159.38, there being a balance in the treasury at the end of the year of
$56,132.78.
SUNDRY STATISTICAL ITEMS.
The receipts for merchants' license, from June, 1841, to June, 1844,
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 45
were $168.35. County officers were paid $2,341.10 from June, 1842, to
June, 1844. The county paupers cost $1,585.72 from June, 1842, to
June, 1843, and $529.61 from June, 1845, to December, 1845. County
officers cost $664.48 from June, 1844, to June, 1845. For the fiscal year
1849, merchants' licenses brought $139.17, and the seminary fund re-
ceipts were $410.93. County officers cost $651.65 in 1842,* the poor
$250.30, county buildings $1,855.20, elections $58.25, roads and high-
ways $90.10, jurors' fees $472.74, specific allowances $811.90, and
criminals $85.57. The total receipts for 1848 were $10,806.90, and the
total expenses $9,146.82. The county revenue was $4,925.44. In 1858,
the receipts were $9,517.19, and the expenses $8,515.64. Countv officers
cost $522.40 in 1848, and $797.82 in 1851, and $1,525.75 in 1853. The
poor cost $485.27 in 1848, and $485.38 in 1851, and $580.51 in 1853.
The cash receipts for the year ending June, 1849, were $8,954.84,
and the expenses $6,332.02. Of the receipts, $139.17 was from mer-
chants' license, $410.93 was seminary fund; county revenue, $5,063.02.
Of the expenses, $552.99 was for the poor,$585.25 was for county officers,
and $100 was tuition in the County Seminary. The cash receipts for
the year ending June, 1851, were $10,374.13, and the expenses $8,967.33.
The receipts from merchants' license were $157.50 ; for the seminary
fund, $138.88; for county revenue, $1,419.33; district school tax, $384.42.
The expense included $799.82 for county officers, $485.38 for pau-
pers ; for bridges, $283. The receipts for the year ending June, 1852,
were $7,701.25; expenses, $9,132.62. The paupers cost $714.26, and
the county officers $1,026.71. The receipts for the year ending June,
1855, were $11,778.89, of which $9,226.32 was county revenue. The
expenses were $9,098.19, of which $2,457.64 was for county officers-,
$100 for agricultural society, $920.08 for the poor. The receipts for the
year, ending June, 1857, were $24,078.27, of which $7,669.76 was
county revenue, $6,378.38 for schoolhouses. There was in the treasury
at the beginning of the year $6,681.85. The expenses were $17,828.30,
of which $1,977.15 was for county officers, $926.02 for paupers, $100
for the agricultural society, and $7,273.75 for schools.
In 1858, public buildings cost $10,229.66 ; the paupers, $995.11 ;
county officers, $1,198.79 ; the agricultural society, $130. In 1861,
the poor cost $1,107.86; county officers, $1,241.91; the agricultural
society, $125, and the military, $20.50. For the years 1858, 1859 and
1860, county buildings cost $27,076.73. In 1865, county officers cost
$1,476.85; the poor, $2,656.58 ; the military, $18,375.12; the agri-
cultural society, $215 ; county bounty, $3,530. The county revenue
amounted to $50,836.03. In 1866, the poor cost $5,140.04, and in
1867 cost $2,304.89. In 1876, the total poor expense was $9,375.15;
bridges cost $9,696.90 ; county officers, $8,683.73. In 1878, the poor
cost $8,835.93; county officers, $6,342.35 ; orphans, $628.37. The total
receipts were $41,910, including $10,381.12 on hand ; the expenses were
$34,894.71. In 1881, the poor expenses were $7,768.03, also $3,253.24
on the house and farm ; county officers cost $7,344.43 ; county bounty,
$4,513.74: jurors' fees, $1,824.89.
♦Hereafter the year referred to will mean the fiscal year, expiring the 31st of May of the date mentioned.
46 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
The following is the Auditor's report for the fiscal year ending
May 31, 1883:
RECEIPTS.
Balance in treasury June 1, 1882 $43,651 20
County revenue 41,076 03
Fines and forfeitures 709 48
Congressional interest 1,092 05
Gravel road fund 1,120.64
Liquor license 400 00
Docket fees 10 60
Dog tax fund 656 66
Common school principal 3,384 16
State revenue 210 00
Township revenue 5,653 68
Road fund - 14,250 57
Redemption of land sold for tax 2,049 18
Tax refunder 1,767 51
Common school tuition 17,055 15
Special school fund 15,300 08
Common school interest 2,764 24
Highway damages 200 00
Local tuition fund 13,013 78
M. & R. F. Gravel Road 98 36
Bond interest 3,688 84
Bond principal 7,060 95
Bridge fund 747 02
Town bond fund 412 76
M. & M. Gravel Road 2,765 68
T. S. & M. Co. Line Gravel Road 9,850 00
M. & J. Co. Line Gravel Road 1,700 00
Congressional school fund 1,107 00
Total $191,795 61
STATEMENT OF FUNDS IN TREASURY.
County revenue $7,250 52
Township fund 2,766 58
Road revenue 13,871 85
Redemption of land 843 26
Special school tax 8,489 61
Gravel road fund 609 73
Common school principal 651 46
Common school interest 464 40
Local tuition tax 7,120 91
M. & R. F. Gravel Road 341 08
Bond interest 6,569 48
Bond principal 923 44
Town bond fund 14 86
M. & M. Gravel Road 1,517 13
T. S. & M. Co. Line Gravel Road 1,082 50
Congressional school principal 1,107 22
Total $53,624 03
LESS AMOUNTS OVERDRAWN.
State revenue $ 52 00
Tax refunders 110 55
Congressional fund interest 2,227 73
Bridge fund 1,814 05
Salt Lick Gravel Road 65 05
M. & C. V. Gravel Road 90 65
M. & B. Gravel Road. 113 45
M. & J. Co. L. Gravel Road 66 99— $4,540 47
Amount in treasury subject to draft. May 31, 1883 $49,088 56
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 47
EXPENDITURES.
COUNTY FUNDS.
Fee and salary of officers $4,902 44
Jurors and boarding jurors 3,009 25
Expenses of Poor Asylum, Orphans' Home and interest
on Poor Farm debt 5,674 31
Specific 1,526 87
Criminal expense 1, 784 91
Commissioners' Court 743 60
Coroner's inquest 257 85
Roads and highways 275 10
County Superintendent 856 00
Books, stationery, printing, etc 2,864 34
Assessing revenue 1,895 90
Insanity 287 01
Fuel 368 41
Bridges 649 74
Temporary poor 7,396 50
Bailiffs, Circuit Court 886 50
County Attorney 364 50
Board of Health 363 70
Election expenses 87 80
County bounty 145 95
County institute 50 00
Procuring field notes and plat of county 250 00
Interest on county orders.. 219 63
Insurance 75 00
Change of venue 68 40
Total expenditures $34,953 71
OTHER FUNDS.
Fines and forfeitures $709 48
Congressional interest 1,621 04
Gravel road fund 510^91
Liquor license 1,400 00
Docket fees 10 60
Dog tax fund 1,488 76
Common school principal 3,910 00
State revenue 130 00
Township revenue 6,313 85
Road fund 9,069 97
Redemption of land 2,405 99
Tax refunder 1,854 84
Common school tuition 17,055 15
Special school fund 14,895 62
Common school interest 2,635 29
Highway damages 200 00
Local tuition 13,075 09
M. & R. F. Gravel Road 555 50
Bond interest 2,760 00
Bond principal 10,500 00
Bridgefund 2,56107
Townbond fund 878:37
M. &. M. Gravel Road 607 55
T. S. & M. Co. Line Gravel Road 8,667 00
M. & J. Co. Line Gravel Road 1,766 99
Congressional school principal 1,971 17
M. & B. Gravel Road 113 45
M. & C. V. Gravel Road 90 65
Balance in treasury May 31, 1883 49,083 56
Total $191,795 61
48 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
TEMPERANCE WORK.
For the following facts in relation to the temperance work done in
Morgan County, the publishers are indebted to the contribution of E. J.
Sumner, Es<|., a resident for nearly fifty years of the vicinity of Moores-
ville, and a prominent worker in the temperance cause. The contributor
divides the treatment of the subject into three periods — the first extend-
ing to the year 1839, the second to the year 1872, and the third to 1884:
During the first period, it wfes conceded by the advocates of temper-
ance that the drinking of spirits as a beverage was not to be condemned,
provided it was not carried to drunkenness, which was denounced as a
vice ; during the second period the temperance men took a step further
and declared that not only was drunkenness a vice, but that the only safe
way of avoiding that vice, was by total abstinence from the use of intoxi-
cants as a beverage ; during the third period, the approved method of
urging the temperance cause was by declaring that the only protection for
the individual and for society from the vice of drunkenness was through
the Constitution and by legislative prohibition of the liquor traffic. The
word temperance herein used applies only to the use of intoxicating
drinks, and not in its general sense of the proper or moderate use of law-
ful things.
The neighborhood of Mooresville was principally settled by immi-
grants from North Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky, and however much they
might differ on other subjects, the prevailing opinion among them was
that intemperance consisted only in getting drunk, and not in the use of
intoxicants as a beverage, and consequently neighbors drank together in
public without reproach during the first period of nineteen years. The
country around was settled mostly by Friends, Baptists and Episcopal
Methodists, and during the first period the work of temperance was car-
ried on. entirely through the churches. The Friends were largely pre-
dominant, and were proverbial for sobriety. Their church discipline was
excellent as far as the use of distilled spirits was concerned, but was lax
as to the use of fermented drinks ; the Baptists held that true temperance
consisted in the moderate use of alcoholic drinks, while the Methodists,
and more especially the itinerant preachers, taught that the only remedy
for drunkenness was the total abstinence from all intoxicating liquor, and
thus every Methodist society became an embryo temperance association.
All through this first period small distilleries and drinking saloons were
common ; drunkenness and fighting were inevitable on election day, and
indeed whisky was quite a factor at the polls.
About the beginning of the second period, in 1839, there were added
to the temperance force the Disciples Church, the Total Abstinence
Society, the Washingtonians, the Sons of Temperanc.e and the Good
Templars ; but many Friends had considered fermented drinks harmless,
and the honest but mistaken father would think he had mistreated a
neighbor or calling friend had he failed to ofi"er him a cup of cider or of
domestic wine, and the boys would make merry with their companions
over a mug of cider when occasion seemed to require, yet the Friends
were looked upon as bright examples of temperance, the other churches
and organizations not being any further advanced in the temperance
cause. But now a great revival was inaugurated by the Methodists, and
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 49
the sale of liquor abated, and the selling and drinking of whisky became
very unpopular. The Disciples were energetic and their preachers were
among the most eloquent in advocating the temperance cause. All the
total-abstinent societies named above were zealous in their work, and con-
verts were made at all points.
At the beginning of the third period, the various temperance societies
were absorbed by the Independent Order of Good Templars, and in the
fall of 1872, memorials began to be forwarded to the Legislature praying
for prompt penal legislation for the suppression of the sale of intoxicating
beverages ; as a result, the Baxter law was passed. The enforcement of
this law met with strenuous opposition, and, strangely enough, much of
that opposition came from a few leading members of the Society of
Friends. However, since the great Methodist revival of 1839, drinking
saloons have been quite unpopular, and none of those started could sur-
vive over a few weeks at a time. Some have been closed by legal process,
some by moral suasion, and some have been suppressed by violence.
Among the latest at Mooresville, one was abolished in July, 1883,
through the efforts of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and one
which was opened immediately after in the same building was legally ex-
terminated about the 20th of October, 1883. No drinking saloon now
exists in the town, and the traffic in liquor is generally held as disreput-
able.
50 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
MILITARY HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.
THE OLD MILITIA SYSTEM.
FROM the formation of the county to the rebelhon of 1861-65, the
old militia system, which had done such excellent service during aH
the previous Indian border wars, was permitted to almost wholly die out
in Indiana, owing to a protracted period of profound peace. A more or
less nominal organization was carried on in Morgan County, and annual
musters were enjoyed by large and motley crowds, more intent on frolic
and roystering than improvement in military discipline. Aside from this,
the military spirit of the people quietly slumbered until roused by the
war with Mexico. The following, however, is a partial list of the soldiers
of the war of 1812-15 who afterward resided in Morgan County : George
Pattorff, Samuel Harryman, Benjamin Mugg, Spencer McDaniel, old
man Tull, William Worthen, John Robb, Fonville, Tobias Butler
and others.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
In 1846, immediately after the call of the President for volunteers,
a company was organized at Martinsville for the war with Mexico. The
services of the company were tendered the Governor just one month after
the call for volunteers had been issued. The ofiBcers were John W. Cox,
Captain ; Pleasant Williams, First Lieutenant ; James W. Ford, Second
Lieutenant; and the company was styled the "Morgan County Rangers."
But so great was the rush from every county in the State to get into the
service that the company was too late, and was rejected, though five or six
afterward entered other companies. The following men, who at some
period were residents of Morgan County, served in the Mexican war,
though but few went from the county directly into the war, the greater
number going from other countiea and States: Owen G. Williams and
Lawrence C. Williams, with Gen. Taylor ; David Nowlen, same ; William
Mabee, with Gen. Scott, shot through the hand ; Charles Stoker, with
Scott, was under fire twenty-two times ; Stephen and Jackson Bales,
Larkin Jones, William Crum, John Coifey, Y. J. Robinson, John Gless-
ner, E. T. Harryman, Hadley, Wilson, Lash, and no
doubt several others.
OPENING SCENES OF THE GREAT REBELLION.
It is unnecessary to give a summary of the causes which led to the
rebellion of 1861-65. During the five years previous to the breaking-out
of the war, the interest in Morgan County ran to fever heat. The ele-
ments of political feeling were sharp and distinct. Many of the citizens
had formerly been residents of the South, and a strong regard for the
land of their birth and childhood led them into open sympathy with their
former friends. On the contrary, many others were Abolitionists, with
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 51
scarcely an instinct or a thought in common either with the Southern
people'^or their Northern sympathizers. This condition of things gave the
county all shades of opinion on the impending crisis. Late in the fifties,
the two parties, Democrat and Republican, were almost equal in the
county in point of numbers. The Presidential campaign of 1860 was
bitterly fought, with the following result : Republicans, 1,755 ; Douglas
Democrats, 1,516; Breckenridge Democrats, 62; Union candidates, 15.
This was a Republican gain of 218 votes over the Presidential election of
1856, and greatly encouraged the party in the county. Soon after the
news had been received of the passage of ordinances of secession by
South Carolina, a mass meeting of the party was called to meet at the
court house in Martinsville on the 29th of December, 1860, on which
occasion several thousand persons assembled to take into consideration the
state of the country. Hon. A. S. Griggs was made President, and Sims
Major, Secretary, and the following committee was appointed to draft
resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting: W. H. Craig, T. J.
Worth, A. A. Barrickman, Thomas Freeman, S. D. Ruckle, S. A. Til-
ford and Aaron St. John. While this committee was at work, the meet-
ing was addressed by the President, and by Dr. J. J. Wright and others.
A long series of resolutions was then adopted, asserting that the Chicago
platform was just; that the deplorable state of the country was due to
the Democratic administration of Buchanan which desired to carry slavery
into all the Territories; that the termination of Buchanan's reign would
be hailed with joy : that the Union must be perpetuated at all hazards,
and that secession was treason, and should be rigidly dealt Avith. The
meeting was very enthusiastic.
About the middle of February, 1861, a strong Union meeting was held
in Gregg Township, J. B. Hinkle acting as Chairman and H. K. Spen-
cer, Secretary. Dr. J. P. Rader, D. Seaton and H. K. Spencer were
appointed to draft resolutions. These stated as the sense of the meeting
that the administration of Mr. Lincoln must be supported, that no State
was justified in seceding, and that an amendment to the constitution pro-
hibiting slavery should not be adopted. A large meeting of a similar
character was held about the same time in Mooresville, in Morgantown
and at several other places in the county.
It should be remembered that there were representatives in the county
of all shades of political opinion, from the most ardent Abolitionist to the
one who believed in the right of the States to secede, and in the divine
origin of slavery. The excitement continued to increase as the winter
wore away, and as the Southern States, one after another, seceded.
Large quantities of Government stores and forts and important strategic
points were seized ; and soon grave apprehension was felt by strong Union
people, owing to the apparent apathy of President Lincoln after his in-
auguration, that nothing would be done to check the dissolution of the
Government. Continued and extensive preparations for war were made
in the South, long after the North ceased to believe that the differences
which divided the two factions of the country might be amicably adjusted.
Neither the North nor the South knew the strength or the spirit of the
other. The former believed that if war was begun the South would be
forced into submission within three months, and the latter believed that
52 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
the North would never have the courage to attempt to coerce the rebellious
States back into the Union. Many throughout the North believed that
the administration had no right to resort to coercion. On the contrary,
the great majority were urgent in their demands upon President Lincoln
to strangle the hydra of secession in its infancy, and, if necessary, forcibly
maintain intact the union of the States.
THE FALL OF FORT SUMTER
At last the news was received that Fort Sumter had surrendered to
the rebels. On the evening of Monday, April 15, 1861, this startling
news reached Martinsville, and kindled a degree of angry excitement un-
known before in the history of the county. The great majority forgot
party, and came loyally forward to the support of the Government. Ev-
ery business pursuit was dropped, and the citizens gathered at towns and
cross roads to review the ominous situation, and encourage one another
with hopeful words. The prompt call of the President for 75,000 volun-
teers to put down the rebellion sent a wave of relief throughout the
anxiou-5 North, and double the numbers called for immediately tendered
their services. America had never before witnessed such a universal and
popular uprising. Mr. Callis, editor of the Gazette, came out on Wednes-
day, April 17, with long, loyal editorials, urging an immediate response
to the call of the President, and declaring that the Union must be pre-
served. The following short article also appeared in the issue of the 17th :
HOME TRAITOKS.
On Monday night last, when the news of the reduction of Fort Sumter reached
this town, several of our citizens openly rejoiced at the event. We are sorry to re-
cord this lamentable fact. We are grieved to confess that we have men in our com-
munity who are so destitute of patriotism and love of country as to laugh over its
downfall. Shame! Shame!
Such men were very few, and were speedily borne down by the in-
tense loyalty which blazed forth at the county seat and at almost every
other place in the county. A mass meeting of the citizens was called to
beheld at the court house on Saturday, April 20, to consider what should
be done by the county to meet the emergency. Apparently the citizens
were unable to wait until Saturday, the 20th of April, before holding
their meeting at the court house, for on the evening of the 18th, pursuant
to a few hours' notice, a large assemblage gathered at the court house.
P. S. Parks was made Chairman. Upon taking the chair, he made a
rousing speech, declaring that it was the duty of all but traitors to stand
by the old flag — that all party prejudice should be renounced, and that
the Constitution and Union must be maintained. His remarks had a
wonderful effect upon his audience, and were greeted with tumultuous
cheers. P. M. Blankenship was called out, and spoke encouragingly
to those who desired to volunteer in the impending crisis, and hoped that
a general war might be averted. Rev. W. C. Smith was next called to
the stand, and electrified his audience with his brilliant eulogy of the
" stars and stripes," and his eloquent utterances in favor of unfaltering
loyalty. He denounced the traitors with the keenest invective and most
searching analysis and logic. 0. R. Daugherty was then called out.
He said he did not support the administration, nor the causes that brought
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 53
on the war. He was for his country, right or wrong, and knew no other
flag than the stars and stripes. The committee that had been appointed
to draft a series of resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting (W.
J. Manker, J. K. Scott, J. W. Ferguson, John Williams and John H.
Thornburg), then reported as follows :
Whereas, We have learned with sorrow and regret that a rebellious faction in
South Carolina has wantonly, insultingly and traitorously destroyed American prop-
erty, killed American soldiers, and outraged the American flag, and all this, too,
upon soil belonging to the Federal Government; therefore
Resolved, That we, the people of Morgan County, Ind., in mass convention as-
sembled, hereby denounce such action as the rankest treason, and such actors as the
vilest traitors, in comparison with whom Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr sink into
utter insignificance.
Resolved, That in this crisis, forced upon us by Southern traitors, we forget and
bury amid the relics of the past, all political feeling and prejudices, and, rallying
around our own time-honored and blood-stained banner, we know but one watch-
word— "Our country, right or wrong."
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the President of the United States
and the Governor of the State, and their coadjutors in this trying crisis, and hereby
pledge them not only the sympathy, but all the material aid that we can extend in
every effort they may make to maintain the honor of our flag and the integrity of
our Government.
On motion each resolution was submitted separately to the assemblage
for adoption or rejection. A motion was made to strike out from the
second resolution the words, "forced upon us by Southern traitors," but
his motion was earnestly opposed by Messrs. Parks, Manker and Smith,
and supported by himself and Mr. Cunning. A stranger present spoke
eloquently in favor of rejecting the motion to strike out. He said there
were but two flags — the stars and stripes and the palmetto — and that one
or the other must be chosen. The motion to strike out was finally lost,
but It incited considerable ill-feeling at the time. The resolutions were
then severally adopted. The meeting was well attended, and an unwaver-
ing loyalty prevailed. The meeting then adjourned, to meet again on
Saturday night, as had been advertised.
A very large crowd assembled, and J. J. Johnston was called to the
chair. He delivered a loyal and eloquent speech. He said it had been
remarked by the enemies of the country at home that Morgan County
would not respond to the call of the Governor for troops, but that the
present demonstration and the volunteers before him proved the assertion
false. He announced that the volunteer company numbered eighty-four,
and that additional names were constantly being added to the enlistment
roll. He was followed by W. J. Manker and Rev. J. S. Woods, both of
whom delivered eloquent speeches of great power and loyalty. A plan
for a home guard was then presented, providing for the support of the
families of volunteers, for the organization of home militia to be in readi-
ness for any peril to the county, State or nation, and calling upon all the
townships for co-operation and assistance. The plan or resolution was
unanimously adopted, and a subscription of $72 for the volunteers was
taken from the citizens of Martinsville, and $23 from the citizens of
Morgantown. W. J, Manker and W. C. Smith, of Martinsville, were
appointed a committee to procure blankets for the company, and Jacob
Adams and William Fesler were appointed to do the same at Morgai;i-
town. At this juncture of the meeting, J. K. Scott, Captain of the com-
pany, arrived from Indianapolis and announced that the company had
54 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
been accepted by the Governor, and would march at 6 o'clock on Monday
morning for Camp Morton, Indianapolis. The enthusiasm immediately
became intense, many more volunteered, and more than twenty farmers
volunteered wagons to haul the boys to the capital. The meeting ad-
journed, to meet again the following Wednesday night.
OTHER LOYAL MEETINGS.
The citizens of Monrovia, soon after the receipt of the news of the
fall of Fort Sumter, organized a military company and elected Mr. Fos-
ter Captain ; but, learning that the company would probably not be re-
ceived by the Governor, soon disbanded. On the 19th of April, at 1
o'clock P. M., a big war meeting was held at Morgantown. J. R. Cul-
bertson was chosen Chairman, and J. M. Ragsdale, Secretary. Eloquent
speeches were made by P. S. Parks, Judge Griggs and Col. John
Vawter. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and the speakers were
constantly interrupted by tremendous cheers. The following resolution
was adopted :
Besolved, That we are devotedly attached to our flag and Government, and that
we heartily respond to the requisition of tlie President of the United States and the
Governor of this State for troops for the maintenance of the honor of our flag and
the integrity of our Government.
A rousing meeting was also held at Mooresville, and great loyalty
was manifested by the members of all parties. The first men to leave
the county to enter the service, so far as known, went from the neighbor-
hood south of Mooresville. These men were W. H. Dryden, John T.
Harvey, Nathan Summers, Thomas Brady, Thomas F. Dryden and Rob-
ert B. Gilbert. They reached Indianapolis on the forenoon of the 17th,
and in the afternoon were joined by many others from Morgan County
anxious for a position in some regiment. The men mentioned were as-
signed to the Fifteenth Regiment, three years' service, and were credited
to Montgomery County. They were not the first in the service from
the county. Who were is difficult to state.
The issue of the Gazette of April 24 contained the following :
OUK VOLUNTEERS.
A company of volunteers over 130 strong left this place on Monday morning
last for Camp Morton, Indianapolis. They were commanded by J. K. Scott, Cap-
tain; Charles Day, First Lieutenant, and T. F. Orner, Second Lieutenant. Previous
to their departure, a patriotic and affecting address was made to them by Rev. W.
C. Smith. Among the vast throng assembled to see the volunteers depart, we do
not believe that a single dry eye could have been found during the delivery of that
speech. We can say this much for the Morgan County boys: A braver and more
determined set of men never went forth to face an enemy. We feel confident that
in whatever position they may be placed Capt. Scott and his command will give a
creditable account of themselves.
The same issue contained the following :
The Union feeling is on the increase. With but few exceptions, Morgan County
is sound for the Union. For a week past our town has been profuselj^ decorated
with the stars and stripes, and our streets enlivened by the sound of fife and drum.
A large volunteer force has been raised, and we have plenty of material to form
another should it be needed. Men who were open disunionists a week ago, are now
ready to defend the Union.
Also the following in the same issue :
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 55
On Sunday last, over $100 was made up in this town, for the purpose of uni-
forming and equipping the officers of the Morgan County Volunteers. This was
due to the energy and perseverance of one or two of our citizens.
In this issue, also, was a lengthy editorial, reviewing the position
taken by the Morgan County Clarion. It seems that the latter had
asserted that "any State has the right to secede from the Union," that
it (the Clarion) would " not raise a hand in hostility against its Southern
brethren," that the pending crisis was a "sectional war," and that the
volunteers were " disseminators of abolitionism trying to destroy the
country." The G-azette proceeded to administer a severe rebuke to the
Clarion for its alleged treasonable and disloyal utterances. The article
was long' and bitter.
CONTINUED PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION.
Another immense war meeting was held at the court house on the
evening of the 24th of April, to make arrangements to provide Capt.
Scott's company with uniforms, and to raise funds for the support of the
families of volunteers. Rev. W. C. Smith was called to the chair, and
P. M. Parks was appointed Secretary. A resolution was presented by
Jackson Record, and adopted, asking the County Commissioners to do-
nate means from the county treasury to uniform the volunteers and pro-
vide soldiers' families with necessaries. Arrangements were made to
secure a loan from the citizens with the above mentioned objects in view,
until the County Board could be prevailed upon to appropriate the needed
amount from the county treasury. The meeting was very enthusiastic,
and $165 was raised, $100 of which was sent to Capt. Scott's company,
and the balance retained for volunteers' families.
On the same evening of this meeting, a rousing one was held at
Morgantown by the citizens of that vicinity, and many from Brown and
Johnson Counties. William Fesler was Chairman, and J. M. Ragsdale,
Secretary. A long series of patriotic resolutions was adopted. Speeches
were made by T. D. Calvin, of Brown County, and S. 0. W. Garret, of
Johnson County. A company of seventy-five men was enrolled amid
the music of fife and drum, and the cheers of the vast audience. The
company was named the "Morgantown Military Home Guard." The
greatest loyalty was manifested at this meeting. Patriotic war meetings
were held about this time at Mooresville and in Gregg, Adams and other
townships, but as the details were not recorded they cannot be given here.
A second company began to form at Martinsville about this time, and in
other portions of the county, Home Guards were organized. Loyal
meetings were held everywhere. Schoolhouses and churches were thus
occupied, and ministers stepped aside from their high calling to denounce
the course of the South and encourage the enlistment of volunteers.
HOME GUARDS.
Early in May, the company of Home Guards at Martinsville was fully
organized, and the necessary officers were elected. A small company
was formed at Howell's Schoolhouse on the 4th of May, and the follow-
ing officers were elected : Madison Avery, Captain ; Hugh McElravy.
First Lieutenant. John W. Payne was President of the meeting, and
G. W. Hall, Secretary.
56 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
On the 1st of May, a big war meeting was held in Indian Creek
Bottom at the schoolhouse near Widow Long's. The presiding officers
were John Buckner, Chairman, and James Maxwell, Jr., Secretary. A
long series of loyal resolutions was adopted. Early in May, an attempt
was made to hang a citizen of the county for boldly and publicly express-
ing decided disloyal sentiments. He had come to the county seat to
trade, but left town very hurriedly when threats of lynching seemed
likely to ]^e carried into execution.
The G-azette of June 5 said :
MILITARY SPIRIT.
We are emphatically a war-like people. The rolling of the drum and the notes
of the fife are heard every day. A large number of our citizeus congregate at
Military Hall almost every night and go through the exercise of drilling. Even the
little girls and boys have caught the fever and may frequently be seen marching and
counter-marching, drumming upon tin pans and old stove-pipes, whistling and sing-
ing national airs, floiuishing wooden swords, guns, etc. Vive les enfans !
It seems that the company of Home Guards at Martinsville had a
second and more satisfactory election of officers, as will be seen from the
following, which appeared in the G-azette of June 12 :
MARTINSVILLE RIFLES.
This company, organized under the new militia law, was sworn into the service
of the State on Saturday afternoon last. The oath was administered by Capt. Ben-
jamin Hayward, in front of Military Hall, and furnished quite an impressive and
solemn scene. The following persons were elected officers of the company: Ebenezer
Henderson, Sr., Captain; Thomas Morrison, First Lieutenant ; W. A. S. Mitchell,
Second Lieutenant ; William Harrison, Orderly.
The Gazette of June 19 said:
THE MILITIA.
Four companies of militia have been organized in Morgan County under the
militia law at the following places : Martinsville, Morgantown, Eminence and Cen-
terton. For an out of the way county, destitute of railroad and telegraphic facili-
ties, that will do pretty well.
It should be remembered that these companies were militia, but early
in June the Gazette joyously stated that Ambrose Cunning had been
commissioned to raise a company for the war. P. S. Parks had been
commissioned for the same purpose a short time before, but meeting with
an accident whereby his leg was broken, he was forced to give it up.
The officers of the Centerton militia company were Jacob Hess, Captain ;
Thomas Grinstead, First Lieutenant: Clayton Cox, Second Lieutenant.
There were sixty men in the company about the 8th of June, and the
company drilled every Saturday on the Fair Ground. The men were
sworn into State service June 8, The Morgantown militia company was
officered as follows : J. J. Johnston, Captain ; J. R. Culbertson, First
Lieutenant; John R. Fesler, Second Lieutenant; J. K. Coffman, Orderly.
Col. John Vawter sAvore the company, numbering fifty-two men, into the
State service before June 18. On Saturday, June 22, the beautiful cer-
emony of presenting the company a flag, by the ladies. of Morgantown,
was enjoyed by that portion of the county.
On the last day of July, it was stated that four companies were being
organized in the county for the war, to wit : The one at Martinsville,
under Capt. A. D. Cunning ; one in Baker Township, commanded by
HISTORY OF xMORGAN COUNTY. 57
Capt. James E. Burton ; the one at Morgantown, under Capt. J. J.
Johnston, and the militia company at Martinsville, under Capt. A. S.
Griggs, -which had not yet decided to enter the United States service.
CAPT. SCOTT'S company.
This company was the only one from the county in the three months'
service. It was assigned to the Seventh Regiment, and became Company
K, and on the 29th of May was ordered into Western Virginia with its
regiment, which was commanded by Col. Ebenezer Dumont, who had
served in the Mexican war. The company participated in the action at
Phillippi, being in the advance, and about six weeks later in the skirmish
at Bealington, and in all the marches, reconnoissances, pursuits, etc., in-
cluding the charge at Carrick's Ford, and the subsequent pursuit of the
enemy. The latter part of July the regiment was ordered to Indianap-
olis for muster out. On the 27th, the company of Capt. Scott reached
Martinsville. On their way, they had stopped at Mooresville, where a
splendid reception was given them, and where they were feasted and
toasted with all the pomp and ceremony of war. As they neared Mar-
tinsville, they were met by the entire town, led by the band, and such a
joyous time was never before witnessed at the county seat. How noble
the boys looked in their bright blue uniforms, and with what wonderful
precision they moved along to the stirring sound of fife and drum. And
what a glorious time they all had at the Thomas House, where an elegant
and sumptuous supper had been prepared for them. Triumphal arches
had been spanned over the streets, on which were the names of engage-
ments participated in by the company, and over and around which were
hung garlands of evergreen and summer flowers, and many a banner of
red, white and blue. An eloquent welcoming address was delivered by
Rev. Smith, and responded to by numerous members of the company,
who gave an account of the wild scenes of active Avar in Virginia, and
exhibited numerous trophies of their victories. But one of the company
had died in the service, John McDaniel, who had died a natural death in
Virginia. The festivities were carried far into the night, and were greatly
enjoyed.
OTHER COMPANIES FOR THE WAR.
Almost all the early regiments contained men from Morgan County.
The second company to enter the service was commanded by Capt. Jacob
Hess, and was raised and organized at Centerton and vicinity. They
were mustered into the service July 24, and were given a public farewell
meeting by their friends just before their departure for Indianapolis. A
committee, consisting of Misses Jennie Major, Mary McCracken, Eliza
Manker and others had been appointed to secure donations of money to
procure a flag for the company. They reported that $55.66 had been
received, of which all but $15.66 had been used in purchasing material,
etc. The magnificent silk flag, which had been made by the fair hands
of the committee, was presented to the company with appropriate cere-
mony. The men became Company K, of the Twenty-first Regiment, three
years' service. Company B of the same regiment, which was organized
at Gosport, contained about twenty men from the county. July and
August saw lively times in the county. Lieut. T. F. Orner and W. J
58 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Manker began to recruit men to fill up the old company of Capt. Scott
for the three years' service. Capt. Griggs was steadily enlisting men at
Martinsville, and Capt. Burton was doing likewise in Baker Township
and vicinity. Capt. Wellman was raising a company in the northern
part of the county, Capt. Cunning was also at work at Martinsville
and vicinity. War meetings were held everywhere as a stimulus to obtain
volunteers. Eloquent speakers and thrilling martial bands would stir up
the blood, and beautiful ladies with bewitching smiles would pass round
the fatal enlistment roll. The whole county was alive with military prep-
arations. Late in July, the citizens of Gregg Township and vicinity or-
ganized a company of home guards, consisting wholly of old men exempt
from military service, being over forty-five years of age. The company
numbered forty-two. One-half of Company E, Twenty-sixth Regiment,
was raised in the northern part of the county, and finally mustered into
the service August 30. It was raised largely by Capt. Lewis Manker.
On the 19th of August, Capt. J. J. Johnston's company left for Indian-
apolis, but was not mustered in until September 12. It became Com-
pany G of the Twenty-seventh Regiment, three years' service. On the
7th of September, Capt. Johnston was commissioned Surgeon of the regi-
ment, and John R. Fesler succeeded him in command of Company G.
The men raised in the northern part of the county by Capt. Wellman and
others became Company A, of the Thirty-third Regiment. They were
mustered into the service at Indianapolis September 16. In the latter
part of August, when they left the county, a number of disloyal citizens
in the vicinity of Hall felled trees across the road over which they would
have to march, built fences across the same, tore up bridges, etc., to ob-
struct their march and testify of the ill-will of such citizens. Company
C of this regiment was wholly from the county. This was the successor
of Capt. Scott's old company. It was thought that W. J. Manker would
be Captain, but as he was appointed Major of the same regiment, Charles
Day succeeded him as commander of Company C. About half of Com-
pany E, of the Thirty-third, was raised in the county by W. A. Whitson,
Dr. Whitaker and others. The greater portion of Company H, of the
Thirty-third, was also from Morgan County, the remainder being from
Gosport. This was the company of Capt. Burton. Company C was
mustered in on the 16th of September, Company E on the 21st of Sep-
tember, and Company H on the 16th of September. There were thus
in the Thirty-third Regiment at the time of muster-in about three and a
half companies from Morgan County. Several had left the county and
joined other regiments.
ENTHUSIASTIC WAR MEETINGS.
On the 24th of August, a very large Union war meeting was held at
Martinsville to raise volunteers for the war. A large crowd assembled
to listen to the speeches and to participate in the event. The orators
were S. H. Buskirk, Rev. Harned, Rev. Lester, P. M. Blankenship, J.
E. Burton, W. J. Manker, P. S. Parks and others. The greatest mili-
tary fervor and loyalty prevailed. Many volunteers were secured for the
companies then being organized. This was but a sample of the meetings
held throughout the county. When the company raised largely by W.
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 59
J. Manker and commanded by Capt. Charles Day left Martinsville, the
ceremony of presenting the boys with the same silk banner which Capt.
Scott's company in the three months' service had carried through the
campaign in Western Virginia, was enjoyed amid imposing ceremonies.
The banner had been bought by Capt. Scott for that purpose, and the
presentation speech was delivered by 0. R. Daugherty, and responded to
by Capt. Day. Both speeches were loyal, eloquent, and a credit to the
citizens and the company. No sooner was the company ready than the
boys were loaded into twenty or more wagons, and conveyed amid the
rattle of drums and the cheers of the populace to the State capital. This
was true of all the companies and recruits, as the county had no railroad
then running. It was the most stirring time the county ever saw, before
or since, as the patriotic impulse was fresh then in the breasts of all, and
extreme partisan bitterness had not yet crept in with its disloyal madness
and delirium. The G-azette of September 18 said :
Morgan County has raised and sent out eight companies to aid in putting down
the rebellion. The Captains and the regiments to which they belong are as follows:
Capt. Hess, of the Twenty-first; Capt. Lewis Manker, of the Twenty-sixth; Capt.
Johnston, of the Twenty-seventh ; and Capts. T. J. Wellman, Charles Day, J. E.
Burton and Whitson, of the Thirty-third; also Capt. Scott, of the Seventh, in the
three months' service. In addition to this, our county has a large number of men
distributed in the various Indiana regiments, some in the zouaves, others in artillery
companies, etc. Two of our companies are in active service, that of Capt. Hess in
Maryland, and that of Capt. Louis Manker in Missouri. The remaining companies,
except that of Capt. Scott, are in camp at Indianapolis.
It should be remembered that two of these companies had been only
partly raised in Morgan County, but enough had left for the war in other
regiments to raise the number up to about the figures of the editor.
This was certainly an excellent showing, for which the county may be
justly proud. But the work was scarcely over with the above companies
before Capts. Scott and Cunning and Lieut. Orner began raising more
volunteers to form a new company. They were assisted by P. S. Parks,
Capt. Hayward and others. Owing to a political controversy in the
county, Mr. Parks, about the middle of October, challenged A, B. Con-
duitt, J. C. Henderson, 0. R. Daugherty and H. T. Craig to stump the
county for volunteers, each man to pay his own expenses. For some
reason the challenge was not accepted. Thirty-five men had been secured
by the middle of November. This company was designed for the Fifty-
ninth Regiment which was being rendezvoused at Gosport. The enlist-
ment of the regiment continued slowly during the winter months. In
February, 1862, various public meetings were held in the county, indors-
ing the action of the United States Senate in expelling Jesse D. Bright
from that body for disloyalty, etc. On the 11th of February, 1862, the
Fifty-ninth Regiment was mustered into the service. About half of Com-
pany B was from Morgan County, and nearly as many more men were
scattered through other companies, notably Company I.
But little effort was made during the first half of the year 1862 to
raise volunteers for the war. The county had filled her quota under all
calls, and had a surplus to her credit. During these months, the county
in order to systematize future enlistments of men, elected the following
County Military Committee : W. B. Taylor, Washington Township ;
James Pratt, Jackson ; John Williams, Green ; Cyrus Whetzell, Harri-
4
60 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
son ; Allen Hecklin, Madison ; V. Butterfield, Clay ; John Thornburg,
Brown ; Uriah Ballard, Monroe ; Isaac Ratliff, Adams ; G. W. Wellman,
Gregg ; Philip Hodges, Ray ; Jeiferson Farr, Baker.
THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1862.
Extensive preparations had been made to celebrate Independence Day,
and early in the morning the crowd began to arrive. Long processions
of wagons, carriages and dust-begrimed pedestrians came trooping in
under the command of a Marshal, led by one or more bands of martial
music, and gaily decorated with bright flowers and national colors, and
ornamented with the beautiful holiday apparel of summer. By 9 o'clock
in the morning, the streets of the county seat were surging with the rest-
less waves of patriotic humanity, while above the Babel of tongues arose
the shrill sound of many fifes and the deep roll of many drums. The
omnipresent small boy was out en masse, with all his torturing sounds and
doleful cries, filling the bright morning with din and smoke. A huge
flag pole had been erected near the square, from which a magnificent
banner waved proudly in the sunny sky. Several wagons drawn by
four horses came in from the country, loaded with young ladies dressed
in white and decorated with red and blue, and ornamented with wreaths
of roses and sweet smiles. At 10 o'clock all the fragments were united
into one grand procession, more than a mile in length, and were marched
out to Mitchell's Grove, where the ceremonies of the day were to be
observed. Prayer was ofiered by Benjamin Sweet, and the Declaration
of Independence read by A. S. Griggs. A chosen chorus of singers
rendered selections of patriotic music for the occasion. 0. R. Daugherty,
the orator of the forenoon, delivered an eloquent address forty minutes
in length. His closing words were : " The war is not being waged upon
the part of the Government for the purpose of conquest or subjugation,
or the overthrow of or interference with the established institutions of
any of the States, but to suppress and put down a wicked and causeless
rebellion, defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution, and
preserve the Union as established by our patriot fathers, with all the
dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired, and that
when these objects are fully accomplished, and not before, the war
should cease." A bounteous picnic dinner was then spread out under the
green foliage, and partaken of by all present. Soldiers were present in
military dress, at home on furlough from the field of war, and were lion-
ized by young and old, and toasted in many a glass of lemonade or bev-
erage of greater strength. In the afternoon the assemblage was addressed
by Dr. J. J. Wright and P. S. Parks, both of whom delivered speeches
of unusual loyalty and power. At their conclusion the audience dispersed
to their homes, except the young people, who remained to dance the hours
of the night away. The day was long remembered.
RENEWED ENLISTMENT OF VOLUNTEERS.
On the 2d of July, 1862, came the call for 300,000 men, and the
county made immediate preparations to fill her quota. Ezra Olleman,
A. D. Cunning and Samuel Harryman were commissioned to procure
volunteers under the call, and immediately began active work. On one
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 61
occasion in the Gazette office, in order to induce married men to volunteer, a
subscription of $235 was raised in one evening for the wives and families of
such men. By the last days of July, A. D. Cunning reported that he had
secured fifty volunteers. These men were designed for the Seventieth
Regiment, and were paid $10 each of county bounty by the Board of
Commissioners. Lewis Manker began enlisting men for the Seventy-
ninth Regiment. War meetings were again held in all portions'of the
county. On the 4th of August came another call for 300,000 men, and
the efforts to raise volunteers multiplied. About forty men from 'Adams
Township entered a company that was raised at Stilesville. The men
recruited by OUeman entered the Seventieth Regiment. A small squad of
men (about thirty), raised by Lieut. Sylvanus Barnard, entered the Fourth
Cavalry (Seventy-seventh Regiment.) About thirty-five men were raised
by John E. Greer, in the northern part of the county mostly, and were
assigned to the Fifth Cavalry. About one-third of Company B, of the
Seventy-ninth Regiment was raised by Capt. Lewis Manker, and all, or
nearly so, of Company H of the same regiment, was from Morgan
County, the Captain being Sanford C. Pruitt. These men were largely
secured by Judge Griggs and Justice Killian. Great pressure was brought to
bear upon the county by threats of the approaching draft, and the interest
equaled that of July and August, 1861. Capt. Samuel F. Rooker raised
an entire company at Mooresville, which entered the Twelfth Infantry,
one year's service. They were presented a beautiful flag upon their de-
parture.
THE WAR MEETING OF AUGUST 2.
On this day one of the largest crowds ever in Martinsville, assembled
to listen to the speech of Judge Hughs. Early in the morning the
ciiizens of the town had erected a tall flag-pole from which a magnificent
banner thirty feet in length was suspended by Mrs. Col. Scott, Miss An-
na Deitz, Miss Maria Mitchell, Miss Lou Gwinn, Mrs. Kennedy and
Miss Anna Barnard. As this beautiful banner caught the breeze and
unfurled its rich colors in the morning sun, the assembled crowd burst
into a chorus of tumultuous cheers at the grand spectacle. Perry Blan-
kenship mounted a dry goods box and eulogized the banner as an emblem
of the national life and honor. He was followed by AVilliamson Terrell
and others. Several thousand people were present. At 10 o'clock, the
procession was marched gayly to Mitchell's Grove, where stands and seats
had been prepared. As Judge Hughs had not appeared, the crowd was
addressed by 0. R. Daugherty and Rev. Smith. Both speakers were
listened to with close attention. About B o'clock in the afternoon Judge
Hughs appeared, and delivered a fiery speech of one hour's duration, that
was listened to by the large crowd and applauded to the echo. The en-
thusiasm during the day ran to fever heat. All were filled with the mili-
tary spirit of the hour, and enjoyed all features of the occasion with the
keenest relish. The issue of the Gazette August 9, said:
The military fever never ran so high in this county as it does at the present
time.
The Gazette of August 16, said:
War meetings are all the rage now, and Morgan County is not behind
the times. We defy any other county in this or any other State to get up
62 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
more war meetings, or larger or more enthusiastic meetings, tlian we can
in Old Morgan. The county is in one blaze of excitement, meetings are held
in almost every neighborhood, and here in INIartinsville for the last two weeks
it has been almost one continual meeting. It had been rather quiet for a day
or two, when on Friday morning Perry Blankenship came marching into town at
the head of a procession consisting of about thirty wagons and about fifty horse-
men. Mr. Blankenship made a stirring and eloquent speech to a large crowd in the
afternoon, and obtained several recruits for his company.
The same issue contained the following :
Since the new call for 300,000 volunteers, this county has sent to camp three
full companies, which are officered as follows: First— Barclay Johnson, Captain; W.
E. Tansey, First Lieutenant; S K. Harryman, Second Lieutenant. Second— A. D.
Cunning, Captain; William Hardenbrook, First Lieutenant; Willis Record, Second
Lieutenant. Third — S. M. Rooker, Captain; T.N. Peoples, First Lieutenant; Caleb
Day, Second Lieutenant. Two companies more are organizing, and will be ready
to go into camp next week. In addition to this, the county has furnished forty re-
cruits for the cavalry regiment, and seventy-five for the infantry companies in ad-
jacent counties, making an aggregate of over 600 men under the late volunteer levy.
Morgan more than fills the bill. Her actual quota is about 150 men. For the three
months' service, the county furnished about two companies, and'for the three years'
service seven companies. Add to this those who have enlisted singly and in squads
in various regiments, and we can safely say that Morgan County has furnished 1,500
men for the suppression of the rebellion. Our voting population is 3,000. If any
county can beat us, " trot it out."
THE DRAFT OF OCTOBER 6, 1862.
This draft took place, not because the State was behind with her
quotas, or because the counties were behind, but was designed to compel
disloyal or indolent townships to do their share in furnishing men for the
war. Morgan County had furnished more than her quota, but as three
townships — Jackson, Green and Madison — were behind, the draft oc-
curred on the date above given. This draft was based upon the following
statement, which was made out on the 19th of September, 1862 : Total
militia, 2,224; total volunteers, 1,232; total exempts, 435; total con-
scientiously opposed to bearing arms, 93 ; total volunteers in the service,
1,188; total subject. to draft, 1,696. The draft, or conscript officers, of
the county were as follows : W. R. Harrison (who was himself drafted
in 1864), Commissioner; James Maxwell, Jr., Marshal; Benjamin D.
Blackstone, Surgeon. The draft took place on the date stated in the
court house, and was quiet and uneventful. In Jackson, twelve were
drafted ; in Green seven, and in Madison six. All the drafted reported,
and were taken to Indianapolis and assigned to some regiment. Just
before this draft, the following table was published in the Grazette, though
whether it h official cannot be stated :
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
63
TOWNSHIPS.
Number
Number
Subject
Number
Number
between
to
of
18 and 45.
Exempted.
Draft.
Volunteers.
Discharged.
51
12
39
58
3
330
44
291
180
15
217
38
179
68
2
215
50
168
72
66
15
54
26
1
158
24
134 ,
55
2
142
23
119
115
7
182
41
138
110
4
271
53
217
118
5
127
40
87
87
1
93
21
70
81
2
165
29
136
150
1
208
50
157
103
1
2225
436 .
1789
1223
44
In the
Service and
Dead.
Baker
Washington
Jackson. . . .
Green
Harrison . .
Madison . . .
Clay
Brown
Monroe
Gregg
Jefferson . . .
Ray
Adams
Total. .
55
165
66
72
25
53
108
106
113
86
79
149
102
1179
This table must not be regarded as free from errors, though it illus-
trates about the situation of the county.
ENLISTMENTS DURING THE WINTER OF 1862-63.
During the winter of 1862-63 but little was done to raise volunteers.
William Gurley recruited a small squad for Rabb's Battery (the Second)
in February and March, 1863. In May and June, Capts. Burton and
Seaton and Lieut. Day recruited thirty or forty men for the Thirty-third
Regiment. On the 15th of June came the call for 100,000 men for six
months, and an entire company was raised in the northwestern part of
the county and assigned to the One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment.
The men became Company C, with A. T. Wellman, Captain; James
Pugh, First Lieutenant ; William McGinnis, Second Lieutenant. At an
immense war meeting, held at Martinsville May ?1, quite a number of
recruits was raised for various regiments. About the same time, meet-
ings of a similar character were held at Mooresville, Monrovia, Eminence,
Morgantown, Paragon and elsewhere, large crowds being present. Capt.
Johnston, Dr. Wright and other speakers entertained the audiences. Much
disloyalty was manifested in the county at this time, an account of which
will be found elsewhere. In July, J. G. Mitchell recruited a squad for
the Seventh Cavalry. Several other recruiting officers were at work
about the same time, among them being Capts. Wellman (mentioned
above) and Goodhue, who obtained men for the six months' service.
GEN. morgan's raid.
At no time during the progress of the war were the people in the
southern half of Indiana so thoroughly roused as they were when John
Morgan invaded the State in July, 1863, and the excitement in Morgan
County was fully up to the fever of the hour. Men who were opposed to
the continuance of the war were no sooner apprised of the invasion than
they immediately tendered their services to repel or capture the daring
enemy. Seven full companies were organized in an incredibly short space
of time, and four of them — one of cavalry and three of infantry — marched
rapidly to the State Capital and offered their services to the Governor.
64 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
One of the companies raised at Martinsville, was commanded by Capt.
Sylvanus Barnard. The company raised in JeiFerson Township was com-
manded by Capt. William Nicholson, and the one in Ray by Capt. Joseph
Bradley. Capt. Joel Matthews, who raised a company in Brown, did not
leave the county with his company. None of the companies saw any ac-
tive service in pursuit of Morgan, and all soon returned, Morgan's raid
did much to quiet the partisan asperities which had been troubling the
county in no small degree. About this time a company of old men, called
the " Silver Grays," was organized at the coiuity seat as a home guard.
THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1863.
The day was ushered in by the ringing of bells and the firing of guns
and anvils. Soon after sunrise, gay processions of country people began
to arrive, and at 9 o'clock the county seat was alive with a swarming,
noisy multitude. It was stated that there were 3,000 people in town on
this eventful day. At about 10 o'clock, Capt. Hay ward and Henry Sims,
Marshals of the Day, formed the crowd into a procession around the pub-
lic square, and the march to Mitchell's Grove was commenced. Prayer was
oflfered by Rev. S. B, Sutton, and the Declaration of Independence was
read by Dr. Tarleton. Choice patriotic music was furnished by Mrs. H. B.
Johnson, Mrs. T. B. Mitchell, Miss Lou Gwinn, Miss Nannie Litten, Mrs. P.
S. Parks, Mrs. J. C. Sampson, T. J. Sloan, How Parks, George Townsend
and W. R. Shepard. A small squad of soldiers was present in military
dress. The first speaker was C. F. McNutt, who was followed by Dr. J. J.
Wright. A beautiful ode, written for the occasion by Mrs. Paul Dumer,
was read by W. R. Shepard, and was greatly admired by the assemblage.
A magnificent dinner was spread out in the grove, and eaten with epicu-
rean appetite. The event of the day was the parade of a company of about
forty " Raging Tads." They appeared about 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
dressed in the most frightful attire which their imaginations and means
could suggest and procure, and ornamented in a manner to ''make the
angels weep." They marched around like a war party of Comanches, ut-
tering direful yells which curdled the blood, and cutting capers of sufficient
apishness to put to shame a modern Congressman or a professional politi-
cian. A troop of the young scions of the town followed them in high
glee, counterfeiting their diabolical buffoonery in an ecstasy of childish
bliss. The parade was enjoyed by all. In the evening a brilliant social
was held at ]?ark & Hites' Hall, and at Military Hall on the west side of
the public square. Both halls were beautifully decorated with flowers and
sprays of evergreen. In Military Hall, a large steel engraving of Wash-
ington was suspended, around and over which bright garlands and loyal
colors were wreathed. The evening was one of the most enjoyable and
brilliant ever witnessed in the county seat. Celebrations of the day were
held elsewhere in the county, but as no account was published the rec-
ord cannot be given in these pages.
ADDITIONAL CALLS AND ENLISTMENTS.
On the 17th of October, 1863, came the call for 300,000 men for two
years, and the task of securing volunteers was renewed. Lieuts. Willis
Record and McCracken and others secured about sixty men for the
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 65
Seventieth Regiment in December, 1863, and January, 1864. In Jan-
uary and February, thirty-three colored men were hired at $100 each
to represent Washington Township in the army. They were assigned to
Company E, Twenty-eighth Regiment United States Colored Troops.
Four or five of these men only were from Morgan County ; the others
were partly contrabands from the South. The colored men were turned
over to Lieut. Richard Curry. A few recruits entered the Twelfth Regi-
ment, and a few more the Twenty-first. Lieut. J. C. Farr recruited a
squad for the Thirty-third, and Clark Graves secured a few for his regi-
ment. Nearly all of the regiments containing men from the county re-
ceived from few to many recruits. Lieut. Rundle recruited for the Twen-
ty-seventh. By the 9th of January, 1864, only Brown and Madison
Townships had furnished their quotas under the October call of 1863.
Washington cleared her quota with colored men, as did also Clay, the lat-
ter paying' $1,800 for nine colored men. The other townships slowly
raised their men during the early part of 1864, sending them as recruits
into the older regiments.
RECEPTION OF THE VETERANS.
On Saturday, April 9, 1864, a large assemblage of the citizens
gathered at the county seat, pursuant to call, to formally receive the vet-
erans who had come home on furlough. The citizens came from all
quarters on foot, horseback and in carriages and wagons, until the town
was filled. Capt. Day, at 11 o'clock, formed the veterans into rank and
marched them to the commons southwest of town, where they were put
through musket and bayonet practice and military evolutions for the
benefit of the crowd. Then all marched back to the court house, from
the door of which Maj. Manker delivered the eloquent welcoming speech.
Col. Coburn responded in behalf of the Thirty-third Regiment. Several
hundred soldiers were present, and as they marched around in rank with
the wonderful precision of veterans the wildest enthusiasm was kindled
in the breasts of the spectators. An enormous table on the south side of
the square, extending the whole length of the yard east and west, was
loaded to the verge of breaking down with the choicest viands the county
could produce. Over 1,500 persons dined at this gigantic table, and at
the conclusion of the feast the large store still remaining untouched was
distributed to soldiers' families. At 2 o'clock P. M., Judge Gooding
spoke to "the largest crowd ever in the town." His speech was nearly
three hours in length, and was a splendid specimen of American loyalty,
oratory and eloquence. The reception did not conclude with this meet-
ing, but continued in an informal character until the furloughs of the
veterans ended. They were feasted and toasted in public and in private ;
and fetes, soirees, socials, picnics, parties and balls were given in their
honor and for their express enjoyment. Ah, how the boys enjoyed the
short thirty days, after the hardships, marches, fatigues, battles and
starvations in the South ! Everything which love and loyalty could
suggest was done for their comfort and happiness. Many of the veterans
were from the Eleventh and other regiments containing Morgan County
men. Before this reception, the ladies had given the veterans from Mar-
66 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
tinsvillea formal welcome home at Temperance Hall. The gathering was
gay and brilliant.
CONTINUED ENLISTMENTS IN 1864,
Under the calls of February and March, 1864, a few recruits were
secured, but the enlistment was slow and unattended with noteworthy
events. On the 23d of April came the call for 85,000 men for the 100
days' service. About thirty men were raised in the county by Capt. W.
J. blanker and Lieut. J. E. Goodhue. They were assigned to the One
Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, and by a mistake credited to
Marion County. A few small squads entered the older regiments. In
July came the call for 500,000 men for one, two and three years, and
the county was again stimulated into activity. War meetings were again
held everywhere, and large offers of local bounty were made. The
county quota was large, but the citizens went resolutely to work to fill
the call. No effort seems to have been made to organize a company
wholly in the county, but nearly all the men secured went as recruits to
the older regiments. The county made great exertion, all the leading
men traversing the county, speaking to scores of audiences and stirring
up those liable to be drafted. By the 20th of August, Gregg was the
only township which had filled her quota ; she had a surplus of seven.
The others were behind in the following figures: Washington, 20;
Jackson, 25; Greene, 49; Harrison, 13; Madison, 27; Clay, 11;
Brown, 33 ; Monroe, 26 ; Adams, 7 ; Jefferson, 7 ; Baker, 12 ; and
Ray, 36. It will be seen that up to that time some of the townships had
done little better than nothing. At a big political meeting held at
Waverly about the middle of September, Gov. Morton addressed the
citizens on the Presidential issues and the state of the war.
THE DRAFT OF SEPTEMBER 21, 1864.
As the time passed, it was seen that the county could not escape the
draft. Indeed, some townships waited its appearance with charming
composure. The numbers drafted cannot be given, but it is likely that
all the townships except Gregg were levied upon. A. S. Griggs was
Provost Marshal for Morgan County. The draft took place at Indian-
apolis. After the draft, the townships were given an opportunity of
clearing their quotas by volunteers or substitutes, which several succeeded
in doing. The Gazette of October 29 said :
All the townships in this county, except "Washington, Clay, Monroe and Baker,
have filled their quotas under the draft, by volunteers. In this township (Washing-
ton), after exhausting the 100 per cent drawn, the quota lacks two of being full.
Unless those two are furnished by volunteers, another draw will be made.
Some trouble arose in Brown Township over the draft. After the drafted men,
had been mustered into the service, thej' no longer had the power to fill quotas
under the draft with volunteers. Quite a number did not know this until after be-
ing mustered in; then it was too late.
The drafted men were taken to Indianapolis October 26, and assigned
to various old regiments. Thus was the county quota filled.
THE PRESIDENTIAL AND GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS OF 1864.
This campaign was very spirited, and was conducted with all the
strength of the two parties. The real issue was upon the further con-
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 67
tinuance of the war. Gov. Morton, as noticed above, and other dis-
tinguished speakers, addressed Morgan County audiences. On the Sat-
urday preceding the October election, a large crowd of Republicans
assembled at Martinsville to stir up the Union sentiment. A fine dinner
and eloquent speeches were enjoyed on the fair ground. The town was
treated to a brilliant torch-light procession in the evening. On the day
of the election, sixty soldiers went to the polls in a body and polled their
votes for Gov. Morton. The Democrats also had large meetings at Mar-
tinsville and throughout the county. Scarcely a night passed without
brilliant gatherings and speeches. At last the returns came in, when it
was found that Gov. Morton's majority was 544, a Republican gain of
412 votes in two years. The successful party was jubilant. On Wednes-
day after the election, a jubilee was held at the county seat, at Moores-
ville, at Morgantown, and at other places. A tall flag-pole was erected
in front of Mitchell's store in ISIartinsville, and a fine flag was soon flying
from the top. The Republican Glee Club sang many National airs, and
the streets were filled with happy Republicans. As the news came in
from the State, 150 "rounds of anvils" were fired. The excitement
continued until the November election. On the 22d of October, an im-
mense Union meeting was held in the court yard. A new banner thirty
feet long was run up a tall flag-pole on the square by the ladies, and
speeches were delivered by Preston, Hall and others. The Democrats
with hopeful words were almost as active in all parts of the county. At
the county election, the Lincoln electors received 1,793 votes, and the
McClellan electors 1,283. The results were followed by long-continued
public rejoicings from one party, and absolute silence from the other.
THE LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
On the 19th of December, 1864. came the last call of the war for
volunteers — 300,000 men for one, two and three years. But the county
was slow to begin the work of filling her quota. On the 6th of January,
1865, the Gazette said : " Some effort ought to be made to fill the quota
of the county under the late call for 300,000 men." This implied that
up to that period nothing had been done. People felt that the rebellion
was in the "last ditch," however, and soon after this began work. The
number liable to do military duty under the first enrollment of the war
was 2,048 ; under the new enrollment of the autumn of 1864, the num-
ber was 1,500. The Gazette of January 21 said:
Come in out of the Draft. — An effort is being made to fill the quota of the
county, and relieve it of the draft. A special session of the County Board has been
called for Tuesday next. Petitions are in circulation, asking the board to make an
appropriation of |500 for each volunteer credited to this county under Father
Abraham's last polite and entertaining request. Subscription papers are being cir-
culated among the people, and it is expected that with the county appropriation,
should one be given, at least $700 will be raised for Morgan County volunteers.
We understand that some of our young men are enlisting in other counties, unaware
that any inducements will be held out at home. Hold on boys! Home inducements
may turn out to be the best.
The quota of the county under this call was 202. Active work was
begun about the middle of January, About fifty men were recruited for
the Eleventh Regiment. About eighty men were raised for Companies
E and H, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, one year's service.
68 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
A few small squads joined other regiments. These men left about the
middle of February. The Q-azette of February 18 said :
The quota of Washington Township has been filled. A bounty of $400 was
paid to each recruit. Thirty-nine of the volunteers were citizens of this township,
and one was recruited at Indianapolis. Several of the volunteers failed to come to
time.
But the county could not wholly escape the draft which came on the
last week in February with the following result : Green, 40 ; Ray, 30 ;
Brown, 20 ; Jackson, 20 ; and Baker, 6. Immediately after the draft,
all the above townships except Baker filled their quotas by volunteers,
which privilege was accorded them. A few men failed to appear. The
drafted men were assigned to the older regiments.
THE FALL OF RICHMOND.
The G-azette of April 8 exclaimed :
Glory! Glory!! Glory!!! Let the people shout glory! "Let rocks and
hills their lasting silence break." This is the people's jubilee ! Let all the people
sing ! Richmond has fallen ! and great was the fall thereof ! Petersburg fell at the
same time! When the news was received here the people fairly went wild with joy;
flags were flung to the breeze; songs were sung. The anvils were brought out and
made to tell the tale of joy The Home Guards fired volley after volley of mus-
ketry. The jollification was kept up until a late hour of the night.
A few days later the news of the surrender of Gen. Lee reached the
county, and created everywhere the most intense joy. People in all parts
of the county gathered in the nearest towns intuitively to mingle rejoic-
ings over the glorious news. Glee clubs sang themselves hoarse ; speakers
voiced the general ecstacy in notes of eloquence ; hastily improvised pro-
cessions paraded the streets with martial bands and tumultuous shouts ;
banners and loyal emblems were flung to the breeze, and the citizens as a
mass gave themselves up to every species of joyous demonstration. The
night of the 11th of April was rainy and muddy, but Martinsville was
decorated and illuminated as it had never been before. The court house
from belfry to foundation was a glittering galaxy of light and color.
Stores and private residences vied with each other, without regard to labor
or expense, in creating the most gorgeous display.
THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
The county was yet in the midst of public rejoicings when the painful
news was received that Lincoln had been assassinated. The revulsion in
public feeling was sickening. Many a man and woman had learned to
love the name of Abraham Lincoln. He had led them through four long
years of darkness and death — had been the cloud by day and pillar of
fire by night through all the starless gloom of war, and now, when the
sunlight of victory had lighted the national heart with boundless joy, and
every knee was bent, and every eye dim with grateful thanksgiving, to
have the beloved Lincoln cut down so untimely was indeed bitter and
hard to bear. Scores burst into tears as if they had lost their nearest
friend. People spoke in subdued voices of the awful calamity, and moved
around with troubled faces and heavy steps. The G-azette of April 22
said :
On Tuesday last a meeting of the citizens was held at the Auditor's office to
arrange for solemnizing Wednesday as a day of humility and prayer on account of
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 69
the great national bereavement. It was resolved that the court house should be
draped in mourning, and services held at 13 M. therein. It was also resolved that
all the business houses should remain closed during the entire day, and that all the
houses should have crape on the doors. Though but a short time was allowed for
the work, the court room was tastefully decorated with emblems of mourning.
Long before the hour appointed for the meeting, the room was densely packed.
The funeral discourse was preached by Rev. W. C. Smith from the text, "Abel
being dead yet speaketh." He spoke with deep feeling and earnestness of the life and
character of our murdered President. There were but few dry eyes in the vast
audience during his discourse. He was followed by O. R. Daugherty, F. P. A.
Phelps, C. F. McNutt and O. J. Glessner, in short and appropriate addresses. The
audience listened to all with deep attention. The most intense sorrow was depicted
on every countenance. Deep sadness and gloom pervaded the entire audience.
All hearts were sad and all voices hushed. At night a union prayer meeting was
held at the same place. The following are the resolutions unanimously adopted by
a rising vote at the day meeting:
Resolved, 1st. That in the death of Abraham Lincoln, one of the purest and
most elevated statesmen of earth has fallen; that, as in the death of Washington
the Nation mourned the Father of our Country, so in the death of our beloved
Chief Magistrate we mourn him who under God was the savior of our country.
2d. That, though the greatest, wisest and best men may fall in our country's
cause, our confidence that divine Providence will save the life of the Nation, and
make it the light of the world, is full and undiminished.
3d. That, trusting as we have in that Providence, and in the patriotism, virtue
and intelligence of the people, and trusting as we do in the ability and statesman-
ship of Andrew Johnson, we do solemnly before God and good men re-pledge our-
selves that the Republic shall live and treason shall die.
4th. That we humbly and devotedly pray the Father of all mercies to spare
the life of Secretary Seward to this already deeply afflicted Nation.
The same issue of the paper containing an account of this meeting also
published the following:
Wednesday last was the most remarkable day ever witnessed in Martinsville.
Never was such universal quiet known to our citizens. It was more like a Sabbath
should be than any Sunday that ever passed over our town. It was a sad day.
Sucli general and genuine sorrow as was exhibited here is seldom witnessed. The
great beauty of the veneration and respect shown Mr. Lincoln consists in the fact
that it did not proceed from any one party or creed. All the people mourned.
Public meetings in honor of the distinguished dead were also held at
Morgantown, Mooresville, Eminence, Paragon, Centerton, and in numer-
ous churches and schoolhouses in other portions of the county. The
speakers at Eminence were Rev. John Hancock and J. W. Rhea. Reso-
lutions of sorrow and hope were adopted in all the meetings. Unfortu-
nately, a fuller account cannot be given. A few residents of the county
unwisely asserted their joy at the death of Lincoln ; but in every instance
they were assaulted and terribly beaten. The public heart did not fully
revive the shock until the surrender of Gen. Johnston's army on the 26th
of April. Then again, the capture of Jeff Davis in petticoats on the 10th
of May added to the gratification.
SUMMARY OF TROOPS FURNISHED.
It is impossible to give the exact number of men furnished by the
county to suppress the rebellion ; but an attempt will be made to give the
approximate number. On the 19th of September, 1862, the county was
officially credited with having furnished 1,232 men, of whom 1,188 were
then in the service. But this does not include the men who entered the
companies raised outside of the county, notably at Indianapolis. It is
safe to say that over 1,300 men had been furnished by this time. Under
the two calls of 1863, the county quota was not less than 250 men. Dur-
70 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
ing the year 1864, not including the men required under the call of
December, the aggregate quotas under the various other calls were 917
men, all of whom were secured and sent into the field. Under the Decem-
ber call, 202 men were required and raised, together with a surplus of
22 men. Taking into consideration the men who were credited to other
counties, and the men of other counties who were credited to Morgan,
and taking the sum total of the above estimates and official statements,
it will be seen that the county furnished about 2,700 men to put down
the rebellion. This is a magnificent showing. It should be borne in
mind, however, that in this estimate each man has been counted as often
as he enlisted. Many served under two, three and perhaps four calls.
But making all necessary allowances, it is safe to say that the county sent
2,000 different men into the field. These estimates do not include the
seven companies raised to repel Gen. Morgan, nor the Home Guards, nor
the eleven companies of the Indiana Legion, commanded respectively by
the following Captains : A. S. Griggs, Jacob Hess, Jarvis J. Johnson,
Maryfield Walters, James E. Burton, Andrew T. Wellman, William
Nicholson, Sylvanus Barnard, William W. Wilson and Joel Matthews.
During the war, however, nearly all the companies of the Legion enlisted,
and saw active service.
BOUNTY AND RELIEF.
About the middle of May, 1861, the County Board appropriated
$3,000 for the care of soldiers' families, and appointed P. S. Parks, J. S.
Kelley, Jacob Adams, Philip Hodge and W. J. Manker to expend the
same. A great deal was done in the same direction by the townships
and by individuals, of which no record was kept. During the autumn of
1861, soldiers' aid societies were organized at several central places in
the county. During the first week in November, a large box of blankets,
gloves, mittens, shirts, drawers, socks, etc., was sent to Indianapolis from
the county seat. Other localities sent similar boxes. The supplies went
to the boys in Kentucky. Several citizens took a large quantity of goods
and provisions to the boys there. Mrs. Manker, Mrs. Scott and many
other worthy ladies were active in soliciting donations. Mrs. J. M. Hub-
bell and Mrs. E. W. Callis were active in obtaining cash donations for
the hospitals. In April, 1862, a new soldiers' relief society was organ-
ized at Martinsville, with the following officers : W. H. Craig, President ;
A. H. Crayton, Secretary ; J. W. Paul, Treasurer ; A. H. Crayton, W.
J. Sparks, S. J. Hastings, A. J. Major, D. G. Stotts, Jesse Barker,
James R. Best, Mrs. J. K. Scott, Mrs. J. W. Paul and Mrs. J. R. Elli-
ott, Soliciting Committee. Others elsewhere in the county were organ-
ized. These societies, however, were not active In June, 1863, in re-
sponse to a call from Gov. Morton, the County Board loaned $5,000 of
the county funds to the State for the benefit of helpless soldiers. The
appropriation was opposed by a strong disloyal element, but without avail.
In December, 1863, the aid societies were re-organized, and during the
winter did good Avork. On Thanksgiving Day, $39.70 was raised at
Martinsville. At another meeting in Martinsville, $47 cash was received.
Under the October call of 1863, the County Board ordered each volun-
teer paid $100 bounty. The townships began to offer bounties also.
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
71
Brown offered $100 for each man, and Madison $200. During the win-
ter, the " Murdock Institute" gave amateur dramatic entertainments at
Martinsville for the benefit of the County Sanitary Commission. The
details in other localities cannot be given. The dramatic society played
" The Double Ghost," " Kiss in the Dark," " Rough Diamond," " Love
at Sight," etc., and was greeted by immense audiences. A large amount
of money was thus secured for the soldiers. Large quantities of wood
and provisions were furnished the families of soldiers gratuitously. G.
W. Cramer, John Braughton, Calvin Brelleford, Jesse Avery, David
Carter, Isaac Hastings, Patrick Bradley, Lafayette Townsend, J. J.
Wright, D. D. Cramer, Madison Avery, Thomas* Williams, W. W. Wil-
son, Ellis Hastings at Martinsville, and scores of others throughout the
county were active in furnishing wood and supplies. The " Bethesda
Soldier's Aid Society," organized at Mooresville in August, 1864, sent
the following supplies to Indianapolis in December : Twelve dozen band-
ages, six dozen arm slings, ten pounds of lint, two dozen towels, one doz-
en pillow cases, one dozen packs of envelopes, one pack of letter paper,
ninety-five pounds cotton rags, twenty pounds lint rags, one dozen dish
cloths, thirteen shirts, one dozen pairs drawers, one and one-half dozen
sheets, six pounds mustard seed, three pounds sage, three pounds hops,
two bushels of onions, fifty pounds dried apples, twelve pounds dried
peaches, fourteen cans of fruit and one-half barrel of pickles ; also $69.85
cash. A large number of hogs (200) were purchased by the County
Board for the consumption of soldiers' families during the winter. In
January, 1865, a Ladies' Aid Society was organized at the county seat,
among the members being Mrs. L. Messenger, Mrs. W. W. Wilson, Mrs.
S. A. Tilford, Mrs. Sallie Smith, Mrs. E. W. Callis and others. But
little was done by this society, as the war soon closed. On the 26th of
January, 1865, the County Board appropriated $300 for each volunteer
or drafted man under the last call for troops, but this met such strong
objection from the fact that soldiers' property would have to sustain the
tax to send "stay-at-homes " to the army, that the order was rescinded.
The following statement is taken from the Adjutant General's report:
COUNTY, TOWNSHIPS, ETC.
Morgan County
Washington Township.
Jackson Township
Green Township
Harrison Township
Madison Township
Clay Township
Brown Township
Monroe Township
Adams Township
Gregg Township
Jefferson Township
Ray Township
Baker Township
Miscellaneous Relief... .
Total
Grand total bounty and relief.
22,800
14,950
12,500
48,000
5,100
19,800
13,725
15,000
1,500
10,700
5,000
12,000
17,450
450
$70,802 43
1,250 00
1,050 00
275 00
350 00
520 00
2,150 00
1,025 00
1,215 00
970 50
1,050 25
1,125 00
750 00
375 00
1.150 00
$198,975
f 84, 058 17
t,033 17
72 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
DISLOYALTY MANIFESTED DURING THE WAR.
The least said on this subject the better. All mention of the more
prominent events, however, cannot be escaped. It is scarcely necessary
to state that many prominent people in Morgan County and throughout
the North were sincerely and conscientiously opposed to the prosecution of
the war to quell the rebellion. Many honestly believed in the right of
the Southern States to secede, and in the Divine origin of the institution
of slavery. This is not to be wondered at, in view of the herculean
efforts of Southern statesmen, through a long period of years, to instil
the heresy into the hearts of both North and South. In view of human
fallibility, it is useless to recriminate for errors of judgment. People
both North and South, who were sincere in their opinions, should be re-
garded with charity, and the nation, after its baptism of blood, should
foster a nobler humanity by the universal education of mind and heart.
The first disloyality manifested was the declaration of joy at the fall
of Sumter, but this sentiment seems to have become dormant during the
early summer of 18(51. In July and August it cropped out again. One
man hoped there would be a big battle, and that many would be killed on
both sides. Another thought Lincoln ought to be killed — that some one
should cut his throat; and another said "every volunteer who goes to the
South is a murderer." During the fall, a soldier who had enlisted in
Capt. Cunning's company was persuaded to stay at home by a disloyal
friend. It was during the fall elections that an effort was made to organ-
ize a distinctive Union party from the antagonistic elements, but the
attempt proved largely abortive. At a certain mass meeting in Green
Township, one of the speakers said : " The volunteers in the present war
are a set of thieves and robbers." In the summer of 1862, a lady in
Martinsville said she wished every Union woman of the town could be
compelled to sleep with a negro. Another, whose brother had just enlisted,
declared she was "disgraced forever." In January, lb63, a detachment
of volunteers from Indianapolis entered Green Township to arrest several
deserters who were reported to have been concealed there. The men were
found and arrested, but as they were being taken away the troops were
fired upon by a large body of disloyal citizens, though no one was injured.
When the report of this proceeding reached Indianapolis, Col. Carrington
sent a strong detachment of troops to arrest the prominent leaders of the
"guerrillas." Some six or eight were arrested, taken to Indianapolis,
tried, convicted, and each sentenced to pay a fine of $500. Early in
March, Lieut. Hayward and a squad of troops arrested five deserters in
Martinsville. Several murders occurred in the county, supposed to have
been caused by questions growing out of the war. In 1863, the Knights
of the Golden Circle instituted several organizations in the county. Let-
ters from men in the county to boys in the service, urging them to desert,
were captured and published in the Gazette. Union Leagues were organ-
ized to counteract the disloyal tendencies. A few houses and barns owned
by prominent loyal men, were burned. Threatening letters were sent
out. Butternut breast-pins were worn. At a church on Sand Creek, a
lady wearing one was assaulted by another lady, who tore the disloyal
emblem from her bosom and carried it off in triumph. A division in the
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 73
church was the result. These are samples of what occurred in the county
while the war lasted. Nothing very serious occurred except the murders.
On the 8th of April, 1865, the Gazette said :
When the news of the evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg reached here,
not a Butternut smiled! Not a Butternut assisted in raising the flag! Not a Butter-
nut participated in the jubilee at night! They all looked sad and gloomy, as if just
invited to attend the funeral of their nearest and deafest friends. Comment is
altogether unnecessary.
A few publicly rejoiced over the death of Lincoln, but they were
pounded out of shape by indignant soldiers and others. Much of the
disloyalty manifested was from the lowest and most ignorant class.
RETURN OF THE MORGAN COUNTY BOYS.
During the summer months of 1865, the soldiers returned from the
war and were welcomed with throbbing hearts by loved ones and friends.
They were usually received with formal ceremony by crowds of grateful
people. The flag they had carried through so many bloody campaigns
was returned to the citizens who had presented it to the brave boys before
they went away so proud and valiant four years before. Fine swords or
other elegant memorials were given to those who had done some specially
distinguished service. Many a boy who had gone away so bright and
brave, followed by a mother's love and blessing, was left in a patriot's
grave far down in the Sunny South. Others came home with empty
sleeves and frightful scars, or shattered minds and broken constitutions.
The sacred dust of some was brought home and buried by loving friends.
The county cemeteries contain all that is mortal of the heroes. The
silent mounds of sod are lovingly decked with sweet blossoms, and the
summer mantle of green velvet is patiently watched by faithful hearts.
Sprigs of holly and evergreen, bright clusters of rich flowers and eloquent
tributes in eulogy of the noble dead, are the offerings of a grateful people
on Decoration Day. The loyal dead must not be forgotten.
CALLS OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR VOLUNTEERS.
April 15, 1861, 75,000 men for three months.
May 3, 1861, 82,748 men for three years.
July 22 and 25, 1861, 500,000 men for three years.
May and June, 1862, about 18,000 men for three months.
July 2, 1862, 300,000 men for three years.
August 4, 1862, 300.000 men for nine months.
June 15, 1863, 100,000 men for six months.
October 17, 1863, 300,000 men for two years.
February 1, 1864, 200,000 men for two years.
March 14, 1864, 200,000 men for three years.
April 23, 1864, 85,000 men for 100 days.
July 18, 1864, 500,000 men for one, two and three years.
December 19, 1864, 300,000 men for one, two and three years.
MORGAN COUNTY ROLL OF HONOR.*
Seventh Regiment, three months service. — John McDaniel, died at
Phillippi, Ya., June, 1861.
* This record is imperfect, but is the best that can be given.
74 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Eleventh Regiment, three years service. — James OUeman, killed at
Champion Hills May, 1863.
Twelfth Regiment, three years service. — Eli Bray, Jr., died at Grand
Junction, Tenn., February, 1863 ; Asa G. Ballard, killed at Richmond,
Ky., August, 1862; A. H. Ballard, died at Snyder's Bluff, Miss., June,
1863; Henry H. Bailiff, killed at Atlanta, Ga., August, 1864; Richard
Berge, died of wounds September, 1862 ; Harmon B. Cox, killed at
Richmond, Ky., August, 1862 ; William Curnutt, died near Atlanta,
Ga., August, 1864 ; Thomas F. Carter, died of wounds at Chattanooga
May, 1863 ; John Curnutt, died at Nashville, Tenn., July, 1864; Elisha
Deering, died of wounds at Chattanooga December, 1863 ; Evan Day,
died at luka. Miss., October, 1863 ; Wiley Estis, died at Holly Springs,
Miss., January, 18 63; William H. Ely, killed at Kenesaw, Ga., June,
1864 ; Harvey Evans, died in Libby Prison April, 1864 ; Jacob Gruson,
died at Memphis April, 1863 ; William Hutchinson, killed at Richmond,
Ky., August, 1862 ; David Hadley, died at Memphis June, 1863 ; James
A. Hudson, died in Libby Prison November, 1863 ; James Johnson, died
in Indiana October, 1862; Reuben Marshall, died at Snyder's Bluff,
Miss., July, 1863 ; Gustavus McCrary, died at Scottsboro, Ala., March,
1864; James E. McNabb, died at Camp Sherman, Miss., September,
1863 ; Milton V. Pettitt, killed at Richmond, Ky., August, 1862 ; Peter
Patram, died at Memphis October, 1863 ; Joseph Pointer, killed at Rich-
mond, Ky., August, 1862 ; Hiram Patram, died at Camp Loomis, Tenn.,
April, 1863; Thomas Parker, died in Libby Prison December, 1863 ;
Jefferson Rains, died at Chattanooga October, 1864 ; Robert Stafford,
died at Camp Sherman, Miss., September, 1863 ; Daniel Thompson, died
at Camp Loomis, Tenn., April, 1863 ; John Thompson, died at Grand
Junction February, 1863 ; John C. Thornburg, died at Mooresville, Ind.,
October, 1862; Hiram Wood, died at Anderson Station, Tenn., Novem-
ber, 1863 ; John D. Williams, killed at Richmond, Ky., August, 1862 ;
William Weare, died at Grand Junction, Tenn., May, 1863.
Twenty-first Regiment. — First Lieut. Thomas Grimstead, died at
New Orleans of wounds received at Baton Rouge ; William Fishback,
died at Baton Rouge June, 1862 ; William H. Ruth, died at Baton Rouge
June, 1864; Enos Bailey, died at Mobile June, 1865 ; David Bailey, died
at New Orleans March, 1865 ; John Bryant, died at Baton Rouge July,
1862 ; Zachariah Hall, died at New Orleans July, 1864 ; John R. Hast-
ings, died at Baton Rouge August, 1862 ; Isaac Kiphart, died in August,
1862, of wounds received at Baton Rouge ; George W. Fry, died of
wounds received at Baton Rouge in 1862 ; A. H. Vanvalkenburgh, died
at Ship Island April, 1862 ; William Pitcher, killed at Baton Rouge
August, 1862 ; John W. Blackburn, died at New Orleans March, 1864;
Daniel Colvin, died at New Orleans May, 1864 ; Caleb S. Collier, died
at New Orleans December, 1864 ; James Gooch, died at Indianapolis
October, 1864 ; F. M. Gooch, died at New Orleans March, 1864 ; James
0. Gamble, died at New Orleans March, 1864 ; William C. Hobbs, died
at New Orleans April, 1864 ; George R. Northern, died at New Orleans
March, 1864 ; William A. Rooker, died at Baton Rouge May, 1864 ;
Andrew Stines, died at New Orleans April, 1864,
Twenty-sixth Regiment. — John Boyd, died on steamer "J. J. Roe "
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 75
August, 1863; Thomas A. Bunch, died at Springfield, Mo., September,
1862; William Cassady, died January, 1863, of wounds received at
Prairie Grove ; Peter Coble, died December, 1862, of wounds received at
Prairie Grove; Isaac Corder, killed in a skirmish near Glasgow, Mo.,
September, 1861 ; Hiram Hand, died at Camp Hunter, Mo., November,
1861 ; Philip Harrold, died at New Orleans July, 1864 ; William M.
Harrold, died May, 1864, while prisoner at Shreveport, La.; William
Mackey, died at Camp Hunter, Mo., November, 1861 ; David W. Pool,
died at St. Louis, Mo., October, 1861 ; Sergt. Jeremiah W. Shepler,
died at Tipton, Mo., January, 1862 ; Isaac W. Tacket, died at Otterville,
Mo., February, 1862; Richmond Boaz, died at New Orleans September,
1863 ; Isaac Carder, died March, 1864 ; Jacob B. Duke, died at Carroll-
ton, La., October, 1863 ; Elijah T. Harriman, killed at Prairie Grove
December, 1862.
Twenty-seventh Regiment. — The list of dead in this regiment cannot
be given.
Thirty-third Regiment. — Thomas M. Rhea, killed at Altoona May,
1864; Francis Dane, killed at Peach Tree Creek July, 1864; Daniel
Page, died at Chattanooga August, 1864, of wounds received at Kene-
saw ; Jesse T. Shipley, died of disease in Tennessee ; Alexander C. Boyd,
died of disease in Kentucky ; James M. Carpenter, died July, 1864, of
wounds received at Peach Tree Creek ; Enos C. Hadley, died in Tennes-
see ; Noah Hadley, died in Libby Prison, 1863 ; Talburt G. Hale, died
in Kentucky ; Simon H. Lasley, died at Crab Orchard, Ky.; Henry H.
Mathews, died near Crab Orchard ; Alfred Mathews, died of wounds at
Nashville; Henry H. Major, died at Crab Orchard ; David N. Marshall,
died in Georgia ; Martin V. McKinley, died in Kentucky ; James A.
Medaris, died at Nashville August, 1864, of wounds; Isaac N. Park,
died of wounds while a prisoner at Pulaski, Tenn.; John Turner, died in
the service ; George W. Whetstine, committed suicide while insane at
Raleigh, N. C, April, 1865 ; Wiley B. Baker, missing in action in Ten-
nessee ; Dillian Asher, died in the service ; John R. Burkhart, killed at
Resaca May, 1864 ; Samuel P. Knight, killed in battle February, 1865 ;
James H. Brewer, killed at Peach Tree Ci'eek July, 1864 ; Caleb
Fletcher, killed in battle February, 1865 ; Prettyman H. Long, killed in
battle February, 1865.
Fifty-ninth Regiment. — Maryfield Walters, killed in action at Vicks-
burg May, 1863 ; William T. Baldwin, died at Gosport, Ind., January,
1862; Warren Baldwin, died before muster; Peter Demott, died at
Huntsville, Ala., April, 1864; James R. Mannon, died at Gosport Feb-
ruary, 1862; William Ogles, died at Paducah, Ky., January, 1863;
Levi Watson, died at Jacinto, Miss., August, 1862.
Seventieth Regiment. — Calvin Johnson, died at Gallatin, Tenn.,
March, 1863; Benjamin F. Ballard, died at Gallatin March, 1863;
Samuel Ballentine, died at Nashville, Tenn., June, 1864; Henry W.
Costin, died at Gallatin February, 1863 ; Jacob Farmer, died at Nash-
ville of wounds June, 1864; David Fugate, died at Resaca of wounds
May, 1864; Alonzo B. Greeson, died at Resaca of wounds May, 1864;
Alfred Greeson, died at home July, 1864 ; Andrew Jordan, died at Gal-
latin March, 1863 ; Daniel Lockwood, died at Jeffersonville, Ind., June,
76 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
1864; Peter White, died at Bowling Green, Ky., January, 1863; Calvin
Ward, died of wounds at Resaca May, 1864 ; John H. Poe, died at
Chattanooga August, 1864, of accidental wounds ; George W. Flake,
died of wounds at Nashville June, 1864 ; William H. Gibbs, killed at
Resaca May, 1864 ; William Olds, killed at Kenesaw June, 1864 ; Abra-
ham G. Butterfield, died at Bowling Green November, 1862 ; William
W. Weaver, killed at Resaca May, 1864 ; Henley Albertson, died at
Bowling Green October, 1862 ; Milton Boyd, killed at Dallas, Ga., May,
1864; Marshall Dane, died at Scottsville, Ky., February, 1863; James
E. De Coursey, died at Scottsville, Ky., December, 1862; Elias L. Ray,
died May, 1864, of wounds received at Resaca ; Charles W. Roberts,
died at Gallatin May, 1863 ; Jacob Reedy, died at Washington, D. C,
May, 1865; James Singleton, killed at Peach Tree Creek July, 1864;
James W. Tout, died at Gallatin May, 1863; Hiram Voyles, died of
wounds at Resaca May, 1874 ; Mason Warner, died August, 1864, of
wounds received near Atlanta ; Joseph Whitson, died at Nashville, Feb-
ruary, 1864 ; Isaac Benge, died at Lookout Valley May, 1864 ; James
Hatley, died at Lookout Mountain August, 1864 ; Joshua Hammond,
died at Atlanta October, 1864 ; Alexander Long, died at Chattanooga
August, 1864.
Fifth Qavalry [Nineteenth Regiment). — James F. Roberts, died in
prison at Florence, S. C, February, 1865 ; David R. Badgley, supposed
to have died in Andersonville Prison ; Dutton Loveall, died of wounds at
Knoxville, Tenn., January, 1864 ; John Underwood, died at Covington,
Ky., September, 1863.
One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment. — William B. Harryman,
died at Camp Nelson, Ky., January, 1864 ; William H. H. Little, died
at Knoxville, Tenn., November, 1863 ; Joseph H. McGinnis, died at
Knoxville November, 1863 ; Stephen Ogden, died at Knoxville Novem-
ber, 1863; Paris Pearce, died at Tazewell, Tenn., January, 1864;
George W. Toutt, died at Knoxville November, 1863 ; Isaac Wilcox,
died at Cumberland Gap October, 1863.
One Hundred and Forty -eighth Regiment. — Isaac Kennedy, died at
home in March, 1865 ; Francis J. Perry, died at home in March, 1865 ;
David Grifl&n, died at Nashville in April ,1865 ; James S. Teague, died at
Pulaski in January, 1865.
Second Battery Light Artillery. — William H. Gurley, killed by
guerrillas in May, 1864.
Twenty-eighth Regiment United States Colored Troops. — Andrew
Evans, died at Alexandria, Va. ,in October, 1864; Edward Findley, died
of wounds in the field in Virginia in September, 1864 ; James Goss, died
at 4-^6xandria, Va., in January, 1865 ; Zachariah T. Langford, died at
Alexandria, Va., in October, 1864 ; Dempsey Porter, died at Indianap-
olis in March, 1864 ; Thomas Riley, died of wounds in the field in Vir-
ginia in August, 1 864 ; George W. Richey, died at Indianapolis in Feb-
ruary, 1864. -^
Fifteenth Regiment. — Robert B. Gilbert, killed in the charge on Mis-
sion Ridge.
Twenty-ninth Regiment. — James B. Russell, died of disease in Febru-
ary, 1865.
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 77
MORGAN county's PENSIONERS.
The following is a complete list of the pensioners of Morgan County
prepared by order of the United States Senate on the 1st day of January.
1883 : '
Allen, Thomas J., rheumatism $ 6 00
Black, William, rheumatism .*.'..'.'.'..'." 8 00
Kitchen, David, eyes ........[.... 4 OO
Woods, Andrew J., hand '.'.'.'.'.'.'.*.'.".'..'. 4 oO
Pointer, Benjamin, hands 1 « no
Welty, Walter W., finger o no
Greeson, William C. H., leg '.■.■■.■.■. ■.".■.■. ".■.■.■. g JJq
Roe, Milton, diarrhoea 4 qa
Beem, Phebe, widow .' ' ' " 0 qq
Ware, Mary J., widow "....".' 0 qa
Lang, Polly, widow "'.'.' 0 qq
Laughliu, Thomas J., minor of ' .'. 12 00
Campbell. William A., diarrhoea 8 00
Campbell, Lewis E., diarrhcea ...."......'.'. 8 00
Baber, Levi, rheumatism o aa
Taylor, John H., hip 5 aa
?^^!^^^i^e^^^!?/p?^^^y^'^ ::" ■;;•.•.:;:::::: 18 00
Allen, Samuel, minor of.
Miller, William P. T., varicose veins.
Mills, Thomas, side.
10 00
12 00
8 00
Laposey, Joseph, diarrhoea ." 4 aa
Kennedy, James C, varicose veins o 00
Knoy, Ephraim R., diarrhcea 6 00
McGinnis, John C, diarrhoea " 8 00
Shumaker, Jesse, heart disease .' 8 00
White, James J., diarrhoea 4 aa
Phea, John L., diseased liver .". " 4 aa
Patrick, Noah A., diseased eyes '..'.".".". 4 oO
Watson, John, diarrhoea ',"_ g aa
Holton, Rebecca, mother .'.'.'..".,' 8 00
Spain, Maria E., widow ,,\ o aa
Donaldson, Elizabeth K, widow, 1812. %()?)
Tincher, John D., diarrhcEa 2 aa
McQuistion, Hugh, leg ".'.".",".'.*. 10 00
Dooley, Jloses, varicose vein I a aa
McNaught, Robert W., injured eyes. o aa
Seaton, George W., legs r aa
Fletcher, Vardeman, finger " o a a
Brown, Andrew C, arm . i« nn
Kivett, Daniel, insane in nn
Lee, John c.. , ankle '.■ ;;;; ;;;; ;;;; 4 aa
Hawthorne, James, paralysis HO no
Young, Hannibal, bronchitis P a a
Elmore, Mary F., widow ' o ^j;
Williams, Levi, minor of ^ oo
Sturgeon, Ellen, widow ".'.*." '.". ^ a^
Holmes, Mary J., widow o n a
Pearce, Elijah J., arm .' ^ aX
Johnson, Thomas W., hand ? aa
Creed, John M., heart ." is aa
Miller, Henry R., diarrhoea « XX
Vooheis, Simon L., leg J aX
Rouey, Peter, minor of ," ja qJ;
Collier, James, disease of abdomen , . c aa
Collier, Jeremiah, diseased ear ^ aa
Bright, William H., foot X ""
Burton, Joseph, diarrhoea -4 00
Burns, John, disease of heart o Xa
Blana, Jesse, injury to back ".'. T ^ X|J
Johnson, Jarvis J., disease of abdomen. . . .'. on nn
Farr, Uriah H., rheumatism '■■.■.■.■.■.■.■.■;.■.■.■ 6 00
'..'.".".'.'.V.V." 6 00
Fisher, Nathaniel, bronchitis.
78 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Evans, Thomas D., neck $4 00
McGowen. James N., arm 6 00
McNair, Francis M., diarrhoea 8 00
Goble, Lewis, abdomen 4 00
Mass, William A., diarrhoea 4 00
Miller, Jolin, elbow 6 00
Dilley, William A., leg 4 00
Crider, Lewis, abdomen 4 00
Burton, James E., thigh 15 00
Rodgers. Anderson N., hip 2 00
Carroll, Francis M., heart disease 8 00
Crone, Henry, thigh 4 00
Warner, George W., abdomen 8 00
Sturgeon, Thomas R.. lungs 2 00
Singleton, Thomas, diarrhoea 8 00
Shields, Abel P., rheumatism 4 00
Ribison, William, rheumatism 12 00
Kimble, Elijah, eyes 8 00
Maher, William, hand 8 00
Faulker, Squire, abdomen 6 00
Fulcher, Erasmus D., lungs 4 00
Harvey, Mary, widow 12 00
Bonner, Ann, widow 10 00
Haywood, Louisa, widow 8 00
Simons, Malinda, widow 8 00
Harryman, Emily, widow 8 00
Taylor, Martha, widow 8 00
Jones, Elizabeth M. , widow 8 00
Gritfin, David C, survivor 1812 10 00
Bowlin, Elizabeth A. , widow 8 00
Ryan, Elizabeth A. , widow 8 00
Rigg, Sarah, widow 8 00
Roberts, Rachel, widow. 8 00
Naughton, Margaret, widow 8 00
Garrison, William T., minor of 14 00
Basker, Delilah, mother 8 00
Groves, Jane, mother 8 00
Rouey, Ellen, widow 12 00
Persinger, Barbary, widow, 1812 8 00
McConn, Mourning, widow, 1812 8 00
King. Eliza, widow, 1812 8 00
Hensley, John, diarrhoea 2 00
Laf aver, Samuel, lungs 2 00
Kunkle, William, kidneys 4 00
Townsend, Thomas J., leg 2 00
Kennedy, Thomas A., head 8 00
Kennedy, Daniel P., pharyngitis 8 00
Hocker, Malclon, lungs 8 00
Hatleg, Leroy T.. shoulder 6 00
John.son, William C. W., leg 18 00
Payton, Harrison, foot 6 00
Payne, James M., abdomen 6 00
Ruder, Wesley, both eyes 72 00
Northern, Lewis G., side '. 4 00
Troxel, Jacob, rheumatism 18 00
Toner, James E., thigh 12 00
O'Neal, Willis, diarrhoea 50 00
Olds, Henry H., varicose veins 14 00
Hammans, John T., face 18 00
Ferrin, Isaac, disease of abdomen 12 00
Harper, John, heel 6 00
Graves, Charles M., heart 8 00
Harrigan, William, cheek 4 00
Hardwick, John, disease of abdomen 8 00
Baker, Levi, arm 8 00
Burpo, Jesse B., enlargement of heart 8 00
Farr, James B., neck 18 00
Hammond, William, arm 8 00
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 79
Jordon, James H., hip |8 00
McKinley, George W., thigh 4 00
Harper, Isaac N., thigh 8 00
Mosier, James R. , hip 13 00
Walker, George M., leg 4 00
Stiles, Jesse L. R., diarrhoea 13 00
Smith, Elijah, liver 4 00
Tacket, Thomas, injmy to back 6 00
Tiiompson, Jesse, neuralgia 8 00
Bailey, David, ophthalmia 18 00
Bennett, William M., part deafness 13 00
Anderson, William H. H., shoulder 14 00
Brick, James A. , sunstroke 24 00
McCracker, William, abdomen 11 25
Lindley, Jeptha, diarrhoea 8 00
Lewallen, Alonzo, lungs •••. 4 00
Hayden, John W., left hand 13 00
Wilhite, William W., shoulder 4 00
Statzell, Isaac, leg 4 00
Jester, Rebecca, widow 8 00
Brown, Lucy M., widow 8 00
Ruth, Jemima, mother 8 00
Jordan, Jane R., mother 8 00
Thomas, Lydia J., widow 12 00
Greeson, Tibby, mother 8 00
Bly. William G., disease of heart 8 00
Franc, James jST., neck 5 00
Hornaday, Thomas R., neuralgia 8 00
Mitchell, Bloomtield, abdomen 4 00
Hinson, John W.. loss of leg 18 00
Richardson. Robert M., thigh 4 00
Wise. Jacob R., disease of abdomen 4 00
Hensley, Benjamin F., rheumatism 4 00
Farmer, Peter C, arm 18 00
Mitchell, George W., lumbago 14 00
Hinson, James A., impure vaccine 8 00
Sellars, Peter, disease of heart 8 00
Vansant, Joel D., leg 6 00
Rhodes, Mary A., mother 8 00
Bates, William H., minor of 10 00
Greeson, Rebecca, widow 8 00
Wood, Nancy, widow 8 00
Ferguson, Mary C, widow 8 00
Painter, Lutitia, widow 8 00
Thornberry, Francis, survivor 1813 8 00
Hatfield, Allen A., diseased eyes 18 00
Fester, William H., side 12 75
Jacobs, James, thigh 4 00
Prosser, George, thigh 24 00
Runde, Francis F., thigh 2 00
Monroe, Calvin, diarrhoea 10 00
Deaver, James, diseased lungs 18 00
Steel, James W., thigh 2 00
Rushton, William, diarrhoea 4 00
Power, Jacob B., diarrhoea 4 00
Varble, Philip, rheumatism 8 00
Knight, Deucv M., jaw 14 00
Kelso, James P., hand 5 33
Lake, Sarah, widow 10 00
Whitstine, Catherine, widow 8 00
Melton, Martha, widow 8 00
Basker, Elizabeth, widow 8 00
Neidigh, Adella, widow 8 00
Morris, Eleanor, widow 8 00
Prosser, Elizabeth, widow 8 00
Glidden, Margaret, widow 8 00
Long, Nancy, widow 8 00
Barnes, Elizabeth, widow, 1812 8 00
80 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Coleman, Elizabeth, widow $8 00
Lake, Elizabeth, widow 8 00
Baker, Andrew J.,, leg 4 00
Brown, George M., diarrhoea 6 00
Hodges, Thomas T., eyes 4 00
Knight, James H., disease of abdomen 8 00
Tandy, John A., diarrhoea 2 00
Bastian, Jonathan H., hand 4 00
Barion, William H., lung 18 00
Robinson, Joseph C, diarrhoea 12 00
Breeden, John N., ankle 8 00
Warthen, Rhoda, widow, 1812 8 00
Hone, Benjamin F., abdomen 6 00
Keplinger, John E., catarrh 6 00
Kidwell, Jasper N., thigh 3 00
Taylor, Henry B., leg 8 00
Taylor, John, survivor 1812 8 00
Medsker, John, chest 14 00
Briant, George R., loss left arm 24 00
Singleton, Rachel, widow 8 00
Pearce, Austice, widow ■. 8 00
McDaniel, Mary, widow 8 00
WASHINaTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT.
"TTTASHINGTON TOWNSHIP is the largest civil division of the
VV county, being composed, as nearly as can be estimated, of sixty
square miles of valley and upland. There are several very beautiful
views, one being from the bluffs near the county seat down the river val-
ley until sky and timber meet at Gosport, fifteen miles away. The up-
land is not good for agriculture, but there is no richer or more productive
soil in the State than in the river valley and along the smaller streams.
The first settlement in the township was made by the Cutlers, who
located their land in the fall of 1819, and in the early spring of 1820
brought their families out for permanent residence. It is uncertain who
came next, but within a few months several other families arrived, among
them being those of Joel Ferguson, John Gray, Samuel Scott, John
Case, Joshua Taylor, Joseph Townsend, George Matthews, Benjamin
Freeland, Benjamin Hoffman, Joshua Gray, Thomas Jenkins, John
Sims, Chester Holbrook, Alexander Rowand, Norman Reed, Issac Hol-
landsworth, Pressley Buckner, Samuel Elliott, Jonathan Williams, James
Reynolds, James and Charles Clark, and a little later George and Morris
Baker, Christopher Parker, Simon Bishop, Philip Burns, Moses Voyles,
Philip Bass, William Seals, James Burk, William Townsend and many
others whose names cannot be learned. After the county seat had been
located in 1822, the settlement in the vicinity was rapid. The southern
part of the township did not settle up until in the thirties, at which time
almost all the land there was entered, a portion of it by capitalists at
Martinsville or elsewhere. Almost the whole township was covered with
a heavy growth of the choicest native forestry, through which many wild
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 81
animals roamed. It is stated by William Taylor that a man named Perry
Jones, who lived a short distance north of the county seat, in one day
killed five bears, two of them being cubs. The last one was wounded,
and attacked the hunter, who killed it with his gun barrel. This occurred
just south of town. It is told of Pressley Buckner that he saw several
animals lying in the leaves in the woods one day, and at first thought
they were wolves. He fired and killed one, whereupon the others ran.
The hunter was astonished to find that his wolf was a big panther. This
also occurred near Martinsville.
MARTINSVILLE.
The town of Martinsville had its origin in the act of the State Legis-
lature, which brought the county of Morgan into existence. This act
was approved by the Governor on the 31st of December, 1821, and
provided that James Borland, of Monroe County ; Thomas Beazley, of
Lawrence County ; Phillip Hart, of Owen County ; John Milroy, of
Washington County, and John Martin, of Washington County, should
meet at the house of John Gray on the 1st day of March, 1822,
to locate and permanently " set the stake " of the new county seat.
It is not certain that all the Commissioners appointed convened as
provided in the act, though, if not, a majority met on the day specified
at Mr. Gray's residence. There were two or more rival locations in
the county for the county seat, one being at Martinsville, another
near Centerton, and another, it is stated, at Waverly. The latter's
pretensions were easily evaded, owing to its location in the extreme
eastern portion of the county. Centerton had every advantage of loca-
tion ; but sufficient influence could not be brought to bear upon the
locating Commissioners, owing to the fact that there was scarcely a settler
in that vicinity. On the contrary, while Martinsville was south of the
center of the county, there were four or five intelligent and prominent
men living in that vicinity who ofi'ered valuable donations of land, and
perhaps other property, to secure the prize. Accordingly, after viewing
the various rival locations and other portions of the central part of the
county, and after weighing all the tendered donations, the locating Com-
missioners permanently fixed the seat of justice at Martinsville.
It must be noticed, however, that up to this period, there was no sign
of a town at what is now Martinsville. The land was covered with a
rich growth of native forestry, and numerous pits or holes dotted the
surface. An old Delaware trail ran across the town site from northeast
to southwest, passing near the southeast corner of the public square, and
also near the large spring of water in the hills northeast of the town.
It is not positively known how the town came to be called Martins-
ville. The most reasonable among several ways mentioned is that it was
named from John Martin, of Washington County, the oldest of the
locating Commissioners. But this origin of the name must not be regarded
as positively established. The location was completed the first week in
March, 1822. The site selected was upon the line dividing Townships
11 and 12 north, Range 1 east, of the Second Principal Meridian, the
township line passing across the public square. The site was also upon
82
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Section 4 of the former township, and Section 33 of the latter,
following entries on these sections had been made :
The
NAMES.
TO^VN-
SHIP.
KANGE.
SEC-
TION.
ACRES.
DATE.
LOCATION.
John Gray
John Gray
Joshua Taylor.
Samuel Scott . .
Joel Ferguson .
Joel Ferguson .
Jacob Cutler. . .
Jacob Cutler. . .
11
11
11
11
12
12
12
12
4
4
4
4
33
33
33
33
75.85
75.85
76.27
76.27
80
80
80
80
September 4, 1820. .
September, 4, 1820..
September 4, 1820. .
January 9, 1821....
September 5, 1820..
September 5, 1820. .
September 5, 1820..
September 5, 1820. .
E. i N. E. i.
W. i N. E. i.
E. i N. W. i.
W. i N. W. i.
E. i S. E. i.
W. i S. E. i.
E. i S. W. i.
W. i S. W. i.
In the immediate vicinity of these sections, the following men had
also entered land :
John Connor, Larkin Reynolds, Thomas Jenkins, Jacob Cose, Reuben
Mast, Alexander Rowand, Allen Gray, Jacob Lafaver and others, as will
be seen from another chapter of this volume.
DONATIONS AND SALES OF TOWN LOTS.
As a consideration for the location of the county seat thereon, the
following donations of land were made to Morgan County: By Joel Fer-
guson, thirty-seven and one-half acres on the west half of the southeast
quarter of Section 33, Township 12, Range 1 east ; by Jacob Cutler,
thirty-seven and one-half acres on the west half of the southwest quarter
of the same section ; by John Gray, forty acres on the west half of the
northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 11, Range 1 east; by Joshua
Taylor and Samuel Scott, forty acres on the east half of the northwest
quarter ; in all, 155 acres of good land.
So far as can be learned, this land was the only donation, except the
large spring northeast of town, which was forever granted to the use of
the town of Martinsville by Joel Ferguson in April, 1822. The locating
Commissioners did not lay off the town ; they fixed the county seat, se-
cured the donations, and then transferred all further action to George W.
Preston, County Agent. During the latter part of May, the new town
was surveyed and platted under the supervision of the County Agent, by
James Gattelly, County Surveyor, assisted by Benjamin Hoffman, Larkin
Reynolds, Jonathan Williams and others. A total of forty-two blocks
was laid off on the donated land, seven blocks east and west, and six
north and south, together with a row of undivided out-blocks or lots,
extending entirely around the town proper. The forty-two blocks were
subdivided into lots, except Block 18, which was reserved for the public
square. The old plat shows Water, Sycamore, Jefferson, Main, Mulberry,
Marion and Cherry streets extending east and west, beginning on the
south, and Highland, Harrison, Pike, Morgan, Washington, Jackson,
Columbus and Walnut streets extending north and south, beginning on
the east.
The first public sale of lots occurred in June, 1822, and unfortunately
a full account of this sale cannot be given. Another took place in
August, and still another in November, the total receipts of the sale
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 83
footing up to $364.02. Several public sales took place in 1823, and
several during subsequent years, until all the lots were disposed of, which
did not occur until about thirty years. The names of the buyers can
not be stated.
THE FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT BUILDINGS.
The log house of Jacob Cutler, erected a short distance north of the
northeast corner of the public square, was the first on the town site, and
was built in 1820. It was the first county court house, and was the office
of George H. Beeler, the first Clerk and Recorder of the county, Mr.
Beeler being a son-in-law, it is stated, of Mr. Cutler. Among the early
buyers of lots were G. H. Beeler, Jared Olds, John Morrison, Jacob
Cutler, Joel Ferguson, John Gray, Samuel Scott, Joshua Taylor and
James Clark. About six families located in town in 1822. In the fall,
Joshua Taylor opened the first tavern a short distance south of town.
John Sims was the first store keeper, so far as known, and began selling
from a small stock of notions in the spring of 1823. His stock of mer-
chandise was probably worth less than $100. He obtained his license
to sell liquor and a few goods and notions and keep tavern the following
fall, and paid $10 for it for one year. Joshua Taylor's tavern paid a
license of $10 per annum. Taverns in those days almost invariably
contained a bar, at which excellent whisky and other liquor could be ob-
tained— for the money. The early taverns at Martinsville were no excep-
tion to the rule.
In the spring of 1824, G. W. Preston became tavern keeper, and a
little later in the same year John Sims renewed his license for the same
occupation. In the autumn of 1824, Noah Allison brought to the town
a small stock of general merchandise, probably about $600 worth, and
was no doubt the first genuine store keeper of the place. At this time,
the town contained about sixteen families, and was quite a thriving little
place. Carpenters, coopers, blacksmiths, and other useful artisans and
mechanics were present plying their crafts. Mails were received daily,
the route lying from Indianapolis, via Bloomington to Madison. Jona-
than Williams was the carrier about this time and later. It is likely that
Christopher Ladd kept tavern in Martinsville at an early day, though
this is somewhat uncertain. It is positively known that he was a resident
of Port Royal early in the twenties. A school had been started, preachers
had come in to expound the faith as they understood it, and a county
court house and a county jail had just been erected. Altogether, Mar-
tinsville was a thrifty town.
In 1825, John Sims, Benjamin Cutler, Jacob Cutler and John Mc-
Kinney sold liquor. The Cutlers had erected a distillery at the big spring,
and were furnishing quite extensively for that day an excellent article of
corn whisky. It is said they rectified no small amount of the liquor, and
it is also said with a significant smile and shake of the head that no such
whisky is seen in these days of degenerate drinks. Noah Allison re-
newed his store license in 1825, and increased his stock in size and qual-
ity, as is proved by the higher license paid by him. Larkin Reynolds sold
liquor in 1826, as did also James Clark, the Cutlers, Samuel Wick and
perhaps others. The number of liquor sellers was the result of the uni-
84 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
versa! custom of drinking. Men, women and children took their potations
regularly, and it is asserted by old settlers, who ought to know, that there
was less drunkenness then, than now. In 1826, Jacob Cutler opened with
over $1,000 worth of general merchandise. He also began to buy and
pack a few hogs, and buy wheat and corn for shipment, and the latter
largely for manufacture into whisky at his distillery. It is stated that he
sent the first boat load of pork from Martinsville down the river to New
Orleans. He obtained groceries at that point,buthis dry goods were obtained
largely from the southern part of the State. In November, 1826, G. H.
Beeler also opened a small store of general merchandise. A tannery had
been started as early as 1824, by John Sims who, it is said, conducted
it continuously until his death, in about 1842. This tannery in early
years was one of the important industrial features of the town. The big
distillery at the spring was another. It is said that Abraham Kiddy was
the first blacksmith in town. Mr. Anderson succeeded him. Benjamin
Bull was the first resident attorney. Larkin Reynolds also had a strong
passion for the calling of Blackstone. A man named Samuel Drake, was
connected in business with Mr. Sims in 1829 and later. The latter
gentleman, Dr. John Sims, was a man of good brain and education, and
was the first resident physician. He practiced over a circuit of sixty
miles, being occasionally called to see a patient thirty miles away. He
had several fine horses of the St. Charles breed, the great race-horse stock
of that day, and in his long and rapid rides was always accompanied by
an old pair of leather saddle-bags which contained his medicine cases. He
knew well how to bleed and purge and dose with herbs and quinine and
snakeroot and ipecac, as was the custom in those days.
Noah Allison, John Sims and G. H. Beeler were the merchants in
1827, and Jacob Cutler, John Cutler and several others the liquor sellers.
Chris Ladd was tavern keeper about this time, if reports are reliable.
The town remained about the same in 1828. In 1829, Sims & Drake,
G. H. Beeler and Washburn & Co. were the merchants, and John Hurst
and John Craig the liquor sellers. In 1830, the merchants were the
same, except that G. A. Phelps had taken the place of Mr. Beeler.
Robert Worthington and John Hurst sold liquor. In 1831, the mer-
chants were Phelps & Co., Washburn & Co., James Cunningham and
John Sims. In 1832, John Sims, Phelps & Co., James Cunningham
and James M. Mitchell, the latter having been formerly connected with
the firm of Washburn & Co. in the capacity of clerk. James Dickens,
R. D. Worthington, J. J. Graham and others were selling liquor. In
1833, John Sims, J. & L. D. Cunningham and J. M. Mitchell were the
merchants. In 1834, John Sims, James Cunningham, J. M. Mitchell,
William Scott and William Sheerer sold goods. Giles Mitchell kept
tavern where the Mason House now stands, beginning in 1834 or 1835.
In 1831, a caravan of wild animals exhibited at the county seat for $5
license. Benedict & Eldred's circus exhibited there in 1833, and J. T.
& J. P. Bailey's circus and menagerie in 1835, and Frost, Husted & Co.'s
circus in 1836. In 1835, the merchants were Hite & Parks, William
Scott, James Cunningham, J. M. Mitchell, William Sheerer and John
Sims; in 1836, Cunningham, Mitchell, W. H. Craig, Joseph Dawson,
P. M. & N. Parks, Mitchell. At this time, the population of the town
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 85
was about 200. From the foundation of the town up to 1837, among
the residents had been the families of John Sims, P. M. Blankenship,
G. H. Beeler, Isaac D. Sheppard, J. M. Mitchell (single), James Lank-
ford (colored), Benjamin Sweet (a carpenter), Dr. H. R. Stevens, Joshua
Taylor, P. M. Parks, P. B. McCoy, Jacob Cutler, Benjamin Cutler,
Jonathan Hunt, Benjamin Bull, G. A. Phelps, James Gallatly, James Ray
(carpenter), John Eckles, Dr. Matheny, James Jackson, Dr. Huif, W. 11.
Craig, James Crawford, Edward Talbert, James Epperson, Jacob Crum-
back, J. J. Graham, Ed Warren, Joshua Taylor, Allen Gray, John
Gray, Sr. and Jr., John Moran (a cooper), Jacob Vansickle, Mr. Gard-
ner, Andrew Rose, Hewitt Nutter (hotel keeper), John Glessner (a shoe-
maker), Robert Worthington, William Sheerer, Giles Mitchell, James
Cunningham, William Cox, Noah Allison, Joseph Dawson, William
Story, George Mahoney (a blacksmith who was killed by lightning), B.
F. Barnard, Thomas McClure (a blacksmith), W. J. Brag (same), Jacob
Ellis (cabinet-maker), A. T. Whiteman, and many others, including
those mentioned a few pages back.
THE EARLY PORK AND GRAIN TRADE.
From 1835 to about 1850, Martinsville did a large business in ship-
ping pork and grain by boat to New Orleans or other Southern points.
The principal men engaged in this business during that period were John
Sims, W. H. Craig, James Cunningham, P. M. Parks and J. M. and S.
M. Mitchell, nearly all of whom owned separate warehouses or slaughter-
houses. Mr. Parks and the Mitchells were engaged in the business some-
what more extensively than the others. It is stated that during some
seasons in the forties, not less than 9,000 hogs were slaughtered at
Martinsville, and shipped on flat-boats down the river. The stock was
purchased over a large section of country, driven to the slaughter houses,
killed and packed by from five to fifteen men, and the following spring
loaded on flat-boats sixty or one-hundred feet long and floated down the
river to market. This extensive business called into existence many
coopers to make barrels, and brought to town many men of means who
were attracted by the activity and extent of commercial transactions.
Much of the pork was not packed in barrels, but was shipped in bulk.
Upon the arrival at New Orleans, the cargo, which had been consigned to
some commission house, was delivered and the boats sold for from $50 to
$150. The return as far as Madison, was made by steamboat, a stock
of foreign groceries usually being brought up. The remainder of the
trip was by wagon, until railroads came into use early in the forties, and
after that the journey by wagon was from Franklin. Experienced pilots.
men who followed the business, more or less constantly from year to year
during the shipping seasons, were put in charge of the helm on the flat-
boats, and four strong men would ply the oars. The pork trade alone
did much to build up the county seat. The shipments of grain were not
so extensive. Corn was fed to hogs, and the wheat did not greatly exceed
the home demand. As high as 15,000 bushels of those two grains and
oats were shipped some seasons. The business of general merchandising
was also an important industrial feature of the town late in the thirties,
and during the forties. For years the leading merchants were the Cun-
86 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
ninghams, Parks & Hite and the Mitchells. As high as ^25,000 worth
of goods was often in some of the stores, the annual sales amounting some
seasons to $40,000. The Cunninghams were then, and have been since,
among the most enterprising, influential and public-spirited citizens of
the county seat. It would be pleasant to say the same of certain other
wealthy citizens of the town, but facts forbid. The sale of goods was
largely on credit, for men had but little money. Commercial exchanges
were largely effected by barter. So much butter was worth so much
sugar ; so many bushels of potatoes were worth so many bushels of salt ;
so many dozen eggs were worth so many yards of calico. Even balances
were settled with commodities. Merchants were forced by the fiat of
events to take every class of farm production for their wares. Goods
were purchased twice a year usually, and upon the receipt of new stocks a
rush was made to secure the choice. Years sometimes elapsed ere pay-
ments and settlements were made. A much greater percentage of sales
was had than now, and merchants calculated on this when they es-
tablished their percentage of profit. Swine were the great production of
Morgan County in early years. They were easily kept during the win-
ter on the rich mast which covered the forest grounds. Their slaughter
was one of the leading industries. The conveyance by boat to market,
though surrounded with perils to the cargo and toil to the boatmen, was
a rich and varied pleasure. The songs upon the boats at night, the
sparkling and swiftly moving current, the shifting scenery, the passage of
rapids, towns and steamboats, and the novelty of the transactions and scenes
at the Southern markets were akin to the tales of rich romance. The old
boatmen love to narrate their experiences. William Cox, the present
Town Marshal, was the pilot for a score of boats, and knew all the bends
and shoals of the rivers down to New Orleans. William Taylor was an-
other.
LATER DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
The growth of the town was quite rapid during the forties, the popula-
tion in 1848 being over 400. At this time almost every department of busi-
ness was represented. Only the leading or more important features can
be noticed. Among the merchants in 1848 were the Cunninghams,
the Mitchels, Parks & Hite, S. D. Ruckle, Hunt & Barnard, W. H.
Craig, A. S. Griggs, A. Wiggingham, Isaac D. Sheppard and others,
the latter two having harness, etc. Drug stores were not apart from
apothecaries or doctors' offices until about this time. W. F. Todd opened
the first drug store in about 1850. The celebrated drug house of Tarleton
& Wampler was opened soon afterward. F. P. A. Phelps, one of the
most eminent attorneys ever at the Morgan County bar, engaged in the drug
business about the year 1854. William Duncan, Mr. Zuerhurstand J. A,
Lewis were engaged quiet extensively in the cabinet business late in the
forties, or early in the fifties. Hay ward & Co. dealt in agricultural im-
plements in the fifties. In 1855 and 1856, or near those years. Hunt and
Stafford, the Cunninghams, the Mitchells, Parks & Hite, George F.
Watton, C. F. Sims,^W. H. Craig, W. J. Sparks, Stafford & Moffatt,
M. W. Coleman and others were dealing in dry goods, clothing and no-
tions. J. P. Wilson was the daguerrean artist. A. C. Marine sold boots
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 87
and shoes ; J. S. Roff manufactured furniture, including coffins and fancy
household bric-a-brac. Of course Isaac D. Sheppard was manufact-
uring harness, saddles, etc. This has been his constant employment in
the same room, from 1833 until the present — a period of over fifty consecu-
tive years. The county seat secured its first newspaper, except the little
sheet started by Richards, early in the fifties, and in 1856 its second.
Under Mr. Callis, the Gazette was an important factor in the develop-
ment of Martinsville. Samuel Tucker dealt in furniture in the fifties, as did
W. W. Tippins ; W. H. Sailors was a saddler. This is only a partial list
of a large business activity.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
The early manufactories included asheries, cooper-shops, distilleries,
saw mills, wagon shops, batteries, harness and saddle shops, furniture
shops, woolen factories, etc. J. M. Mitchell soon secured the old Cutler
distillery, and conducted it profitably for a number of years. It is said
that at one time early in the thirties, there were eight distilleries in Wash-
ington Township, the greater number of which did a profitable business.
A-bout the year 1845, Talbert & Gilpin erected a two-storied frame
house near the southwest corner of the square, placed therein a set of ma-
chinery and began carding wool. No spinning or weaving was done.
A good business was done until early in the fifties, when the establishment
was destroyed by fire. In 1855, W. J. Sparks obtained possession of
the old brick County Seminary and transformed the building into a woolen
factory. A full outfit of machinery, including two looms, one jack of 180
spindles, a set of 48-inch manufacturing cards, a double roll card, a picker,
a napper, a dresser, a fuller, a scourer, and an excellent engine, was
placed in the building at a cost of several thousands of dollars, and a
large business of carding, spinning, weaving, dressing, fulling and dyeing
was begun. The manufactures included yarns, flannels, satinets, jeans,
full-cloths, cassimeres, etc. It is stated that as high as 40,000 pounds
of wool were manufactured into divers articles during some years.
About 1860, the factory was removed to High Rocks on White River,
and after running there for four or five years was totally destroyed by
fire, entailing a loss of about $30,000 to the owner, and proving his
financial ruin. Crawford & Gilpin also conducted a woolen factory dur-
ing these years. A planing mill was started by DeTurk, Lewis & Co.
about twenty years ago. It is yet operating successfully and is owned
by Hubbard & TiH^fter. Joseph Gurley erected a carriage factory about
1863, which he conducted successfully until his death about five years
later. He manufactured, it is said, as high as fifty carriages and sulkies
per annum. His family conducted it for a few years after his death.
George Geyer began the same business about ten years ago, and Nutter
& Gurley a year or two later, each of the two establishments doing a fair
business. Stine & Krider began the same business in the old Methodist
Church about two years ago. John Moffitt took the old Sims tannery
soon after the death of John Sims. John Shields succeeded him late in
the fifties, and a few years later the present owners, Schaub & Snyder,
took possession. This is probably the oldest business establishment of
the town. Early in the fifties, Fred Axt erected a tannery, which he
88 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
conducted with profit for about twenty years. In about 1860, Baldwin
& Olds erected a grist mill at considerable cost, which after operating
actively for about five years was burned to the ground. About three
years later, Clapper & Hardrick built and equipped the Branch grist mill
at a cost of about .^15,000. After a few ;y ears, Mr. Clark bought out
Clapper, and in about 1877, the Branch Brothers purchased the entire
property and fitted it with improved machinery. A large business was
done under their management. In 1883, the entire structure was burned
down, but the loss was partly sustained by insurance. The destruction
of the mill was a serious loss to the owners, the town and the community.
The Branch Brothers are now erecting a grain elevator of 100,000 bushels
capacity. They will also rebuild the grist mill. About ten years ago,
Thornburgh & Small erected a large grist mill, the entire cost, including
machinery, amounting to about $15,000. They are yet the owners, and
are running night and day. Charles Peabody started a saw mill early in
the seventies. Mr. Philbrooks owned an interest later. Blair & Hamilton
are the present owners. Prather Brothers started a saw mill about two
years ago. These mills are in active operation. Parks, Henderson &
Harrison erected a large brick pork-packing establishment south of town
in 1873, at a cost of about $15,000. They have since slaughtered and
packed on an average during each season since, about 15,000 hogs, em-
ploying many men in the various departments. This has not been a
profitable investment, according to reports. Moran & Hunt opened a
small foundry about a year ago. Ed Meran started a planing mill and
saw mill on Pike street about a year ago. These have been the leading
manufacturing establishments. The dates given must be regarded as only
approximate.
PRESENT BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS.
The present business and professional interests of the town may be
summed up as follows : Dry goods — Cunningham, Bowlinger & Phelps,
Branch & Huff, Lewis & Guthridge, Kennedy & Co., E. M. Woody,
Jacob Green, S. M. Mitchell & Son, J. M. Mitchell & Sons. Groceries —
Elliott & Tilford, S. S. Griffitt, W. H. Webb, L. B. Mathews, Alexander
Lockhart, William Schneider, Horton & Bishop, Heinbarger & Shireman,
Frank Lloyd, A. H. Caldwell, A. Wigginton, Thomy. Hardware —
W. H. Miller & Co., Pierce & Mars, George Branham. Drugs — W. S.
Hemrick, J. H. Hart, B. W. Tilford, Tarleton & Tarleton, J. P. Bald-
win, Norman & Brother. Boots and shoes — Ousler & Pruitt. Clothing —
Dessauer & Brother, L. Hatry & Co. Jewelry — W. H. Crumrine.
Milliners — Mrs. P. B. Warner, Mrs. Jesse Burgett, Miss M. E. Arm-
strong. Cigars — George Kelso, Jasper Miller. Barbers — C. W.
Schreder, J. J. Fertig, Samuel Lewis. Restaurants — C. Harvey, C.
Hill, Mrs. Givens, Lewis Strondebeck. Harness — I. D. Sheppard,
Jesse Brandon, Bishop & Horton, — Sthair, W. S. Falkner. Grist mills —
E. F. Branch & Brother, Thornburgh & Small. Saw mills— Blair &
Hamilton, Prather. Planing mills and lumber — Hubbard & Tur-
ner, E. L. Moran. Agricultural implements — S. M. Guthridge & Co.,
Julius Keifer, George S. Geyer, W. S. Cramer. Carriage factory —
Henry Stine. Tanneries — Schaub & Snyder, Frederick Axt. Saloons —
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 89
Max Dessauer, Alexander Lockhart, Padgett & Brother, Kennedy &
Shields, John Frieze. Hotels — Mason House, Faulkner House, Eureka
House. Notion stores — George Frieze, Jacob Green, Eugene Shields.
Livery stables — F. M. Warner, John Fuselman & Son, Mr. Colwell.
Foundry — Hunt & Moran. Butchers — G. A. Oeftering, John Lewis,
Sthair & Co. Furniture— H. J. Hinson, Lewis & Guthridge, Mr.
Schmidt. Marble dealer — W. S. Barnett. Contractors and builders —
Hubbard & Turner, A. Rogers, Gregory & Son, F. D. Rundell, Mr. Car-
ver. Pork packing — Parks, Henderson & Co. Grain buyers — Branch
Brothers, Thornburgh & Small. Bank — First National. Gunsmith —
K. K- Mann. Photographer — Mr. Collins. Churches — Methodist Epis-
copal, Rev. Ketchum, pastor; Presbyterian, Rev. Furguson, pastor;
Christian, Rev. Bowles, pastor; Catholic, Father Stanislaus, priest.
Tailor — E. Brown. Stave dealers — Vansickle & Co., John Wilcox.
Spoke dealer — A. B. Walker. Live stock dealers — Cunningham &
Asher. Lawyers — F. P. A. Phelps, Mitchell & Cox, Davis & Steele,
Adams k Newby, A. W. Scott, Ferguson, Smock & Renner, Harrison &
McCord, Grubbs & Parks, J. J. Hilton, Shirley & Ray, A. M. Cunning,
Jordan & Mathews. Doctors — Daniel P. Kennedy, R. H. Tarleton, S
A. Tilford, B. E: Tilford, U. H. Farr, H. C. Robinett, B. D. Blackstone'
J. J. Johnston, C. M. Gravis, E. V. Green, W. E. Hendricks, H. W'
Cure.
THE OLD RACE TRACK.*
Soon after the county seat was established, the sporting characters for
miles around effected an organization which met every Saturday in the
town to run horses, drink whisky and have a good time generally. A
track was established east and west along the north side of the square, the
starting point being several hundred yards east, and the terminus west.
Mr. Phelps, then a small boy, remembers distinctly seeing many of these
races. There was a low place along the north side of the square, which
in the spring of the year contained considerable water. Mr. Phelps en-
joyed seeing the horses, whipped down to the race, splash through this
pond. After a few years, the public safety demanded a cessation of races
in the town, and the track was removed about a quarter of a mile south,
where for years the owners of fast horses enjoyed their sports with no
one to molest or make them afraid. The liquor dealers enjoyed a large
and lucrative trade at these races. J. M. Mitchell made considerable
money at the detestable liquor business. In fact he owned the distillery
near the big spring where the liquid hell was made.
INCORPORATION OF MARTINSVILLE.
Attempto were made to incorporate the town during the fifties cer-
tainly, and possibly during the forties, but without success. The Gazette,
under Mr. Callis, was an earnest and constant advocate of the measure ;
but the men of money were sufficiently strong to prevent successful results
until 1863, when an election held to decide the matter declared a decided
majority in its favor. The first meeting of the first Board of Trustees
was held on the 29th of June, 1863. The first year was mainly employed
*The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to F. P. A. Phelps, John Ray, William Taylor and
others for much of the material contained in this chapter. A few refused to impart any information
They seemed to want to be subsidized. They were among the oldest and wealthiest citizens.
90 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
in drafting suitable ordinances for the town. The first seal was adopted
at the second meeting. The following were the first metes and bounds
of the incorporation :
Beginning 68 poles and 17 links east, and 80 poles and 12 links south
of the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 11 north, Range 1 east,
at a stone corner ; thence running north 5 degrees and 20 minutes west
175 poles ; thence east 6 degrees and 15 minutes north 160 poles ; thence
south 5 degrees and 20 minutes east 175 poles ; thence west 5 degrees
south 160 poles to the place of beginning. This territory was divided
into five wards. The Town Treasurer's report for the first fiscal year
was as follows :
RECEIPTS.
Taxes $365 39
Theaters 4 00
Shows and peddlars 6 00
Fines 3 00
Total $377 39
EXPENSES.
Embezzled $170 88
Delinquent tax... 133 00
Error 70
Total $303 58
Receipt balance 73 81
Active work was soon begun on the streets and sidewalks. In
1866-67, the ordinances were revised and multiplied, strict regulations
being adopted for the sale of liquor and for public behavior. Street
lamps — thirty in number — were ordered erected early in 1876, pursuant
to the prayer of a petition signed by about two hundred citizens. The
lamps cost about $8.65 each. The number has since been added to as
the wants demanded. In September, 1879, one hundred and fifteen
citizens petitioned the board to construct water works for the town from
the large spring — the property of the town — mentioned at the beginning
of this chapter. A competent engineer, employed for the purpose,
reported the following facts : The spring was 88.44 feet above the
square, and flowed 23,171 gallons of water per day. A reservoir, 80x80
feet at the surface, 12 feet deep, and 40x40 feet at the bottom, would hold
about 300,000 gallons. The water pressure at the square would be 38.27
pounds, and the total estimated cost of the works would be |13,000. One
hundred and ninety votes were polled for the water works, and 148 against
the same. The vote was made upon the basis of the above estimated cost.
Before the contract for the pipes, etc., could be closed, iron rose nearly
50 per cent in value, largely increasing the cost of the works should
the enterprise be continued, and rendering the vote null by reason of
increasing the cost. The project was wholly abandoned, and has remained
so until the present. In 1881, one hundred rubber fire buckets were
purchased for about $lo5. The above are the principal events since the
incorporation of the town. The following is a complete list of tne town
officers since 1863 :
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION.
Trustees, First Ward, Oliver J. Glessner ; Second Ward, Abraham
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 91
DeTurk ; Third Ward, Abram A. Barrackman ; Fourth Ward, Harvey
Satterwhite ; Fifth Ward, Henry Sims ; also Marshal and Treasurer,
Adam Howe ; Clerk and Assessor, Cyrus F. McNutt. Howe was soon
succeeded by Charles W. Wells, who was removed in January, 1864, for
malfeasance in office, and P, F. Douglas was appointed. The officers
elected the following year (1864) were James M. Baldwin, Cyrus F. Mc-
Nutt, George W. Crawford, Adam Howe and Harvey Satterwhite, Trust-
ees ; James V. Mitchell, Clerk and Assessor ; Henry Sims, Marshal
and Treasurer. Mr. Sims did not qualify, and James Davidson was
appointed, but he soon resigned and Isaac S. Johnson was appointed. Mr.
Mitchell removed from town in April, 1865, and Samuel S. Griffitt took
his place. The officers of 1865 were B. D. Blackstone, I. D. Sheppard,
T. E. Lister, J. H. Mitchell and Charles Day, Trustees ; Harvey Satter-
white, Treasurer; G. W. Warner, Marshal; S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and
Assessor; Aquilla Wigginton succeeded Blackstone in June. The officers
of 1866 were George W. Clapper, Alfred Ennis, James E. Goodhue,
James V. Mitchell and Charles Day, Trustees ; John R. Elliott, Marshal ;
Harvey Satterwhite, Treasurer ; S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and Assessor. In
August 1866, T. B. Mitchell took Goodhue's place as Trustee. The officers
of 1867 were W. R. Harrison, James A. Lewis, John G. Crawford,
Joseph Reese and James C. Craig, Trustees ; George W. Warner, Mar-
shal; Harvey Satterwhite, Treasurer; Samuel S. Griffitt Clerk and As-
sessor. ■ In 18b8, the officers were Thomas Morrison, Salem A. Tilford,
A. R. Chase, P. F. Douglas and Jonathan H. Henry, Trustees ; William
Killian, Marshal ; Henry Satterwhite, Treasurer ; Gainford F. Ennis,
Clerk and Assessor. In 1869, the officers were Thomas Morrison, Harvey
Satterwhite, A. R. Chase, P. F. Douglas and S. S. Griffitt, Trustees ;
G. W. Warner, Marshal; John K. Mitchell. Treasurer; R. McBride,
Clerk and Assessor. In 1870, the officers were: N. T. Cunningham. J.
A. Lewis, H. T. Craig, J. W. Piercy and J. R. Elliott, Trustees ; Cal-
vin F. Sims, Marshal; John K. Mitchell, Treasurer; J. D. Whitted,
Clerk and Assessor ; Lafayette Sims, took Craig's place in November. In
1871, the officers were: William B. Taylor, James A. Lewis, Noble F.
Davis, Benjamin Hayward and Salem A. Tilford, Trustees ; C. F. Sims,
Marshal ; T. H. Parks, Treasurer ; A. McCracken, Clerk and Assessor.
McCraken soon resigned and S. S. Griffitt was appointed. G. W. Pres-
ton soon took Sims' place, and G. W. Warner soon took Preston's place.
In 1872, the officers were : W. B. Taylor, James A. Lewis, Noble F. Davis,
Benjamin Hayward and S. M. Tilford, Trustees ; G. W. Warner, Mar-
shal ; T. H. Parks, Treasurer; S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and Assessor. In
1873, the officers were : W. B. Taylor, S. H. Schofield, George Crawford,
W. P. Clark and John R. Elliott, Trustees; S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and
Assessor; Stephen McCracken, Treasurer ; Absalom M. Bailey, Mar-
shal. In 1874, the officers were : John Hardrick, Joshua Davis, George
A. Danley, Abraham DeTurk and John Forgey, Trustees ; James A.
Lewis. Treasurer; S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and Assessor; Andrew H. Ellis,
Marshal. A. B. Douglas took Danley 's place in August. L. S. Hatley
succeeded Ellis, and G. W. Warner succeeded Hatley. In 1875, the
officers were : Samuel J. Mandeville. Joshua Davis, T. B. Mitchell, Abra-
ham DeTurk and Sylvanus Barnard, Trustees ; James A. Lewis, Treasurer;
92 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and Assessor; G. W. Warner, Marshal. E. F.
Branch soon took Lewis' place. In 1876, the officers were: S. J. Mande-
ville, Joshua Davis, T. H. Parks, A. DeTurk and D. D. Cramer, Trust-
ees ; E. F. Branch, Treasurer ; S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and Assessor ; G.
W. Warner, Marshal. In 1877, the officers were: S. J. Mandeville, G.
W. Egbert, T. H. Parks, A. DeTurk and D. D. Cramer, Trustees ;
Calvin A. McCracken, Treasurer ; S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and Assessor;
William Cox, Marshal. In 1878, the officers were : James E. Barton, W.
W. Kennedy, A. B. Douglas, J. M. Blair and J. H. Jones, Trustees ; E.
E. Riley, Treasurer ; S. S. Griffitt, Clerk and Assessor ; G. W. Warner,
Marshal. In 1879, the officers were: S. J. Mandeville, J. Williams, E.
P. Ritchey, A. S. Mitchell and J. H. Henry, Trustees ; E. E. Riley,
Treasurer ; Preston Graver, Clerk ; William Cox, Marshal. In 1880,
the officers were: John Stevens, John M. Clark, William M. Crider, Julius
C. Keifer and John R. Elliott, Trustees ; Preston Graver, Clerk and
Assessor; E. E. Riley, Treasurer; William Cox, Marshal. In 18'<1, the
officers were: John Stevens, C. A. McCracken, H. E. Branch, F. M.
Warner and L. P. DeTurk, Trustees ; Preston Graver, Clerk and Asses-
sor ; A. S. Mitchell, Treasurer ; William Cox, Marshal. In 1882, the
officers were John Stevens, J. E. Toner and T. A. Parks (McCracken and
Warner held over), Trustees; Preston Graver, Clerk and Assessor; A. S.
Mitchell, Treasurer ; William Cox, Marshal. In 1883, the officers were :
W. C. Barnett and E. V. Mitchell (Stevens, Toner and Parks held over),
Trustees ; Preston Graver, Clerk and Asseesor ; A. S. Mitchell, Treas-
urer ; W'illiam Cox, Marshal. The following is the town Treasurer's re-
port for the year ending April 16, 1883 :
RECEIPTS.
On hand April 17, 1883 $1,764 14
Taxes 2,111 25
Fines 28 55
Liquor license 455 00
Billiard tables 70 00
Peddlers 29 00
Auctioneers 5 00
Hawking goods 5 00
Patent medicine venders 2 00
Throwing balls 6 00
Shooting gallery 2 00
Striking machine 8 00
Shows and theaters 18 00
Hite& Parks hall 25 00
Total $4,528 94
Paid on orders $2,788 41
Paid on roads 354 50
Balance on hand 1,386 03
Total. $4,528 94
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Martinsville Lodge, No. 74, was established in June. 1849, but as the
records were destroyed by fire the details of the organization cannot be
given. B. F. Barnard was the first Senior Warden and William A.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 93
Rooker, Junior Warden. The lodge yet survives, with a membership of
about ninety-five.
In October, 1868, Osceola Encampment, No. 71, was established by
the following first members : H. T. Craig, 0. O. Thwing, Willis Record,
Charles Day, Charles Seaton, A. S. Griggs, J. M, Stafford, William
Hines and Benjamin Hayward. The officers were 0. 0. Thwing, H. P.;
Benjamin Hayward, K.; H. T. Craig, S.
In December, 1872, the Order of the Eastern Star, Queen Esther
Chapter, No. 15, was established with the following membership: Lillie
Schofield, Josie Richardson, Ann Clark, Manda Acton, Minerva Wig-
ginton, Mary Richardson, Carrie Tarleton, Ettie Baldwin, Dora Barnard,
Alice Thomas, Anna B. Craig, Clara Faselman, Dora L. Egbert, Mary
A. Gilman, Martha Donavan, Cassie Wampler and Ann Tilford. Mrs.
Ann Tilford was Matron ; Josie Richardson, A. M.
The order of the Sons of Temperance was first instituted in Indiana
in 1847, and within two years a lodge was established at Martinsville, of
which nothing can be said, as the records are missing.
In March, 1867, Callis Lodge, No. 274, Odd Fellows, was organized
at Martinsville, with the following probable first membership : E. W. Cal-
lis, G. W. Busbee, J. S. Piercy, M. W. Coleman, Willis Record, 0. J.
Kennedy, A. Carver, B. E. Orner, T. H. Parks, T. F. Orner, C. F.
Sims, T. A. Sloan, C. B. Huxley, J. D. Whitted, W. A. S. Mitchell, A.
B. Douglas and J. R. McBride. The charter was granted in February,
1867. The name of the lodge was afterward changed from Callis to Mar-
tinsville. It had been named in honor of E. W. Callis, the well-known
and universally respected editor of the Gazette. J. D. Whitted was the
first Secretary, and J. H. Piercy the first Treasurer. The present offi-
cers are R. A" Asher, N. G.; John F. Ray, V. G.; W. E. Shawcross, R.
S.; Samuel Guthridge, P. S.; W. H. Miller, Treasurer. The lodge is
in excellent condition, numerically and financially, having a fund of over
$2,000 at interest, besides valuable paraphernalia of the order, and an
active membership of seventy-two. The rent of their hall in Park &
Hites' building is |50 per annum.
Martinsville Encampment, No. 93, was established in November
1868, with the following membership : E. W. Callis, J. D. Whitted, w!
Record, J. A. Lewis, A. R. Chase, John Allen, T. H. Parks, J. E. Ken-
nedy, G. W. Preston, G. W. Busbee, J. H. Piercy. The Encampment
is prosperous.
In January, 1873, Loraine Lodge, No. 95, Rebekah Degree, was es-
tablished with the following membership : J. A. Lewis, F. A. Rein-
hart, H. W. Cure, A. Carver, A. R. Chase, 0. J. Kennedy, G. A. Dan-
ley, J. N. Thompson, J. W. Duncan, J. E. Kennedy, Catharine Lewis,
Harriett E. Kennedy, Ann E. Henderson, Catharine A. Carver and
Susan Whitted. The lodge is in good working order.
A Post of. the Grand Army of the Republic was organized at the
county seat under the old lodge ritual in 1868, but did not survive longer
than a few months. On the 14th of June, 1882, another was organized
under the revised ritual, with the following charter membership : W. H.
Miller, J. G. Bain, W. W. Kennedy, Levi Ferguson, D. P. Kennedv
W. G. Grubbs, F. E. McNair, John Miller, C. Hill, M. B. Collins j!
94 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
E. Toner, T. A. Kennedy, H. H. Olds, W. A. Mars, J. S. Sheppard,
S. V. List, W. H. Dryden, John Hardrick, J. C. Comer, W. G. Garri-
son, E. M. Woody, J. E. Burton, W. J. Childevs, A. B. Douglas, J. E.
Brant, J. H. Seaman, G. W. Warner, M. Kinworthy, Thomas Evans, W.
0. Pool, Charles Stoker, E. G. Cox, Moses Bailey, E. F. Stimpson,
Absalom Ross, E. M. Baldwin, George Hubbard, U. H. Farr, John
Kriner, Josiah L. Burton and Ezra Deweese. The first officers were: D.
P. Kennedy, S. V.; W. H. Miller, J. V.; J. E. Brant, Chaplain ; U.
H. Farr, Surgeon ; W. H. Dryden, 0. of D.; J. L. Burton, 0. of G.;
J. E. Toner, Q. M.; J. H. Seaman, Q. M. S. The present officers are
W. G. Grubbs, P. C; W. H. Miller, S. V.; U. H. Farr, J. V.; D. P.
Kennedy, Surgeon ; W. H. Dryden, 0. of D.; M. B. Collins, 0. of G.;
J. E. Toner, Q. M.; J. H. Seaman, Q. M. S.; H. H. Olds, S. M. The
post was named Perry M. Blankenship, No. 77, in honor of an old set-
tler and prominent citizen and soldier. The present membership is
about sixty-five, and the Post meets in the hall of the K. of P. The
organization is prosperous.
Anniversary Lodge, No. 89, Knights of Pythias, was instituted Feb-
ruary li*, 1880, the following persons being the charter members : J. M.
Blair, A. J. Baldwin, W. G. Bain, B. W. Burns, F. D. Baldwin, E. A.
Bourn, J. E. Cardell, J. C. Comer, J. M. Coleman, Ben Dessauer, Aaron
Guthridge, J. T. Gurley, J. M. Headley, John Hutchins, D. W. Hogan,
Smith Johnson, George Johnson, I. S. Johnson, D. P. Kennedy, J. C.
Kriner, Adolphus Kaiser, B. F. Kriner, E. E. Kriner, C. W. Kaiser,
Alexander Lockhart, E. L. Moran, J. V. Mitchell, M. J. Nickum, W.
R. Nosier, C. W. Olds, A. S. Pearce, W. Y. Pratt, E. A. Piatt, James
Quinn, F. D. Rundell, Lloyd Rariden, H. A. Smock, J. C. Simpson,
Samuel Seiders, J. E. Toner, A. B. Walker, W. H. Webb, Jonathan
Williams and J. A. Yager. The first officers were A. S. Pearce, C. C;
James Blair, P. C; H. A. Smock, V. C; D. P. Kennedy, Prelate; M.
J. Nickum, M. F.; J. C. Simpson, M. of E. The lodge is in prosperous
condition, with a membership of over sixty. Meetings are held in their
hall in Park & Kite's building on the east side. The hall rent is ^50
per annum. Two deaths only have occurred since the organization of
the lodge. The present officers are A. S. Pearce, D. G. C; C. Rose, C.
C; Eb Henderson, V. C; F. D. Rundell, P. C; E. E. Kriner, K. of
R. S.; J. J. Hilton, Prelate ; Walter Nutter, M. F.; J. A. Lewis, M. of
E.; F. D. Baldwin, M. A.
BANKING ENTERPRISES.
In 1860, P. M. Parks & Co. founded a private bank at Martinsville,
under the old State banking law, with a capital of ^50,000. Milton
Hite was one of the company, and J. J. Deakins was Cashier. The bank
was in the Parks & Hite building on the east side. In 1865, so pros-
perous had been the bank during the feverish times of the war, the capi-
tal had a little more than doubled itself. At the latter date a National
Bank was organized under Congressional enactment, the following per-
sons being stockholders: P. M. Parks, Milton Hite, N. T. Cunningham,
0. R. Daugherty, Henry Sims, J. J. Johnson, Clement Nutter, Jackson
Record, Cvrus Whetzel, W. R. Harrison, T. H. Parks, Jacob Adams,
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 95
H. Satterwhite, Robert Smith, Mrs. Julia Egbert, 0. J. Glessner, Eb
Henderson and Franklin Landers. The capital was $100,000. P. M.
Parks was President ; Milton Hite, Vice President, and H. Satterwhite,
Cashier. P. M. Parks died in 1867, and Milton Hite became President ;
A. E. Graham, became Assistant Cashier. Mr. Hite died in September,
1877, and T. H. Parks became President. The bank charter will expire
in 1885. The following was the statement of the bank on the 22d of
June, 1883:
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts $147,747 22
Overdrafts 2,474 43
U. S. bonds to secure circulation 50,0o0 00
Due from approved reserve agents 8,589 37
Due from other National Banks 24,648 47
Real estate, furniture and fixtures 27,300 00
Current expenses and taxes paid 1,701 78
Bills of other banks 5,110 00
Fractional paper currency, nickles and pennies 56 36
Specie 20,638 00
Legal tender notes 3,200 00
Redemption fund with United States Treasurer (5 per cent
of circulation) 2,250 00
Total $293,715 63
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in $100,000 00
Surplus fund 25,000 00
Undivided profits 21,138 53
National Bank notes outstanding 45,000 00
Individual deposits subject to check 51,985 40
Demand certificates of deposit 50,591 70
Total $293,715 63
The Mitchells are doing a limited banking business in the town.
EDUCATION AT THE COUNTY SEAT.
But little can be learned of the early schools of Martinsville. No
school was probably taught until 1823, and might have been as late as
1824, but at that date there was certainly a school taught during the
warm months on the porch of an old house on the west side of the
square, by Dr. John Morrison. The names of all the early teachers
cannot be stated. After Ihaf date, school was held more or less every
year, in private dwellings, in houses that had been vacated by the owner,
and in the old log court house on the southwest corner of the square.
Some have said that the first school at Martinsville was taught by James
Cunning, in a barn northeast of town, said to have been the property of
Samuel Scott. Amy Magee was an early teacher also. In 1827, an
old vacated log building on the square was used for school purposes.
All these schools were supported by subscription, the parents paying
from $1 to $2 for each of their children for the term usually of three
months. About the year 1833, a small frame schoolhouse was erected
near the present residence of Mr. Branch, which was used continuously
until 1839. Two of the teachers in this house were William Lee and a
Mr. Welch. It is stated that a man named Hiram Lamb taught in the
96 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
town as early as 1828 or 1829. His name is one of the earliest that can
be mentioned. He taught reading in the testament, writing on rude pa-
per with a quill pen, and "ciphering" from Pike's arithmetic. Welch
taught several terms, and was a man of considerable learning. He was
a strict disciplinarian, and flogged his pupils on the least provocation
with a long hickory gad well seasoned in the hot embers of the fire. Mr.
Lee was club-footed, and also had some peculiar deformity of his hands
or arms. He knew how to whip. The old "dunce cap " was a favorite
institution of his, and many a time and oft did it grace the heads of of-
fending pupils.
In about 1839, the first school was taught in the county seminary by
an eccentric Irishman named David Anderson. He was well educated
for that day, and was an accomplished instructor and disciplinarian. As
the seminary was an institution of the county, it was well attended from
the start, not only by the young men and women of the county seat, but
by others from distant portions of the county, the latter boarding in
town during each session of school. The smaller children of the town
were largely excluded, and were provided for in the old frame schoolhouse
and elsewhere. The educational center, however, was the seminary.
Excellent schools were held, many of the higher branches being taught
there from the first, and a thorough preparation for college being fur-
nished a few years later. The present common school system of to-day
was unknown then. All the ordinary schools were sustained by private
means, and by the proceeds from the sale of the sixteenth section in
Congressional townships. The advocates of popular taxation for the sup-
port of public schools were regarded as fanatical and wholly unjust in
their views. Then the burden fell upon the parents of large families,
who, owing to their poverty, were the least able to educate their children.
Citizens in good circumstances, but without children, escaped the burden.
The county seminary scheme was quite popular, as it furnished an educa-
tion higher than could be secured at the subscription schools. But as
time passed public sentiment was molded in favor of making property
the basis of taxation for the support of public schools and not the number
of children. This led eventually to the adoption of the foundation of the
present free public school system, first in 1843 and later in 1852. Dur-
ing the forties, the steady decadence of the seminary system transpired.
That institution in Morgan County lost favor, and gradually became a
school for the county seat and vicinity, and not for the whole county.
The attendance from abroad steadily decreased until in 1846 the
institution Avas no longer one for the whole county. After 1853, school-
houses, built and supported by taxation upon property, sprang up in all
portions of the county, and the seminary was ordered sold, and the pro-
ceeds became part and parcel of the common school fund. The old sem-
inary did good service in its day.
About the time the seminary was sold, two or three small frame school-
houses were erected in Martinsville, one in the southern part, one in the
northeastern, and one in the northwestern. They were not built, how-
ever, at the same time, but at intervals during the fifties. Why one
large building with two or three rooms was not built is not clear. But
the novelty of the common school system, and the prevailing ignorance
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 97
of its practical working, prevented it for a period of years from exclud-
ing the old private or subscription schools, which had formerly been the
universal source of education of the masses from the town, and accord-
ingly during the fifties numerous private schools were taught, a strong
demand existing for the higher branches. In 1855, M. L. Johnson
opened the " Martinsville Female Academy," in the rooms over Mr.
Crary's store. Several terms were taught, and considerable energy was
manifested, but the institution did not sustain the hopes of its founder.
Various other schools of a similar character were conducted for short pe-
riods about the same time. In about 1860, the old Baptist Church,
which had stood unused for some time, was transformed into a high school
building under the private control of Dr. Snoddy, who, if reports are cor-
rect, conducted a select school of great excellence for about two years. He
was succeeded in 1862 by Miss M. F. Jones (now Mrs. Wigginton), who
taught with universal favor for three consecutive years. In 1865, R. V.
Marshall succeeded Miss Jones, and had as assistants A. M. Cunning
and Miss Comer. Marshall was a capable man, having been educated
at the State University at Bloomington. In 1867, the front part of the
present high school building was constructed at a cost of about $13,500,
William Orner being the contractor. About one-third of the cost was paid
by Washington Township. As yet, the town, though incorporated, was one
of the common school districts of the township. Mr. Marshall, with two as-
sistants and with a salary of $1,000, was employed to commence theschool
in the new building, which he did, continuing for about two years. His suc-
cessor was Prof. Webster, who remained but a short time. In 1870, the
town became an independent school district, and immediately purchased
for $4,000 the interest which Washington Township owned in the high
school building. In 1877, a fine addition to the building was erected
for $6,000. Mrs. Stanford succeeded Prof. Webster, and was in turn
succeeded by Prof. French. The present Principal, Prof. Starkey, took
charge of the school about six years ago. Under his management the
usefulness of the school has been doubled. He is a man of fine talent and
culture. The school is one of the best of the kind in the State. In
July, 1883, the town Trustees purchased an entire block in the south-
eastern part of town for $2,000, upon which a temporary frame school-
house is to be erected. This was rendered necessary by the inefficacy of
the present house to meet the wants of the town. After a few years, the
frame building to be erected will be converted into a janitor's residence,
and a fine brick school building will take its place. This is glancing
ahead, however.
RELIGION AT THE COUNTY SEAT.
Circuit riders of various religious denominations came to Martinsville
early in the twenties, but if any attempt was made to found a class it resulted
in nothing but failure. Late in the twenties, however, a small class of Meth-
odists was partially organized, the greater number of the few members
living outside of the town. This small class of Methodists was organized
at the old log court house in 1827, among the earliest members being G.
A. Phelps. James Epperson, John Craig, Edward Talbot, Noah Allison,
Benjamin Bull, Dr. Francis A. Matheny, Jacob Harryman, Archibald
98 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Cramer. Fred Gardner and their families and others. Late in the thirties
and early in the forties, the class met at the house of Mr. Gardner for wor-
ship. Ministers of the Presbyterian, Christian, Baptist and other de-
nominations appeared and preached to motley assemblages of citizens in
the court house and the schoolhouse. The second permanent class organ-
ized in the town was that of the Cumberland Presbyterian. . It was fully
organized in 1841, by Rev. Elam McCord, with the following member-
ship : Isaac D. and Thurzea Sheppard, John Taggart and wife, William
Morgan and wife, James Maxwell and wife, Robert Hamilton, Grand-
mother Bothwell, Polly Ray, Mrs. John Cox, Mrs. Anna Williams, Mrs.
Franky Wilson. It was organized in the court house. Soon after this,
Mr. Sheppard circulated a subscription list to raise means to build a
church. He soon had about ^600 subscribed. The few Methodists and
Christians in the town about this time discovered what Mr. Sheppard had
accomplished, whereupon members of those denominations, not to be out-
done, also circulated subscription lists, but were met with the objection
that it was out of the question to try to build three churches in the town
at that time, and the attempts by these denominations were abandoned
for the time. The Presbyterians were so active that their church, a small
brick structure yet standing in the town, was constructed by James Craw-
ford the following year, 1842. The total cost was about $1,500. Addi-
tions later cost $500. Rev. McCord served the class for seven consecu-
tive years — from 1840, when he first visited the town, to 1848. James
Ray, William Orner, Samuel Downing, Benjamin Sweet, carpenters,
worked out their subscriptions on the building. This old church was
used until two years ago, when the present fine brick structure was erected
by the same class at a cost of over $6,000. The class has been prosper-
ous since the start, and has had a Sunday school the greater portion of
the time. W. H. Miller, a most excellent man for the place, and a lead-
er of the church, is the present Superintendent. The missionary work
done by this class is said to be the largest in the conference. This is
largely due to Mr. Miller's efi'orts and management.
The Methodists, as has been stated, had an organization at the coun-
ty seat as early as 1827. The Grays, Crawfords and Warrens belonged
later. The church was not built until about 1848-49. It cost about
$1,000. Among the members at this time were Jacob and Catharine
Harryman, Charity Gardner, Mr. McCormack's family, A. D. Rose,
Susan Rose, Thomas Downing, Nancy Downing, William Downing, E.
T. Harryman, John Edwards, Elizabeth Barrickman, Hester Barrick-
man, Mathew Whetstine and wife, Mr. Elliott, Martha Orner, W. W.
Wilson, and those mentioned above, and others to the number of about
forty. The frame church was used until 1873, when the new brick struct-
ure was built at a cost of nearly $17,000. Among the ministers have
been Tinsley, Williams, Dorsey, Clifford, Powell, Dane, Wharton, Lath-
rop. Smith, Sutton, McCan, Culmer, Grim, Asbury, Thompson, Chap-
man, Hayes, Binkley, Talbot, Brant, McGinnis, and the present minister,
J. H. Ketcham. The church has a membership of about 300, and has
had a prosperous Sunday school for many years.
The Christian class was organized early in the forties, and a church
was built about 1846. Among the members were P. M. Parks, Perry
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 99
Blankenship, Benjamin Sweet, James Jackson, John Sims, William Ma-
jor, Job Hastings, Joel Wilson, W. H. Craig, Samuel Tucker, Thomas
Hess, Allen Hess, Jackson Warner, W. J. Sparks and others, including
the families of the above. The class has been one of the most prosperous
at the county seat. The same building, to which many improvements
have been added, is yet in use. A Sunday school was organized at an
early day, and has endured until the present with a large increase in the
membership. The Tuckers have been prominent in the church since the
first.
The Baptists organized at Martinsville as early as 1850. A. B.
Alsip, the Frinks, and others were members. The brick church was built
about 1857, but for some reason was not finished. The leading Baptists
removed from the town, and the building was transformed into a school-
house, being thus used until after the last war, when it was purchased by
the Catholics for $700, and has since been used by them. Father Gillig
was the first priest. Among the members who have belonged are B. Gil-
lig, George Frisz, Mrs. Magee, Mrs. Singleton, Mrs. Woods, Pat
King and family, Peter Miller and family, Mrs. Lockhart, Mrs. Max-
ville, Peter Rooney, Mrs. Gillig, George Estling, Charles Schrader. The
priests since Father Gillig have been Father Snell, Father Erceneus,
Father Victor and Father Stanislaus, the present priest, who visits the
class onoe a month.
POPULATION.
In 1823, there were about ten families at Martinsville. In 1830,
the population was about 175 ; in 1840, about 400 ; in 1850, about 525 ;
in 1860, about 700; in 1870, about 1,350; in 1880, about 1,943; and in
1883, about 2,300.
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE.
THE PIONEERS.
THERE are many interesting historical items connected with Moores-
ville and vicinity. The settlement there, after it had begun, was so
rapid, and the settlers were so intelligent, moral and thrifty, that the
northern part of the county was not surpassed by any other portion for
enterprise and general advancement and excellence. It is difficult to give
with any certainty the name of the first settler in Brown Township, as
several came in about the same time. If carefully sifted reports are re-
liable, there was no permanent settler until 1819, at which time a half
dozen or more arrived. The first man was probably either Hiram Mat-
thews, Benjamin Cuthbert, Charles Reynolds, Thomas Lee, Samuel Bar-
low or William Ballard, all of whom entered the township for permanent
residence in 1819. It is thought that Mr. Ballard was the first, as he
opened a tavern on the old "Whetzel Trace " early in 1819. Among others
who came during the next three or four years were John H. Bray, Eli
Hadley, Harris Bray, Asa Bales, William McPherson, James Hadley,
100 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Barclay Burris, Edward Bray, R. G. Burris, John D. Carter, then a boy,
Joel Dixon, Thomas Ballard, Richard Day, Nathaniel Carter, Charles
Vertrees, Joshua Carter, Levi Plummer, William Rooker, Samuel
Jones, William Gregory, I. W. Rooker, Ira Mendenhall, William Reason,
Henry McCracken, William Bales, Benjamin White, William McCracken,
Benjamin Thornburg, John Wilson, Thomas McNeff, William McNeff,
William Matlock, Samuel Barlow, Joseph Moon, Eli Harvey, Samuel
Moore and many others. The poll-tax payers in 1842 were Gary Bea-
8on, Edward Brady, William Brady, Caleb Beason, Harris Bray, John
B. Burt, John Blanton, R. G. Burris, Smith Boyd, W. M. Black, Bar-
clay Burris, Martin Beason, John Caveness, Alexander Conduitt, John
Carter, J. H. Combs, Joshua Cox, J. L. Cox, John D. Carter, Perry
Carpenter, Gabriel Coble, Daniel Cox, Nathaniel Carter, William Day,
Aiken Daiken, Daniel Day, Thomas Dunegan, Nathan Dixon, Riley
Dixon, John Day, Samuel Edmundson, Samuel Evans, John E. Fultz,
Isaac Ferrand (a cooper), William Fogleman, William Fields, Dr. A. V.
Gray, Daniel Greeson, M. T. Hadley, Eli Harvey, Simon Hadley, Will-
iam Hadley, Dr. John Hiner, Job Hadley, David Harvey, Robert Har-
vey, W. B. Harrold, Reuben Harris, Noah Housand, Joseph Hiatt,
William Hardridge, John Hardrick, Jabez Hunt, Soloman Hunt, William
Hinson, Thomas Herrold, T. E. Johnson, Hezekiah Jessup, John John-
son, P. P. Johnson (a tailor), James Johnson, George Kimbro, J. R.
Kerr (a weaver), J. S. Kelley, Obed King, James Lindley, Aaron Lloyd,
William Leathers, Joel Landrum, Alfred Moore, Samuel Moore, G- D.
May, Hiram Matthews, John Matthews, John B. Moon, William Mc-
Cracken, Henry McCracken, Riley McCrary, William McPherson,
Thomas McNeff, Ricks Newby, Robert Newby, M. L. Orell, James Pad-
dock, John J. Pfoff, John Pope, Dixon Pennington, R. E. Preston (a school-
teacher), Michael Rusee, Jesse S. Rooker, Isaac Reed, Thomas Rariden,
James Richardson, Allen Robertson, T. H. Rooker, J. W. Richards,
Jacob Shanafelt, Pleasant Sumner, Henry Shanafelt, J. E. Starr, S. V.
Scott, B. D, Scott, John W. Thompson. Benjamin Thornburg, William
Towell, I. W. Rooker, George Rosier, Reuben Rariden and Eli Vestal.
This list is given to preserve the names of as many old settlers as possible.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND INCIDENTS.
White Lick Creek was the attraction in early years. The land bor-
dering it was nicely rolling, and was largely alluvial, and almost inexhaust-
ible in fertility. Log cabins arose in every direction along its banks, and
in a very short period waving seas of wheat and other grain could be seen.
Richard Day built a small corn cracker on the creek as early as 1822.
A small dam was built across the stream, and a short race conveyed water
to the old " flutter wheel," which propelled a small pair of buhrs made of
sand stone. The flour that was made at this mill invariably contained
sand from the old stones. The settlers were accordingly full of sand in
more respects than one. Their teeth were always sharp and their appe-
tites good, both being whetted, no doubt, on the sand. It was a cheap
grindstone. People were not as fastidious then as regards what they ate
as they are now. Now we have this patent fandangled process that
turns out flour so fine that you cannot see it with a microscope. Mr.
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 101
Moon erected his ^w mill on the East Fork in 1823. It was a rude
affair, but furnished considerable native lumber for a few years. Mr.
Moore says that when he reached the township in 1823, wolves, bears and
numerous herds of deer were almost every-day sights where Mooresville
now stands. John H. Bray started the first fulling mill in the central
part of Indiana. It was located a short distance west of Mooresville, and
commenced operation a year or two before 1830. It was a rude affair,
but it served the purposes of the neighborhood. He did not even card.
The settlers were obliged to do that themselves by hand. They bought
their cards of Samuel Moore, who purchased them in the East with his
goods. Mr. Moore also brought in huge bales of cotton, which were pur-
chased and transformed into cloth by hundreds of wives for miles around. A
calico dress at 37^ cents per yard (only four yards), was then regarded
as the most stylish costume in the woods. Mrs. Thornburg brought with
her her silk wedding dress, but folks would have called her " stuck up "
if she had dared to wear it. She used it to make winding sheets for the
children that died in the neighborhood. Soon after the Thornburgs
reached the township their horses were stolen, and while the men were
gone for a week or more in pursuit, Mrs. Thornburg was left alone with
three or four small children. She worked nearly all the time they were
gone, burning brush and logs, and getting ready for the coming crop. She
was the daughter of Rev. Peter Monical, a Methodist minister of more
than ordinary ability and piety. The Thornburgs have since been among
the most enterprising and respected citizens of the county. John H.
Bray was a large man, and wielded great influence wherever he moved.
During the winter of 1821-22, he is said to have killed twenty-eight deer
without going hunting. That shows how numerous those animals were.
Their hides were worth about $1, and often their flesh was worth little
more than nothing. Coons were numerous and their hides were worth
about a drink of whisky. It is told on the venerable Samuel Moore, that,
on one occasion, a coon skin was traded him for a drink of whisky. He
threw the skin up in the loft and resumed his place behind the counter.
Some thirsty fellow took it down unnoticed by Mr. Moore, and traded it
to him a second time for a drink. The crowd assembled caught the idea,
and the cheat was repeated again and again until Mr. Moore imagined he
had a loft full of fine skins. It is quite likely that the fellow who told
this story had been reading the life of David Crockett, and had borrowed
the tale to tell at Mr. Moore's expense. Mr. Moore bought and traded
for coon skins, however, but he recollects nothing about finding his loft
full of emptiness. The tale is a myth. How foolishly credulous some
persons are, and how many will base fact on fiction !
CONTINUED REMINISCENCES,
The old Moon Saw Mill continued to operate for several years. Har-
ris Bray owned a saw mill about a mile and a half east of town, and also
conducted a small distillery there for a number of years. When Hiram
Matthews came to the township in 1820, a heavy fall of snow had just
fallen. He crossed the tracks of seventeen different bears, all turned
south except one. Benjamin Thornburg came in 1822. He had no corn,
and could get none in the settlement, and went up northeast of Indian-
102 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
apolis to Strawtown, where he obtained a supply which was floated down
White River to the Bluffs, and then hauled out by wagon. He helped
his neighbors roll logs thirty days of the first season, and in return had
his rolled. It was a sight, no doubt, to see thirty or forty men in a big
field where logs and brush lay in every direction. The men would be
divided into companies with Captains, and each party would try to outdo
the others. Four strong, skillful men with handspikes would pick up
and carry an enormous log. It would take about a score of men nowa-
days with half a dozen derricks to lift such a log ! You are not required,
reader, to believe that statement unless you so desire. The women would
usually gather to do the cooking, and the times in and around the cabins
were about as lively, and far more attractive than out in the field, for our
mothers were young then, and strong, and had the bright faces, round
forms and light jokes and laughter which we so well remember in our
boyhood days. We cannot be too kind to the old grandfathers and grand-
mothers whose feet never tired waiting upon us when we were helpless.
BEAR STORIES.
One day in September, about the year 1829, Nathaniel Carter went
to Richmond, Ind., to attend the Quaker annual meeting. While he was
gone, along during the evening Ira Mendenhall came over to his house to
get help to haul in a large bear that he had just killed. He said that he
had gone out to get his cows, and had discovered the bear, whereupon he
fired and wounded it. He chased it and wounded it with a second shot.
This so disabled the bear that he was enabled to get close enough to fin-
ish it, which he did with a shot through the head. It was a very large
animal, and was hauled to the house with a horse. J. D. Carter, then a
large boy, walked behind to see that the bear kept on its belly so that its
hair would not be injured. The hide was taken off and put to soak.
Mr. Rooker was asked to come over to judge whether the meat would do
to eat. He pronounced it good, and the neighbors were accordingly re-
galed with choice bear steak. They also pronounced it good. One day
J. D. Carter was digging ginseng root near the woods. Upon looking
up suddenly, he was astonished to see a large bear on a limb not many
rods distant. He was considerably scared, and ran to the house to get his
father. Mr. Carter, Sr., hurried out with his gun, and brought Mr.
Bruin down at the first fire. The animal weighed about 300 pounds.
A SNAKE STORY.
In April, 1823, the rattlesnakes were very numerous where Richard
Day lived, near the toll gate east of Mooresville. There was a den of
them in the big spring there. The Day boys and Carter boys secured
several tall sycamore gums and placed them by the springs, and then by
watching with long poles succeeded in throwing thirty-six of the venomous
reptiles into the gums, whence they could not get out. On Sunday, sev-
eral neighbors gathered to see the snakes. Blood was taken from the arm
of some man present, and held in a cup, while the snakes were maddened
with a stick, and permitted to strike several times into a small piece of
cloth, and then the cloth thus poisoned was dipped in the blood. Ac-
cording to J. D. Carter, who witnessed the experiments, the blood "boiled
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 103
and boiled." After the blood had been thoroughly poisoned, the cele-
brated rattlesnake root was crushed up and placed in the cup, whereupon
the boiling instantly ceased. This is a snake story.
SAMUEL MOORE.
This well-known man who is yet living in Mooresville, at the age of
eighty-four years, with recollection not a whit impaired by the ravages of
time, came to Brown Township in 1823. He had been a resident of
Salem, Ind., for a short time previously, and had there formed a partner-
ship with Mr. Newby, of the firm of Booth & Newby, of Paola, by which
the latter was to furnish $1,500 for three years, and Mr. Moore was to
furnish $600 and his services for three years, to conduct a general mer-
cantile business, at some good point in the New Purchase that was then
rapidly settling up. Mr. Moore came with his $2,000 worth of goods,
and placed the same in a blacksmith shop, which had previously been
built and operated by a smith, named Charles Vertrees on the old Indian
Trace, but which was then vacant. That amount of goods then was in
bulk, only about one-third as large as at present. Calicoes, 37 J cents per
yard, and other things in proportion, greatly reduced the bulk from what
it would be at present. The goods completely filled the little log building
that stood at the foot of the hill, about a quarter of a mile south of
Mooresville, and hence was not in Mooresville at all. Here Mr. Moore
lived for three years, boarding with some of the families near by, and
enjoying a lucrative trade for that time and place with the white settlers,
and often with Indians who had furs to dispose of for trinkets and ammu-
nition. At the end of three years, the partnership between Mr. Newby
and Mr. Moore was at an end, and as the latter had cleared enough to
furnish him with a satisfactory capital, without the aid of a partner, he
concluded to settle with Mr. Newby, and continue the business on his own
responsibility. The net profits for the three years were $3,000. After
the business had been settled, Mr. Moore returned with a fresh stock, and
opened the first store in Mooresville proper, which was then a total wilder-
ness of heavy trees, in a frame building, which was erected by Joshua
and Nathaniel Carter, carpenters, and Samuel Harryman, mason.
MOORESVILLE.
The first house upon the present site of the town was built by Asa
Bales in the fall of 1824. About the same time, Charles Wilcox, Samuel
Moore, William B. Harrold and Dr. Curtis G. Hussey built houses.
The latter is now a millionaire of Pittsburgh, Penn. Mr. Moore's
house was a frame structure, the lumber coming from Mr. Moon's saw
mill. It stood where Mr. Woodward's store now stands. William
G. Lear, Thomas Harrold, Jacob Combs, Isaac Edwards, Eli Tansey,
William Cline and others, were other early residents of the little town
which grew rapidly. Mr. Moore of course had the first store. In 1826,
Alexander Worth & Co. opened the second store, with a stock worth
about $4,000. Worth had been interested in the Salem firm of Booth &;
Newby, the senior member of the firm being the father of Senator Booth,
of California. He had formerly been a clock peddler in the Carolinas.
104 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
He afterward moved his business from Salem to Terra Haute, where he
did a mammoth business and became rich. He is said to be living there
yet. Mr, Worth was really the agent of this firm, whose goods he was
intrusted with. W. G. Lear opened the third store in 18i:6, and Silas
Stapp, the fourth, in the fall of 1827. Pemberton Dickens opened a
liquor shop in 1828. He afterward went to Danville, where he engaged
in the grocery business. He could not write, and was in the habit of
using signs in keeping his book accounts. One day one of his patrons
went to him to make the semi-annual settlement, and found among other
articles that he was charged with a whole cheese. He denied having
purchased such an article of diet, but there on the day book which Mr.
Dickens proudly exhibited, was the big O, the sign representing the cheese.
The patron still denied it, and after reflecting a moment, stated that he
had bought a grindstone. " Oh yes," exclaimed Mr. Dickens, " that's so,
I forgot to make the hole." Whereupon he completed the entry in his
day book thus O.
" In 1830, Worth & Kelley went into partnership in the mercantile
business. Armstead Jackson was the tavern keeper in 1832. A Mr.
Worthington went into partnership with Mr. Moore in about 1834 or
1835. He was related to the latter by marriage. John J. Cox opened a
tavern and grocery about the same time- It may be said here that
Samuel Moore sold goods at Mooresville for forty-four consecutive years.
He was the leading business man of his day in the northern part of the
county. J. S. Kelley was probably next in business activity. Both
kept excellent stores during the thirties and forties, often having as high
as $15,000 worth of goods, which were purchased in Eastern markets twice
a year. William Yarborough kept a tailor shop in town about 1840.
Along in the forties, Mr. Worth failed in the pork business and was suc-
ceeded by Hadley & Worthington. Among the residents and industries
about 1836-37 were the following: Samuel Moore, J. S. Kelley, Alex-
ander Worth, merchants; Israel Hunt, Gabriel Coble, W. M. Black, J.
M. Leathers, John Cox, Jeremiah Blankenship, Joseph Hiatt, A. Jack-
son, W. C. Cline, Solomon Hunt, Joshua Cox, J. H. Combs (wagon-
maker), W. H. P. Woodward (a young man just arrived), Fred Lester
(shoe-maker), B. Wood, Joseph Wood, George D. May, B. B, Ball, Isaac
Williams, Thomas Murphy (wagon-maker), Samuel Watts, James Richard-
son, Charles Wilcox, George Crayton, Solomon Dunegan and his three
sons — Lemuel, Thomas and Frank, all blacksmiths and the father a Bap-
tist preacher. Cox, Blankenship and Jackson were the liquor sellers and
tavern keepers. Mr. Bray's saw-mill and distillery, east of town, were
running. Richardson and Wilcox made hats from lamb's wool; Watts was
a tailor. Mr. Woodward commenced the business with him in 1835
and continued the business many years, until his health began to fail him,
when he abandoned the business, as he says, just about the time sewing
machines came into use. A Frenchman named Segart was a tailor also.
Isaac Williams conducted a saddlery and harness shop. J. S. Kelley
erected a pottery a short distance west, and Ball was his potter. They
manufactured many excellent crocks, jars, jugs, etc., some of which may
yet be seen in neighborhood. Several thousand of these useful household
articles were made annually and found a ready sale for many miles
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 106
around. Alexander Worth's carding mill was another important enter-
prise. At first nothing but carding was done, but later, in obedience to
the demand, spinning and weaving machinery was purchased and a Mr.
Bastian, a practical weaver, was employed. Flannels, jeans and sat-
inets were woven. At this time (late in the thirties) the village had a
population of over 300, and business of all descriptions was very active.
MERCANTILE TRADE, PORK-PACKING, ETC.
Mr. Moore established branch stores at the Bluffs and at Martins-
ville, the business at the latter place being conducted by Mr. Worthing-
ton. He had over |30,000 invested in general merchandise at the three
places during the forties. His book accounts were enormous, and hie
trade equally as extensive. He cleared thousands of dollars. He erected
a big grist mill early in the thirties on White Lick Creek near the town,
and there was not a larger, better or more active grist mill at the time in
the central part of the State. That alone added more than any other
one thing to the rapid development of Mooresville. Large quantities of
flour, corn meal, wheat and corn were shipped by boat from the mill down
the creek to the river and thence down to Southern markets. He also
engaged extensively in the pork-packing business, employing many hands
in the packing season during the colder months to do the slaughtering.
He owned a big pork house at the Bluff. He sent off as high as five
boat loads of pork and produce in one year. John Scott, Reuben Hen-
derson, Perry Carpenter, Jacob Peyton and others were his pilots. He
sent a total of nearly thirty boat loads down the river while he was in
the business. He bought nearly 100 horses in 1833, and drove them to
Virginia to market. They were taken to the large sugar plantations on
the island of Cuba. Large numbers of the hogs bought were not
slaughtered at all here, but were driven into Ohio and sold at the big
markets there. He took off as high as 3,000 hogs at one time in this
manner, separating them for convenience in handling into droves of 600
or 800, and driving the droves a few miles apart. Many men were
needed to take care of them and feed them on the way. The hogs then
were not as they are now. They were older, poorer, and, hence, were
much better travelers. J. S. Kelley also did considerable business in
pork packing and shipping. Mr. Moore conducted a saw mill in con-
nection with his big grist mill.
LATER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
Among the business men during the forties were John W. Thompson,
Conduitt & Brother, Samuel Moore, J. S. Kelley, Sheets & Brothers, S.
Hunt, Alfred Moore & Co., Riley Dixon, Hawk & Yarborough, J. W.
Parker, Holman and D. J. Johnson were the leading merchants. Bur-
roughs & Manker, cabinet-makers ; S. S. & J. Ellis, saddles and harness ;
Isaac Williams, same; Black, Wilkins & Co., tanning and currying.
Mr. Worth's woolen factory was burned not far from 1840, but was then
commenced in his old pork-packing building which was fitted up for the
purpose. Here it was that spinning and weaving were done. John
Carter conducted a linseed oil mill in the northern part of town on a
small scale. The machinery was operated by cattle on an inclined plane.
106
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
PLATTING OF THE VILLAGE.
In the fall of 1824, Mr. Moore, who had purchased the land where
the town now stands, employed a surveyor and laid out the village, which
was named in his honor. The plat was as follows :
North.
BLOCK £
16 Lots.
BLOCK 4,
16 Lots.
"West.
Main
Street.
BLOCK 2,
16 Lots.
BLOCK 1,
16 Lots.
South.
East.
INCORPORATION OF MOORESVILLE.
The growth of the village during the twenties was so rapid that in
1831 the population was over 200, and every business industry was full
of promise. In March, 1831, the question of incorporating the town
was submitted to the citizens, and carried by a majority of twenty-four
votes, the total vote being thirty-two. At the same time, a large addition
of 140 lots was laid out and offered for sale, with many buyers. The
town was accordingly incorporated, and the following men were the first
Trustees : Samuel Moore, Asa Bales, W. C. Cline, J. S. Kelley and
James Bradshaw. After about two years, the municipal government died
out, but was again revived in 1838, since which time, if reports are cor-
rect, it has been maintained. A jail was built in the thirties, to accom-
modate the disorderly. The town ordinances were published in the
Chronicle, edited at Mooresville in 1846 and until about 1851 by T. J.
Worth. This paper was an important factor at Mooresville, but was not
supported to satisfy the owner, who removed it to the county seat. The
surrounding country, however, could not afford to do much better, as it
was taken in all families.
LATER INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
Sheets & Brothers engaged in the mercantile business soon after 1850-
W. H. P. Woodward began in 1857, his partner being Mr. Fogleman.
Later came Thornburg & Son, Robert R. Scott, A. B. Gregory, Calvin
Moore, who owned the first drug store ; Woodward & Hinson, grocers ;
Joseph Pool, drugs ; G. W. Ross, same ; Frank Hadley, same ; Harvey,
same ; Clinton Hadley, the present druggist ; Rusie & Richardson, stoves,
about twenty years ago ; Michael Rusie, hardware, in the fifties, and
many others. The population of the town in 1850 was about 500.
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 107
PRESENT BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
Dry goods, J. H. Thompson & Son, Fred Sheets & Bro., W. H. P.
Woodward, Parker & Co.; hardware, T. A. Richardson ; grocers, John
A. Newman, W. H. P. Woodward, Leathers Bros., Peter Farmer ; drugs,
G. W. Bass, C. C. Hadley, S. M. Hadley ; millinery, Carrie Rusie ;
restaurants, L. D. Comer ; butchers, T. H. Prather, Chris Egler ; livery,
Hamilton Jackson & Bro., Charles Wellman ; harness, B. F. Jones ;
carriages, Leander Shanafelt, W. H. White ; grist mill, Smith & Hiatt ;
saw mill and planing mill, Mathew Comer; tile factory, A. W. Hadley &
Bro.; lumber yard, Eli Sumner ; grain buyers. Smith & Hiatt, Mr. Mars-
ley ; creamery, Jordan & Co.; photographer, I. P. Calvert ; printing
offices, W. H. Hunt, Larkin Elliott ; hotels, Merrick, Wellman, Mc-
Cracken ; barbers, William Woods, Solomon Russell ; furniture, J. H.
Rusie ; boots and shoes, 0. E. Rooker ; brick, Ayres & Dane, P. Fields,
Cooper, Mr. Dolan ; contractors, Manker & Cooper, Comer & Marine.
THE EARLY AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOLS.
It is said that Grant Stafford taught school near Judge Hiram Mat-
thews' during the winter of 1821-22. If this is a fact, it was no doubt
the first in the township. The writer has been unable to get at the facts.
It is known that school was taught in that vicinity very early. Barclay
Burris taught about a mile east of Mooresville in 1823, or perhaps 1821.
Sessions were held almost continuously in these two neighborhoods after
these first terms. Log schoolhouses were erected in both neighborhoods
about 1826. A school was started by the Friends a mile or two west of
town about the same time. This school for many years was the best in
the township, not even excepting the one at Mooresville. They were
prominent people, and many of them being in good circumstances could
afford to have good schools early. Asa Bales, the first resident of Moores-
ville, with whom Samuel Moore boarded while engaged early in his store,
was no doubt the first teacher in the town. He taught in a small log
cabin, and had about ten scholars, including, if reports are correct, sev-
eral of his own. After this the growth of the town was so rapid that
schools were taught there continuously. Horatio N. Teacle was an early
teacher east of town, in the Bray neighborhood. Willis Conduitt, father
of A. B. Conduitt, of Indianapolis, taught school in the Carter neighbor-
hood during the very cold winter of 1825-26. When the teacher
reached the house on Christmas morning, he found that his large scholars
had barred the door, and he was refused entrance unless he treated. He
accordingly went to town and bought about a gallon of whisky, which he
divided out among his pupils, and was then permitted to resume his duties
in-doors. Some of the boys became too full (fool) for utterance, and were
sent home in disgrace. J. D. Carter was one of the number. He went
home swaggering, happy as a lark, loaded to the muzzle with a ceaseless
fire of talk, but his father quietly took down the big gad and gave the
boy a dressing that he remembers until the present. The remedy was
corrective, as that was the first, last and only boozy experience Mr. Car-
ter ever had.
By the year 1828, the schools of Mooresville had become so excellent
108 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
that the citizens organized or established the Mooresville School Society.
The meeting was held at the house of Samuel Moore, and the following
oflScers of the society were elected: W. C. Conduitt. President; Asa
Bales, Secretary ; D. G. Worth, W. C. Conduitt, Alexander Worth,
Joel Dixon and Asa Bales, Trustees. The President of this educational
society was an experienced school teacher himself, and a man of consid-
erable learning. He taught quite early in town. Late in the twenties, a
brick schoolhouse was built in the village under the direction of the
society. It was a substantial building containing one room, in which
good teachers were employed at comfortable wages. The house cost
about ^600, and was constantly used for religious purposes and as a debat-
ing and lecturing room. Two teachers in this house were E. H. Waugh
and R. E. Preston. Late in the forties, it was succeeded by a frame
building containing two rooms, which cost $800. This house was used
until the Friends' Schoolhouse was built in 1861 in the western part of
town, at a cost of $4,500. Much of the fund was raised by donation
from all the citizens who were to be permitted to send their children
there, though the Friends were to have control. In about 1870, the town
became an independent school district, whereupon the schoolhouse was
purchased of the Quakers for $5,000, and the latter very justly refunded
the amount with interest, which had been donated by the other citizens
in 1861. Prof. Stewart was the first teacher in this house, his term being
the winter of 1861-62. He continued to teach for three years, when he
was superseded by Joseph Poole. After the independent district was
formed, the first Principal was Harrison Hubbard. He was paid $3.89
per diem. His assistants were Isaac Jones, who received $2.75 per day,
and Emma Clawson, who received $2 per day. Since then the Princi-
pals have been John H. Beason, William C. Hinson, James Hunt, Mary
McNabb, William M. Hadley, A. W. Macy, Stephen Hunt, F. J. By era,
0. C. Charlton, C. P. Eppert, two years ; Elam Harvey, three years.
The assistants, beginning in 1871, have been Louisa Harvey, Eloise Tay-
lor, James Hunt, Mary JitHunt, Mattie Pray, Mary McNabb, Edna C.
Street, Cecilia Hadley, Elam Harvey, Elvira Harnaday, Emma Thomp-
son, Susan Wilson, Hattie Cox, Mr. and Mrs. Perigo, J. H. Woods,
Anna Hadley, A. W. Macy, Elvira Perce, Rolena Hadley, Jennie Til-
ford and Frank Manker. As high as five teachers have been employed
at one time. A large addition to the schoolhouse is being constructed the
present year, which will cost about $4,000.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
The writer endeavored to get access to the records of the Masonic
Lodge at Mooresville ; but as the members he talked with seemed to
care but little whether a sketch of it was written or not, and made no efi"ort
to furnish the necessary facts, they cannot appear in these pages. The
lodge is an old one, extending back, if reports are reliable, into the forties.
Morgan Lodge, No. 211, Odd Fellows, was established in July, 1859,
with the following charter members : W. G. Cook, John H. Rusie, B. B.
Wright, T. N. Peoples, A. T. Manker, Reuben Harris and Richard P.
Johnson. The first officers were W. G. Cook, N. G. ; B. B. Wright, V.
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 109
G. ; T. N. Peoples, Secretary. In 1881, their fine brick building was
destroyed by fire, and ■vvith it all their personal effects. The building has
been rebuilt. The lodge is in excellent financial condition, with property,
including cash, valued at $5,000. In 1866, Mooresville Encampment,
No. 74, was established.
THE BANKING BUSINESS.
The Savings Bank of Mooresville was established in August, 1872,
the first officers being A. W. Reagan, President ; Allen Hadley, Vice
President : Alexander Worth, Secretary and Cashier. In 1873, the estab-
lishment became known as the Farmers' Bank, with a cash capital of
^30,000, which was afterward increased to $50,000, but later decreased
to $35,000. The following men were stockholders : Dr. A. W. Reagan,
Joseph Pool, L. M. Hadley, Eli J. Sumner, Allen Hadley, F. Sheets &
Bro., Giles B. Mitchell, J. L. Moffitt, Joel Jessup, Alexander Worth,
Jackson Jessup, Ilolman Johnson, J. F. Hadley, Joseph N. Taylor,
Aaron Mills, Ira M. Bray, W. B. Thompson and John Sheets. The
Presidents of the bank have been Giles B. Mitchell, Charles Reeve and
H. Satterwhite. The Cashiers have been A. Worth, J. A. Taylor, W. F.
Hadley. The following is the present financial condition of the bank :
LIABILITIES.
Capital $35,000 00
Surplus 4,5:^5 00
Interest 3,337 65
Deposit 55,969 02
Certificate 8,132 79
Unpaid Dividend 56 00
Cash
RESOURCES.
.. $4 008 47
Bills Receivable.
68,558 33
Real Estate
Expense
.. 14,278 45
1,258 31
Furniture
Tax .
.. 2,513 81
239 86
Indianapolis National Bank..
Winslow & Co
Drafts
.. 20,837 23
318 83
7 17
Total
..$107,020 46
Total $107,020 46
RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENSv'
Since the earliest times, the religious sentiment has been stronger in
Brown Township than perhaps any other portion in the county of equal
or less extent. The first settlements were no sooner formed than min-
isters began to appear, and classes began to arm themselves for the good
fight. The organization of all the classes cannot be given, though many
of the names of those prominently connected with religious interests have
been wrested from swift-approaching oblivion. The Methodist class at
Mooresville was really founded by Eliza Moore, wife of Samuel Moore,
not far from the year 1828. Indeed, she was about the only member at
first, but she was soon joined by Eli Tansey and wife, Jesse S. Rooker
and wife, Joseph Hunt and wife, and William C. Cline and wife. The
Sunday school for this class was established in 1835, by Rev. John Will-
iams. In 1839, the members of this church were the families of the
following persons: Samuel J. Black, James Kelley, Samuel Stevenson, Isaac
Williams, William Herrold, Daniel Cox, Jacob L. Pfoff, Alexander Worth,
Daniel May, William McClelland, William Carlisle, Jonathan Hunt, Jacob
Shanafelt, Joseph L. Cox, David Shanafelt, Daniel Day, Joseph Hiatt,
William M. Black, J. W. Richards, William C. Cline, Eliza Moore, John
110 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Hardrick, Harris Bray, William A. Blair, Gabriel Coble and J. W.
Thompson. A very large revival had occurred two years before, by which
the class had been multiplied nearly tenfold. The old brick Methodist
Episcopal Church was built in 1839, under the direction of James Kelley,
William McClelland. Daniel Day, W. M. Black and J. W. Richards,
Trustees. The fund was raised by subscription, the following men head-
ing the list: James S. Kelley, ^200; Samuel Moore (who was not a
member), ^200; Alexander Worth, $125 ; Joseph Hiatt, ^50; Daniel
Day, §50; Joseph Moon, §50. The total subscription was ^1, 713. 82;
shrinkage, §1^^6.95; expended upon the church, §1, 516. 87. This church
was dedicated in the fall of 1839 by Bishop Simpson. Isaac Crawford
and Thomas S. Rucker were the ministers in charge of the class when the
house was built. This old house was used until the present fine brick
structure was built in 1882, at a cost of about $6,000. The class has
ever been strong and prosperous.
The old Methodist class, about three miles southwest of town, was
organized about 182^. Among the early members were the families of
Benjamin Cuthbert. Jeremiah Johnson, Thomas Gripham, Nathan Nich-
ols, John Cole, Charles Fowler. Mr. Cuthbert furnished about an acre
of land for the nominal sum of ^1, to be used for church purposes. This
class was a branch of the old one, near the residence of Benjamin Thorn-
burgh. It is likely that the latter class was the first Methodist Episcopal
organization in Morgan County^. The first sermon was preached at the
house of John Martin, by Rev. Reuben^Claypool, in the year 1821. The
marriage of Mr. Claypool to Martha Russell is said to have been>the first
in the county. The ceremony was performed before the county was or-
ganized. The class was fully organized in 1821, and meetings were mostly
held that year at the cabin of Mr. Martin, and the following year at that of
William Rooker. Among the first members were John Maitin, class leader,
Mary Martin, William Gregory, Thomas Gregory, Daniel Gregory. Levi
Plummer, Patsey Plummer, George Crutchfield, Anna Crutchfield, Catha-
rine Crutchfield, Nancy Crutchfield, Thomas Gresham, Sarah Gresham,
Samuel Jones, Jesse Rooker, Candes Rooker, Mother Monical. William
Rooker, Nancy Rooker, Rev. Peter Monical, Hannah Monical, Wesley
Monical. Catharine Monical. Benjamin Thornburg, Susan Thornburg,
Eli Tansey, Edith Tansey, Hiram Tansey, Able Tansey and many others
later. By the year 1825, the class was large and prosperous. In 1826,
Rev. John Strange held a famous revival, which largely increased the
membership of the church. Several of the early ministers were Peter
Monical, Samuel Hamilton, James Armstrong, Allen Wiley and E. R.
Ames. This first church was built late in the twenties, and was the first
in the county. This class is yet in existence, and has five or six branches.
•Vll of the early Methodist Churches in that vicinity sprang from this.
It was called the White Lick Methodist Church. The Quakers fully
organized their class in 1822, at the house of Asa Bales, where meetings
were held for some time. In a few years the class was about as strong
as that of the Methodists ; indeed, these two classes were the strongest
and most important features in the northern part of the county in early
years. Under the supervision of the Quakers, the Sulphur Spring School,
in the western part of Brown Township, became at that time the largest,
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. Ill
most prosperous and most important school in Morgan County. Their
church was called the White Lick Society of Friends. The Quaker
Church in the eastern part of Monroe Township is a branch of this.
Their first building was erected late in the twenties. Among the leading
members w^ere the Doans, the Hadleys, the Harveys, the Tanseys, the
Baleses, the Bowleses, the Dixons, and many others. Their second
church was built in Mooresville during the last war. The Christians
have a class at Mooresville at present. The class was organized in the
forties, and their church was built soon after 1850. Other classes have
flourished in the township.
JACKSOxN TOWNSHIP.
THE ENTRY OF LAND.
THE location of Jackson Township, remote from any considerable
water-course, delayed its settlement for a few years. The valley of
Indian Creek, however, was too rich a tract of country to remain long in
its primitive state, and about the middle,.of the twenties the settlers began
to arrive, but not in considerable numbers until the thirties, at which time
the greater portion of the land was entered by actual residents. The
first man, if accounts are correct, to locate permanently in the township
was John Hamilton. He came to the township in 1825, and the follow-
ing year entered a tract of land where now stands the thriving little vil-
lage of Morgantown. He had a family of five or six children. He was
scarcely in the township before he was joined by Daniel Troxel, Thomas
Teeter, Samuel Teeter, Robert Bowles, John Shrura, William Williams,
Sampson Canatsey and a few others, all ot whom located in the vicinity
of Morgantown on Sections 24 and 25. It cannot be stated with any
certainty that Mr. Hamilton was the first settler. Indeed there are evi-
dences that he was not. The first land entered from the Government in
the township was on Section 1 in July, 1821, by William W. Drew and
Elisha Herndon, but if reports are reliable neither of these men resided
in the township. William Harriman entered a tract on Section 26 in
1824, but it is stated that he did not reside there. He lived in Wash-
ington Township. William Knox came in 1828, locating on Section 25,
and Charles Ross in 1827, on Section 26. Henry Adams bought land
on Section 13 in 1828, and Jesse Daugherty on Section 21 the same year,
Finney Courtney and Jonathan Hostettei' entered land on Section 26 in
1826, but no traces of their residence in the township could be found.
They probably soon sold out to actual residents. Thomas Hudiburgh
entered a tract on Section 26 in 1828, and another tract on Section 27
the same time. These were about the only land owners who had entered
their farms from the Government in the twenties, but there were other
families in the township who were too poor to purchase land, and then
again, there were other families who had bought their farms second-hand.
The names of such cannot be given.
112 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
The settlement receiveil great aocassioiis early in the thirties. It was
the custom in that day, and naturally enough, for families to locate near
each other. Occasionally a man had the hardihood to go out into the
woods eight or ten miles from any other resident, but circumstances of
this kind usually only occurred with the very earliest families, who were
sure to be soon joined by others, and thus a small settlement or colony
would be formed with the said first settler as the founder thereof. Early
in the thirties, families began to locate in all parts of the township, and
the neighborhoods of unijnproved land were soon a thing of the past.
Among those who bought land and settled in the township were the fol-
lowing: James Blair. Robert Grant, Elijah VandergriiT, John Gross,
Benjamin Roberts, Francis Helton, Thomas Barnes, Abraham Cooper,
John Francis, James Hamilton, James Dillon, Robert Bowles, Edward
Choat, Jacob Haase, Samuel Kemp, Henry Kephart, James T. Hickman,
Emery Norman, Alexander B. Kelso, Charles B. Kelso, William Nor-
man, John Whitington, William Kent, .John Kemp, Jacob Adams, Josiah
Clendenen, Samuel Troxell, James B. Kelso, Avery Magee, Randolph
Lawrence, Peter Epperson, Daniel Shireman. David Haase, Daniel
Avery, Hugh Adams, Milton Hickson, Daniel Adams, Henry Hamilton,
William Kemp, Wilburn Kemp, Peter Dill, Abraham Kephart, Samuel
H. Voils, Stephen Howell, William Howell, Thomas Ross, Mitchell Ross,
James Little, Ctiarles Leonard, Isaac Gross, Benjamin Reynolds, John
Lake, James Kemp, W. W. Helton, Joshua Bowles, Evan Reynolds,
Samuel Hudiburgh, Abraham 2vlull, Jacob Sipes, Joseph Reeder, Tal-
mon Groves, William Williams, William Norman, J. M. Coonfield, Peter
Reeder, Anthony Bowles, Thomas Owen, Henry Lawrence, John Kenley,
and many others in the thirties.
POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1842.
Jacob Adams, Henry Adams, Hugh Adams, Daniel Avery, William
Armstrong, Sampson Canatsey, Lewis M. Coffey, Joshua Canady, Will-
iam Bowles, Alexander Blair, Peter Bandy, Joshua Bowles, Anthony
Bowles, Benjamin Bowles, Peter Dill, George Downing, Preston Doty,
William D. Dunn. Peter Epperson, Thomas Edwards, William Fesler,
John Fesler, John Farley, Jacob Gross, Reuben Griffith, Charles Garri-
son, M. R. Guthridge, Wesley Gross, John Gerbalt, William Howell.
John Hackney, John G. Hine, John Haase, William Hamilton, Samuel
Hamilton, Samuel Hudiburgh, David Haase, W. W. Helton, Charles
Hess, Christopher Hess, Absalom Haase, David Howell, Noah Haase,
Ephraim Haase, A. B. Hart, B. Johnson, William Jenkins, John John-
son, William Kent, John Kenley, Samuel Kemp, John Kelso, John
Kemp, William Kemp, William Kephart, Harvey Keeney, Andrew.
Knox, William Keeney, Jackson Keeney, George Kephart, James J.
King, Charles Landers, Owen Lloyd, Timothy Lake, John Lake, Hiram
Logston, George Lake, Lewis Lake, Amos Lawrence, Fred Miller, Abe
Mull, Mordecai Meadows, Christian Miller, James Norman, Emery Nor-
man, William Norman, Daniel Norman, Thomas Owen, Timothy Open-
chain, Benjamin Perry, Stephen Perry, William Palmer, Thomas Ross,
Joseph Reeder, William Roach, Benjamin Roberts, Irvin Reynolds, Will-
iam Reeder, W. E. Roach, George Troxell, John Trower, John B.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 118
Thacker, Samuel Voils, Joseph Voils, Samuel VandergrifF, Elijah Van-
dergriff, Blisha Vandergriff, William Woods, William Wallace, J. F.
Whetstine, Edward Watson, John Williams, Emanuel Whetstine, Joel
Williams, Frank Worley, Abijah Watkins and Charles Whitaker.
REMINISCENCES AND NOTES.
By the year 1842, the township tvas quite well settled and the citi-
zens were in better circumstances and more comfortable. The log cabin
was still the rule, but a few frame houses had made their appearance.
The wild animals had largely disappeared. Even deer had become some-
what scarce, though down in Brown County among the precipitous ra-
vines and almost impenetrable woods, all of the native wild animals could
still be found, not excepting bears and panthers. These were rare, but
still they were there for the hunter who had sufficient courage to follow
them to their lairs. Deer were very numerous there yet, and many in-
teresting incidents could be told of the hairbreadth escapes of those of
Jackson Township who went down there on hunting excursions. Deer,
wolves, catamounts, foxes, wild turkeys, myriads of squirrels, snakes,
wild cats, etc., etc., were still found in Jackson in greater or less abun-
dance. The earliest settlers in Jackson had a picnic, so to speak. John
Hamilton, who lived near Morgantown, tells of shooting wild turkeys and
deer on the present town site almost every morning, or whenever they
were required for food or otherwise. He would get up just as the light
began to break in the East, take his rifle, walk out a few hundred yards
from his cabin, and in a few minutes the crack of his rifle would announce
the death of either a deer or a wild turkey. The latter in the fall of the
year became often very fat. It is stoutly averred by old settlers, that
sometimes when they were shot from the top of the high trees and fell the
long distance on the hard ground, the skin upon their backs burst open
like a ripe pod. This sounds "fishy '' now, but no doubt the old settlers
state the truth. Take such a bird, pluck it and dress it, and roast it to
a ripe brown before the fire-place, and then garnish it with rich dressing
and smother it in delicious gravy and the old settlers had a least fit for
the gods. It makes the mouth water to think of it. A great sport in
early times was the hunting of bee trees. It may not be generally known,
yet it is a fact that wild bees are unknown far out in the wilderness, hun-
dreds of miles from human habitation. They are like the pioneer hunters,
and just precede the advance guard of pioneers. It required some experi-
ence to be able to find bee trees readily. In the summer the flight of the
bees was watched and the direction taken followed. A close and experi-
enced observer could thus trace them to their store of sweets. It could
be told fairly well, also, when a bee was coming from the hive or return-
ing. An examination of its honey bags would reveal whether it was
loaded or not. If it was loaded and on the wing, its course was a "bee
line" for its hive, otherwise it was seeking some flowery pasture. In the
winter time when the snow was on the ground, bees would venture out of
their trees on warm days, would be frozen to death and would drop on the
snow, where their bodies would cause a yellow discoloration of two or
three inches in diameter. A cluster of these yellow spots could be seen a
long distance — often twenty or thirty rods, and the location of the bee
114 HISTORV OF MORGAN COUNTY.
trees could thus be found. The Hamiltons, on one occasion, discovered a
fine bee tree on the present site of Morgantown, from which almost a tub-
ful of the finest candied honey was obtained. The old settlers, many of
them, did not fare so badly after all.
INCIDENTS OF THE CHASE.
One day Mr. Daugherty discovered a half-grown bear near his cabin.
The details of the encounter which occurred are not fully known, but
were about as follows : He took his rifle and a big butcher knife and ac-
companied by his dog cautiously approached the bear, which he fired upon,
but for some reason only gave it an ugly wound. The shock prostrated
the animal and Mr. Daugherty, who was near, hurried up to bleed it, but
when within a few feet of it the savage animal sprang up, and in a
moment was upon the settler with mouth open and eyes of fire. Mr.
Daugherty was a man of great physical strength and courage, and when
he thus found himself in the embrace of the bear, he began to ply his
butcher knife with all his strength and skill. Ere many blows were
struck, however, the knife was knocked from his hand. In the meantime,
the dog had been gnawing industriously at the posterior extremity of the
bear, but seemed to make scarcely any impression. About the time the
knife was knocked down, Mrs. Daugherty appeared upon the scene,
armed with a sharp case-knife, and probably the broom, and Mr. Daugh-
erty called out to her to hand him the knife, which she quickly did, and
the bear, which was weakening from the effects of the rifle shot, was soon,
dispatched. The struggle had been very short, and was within a few
rods of the cabin. The above is the way the story was told to the writer.
Another incident is told of one of the Kemps, equally as thrilling. This
settler, while hunting in the woods with his big dog, saw a catamount,
which he shot at and wounded in the shoulder. He was so close to the
animal that as soon as he had fired, enraged with the pain of the shot, it
turned and bounded for the hunter, but was met by the dog, and in an
instant the two animals were fiercely locked together. Notwithstanding
the wound which had been inflicted upon the catamount, the fight had
scarcely begun ere it became evident that the dog would come out, so to
speak, at the little end of the horn. The catamount seized it by the neck
and was furiously shaking it, when Mr. Kemp, who could not bear to see
his faithful old dog torn in pieces, rushed up, knife in hand, leaped as-
traddle of the beast and drove his knife into its neck. This stroke seemed
to settle affairs, as the catamount released its hold on the dog, and was
soon dead. During the first few years, wolves were very numerous and
often troublesome. Sometimes in the night, when the weather was very
cold and snow lay deep upon the ground, they became so hungry and
fierce that they did not hesitate to attack even man. On one occasion,
Hugh Adams went probably in the southern part of the township for a
piece of fresh beef, and upon his return was somewhat belated. He had
gone but a short distance before the wolves scented the fresh meat and
were soon stealthily following him. The settler with his meat on his
shoulders, all he could conveniently carry, first heard the howl of a soli-
tary wolf. This was repeated, and another was heard and then another
and another, until the woods behind him were filled with a chorus of the
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 115
terrifying sounds. The traveler, anxious for his own safety as well as for
that of the beef, hurried on as fast as he could with his load. The wolves
came closer and closer and then seemed to hesitate, though they still
kept coming up. On ran the settler and on came his pursuers. In a little
while, the clearing of home was reached, and soon both meat and settler
were safe in the cabin. It was a narrow escape, as he would no doubt have
been attacked. He could have thrown down his beef, which would have
delayed them, but they would have been all the hungrier and fiercier for
the morsel. Incidents like these might be multiplied without limit.
MILLS, DISTILLERIES, ETC.
About the year 1830, Joshua Whiteley built a small corn-cracker on
Indian Creek, just east of Morgan town. Of course, water was the
motor, and the wheel was of the tub or bucket kind. It is said the owner
would leave it for hours at a time, and, upon returning, would find the
grist ground. He had an old dog that became very fond of corn meal,
and sometimes when the master had left the mill to run itself the old dog
would enter, seat himself on his haunches and lick up the meal as fast as
it fell from the spout. The manufacture of meal was so slow that it
would not come down as fast as the canine desired, whereupon he would
howl dismally until another mite had fallen. The reader may take the
story for what it is worth. A few years after this corn-cracker was built,
James Blair erected another on the creek a short distance west of town.
This was operated until about 1840. when it was abandoned. Joshua
Bowles also built a grist mill near town late in the thirties, which ran for
eight or ten years and did good work. The old Vansicke Mill at Maha-
lasville was built in the forties, and under various owners and with many
improvements is yet in operation. It was originally built by John Coon-
field. David Haase owned a small distillery where apple and peach
brandy and corn and rye whisky were manufactured. Considerable good
liquor was made here. It was moved across the line into Washington
Township, and was conducted after the last war.
MORGANTOWN.
This town was first laid out in the month of March, 1831, by Robert
Bowles and Samuel Teeters, owners and proprietors. Fifty-two lots were
laid out on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 25, and the
east half of the southwest quarter of Section 24, Township 11 north.
Range 2 east. For some reason this plat was not satisfactory, as in 1836
the lots were laid out anew (on the south side of the main east and west
street at least). The first resident on the present town site was no doubt
Samuel Teeters, who located there in 1828. He was afterward joined by
John Bowles, John Whitington, Avery Magee, Andrew Shell, Thomas
Hudiburgh, Hugh Adams, Thomas Lockhart, John Fee, Samuel Law-
rence, William Woods, James Mclntire. John Fesler, William Fesler,
James Pratt, John Francis, Timothy Obenchain, Henry Hamilton, Robert
McNaught, Reuben GriSitt, John Hudiburgh, William Fee, Col. John
Vawter, Samuel Lawrence, Gabriel Givens, Thomas Teeters, D. D. Med-
del, James Blair, J. J. Kelso, and many others. In 1836, the village had
116 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
a population of about fifteen families, or seventy persons. Dr. Samuel R.
Trower was the first resident physician ; James Pratt and William Fesler
were the first blacksmiths ; John Fee was the first Postmaster ; Lewis
Lake made the first set of harness in the town ; William Adams began
selling liquor in 1831, and Thomas Hudiburgh opened a general store in
1832 ; Henry Hamilton began selling liquor in 1833 ; Samuel and Henry
Lawrence and Avery Magee opened a liquor store in 1834. At this
time the sale of liquor was certainly in a flourishing condition. It will
be remembered that many of the early settlers came from Kentucky — the
land of good whisky, fast horses and beautiful women. In 1835, Col.
John Vawter sent a stock of general merchandise, worth about $ 3,000, in
charge of James Chambers, to Morgantown, but did not go there himself
until years afterward. John Fee opened the first store of goods, how-
ever, in 1834. He started, it is said, with about $2,000 worth of goods.
In 1835, Thomas Lockhart opened a liquor store. Liquor establishments
in those days were called "groceries." The other term is used here to
prevent misunderstanding. Mr. Lockhart soon changed his stock to
general merchandise. John McKinley opened a "grocery" in 1836,
and James Norman the same soon afterward. James Reville, an old
bachelor, commenced selling liquor in 1836. Thomas Edwards opened a
shoe shop in 1837. It was during this year that Martin & Crocker
brought to the village about $4,000 worth of goods. A few years later,
the firm became Seaman & Crocker. S. R. Trower & Son became mer-
chants in 1837, and Preston Doty the same year. Eli Murphy sold mer-
chandise in 1838. In 1839, H. C. Martin, who had been in with
Crocker, started a new store on his own account. E. St. John sold liquor
in 1839. Vawter, Hudiburgh, Trower, Fee, the Lawrences, Hamilton,
Peter Keeney, and perhaps others, were in business in 1839 and 1840.
In 1841, Downing & Guthridge opened a store. During the forties, the
leading merchants were several of the above, also Fesler & Seaman,
James Baldwin, Fesler & Egbert, Rogers & Coleman, and others.
Afterward came John W. Knight, Andrew S. and James Hickey,
John Collett, and on still later, Col. W. A. Adams, Butler, Patter-
son & Neeley. Col. Vawter continued in business until his death in
about 1864. He started back in the thirties, but did not live in the
village until later. He became a prominent citizen. R. M. Dill came
later. William Fesler was Col. Vawter's partner, and continued the busi-
ness after the latter's death, and until his own death in 1868. Samuel
Hamilton was in the mercantile business in the sixties. His successor
was James Horton. Horton's partner later was Rosengarden. James
Hickey, J. 0. & J. S. Coleman, hardware ; Freeman & Montgomery,
Mate Kerlin, drugs, about 1857. The first harness shop of consequence
was kept by George and Milton McNaught, in the forties. Thomas A.
Rude, drugs ; A. C. Payn, drugs ; Knox & McPheters, drugs ; Ar-
nold & Neal, drugs ; J. S. Kephart, livery, in the sixties ; Rude &
Canatsey, same, burned down ; Israel Egbert, livery ; Lee & Enos,
same ; Mrs. Eliza Walker, millinery goods, in the sixties.
MANUFACTORIES.
Obenchain & Lake owned and conducted quite an extensive cabinet
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 117
shop early in the forties. The Feslers were in the same business, together
with wagons and buggies, in the thirties. T. J. Lamb conducted a wagon
shop later. It is said that William Wood manufactured the first wagons
in town. One of the earliest and most noteworthy industries was the
linseed oil mill built by John Fee about the year 1835. Much more
flax was raised in those times, comparatively, than now. Almost every
farmer owned a flax field. The seed found its way into Fee's mill, where
it was crushed by iron rollers, heated until the oil had run out and then
pressed into cakes, and sold for food to stock. Five or six hands were
constantly employed, and hundreds of gallons of the oil were barreled
and transported to market. The enterprise continued eight or ten years.
Early in the fifties, James McAllister built a woolen mill, where for four
or five years large amounts of wool were carded, but no spinning or
weaving was done. He also owned a saw mill. Mr. Lang built the big
grist mill near the depot many years ago. The grinding has run down
at present. William "Hickey manufactured large quantities of plug
tobacco about twenty years ago, continuing about three years. He used
all the tobacco raised for miles around, and brought in considerable from
outside points. The present population of the town is about 800.
PRESENT BUSINESS PURSUITS.
Dry goods, Clarence H. Jones, G. W. Buckner, W. B. Hill, J. H.
Hickey & Son, Mrs. M. L. Walker. Groceries, I. N. Coonfield, Gibson
& Son, Moses Wooden. Hardware, George Montgomery. Drugs, W.
M. Berry & Co., M. T. Hancock. Furniture and undertaking, Peter
Fesler. Millinery, Mrs. M. L. Walker, Paulina Vandergrifl", Mrs. L. G.
Karst. Agricultural implements, C. H. Obenchain, J. W. Crawford &
Son. Barber, A. L, Gross. Hotels, Charles Saltcorn, James Santifer.
Photographer, James Walker. Butchers, George Overstreet, Harry
Jackson. Carpenters and builders, Fesler Brothers, Jeremiah Kelso.
Doctors, R. C. Griffitt, W. H. Butler, Mr. Seifridge, Ira Willen. Saw
mill and lumber, M. J. Bell. Grist mills, R. M. Dill, W. S. Coleman.
Harness, J. M. Neeley. Boots and shoes, James Hickey. Liveries, J.
K. Cofifman, W. H. Fesler. Lawyers, Judge Ramsey, W. L. Rude, J.
V. King. Common sense bee hives, Sprague & Patterson. High School
Professor, James Henry, 1882-83. Secret societies, Masons, Odd Fel-
lows and Knights of Honor. The village was incorporated about 1870,
but was not continued thus.
EDUCATION.
Schools were started in the vicinity of Morgantown, under the pat-
ronage of the residents of that neighborhood, about the year 1830. A
log schoolhouse was built east of town, and was used until about 1834,
when another was built in town. This was used until 1840, when a
frame schoolhouse took its place. John Fee donated the lot. The first
teacher in town cannot be named. Milton Guthridge, John Vitito and
James Hogeland were early teachers, but not the first. Early in the fifties
a new frame schoolhouse was built which was used continuously until the
present brick building was built, about ten years ago, at a cost of $3,700,
Mr. Demoss being the contractor. Cathcart, Kennedy, Shuck, Morris
118 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
and others have taught in this house. It is a fine two-story brick build-
ing, and is a credit to the town and township. It was built by the town-
ship, and is called the Jackson Township High School. It was during
the latter part of the decade of the thirties that schools were started in the
western, southern and northern portions. In 1840, there were four es-
tablished schools, and in 1850, three more.
RELIGIOUS CLASSES.
A class of the Christian denomination was organized at Morgantown
early in the forties, among the members being the families of John Fesler,
Albert Roberts, John Trower, George W. McNaught and others. The
class was small and did not grow rapidly. After a few years they were
strong enough to build a frame church in the eastern part of the town.
This house was used until the present brick was erected early in the sev-
enties, at a cost of about $8,000. The Methodists had the first class in
Morgantown. It was organized not far from 1836. The early member-
ship comprised among others the families of Reuben Grifiitt, A. S.
Hickey, David Howell, James Pratt, John Cochran, Samuel C. Hamilton,
James A. Coeplin, Daniel H. Warner, Larkin DeHart and others. In
December, 1844, James Pratt, for |10, deeded to the class a piece of
land 31x31 feet on Lot 64. upon which the following year a log church
was built. This house was used until about the beginning of the last
war, when the present frame structure was erected at a cost of $2,000.
The class is considerably run down at present, and needs some evangelist
to stir it up. About 1845, a German Methodist class was organized in
the northern part. The families of Christian Hess, George Weamer,
Michael Knipstine, Fred Miller, David Bowling, Conrad Muth, Fred
Truckess and others belonged. The class divided soon, one branch be-
coming German Lutherans, at the head being Michael Knipstine, Henry
Cook, Andrew Gross and others. Their church was built after a few
years. Late in the forties, the Mount Nebo Methodist Church was organ-
ized. William Howell, Daniel Moore, Mansfield Moore, Martin L.
Creed, Ed Ferguson and William H. Jackson were leading members, the
latter being pastor in 1851. Their church was built after a few years.
A Baptist Church was built at Morgantown in the fifties, the whole ex-
pense, or nearly so, being borne by Col. Vawter. It was a brick build-
ing, and is said to have cost $2,000. This church was succeeded, four or
five years ago, by the present frame building, which cost $2,100. Later
churches have been started by the Methodists and Baptists. There are
now in the township nine churches. This speaks well for the morals of
the township.
CLAY TOWNSHIP. 119
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
THE BARNES FAMILY.
IN the month of December, 1819, Benjamin Barnes, a resident of
Connersville, Ind., packed what little household goods he owned in a
wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen, and with his wife and family of two sons
and four daughters started westward for the " White River Country."
This country, or that portion of it known as the New Purchase, had been
secured by treaty from the Indians only a little more than a year before,
and was already attracting the attention of settlers seeking homes. Mr.
Barnes and family were accompanied by John Butterfield, Sr., and
Hiatt Butterfield (who was not a relative of John Butterfield's), both of
whom came out with him to look at the country with a view to future
settlement. Not a hog, sheep, horse or a head of cattle except the yoke
of oxen, was brought out. Mr. Barnes was poor, and had not even enough
money to enter a tract of land had the same been in market, which was
not yet the case. The family crossed White River, either at the bluffs, or,
which is more likely, at the Stotts settlement, a few miles farther down
the river, and soon arrived at a point about two miles southeast of Center-
ton, where Mr. Barnes decided to make a permanent location. The
weather was cold, and a temporary camp was prepared for the comfort of
the family, and the men immediately afterward began to cut logs for a
cabin. The rude building was completed in two or three days, and the
family were soon ensconced therein, and made as comfortable as possible.
The floor was the bare earth, the roof was bark and clap-boards hastily
cut out, and the door was of the same material. The most important
feature in the room was a big fire-place, filled with blazing logs which im-
parted heat, cheerfulness and comfort to the small room. A floor of
puncheons was afterward added as soon as possible. Mr. Barnes and all
the members of his family, as soon as their home was made comfortable,
went to work to clear and deaden a tract of land for a crop for the coming
season. By April, 1820, they had thirty acres deadened, and partly cleared,
the greater portion of which was planted with corn and vegetables, the
former having been brought out the December before, and the latter about
seeding time. Here the Barnes family lived for several years. Their
first land was bought on the 5th of September, 1820, the second day of
the sale.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.
As soon as the Barnes cabin had been built, John Butterfield went
back to Connorsville where his family resided. In the following Septem-
ber, he went to Terre Haute, and bought 160 acres of land on Section 1,
Township 12 north. Range 1 east, lying about a mile and a half south-
east of Centerton, and early the following spring (1821) came out with his
sons Veloriis and John H., and three hired men, named respectively
Adams, Sanford and Bliven, and in a few weeks cleared about six acres.
120 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
and erected a cabin. A crop of corn was cultivated during the summer
by one of the boys, who boarded with the Barnes family. In the fall of
1821, the Butterfield family, consisting of the father, mother, five sons
and one daughter, took up their permanent residence in this new
home.
Some time after the establishment of the Stotts settlement in Green
Township in 1819, the date not being known, but certainly prior to the
1st of March, 1820, Maj. James Stotts and his son Robert C. built a
cabin, and permanently located on a tract of land about three miles south-
east of Centerton. It is likely that this occurred during the fall of 1819,
or the winter of 1819-20. About the same time the family of John
Hodge located in the same neighborhood. On Tuesday the 3d of April,
1820, George Matthews and his three sons, John, Alfred and Calvin, ac-
companied by a man named William Dorman, came in a wagon drawn by
a yoke of oxen to the cabin of Maj. Stotts. There the rude wagon road
that had been cut out ended, and the men were obliged to cut their way
onward. After several hours they reached the present site of Centerton,
where Mr. Matthews concluded to locate permanently. A log cabin was
built and the work of clearing and deadening was begun. John Matthews
says that there were but three families in Clay Township when he
arrived as above stated, and they lived on the east side of White Lick
Creek. They were those of Benjamin Barnes, Maj. James Stotts and
John Hodge. Several other families arrived later in 1820, among them
being those of Jacob Case, John Clark, Isaiah Drury, Elijah Lang. With-
in the next three or four years there came John Stipp, George A. Phelps,
Alexander Cox, Jonathan Lyon, Ezekiel Slaughter, James Lang, David
Matlock, Benjamin and Enoch McCarty, Francis Brock, Martin McDan-
iel, William Jones, John McMahon, William Matlock, Hiram Matthews,
John A. Stipp, Abraham Stipp, David Spencer, Lewis Deaton, William
Powell, G. W. Bryant, John, David, Samuel and William Scott, Michael
Stipp, Edward Brady, John McDaniel, Moses Slaughter, Dr. Eli Run-
nels and many others. Still later came William Morgan, Eli Rinker,
David Collins, Jesse and Eli Overton, Abraham Griggs, James Noble, J.
B. Maxwell, Dabney Gooch, John Robb, John Albertson, Adam Spoon,
Jesse, William and Jeremiah Poe, Jesse Gooch, William Moss, Levi Col-
lins, William Collins and others. The sons of John Butterfield were
Velorus, John H. and Merannoe. Those of Alexander Cox were John,
Paul and William. Those of George Matthews were John, Alfred, Cal-
vin, James and George. Those of Jonathan Lyon were Harrison and
Jonathan, Jr.
The following men were assessed a poll tax in Clay Township in 1842 :
J. P. Anderson, Samuel Allen. A. Ayres, M. Brody, Cyrus Bowles,
John Bowles, W. T. Bull, John Boyd, Lorenzo D. Bain, William Boyd,
J. S. Bryant, Eli Bray, Anderson Brown, Valorus Butterfield, Thomas
Bryant, Eli Bowles, Archibald Boyd, David Bowles, L. G. Butterfield,
D. A. Butterfield, Wesley Creed, Charles Cox, William Cox, Paul Cox,
James Carder, Alexander Clark, W. F. Childs, James Cox, William
Kennedy, Robert A, Childs, James Cross, John Creed, D. L. Collins,
W. E. Garter, Joseph Claghorn, David Collins, John Crank, John Cox,
William Dorman, Brently Deaton, A. J. Deaton, James Deaton, John
CLAY TOWNSHIP. 121
Dunegan, White Davidson, James Donavan. David Ely, Reuben Ely,
Elijah Ervin, John Edwards, Simeon K. Ely, G. W. Fields, Evis Fowler,
John Fowler, Dabney Gooch, James Griggs, Eli Greeson, Franklin Gar-
rison, Nathan Goble, Jesse Gooch, A. Hutchinson, Garrison Hubbard,
S. H. Harcoat, Jesse Hubbard, Beverly Gregory's heirs, William Hard-
rick, Samuel Jackson, Thomas Kirkendorf, David Kirkendorf, James
Kitchen, Jonathan Lyon, Jr., Harrison Lyon, Hardin Leggett, William
Lang, M. T. Lang, James Lowder, James Lang, Emery Lloyd, William
McNeff, H. R. McPherson, John McDaniel, Simeon McDaniel, Henry
Myers, Calvin Matthews, George Matthews, James Matthews, Alfred
Matthews, John Maxwell, Joseph Monical, Thomas Morgan, George
Monical, John McCracken, Gary Matthews, James Noble, G. W. Olds,
Ell Overton, Jared Olds, Francis Patram, Anthony Poe, William Poe,
Jeremiah Poe, Andrew Parsley, Andrew Paul, William Pinter, Noah
Rinker, Alexander Rich, S. H. Reynolds, William Rinker, Eli Rinker,
Samuel Ray, Daniel Reeves, John Ramsey, Thomas Ray, Simeon Robb,
Alfred Robinson, George Sheets, Andrew Stafford, David Spencer, John
S. Spurdock, John Scott, John Sheets, Nathaniel Simpson, Peter Spoon,
Adam Spoon, Robert C. Stotts, John C. Stotts, Robert Stewart, David
Scott, Benjamin Stipp, Joseph Strade, Isaac Strader, Ezekiel Slaughter,
Moses Slaughter, Young Sellers, W. H. Sailor, Abraham Stipp, Benja-
min Stafford, John Stuart, Jeremiah Tacket, Jacob Tinkle, William
Tacket, William Wall, J. W. Wakefield, Solomon Wear, Samuel Wilson,
David Wear, William Wear, Joshua Wilson, Jr., Jeptha Williams, John
Wright, Andrew Wright, William Whitrel, Samuel R. Wright and Sam-
uel Zollinger. The heaviest tax- payers were as follows: John Butter-
field, $19.58 ; Aiken Daken, $14.02 ; John Hodge, $19.12; Jonathan
Lyon, Jr., $18.58; Harrison Lyon, $17.16; M. T. Lang, $12.50 ; Calvin
Matthews, $11.46 ; Robert C. Stotts, $14.93 ; Ezekiel Slaughter, $19.93 ;
G. A. Worth, $13.53.
BROOKLYN.
So far as can be learned, the first improvement made by white men
in the township of Clay was the corn-cracker erected on the creek at
Brooklyn, in the summer of 1819, by Benjamin Cuthbert. The struct-
ure was built of logs, was about 18x18 feet, and was operating when Ben-
jamin Barnes came to the township in December, 1819. The stones were
"nigger-heads" which had been made from granite bowlders by Mr.
Cuthbert, and the dam was built of brush, logs, stones, etc. Mr. Cuth-
bert lived northward in Brown Township, about two miles above the
mill. He would go down to his little mill and remain there nearly a
week without going home, doing in the meantime the most of his own
cooking in the fire-place in the mill. It is said that he could bake an
excellent johnny-cake, and was an expert at roasting meat. He no
doubt lived on the fat of the land. All the settlers throughout the
northern part of the county went to his mill for their meal, and all
complained of the 'grit" contained in the corn-bread baked therefrom.
As this bread was the chief article of diet, the complaints from the
women, especially, multiplied. Mrs. Barnes was probably the only ex-
ception to this statement. She had an impediment in her speech which
122 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
limited her conversation to the merest monosyllables. . Mr. Barnes was
envied as the luckiest man in his domestic relations in all the surround-
ing country.
In 1823, Jonathan Lyon, who had, in 1820, purchased quite a tract
of land at what is now Brooklyn, came to the township, secured the old
mill of Mr. Cuthbert, greatly improved it and the dam, built a saw mill
on the opposite side, and soon afterward built a storehouse, in which he
placed a stock of goods worth about $2,000. It is likely that the goods
were not brought on until 1824. Mr. Lyon had several grown sons, who
managed the mills and the store for him, while he remained the most of
the time at his home in another portion of the State. In 1825, or pos-
sibly 1826, Mr. Lyon erected a distillery and a tannery, and paid James
S. Kelley $600 to conduct them both for a few years, at the end of which
time they were to be returned to the owner, Mr. Lyon. The profits as
well as the expenses of the enterprises were to be borne by the owner.
Mr. Lyon also started a battery soon afterward. The store, the distillery,
the tannery, the battery, the grist mill and the saw mill were conducted
successfully by Mr. Kelley, the Lyon boys and considerable hired help
until about the year 1880, when Mr. Kelly's contract with Mr. Lyon ex-
pired, and the former went to Mooresville and engaged in the mercantile
pursuit. The sons of Mr. Lyon continued the enterprises. Early in the
thirties, in addition to the other pursuits, pork-packing was commenced,
and was carried on for many years quite extensively. These industries
served to make the place one of the most important industrial points in
the county. Of course, no town had yet been started there. Late in
the forties, the Lyons sold out their interests or abandoned them. Long
before this, however, or about 1835, they had built a steam distillery,
which took the place of the one first built, and had a much greater
capacity. Probably as high as 100 barrels of whisky were manufactured
annually, a considerable portion of which found a ready sale at home, the
remainder being shipped to distant points. This distillery was destroyed
by fire about the year 1843, and thereby hangs a tale which the old set-
tlers may tell. Ask them.
The township had all the distilleries necessary in early years. Eli
Bray owned one ; also William Darman, Thomas Richardson and Ben-
jamin Barnes. The latter built a small corn cracker, which was propelled
by horses. It was erected for the purpose of supplying the distillery.
Rye was also ground there. It is said that at some of these early dis-
tilleries, pumpkins, potatoes, etc., were manufactured into whisky or
brandy. All old settlers agree that the liquor of that day was far supe-
rior to the poisonous stuff of these later degenerate days. They probably
know what they are talking about. And then, again, people did not get
drunk as often as they do now. The halcyon days have indeed gone by.
MODERN BROOKLYN.
In about 1853, Frank Landers opened a store. He began about
Christmas, and the following March laid out the town, which began to
grow as the railroad was being built, that is, the grading had commenced.
Quite a number of families soon located in the town. Griggs, Cook &
Scott opened a store about 1859. The merchants since then, in order.
CLAY TOWNSHIP. I 123
have been Dill & Griggs, Cox & Landers (near the close of the last war),
Gregory & Clark, Gregory & Council, Gregory & Robbins, J. N.
Gregory, P. S. McNeff & Bro. (1872), Silas Rinker, McNeff & Rinker,
Gregory & Son, Ira McDaniel, P. S. McNeff, Richardson & Morgan,
William McNeff. The present merchants are P. S. McNeff, Philips &
Bro., Richard Lash, F. R. Miller, Daniel Thornburg.
M. 0. & F. M. Pierce started a woolen factory about 1866, in a
building that had been built by William Sparks. They carded and spun
for about two years, and then retired from the business. The present
grist mill was built in 1852 by William and John Paddock. After a few
years, they were succeeded by John and William Butterfield, and a year
later by Griggs & Clark. William Sparks bought it during the war.
The present owner, John McDaniel, bought it late in the sixties. It has
been an excellent mill. It is now being refitted, iron rolls being inserted
in the place of stone buhrs. The town has had one or more saw mills
since the earliest time. J. R. Hardin is the present owner. The popu-
lation of the town is greater now than ever before, and is about 360.
CENTERTON.
This village was laid out in March, 1854, by Calvin Matthews, ad-
ministrator of the estate of James Matthews, deceased. Hiram T. Craig
was the surveyor, and is said to have named the town from its location
in the county. There was a time when Centerton could have secured the
prize of the county seat. This was in the fifties, just before the present
court house was built, and later just before the railroad was completed.
Sufficient influence was not brought to bear upon the points of success.
Almost every unprejudiced person will readily say that the county seat
should be located either at Centerton or on the railroad in its immediate
vicinity. There can be no question of the justice and future public pol-
icy of this fact. It is well known that pecuniary interests are the only
considerations which keep it where it is. Might, not right, rules. Of
course there are parties at Martinsville, who, wise as serpents, will not
admit these statements, though the heavens fall. The citizens of the
county should see that the next court house is built at Centerton.
The first store in Centerton was opened by William Spencer soon after
the lots were laid out. He became the first agent of Uncle Sam. Thom-
as Hardrick was the second merchant, and S. S. Cox the third. The
leading merchants since then have been Silas Rinker, J. T. Piercy, Stipp
& Green, Alexander Hardrick, William Gooch, D. S. Clements, Allen
English, Bush Brothers, Miles Matthews and Lewis Campbell. The lat-
ter and Bush Brothers are yet in business. Among the early families in
Centerton were those of Calvin Matthews, William Spencer, William
Cox, Thomas Hardrick, Dr. Skelton, Paul Sims, Joseph Robb, John
Shields, Mr. Hunt, James Adams and John Butterfield. The present
population of the village is about 200. The first blacksmith was Hiram
Cox. W. J. Manker owned and conducted the first saw mill. Saw
mills have since been owned and operated by Madison Matthews, Dixon
& Shields, John Butterfield, Washington Patrick, Gamble Brothers.
Centerton has in its vicinity the best fire brick clay in the State. The
brick for the new State house are being manufactured about two miles
12 4 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
*
^outhwest of the town. Jackson Record, an old settler of the county,
who located in Washington Township in 1833, has been a resident of
Clay Township since 1853. The county has had no citizen of greater
prominence and worth.
TEACHERS.
The first schoolhouse built in Clay Township was erected in the But-
terfield neighborhood in 1823, and during the summer of that year the
first school in the township was taught therein by Hiram Collins.
The house was a round-log structure, with a big fire-place, paper windows^
puncheon seats and door. Butterfield, Barnes, Case, Hodge, Stotts and
others helped to erect the building. Collins was a good teacher, but was
afi'ected with the phthisic, which often made him cross. That was the sig-
nal for indiscriminate whipping. Hiatt Thomas taught in the same
house the following winter. He was a jovial fellow, and at noon would
hunt coons with his larger boys. George A. Phelps was an early teacher
in this house. After several years, this house was succeeded by a better
one built a short distance east. Another early teacher in the first house
was a Mr. Williams. A school was taught in the neighborhood of the
Matthews at Centerton very early, but the facts could not be learned.
Several schools started up in the thirties, and additional ones in the for-
ties. The frame schoolhouse in Brooklyn was built early in the fifties.
It was destroyed by fire in 1883. The first teacher in Brooklyn is for-
gotten. A new brick schoolhouse will be built there within the next
year or two, at a cost of about $5,000. The first schoolhouse in Center-
ton was built early in the fifties. Thomas Skelton was probably the first
teacher. A man named Moore was the second. This house was used
until 1883, when a fine brick structure was constructed at a cost of about
|5,000. The building is 44x58 feet, is two stories high, has four rooms,
two above and two below, has a wide hall and stairway on the west side,
and the cost is borne by the township. The first teacher in this building
was Prof. Smith. Clay has excellent schools.
PREACHERS.
It is said that the first sermon preached in the township was delivered
by Rev. Proctor, an eminent minister of the Presbyterian Church, who
was on his way, in 1823, from his home in Indianapolis to Bloomington,
Ind., where he had an appointment to hold religious services. He stopped
at the house of John Butterfield, and entertained that family and a few of
the neighbors who gathered to hear him. The Church of Christ, in the
southeastern part, was organized in the thirties, and for some time meet-
ings were held at the houses of Velorus Butterfield, Thomas Morgan and
family, Abraham Griggs and family, James Noble, Levi Plummer. The
ground for the church was furnished by Mr. Plummer, and was on Section
30, Township 13 north. Range 2 east. The log church was erected early
in the forties. A number of years afterward it was burned down, and a
frame church was erected in its place. The Methodists had an early
organization in the Rinker neighborhood, and in the forties a log church
was erected at what was called Rinker's Corner. After many years a
frame house took its place. The Methodist Church in Brooklyn was
erected in 1869, and dedicated in 1870. The membership is now quite
MONROE TOWNSHIP. 125
large. The Christian Church in Brooklyn was built three or four years
after the Methodist Church, and the class is in a prosperous condition .
The Christian Church at Centerton was moved there about two years ago.
It formerly stood in the Rinker neighborhood, in the eastern part of the
township, and then was occupied by the Methodists.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
THE PIONEERS.
MONROE TOWNSHIP is one of the oldest portions of the county,
and in some respects the most interesting. It is a fine tract of
rolling land, well drained, and the greater portion of the soil is a rich
sandy loam, one of the best kinds for general and inexhaustible cultivation.
The first tract of land entered in the township was on Section 29, in the
northeastern part, by William Pounds, in 1820 ; but Mr. Pounds did not
come to the township for several years, and was therefore not the first
settler. It cannot be certainly stated who the first was, but the burden
of evidences is in favor of John H. Bray, who lived to the remarkable
age of ninety-four years. He located on Section 28, in the northeastern
part of the township in the year 1822. He was born in North Carolina
during the Revolutionary war, and lived until seven or eight years ago.
He was a young man at the beginning of the present century, and was
middle-aged at the time of the war of 1812-15. He was a man of stal-
wart frame, and possessed an iron constitution. During his long resi-
dence in the county, he was one of the most prominent and public-spirited
of the citizens. Among those who came in soon after him were Jeremiah
Hadley, Charles Allen, Thomas Rubottom, Zimri Allen, James Hadley,
John Doan, Robert McCracken, James Demoss, Henry Brewer, Lot M.
Hadley, T. E. Hadley, Philip Johnson, Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Doan,
Joseph Hobson, William Bray, Joshua Carter, Oliver Kimberton, David
Collins, Moses Hougham, Simon B. Hadley, Jesse Overman, Enoch
Hadley, Jesse Ballard, Elijah Tansey, William Tansey, Abel Thompson,
John C. Burris, Hiram Tomlinson, Eneas Ward, Ephraim.Doan, William
Johnson, George Crutchfield, John Hadley, George Seaton, Timothv H,
Jessup, William Carter, Martin Davenport, Daniel Beals, Job and Jesse
Johnson, Isaac Hougham, and a little later John P. Lamb, Isaac Hobson,
David Lindley, John Bryant, Samuel Harper, Alfred Elliott, James
Reynolds, Jonathan Mendenhall, Elisha Gregory, Jesse Allen, Nicholas
Johnson, John S. Hubbard, Peter Coble, Aaron Lindley, George Hub-
bard, Edward Lindley, James Lindley, Joshua Lindley, Owen Lindley,
Aaron Shaw, Thomas Edwards, James Pruitt, Benjamin K. Williams,
Woodson Lewallen, Iva Stout, Jesse Baldwin, Eli Vestal, William Wisner,
James Marley, Daniel Ferree, Amos Marker, Joseph Pray, Thomas
Nichols and others. A few of these never lived in the township.
126 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1842.
Thomas Anderson, Zimri Allen, Charles Allen, Jesse Baldwin, 13.
Bales, Daniel Carter, William Chambers, Isaac Chew, Samuel Chew,
David Doan, Joseph Doan, Jesse Doan, Robert Doan, Jonathan Doan,
William Doan, James Demoss, John Edwards, Samuel Edwards, Nathan
Edwards, Alfred Elliott, Abe Elliott, Peter Farmer, Jesse Faulkner,
John Ferree, Daniel Ferree, David Greeson, Peter Greeson, Elias Gregory,
Daniel Hornaday, T. M. Hadley, Aaron Hadley, S. B. Hadley, William
Hornaday, James Hadley, Isaac Hobson, Elias Hadley, David Johnson,
Nicholas Johnson, Gideon Johnson, David Lindley, Edward Lindley,
Woodson Lewallen, Owen Lindley, J. T. Marlett, Robert McCracken,
John Marley, James Marley, William McClellan, John McClellan, Nathan
Nichols, James Pitman, George Rubottom, Aaron Shaw, Iva Stout,
Alexander Shore, David Shanafelt, Jesse Tansey, Eli Townsend, Elijah
Tansey, William Wisner, Benjamin Wilson and some others, whose names
cannot be made out.
TOWN OF MONROVIA.
In the month of June, 1834, Gideon Johnson and George Hubbard
employed a surveyor and laid out forty-five lots on Section 12, Township
13 north. Range 1 west, and named the village thus founded Monrovia —
a variation of the name of the township. The first merchants were
Gideon Johnson and Ira Hadley, each of whom owned a store. If one
began selling before the other, such fact is not now remembered. In
1837, Mr. Johnson sold out to Thomas Edwards & Co., for $600, Lots
1, 2, 13 and 14, Block 3, together with all the appurtenances thereunto
belonging. This company was composed of Thomas Edwards, I. B.
Edwards and C. G. Hussey. This company owned about $2,000 worth
of a general assortment of goods. About the time this sale was effected,
John Carter laid out an addition of sixteen lots to the town. Mr. Hadley
still continued his business, taking in a partner in 1838. Mr. Johnson
must have opened another store soon after his sale, as he took out a
license in 1839 to sell merchandise. Eli Vestal was an early merchant
in the village. Henry and Noah York engaged in the same pursuit early
in the forties. Irvin Caveness was the first tavern keeper. Samuel
Wilhite and John Valentine were probably the first blacksmiths. A man
named Halfhill opened a saddle and harness shop, and John Edwards
began making wagons. The growth of the village, though not rapid, was
steady and permanent. For several years, beginning about 1842, there
was no store in town. This is said to have been due to the hard times
resulting from the crash of 1837. Owen Johnson opened a store about
1845, and soon afterward Ira Hadley resumed his business, which had
been temporarily abandoned. Collins, an Irishman, opened a store about
1850. Milton Lindley was engaged in the same pursuit about the same
time, or possibly before. Benjamin Young came in with goods a little
later, and Porter & Breedlove still later. After them came Samuel Had-
ley, Joseph Fulghman, M. B. Shaw, Butler & Mendenhall, Mendenhall
& Thompson, W. B. Thompson, Philips & Johnson, R. P. Johnson & Co.,
and several others, whose names are forgotten. A steam grist mill was
built in the town not far from the vear 1837, and was the first of the
MONROE TOWNSHIP. 127
kind in the central part of the State. But the machinery was too rude
to compete yet with the numerous powerful water mills, and the mill
proved a failure, and was soon abandoned, and the machinery was removed.
George Hadley built a wool-carding establishment about 1840, the motor
being cattle on an inclined plane. It passed to Silas Gregory, who con-
ducted it until about 1850. No spinning or weaving was done. A man
named Dunning manufactured saddles quite extensively in the forties.
Halfhill followed the same occupation. Ira Fowler owned a distillery
some distance south of town, where lovers of ardent spirits could secure
their favorite potations. Mershon was a cabinet and coflSn maker, and
was probably the first undertaker in the town. Mr. Caveness kept a
shoe shop in connection with his tavern. William Wisner conducted a
tannery, beginning about 1836. It is said that Joseph Pray started the
business, but soon sold out to Wisner. A saw mill was conducted in con-
nection with the steam grist mill. Harris & Goddard built the present
steam grist mill in 1856. A woolen mill was added to it. John McDaniel
bought both mills about 1861, but soon sold out to Charles Smith, who>
made money during the war. Hadley & Taylor succeeded Smith. In
about 1868, the two mills were separated, each being owned by different
parties. John Stanton bought the woolen mill, and Hadley & Taylor
owned the grist mill. Mr. Taylor is the present owner of the grist mill.
The woolen mill was an important industry. Spinning and weaving was
done. Flannels, jeans and other cloths were manufactured. Various
other industries have flourished from time to time, but the above are the-
more important.
PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.
Dry goods, Samuel Philips, Pacely Thompson ; drugs, J. C. Hiatt &
Co., McCracken Brothers; groceries, Hobbs & Johnson, Wilson Brothers,
Fish & Son, S. H. Henley ; hardware and agricultural implements, Hobbs
& Johnson ; milliners, Johnson Sisters, Alma Jeffries, Mattie Hubbard ;
barber, Henry Book ; grist mill, Albert Taylor ; harness, J. H. Hunt ;
livery, Daniel Brewer; photographer, Mr. Calvert; tile factory, John M,
Davis ; carriages and wagons, Henry Binkley ; undertaker, Jerry Wellr
man.
A newspaper was started in the town about 1880, by a man named
Stotzell. After a checkered career of about six months, it became de-
funct. Late in the sixties, the village became the " incorporated town of
Monrovia," Ordinances were adopted, streets were drained, sidewalks
were built, etc., but after a few years the municipal government was
abandoned.
SCHOOLS OF MONROE TOWNSHIP.
It is not positively known where the first school was taught, as several
years elapsed after the first settlement before an attempt was made to es-
tablish a school in the township, owing to the fact that within a mile or
two in Brown Township, good schools had been started some years before,
and the older children in Monroe could attend there during the winter
months, and the younger ones during the summer months, which was then
regarded as sufficient schooling for large and small children for the year.
It is likely that terms of school were held in private residences before the
128 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
first established school came into existence. The first school of which
any distinct remembrance is had was taught in the West Union Church
east of Monrovia during the winter of 1832-33 by Joshua Lindley. He
was paid by subscription, and had a full school. David Lindley taught
in the church after him. At the end of about three years, the Quakers
built a schoolhouse adjoining the church, and in this building Evan Had-
ley was the first teacher. After that date the school was one of the best
in the northern part of the county. A schoolhouse was built west of
Monrovia about 1836. A school was also started up in the southeastern
part and another in the northeastern part about the same time. In each
of these neighborhoods, however, terms of school had been taught in
private houses for several years before the public schools were firmly es-
tablished. The first teacher in Monrovia was a well-educated man named
Butterfield, who taught a three months' term during the winter of
1837-38, in a schoolhouse that had been erected the summer and autumn
before.
Mr. Butterfield was an educator in advance of his time, and was re-
garded as a "crank" on the subject of his own theories of public instruc-
tion. Instead of being really "cranky," he simply earnestly favored and
publicly advocated a system of education, which has since developed into
the high schools of to-day. The only difference between his theory and
the present system was the manner of obtaining funds for the support of
the schools. It is stated that he favored public taxation for the support
of the schools for the masses, but as his theory in this respect was un-
popular in his day, or more specifically at Monrovia, he took the next best
course he could, and urged the support of public schools by systematic
rate bills and tuition. He was very energetic, and issued a printed cir-
cular, advertising his school, specifying the branches taught, the tuition
required and asking for pupils who were promised unusual advantages in
acquiring a higher education than could be secured at the insignificant
subscription schools then starting into life throughout the township. But
there were three serious obstacles in the way of the success of the enter-
prise of Mr. Butterfield : First — It cost considerable to attend his school.
Second — There was no demand for advanced education. Third — The
theories of Mr. Butterfield were regarded as unusual, suspicious, if not un-
just. The result was that the school was a failure, and Mr. Butterfield
left in disgust for more promising fields. Within fifteen years after he
left, the very system he had advocated became the most popular and judi-
cious plan of public education ever established up to that time. The com-
mon school system of to-day is the child of this advance. This school of
Mr. Butterfield's was taught in a portion of the " Monrovia House," yet
standing and in use.
The first schoolhouse in Monrovia was erected about 1858, the town
children before that going east and west to the district schools. The house
built was an ordinary frame structure, which was used until the two-storied
brick building was erected about four years ago. The house is 28x64
feet, has four rooms in which four teachers are necessary to instruct the
town youth, cost about |4,000, and is a credit to the town, which surpasses
any other in the county, in proportion to population, in activity in the
cause of education. The school is thoroughly graded, and competent in-
MONROE TOWNSHIP. 129
atructors are employed. Sooa after the last war, the citizens of Monrovia
and vicinity organized a Teachers' Institute, which is still in existence.
The citizens subscribed liberally to support the institute, encouraged the
valuable course of instruction and drill afforded the teachers, and those
•citizens who were competent lectured to the assembled teachers on ques-
tions of education and school government. In view of the difficulty
attending an organization of this character — the great expense, the small-
ness of the town, and the limited number of teachers likely to attend —
the enterprise has been remarkably prosperous, the influence much more
widely felt than was thought possible, and the zeal of teachers and citi-
zens in the cause of education places the little town head and shoulders
above every other portion of the county. Not content with this excellent
showing, the teachers and citizens, in March, 1882, organized the " Mon-
rovia Normal and High School Association," every public-spirited
citizen of the vicinity subscribing from $5 to $25 for its support. This
association is yet in its infancy, yet the future will, no doubt, record its
important achievements.
CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS.
It is likely that the first religious class organized in Monroe Town-
ship was the one known as the West Union Meeting of Friends, which
had its origin late in the twenties, from the older or parent class of
Friends in Brown Township. Among the members were George Ru-
bottom, William Johnson, Aaron Lindley, Jerry Hadley, William Allen,
Ashley Johnson, Philip Johnson. Eli Townsend, Jesse Baldwin, Jona-
than Doan, Sr., Jonathan Doan, Charles Allen, Lot Hadley, Silas Greg-
ory and others. Their frame church was built in 1832. This class is
yet in existence.
The Methodist class at Monrovia was organized soon after 1840, by
Rev. H. S. Dane, who was the pastor for a number of years. Some of
the members were Edward Lindley, Walker Caveness, Isaac Johnson,
William Mull, Joel C. McClellan. C. Marvin, D. C. Doan, James R.
Williams, William Best, A. M. Dilley, J. K. Best, James Hudson, L. B.
Lewis and others. The pastor in 1856 was Rev. J. R. Williams. Their
church was built about 1850.
The Christian Church at Monrovia was established in the sixties.
Among the leading members were Jeremiah Wellman, Dr. Reagan, Jo-
seph Allison and Robert McCracken.
The Methodist Church in the southeastern part of the township was
organized about 1835, some of the early members being James Demoss,
Thomas Grisham, Peter Farmer, Simon Hadley, William Tansey, Able
Tansey, Jesse Tansey, William Hornaday and others. Meetings were
•often held at the houses of Thomas Grisham and James Demoss. After
a number of years, 'their church was built. The Antioch Methodist
Church east of Monrovia was established at a later date. Their church is
worth about $700. The township has excellent religious advantages.
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
One of the things of which the citizens of Monroe Township boast
is the position taken by the older residents on the question of slavery.
The anti-slavery sentiment came to the county with that noble class of
130 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Christian people, the Friends, and from the earliest settlement until slav-
ery was blotted out of the nation, no opportunity was lost to strike it a
blow. Anti-slavery societies were organized at an early day, and public
measures were adopted to bring the enormity of the "institution"
squarely before the public eye. The Friends posted themselves thoroughly
on the question from a social, moral and Biblical standpoint, and man-
aged to "worst" those of sufficient courage to meet them in public de-
bate. The Underground Railroad was an organization to assist runaway
slaves, escaping from their masters, on their way to Canada. The Friends
everywhere were prominently connected with this route, or routes, rather,
as hundreds of different paths extended from the Southern States to the
dominion of the British Queen. The procedure was a violation of the
law of the land, but the Friends and Abolitionists knew they were right
morally, and deliberately disobeyed the law. The routes were called
" underground " because they were usually only operated at night to
avoid detection and pursuit. Slaves that were worth from ^600 to $1,200
each were not permitted to leave their masters without an effort being
made to capture them. Bloodhounds were used, and every other measure
to secure their return. The Friends constantly thwarted the slave catch-
ers. A slave who made up his mind to run away would ascertain about
the route to be taken, and get the name of the first Friend on the route,
and just where his residence could be found. Then, under the cover of
night, vrith his little bundle of clothes on his shoulder, he would resolute-
ly turn his face northward, and make for the first station on his way. If
that point was reached about morning, the agent of the railroad would
feed the tired traveler, and then secrete him in some safe place about the
premises until night came, when horses would be hitched to carriages or
wagons, and the runaway would be rapidly driven northward ten or fif-
teen miles to the next station. If considerable time yet remained before
morning, the agent of the second station would hitch up as the first agent
had done, and convey the slave to the third station, and the first agent
would return home. In this way, after the lapse of many weeks, often
through the direst dangers of pursuit, the slave would be safely landed
in Canada, where pursuit would end, and where the hunted man would
draw his first breath of freedom. Two or three routes extended across
Morgan County, all of them passing through Monroe or Brown Town-
ship. All of the Quakers were ready to assist runaway slaves, as were
many Abolitionists who were not Quakers, but only a few men in the
county were really members of the organization called " Underground
Railroad." The leading members in Monroe Township were Jonathan
Dean and his sons and relatives. They were known to take many a run-
away to some point in Marion or Hendricks County. On one occasion,
they conveyed a load of five slaves northward. They no doubt helped off
scores of them. Eli J. Sumner, of Mooresville, was a prominent Aboli-
tionist, but he did not belong to the railroad, though he did not hesitate
an instant if a slave called upon him for assistance. William Bowles was
the agent at Morgantown ; Mr. Kelso also. Several at Martinsville
afforded assistance, though none there were members of the organization.
Many now claim to have been connected with the road who at the time
were either neutral or inclined to capture the runaways and return them
to their masters and get the large reward.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP. 131
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
TREATY WITH THE DELAWARES.
NO Other portion of Morgan County is surrounded with greater his-
torical interest than Waverly and vicinity. Here it was that
the first settlement in the county was made while the Indians were yet
occupying the soil, and while all the species of wild animals of this
latitude yet roamed almost wholly unmolested in the trackless forest. The
"New Purchase," of which Morgan County was a part, was secured from
the Indians by the treaty of St. Mary's, Ohio, in October, 1818; but by
the provisions of the treaty, the natives were to have the privilege of re-
siding upon the soil and of hunting thereon until 1820. The land could
not be formally thrown upon the market until after the expiration of this
privilege of occupancy, but the whites could enter the territory, select
their farms and improve the same, and be in readiness to purchase when
the land became marketable. This was done in Morgan County to a
hmited extent.
THE FIRST SETTLER OF THE COUNTY.
In the summer of 1818, before the lands of the New Purchase had
been ceded to the Government by the Indians, Jacob Whetzel, brother
to the famous Indian fighter, Lewis Whetzel, and an Indian fighter him-
self, went to the camp of the Delaware chief, Anderson, whose principal
village was where the city of Anderson now stands, to get permission to
cut a trace from White Water River in the eastern part of the State to
the Bluflfs* on White River, the object being to secure a road from such
eastern point to the Bluffs, the remainder of the way to Vincennes to be
by the river. Mr. Whetzel had in view then a permanent location at or
near Vincennes. Permission was granted by Anderson, and the following
autumn Mr. Whetzel, accompanied by his son Cyrus, and supplied with
the necessary axes, guns, provisions, etc., blazed this route through to the
Bluffs. This blazed road through the wilderness was probably the first
in this part of the State, and became a famous highway for fam-
ilies seeking homes in the New Purchase. It may yet be
seen in some places, and is still known as "Whetzel's Trace."
Mr. Whetzel was so pleased with the Bluffs and the surrounding country
that he resolved to go no farther toward Vincennes with a view of settle-
ment, whereupon he selected a piece of land in the valley of White River
a short distance north of the present residence of his grandson-in-law,
Mr. McKenzie, and resolved to send out his son, Cyrus, the following
spring to clear a small tract and raise a crop. Early the next spring
(March, 1819), Jacob and his son Cyrus, with the necessary seeds, im-
plements and arms, came via Whetzel's Trace to the Bluffs, estab-
*A mile and a half northeast of Waverly, where old Port Koyal used to stand, generally called
"The Bluflfs."
132 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
lished with stakes the permanent boundary of about sixty acres of land
just below Waverly, and after erecting a rude log cabin the father went
back to his family, leaving Cyrus to clear immediately a few acres for a
crop of corn, wheat and vegetables, and to deaden a larger tract during
the summer. The second night after the father had gone, a heavy snow
fell, and Cyrus built a large fire to drive off the wolves and the cold.
During the night, he felt something creep under the blanket under which
he was sleeping, but was too unconcerned to make further discoveries
until the next morning when he was somewhat surprised to learn that
his sleeping companion was none other than a huge Delaware Indian.
This discovery was not sufficient to scare very perceptibly a man in whose
veins ran the distinguished blood of the Whetzels. Cyrus was but
eighteen years of age, yet he felt no fear in the wilderness, though sur-
rounded with wild and dangerous animals, and with the scarcely less wild
and dangerous Indians.
THE FIRST FARM.
Cyrus Whetzel, assisted by a young man whose name is no longer
recollected, and who came out soon after the young man did, cleared off
a small "truck patch," where corn, vegetables and a small quantity of
wheat were raised. Ten or fifteen acres of heavy timber were also dead-
ened. The following autumn the family came out to stay permanently.
This settlement may justly be dated from the fall of 1818, one year be-
fore the family came out, as the farm was then selected and the intention
fully matured to locate thereon permanently. The elder Whetzel, Jacob,
was a professional hunter, knew but little of farming, and practiced less,
but he perhaps never had an equal in the county in woodcraft, and in
experience of the Indian. Much of his time was spent in hunting until
1827. when he died. He manufactured his own powder, and dressed
almost altogether in buckskin. He did some coopering. His son Cyrus
inherited the Whetzel constitution and sagacity, and in his younger years
gained an extensive acquaintance with the Indian character. He soon
married and became one of the foremost men of the county. He after-
ward represented the county in the Legislature. He was brave enough
and farseeing enough to look beyond the day in which he lived, and to
take the advanced and nobler, liberal position of to-day on the subject of
religion. He died in 1876, full of years, respected by all true men, and
lies buried near the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. McKenzie.
INCIDENTS.
At a very early date, a number of Delaware Indians came to the
cabin of Jacob Whetzel, and a big brave named "Nosey" (part of his
nose had been cut off, and hence the name) bantered Cyrus to shoot at a
mark. The challenge was accepted, but Cyrus proved to be the better
marksman. This threw Nosey, who possessed a violent temper, into a
furious rage, but his fear of the stalwart and courageous young man pre-
vented any serious results to the latter. The party soon left, but one of
them, who dared to taunt the Indian with his defeat, was instantly killed
by the still enraged savage. The latter was given one year, according to
custom, to redeem his life by furnishing 100 deer skins to the murdered
HARRISON TOWNSHIP. 133
man's relatives. This could easily have been done, but no effort was
made, and Nosey was accordingly put to death by torture.
Mr. Whetzel one day loaned a Delaware his "gig" to spear fish,
and when it was returned one of the prongs was gone, the Indian stating
that he had broken it off in a log. A few days later, Mr. Whetzel
came upon the same Indian on the river where he had speared a wagon
load of the finest fish, with a gig made from the broken prong, which had
been driven into the end of a tough slender pole. This Indian was en-
gaged in drying the fish. He was so expert that he could strike a fish
eight or ten yards away. Many years ago, the Whetzels discovered about
a half bushel of bullets of all sizes from a shot to a half-ounce ball on
the bottom near Waverly. They had been scattered out over several
rods, by the action of the water no doubt, but how they came there is a
mystery yet to be solved.
ADDITIONAL EARLY SETTLERS.
The name of the second settler in Harrison Township is not certain-
ly known. Among those who came in soon after the Whetzels were
Christopher Ladd, Jesse Tull, Benjamin Mills, David E. Allen, Henry
Rout (who remained but a short time), John Paul, John Hamilton, Thomas
Ingles, George Powell, Joseph Bennett, Thomas Gardner, William Good-
win, James Burch, Robert C. Stott, Barlow Aldridge, Joseph Frazee,
William Etter and many others whose date of settlement cannot be cer-
tainly fixed. The following list of men paid poll tax in Harrison Town-
ship in 1842, the list being given here to preserve the names of as many
of the early residents as possible. A few of the men never resided in the
township: Barlow Aldridge, J. D. Bromwell, J. F. Brenton, James
Burris, Joseph Brenton, Joseph Baker, James Duke, J. W. Davis,
Dixon Dee, Daniel Etter, Cornelius Free, J. G. A. Frydinghire, George
Haslett, Elijah Henderson, John Harrow, Benjamin Harrold, William
Harrold, Benjamin Holland, Abner Hightour, G. Kershner, Richard
Dee, J. M. Laughlin, J. A. Laughlin, Lewis Leach, J. S. Leach, Alan-
son Lewis, Benjamin Mills, Allen McLain, Thomas Mitchell, G. J. Mills,
Daniel Newkirk, J. H. B. Nowland, J. M. Norton, George Powell, W.
Prescot, Aaron Prescot, Jason Rust, David Rust, Frederick Swartz,
George Smith, Robert Smith, John Stephenson, I. W. Tacket, William
Tull, Drury Trusty, Cyrus Whetzel and Jesse Wharton.
THE BLUFFS, OR PORT ROYAL.
The Blufis were known before there was a solitary settler in the county.
Frenchmen from Vincennes and vicinity had come up the river before the
war of 1812; and if tradition is correct had established temporary trad-
ing stations with the Delaware Indians, who then occupied the country.
Various adventurers and speculators had visited the spot, and it became
called The Bluffs. It is likely that Christopher Ladd was the first white
settler at the point. He located there either in 1819 or early in 1820.
He it was who claimed the location of the capital of the State at the
Bluffs. Several of the Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to
permanently fix the capital voted in favor of the Bluffs. Mr. Ladd be-
gan keeping tavern there before the county was organized, and was the
134 HISTORr OF MORGAN COUNTY.
first man in the county to take out the necessary license to keep tavern
and sell liquor. The corpse of a man was found on the river bottom
near his house, and Mr. Ladd was arrested and tried for the murder, but
not a shadow of substantial evidence was found against him. He was
acquitted, and his lack of means only prevented him from prosecuting his
defamers, as they no doubt deserved. This was the first noteworthy trial
of the county. Cyrus Whetzel and Mr. Ladd were intimate friends, and
the former always insisted on the latter's innocence. Mr. Whetzel always
suspected an Indian, who, after the murder, was found in possession of a
horse and saddle, a black silk handkerchief, a red morocco pocket-book,
etc., of which he failed to give a satisfactory account. No doubt the
murdered man had come out to buy land, and falling in with the Indian
was foully murdered for his effects.
The town was surveyed and platted before the county was organized,
James Borland being the surveyor. It was laid out about the middle of
September, 1821, on the north half of the southeast quarter of Sectioa
13, Township 13 north, Range 2 east, in the Brookville Land District.
Forty- three lots were laid out on the blufis of White River. Thomas
Lee was the proprietor.
The Blufi"s, or Port Royal, as it became called afterward, attracted
settlers early. Ladd was the first. Robert Bradshaw was probably the
second. Daniel Allen was about the third. He was the first tailor. He
sold liquor in 1827 and merchandise in 1828. Bradshaw sold liquor in
1826. Ladd's tavern was a great rendezvous for those who loved the
flowing bowl. It was a great pleasure for the early settlers at Port Royal
to gather round his blazing bar-room fire when the nights were icy cold
and the bitter wind dashed the falling snow in eddies around the old log
tavern, to listen to the stories of the travelers who stopped there for rest.
It became a famous place. The early members of the Legislature from
the southern part of the State would make Ladd's tavern their last stop-
ping place before reaching the capital and the first place after leaving it.
Mrs. Ladd was a genial, hospitable woman, a good conversationalist, and
a woman who could not be excelled in the manufacture of good tea and
coffee. Her guests discovered this latter fact, and a word of praise was
sufficient to insure a beverage rarely found in the backwoods. On one
occasion, her supply failed so nearly that she was obliged to mix tea and
coffee as a last desperate resort. A traveler sipped the steaming bever-
age, raised his eyebrows, curled up the corners of his mouth in a saga-
cious smile, and speaking to his hostess, said, " Mrs. Ladd, if this is tea
bring me coffee, and if it's coffee bring me tea." The good lady was
obliged to explain the situation, which satisfied the polite traveler, who
resumed his meal.
The Blairs, the Paytons, the Hollands, the Wheatleys, the Davises,
the Armstrongs, the Balls, the Beattys and others were among the early
residents of Port Royal. Ladd sold the first merchandise in about the
year 1823. His stock was insignificant, but was kept to accommodate a
few of the residents. Robert Stafford, Peter Hennison, Hugh Endsley,
William Agness and Henry Riddle were in business early. Bradshaw
sold calicoes, etc., about 1827. John Wheatley was probably the first
blacksmith. David Allen had a few hundred dollars' worth of goods late
HARBISON TOWNSHIP. 1 35
in the twenties. Luce & Allen opened the first goods store in 1832.
Their stock was worth more than $1,000. M. C. Rust sold liquor in
1832 and groceries in 1833. C. H. Hayes & Co. began selling from a
large general stock late in 1832. Ayres & Pinney were the leading mer-
chants in 1833 ; they were the successors of Luce & Ayres. About this
time, the town was at the zenith of its prosperity, and contained a popu-
lation of about 150. Cyrus Whetzel took out a grocery license in 1834.
McCarty & Williams, H. Saunders, D. Rust were other merchants late
in the thirties. The town began to die about 1840. Nothing is left of
it now.
VILLAGE OF WAVERLY.
This little village started up when the canal was being constructed,
about 1837. J. H. B. Nowland, now a resident of Indianapolis, the
author of one or more interesting volumes on the early settlement of this
part of the State, opened the first store of consequence on the " Island,"
in about 1838. A number of " shanties " had been erected before for the
accommodation of the canal workmen, in one or more of which provisions ■
were kept to supply the tables. Mr. McLain was a superintendent. The
first storehouse was built by Cornelius Free. Brown and Robinson each
owned a tavern. Various rude dwellings soon went up, and the town
began to grow. Mr. Brannon really sold the first goods. The canal
men made it lively of nights at the saloons. Cornelius Free was the
central figure from the start. He built a large grist mill in 1837, four
stories and a half high, with four or five runs of buhrs. This mill was
one of the finest ever in this part of the State, was the life of Waverly, and
received a patronage over a radius of forty miles. Attached to it was a
saw mill and a woolen factory, where carding only was done at first, but
later spinning and weaving. An attachment for kiln-drying corn was soon
added, and the united enterprises received an enormous patronage. Mrs.
McKinzie said she had seen more than a hundred teams stand waiting
their turn to be waited upon. The corn was ground in the mill, then
kiln-dried, then shipped by boat to Southern markets. Benjamin Sweet,
of Martinsville, was the leading carpenter who built the big mill. The
water which operated these industries was from the canal feeder, and was
purchased of the State by Mr. Free. After a few years, Jacob Corman
leased the mill, and late in the forties the property was sold to John
Carlisle. Samuel Moore and J. S. Kelley, of Mooresville, packed a con-
siderable pork at Waverly, shipping the same by flat-boat down White
River. Dr. Paris was an early physician. Dr. Overstreet was his part-
ner. They owned an apothecary's shop, the ancestor of the modern drug
store. The Breeces, the Kershners, the Swopes, the McLains, the Now-
lands, the Wishards, the Stevensons and others were among the leading
residents in the thirties. A Polander named Frydingshire packed pork
at Waverly. McLain conducted a big saw mill, and shipped consider-
able lumber down the river. Howe afterward conducted this mill.
Among the merchants of the forties were McLain, Boles, Jones, Nowland,
Frank and Washington Landers, John Huntsinger. Abe Breneman.
Margarum owned a cooper shop ; Harrah and Reese, carpenter shops,
and John Gleason, a cabinet shop. Dr. White practiced medicine. It is
said that James Burris opened the first carpenter shop in Waverly, and
136 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
a man named Robinson the first wagon shop. This was about the year
1887. Waverly was laid out and recorded in 1841, by M. H. Brown,
0. G. Kershner and D. W. Howe, owners and proprietors. Fifty-five
lots were laid out on the southeast side of the Central Canal, and a large
lot was" left for a public square. The principal street — the one extending
northeast and southwest — was Main street.
WAVERLY IN LATER YEARS.
Merchants since 1850 have been, among others, Landers Brothers, J.
L. Knox, Peter Baxter, Ezra Allman, James Griggs & Son, John Cook,
Thomas Hussey, Cannon, Smith & Dunn, A. J. Tarleton, John Graves,
W. W. Dorman, Howe & Etter, F. M. Fields at present, G. Scroggs, Eli
Paddock at present, Jacob Duncan & Son at present, and Vincent &
Dukes at present. The greatest population of Waverly has been about
250. Carpenters, blacksmiths, coopers, wagon-makers, etc., etc., have
come and gone like an endless chain. The present population is about 150.
Several terms of school were taught in Port Royal quite early in the
twenties in an old log cabin, or rather in several old log cabins. The
names of the teachers cannot be given. A schoolhouse was built near
the town about 1829, where the town children attended as long as there
were town children to go, which was until about 1840. Schools were
first held in Waverly about 1842. The few children, however, usually
went south to the country schoolhouse which stood southwest of town on
Mr. McKenzie's farm. This house was used many years, or until the
present one was erected, about 1850. This building, though over thirty
years have elapsed since it was built, is in a fine state of preservation,
and, owing to the fresh coat of paint, looks like a new house. In Sep-
tember, 1826, there was formed at Port Royal a " Union Society for the
Encouragement of Learning and Religion," at the head of which were
Danial Boaz and Henry Brown, of Johnson County, and David Allen
and others of Port Royal and vicinity. This society furnished excellent
schools for that day, employed competent teachers, and the. town soon
acquired quite a reputation for its advancement in learning and morals.
The enterprise died out in the thirties.
CHURCHES.
No doubt the first class in the township was established at Port Royal.
Late in the twenties, the Methodists formed a small class there. Scarcely
anything is known of the class, as it soon died. In 1840, the Methodists
formed a class on Section 36, Harrison Township, and soon after were the
owners of a small church. Among the members were the families of John
Taylor, of Johnson County, Thomas Mitchell, Jacob L. Bromwell, James
Epperson, Henry Brenton, Gideon Drake and others. Land for the
church was furnished by Mr. Bromwell. Rev. Zelots S. Clifford was the
pastor in 1846. This was called the Shiloh Church. The Trustees in
1846 were James Epperson, Gideon Drake, William Robe, Lewis W. St.
John and Josiah Drake. This society flourished for many years. Early
in the forties, the Presbyterians formed a small class at Waverly. They
RAY TOWNSHIP. 137
met to worship in residences and in the saw mill of Mr. Free. Here it
was that Henry Ward Beecher preached several consecutive days. His
auditors sat on rude plank benches around him, and the since famous
minister so stirred them up with his eloquence that his sermons are yet
distinctly remembered by many. The Methodists had a nominal organi-
zation at Waverly in about 1840, and soon afterward a small class was
partially organized by Rev. Hammond. About 1857, the class had be-
come strong enough to build a church, which the members proceeded to
do, getting a large subscription from other denominations and from out-
siders, with the understanding that the building should be open to all
Christian denominations and to all moral public lectures. The building
was erected, but after a number of years the Methodists took absolute
possession and control of the house, and refused to allow other denomina-
tions or lecturers to use it without the arbitrary consent of their Trustees.
How strange it is that so many Christian denominations, after solemnly
dedicating a church to the service of God, can piously turn around with
a prayer on their lips and fraudulently obtain absolute possession of the
building which is at least partially owned by others. Christians do not
act thus. Among the early Methodists were John Graves, Barlow Al-
dridge, Aaron T. Wiley, William J. Knox, George Rinker, Robert P.
Gray, E. A. Allman, Cyrus Etter, James Griggs and their families. Cy-
rus Whetzel paid liberally toward the construction of the People's Church.
M. W. Brenton was pastor in 1856. This church was really a branch
of the Shiloh and Mount Olive organizations.
RAY TOWNSHIP.
THE BUTLER CREEK SETTLEMENT.
IT is not certainly known who was the first permanent settler in Ray
Township. Neither is the exact time of the first settlement known.
A settlement was made in the western part of the township on Butler
Creek in 1821 certainly, and probably in 1820. The settlement of Owen
County had an earlier date than that of Morgan County, and Gosport was
one of the oldest points. Ephraim Goss, Sr.. had located there as early,
probably, as 1818, and others had selected farms near him. Then down the
river were several other settlements, especially in the vicinity of Spencer,
where several scores of families had established themselves. Before there
was a white family in Morgan County, and even before the purchase of
the soil from the Indians, the country had been visited by numerous
home seekers from the older localities down the river and elsewhere.
Then, as soon as the purchase became known, the territory was invaded
by prospective pioneers and speculators. As early probably as 1820, and
certainly as early as 1821, several families established themselves, as
above stated, on Butler Creek, about a mile north of the river and near
the western boundary of the county. This, so far as can be learned, was
the first settlement in Ray Township. There is a tradition to the efi'ect
138 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
that several years before this colony was formed, a professional hunter
and his family had lived a year or more on the banks of this creek. One
thing is certain. After the settlement had been formed, and even after
several years had elapsed and other portions of the township had per-
manent families, the remains of an old cabin and other evidences of human
occupancy were still plainly discernible on the creek. Some have stated
that the name of this family was Butler, and that the creek received its
christening from that circumstance ; but the better opinion seems to be
that the stream took its name from a Mr. Butler who lived thereon across
the line in Owen County at a very early date. The families of James
McKinney, Solomon Tucker and Thomas Thompson were, so far as is
now known, the first to locate permanently in what is now Ray Town-
ship. The three families, no doubt, moved there in 1820, and the follow-
ing year, when the land was thrown into market, each entered a tract of
land where his log cabin had been previously built. The old settler,
Philip Hodges, thinks these families were the first in the township, but
which was first, or whether either was first, he does not certainly know.
He did not move to the township until 1824, but he had passed up the
river on more than one occasion on a tour of inspection a year or two
before the land was thrown into market, and possibly before the New
Purchase had been secured by treaty with the Indians in October, 1818.
When he first became aware of the presence of these families in the town-
ship, he no longer recollects.
The first tract of land entered was the east half of the southwest quarter
of Section 22, on the 16th of February, 1821, by Abner Alexander. The
second was the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 27, on the
29th of May, 1821, by Solomon Tucker. The third was the northeast
quarter of Section 23, on the 9th of March, 1821, by William Anderson.
The fourth was the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 22, on
the 20th of July, 1821, by Daniel Goss. The fifth was the east half of
the northwest quarter of Section 27, on the 27th of July, 1821, by James
McKinney. The sixth was the west half of the southwest quarter, on the
4th of August, 1821, by Thomas Thompson. A few other entries were
made in 1821, by Wiley Williams, Joseph Ribble, David Fain in the
eastern part, and Philip Hodges on Section 14. Fred Buckhart bought
land on Section 8 in 1822, and Ephraim Goss, Jr., on Sections 2 and 35,
in 1823. Solomon Watson and Scott Young bought land in the north-
western part in 1823. Joshua Crow bought on Section 27 in 1823.
Philip Hodges and Charles D. Seaton bought on Section 3 in 1824. Vor-
daman Fletcher purchased a tract on Section 13 the same year. Jacob
Johns and Benjamin Freeland bought on Section 34, in 1824, and Fred
Stigerwalt, Thomas Sandy and William Asher on Section 35 the same
year. William Thompson, Abraham Lafaver, John Thompson, Lev-i
Walter, Levi Whitaker, Elijah Bowen, Richard Fletcher, Joseph Rhodes.
John Vickery, John Berry, Amos Meyers, Elisha Boyd, Henry Ratts
entered land in the township later in the twenties. Among the entries in
the thirties were the Whitakers, Jefferson Farr, William Deal, Abe Riley,
James Johnson, William Voshels, P. Howell, Samuel Fletcher, Presley
Asher, William Guy, Peter Ester. Joseph Yount, Jacob Beaman, Dabney
Miller, Joel Eliott, Anderson Poseley, John and William Duckworth, J.
S. Johnson, Elijah Duckworth, William Adkins and others.
RAY TOWNSHIP. 139
The first colony in the township then was on Butler Creek. The
second was in the northwest corner founded by Ephraim Goss, Jr., who
entered a tract of land there in January, 1823, and the following spring
came out and built a log cabin, into which he moved his family. He had
scarcely become established before he was joined by Solomon Watson, Levi
Walters, Vordaman Fletcher, Ike Fletcher, Abe Fletcher, Philip Hodges
and others. Mr. Hodges came to reside in the township in 1824. He
came up the river with a yoke of oxen, but no wagon, in 1824, to the land
he had just entered on Section 3. He immediately went to work cutting
down trees, cutting out logs and hauling them with the oxen to the spot
selected for his cabin. All this was done in one day. The next day Mr.
Hodges was assisted by Levi Walters, John Asher, John Matlock and
others, who helped him erect the hewed-log cabin, his first home in Mor-
gan County. The building was one of the typical sort, with puncheon
floor, clapboard roof and door, and the indispensable fire-place. All this
work was done in one day. Soon after this, the family, then consisting of
the mother and two children, were moved into this backn^oods home; here
the family lived for many years. Mr. Hodges bought the first tract of
land in the New Purchase. It was on the first day of the public sale of
land at Terre Haute on the 4th of September, 1820. Col. John Vawter
was the " crier " of the sale. Mr. Hodges bid in at the Government
price of $1.25 per acre in Township 11 north, Range 1 east, now
in Washington Township, about two miles east of Martinsville, the west
half of the northwest quarter of Section 1, and the east half of the north-
east quarter of Section 2, the two lots aggregating 151.45 acres. Im-
mediately after the hammer fell, the crier said to Mr. Hodges : " You
are the first freeholder in the New Purchase." This fact was not
thought as much of then as it is now.
POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1842.*
Hiram Alexander, Tobias Butler, William Deal, Elijah Eaton, James
Farr, Jefferson Farr, Ephraim Goss, Hezekiah Guy, Isham Guy, Philip
Hodges, James Johnson, Amos Myers, Enoch Myers, Solomon Mvers,
James McGinnis, Cyrus Marsh, Thomas McGinnis, James D. Newton,
Bartholomew Pearson, Caleb Stirewalt, Adam Stirewalt, Elijah Watters,
John Worthen, William Worthen, Levi Whitaker, Jr., G. B. Whitaker,
Scott W. Young. This is not a complete list, but is the best that can be
given.
INCIDENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
The settlement and improvement of the township was slow but sure.
A good industrious class of people came in largely from the Southern
States, many of whom left there, as they did not care to rear their fami-
lies where slavery was regarded as a "divine institution." The free
States settling upon the north side of the Ohio River was the point of
attraction, and the southern half of Indiana and Illinois received large
ascessions to the pioneers. Many species of wild animals infested the
forests of Ray Township, even for several years after the first settlement.
Deer, especially, were very numerous ; scores were often seen in one
* The list of tax payers for 1842 is given here, in order to preserve, as far as possible, the names of the
early residents. There is no record of the tax payers earlier than 1842.
9
140 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
herd, and almost every cabin had venison steak at all meals. Corn bread,
venison, fat pork, wild honey or maple sirup or sugar, wild turkeys,
potatoes, pumpkins and wild fruits constituted the principal pioneer diet.
Occasionally light wheat bread could be had, but this was a delicacy not
the commonest. Ephraim Goss, Jr., was one of the most successful hunt-
ers in the township. His uncle, Ephraim, Sr., who lived in Owen
County, was a famous hunter, and on more than one occasion killed bears.
The nephew had learned much of the chase from the uncle, and finally
became almost as skillful. If he killed any game larger than deer in
Ray Township, such fact is not now known. Philip Hodges relates the
following incident of Mr. Goss : One season, during a period of several
weeks, the wolves had been very troublesome. At times they would vent-
ure so close to the cabin or the stable as to endanger the swine, fowls,
calves and sheep, and all these domestic animals had to be carefully
watched during the day, and penned securely up in high substantial in-
closures at night. This caused a great deal of trouble, which Mr. Goss
concluded, if possible, to terminate. He selected a point where the wolves
would be likely to pass, and there built a high log or pole pen held firmly
in place by stakes. Fresh meat was placed therein, and the trap was so
contrived, that when an animal entered the doorway to get the meat the
trigger would be struck and the gate would fall, closing securely the
means of egress. When all had been made satisfactory, the trap was
baited and left to perform its work. Ere many days had elapsed, a large
wolf was found in the trap. An opening was made, through which the
animal thrust its head in an effort to escape, when the gate was pushed
down on its neck, pinning it fast against the log. Here its mouth was
securely tied up, and a chain was tied tightly aroung its neck, after which
the gate was opened, and the animal permitted to jump out. Several
large dogs had been standing about, anxious, no doubt, for a chance at
the wolf, but they were put off until after the fierce animal had been
led home. It was then resolved to ham-string the wolf, cut the ropes
around its mouth, and let it fight the dogs. This was done, and the half
crippled animal was savagely attacked by the big dogs. But the curs
soon learned "to go slow." The double row of long white teeth would
snap together like a steel trap, and cut the skin of the dogs like a knife.
After the fight had been witnessed for a long time, the wolf was shot.
This was rather cruel sport, but the spectators, of whom Mr. Hodges was
one, greatly enjoyed it.
PARAGON.
This village started up early in the fifties. J. D. Newton, who had
been selling goods a few miles northeast, started a store there about 1852.
His brother Thomas conducted the store, which was continued about fif-
teen years. Near the close of the war, Scott & McMillan opened a store.
Lehman & McMillan succeeded them. Newton, Hodges & Co. began
about 1870. Since then the leading merchants have been Raber & Mc-
Cord, Samuel Rosengarden, Frank Cunningham, drugs ; J. W. Prater,
drugs; Clarence H. Jones, drugs, a;nd others. The present merchants are
Mr. Raber, J. K. Stout, William Brown & Co., Goss & Co. Andrew
Fletcher was the first blacksmith ; P. M. Blankenship, the first carpenter.
RAY TOWNSHIP. 141
The following men have owned saw mills : P. M. Blankenship, George
and Henry Lincoln, Goulding & Harden, Levi Frederick, T. & H. My-
ers, J. W. Prater, and at present Philip Blankenship. ^v Ed Robinson
owned a grist mill in town for two or three years, beginning about 1871,
at the end of which time it was moved away. Dr. Charles Holman was
the first physician and J. D. Newton the first Postmaster. The village
has a population of about 250. It has important lumber interests.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
Where and when the first school was taught in the township cannot
fully be determined. The first one, so far as known, was taught in the settle-
ment in the northwestern part in the year 1832, by Levi Johnson. This
could not have been the first in the township. In all probability, school was
taught in the southern part as early as 1828, and possibly earlier. In 1840,
there were four established schools, all, of course, being supported by sub-
scription. Soon after Paragon started into life, a schoolhouse was built
there, and Joseph Fletcher became the first teacher. This house was erected
by Perry M. Blankenship. It was used until about 1866, when a larger
house was built on the same lot. The present fine brick school building
was constructed in 1882, at a cost of about $2,500. I. E. Kerlin was
the first Principal. He had two assistants. The township, as a whole,
has good schools.
The first sermon in the township was preached in 1822 by Rev.
Thomas Thompson, a minister or elder of the Dunkard Church, and one
of the earliest residents of the township. He preached at his own and at
his neighbors' cabins quite often, but so far as can be learned no organ-
ization was efiected.
A Baptist Church was organized on the northern boundary of the
township late in the twenties, among the members being Levi Asher,
William Manon, Elijah Bowen, John Durham, John Burnam and others.
Perhaps a majority of the members lived in Ashland Township or in
Owen County. It was called the Samaria Baptist Church.
A Lutheran Church was organized in Ray Township in the forties,
Lewis Tucker, Henry Miller, Ambrose Seachrist and others belonging.
A Christian Church was organized west of Paragon in the forties, and
for many years used a frame dwelling that had been vacated for a church.
The class built a church in 1859. Perry M. Blankenship was one of the
leading members. The Methodists have a class at Paragon of a later
. origin.
142 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
NATURAL RESOURCES.
THE northwestern part of the county was not settled as early as
other portions, for the reason that it contained no navigable streams,
or was remote from White River, then the great commercial highway. In
ancient times civilization sought the sea. Almost all of the ancient cities
of great commercial importance were on some body of water. This was
due to the fact that water was the chief highway. But when steam was
harnessed and driven at an amazing rate of speed to the heart of the con-
tinent, inland towns of great power sprang up, and many on the larger
water-courses died, yielding their seeds of life to the new.
The general settlement of Adams Township did not take place until
the thirties, at which time the greater portion of the land was purchased
by actual residents. The tardiness of settlement was not the result of
the poverty of the soil, as the greater portion is rich bottom land, well
watered by Mill Creek on the west and its tributaries. There is a low,
wet tract of country extending across the township from east to west,
usually known as the Lake, which, when fully drained and reclaimed,
will be the most valuable land in the township. The northwestern part
is drained by Mud Creek, which finds its outlet in Mill Creek.
For several years before any permanent settlers lived in the township,
the woods were thoroughly hunted over by ambitious Nimrods from the
older localities along White River and White Lick Creek. The game in
the vicinity of the river had become scarce, but out northwest in the forests
of Adams, bears and an abundance of less dangerous wild animals could
be found. Benjamin Cuthbert, who lived in Brown Township, was a
professional hunter, and only a few of the early settlers could excel him
with the rifle. He killed hundreds of deer annually (in the thirties,
largely in Adams Township), and made his living wholly from the sale of
their skins, at from 75 cents to $1.60 each, and the sale of their "sad-
dles." Many an old settler living in the northern part of the county
remembers eating venison of his killing. It is said that he killed two
bears in Adams Township in the woods on Mud Creek at a very early
day. He shot the mother bear, and then was obliged to use his knife on
the cub. He was an experienced deer hunter, and knew enough to keep
away from a wounded buck or doe. The wolves were very troublesome
in the township at the time of the first settlement. The Staleys had
stock killed by them, and no doubt others were served in a similar man-
ner, as wolves are no respecters of persons.
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The name of the first settler is not known. It is likely that the Sta-
leys, who came in about the year 1825 or 1826, were the first. Several
families of Treats came in about 1828 or 1829. Thomas Shoemaker was
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 143
one of the first, if not himself the first. He came to the township in
1826, and entered considerable land, and soon built up a comfortable
home. Other early residents of the township were James Pruitt, John
Johnson, B. Pruitt, Terrell Brewer, William Brewer, George Seaton,
Richard Osborn, Nathaniel Wheeler (who entered nearly 300 acres), John
Linn, Allen Wheeler, Amaziah McLain, Thomas Barker, George Elliott,
Thomas Stringer, Garland Gentry, Thomas McCarty, John Tomlinson,
Daniel Elliott, Eli Pruitt, Richard Wiley, George Erlinger, Thomas
Hulse, James Broadstreet, Benjamin Freeland, M. A. Miller, Nathan
Wheeler, John, James, William, Richard and Stephen Treat (who came
in the twenties), David A. Curtis, Jonathan McCullom, Philip A. Fox-
worthy, Jeremiah Matthews, Jesse Pritchett, Larkin Parish, John Rat-
liff, Allen Taylor, James Dorsett, Robert Walters, Miller Howell. John
Bowman, Gideon Brasier, Logan Gray, John Craven, George Moore,
G. W. Bowman, John L. Ashbaugh, John and James Taylor, William
Edwards, William and Edward Bowman, Israel Lewis, Robert Walter^
Hiram Brasier, Isaac Brasier, Andrew Thompson, Solomon Watson,
James Ogles, Joseph, William and Robert Walters, Joseph Donaldson,
William Wigal,John Burnan, George Shape, Silas Nichols, A.D.Blunk,
John Reeves and others. All of the above men, however, did not reside
in Adams. Some were speculators, and some were residents of neighbor-
ing townships.
The poll tax payers in 1842 were as follows : William Allen, William '
Alexander, Benjamin Alexander, William Aldred, A. J. Bowman, John
Bennett, Peter Bryant, Simon Bundy, Hardin Bundy, Alfred Bundy, Ter-
rell Brewer, David D. Blunk, Amos D. Blunk, William Brewer, Samuel
Beadle, C. B. Bowman, J. M. Bryant, W. T. Boyd, William and Reu-
ben Bryan, N. B. Chambers, William Clark, Ignatius Clark, David A.
Curtis, Alfred Delavan, S. A. Duncan, W. S. Drake, John Dunham,
High Dobbs, Abijah Dorsett, James Dorsett, Duty Dorsett, Charles
Duncan, Joseph Donaldson, William Estes, Frank Elliott, Peter Elmore,
S. M. D. Elmore, Jared Elsey, A. J. Franklin, W. A. Franklin, Josiah
Graves, Aaron Goodwin, Francis Gibbons, Samuel Goodwin, Thomas L.
Gray, Stephen Grimes, Garland Gentry, William Gumm, George Guy,
Daniel Goodwin, Asa Hadley, J. T. Hall, George Horner, Johnson
Hutchinson, Edward Jackson, John Johnson, M. B. Johnson, B. S. John-
son, Hezekiah Johnson, Moses Kenney, Nathaniel Ludlow, John M.
Ludlow, Job Lewis, John Moser, William Moser, Bryce Miller, M. D.
Miller, Jonathan McCollum, Edward Miller, John McGinnis, William
Norton, W. A. Nunn, Andrew Ogle, Zachariah Ogle, Richard Osborn,
Benoni Peterson, Bright Pruitt, Lorenzo Padget, John Pritchett, Paul
Peters, Andrew Pottorff, Larkin Parish, W. H. Parker, Eli Pruitt, Jr.,
John Reeves, James Ruston, John R. Robards, Samuel Rowland, John
Ratliff, J. G. Russell, Peter Staley, Thomas Shoemaker, James Snoddy,
Jacob Stitts, Reuben Stringer, William Staley, John Staley, Eli Staley,
James Stringer, Sampson Staley, Jacob Shake, Joseph Smith, A. S.
Smith, Aaron Smith, Jacob Surber, David Shields, Joseph Snodgrass,
James Sallust, Abraham Turner. Richard Treat, William Trammell, J.
W. Treat, W. W. Treat, Nathan Wood, Nathaniel Wheeler, L. P. Whit-
taker, Elisha Wood, Gideon Wright, Isaac Wilcox, Payton Wheeler, Eli-
144 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
jah Wallace, Thomas Wheeler, Enoch Wallace, Edmond Worley, Allen
Wheeler, Richard Walters, William Wigal. Several of the above men
never lived in the township. They were non-residents.
SCHOOLS.
The early schools were taught first in private dwellings. The early
teachers were residents who possessed some little education, enough to
furnish rudimentary instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, and
to furnish correction with hickory gads. These old instruments of pun-
ishment were always present, and usually hung on wooden hooks over the
old fire-place, so that they became so hardened by seasoning from the
heat that they resisted the severest exercise of the teacher in an applica-
tion on some ofi'ending pupil, and even cut the wooden benches as the
teacher in his fervor pursued, round and round, the howling culprit. The
big whip was indispensable. A " master " who could successfully teach a
term of school without using a whip, or could get along perhaps without
any such corrective, was a rare object, and when one was found he was
looked upon with suspicion, so prevalent was the belief in the efficacy of
the rod. The old settlers were firm believers in the oracle of Solomon,
"spare the rod and spoil the child," and as they did not care to have
their ofispring spoiled, they usually employed an Irishman who possessed
both the energy and temper to apply the rod to the unlimited satisfaction
of parents anxious that their children " should be trained up in the way
they should go." It is worthy of note that the earliest professional teach-
ers throughout the West were Irishmen. They were about the only
class that appeared to find satisfactory emoluments in continuous teaching.
Coming themselves from an humble stock, and trained in the rough school
of poverty, they seemed to enjoy the rude fare always obtained by
"boarding around," and seemed contented with the meager amounts
doled stingily out by parents of the backwoods. It is stated that the first
school held in the township was near Eminence, in about the year 1835.
A rude log cabin that had been occupied a short time by some early fam-
ily and had then been vacated, was fitted up, and a school was taught by
some stranger, probably an Irishman, who came along. A school was
taught soon afterward in the northern part of the township, the Wheelers
being the principal patrons. It is said that one of them was the teacher.
This school was taught about the year 1836. Another was taught east
of it within a year or two afterward. In 1840, there were four estab-
lished schools, two in the northern part, one near the center, and one near
Eminence, or near what afterward became Eminence. The real develop-
ment of the school system of the township began with the passage of the
common school law of 1852. Frame houses were built, and public funds
provided better wages for teachers, and thus secured better instructors.
Now there are eight or nine schools in the township, and the value of the
school property is about $5,500.
CHURCHES.
It is likely that the Baptists at Eminence had the first permanent
religious organization in the township. The class was established about
the year 1837 or 1838, at the house of Thomas Shoemaker, or as others
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 145
State, at that of Joseph Donaldson. These men and their families were
prominent members, and at the organization of the class were about the
only ones. Joseph Applegate was an early member. Mr. Shoemaker
donated a small tract of ground for a church and cemetery in 1841.
This church became widely known, and was called Mount Eden. It had
a large membership during the forties, and did great good throughout all
that portion of the county. It is yet in a prosperous condition at Emi-
nence. The Methodists organized a class west of Mill Creek about 1840,
which met for worship at the house of William Brick. This is not now
in Morgan County, but it was then. Among the members were the fam-
ilies of John Clark, Logan Gray, A. J. Bowman, Josiah Graves, Thomas
Champion, J. P. Goodwin, Norman Nunn and others. Rev. Isaac Craw-
ford was the pastor of the class early in the forties. The class often met
at the residence of John Clark. Another early class was the Lake Valley
Methodist Church. It was organized in the forties, among the early
members being the families of William Wilhite, Hezekiah Johnson, Cole-
man Brown, James Pruitt, James McClellan. In 1852, the pastor was
Rev. H. S. Talbot. This class is yet in existence. The Oak Grove
Christian Church, in the northern part, was organized in the forties,
some of the early members being A. M. Delaven, Richard Treat, Bright
Pruitt, John Boyd and others. This class is in a flourishing condition at
present. Other religious organizations have existed in the township.
EMINENCE.
This is a thriving village of about 350 people. It was laid out in
July, 1855, on Section 33, Township 13 north. Range 2 west, by Will-
iam Wigal, proprietor. Twenty lots were laid out at that time, to which
no further addition was made until 1865, when Jacob Surber increased
the town proper by a number of lots. The early owners of lots were Abe
Hadden, J. S. Holmes, Daniel N. Holmes, Elison Sliger, E. W. Spencer,
G. L. Wigal, T. A. Adkins, H. R. Flook, Miller Howell, Solomon Wat-
son. In 1862, George Kirkham, J. M. Reed, Louisa Twiss, McDonald
Walters, bought lots. Later came C. C. Buchanan, Frank Mathis, J.
E. Patrick, Isom Ward, Matt Watson, A. C. Modell, J. F. Myrick, John
F. Ray, J. C. Rhea, B. F. Card, J. W. Alexander, C. E. Nichols, Pre-
cilla Bowman, Card & Brewer, Andrew Gum, W. H. Greenway, J. H.
Hulse, John Hulse, J. G. Hamilton, John Hancock and many others
after 1867.
It is said that Joseph W. Ray was the first merchant in Eminence.
Others have been McDonald Walters, Howard Hulse, Eli Watson, Emery
Nichols, Hulse & Watson, Dossett & Hulse, Enoch Patrick, John Dur-
mington, Hiram Staley, John Summers, Jacob Arnold and many others.
About six years ago, the town was almost wholly destroyed by fire. The
Pierce Brothers built a woolen factory there, several years after the town
was started. The enterprise started out well at carding, spinning and
weaving, and numerous hands were required to conduct the divers pieces
of machinery. After continuing a few years, the enterprise was abandoned.
The principal feature of the town in early years, and indeed long before a
town was thought of, was the grist mill owned and conducted by William
Wigal. The building of the mill soon concentrated other interests there,
146 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
which demanded the laying out of a town. The growth, however, was
very slow, and did not progress rapidly until after the war, even if it did
then. The town has had numerous saw mills, wagon- makers, cabinet-
makers and artisans, and mechanics of all other crafts almost. There is
not a livelier town of its size in the county. This is accounted for by
reason of the location of the village in the center of a rich tract of country,
and its distance from railroad towns and the enterprise of the citizens.
The present industries may be summed up as follows : General stores,
Daniel N. Holmes, C. E. Nichols & Bro., Ray & Watson, Nicholas &
Rhea, Parker & Son, Rhea & Ryan ; drugs, J. K. Burges, Joel Parker
and Dr. Pottoff; undertakers, Slage & Rhea; millinery, H. Nicholas,
Miller Sisters : hotel, Gideon Brasier, Mrs. Gum ; saw mill, M.
Miller ; grist mill, Summers & Tarleten ; saw mill, Twomey, Pottoflf &
Co. ; harness, Braisier & Hubbell, C. J. Aren & Son. There are
three churches — Methodist, Baptist and Christian,
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
LAMB S BOTTOM.
ONE of the earliest settlements in Morgan County was in the small)
fertile and famous valley in the southern part of Jefferson Town-
ship, known by the above name. Here it was that, according to some,
the first permanent settlement in the county was made. It should be
known that the counties down the river (Owen, Monroe, Greene, etc.)
were settled from six to ten years before the county of Morgan. Before
the latter had any permanent white settlers, its territory had been fre-
quently invaded by prospectors who knew that ere many years, the Gov-
ernment would secure the soil and open it to settlement, and by adventur-
ous hunters and trappers who penetrated its natural fastnesses in quest of
game and a livelihood. The country along the river, especially, was
hus often inspected, but of course no permanent settlement could be
made, or at least was made, until after the Indian treaty of St.
Mary's, Ohio, at which time the fine tract of country called the New Pur-
chase, of which the county of Morgan formed a part, was ceeded to the
United States. Settlers in the lower and older counties had waited
patiently for this event, and the ratification of the treaty was no sooner
announced than the adventurous home seekers penetrated the New Pur-
chase for permanent settlement. The survey of the land was ordered,
undertaken and completed during the years 1819 and 1820, and on the
4th of September the first sale took place at Terre Haute.
Early in the spring of 1819, the exact date not being known, but
probably in the month of March or April, three men in one of the lower
counties (Jeremiah Lamb, Joseph Munden and Humphrey Harris), loaded
with provisions and implements, and armed with rifles and knives,
journeyed up White River until the valley above mentioned was reached,
when, after examining the country there thoroughly, they concluded to
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 147
make a permanent location, and began immediately to erect a rude log
cabin in which to live while they were clearing a few acres for a crop,
and until better houses could be reared for the families that were to be
brought out in the fall. The temporary cabin was hastily built, and the
three men went resolutely to work to clear a few acres for a crop of corn
and vegetables. They concluded to farm the first year in common, and
after clearing about five acres, they planted the same with corn and gar-
den "truck," and two of them went back whence they came and the
third remained to care for the crop. The others returned and assisted.
The three men "bached" during the summer, often joining their families
for provisions and to care for property there. One or more of them was
always present at the new home. During the summer, three substantial
log cabins were built for the three families, and three small tracts were
cleared and larger tracts deadened. In the fall, the families were brought
out and domiciled in the cabins. For two or three years, this settlement
became well known, and was universally known as "Lamb's Bottom,"
called thus for Mr. Lamb, the most prominent of the three settlers. The
cabins of these men became great resorts for all the hunters, who came up
the river during the years 1819 and 1820, and for numerous home seek-
ers. Game was very abundant then, and the cabins were always sup-
plied with wild turkeys, venison steak and quite probably sometimes with
bear steak.
In January, 1820 (or perhaps the following January, 1821), the fam-
ily of Mr. Munden had been so closely housed for some time by excessive
cold weather that the supply of meat ran short, and one morning when
the cold seemed somewhat modified and the approaching day seemed aus-
picious, Mr. Munden took his rifle aud went out in quest of game. After
three or four hours had elapsed, it suddenly clouded up, and the snow be-
gan to fall heavily, and in a comparatively short time lay upon the ground
twelve or fifteen inches deep. The snow then ceased to fall, the wind
veered round to the northwest and it became intensely cold. To increase
the horror of being out, the light snow was raised in clouds by the wind,
and scarcely a foot could be seen in advance. The day wore away, but
Mr. Munden did not return. His family became uneasy, but hoped for
his appearance before night. Inky darkness settled over the earth, the
storm continued with unabated fury, and still the hunter did not return.
The night slowly passed, and at daybreak, as Mr. Munden did not
appear, his family, with direful forebodings, hurried to the cabins of the
neighbors and told them of the ominous condition of affairs. It was in-
stantly resolved to go in search of the missing man. The cold was yet
bitter, but the wind had died, and the snow lay in huge drifts. Five or
six men, including several who had lately come to the neighborhood, ac-
cordingly started out in groups of two. After many hours of tiresome
walking, two of the men came upon human tracks nearly filled with snow.
These were five or six miles from home, and were followed as rapidly as
possible. They led in a rambling way toward the settlement, and finally
struck the old Indian trace. Here it was found that the man had lain
down in the snow to rest. The half concealed tracks were followed, and
soon another resting place was found. This was repeated six or seven
times, the resting places coming nearer and nearer together, until at last
148 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
the dead body of Mr. Munden was found, frozen stiff, and half covered
with snow. He was in a half-sitting posture with his gun in his hands,
and when overtaken by death was no doubt attempting to raise himself
to his feet with the assistance of his rifle, in another effort for his life.
Intense was the sorrow of his family when the news became known. The
corpse was taken home and buried. The family remained in the settle-
ment a year or more and then left, and their subsequent movements are
unknown. How long Mr. Lamb and Mr. Harris remained in the settle-
ment cannot be learned, but it was not to exceed about three years. What
became of them could not be learned. Their farms, which they did not
own, were purchased by others, and the names of all except that of Mr.
Lamb are well-nigh forgotten.
CONTINUED SETTLEMENT.
Among those who bought land early in the township were James K.
Hamilton, John Burnett, Samuel Newell, Hiram Stroud, John Kennedy,
Abraham Stroud, Jacob Cutler, John Conner, Fred Fry, Abraham Fry,
William McDaniel, Samuel Ashton, Andrew Waymore, Thomas Clark.
These men made their purchases prior to 1825, and all located their land
in Lamb's Bottom. Later entries were made by Alexander McKinney, Fred-
erick Buckhart, and still later by Solomon Watson, J. W. Powers, George
Shultz, P. Duckworth, John Hynds, Levi Walters, William Stiles, William
Riddle, Isaac Fletcher, Amos and Aaron Stout, William Bragg, George
Malf, Andrew Scott, Craven P. Hester, Solomon Teag, James Newton,
Emanuel Isenhower, George Elliott, John Burnett, Hiram McKinney,
William Goodwin, John B. Gibson, Jacob Stierwalt, Christopher Shultz,
J. M. Worthington, Samuel Fletcher, Henry French, John Taggart, Jo-
seph Whitson, James Warren, Robert Burge, Nathan Dow, Joel Beam,
John Fowler, John Smith, Thomas Lockhart, Reuben Robertson, Joseph
Elder, Martha Townsend, Lawrence Fonts, Ingraham Collins, H. S.
Cunningham, William Crone, W. H. Allison. Robert Miller, John Plas-
ters, John O'Neil, John A. Worthen, David Lee, William Shearer, Will-
iam Watson, Thomas Dixon, Gideon Lewis, Charles B. Butler, John
Hudson, Fred Bronjon, David Snodgrass, T. Shipley, Allen Smith, Silas
Bartholomew, Joseph Snodgrass, Gideon Farris, Henry Richardson,
Gideon Reynold, J. W. Cox, Philip Engle, George Winters, John Nutter,
R. D. Worthington, Jonathan Powers and Hiram Collins.
POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1842.
Lewis Asher, William Bragg, James Browning, Robert Bragg, Mil-
ton Burpoe, James Ball, Noah Ball, Robert Burge, Walter Best, Joel
Beam, Daniel Bailiff, Wesley Ballinger, William Cox, J. W. Cox, Will-
iam N. Cunningham, Pleasant Duckworth, Nathan Dow, Thomas Dixon,
William Dixon, John Duckworth, Joel Elliott, C. W. Eaton, George
Elliott, Thomas Fipps, Henry French, Robert Foster, Joseph Fry, Sam-
uel Fletcher, Jesse Grifiith, D. C. Gladson, Lawson Grunt, David Grunt,
Henderson Hutton, George Hensley, Thomas Hines, John Hynds,
Thomas Hynds, Emanuel Isenhower, James Kirby, L. 'C. Kennedy,
William Kirk, Amos Kirby, Gideon Lewis, Robert Miller, George Miller,
James McKinney, Peter Miller, John Miller. Henry Miller, Marsh,
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 149
William Preston, John O'Neal, Jesse Overton, Robert Pattison, William
Payton, Henry Richardson, Felix Rinehart, Edward Shipley, Jesse
Stanton, Talbot Shipley, George Shultz, David Smith, Allen Skelton,
Amos Stout, Jacob Stierwalt, William Stiles, John Stout, William Stout,
John Taggart, William Teag, John Wallace, David Woods, William
Widner, James Warman, Ira Worthen, John Woods, George Winter
and Richard Weathers.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
The first church organized in the township was the Mt. Gilead Bap-
tist society, founded soon after 1840. The leading members in early
years were Luke C. Kennedy, Harvey Sheppard, A. J. Duncan, Alex-
ander Knox, W. C. Townsend and others. After a few years a church
was built. The class is yet in existence. Late in the forties, the Chris-
tian Church in Lamb's Bottom was organized, the leading members be-
ing Thomas Wilson, James Farr, Alexander Wilson, Hezekiah Guy and
Ephraim Hodges. The Mt. Olive Methodist class was organized later,
as was also the Presbyterian. The meeting house at Crone's has been
well attended at times. The township is well supplied with facilities for
worship.
THE SCHOOLS.
The first schools were taught in Lamb's Bottom. Several had been
started there before any other portion of the township was thus represent-
ed. A log cabin about a mile and a half southwest of Hyndsdale was
transformed into a temple of learning about the year 1834, and a session
was taught therein by some man whose name is no longer remembered.
Another school was started southwest of that point, near the township
line, about the same time. It has been stated that school was taught in
the twenties in the vicinity of Hyndsdale, but if so the facts could not
be ascertained. During the forties, several schools were established in
the central and northern parts of the township. In almost every case,
log cabins, with huge fire-places, stick and clay chimneys, rude clapboard
seats and desks, were the first schoolhouses. The books were extremely
limited, and early teachers were obliged to resort to slates and blackboards
of the rudest description in order that the scholars might have the re-
quired advantages. Sometimes one book served a whole class, being
passed along as it was needed. In 1850, there were six established
schools. Now there are eight.
HYNDSDALE.
This little village was founded soon after the railroad was put in run-
ning order. It has usually had a store of general merchandise, a post
office and a blacksmith shop. Considerable timber is shipped during the
season. The Stouts have been in business there. The village is conven-
ient for the neighborhood.
150 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP.
FORMATION AND BOUNDARY.
THIS township, as it now is, was formed out of Ray Township
soon after the close of the rebellion. Some portions are hilly,
with a predominating clay soil, especially on the ridge; but, on the whole,
the township is well suited for agriculture. Enormous crops of all the cereals
are grown annually on the lower lands, which are as rich and fertile as
any in the Mississippi Valley. The township is made up of Sections 7,
8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29 and 30 in Township 12 north. Range 1 west, and
all of Township 12 north, Range 2 west, except Sections 19, 20, 21. 28,
29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, the last three being in Ray Township and
the others in Owen County.
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
No doubt Joseph Rhodes was the first settler of the township. He
located on the creek which bears his name in 1822. and built a rude log
cabin. He had no personal property worth mentioning, but went reso-
lutely to work to prepare a more comfortable home. George Nicholas
appeared soon afterward, locating on the same section (16). John Man-
non also bought land in 1822 on Section 17. Benjamin Dunkin came in
1825 and located on Section 17. Aaron Blunk established himself on
Section 17 in 1824, and William Evans on Section 18 in 1825. Sol-
omon Watson came to Section 18 in 1829, and R. R. Manning in 1832.
K. S. Whitaker located on Section 22 in 1825, John Matlock in 1826,
William Asher in 1824, Levi Whitaker in 1829, William Cotter in 1833,
William Brown 1834, and Elisha Brown in 1834. Jacob Bullen bought
land on Section 23 in 1828, David Seachrist in 1830, Daniel Seachristin
1834, William Johns in 1834, Mathias Zink in 1834, and Felix Seachrist
in 1836. George Knoy bought land on Section 24 in 1829, Henry Hed-
rick in 1831, John Knoy in 1832, Lewis Tucker in 1834, and James Foster
in 1838. George Shultz bought land on Section 26 in 1824, William
Johnson the same year, Hiram Alexander in 1825, Levi Meafieldin 1825,
Jacob Bullen in 1826, and Jacob Seachrist in 1829. On Section 27,
Elijah Bowen entered land in 1831, Benjamin Beels in 1834, John Snod-
grass in 1835, Levi Whitaker in 1829, and Joel Skelton in 1839. On
Section 25, Ephraim Goss bought land in 1825, David Myers in 1826,
Street Cox in 1826, and J. S. Harlan in 1837. On Section 17, David
W. Gray bought land in 1836. On Section 15, Isaac Skelton bought in
1836, E. B. Chenoweth, 1836, and John Brown in 1837. On Section 14,
Eli Myers in 1837. On Section 13, Adam Lingle, Sr., in 1829, H. Knox
1833, Lewis Tucker, 1834, Eli Pomeroy, 1836, John Wingler, 1836, James
Foster, 1838, and John Fonts, 1839. On Section 12, George Moore, 1835,
B. G. Edwards, 1835, Daniel Shultz, 1835, Jeremiah Sturgeon, ,
Henry Whitaker, 1836, and William Ball, 1839. On Section 11, S. D.
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP. 151
Spain, 1836, Napoleon B. Chambers, 1839, and David Lipps, 1839. On
Section 9, William Elmore, 1836, William Cotter, 1837, and A. J. Proctor,
1839. On Section 8, William Baldwin, 1835, and W. R. Mannon, 1837.
On Section 7, Isaac Wamsley, 1839. On Section 6, Abe Fletcher, 1837,
J. W. Gladson, 1838, James Ogle, 1838, Richard Bittle, 1839, and Isaac
Bolden, 1839. On Section 5, William Asher, 1832, Simeon Watson,
1833, Andrew Ogle, 1835, George Pattorff, 1837, and Solomon Watson,
1839. On Section 4. G. W. Shake, 1836, Henry Littimore, 1838, and
K. S. Risinger, 1839. On Section 3, Benjamin Edwards, 1837. On
Section 2, William Brasier, 1834, Jesse Shoemaker, 1835, John Cart-
right, 1836, Isaac Carter, 1837, S. D. Spain, 1837, and George Blunk,
1839. On Section 1, M. M. Taylor, 1835, Tobias Moser, 1835, Jacob
Moser, 1836, J. L. Ashbough, 1836, and Alexander Moser, 1838. Dur-
ing the thirties the following men bought land on the six sections in the
eastern part: John Knoy, Jesse Thacker, Edward Powers, J. T. Mur-
phey, William Murphey, A. C. Murphey, Alfred Powers, W. H. Bryant,
Peter Shuler, Daniel Bayliff, William Greenlee, Henry Ratts, George
Boss, Hezekiah Butler, Henry Hedrick, David Hedrick, Jacob Johns,
Henry Lee, Elijah Rogers, John Litterman, Dempsey Trowbridge and
Noah Gallimore.
PARTIAL LIST OF POLL TAX PAYERS.
In 1842, the following men among others were assessed poll tax in
what is now Ashland Township, then a part of Ray Township: James
Craycroft, Isaac Carter. Lewis Caston, Isaac Caston, Jesse Coffey, W. K.
Mannon, William Massey, George Elliott, David Hedrick, Henry Hed-
rick, Joshua Kenoy, George McKinley, Ephraim Ratts, Elijah Rogers,
John Shuler, Joel Skelron, John Carpenter, Wiat Carpenter, Philip
Foxworthy, Benjamin Gray, Adam Lingle, Jeremiah Moser, David
Myers, Eli Pomeroy, Kinner Risinger, Stephen Spain, Jacob Seachrist,
Jesse Shoemaker, Daniel Seachrist, Felix Seachrist, David Seachrist,
John Skelton, Lewis Tucker, Daniel Thompson, Simon Watson, John
Whitaker, K. Whitaker, John Wingler and others whose names cannot
be given.
PIONEER INCIDENTS.
The first thing to be done was to erect a log cabin in which to live,
and usually these huts were of the rudest description. They were often
built of small logs or poles, and often the head of a tall man would sweep
the studding above. Short men and women were fortunate. Their heads
escaped the bumps not located by phrenologists ; and then again, which
was perhaps a more important consideration in view of the alarming
scarcity of victuals, short people did not have so much bony surface over
which to spread their fleshiness. Tall men and women in the woods were
always so thin that dogs would follow them, thinking no doubt that they
were bones. After the house was up, the men (and women, too) worked
day and night to prepare a "truck patch." Potatoes, garden " sass,"
corn and a few acres of wheat were the first considerations of an agricult-
ural character. The men would cut down the trees, cut and roll the
logs, and the women would burn the brush. Ten o'clock at night often
lound them thus engaged. Deer were everywhere, and venison was in
152 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
almost every house. Some were not followers of Nimrod and did not
try to hunt, but they could easily get venison of those who did. Rattle-
snakes were as thick as pioneer children. A large den of them was dis-
covered in an opening on Stone Ridge in 1824. The repulsive reptiles
were forced out and killed by hundreds during the period of several years.
On Section 16 was an Indian burying ground. It consisted of a mound
of earth, and when opened in 1837, by John Brown and Isaac Skelton
(two of the bravest men that could be found), six Indian skeletons were
disclosed, each reposing in a stone coffin, made by placing flat stones up
endwise, and then others over the top. The skeletons were left undis-
turbed, and the mound was rebuilt. The old settlers did not care to
be haunted like Macbeth by the spirit of some ferocious and revengeful
old warrior.
MANUFACTURES.
The first mill in the township was a small corn-cracker, erected on the
west bank of Rhodes' Creek, by Benjamin Gray, in 1886. It was
operated by water-power, and owing to the lack of that propelling ele-
ment, could run only about three months of the year, during the spring
months. When a heavy shower came up during any other month, the
owner would drop all other business, and operate the mill to its fullest
capacity as long as there was sufficient water to conduct it. It did not
run many years. After a few years, horse mills were adopted in other
portions of the township, by Solomon Knoy, George Pottorflf (who had
served in the war of 1812), Jacob Bullen and others. Many steam saw
mills have been conducted from time to time in later years in different por-
tions of the township.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES.
If any term of school was taught in the township prior to 1830, such
fact is not now known. In that year the first school edifice of the town-
ship was built by Solomon Watson, John Reeves, Daniel Stevens, Will-
iam Mannon, Sr., and John Brown, on the line between Sections 16 and
17. Hickory and ash poles were used in the construction. The roof was
of rough, hewed planks, held in their place by heavy poles fastened on
with wooden pins. The fire-place could take in a huge log six or eight
feet in length, and was built of limestone, and sent its roaring flames and
smoke up a tall stick-and-mud chimney. Slab seats were fashionable, but
not soft. The first pedagogue was Stephen F. Hancock. He handled
his hickory gad like a sword-player. But his system was to educate as
well as to stimulate. The latter exceeded the former, not because there
was an abundance of gads, but because there was not an abundance of
books or even of scholars. The school, despite these drawbacks, was re-
garded as a surprising success. In the following three or four years,
other schools of a similar character were established in the southern part
of the township, in the eastern part, in the northeastern part and in the
northwestern part. Districts were divided and subdivided as time passed
and as the center of settlement in neighborhoods shifted. The first
houses were logs, but after the school law of 1852, which provided a fund
by tax upon property, frame houses took their place. Several brick
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP. 153
houses have been built of late years. Now there are seven or eight estab-
lished schools. Ashland is above the average in matters of education.
EARLY CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.
The Samaria Baptist Church was organized in 1830, the first mem-
bers being Street Cox, John Brown and their families only. The first
meetings were held in the houses of these old settlers, but later in school-
houses, and still later in their church. The Trustees in 1835 were Levi
Whitaker, William Mannon, Grafton B. Whitaker and Elijah Baum.
About this time, David Gibbon donated about an acre of land for a
church, which was soon erected. The old Liberty Church was built in
1838, on Section 16, by David Gray, Sr., S. W. Young, Ephraim Goss,
Daniel Y. Smith, John Brown and others. The carpenters were
Fred Caveness and Henry York. This was the first frame build-
ing in the township. So rapid did this congregation grow that
in 1847 the membership numbered over 200. It was the leading
church of all that vicinity for years, and is yet in existence,
though greatly changed. Many of the leading Christian families of the
township have worshiped in this building. Temporary church organiza-
tions were established in several portions of the township during the
thirties, forties and fifties, and indeed up to the present. Schoolhouses
were the churches. Much good was accomplished by these small classes,
which gave localities without other churches a place to attend and wor-
ship. The Salem Lutheran Church was organized in the thirties, among
the leading families being those of David Seachrist, Adam Lingle, Amos
Myers, Jacob Seachrist, Felix Seachrist, Enoch Myers, George Lech-
enbill and John Wingler. This church was large and prosperous for
many years. At present there are five church organizations in the town-
ship, which can be said to the credit of the citizens.
This is a small village near the Owen County line, started up many
years ago. It was first known as Sheasville, and has usually contained
about a dozen families. A store and post office have been there the most
of the time, also a blacksmith shop, wagon shop, cooper shop and milliner
shop. Several prominent physicians reside there. A church and a res-
ident pastor adds dignity and piety to the unpretentious little village.
The name Lewisville was applied a number of years ago to a small collec-
tion of houses half a mile east of Alaska. The latter town is not as
frigid as its name would seem to imply.
154 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
GREGG TOWNSHIP.
THE FIRST WHITE MEN.
THIS fine tract of country was not settled as soon as those portions
along the river. The real influx of pioneers occurred in the thir-
ties, but about six or seven families appeared for permanent residence late
in the twenties. The first families were those of Solomon Dunegan,
Allen R. Seaton, Charles D. Seaton, Philip A. Foxworthy, Daniel Smith,
John Williams and others. Solomon Dunegan was perhaps the first per-
manent settler in the township. He was a Baptist minister, and came
from South Carolina in 1826, and purchased a tract of land since known
as the Thomas Wilhite farm. He became a very influential man in the
township, was strictly moral and did a great deal for the early churches in
his vicinity. Philip Foxworthy came to the township in 1827 or 1828,
and entered eighty acres of land upon which he erected a hewed-log cabin.
This was on the JeS" Wooden farm. He had a rough time clearing his
first land, worked day and night, and was assisted by his wife, who
burned brush. His nearest neighbors were Solomon Dunegan, the Ship-
leys and Joseph Moser. In 1829, he had a few hogs of which he thought
a great deal. They had cost him hard labor, and he was careful to have
them properly marked with " an under half crop in the right ear and
a swallow fork in the left." They ran wild in the woods, requiring no
feeding other than the rich and abundant mast of nuts, twigs, herbs, etc.,
which covered the forest ground at all seasons of the year, especially
during the fall. So abundant was this mast that hogs feeding exclusively
on it often attained a weight of 200 pounds. But they generally were
poorer, and when designed for the market or for home consumption were
usually fed corn in addition to the mast. Every few weeks they were
carefully looked up, especially if they had been missing for a few days.
The owners usually fed them a little corn in the morning for the purpose
of keeping them at home or in the neighborhood of home. Sometimes
the owner did not care to take the trouble either to feed them or watch
them. They then wandered off" into the depths of the unsettled woods in
quest of food, and quite often were lost. Some of them became utterly
wild, especially young animals, littered out in the woods, far from any
house. They would run like wolves through the brush at the sound of a
human voice or the sight of a human being, and it was often necessary to
shoot them like any other wild animal in order to get them. When they
were looked up to be marked or killed late in the fe,ll, they were often so
savage that they were managed with great difficulty and danger. They
were usually enticed into some pen, which was then hastily closed, but
the process of enticing them was often unaccompanied with favorable re-
sults only after the lapse of weeks of gradual advances. The males were
extremely savage, with tushes sometimes six inches in length, and when
pushed too closely would turn with tigerish ferocity upon man or dog.
GREGG TOWNSHIP. 155
Then there would be a scattering. All of the prominent early settlers
who owned hogs had their individual ear-marks. Solomon Dunegan's
mark was "a swallow fork in the left ear, and a slit in the right." His
number was 133, showing that 132 had established before him. Mr.
Foxworthy, in 1829, had a fine drove of sus scrofa. One night they
were attacked by one or more bears where Hall now is, and one or more
of them was killed and partly consumed. A bear did not stop long to
inquire the name of the owner before falling upon wandering swine and
making a merry meal of them. It is even doubted whether they cared
seriously who the owner was. They probably thought that " possession
was nine points in law," and accordingly took possession without further
ceremony. They would rush upon a drove of hogs, seize one by the
back of the neck, and begin to tear with teeth and claws regardless of the
piercing death cries of the struggling victim. In a few minutes the hog
would be torn to pieces, and would then furnish a sweet repast for bruin.
Mr. Dunegan had hogs killed by bears, as did many others of the earliest
settlers.
Among the early residents was John Williams, who came to the town-
ship in 1830. The first winter, his own and two other families lived in a
log cabin 18x18 feet, and, as is humorously stated by an old settler, "had
room to spare for another family." The men worked constantly in the
woods. Mr. Seaton came in 1832; his cabin was built of round logs, had
a clapboard roof, stick and clay chimney, huge fire-place, dirt hearth and
a loft communicated with by a pole stairway. Here was where the
children slept. His first stable was built of rails, and his oxen were as
proud as could be expected. They were not " stuck up " and aristocratic
as cattle are nowadays. They chewed the cud of contentment (that was
often all the cud they had), and were honest in all their dealings with
their master. The settlers of Gregg (it was Adams Township then)
obtained their mail at Mooresville. They paid 25 cents for a letter, and
the envelope and letter were one and the same piece of paper. Letters
were appreciated in those days, and people when they wrote letters did
not cut their friends off with a half dozen lines. They wrote half a dozen
pages, and then carefully folded them with a blank page on the outside,
upon which the superscription was written. Philip Foxworthy claims to
have planted the first orchard in the township. The apples were seed-
lings, that is, they grew from the seed and not from grafts. Daniel
Smith settled in the township in 1833. During the following winter he
cut down seven acres of timber and burned the brush. Early in the
spring he spent four consecutive weeks in rolling logs for his neighbors,
and in turn had his logs all nicely rolled. While he was away helping
his neighbors for five or six miles around, his wife finished burning brush
at home, and when he returned of nights he would work until 10 or 11
o'clock at night "mending up" the fires which she had started. He
would also split rails, during the time, to inclose his first little field.
Hundreds of such incidents might be narrated.
LATER SETTLEMENT.
Among the residents of the township in the thirties were the follow-
ing men: Joshua Wilhite, John Jones, Joseph Rhodes, Eli Staley, Golds-
10
156 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
by Blunk, William Hinkle, Nathan Ludlow, Jacob and Isaac Crum,
William Pruitt, John R. Robards, R. S. Frederick, W. W. Philips,
Anderson Williams, V. W. H, H. King, Joseph Nicholson, Washington
Knight, Frederick Brewer, C. Marvin, Harlan Stout, David Shields,
Simon Moon, Abijah Bray, Samuel Hackett, John Moots, William Har-
vey, S. D. Dooley, Ezekiel Dooley, William Brewer, Archibald Boyd,
James W. Ford, Hiram W. Williams, Noah Wilhite, Frank Garrison,
Jeremiah Sturgeon, S. C. Yager, Maddox, Harper, Craven, Bartholo-
mew, Russell Wilhite, John Caveness, Joel Kivett, Walker Caveness,
Iram Hinshaw, James Cummings, Fred Caveness, Benoni Pearce, Zacha-
riah Ford, Jackson Jordan, Ed Shipley, Wilson Moore, Joseph Moore,
Aaron Kivett, Tamech Wilhite, Henry Wood, George Brown, John Mur-
phey, Enoch Myers, Tobias Moser, N. B. Brown, John Brown, Andrew
Knoy and many others. A few of this list never resided in the township.
They owned the land which was afterward conveyed to other parties.
POLL TAX LIST OF 1842.
Elijah Allison, Joseph Applegate, John Brown, Coleman Brown,
Rice Brown, William Brown, George Brown, Wiles Bradley, Lawrence
Bradley, Lancaster Bell, John Baldwin, Frederick Brewer, J. C. Brewer,
Francis Cummings, Thomas Callahan, James Cummings, William Dune-
gan, Silas D. Dooley, Thomas Edwards, James Fitzgerald, Tobias Fer-
guson, William Greenlee, Jonathan Hadley, Jeremiah Hadley, Uriah
Hadley, Samuel Harper, William Hinshaw, William Halloway, Jackson
Jordan, Joel Kivett, John Long, Clase Marvin. John T. McPherson,
Bryson Martin, Daniel McDaniel, William Maddox, John Motto, Hugh
Nichols, John Nichols, Thomas S. Philips, Milton Philips, Michael
Pruitt, J. H. Philips, James Philips, G. W. Shake, Allen Seaton, Daniel
Smith, Harlan Stout, John Scotten, W. M. Wellman, John Whitaker,
Hiram Williams, John Williams, Joshua Wilhite, John Wilson, Aaron
Wilhite, Oran Williams, Samuel Wilhite and Russell Wilhite.
VILLAGES.
The township of Gregg has three spots that are called villages.
Wilbur and Herbemont are of a late origin, and consist of one or two
stores, a blacksmith or two, a carpenter, a saw mill, a post office, and
from a half dozen to fifteen families. The only village of note is Hall.
The first residences there were built long before the town was thought of.
Philip Foxworthy and Michael Pruitt both erected dwellings there soon
after 1830. The town really started about the year 1851 or 1852. A
man named Breedlove erected a storehouse, and he and a Mr. Porter,
under the partnership name of Porter & Breedlove, placed therein about
$1,500 worth of a general assortment of goods. The store soon at-
tracted a few families, and soon a blacksmith, a carpenter and other
tradesmen appeared. Mr. Brewer bad some interest in the store of Por-
ter & Breedlove. John Whitaker opened a store soon afterward. Jacob
Stogsdill was connected with him. John Williams and Benjamin Ypung
began selling goods some time afterward. After them, from time to time,
in about the order here given, the following merchants were present in the
village : Brewer & Mattox, Joshua Wilhite, Col. Hendricks, A. J. McCoy,
GREGG TOWNSHIP. 157
Sparks & Hendricks, John B. Johnson, Milton Johnson, Frank Philips,
Philips & Co., Philips & Brown, and Henry Brown at present. Rader
& Wilhite erected a saw mill at Hall in about the year 1869, which is
yet in successful operation. The grist mill was built in 1875 by Long &
Wilhite at a cost of about $3,500. It is yet running, and is doing a fair
business. Mechanics and artisans have held forth from time to time.
The village and vicinity has a brass band which took the second premium
at the county seat on the 4th of July, 1883. The villagers are frequently
regaled with strains of sweet music. Perhaps, too, the birds of the air,
the beasts of the field, and even the trees and shrubs gather around to
listen to the divine melody as they did in mythologic time to the music
from the harp of Orpheus. Hall was not laid out until the autumn of
1861, at which time John P. Rader, Noah Wilhite, Michael Pruitt and
Jefiersori H. Woodsmall employed a surveyor and laid out ten blocks,
several of them being large and the others small. The village is on Sec-
tion 21, Township 13 north. Range 1 west, and has had a population as
high as 200.
EDUCATION.
The first school in the township was taught near Hall, but when it
was or what the teacher's name was cannot be stated. It was not far
from the year 1834. The children of Solomon Dunegan, Philip Fox-
worthy, Joseph Moser, John Williams, Daniel Smith, Allen Seaton and
others attended the school. After a few years, probably about 1838, a
log schoolhouse was erected in the northern part of the township, which,
for many years, was the principal seat of learning. Schools were started
in the eastern and southern portions about 1840, or very soon thereafter.
In 1840, if reports are reliable, there were only three established schools
in the township, and one of them was not in a house that had been built
expressly for school purposes. A dwelling which had been vacated was
transformed into a temple of learning. During the forties, several new
houses were erected, and by 1850 there were five or six good schools.
Now there are seven schoolhouses.
RELIGION.
The Mount Pleasant Christian Church at Hall was organized in the
thirties, and about the year 1841 the first church was erected. Among
the early members were the families of Richard L. Frederick, Joshua
Wilhite, Bryson Martin, Noah Wilhite, John Williams and others. The
class is yet in existence, and has its second building. A Methodist class
was organized in the schoolhouse near Hall late in the thirties, the lead-
ing members being Michael Pruitt, Tamech Wilhite, Thomas Callahan,
Hiram Williams, J. S. Phelps, Daniel McDaniel and Thomas Edwards.
Their church was built in the forties, on land that had been donated by
Michael Pruitt. The Harmony Methodist Church was organized late in
the forties, or early in the fifties, and meetings were held at schoolhouses
and at the residences of the members. Rev. Dane is said to have organ-
ized the class. Among the members were Terrell Hinson, Moses Dooley,
Jesse Griffith, Simon Carsley, Abraham Long, Stephen L. Dane, John
Faulkner, James Mason, George Kirkham and Marshall E. Dane. The
church was built at Wilbur late in the fifties. Several other church or-
ganizations have flourished in the township.
158 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
THE FIRST PIONEER.
IT is certain that Abner Cox was tiie first permanent settler in Madison
Township. Other families had lived there before his appearance, as,
when he came, he found rude cabins, or rather bark wigwams, where
white people had temporarily resided. It is well known that the van-
guard of civilization was a rude class of hardy white people, who seemed
capable of leading a comfortable, at least a satisfactory life, remote from
settled communities. At the first appearance of permanent settlers, the
country became too densely populated for these hunters and their families,
whereupon they took up their march twenty or thirty miles out into the
trackless forest, where their only companions were the Indians and a
multitude of wild animals. They were the ones who made game scarce
at the time of the permanent settlement. Bears had almost wholly dis-
appeared, driven away by the inroads of these experienced hunters.
Deer were still numerous, but not that superabundance found by the
squatters, as the temperary residents were called, from the fact of their
not owning the land upon which they resided. There was scarcely a
township that did not have these earlier residents. In 1821, Abner Cox,
with his large family, came to the township, as has been stated, for per-
manent residence. He entered considerable land in the northern part,
and built a log cabin about eighteen feet square, without floor of any kind
except earth, without door or window except the apertures over which
were hung blankets, and without roof except a leaky one of rude clap-
boards hastily hewed out with a broadax from some soft wood. A huge
chimney made of sticks, stones and clay completed this typical pioneer
dwelling. It is stated that when the Beelers or other families came to
that neighborhood soon afterward, they were all accommodated at this
cabin — to the number of about twenty. The beds were given to the
women and children, and the men deposited themselves on the floor. It
is humorously told that the floor was so thick with them that when morn-
ing came, the one nearest the door was obliged to roll out of doors in
order to give the others a chance to move. After about a dozen had
rolled out, there was then room enough to breathe. How would you like
this, dear reader ?
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.
Thomas, George H. and Joseph Beeler came and entered land in
1821. The former afterward became the first Clerk and Recorder of the
county. They located in the Cox neighborhood. Joseph Henshaw lo-
cated in the northeast corner in 1821. The Landers family came in
1822 and erected cabins near Mr. Cox. James Curl, John Sells, Thomas
Dee, Joseph Frazier, William McDowell, James Basket, Jesse McCoy,
David Price, Joseph Sims, John Hamilton, John Barns and others came
MADISON TOWNSHIP. 159
in 1821 or 1822. These men, except a few who did not reside in the
township, located in the northern half, and by 1823 the Cox settlement
was populous and prosperous. Other early settlers were Robert Furnace,
Frederick Beeler, Edward R. Watson, Aaron Mendenhall, John and
Thomas McNabb, Solomon and Francis Edraundson, Stephen McPher-
son, Solomon Steel, Levi Carpenter, John Spray, Daniel Vort, John and
Enoch Sumners, Daniel Stephens, Charles Hicklin, Michael and John
Carpenter, John Moffett, Levi Plummer, Charles Kitchen, Allen Field
and many others. The poll tax payers in 1842 were William Allen, Hugh
Boyd, M. P. Bradley, Reuben Burcham, W, A. Blair, John Beasley,
Martin Burris, William Blackwell, Philip Ballard. Isaac Clark, Philip
Chubb, Abner Coble, M. W. Carpenter, J. M. Carpenter, Jacob Coble,
Fielding Carpenter, Levi Carpenter, Larkin Cox, Levi Cassady, Isaac
Canady, John Canady, William Dorman, James B. Duree, Jesse Evans,
Evan Evans, A. R. Fowler, Jeremiah Garret, Giles Garret, John Garret,
Michael Goodposture, Daniel Gregory, John Hasty, Allen Hicklin,
Henry Hoffman, Murdock Hasty, Robert Henderson, John House,
Thomas Hicklin, Nelson Howe, Abner Jessup, Henry Knox, William
Knox, Samuel Knox, Nelson King, George Kitchen, Moses Lear, John
R. Leathers, Thomas Leathers, Madison Leathers, Abner Lowe, James
Leathers, Langford Leathers, James Landers, William Landers, Mathias
Lambert, Martin Long, John Morgan, T. H. Moreland, John Mendenhall,
Isaac Mendenhall, John McNabb, Thomas McNabb, Thomas Mills, Wil-
lis Martin, James Morton, James Morgan, William Myers, William Mor-
gan, Jr., Henry McNabb, Andrew J. McNabb, Andrew McNabb, Aaron
Mendenhall, William Parker, George Perkypile, David Perkypile, Abner
Ross, John Roe, James Reynolds, Richard Rivers, Gabriel Stone, John
Stone, John Scott, Henry and John V. Swearingen, John Simpson, Rob-
ert Sanders, James Sanders, George Sanders, G. W. Swearingen, James
Stokesbury, R. T. Steel, Martillus Summers. Daniel Vert, Joseph
Thompson, Thomas Tinsley, Blufert Tinsley, Jesse Thompson, William
Woodward. Thomas Woodward, William West, Richard Wilkins and
Goram Worth.
INCIDENTS AND PIONEER CUSTOMS.
It is interesting to draw contrasts between the old times and the pres-
ent. The farmer was not as well equipped with agricultural implements
as now. Corn was planted and almost wholly cultivated with the hoe.
A man who could raise eight or ten acres of corn had a large field. If he
had three or four boys and as many women, he could manage to cultivate
successfully about that number of acres. Even the hoes were not as
bright and hard as now. Often they were wooden. The birds and
squirrels were so numerous and voracious that the farmer had to guard
his corn crop constantly. Wheat was sown broadcast and very often har-
rowed in by hand or by brushes pulled around by horses or oxen. All
reaping was done with the historic old sickle. Think of it ! Less than
fifty years ago the old sickle that had been in use from time immemorial,
had been used in Egypt before the pyramids were built, had been used in
the fields of Boaz long before the Christian era, in fact had been in use at
such a remote period in the history of the world, long before authentic
history began, that the myths and fables of barbarous man reveal its
160 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
existence. For thousands of years it had been the only reaper. Labor
had lost dignity, if it ever possessed any, in olden times in the minds of
man, and invention was not permitted to interfere with implements whose
use was sanctioned by the Deity. Personal liberty, with wealth and in-
dependence in view, was limited to the domain of a serfdom constantly
guarded by the blind and unscrupulous opulent. None but serfs were
farmers. Children were compelled to conform to caste and follow the
occupation of their fathers. Personal fitness was undreamed of. For the
poor to be ambitious, aspiring and intelligent was a disobedience of the
organic law and a sacrilege beyond the power of repentance. No wonder
that agriculture made no advance, and that the sickle of barbarous man
was unimproved by intelligence. It is less than fifty years ago that the
old cradle came into general use. Farmers considered it a model of use-
fulness and a Godsend. It is a remarkable fact that as soon as the
nobility of labor was generally conceded — only fifty or sixty years ago,
and in the United States — the direction of invention was changed to that
channel, and the stimulation to rapid and extensive agriculture revived
every other pursuit, and led to thousands of contrivances to quickly save
the crop and safely transport it to the consumer. The application of
steam to a movable engine was due to the demand for quick transporta-
tion of farm products. Hence came that wonder, the railroad. As soon
as labor became no longer ignoble, the rapidity of the invention of farm
machinery became marvelous. Now the farmer can sit as independent
as a king (he is the only one truly independent when he has a good farm,
good habits and is out of debt), and almost see his crops sown and har-
vested by machinery before his eyes. The farmer boy who has a good
farm is foolish to leave it and rush ofi" to the city to contract vices that will
kill him and possibly damn him. " Stick to the farm and it will stick
to you."
WILD ANIMALS.
There was scarcely a family that did not habitually have venison. The
poorest hunter could occasionally kill a deer, but the old hunters, those who
did little else but hunt, were in the habit of furnishing such families with
deer meat. The Beelers were quite prominent in their locality. The
girls were as fearless as the boys. It is said that two of them on one
occasion saw a bear in the woods, and while one remained to watch the
animal the other hurried to the men, who were in the woods near by, to
apprise them of the discovery and hurry them out to kill Mr. Bruin.
What the outcome was cannot be stated. One day, a transient man
named Capp, in the western part of the township, was chopping in the
woods when he discovered a bear near him. He instantly gave the alarm,
and dogs were put upon the trail. The bear made lively tracks, running
through the bushes and tumbling over rail fences that were in the way.
The dogs soon came up with it, and in a few minutes several men also,
one of whom fired and wounded the animal. On it went, pursued by
dogs and men, and soon another shot wounded it again. One of the men
was so excited that when he fired he missed the bear and wounded one of
the dogs. The third shot killed the bear, which was divided out in
the neighborhood for consumption.
MADISON TOWNSHIP. 161
The first school in the township was taught in 1823. either in the
dwelling of Abner Cox or in a vacant log dwelling standing near. The
first teacher was one of the Beeler girls ; she had a school of eight or
ten scholars. The second school was taught in the northeastern part of
the township about 1824, and another soon afterward in the northwestern
corner. The first schoolhouse was built in the Cox neighborhood in
about 1827. The first teacher in this house is no longer remembered.
The second schoolhouse was built south of the gravel road in the western
part not far from 1830, and about the same time one or two more were
erected in the township. The first old house, above mentioned, had
greased paper for windows, and a big fire-place of course. The lumber
for the desks and seats was obtained at Moon's saw mill in Brown. In
1840, there were five schools in the township. In 1843, the school law
came into effect, by which public money was raised by taxation to be
used in the maintenance of schools. All schools before that, or nearly
all, had been supported by subscription. In 1852, the foundation of our
present school system was laid, since which Madison Township has had
good schools.
CHURCHES.
ISo other portion of the county, unless it is Brown Township, has bet-
ter facilities for religious worship than Madison Township. It has six
or seven church organizations and five buildings. As early as 1830, the
Baptists had an organization in the northern part, the leading members
being William Landers, Andrew McNash, Grimes Dryden, John Dun-
ham, John Burnam, S. B. Parker. Joshua Cox, Jefferson Jones, John
Bray, William Pope and others. This church was built in the thirties.
The Mt. Gilead Christian Church was organized about the same time,
among the members being Enoch Summers, David McCarty, Samuel B.
Duree, and some of the McNabbs. The ground for the church, which
was built late in the thirties, was donated by Thomas McNabb.
The Siloam Methodist Church was organized in the thirties, among
the early members being Joel Jessup, Reuben Burcham, Samuel Pfoff,
Hugh Boyd, Charles Allen, John Inman, John Bingham, J. M. Jackson
and Aaron Thurman. This church was built early in the forties. Later
members were James Stokesbury, Abner Jessup, Jesse Baker, William
Allen, and T. G. Beharrell, pastor. The Centenary Methodist Church
was of a later date, as was the Mt. Olive Methodist Church.
162 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
GREEN TOWNSHIP.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT.
THE second settlement of the county was in Green Township. In the
spring of 1819, James Stotts, William Offield, Hiram T. Craig, Daniel
Higgins, Nimrod Stone and two others came from Lawrence County, and
located farms on a small stream which was named in honor of James
Stotts. As soon as the farms were staked out, all of the settlers except
Mr. Stotts started back to Lawrence County to bring out loads of seed-
corn and wheat, vegetables, provisions, household implements, and to
drive out hogs, sheep and cattle. Of these seven first settlers of Green
Township. Craig and Stotts were the only two single men of the party.
The following is quoted from Mr. Craig's reminiscences of the trip back :
High water prevented our return as soon as we anticipated, but we
finally concluded to try the plan of loading our baggage on a two-horse
wagon, considering it easier on our horses than to load them with such
heavy packs, as much of our route lay through a dense wilderness, it
being the same old trace we had first traveled, and the road had to be cut
so as to admit the passage of a wagon, which made our progress very slow,
so that the noon of the second day found us still on Little Salt Creek.
Here, in attempting to cross an insignificant little stream, our wagon stuck
fast in the mud. Our only chance was to unload the wagon, pry
it up and make our team haul it out. In doing so, we had to make
a short turn and unfortunately broke an axletree. Here was a fix, twenty
miles at least from any shop where repairing could be done. The only
alternative was to make a new axletree from the green timber of the
forest. All hands went to work on the part assigned them. Mine was
to prepare some dinner. I will give the bill of fare. I took my gun,
and in less than an hour, perhaps, had killed nine fat gray squirrels. I
dressed them as nicely as any lady could desire, and put them to boil with
a sufficient slice of fat pork and some salt to give them the proper sea-
soning. While hunting for the squirrels, I had discovered near the creek
a bountiful crop of wild onions growing ten or twelve inches high, and
very tender. These I picked and cleaned, cut them up and put them in
the pot when the squirrels were done, and succeeded in making a first-class
pot of soup. This was the dinner, and it was a good one. By the usual
time of starting next morning, our repairing was completed after a fash-
ion, and we proceeded on our way. But our newly made axletree caused
our wagon to run so heavily that we had to divide the load. A sack con-
taining three bushels of corn seed was committed to my charge and about
the same amount of corn-meal to Mr. Offield, and we were told to push
on and not wait for the wagon. We were on horseback, and upon reach-
ing Big Salt Creek we found a settlement and were told to take the road
for Bloomington. Nothing of note occurred until we reached Big Indian
Creek, where we found that White River and its tributaries were on a
GREEN TOWNSHIP. 163
bender. Offield could not swim, but finally after a long time I succeeded
in carrying our loads across the stream on my back, crossing on logs and
a heap of driftwood that had formed across the creek. We took dinner
on Mr. Cunningham's land northeast of Martinsville, and in the evening
reached the settlement on Stott's Creek, where we found everything in
good shape.
This extract is quoted from Mr. Craig's writings to illustrate the com-
mon experience of the early settlers in coming to the new country, and
in going from place to place after they had become established in their
new homes. After Mr. Craig had been out a short time, Mr. Ladd, of
Port Royal, was charged with the murder of a stranger whose corpse was
found half eaten by wolves and buzzards on White River near the bluffs.
The prosecution was favored by Mr. Stotts, Mr. Craig and several others
who were prosecuting witnesses ; but Mr. Ladd was acquitted, and so
slight was the evidence and so bitter had been the prosecution that Mr.
Ladd commenced action, either for libel or false imprisonment, and seemed
so likely to succeed that Mr. Craig returned hurriedly to Kentucky, his
former home, and Mr. Stotts and others effected a compromise with the
injured man, and thus the matter was forever dropped. The stranger
had no doubt been killed by an Indian.
CONTINUED SETTLEMENT.
Immediately after this first settlement on Stotts Creek, others began
to appear and locate in the neighborhood and farther up on the same
stream and its branches. Early settlers in those times always sought the
streams, which were the great commercial highways as well as the sources
of water, water-power and fresh springs. Among the earliest settlers
were James Stotts, Robert Stotts, Andrew Stotts, H. T. Craig, William
Ofifield, two or three families of Laughlins, Zachariah Davee, James
Ennis (who had several large sons), Thomas Stockton, Samuel Speaks
and his sons Thomas and James, William Perry, Andrew Stevens, John
Pierce (the cooper), John Pierce (the blacksmith), Elisha Hamden, Thomas
Irons, Jonathan Williams, James Shields, Abe Hammons, Jacob Hammons,
Jacob Case, John Dyer, John Marker, Edward Jones, Peter King, Aaron
Holdman, and a little latter H. W. Brazeale, Henry Harper, Benjamin
Bryan, Washington Duke, James and Bartholomew Carroll, Daniel
Drake, Erastus Robinson, H. M. Collins, J. B. Maxwell, H. W. Williams,
J. S. Wilson, William Lane, Nathan Laughlin, Philip Collins, B. Rob-
bins, James Williams, Gideon C. Drake, J. M. Frazer, Mahlon Snyder,
Joseph Sanders, Jacob L. Bromwell, H. B. Greenwood, William Duke,
John and Anthony Brunnemer, Jacob Grosclose and many others.
THE POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1842.
The following is the list in full : Benjamin Bryant, Anthony Brunne-
mer, Tilford Bailey, Amos Bailey, Allison Bailey, Joseph Bailey, Hiram
Brock, S. W. Bream, Richard Bream, B. F. Badgley, Clark Badgley,
Francis Badgley, Nehemiah Bailey, William Cumpton, John Clary,
Philip Collins, John Caldwell, William Carroll, W. H. Carroll, Ishmael
Carroll, Isaac Caldwell, John Choat, William Cain, W. Creed, Caleb
Cobb, Samuel Carroll, G. W. Cain, H. M. Collins, H. B. Childs, J. D.
164 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Davis, Caleb Day, George Douglass, George Davis, William Day, Wash-
ington Duke, William Duke, George Drake, Daniel Drake, James
Egbert, Josiah Eaton, Archibald Ennis, T. Ennis, Michael Ennis, Joseph
Elkins, Richard Elkins, Walker Ennis, David Elkins, James Ferren,
Bart Ferren, Adam Flake, William Franklin, Jack Galloway, J. A.
Grear, James Grear, David Gregory, Daniel Gardner, Abraham Huff,
Levi Hall, William Harper, William Hughes, Eb Henderson, Jess Hen-
derson, Henry Harper, Bolin Harper, Joseph Johnson, Peter Kemper,
Isaac Knox, William King, Rev. Peter Klinger, Ransom King, Elijah
Koons, William Lewis, J. T. Laughlin, Thomas Laughlin, J. 0. Laugh-
lin, Samuel Musser, W H. Mallow, Edward Moon, B. C. Moon, Abra-
ham McGrew, Thomas Miles, B. Mulligan, Eli Musgrove, Elisha and
John McGrew, John Moffett, J. M. Oliver, Obediah Perry, William
Perry, Leonard and N. B. Palmer, John and Nathan Perry, John and
Henry Price, James Prather, Artemas Pringle, Charles Robinson, Erastue
Robinson, William and James Robe, George Rule, Charles Richards,
Anderson and R. H. Scroggins, John and J. E. Skaggs, Thomas Shields,
Josiah Stewart, Samuel Scott, James Speaks, James Tracy, James Thomp-
son, James and Jackson Trent, Scipio Sedgwick, Simon Taylor, James,
Lewis, William, Pleasant and John Williams, Isaac Welch, John Watts,
W. L. Warman, Arnold Westfall and Jacob Yount.
MILLING INTERESTS.
Zachariah Davee owned a small grist mill during the twenties. It
was located on Stotts Creek, contained a small set of nigger-head buhrs,
and was propelled by water from a small log dam. In about 1830, the
mill passed to James Ennis, who conducted it for a few years. This was
probably the first mill in the township. The Hammons owned a saw mill
for a short time in early years. The old Hawkins Mill was built thirty-
five or forty years ago by an enterprising German, who soon afterward
sold it to Mr. Hawkins. It did good work in its day. After 1838, much
of the flour was obtained at Free's mammoth grist mill at Waverly. Salt
was obtained at Jackson's Salt Works in Monroe County, or at Martins-
ville, Waverly, or at other towns, at $2 per bushel. The corn and pork
were sold to buyers on the river, who shipped them down to Southern mar-
kets. People dressed in buckskin, or linsey-woolsey or tow. Clothing,
shoes, hats, etc., were manufactured at home by the good old mothers.
They knew how to make the spinning-wheels hum.
The township was quite well settled by 1840. Almost every section
of land had its log cabin and its small clearing, where wheat, corn and
vegetables could be seen growing.
HUNTING EXPLOITS.
Eight or ten bears were killed in the township in early years. Zach-
ariah Davee was a successful bear hunter. He killed twelve or fifteen, but
not all in Green Township. He owned a large, savage dog that was
thoroughly trained to the uses of its master, and was an ally upon whom
the hunter could depend in an emergency. The dog had been pretty
well used up in encounters with bears, while it was yet young and unsophis-
ticated, in the embraces of those animals or in the sweeping blows from
GREEN TOWNSHIP. 165
their paws, and had resorted to canine sagacity to serve its master in sub-
sequent encounters. On a hunt it would chase a bear to some rough tree
selected by the latter animal as one easy to climb, and when the bear had
gone up about four feet, the dog would sieze it behind, and by tugging
and bracing itself against the tree would dislodge bruin, and both would come
tumbling to the ground together. The dog would leap up and scamper off.
closely pursued by bruin for a few rods, when the latter would return and
again commence to ascend the tree only to be again pulled down by the
dog. Sometimes this procedure was repeated several times, or until the
hunter came up and shot the bear. On one occasion, when Mr. Davee
was out hunting, he came suddenly upon a bear, but owing to the thick-
ness of the brush, succeeded only in giving it a bad wound as it shambled
off. The dog followed the wounded animal a long distance, keeping
up a barking that guided the hunter in the pursuit, but keeping beyond
the reach of the bleeding Ursus Americanus. At last the bear became so
weak from loss of blood that it stopped to rest, but could get none owing
to the persistent and courageous attacks of the dog. Mr. Davee came up
and ended the fight by a ball through the bear's head. On still another
occasion, as Mr. Davee was walking through the woods with his gun on
his shoulder, he came suddenly within four feet of a large bear that was
lying behind a log. The animal instantly reared up with an angry
growl, displaying two rows of gleaming teeth, and reaching out with its
powerful arms to clasp the startled settler in its embrace, but the latter
leaped back, cocked his rifle, and ere the bear could touch him, sent a
ball through its throat. In a few minutes the animal was dead. Had the
rifle missed fire, it would have fared hard with the hunter. On still
another occasion, Mr. Davee shot and instantly killed a bear which was
passing near his cabin. The flesh was divided out among the neighbors.
William Hughes was tardy in his demands and was forced to content him-
self with a pair of the legs. Bear meat is much like pork. It is said that
Tilford Bailey killed a bear in early years. He saw it in the woods, and
though much scared and nervous, fired and killed it. Joseph Doty also
killed one under about the same circumstances. Several others killed
bears in the township.
THE WOUNDED DEER.
Mr. Davee had his dog so trained that the dumb brute seemed almost
capable of reason. One day the hunter shot and wounded a deer, which
ran off through the woods at full speed. Away went the dog in pursuit,
followed as fast as possible by its master. Drops of blood could be seen
upon the leaves, showing that the deer had been badly hurt. After some
time the dog returned, skulking along to its master, which act was so
unusual that Mr. Davis took his ramrod and gave the animal a sound
thrashing, and again ordered it on in pursuit of the deer. Away it went
again, fiercer than ever, as if to make good the loss of its master's confi-
dence. The hunter, thinking that the dog would not have come back
unless the deer was so strong as to have gotten entirely away, concluded
to give up the chase and return to his cabin, which he accordingly did.
Hours elapsed and the dog did not return. At last the hunter took his
gun, resumed the trail, and after several hours of rapid walking came
166 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
upon a sight that made him sick. The tall weeds, grass and bushes over
a quarter of an acre were torn to pieces and beaten flat, and near the
center lay the wounded deer, dead, and terribly torn, and near it was the
old dog, covered with blood and bruised, and torn almost in pieces by the
sharp hoofs and antlers of the desperate deer. The noble animal could
scarcely move, yet it wagged its tail at the sound of its master's voice,
and looked up for praise over the successful issue of the terrible struggle.
The faithful creature was taken home where its wounds were caretully
dressed, but the best care could not restore the mutilated limbs and
broken bones. The dog lived a year or more, but scarcely ever left the
yard.
THE DELAWARES.
Mr. Davee had an extended experience of the Indian character.
He was not afraid of them and liked to be with them for the sport they
afforded him. He could beat any of them shooting at a mark, and won
much of their property in that manner. The Indians, except a few small
roving bands, had been removed a short time before he came to the town-
ship. One day five or six of them, including two or three squaws,
camped on the creek near his cabin, whereupon he went over to make
their acquaintance. They seemed glad to see him, and, after a short
time, all shot at a mark, and of course the white man beat them. The
Indians then proposed to jump, and one of them suggested that they
should see which could jump farthest over a large log-heap fire that was
burning near. One or two including Mr. Davee made the jump success-
fully, and finally a very boastful young fellow with many a flourish
started to perform the same feat. He made a short dash, but just as he
was rising on the jump Mr. Davee tripped him, and the half-naked fellow
pitched heels over head into the log-heap fire. He howled dreadfully,
and made the fire and ashes fly. and no wonder. He was out in a flash,
badly burned, exclaiming ! " Heap bad shimokaman ; heap bad ! " The
reader will probably agree with him, but Mr. Davee and the other Indi-
ans laughed heartily at his expense.
A MYSTERIOUS DEATH.
A few years ago, John Radcliff went out to his barn-yard one morning
with his little girl to do the milking. The last the girl saw of her father
he was standing with his back against the barn. At noon, Mrs. Radcliff
made inquiries for him, and sent a child out to find him at the barn, but
his whereabouts were not discovered. In the evening he was found near
the barn, dead, and very much mangled by the hogs. The discovery
created great excitement in the neighborhood, and led to the arrest of a
young man who was soon acquitted. On the day of the death, two gen-
tlemen passing by the house saw Mr. Radcliff talking with a stranger at
the barn. Who this man was could not be ascertained. Whether Mr.
Radcliff was murdered or whether he had a fit will probably remain a
mystery to the end of time.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The first school in the township was taught on Stotts Creek in 1820,
by the old settler, Hiram T. Craig. The second and third were taught
GREEN TOWNSHIP. 167
in the same neighborhood, all being very rude, and being taught in pri-
vate cabins. Reading was done mostly out of the Testament ; writing
was done with a goose quill sharpened or "mended " by the teacher, and
a little "ciphering" was done on a rude blackboard. Mr. Collins suc-
ceeded Mr. Craig. Late in the twenties, other schools were started far-
ther up the creek. The first schoolhouse was built in the Stotts settle-
ment in about 1827, and was a rough log structure built in one day by a
few men who were anxious to have their few children educated. In 1880,
if reports are reliable, there were only three log schoolhouses in the town-
ship, and one of those was a deserted dwelling. In 1840, there were five
or six, but the standard of education was yet at a very low ebb. The
teachers were paid by subscription, which was usually $1.50 for each
scholar for the term of three months. The teacher would have from eight
to fifteen scholars, so it is easy to figure what the "master's " compensa-
tion would be. Whoever saw a wealthy school teacher ? Such a creature
is an invisible quantity even to this day. Take, then, the pedagogue of
ye olden time, who was forced by the fiat of events to " board around " at
the log cabins, where fat bacon and corn bread were considered delicacies
fit for the gods, and who can imagine a more desolate prospect ? This
was repeated scores of times in Green Township. In 1852, the common
school law came into existence, and the progress of education since then
has been remarkable. Neat frame houses were erected soon after the pas-
sage of the law, and a permanent fund for the payment of the teacher and
the support of the school changed the intellectual bill of fare into all the
higher branches. Now there are ten fine country schoolhouses where
many of the teachers employed are qualified to instruct in analysis of the
English sentence, natural philosophy, physical geography, botany, elocu-
tion, rhetoric, ornamental penmanship, etc., etc. Green Township has
good schools.
RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.
Late in the thirties, a small class of the Church of Christ was organ-
ized on Section 15, the leading members being Adam Flake, Benjamin
Bryan, Peter Comper, Eli Musgrove and their families and others. Adam
Flake agreed to donate one acre of ground for a church and cemetery.
Whether a building was erected cannot be learned. The class lived many
years, and numbered as high as forty or fifty members. In about 1840,
the Methodists, near the residence of Levi Rinker, organized a class, among
the members being the families of Robert C. Stotts, Levi Rinker, Simeon
Ely, F. A. Harryman, William Stewart, Daniel Demott, George Rinker,
John Holsapple, William Cain, James Epperson and James Laughlin.
The pastor in 1844 was Daniel Demott, and in 1846 Henry S. Dane.
The class belonged to the Mooresville Circuit. Several early classes were
organized in schoolhouses. Now there are four churches in the township —
Mount Olive, Methodist, in the northwestern part ; Union Chapel, Meth-
odist, two miles east of Cope ; Bethel, Methodist, in the eastern part, and
Centennial Union Church, a mile northeast of Cope. The township has
excellent opportunity for Christian worship, and the citizens are sober,
moral and industrious.
CLEVELAND.
In the month of April, 1838, Ezekiel St. John employed a surveyor
lt)8 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
and laid out a village of thirty-four lots and eight large outlota on the
northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 8, Township 12
north, Range 2 east, the same being on the bank of Stotts Creek, and
within about half a mile of its mouth. A few houses were built, and some
little improvement was made, but the village soon died, without hope of
resurrection.
VILLAGE OF COPE.
This was started up on Section 28 many years ago. James Crocker
and Henson Martin opened the first store there in a log cabin. They
were succeeded by Wesley Knight. Isaac B. Wilson was next, and Lem-
uel Guthridge next. A post office has been established there in later
years. Few villages can cope with Cope in limitation and negation.
BAKER TOWNSHIP.
THE EVILSIZER FAMILY.
THE earliest settlement of Baker Township is enshrouded in mystery.
It is certain that white families lived therein as early as 1820, and
possibly in 1819. A family named Evilsizer was living there on the old
Thomas Hodges farm when the first permanent residents arrived, but
how long they had been there cannot be learned, even if it be known by
any one now living in the township or county. It is believed by some
that this family lived there before the cession treaty of 1818, but this
must be regarded with some grains of doubt. The family consisted of
the father, mother, two or three sons and a daughter or two. They were
professional pioneers, and preferred to live in the woods remote from the
settlements. The father and the boys were skillful hunters and trappers,
and several times a year visited the older settlements in the southern part
of the State to sell their furs or exchange them for ammunition, traps,
weapons, tobacco, or some article of clothing for the women. The men
dressed almost wholly in deer or raccoon skins, and spent their time in
hunting and trapping, in which they were very expert. As a matter of
fact, much that is said of them rests largely on tradition, as they left for
remote localities about the time the permanent settlers began to arrive.
They had a garden, consisting of about half or three-quarters of an acre,
which was cultivated by the women, as the men were above that sort of
degradation. Accounts vary as to the intelligence of the family. It is
quite certain, however, that their intellectual attainments were not of the
highest order. They were guilty of sufficient acuteness to be able to
hunt and cook, but they would not have cut a remarkably high figure,
either socially or mentally, in the settled communities of that day. Ac-
cording to tradition, the men on one occasion had considerable difficulty
with a band of four or five Indians that stopped at their cabin. The
trouble arose over a trade of furs on the part of the Indians for ammu-
nition and trinkets on the part of the whites. Arms were drawn, wounds
were given, but the difficulty was adjusted before anything serious result-
BAKER TOWNSHIP. 169
ed. It is said that this family killed many bears in various portions of
Morgan County. Within two or three years they left the township, go-
ing, no one knows whither, but certainly out into the wilderness.
PERMANENT SETTLERS.
The first tract of land was purchased on Section 28, on the 8th of
November, 1820, by Thomas Hodges, who did not reside in the township
until years afterward. William Burton bought land on Section 32 in
1823. The Burtons afterward became prominent citizens. George W.
Baker came in late in the twenties, with a retinue of relatives, that was
afterward considerably enlarged. Perhaps himself and relatives did more
for Baker Township than any other family. The township took its name
from this family. They were among its most prominent and respected
citizens.
The Lafavers came in soon after 1830, and soon exerted a wide influ-
ence in township affairs. The family of John Hodges was also very
prominent.
The township was mainly settled in the thirties, although a few fami-
lies were residents before. Among those who entered land were James
Kerley, William Teag, George W. Baker, John Buckner, Jonathan Man-
ley, Frederick Buckhart, W. T. Clark, Page Henslow, John Manley,
Richard Long, Jackson Long, Elisha Long, Elijah D. Long, John
Hodges, Jr., Thomas Hodges, Thomas Mitchell, James R. Elston, John
Burton, Isaac Lafaver, Josiah Goodwin, Robert Finchum, Ivison Ellis,
David Low, Josiah Vandeventer, John Muncey, Stephen Collier, William
Burton, Jacob Evans, Presley Johnson, P. Smith, Chris Shultz, J. B.
Gibson, William Goodwin, Hiram McKinney, John Burnett and others.
THE POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1842.
Barnard Arnold, Winard Buskirk, Jesse Belzer, Daniel Beals, Felix
Belzer, John W. Burton, Benjamin Campbell, Joseph Childers, John
Campbell, Caleb Collier, Jacob Evans, Robert Finiham, William Gregs-
ton, James Goodwin, James Gregston, Thomas L. Hicks, Thompson
Harden, John Hodges, Zachariah Haller, Samuel Harryman, Joseph
Kenley, Jonathan Kegley, Daniel Lafaver, Jacob Lafaver, Isaac
Lafaver, Andrew H. Low, John McCollister, John E. Myers, Jacob
Meyers. James Martin, John G. Manley, John Martin, Joshua Muncey,
David T. Neal, Dempsey Neal, L. iM. R. Pumphrey, William W. Paul,
Abraham Stutesman, Phlegman Smith, Daniel Weathers, Amos H. Vande-
venter.
The old Pumphrey Grist Mill on White River was an important
feature in early times. The store which was started there about 1839
was continued several years.
EDUCATION.
Schools were not started in this township until comparatively late.
The settlement was slow, and the families had something else to think
about than education. Too many parents in those days thought as the
Spanish proverb directs :
" Follow your father, my son,
And do as your father has done."
170 HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
They reasoned that their children ought to do as well in life as they
had done, which was to pass from the cradle to the grave with only "'edi-
cation " enough to read a little, write a little and cipher a little. A man
who had " larnin' " enough to attack and attempt to analyze an English
sentence was regarded a prodigy.
" And still the wonder grew
That one small head should carry all he knew."
The first school in the township, so far as can be learned, was
taught in about the year 1838, on Section 28. The schoolhouse was
of round logs, a wide fire-place filled the dark room with a ruddy glow,
and in one end was a rude table, a sacred piece of furniture, belong-
ing exclusively to the teacher, from which oracles as wise, no doubt,
as those of Solomon were revealed to the wondering children. The second
school was started about the same time on Section 31 or 32. These
were the only established schools for several years, but along in the forties,
when the good effects of the school law of 1843 began to be felt, other
terms were taught in the northeast corner and in the southeast corner.
The township in 1850 had three established schools, and a neighborhood
or two where terms were taught semi-occasionally in buildings that had
been built for dwellings and which were fitted up specially for the pur-
pose. The school system of Baker Township, and the excellence of the
instruction furnished, are not excelled by any other country township in
the county.
FACILITIES FOR WORSHIP.
Baker Township has been well supplied since the earliest settlement
with abundant opportunity for Christian worship. The Mount Zion
Methodist Church, on the line between Sections 31 and 32, was organized
about 1840 at the residence of Jacob Lafaver. The first class did not
exceed ten members. Among the earliest families belonging were those
of Jacob Lafaver, Isaac Lafaver, William D. Payne, Joshua Jones, Alfred
Abel, John Myers. Isom Guy, Andrew Smith and others. Wesley Dorsey
organized the class and was the first preacher in charge. Henry S. Dane
succeeded him. The church was built in the fifties. This class is yet
in existence. The two other churches — a Methodist and a Baptist —
were organized later, and are in flourishing condition for country churches.
The citizens of the township generally are moral and industrious. The
township is next to the smallest in the county. During the early stages
of the last war, it furnished more men in proportion to population than
any other township in the county.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE.
GEORGE A. ADAMS, attorney and Representative, is a native of
Morgan County, Ind., and was born June 4, 1849. The county which
gave him birth has made him a home. In his youth, after attending the
common schools of the county, he went to the State University atBloom-
ington, Ind., for two years, and from which he graduated in the profes-
sion of law in 1872. He was Principal of the High Schools of Morgan-
town one year, after which, in April, 1873, he engaged in the practice of
his profession, and has continued the same since that time. December
28, 1876, he married, at Brazil, Clay County, Miss Mattie Bennett,
which union has given birth to two children — an infant and Roy B. (de-
ceased). Mr. Adams is a Republican, and was sent to the Legislature,
as a Representative of Morgan County in November, 1882. He is a mem-
ber of the venerable Masonic fraternity, and also of the Beta 7'heta Pi
— a college organization — and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
Adams is the possessor of a line property in Martinsville, and is a much
esteemed citizen.
WILLIAM R. ASHER is a native of Johnson County, Ind., and was
born on the 30th of November, 1861. When he had reached the age of
eight years, he was removed by his parents to this town, where he was
reared, attended and graduated from the Martinsville High School, and
afterward became a student of the State University in September, 1878,
in a course of four years' study. In the month of March, 1883, he en-
tered into the oratorical contest, with four contestants, for the privilege
of representing the University in the State contest, and which privilege
he won; consequently, he represented the University of Indiana in the
State oratorical exhibition, which took place at Indianapolis April 17,
1883, in which effort he was successful, coming out number one from a
list of six, each representing a college, and also winniog the prize, $50.
This success at the State capital bestowed upon him the right of contend-
ing in the inter- State contest of oratory, held at Minneapolis May 2,
1883, from which engagement he came forth third in honor.
J. G. BAIN, editor Martinsville Republican, and Postmaster, was
born in Jefferson Township, Morgan County, on April 29, 1844, and is
the son of John and Bridget (Gallagher) Bain, early settlers of Jefferson
Tovraship. Our subject passed his early life on a farm and attending a
district school until he was seventeen years of age, when he enlisted in
Company C, Thirty-third Indiana Infantry, in August, 1861, for three
years and participated in every march, battle and skirmish which the
172 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
regiment was in. Near the close of the three years' term, the regiment
"veteranized." During the Atlanta campaign, the regiment elected offi-
cers, and was under the fire of the enemy while balloting, and one man
killed. Mr. Bain was elected Second Lieutenant, and remained with his
command until the close of the war, having been mustered out August
20, 1865, after four years' service. Some of the battles and skirmishes
in which the regiment was engaged are as follows: Wildcat, Cumberland
Gap, Thompson's Station, Tenn. (where the entire brigade was captured
and confined in Libby Prison two months), Eesaca, Cassville, Burnt
Hickory, Golgotha Church, Pumpkin Vine, Peach Tree Creek, the Atlanta
campaign, Sherman's ''march to the sea," and through the Carolinas,
being in the battles of Averysboro and Benton ville; thence to Raleigh,
on to Richmond, and in the "grand review" at Washington; thence
to Louisville, Ky., where the regiment was mustered out. After his
return home, our subject attended Mooresville Seminary six months, then
Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., three years, and then the State Uni-
versity at Bloomington, graduating from that institution in the law
course in the spring of 1870, after which he came to Martinsville and
engaged in the practice of law. In August, 1870, he became connected
with the Republican, which sprang into existence that year, and was
made its managing editor. In December, 1870, with H. A. Smock, he
purchased the paper, and continued its publication for four years. Since
September, 1874, Mr. Bain has been the sole proprietor. He has added
to and improved the paper, now using a Campbell steam press, with a
circulation of 1,700. In October, 1872, Mr. Bain was made Postmaster
of Martinsville, and has held the office ever since. He has always been
an active, influential politician in the Republican party, and is ranked
among the energetic and progressive citizens, and as one of the repre-
sentative men of Southern Indiana. In February, 1876, he was married
to Sallie Johnson; a native of Morgan County, and daughter of Dr. J.
J, Johnson. Four children have been born to them — Mary E,, Katie R.,
Jarvis J. and Dora I. Mr. Bain is a consistent member of the Presbyte-
rian Church, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is
also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the G. A. R. Since
Mr. Bain has been Postmaster, the office has increased its receipts three-
fold; and it is at present one of the best appointed and conducted post
offices of any town of its size in the State.
JAMES P. BALDWIN, second son in a family of eight children,
was born March 17, 1849, in Jennings County, Ind. His parents, James
M. and Sarah (Thomas), natives of Indiana, were married in Jennings
County, where they settled, remaining until 1861, the father following
merchandising. Removing thence to Martinsville, he went into the mill-
ing business, and three years later, his mill being destroyed by fire, he
retired from business, and is at present one of Martinsville's most influ-
ential citizens. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in
Martinsville. When sixteen years of age, he was employed as brake-
man on the Y. F. & M. R. R., where he remained for six months, then
for six months on the I, & V. R. R. as fireman, and afterward on the
main line of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad as fireman between
La Fayette, Ind., and Cincinnati, Ohio, for some time. He was then
given an engine, working in this capacity until 1872, after which he
worked for one year on the F. F. & M. R. R. again. In 1873, he
entered the employ of Johnson & Long, druggists, of Martinsville, for a
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 173
short time, afterward forming a partnership with J. H. Hart in the same
business, and at present is so engaged doing a lucrative business. He is
a member of the I. O. O. F., and is an active member in the Republican
party. November 13, 1872, he was married to Maryetta K. Johnson,
daughter of Dr. J J. Johnson, one of the leading citizens of Martins-
ville. They had four children, none of whom are living. Mr. Baldwin
and wife are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
QUINCY A. BLANKENSHIP, attorney at law, is a native of this
county, born November 15, 1851. He was reared in the locality of his
birth, attended the schools and high school of Martinsville, also the
Northwestern at Indianapolis. He began farming in 1874; now owns
200 acres in Ray Township, and is a partner with his brother in farming
and stock-dealing; they handle about 100 head of cattle, each year. In
1879, he went into the County Clerk's office as Deputy, at which he
served four years. Afterward he began the study of law, was admitted
to practice February, 1883, and April 17 of that year he married Miss
Fannie Miller. The father of our subject. Perry M. Blankenship, was
born in Jennings County, Ind., December 11, 1811. His parents died
when he was quite young, and he was bound to Mr. John B. New, and
learned the trade of cabinet-making, at which he worked several yeai-s,and
while yet a young man removed to this county.
JOHN BOTH WELL was born in County Moneghan, Ireland, March
17, 1803, and is a son of Charles and Mary Bothwell, also natives of
County Moneghan, Ireland. The father of our subject, John Bothwell,
Sr. , was a native of Ireland, where he married and died, having reared
five children — James, David, Mary, Margaret and Charles. Charles
Bothwell, while in Ireland, married Mary Gordon; emigrated in 1809 to
America, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he closed his life. He was
the parent of the following: Samuel, William, Ann J. and John. Our
subject, John Bothwell, married, January 14, 1832, Miss Nancy, daugh-
ter of John and Elizabeth Loraign, The following spring Mr. Bothwell
moved to Montgomery County, Penn., and in 1838 to Morgan County,
Ind., when he settled in this township, which has since been his home.
Mrs. Bothwell died April, 1856, and some time after Mr. Bothwell
wedded Mrs. Weathers, widow of Richard Weathers, who died Feb-
ruary 1, 1883. Mr. Bothwell has been father to the following children:
Samuel, Anna, Mary, David, John, Hugh, Sarah, James, Ann J., Isabel,
Martha and Margaret.
DAVID BOTHWELL is a native of Morgan County, Ind. , was born
October 12, 1841, and is one of the twelve children composing the fam-
ily of John and Nancy Bothwell. He obtained the rudiments of an ed-
ucation from the district schools; afterward fitted himself for the duties
of a teacher, and has taught thirteen consecutive terms of school suc-
cessfully in this county. February 28, 1883, he married Mary E.,
daughter of W^illiam M. and Mary C. Duckworth, of this county. Miss
Duckworth was born in this county March 23, 1857. After marriage, Mr.
Bothwell occupied and managed the farm on which he now lives. It
comprises 215 acres, and is well cultivated and improved. Mr. and Mrs.
Bothwell are highly respected among their neighbors.
FRANK O. BRAKE, native of Ohio, was born in Licking County Octo-
ber 10, 1853. His parents, Samuel and Sarah (Moore) Brake, were mar-
ried in Ohio, their native place, in 1841, where they located, and the
father was stationed as a United Brethren minister. In 1863, they re-
174 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
moved thence to Union County, and settled on a farm, where they re-
mained for two years; then went into the mercantile business in Frank-
fort. In 1878, he sold his stock of goods, and was then in Shelby
County for four years. Early in 1883, he embarked in the insurance
business, and at piesent is so engaged. On December 23, 1877, his
mother died. Subject is third son and child in a family of four chil-
dren, and was reared and educated in his native couaty. When seven-
teen years of age, he began teaching school in Ohio. He continued
teaching for live years, and in March, 1875, he entered the office of Dr.
Levi Stuck, a dentist of Bryan, Ohio, remaining with him for one year.
He then went with Dr. Myers, of Defiance, Ohio, remaining for five years,
meanwhile attending the Ohio Dental College at Cincinnati, where he
graduated in March, 1880. In 1881, he came to Martinsville, where he
has a lucrative practice. Mr. Brake is a member of the A., F. & A. M.,
Martinsville Lodge, No. 74; of the American Legion of Honor, Fort De-
fiance, Lodge, No. 497. In politics, ho is a Kepublican. On September
26, 1877, he was married to Josephine Winfield, daughter of John Win-
field of Ohio. By this union there is one child, Edith Harlan. Both
himseJf and wife are members ol the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
ELLIOTT F. BRANCH, Treasurer of Morgan County, Ind., is a na-
tive of Johnson County, and was born April 16, 1845. He was reared in
the county in which he first saw the world's light, with fair facilities for
education, and in 1866 commenced the grain trade at Martinsville, and
now continues the same in partnership with his brother, under the firm
title of Branch & Bro. ; they own the Martinsville FJouring Mills, and
are doing a large business, over $250,000 annually. Mr. Branch shipped
the first carload out of the town on the new railroad. He is owner of
320 acres in Johnson County, the same number three miles east of this
place, and his wife also has a like quantity near the town. From 1865
to 1878, he was engaged in merchandising and the stave business, in
connection with milling and farming. May 13, 1868, he married Miss
Alice Pai-ks, daughter of P. M. Parks, which union has been graced by
four children — Olive, Leafy, Emmett Forest and Frank Oak. Mr. Branch
is a stanch Eepublican, and was elected County Treasurer in 1878. He
is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the State committee for this
Congressional district.
ROBERT H. BRANCH was born in Johnson County, Ind., on April
7, 1852. A sketch of parents' life appears elsewhere in this work. He
was fourth son and ninth child in a family of twelve children, and was
reared in his native county. When eighteen years of age, he began work-
ing on his father's farm, which he continued to do for two years. He
then came to Martinsville, and was employed by his brother, E. F. Branch,
in the grain business, with whom he continued until January, 1874. At
this time he became a partner in the firm, and continued so for three
years, when his brother sold his interest to D. D. Cramer. Three years
later, the firm was dissolved, R. H. Branch and D. D. Cramer selling their
interests. Our subject then purchased a half interest in the flouring mills
and elevator, which was destroyed by fire on June 22, 1883, the loss being
about $26,000. An elevator, the capacity of which is 125,000 bushels,
has since been built, in place of the one destroyed, and business was re-
sumed on December 1, 1883, which most undoubtedly will prove as great
a success as formerly. Mr. Branch is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
He is also an active member and worker in the Chi'istian Church. Politi-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 175
cally he is a Kepublican, and quite influential in this party. He is liberal
as a citizen, and highly respected by all who know him.
H. E. BRANCH is the eldest son and child in a family of two chil-
dren, born January 12, 1855, in Franklin, Johnson County, Ind. His
parents were John W. and Louisa (Alexander) Branch, natives of Ken-
tucky and Indiana respectively. They were married in Gosport, Ind.,
October 5, 1853, and then settled in Franklin, remaining until 1858,
when they moved to Gosport, where they I'emained until 1866. He was
appointed Deputy Collector, and moved to Terre Haute, remaining until
1878, when they moved to Martinsville and engaged in the stave trade,
and at present reside in Indianapolis. The subject was reared in Frank-
lin, Gosport and Terre Haute, in the latter place of which he received
a good education in the graded schools. In September, 1877, he came
to Martinsville, and took the position of book-keeper for E. F. Branch &
Bro., and is so engaged at present. On February 12, 1878, he married
Sarah A. Comer, daughter of Mathew Comer, a pioneer of Mooresville.
By this union there were two children. Mr. Branch is a member of the
K. of P. He is an active member of the Republican party, and highly
esteemed in the community in which he lives. He is a member of the
Campbellite Church. During the years 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, he was
telegraph operator in Terre Haute.
MRS. MARTHA A. BROUGHTON (widow of John Broughton),
is a native of Botetourt County, Va., and was born May 9, 1837,
the daughter of Jacob and Nancy Echolds, both natives of Virginia,
where they married. They afterward moved to Kentucky; thence to
Madison County, Ind. ; thence to Johnson, and thence to Morgan County.
Their family consisted of Jeremiah, Martha A., Nancy J., William,
Jennie, Eliza, Anna and Joseph. In Johnson County, Ind., our subject
married James Childs, and they moved to Effingham County, 111., in
which locality Mr. Childs died. In 1852, Mrs. Childs returned to John-
son County, Ind., and was there wedded to Thomas Stout, with whom,
in 1858, she moved to this county, where he died in 1872; finally she
wedded John Broughton, who left the world in 1879. Mrs. Broughton
has been the mother of eight children, as follows: By Mr. Childs, two.
Roan H. and an infant deceased; and by Mr. Stout, six — Charlie T.,
Albert L., Nancy A., William W., Hattie F. and Joseph H. Mrs. Brough-
ton is an exemplary and highly esteemed lady.
COL. JAMES E. BURTON was born in Monroe County, Ind., Septem-
ber, 23, 1824, is a son of John and Nancy (Wishard) Burton, the former a
native of Virginia, born 1784; the latter, a native of Delaware, born
1782, who, after their marriage about 1819, emigrated to Monroe County,
Ind., where Mr. Burton built a mill and also engaged in farming. He
was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was the owner of more than 1,000
acres at his death in 1860; his wife survived him sixteen years. Their
family was Susan L., Jesse M., Henry W,, Elizabeth J., John W.,
Sytha A., Martha L., Josiah P. and James E. The grandfather of our
subject, Josiah Burton, was a native of England, who first located near
Philadelphia, Penn., then moved to Virginia, then to Kentucky, and
about 1826 to Morgan County, Ind., where he closed his life. He had
been twice married and the father of ten children. James E. Burton was
married March 23, 1848, to Miss Cynthia A., daughter of James V. and
Maria Buskirk, and born in Monroe County January 31, 1830. They
have had three children — David P., John M. (deceased) and James S.
176 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Soon aftftr marriage, Mr. Burton moved to and remained in Morgan
County. In 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-third Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, of which he became Captain and served three
years. He was wounded in the thigh June 22, 1864, and in Septem-
ber was promoted Colonel, which he held until mustered out, August,
1865. Mr. Burton has been Justice of the Peace, and is a member of the
Masonic order and of the M. E. Church. He resides upon his own farm
of 249 acres.
PATKICK CAIN is a native of Ireland; was born January, 7, 1829,
and is one of the four children born to Thomas and Katie Cain, both of
whom were natives of Ireland. In 1846, Patrick Cain emigrated from
Ireland to Kentucky, and in the autumn of that year moved to Clark
County, Ind., and subsequently to Morgan County, and settled in Wash-
ington Township, where he has since made a home, and is the owner of
480 acres of fine land, and also where he married Ellen Murkenroy, which
union has resulted in the births of seven children — Francis T., Edward
I., William, Patrick H., Joseph, Mary and Rosie. Mr. and Mrs. Cain
are highly esteemed members of their community, and are communicants
of the Catholic Church.
EDWIN V/. CALLIS was born in Flemington, Hunterdon County,
N. J., on January 17, 1827. His parents were natives of that State. He
attended school until he was about thirteen years of age, when he was ap-
prenticed to the printing business in the office of the Hunterdon (N. J.)
Democrat. He had a natural inclination and taste for that business, and
served an apprenticeship of five years. After that he worked in various
cities and towns, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, until the year 1847,
when he purchased a half interest in the Mt. Holly (N. J.) Herald, a
Democratic paper, and took the editorial control of that paper until 1851,
when he came to the conclusion that he would like to master the " art
preservative of all arts " in its various details. Then he sold his interest
in the Herald, and removed to Philadelphia, Penn., where he worked in
the leading book, job and newspaper offices, and edited and published a
literary and pictorial paper called the Family Casket. He remained in
that city until 1855, when he came West, to Martinsville, Ind., and
bought the Morgan County Gazette, as the paper was then called. It was
the first Republican paper published in Morgan County, and continued
in that faith until 1870, when local differences arose, and the editor and
paper filed into the Democratic party — the party to which Mr. Callis orig-
inally belonged. It has been thoroughly Democratic ever since, under
his editorial control, and has done efficient and faithful service for the
Democratic cause. Mr. Callis is a natural and thorough newspaper man,
from editor to pressman, and stands at the head of his profession wherever
known. He has a wife and six children. The latter, four girls and two
boys, range in age from fourteen to thirty years, and were all brought up
at the " case. "
WILLIAM P. CLARK is a native of Morgan County, Ind. , born
August 23, 1835, and is the fourth of the seven children of John and
Isabella (Major) Clark, both born in Indiana and in the same year, 1810.
Soon after their marriage, they moved to Tippecanoe County, and thence
to Morgan County, settling in this township, where Mr. Clark died in
1844. Mrs. Clark subsequently married William H. Craig, and died in
1881, by the latter marriage becoming the mother of three children.
William P. Clark married, February 12, 1857, Miss Keziah, daughter of
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 177
John and Sarah Eudicel. Mrs. Clark died May 17, 1863, and May
17, 1S64, he married Alzina H., daughter of Lewis and Hannah War-
ren. Soon after this marriage, Mr. Clark moved to Martinsville, and in
1872 purchased the Martinsville Flouring Mills, in which business of
milling he was engaged for five years. In June, 1883, lie removed to
the farm on which he now lives. Mr. Clark has been the father of five
children, two by his first wife, Noah J. (deceased) and Minnie (deceased),
aud three by his second wife — Lulu, Gettie and John W.
JOHN N. COBB is a native of Morgan County, Ind., born August
30, 1860, and is descended from Van B. and Harriet A. (Nutter) Cobb,
natives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana. They were married,
September 20, 1859, in this county, where Mrs. Cobb died October 21,
1860, after which our subject was taken by his grandfather, John Nutter,
to rear, with whom he remained until 1881. July 30, 1882, he mar-
ried Annettie, daughter of A. J. and Perlina (Dyer) Lafary, of Martins-
ville, and born in this county March 20, 1859. Mr. Cobb is a very much
esteemed and promising young man and a member of the Knights of
Pythias. He and wife are parents of one son — William A.
COFFEY & LIVINGSTON. Walter S. Coffey, senior partner of
this firm, is the fifth child of Wiley and Harriet (McDonald) Coffey, na-
tives of Indiana. He was born six miles southeast of Spencer, Owen
County, Ind., May 16, 1858. His parents were married in Owen County,
and located on a farm in Clay Township in that county, where the father
died in 1879, leaving his widow with several small children, which she
has reared. She is now living on the old farm, hale and hearty.
Walter S. Coffey was reared on the home farm in Owen County, where
he received an ediication in the district schools of the neighborhood.
By persistent effort and close application, he attained a proficiency in
music seldom excelled. When twenty- one years of age, he was employed
by F. G. White, the well known manager and actor, as leader of his
orchestra, and for three years traveled with him. In July, 1883, he
formed a partnership with W. N. Livingston in the grocery business in
Mai'tinsville, and they are at present doing a large, lucrative business.
Mr. Coffey is a member of the Christian Church, in good standing, and
an active and influential one in upholding its principles. In politics, he
is liberal.
William N. Livingston was born in Clay Township, Owen Co.,
Ind., August 21, 1860. His parents, Nathan F. and Elizabeth
(Neill) Livingston, natives of Virginia and Indiana respectively, were
married in Greene County, Ind., in 1857, and located on a farm,
where they remained for a number of years, and thence came to Owen
County. They then settled in White Hall, Clay Township, where they
sold dry goods for some time. At present they reside nine miles south-
east of Spencer, on a farm in Clay Township. William N. Livingston
is the second son and third child in family, and was reared and educated
in his native township. When nineteen years of age, he was employed
by F. G. White as a member of his band and orchestra. He traveled
with him for three years. In July, 1883, Mr. Livingston went into the
grocery business, in partnership with W. S. Coffey, in Martinsville, where
at present they are doing a successful business. In October, 1882, he was
married to Ruth Coffey, daughter of Wiley and Harriet Coffey, natives
of Indiana, and old pioneers of Owen County. Mr. Livingston is polit-
ically a Democrat.
178 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
MATTHIAS B. COLLINS, second child in a family of threo, was
born Frebruary 18, 1842, in Butler County, Ohio. . His parents, Jacob
and May A. (Arbuckle) Collins, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia
respectively, were married in Ohio, in 1837, and located near Cincinnati,
where the father followed the cooper's trade and farmed up to the pres-
ent time. His mother died November 6, 1877. Matthias was reared and
educated in Clermont County, Ohio, and when nineteen years of age
came to Indiana and entered the employ of carriage manufacturers, with
whom he remained until July, 1862. He enlisted in Company I, Thirty-
third Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Houser; served three years, and
participated in the following engagements: Thompson's Station, Resaca,
Cassville, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Bm-nt Hickory and
Dallas Woods; he then marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea,
and took part in the battles at Savannah, Bentonville and Averysboro;
near Groldsboro, he was taken prisoner, and first imprisoned at Danville,
then at Libby. Shortly after, he was paroled, and, going to Camp Chase,
Ohio, was granted a furlough, and on June 10, 1865, was honorably
discharged. Returning to Bartholomew County, Ind., he resumed
work at carriage- making. On March 25, 1866, he was married to
Minerva L. Rominger, of Bartholomew County. One year later, they
removed to St. Louis, Ind., where he engaged in wagon-making,
remaining until 1872; removing thence to Miamiville, Ohio, he engaged
in photography (which he had learned while in the army), traveling
with a portable gallery until in 1879, when he came to Martinsville and
has since been successfully engaged there in the same business. Mr.
Collins is Senior Warden of the A. F. & A. M., Martinsville Lodge, No.
74, and Officer of the Guard of Post No. 77, G. A. R. He is a Repub-
lican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
They have four children— Ella F., Eugene O., Willie A. and Mary E.
JOHN C. COMER was born December 8, 1842, in Wayne County,
Ind. His parents, Joseph and Esther (Compton) Comer, were natives of
South Carolina and Ohio respectively. The former came to Indiana in
1808, when seven years of age; married in Ohio in 1826, and lived in
Hendricks and Morgan Counties for ten years, when he again went to
Wayne County, returning to Morgan County in 1862 and locating in
Mooresville. He died in February, 1876. The mother died in January,
1868. John C. Comer is the eighth son and eleventh child, and was
reared in Wayne and Randolph Counties until eight years of age, when
he went with his parents to Iowa. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Com-
pany I, Fourteenth Iowa Volunteers, under Capt. Warren C. Jones. He
served for three and a half years, and took part in the battles of
Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Jackson, Tenn. ; Holly
Springs, Vicksburg, Canton, Miss. He was in the Red River cam-
paign, and at Pilot Knob. In December, 1864, he was mustered out,
and came to Morgan County, Ind. ; purchased a flouring mill at Moores-
ville, ran it for two years, and then purchased a saw mill, which he ran
until 1870. He next farmed for two years, and then embarked in the
lumber business, following it for eight years. He was elected Sheriff of
the county in 1878, and two years later was re-elected. After faithfully
fulfilling the duties of this office for four years, he bought a farm of 253
acres in Brown Township, and is at present farming. In April, 1869,
he was married to Miss Annie Gilbert, of Morgan County. They have
had six children, four of whom are living — Ella, Robei-t, Mattie and
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 179
Dolly. Mr. Comer is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of H., the K. of
P., and of the G. A. Jl. He is a Republican, and with his wife is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES F. COX, attorney at law, was born in Monroe County, Ind. ,
May 15, 1852, and is a son of Rev. J. Bridgeman and Martha (Mosier)
Cox. He was reared on a farm, attended the county schools, and when
fifteen began his own support, and divided his time between labor and
schooling. At nineteen, he became a teacher, and attended the State
University for three years, after which he taught during winter and
studied law during summer. He became an earnest politician before he
became a voter. He cast his first vote, in pride, for Horace Greeley, and
came before the Democratic convention as a candidate for Prosecuting
Attorney of the Fifteenth Circuit. He was defeated meagerly after be-
ing nominated over three prominent competitors from this county, by a
coalition of Greene and Owen Counties, the latter receiving the Judge and
the former the Prosecutor. In 1878, he was made Deputy County
Prosecuting Attorney, as which he served eighteen months before resign-
ing to matriculate in the Law Department of the University of Michigan,
from which he graduated March 24, 1880, and returned to this county
and resumed practice. August 1, 1877, he married, in Brown County,
Ind., Miss Mattie E. Armstrong, who died February 14, 1880, leaving one
child — Leon J.
WILLIAM COX, a native of Ohio, was born near Dayton October
5, 1820, and is the eldest son and second child of John and Nancy (Swish-
ard) Cox, natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Morgan County in
1820, and built what is known as High Rock Mills in Jefi'erson Town-
ship, on White River, which they ran until in 1850. The father then
went to California, where he died in March, 1850. The mother died in
1843. Subject was reared in Morgan County, where he was educated,
and remained until 1843, and assisted his father in the mill. He then
went to Wisconsin, and worked in the lead mines for two years; thence
returning to his home, he went on a flat-boat to New Orleans, and acted
as pilot on a flat-boat for twenty years. In 1853, he purchased a farm in
Jefferson Township, and farmed after his twenty years on the river until
1877. He then sold his farm, and removed to Martinsville, where in
May he was appointed City Marshal, and is at present serving in that
capacity. In 1856, he was elected Township Trustee, and served two
years. In 1847, he was married to Jane Mills, daughter of Judge Mills,
a pioneer of Morgan County. By this union there have been six children,
four of whom are living — Lida, Katie, George W. and Stephen J. Mr.
Cox is a member of the A. F. & A. M, Martinsville Lodge, No. 74. He is
politically a Republican. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.
GEORGE W. CRAMER was born in Morris County, N. J. , October
27, 1829, and is a son of Archibald and Margaret Cramer, the former
born July, 1803, the latter in 1802. Ar3hibald Cramer was a son of
Abram and Rachel (More) Cramer, who were natives of New Jersey, where
they lived and died, the parents of eleven children. Archibald Cramer
married Margaret Stephens, and after living in Sussex and Morris Coun-
ties, emigrated to Moi'gan County, Ind., in 1839, and died May 7, 1883,
the father of six children — Sarah, George W., Emeline, Dayton D., Will-
iam S. and Nelson. George W. Cramer, December 22, 1853, in this
county, married Sarah A., daughter of James and Delilah Crawford, and
born in this county December 17, 1834. This union brought forth nine
180 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
children — Mary E., Lenora A., Hannah M., James C, Julia, Charles L.,
Rosa L. , Archie and Delilah M. After marriage, Mr. Cramer located on
his home farm of 267 acres of well improved and valued land. He is a
much esteemed citizen, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM S. CEAMER, a son of Archibald and TMargaret Cramer,
was born in this county March 19, 1841. August 2, 1862, he enlisted in
Company H, Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, and served until the close
of the war. He was wounded May 15, 1864, at the battle of Resaca, Ga.,
in the left shoulder, by which he was disabled for a time, but has a good
ai-my record. In 1866, in partnership with his father and a brother, he
purchased a saw mill and threshing machine, all engaging in said enter-
prise. This continued until 1871, when the sons bought their father's
interest, and continued the business until 1876, when William purchased
the interest of his brother, and has since managed the business alone; he
is also interested in farming. January 4, 1870, at Indianapolis, he mar-
ried Miss Patience M., a daughter of Thomas J. Breedlove, who died
March 19, 1874, having borne three children— Frederick S., Laura L.
(deceased), and Lillie B. October 18, 1876, Mr. Cramer married a
second wife, Elizabeth E., daughter of W^iiliam and Mary A. Lockhart,
with an issue of five children — Arthur V. and a twin (still-born), John N.,
Thomas G. and Nellie. Mr. Cramer has served his township as Assessor.
He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
C. S. CRARY, born in Franklin County, Ind., March 21, 1845, is the
youngest of seven sons and twelve children, and was reared in Indiana
and Ohio. Of his father, the Martinsville Republican of August 16, 1883,
publishes the following: "On the 14th inst., Gen. Willis Crary suddenly
died at his home, near Olney, 111. Gen. Crary was eighty-one years old
past. He was a native of Vermont, and moved to Cincinnati in 1813,
where he resided for thirty years, when he removed to Franklin County,
Ind. He was in his earlier days a prominent politician of Cincinnati.
He was well acquainted with Gen. William Henry Harrison, and was a
schoolmate and chum of his son, Scott Harrison, the father of Senator
Ben Harrison. Shortly after he attained his majority, he was mai'ried in
Cincinnati to Miss Almira Spencer, a native of New York State, who died
in 1863. During the internal improvement furor in this State, he was a
heavy contractor in the building of the White Water Canal, in which he
lost over $20,000, which was a liberal fortune in those days. Of late
years, he had resided in Illinois." In 1859, the subject of this sketch
went with his parents to McLean County, 111. He received a good En-
glish education, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in the Fourteenth Indi-
ana Cavalry, under Col. T. Lyle Dickey, serving for four years. He
took part in the following engagements: Fort Henry, Fort Donelson
and Shiloh (at which he was Orderly to Gen. Hurlbut). From exposure,
he was taken with the typhoid fever, and after lying in the hospital for
some time he was discharged for disability. In the fall of 1862, he
assisted in raising a company and returned to the front. On the 19th
of March, 1863, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, One Hundred
and Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, and had the honor of being the youngest
commissioned officer in Illinois, then being but seventeen years of age. In
the battle of Fort Gibson, his Captain was wounded, and the First Lieu-
tenant in the hospital, so he assumed the command of his company
through the battles of Raymond, the entire siege of Vicksburg, Jackson,
Miss., and some few others, after which he was promoted to First Lieu-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 181
tenant. His regiment spent the winter of 1868-64 on the coast of Texas,
after which they returned to New Orleans, and on the organization of the
Ked River Campaign, he was appointed on the staff of Gen. W. H. Bald-
win, of the Second Brigade, Fourth Division of the Thirteenth Army
Corps, and served in that capacity during the entire campaign. In 1865,
he received an honorable discharge and returned home. He entered the
State University at Bloomington, Ind., remaining one year. In 1866,
he began farming in Morgan County, and five years later moved to Mar-
tinsville, renting his farm of 200 acres in Jefferson Township. He then
went into the insurance business, and continued in it until 1881, when
he went into the employ of the Gould Southwest Railroad System, with
headquarters at Galveston, Tex., as traveling, freight and passenger
agent, remaining nearly two years. In December, 1882, he resigned his
position and returned to Martinsville, where he at present resides. He
is a member of the G. A. R. and a Republican.
N. T. CUNNINGHAM, of the firm of Cunningham, Bollinger &
Phelps, dealers in general merchandise, dry goods, groceries, boots and
shoes, etc., is a representative business man of Morgan County, and was
born in Martinsville October 1, 1832. He is the son of James and Huldah
(Lizenby) Cunningham, natives of Kentucky, who were married in that
State August 15, 1826, and immediately came to this township. The
father at first engaged in farming, but, being a business man was soon
occupied in stock trading, hotel -keeping, general merchandising, flat-
boating, etc. He died in Martinsville July 19, 1856, his widow follow-
ing May 1, 1861. N. T. Cunningham was reared a farmer until eighteen
years of age, when he came to Martinsville with his parents and assisted
his father in his hotel and other business, after which he returned to
farming for two years. In 1858, he opened a general store in Martins-
ville under the firm name of Cunningham & Stevens; three years later, he
purchased the interest of Mr. Stevens, and has continued business to the
present time, associated with various others, including W. B. Sheppard,
S. McCracken, James Sheppard and T. Phelps, during the war carrying
on two stores. The present firm was formed in 1880, the partners being
James Bollinger and T. Phelps, and the firm is doing a thriving trade.
Mr. Cunningham has also given much attention to stock raising and
trading. He owns about 800 acres in Morgan County, mostly improved;
he has laid out two additions to Martinsville, owns five rooms ia Union
Block, and has invested much money in building enterprises. He was
married in 1862 to Miss Nettie C. Sheppard, native of Morgan County,
and daughter of Isaac D. Sheppard, one of the early settlers. Two
children have blessed this union — C. Sherman and Julie M.^ Mr. Cun-
ningham is a Republican and Mrs. Cunningham is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
MARION CUNNINGHAM, one of the most energetic and successful
young farmers in Morgan County, was born in Jefferson Township Au-
gust 3, 1850. His parents were William N. and Nancy (Lankford) Cun-
ningham, natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively, who were mar-
ried in Morgan County in an early day, and were well known among the
earliest and most prominent settlers. Our subject was the second son in
a family of four children, and was reared in Morgan County, obtaining
in the district schools the rudiments of a good education. On the 22d
day of September, 1870, he was married to Miss Nancy Teverbaugh,
daughter of William Teverbaugh, an influential and respected citizen of
182 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Martin County, Ind. For about one year after his marriage, he farmed
in Morgan County, going thence to Daviess County, Ind., where he
farmed for two years, at the end of which time he returned to Morgan
County, and continued farming until early in 1881, when his father gave
him the splendid, well- improved farm of 297 acres, one mile south of
Martinsville, where he at present resides. In connection with his farm-
ing interests, he is also extensively engaged in the stock business, and
his energy and industry rank him among the successful farmers of the
county.
CYRUS E. DAVIS, attorney at law, was born in Washington County,
Ind., December 17, 1856, and is a son of James and Martha E. Davis.
Cyrus was reared on a farm; attended school during the winter, and when
seventeen years old the Salem High School some time, in 1876 the South-
ern Indiana Normal School, and in the autumn of that year was enrolled
in the State University at Bloomington; was a student four years, and
graduated therefrom in June, 1880. In July of that year, he came to
Martinsville, engaged in reading law under Col. Jordan; became a part-
ner with Hon. A. M. Cunning in 1881 ; graduated from the Law Department
of the Michigan University in 1882; returned to Martinsville; continued
the practice with Mr. Cunning and afterward became associated with E.
C. Steele, under the fii-m name of Davis & Steele. Mr. Davis is a mem-
ber of the "Sigma Chi" fraternity.
BENJAMIN DESSAUER is the fifth son and eighth child in a fam-
ily of eleven born to Aaron and Fannie (Goldsmith) Dessauer, natives of
Germany. His parents were married in Baltimore, Md., in 1836, where
his father followed his vocation as merchant tailor; thence he removed
to Missouri; remained until in 1842, and then went to Ohio; located in
Cincinnati, and engaged in the clothing business. In 1852, he embarked
in the general booking business, and was thus engaged for eight years,
when he ^'etired from business. He died November 16, 1866; his wife
on October 29, 1866. Benjamin Dessauer was reared in Cincinnati, ob-
tained a good education in the graded schools of that city, and when
eighteen years of age took a complete course in Nelson's Commercial Col-
lege. When twelve years of age, he began clerking in a general mer-
chandise store in Thorntown, Ind,; then clerked at various points until
3875. He then came to Martinsville in September of that year, and
formed a partnership with his brother David in the clothing, boot and
shoe business, in which they have been so successfully engaged, their
business rooms being two of the largest in the town. On June 10, 1879,
he was married to Rebecca Kronenberger, daughter of Max Kronenber-
ger, a native of Germany. Mr. Dessauer is a member of the K. of P.
Lodge, No. 89.
GEORGE W. EGBERT (deceased) was born in Warren County,
Ohio, August 25, 1824. He removed with bis parents to Dearborn Coun-
ty, where they remained fof some time; thence they removed to Green
Township while George W. was but a lad, in which community he grew up
to manhood respected and held in high esteem by all who knew him. He
was married to Miss Mary Williams, February 11, 1847. He survived his
wife six years. He at one time served as Trustee of Green Township. In
1870, he was elected Treasurer of Morgan County. Such was the con-
fidence reposed in him by the people that they committed to his care
the guardianship and settlement, as administrator, of many estates, all
of which was honestly and conscientiously performed. He was in the
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 183
drug trade as a member of the firm of Tarleton & Egbert, which position
he occupied until his failing health admonished him that he must with-
draw from active business, after which he gradually sank, suffering in-
tolerable pain. He died February 18, 1882, in the fifty-eighth year of
his age. He was a prominent citizen and highly esteemed. He was ef-
ficient as an officer, performing all duties devolving upon him with
fidelity to the county and credit to himself.
DK. URIAH H. FARE was born in tliis county October 23, 1846,
and is a son of Daniel C. and Susanna (Teague) Farr. Daniel C. Farr
was born in Jefferson County, Ky., May 8, 1816, moved with his parents
to this State in 1822, and was married in this county February 20, 1834.
to Miss Susanna Teague. He afterward engaged at farming in Ray
Township with success, and by industry was soon enabled to enter land
until he owned 300 acres. He was father of three children, and died
August 14, 1850. August 6, 1862, Dr. U. H. Farr enlisted in Company
B, Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three
years, and was in the following battles: Resaca, New Hope Church,
Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, the Atlanta campaign, the march
to the sea, Savannah and Bentonville. He was discharged June, 1865,
and March 16, 1866, maiTied Miss Sarah Blankenship, with a result of
four children — Anna A., Kate E., Montana E. and Daniel B. Dr. Farr
continued farming until 1874, when he began the study of medicine and
attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Indianapo-
lis, from which he graduated in 1876. After practicing at Paragon until
1882, he removed to this town. Dr. Farr also took a course of lectures
at the University of Pennsylvania, and received the ad eundem degree
therefrom.
LEVI FERGUSON is a native of Pike County, Ind., and born May
29, 1841. He was also reared in Pike County, and commenced the study
of law at the age of fifteen, which he continued four years. August 9,
1860, he married Miss Mary B. Montgomery, who died February 13,
1866, leaving one child — Florence. July 1, 1861, Mr. Ferguson en-
listed in Company A, First Indiana Cavalry, serving in this and in the
infantry until 1863, at which time he was promoted to a Captaincy and
assigned to Provost Marshal duty in the Second Division, Army of the
Shenandoah, after the experience of battle in many sanguinary engage-
ments and skirmishes. After the war, he engaged in the practice of law
in Petersburg, Ind., where he continued until 1877, and served two
terms as County Auditor. In the same year, he removed to Martinsville
and transferred his law practice hither. In 1868, he married Miss
Amelia Thomas, which union was honored by two children — Ray and
Minnie. In 1872, Mr. Ferguson was a delegate to the National Repub-
lican Convention, and in 1876 a Hayes elector for the Second Congres-
sional District for this State.
JOHN J. FERTIG is the elder of two children born to John
S. and Frances (Sarhmann) I'ertig, natives of Germany, who were mar-
ried in 1858, in Indiana, where they removed in 1854. His father was a
carpet weaver, and since his marriage has resided in Madison, Jefferson
County, Ind. His wife died January 29, 1873. John Fertig was
born March 1, 1860, in Madison, where he was reared, and received a
good English and German education. When fifteen years of age, he be-
gan learning the trade of saddletree making, which he followed for two
years. He also learned the barber's trade, in Madison, where he fol-
184 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
lowed it for three years. In the summer of 1880, he came to Martins-
ville and worked at his trade until in 1882. In March, 1883, he pur-
chased a barber-shop of T. M. Gillig, which he refitted, and is at pres-
ent conducting. Mr. Fertig is a member of the Catholic Church, and
active in its support. In politics, he is a Democrat, and a good citizen,
always ready to assist in every benevolent undertaking in public enter-
prise.
JAMES FISHER was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, June 9, 1840,
and is a son of William and Nancy (Fitzsimons) Fisher, natives of New
York and Maryland respectively. The former was killed in 1840, by the
falling of a tree, and in 1845 his mother moved with her family to this
county, afterward marrying Barney Donohue, and residing in the county
until her death in 1874. She was the mother of ten children — nine by
Mr. Fisher and one by Mr. Donohue. James Fisher is the youngest
child of his father's family. He came with his mother and has since
resided in this county. October 17, 1859, he married Miss Elizabeth,
daughter of Samuel R. and Mary J. Black, and born October 17, 1838.
After his marriage, Mr. Fisher located in this township, of which he is a
worthy citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have nine children — William, Mary
A., Ellen, Francis, Lawson, Ida E., Alice B., Jennie and Minnie. Mr.
Fisher was a soldier of the late war, having enlisted in Company H,
One Hundred and Forty- eighth Indiana Volunteers, and served from
February, 1864, until the end of the war.
WILLIAM L. FULKERSON is a native of Scott County, Va. ; was
born October 13, 1824, and is one of the family of Frederick and Lovina
(Lawson) Fulkerson, both of whom were natives of Scott County, Va.,
where they were married, and whence, in 1832, they moved to Monroe
County, Ind., and there closed their labors of life. Their family com-
prised seven in number — Nancy, Sarah, Elizabeth, Catherine, William
L., Mary and Abraham. William L., our subject, married in Monroe
County, Ind., June 22, 1848, Miss Sarah, daughter of Eli and Mary
Abernathy, and born in Lincoln County, N. C. , May 7, 1825. In the
spring of 1873, Mr. Fulkerson moved to Morgan County, and eettled on
the farm which he now occupies as a home, and where he manages a
dairy and supplies the town of Martinsville with milk, butter and cheese.
Mr. and Mrs. Fulkerson have no children.
WILLIAM O. GARRISON, a native of Gregg Township, Morgan
County, Ind., was born December 25, 1840. His parents, W^illiam and
Phebe (Norris) Garrison, natives of Kentucky, were married in 1840, in
Morgan County, Ind., and located in Gregg Township, where they con-
tinued to live until 1848, when they removed to a farm in Jefferson
Township. There, in 1852, the mother died. The father is at present
living in Warren County, Iowa. He came to Indiana in 1825, and is
one of the earliest and best citizens of Morgan County. William G.
Garrison is the eldest of five children, and was reared in Gregg and
Jefferson Townships until April, 1861. He enlisted in Company K, Sev-
enth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Jeff K. Scott, in the three
months' service. His company immediately went into active service, and
he took part in the battles of Philippi, Cheat Mountain, Garrick's Ford,
etc. He was mustered out August 3, 1861, and in July, 1862, he re-
enlisted in Company H, Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. A.
D. Cunning. He served until June 19, 1865, and took part in the bat-
tles of Russellville, Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mount-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 185
ain, Kenesaw, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah,
Averysboro and Bentonville. During Sherman's march to the sea, he wa&
considered an expert forager, and some of his narrow escapes on various
expeditions are interesting in the extreme. In March, 1862, he was
married to Sarah Winter, daughter of George and Mary Winter, pioneers
of Morgan County. After his return from the war in 1866, he followed!
his trade as stationary engineer, until July, 1873, when he was severely
attacked with acute rheumatism in his right leg, which made him incapa-
ble of labor. In October, 1876, he was elected as Recorder of Morgan
County, on the Republican ticket, and four years later was re-elected to
the same office., in the discharge of which duties he is at present en-
gaged. He is a member of the G. A. R His wife is an active and
faithful member of the Christian Church. They have had eight children
— Orestes, Harriet E., Thomas O. (deceased) May, Luther, Dot, Annie
(deceased) and Perry.
JOHN GIBBS was born in Wayne County, Ky., April 2, 1823, and
is a son of James and SfaryGibbs, both natives of Kentucky. The.grand-
f ather of our subject, John Gibbs, was a native of Ireland, who emigrated
to America, where he married, lived and died, the parent of six children.
James Gibbs was born in Wayne County, Ky., July 16, 1800, where he
married Mary Helton, and in 1830 moved to Morgau County, Ind.,
where both closed their lives, the parents of thirteen children. John
Gibbs moved with his parents to this State in 1830, and January 27,
1848, married Miss Sarah, daughter of Ralph and Rosina Cartwright,
and born in Washington County, Ind., April 27, 1825, a union which
was followed by ten children — James E., Joseph D., John F., Florence
A., Alice C, Mary E., Martha J. (deceased), Kizzie B. , Sarah A. and
Andrew. Mr. Gibbs is a highly respected citizen.
CHARLES M. GRAVIS is the eldest son and third child born to
Sebastian and Minerva (Barker) Gravis, natives of Pennsylvania and
Ohio respectively, and married in Williamsburg, Ohio, in 1839. In
1863, they removed to Indianapolis, where the father at present resides.
The mother died in July, 1849. Charles M. Gravis was reared and edu-
cated in Ohio. When seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company B,
Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteers, under Capt. William A. Townsend. He
served for three years, during which time he participated in the battles at
Hoover's Gap and Chickamauga. At the latter, he was captured, and put
in the prison on Belle Island, but was soon after transferred to " Libby,"
where he remained for about two years. From there he was sent to Dan-
ville, Va., and incarcerated for five months, when he was transferred to
Andersonville. He remained there for seven months when he was paroled,
and soon after exchanged, immediately returning to his company. He
participated in the battle at Bentonville and a number of skirmishes. At
the close of the war, he returned to Clermont County, Ohio, soon after
coming to Indiana, where he learned the brickmason trade with his father.
He afterward studied medicine with Dr. D. Wiley, for three years. In
March, 1871, he graduated at the Indiana Medical College, at Indian-
apolis. In September, 1870, he was married to Sarah C. Smock, a native
of Indiana. They had six children — Walter, Charles, William, Ursula,
all of whom are dead; Gracie B. and Frederick L. are living. In 1871,
he began the practice of his profession in Southport, Ind., and from there, -
eighteen months later, removed to Indianapolis. He there entered into
practice, and in the di-ug business, which he continued for three years,
186 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
returning thence to Southport, where he remained until September, 1880.
He was in partnership with Dr. George Spees, in Glenn's Valley,
where he remained eighteen months, when he came to Martinsville, where
he is at present engaged in the practice .of his profession. He has filled
all the chairs in the I. O. O. F., Southport Lodge, No. 394, and of the
Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the G. A. R., and is a Repub-
lican. Himself and wife are members- of the Baptist Church.
SAIVTUEL S. GRIFFITT, dealer in groceries and queensware, is car-
rying a stock of $3,000, with about $15,000 annual sales. The father of
our subject, Reuben Griffitt, was born in Tennessee in 1797; there mar-
ried, in 1824, to- Miss Lovina Shell, and in 1834 removed to this county,
and farmed near Morgantown, where he died November, 1871. Samuel
S. Grifi&tt was born in this county February 13, 1836; reared on a farm;
taught school some time; engaged in merchandising at Morgantown from
1856 to 1859; then served as Deputy County Clerk one term, and in the
Auditor's office for several years. Februaiy, 1863, he married Miss Re-
becca M. Drumheller, which union gave issue to two children, Mary and
Neddie. After 1871, Mr. Griffitt engaged in the hardware trade for five
years, and served one year as Superintendent. In 1881, he engaged in
his present business, in which he has been uncommonly successful. Mr.
Griffitt is in politics a Republican.
HON. GEORGE W. GRUBBS, attorney, Martinsville, was born in
Franklin, Johnson County, Ind., September 26, 1842. He was the second
son of Richard L. and Louisa (Ai-mstrong) Grubbs. His ancestors came
from Pennsylvania. His Grandfather Armstrong was a soldier in the
war of 1812. The subject of this sketch graduated from Franklin County
in 1861, and at once enlisted in Company I, Seventh Indiana Volunteer
Infantry. From this time until the spring of 1866, he was on active
duty, and for meritorious conduct he rose successively from private to
Lieutenant, Brevet Captain, and in the summer of 1864 was commis-
sioned Major of the Forty-second Regiment Colored Infantry, General
of the First Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps. He was
in all the important engagements in which his regiment participated,
and while commanding the Forty- second Regiment was engaged in the
Nashville campaign. From the close of the war until he was mustered
out of service, he was stationed as commander at Decatxu', Ala. Im-
mediately upon his return from the field, he entered the law office of Por-
ter, Harrison & Fishback, at Indianapolis, and began the study of the
profession. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, and removed to Mar-
tinsville the same year. In 1876, he was elected by the Republicans of
his district to the Legislature, and served with ability, being honored
with the chairmanship of Judiciaiy Committee. He was elected to the
State Senate in 1878, and was appointed a member of the same commit-
tee. As an attorney, the reputation of Mr. Grubbs is high. He was a
delegate to the National Convention, which nominated Gen. Grant for the
Presidency in 1868, and the later one which nominated R. B. Hayes in
1876. He was also a member of the Electoral College in 1872, and as-
sisted in the re-election of Gen. Grant. He has also been a constant at-
tendant of the Republican State, district and county conventions.
SAMUEL M. GUTHRIDGE is the second child in a family of ten,
and was born on August 30, 1854, in Green Township, Morgan Co.,
Ind. His parents, Lemuel and Elizabeth (Feeters) Guthridge, natives
of Ohio and Indiana respectively, shortly after marriage located on a
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 187
farm in Green Township, Morgan County, where they remained until
.1865. They removed thence to Cope, Green Township, where the father
engaged in the mercantile business, and continued there for three years,
when he was elected County Treasurer on the Democratic ticket. He
served for two years, and then formed a partnership with J. A. Lewis in
the general merchandise business, which firm at present is doing a lucra-
tive trade. Sarauel M. Guthridge was reared and educated in his native
township. In 1872, he entered the Martinsville High School, which he
attended for two years; during the winters of 1872-73-74, he taught
school in Green Township. In February, 1875, he entered the Northern
Indiana Normal at Valparaiso, remaining until August, when he returned
to his home and went to work on his father's farm. In 1878, he removed
with his parents to Martinsville and took a position under his father as
Deputy County Treasurer. January 1, 1879, he formed a partnership
with W. H. Miller in the hardware and implement business, under the
firm name of Miller & Guthridge. He is a member of the A. F. & A.
M., Martinsville Lodge, No. 74, and of the I. O. O. F., Martinsville
Lodge, No. 274. He is also a member of the K. of P., Anniversary
Lodge, No. 89, and politically he is a Democrat. He was married on
December 25, 1879, to Alice Egbert, daughter of G. W. Egbert, of
Morgan County. They have had three children, Bernice, George E.
(deceased) and Nellie.
WILEY S. HALTON, Sheriff of Morgan County, is a native of Owen
County, Ind., and was born April 28, 1843; he was reared in the county
of his birth, where, April 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Four-
teenth Indiana (three months') Volunteers, after which service he re-en-
listed, in October of the same year, in Company A, Fifty-ninth Indiana
Volunteers, and served in the following engagements: New Madrid,
Corinth, Eaymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, Mis-
sionary Ridge and Sherman's campaign through Georgia and to Wash-
ington. After his discharge — July 25, 1865, — he resumed farming in
Owen County, at which he continued three years, when he removed to
this county and farmed until 1882, except four years passed. at Eminence
and Louisville, in this county. December 7, 1867, he married Catherine
Munday, with the result of five children — Minnie, Alpha, Daisy, Ethel
and Clarence (twins). In 1882, Mr. Halton was elected Sheriff by the
Republicans. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of
the G. A. R. He owns a half interest in a store and has other property
in Louisville.
E. R. HAMILTON was born in Vermont, on September 15, 1843. He
is the youngest of nine children. His parents, James and Sarah (Plum-
ley) Hamilton, natives of Scotland and Vermont respectively, were married
in Vermont, and located in Brattleboro, removing thence to Randolph,
Vt. , where they remained for some time. In 1849, they went to
Lowell, Mass., where the father died in 1854. The mother at present
resides in Martinsville, eighty-two years of age. E. R. Hamilton
was reared in Massachusetts and Vermont until nineteen years
of age. In 1861, he went to Iowa, remaining for a short time, and
then went to Tennessee, where he clerked for six months. He then went
to Memphis, and kept iDooks for the Elmwood Cemetery for one year.
Returning to Vermont, he took a course at "Eastman Business College,"
and graduated in the fall of 1863. He then returned to Memphis, and
took a clerkship under Gen. Ornee (Special Agent of the United States
188 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Treasury Department), and he remained until 1865, going thence to Ver-
mont and then to Columbus, Ind, , where he kept books for J. H. Phil-
brooks, a dry goods merchant. Two years later they formed a partner-
ship, and in 1872 Mr. Hamilton purchased his partner's interest, and
carried it on by himself for three years. He then came to Martinsville,
and went into the "walnut lumber" business, in which he is now engaged.
In June, 1864, he was married to Cora L. Plumley, of Albany, Vt.
They had one child which died when young. His wife dying, he next
married, in 1876, Mary A. McEwen. They have two children, Mary A.
and Samuel. Mr. Hamilton is a stanch Republican,
JOHN T. HAMMANS was born in Morgan County, Ind., December
31, 1830, and is a son of Pry or and Matilda (Burk) Hammans, both of
whom came to this county in the early days, married and passed the
larger portion of their lives; Mr. Hammans died in 1866, but Mrs.
Hammans is yet living in this county. Their children were by name
Joshua, William, Harvey, Andrew, Mahala, Mary, George, Martin, Elijah,
Adeline, Hester, Elizabeth, Ehoda, Nancy, Martha and John T. Our
subject married in this county, August 16, 1857, Delilah, daughter of
Ivan and Irena Voyles, with an issue of eleven children, Catherine,
James, Irena, Robert, Mary, John. Maria, Sarah, Clarissa, Burley and
Margaret. In August, 1862, Mr. Hammans enlisted in Company H,
Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, and served until September, 1864, on
July 23 of which year, at Atlanta, he was wounded by a gunshot passing
through his cheek and cutting his tongue. Mr. Hammans is an honored
citizen, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
A. S. HART is the ninth child in the family of A. B. and Sarah A,
(Chipps) Hart, both natives of Sussex County, N. J., where they married,
and in 1840 moved to Morgan County, Ind., and made there a home.
Their family was made up as follows: Mercy, Margaret, Amos S., Mary,
Aaron R., Mahala, John W., Elizabeth and Emma, A. S, Hart, our sub-
ject, was born in Morgan County December 12, 1845. November 24,
1870, he married Miss Emeline, a daughter of Maxville and Sarah Shire-
man, and a native of this county, born July 10, 1848. This union was
endeared by the following family: Harry M. (deceased), Ora A., Maggie
M., Laura A. and Adie, Mr, Hart is a highly esteemed gentleman, a
member of the order of Odd Fellows, and likewise of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church,
J, H. HART, eldest son and eighth child of Henry and Catharine
(Bricker) Hart, natives of Pennsylvania, was born in Franklin County
February 14, 1852. His father was a blacksmith, which trade he fol-
lowed in Mercersburg, Franklin County, from the time of his marriage
until the fall of 1852, when he removed to Salem, Owen County, Ind.
Remaining two years, he went to Quincy, Owen County, where he died
in December, 1880, J, H. Hart was reared in Quincy, Owen County,
where he received his education. When thirteen years of age, he began
working with the farmers in the neighborhood; continued for three years,
and then came to Martinsville; he was employed in a drug store here
until. 1874, when he went to Indianapolis; returning in a short time, he
formed a partnership in the drug business with James P. Baldwin. Con-
tinuing for two years in this, he sold out, and for several months acted
as Deputy Clerk to Willis Record. In February, 1876, he was married
to Arra Lindley, daughter of Robert and Cynthia Lindley, of Monrovia,
He is the father of two children, Lillian E. and Beryl. In the fall of
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 189
1876, Mr. Hart opened a drug store in Monrovia, removing his stock
two years later fco Martinsville, where he is at present doing a lucrative
business.
CLARKSON C. HARVEY was born in Brown Township, Morgan
County, Ind., October 12, 1852, His parents, Robert and Sarah (Hadley)
Harvey, were natives of Ohio and North Carolina respectively, and of
Scotch-Irish extraction. They are Quakers, and in 1833 settled in Brown
Township on a farm of 200 acres, where they have since resided. Clark-
son C. Harvey is the seventh son and ninth child in a family of twelve
children, and being raised on the farm, received a very ordinary educa-
tion in the district schools of his native township, remaining at home
until in his twenty-first year, when he went into the employ of a grocery
merchant in the town of Mooresville. About seven months later, he went
to Illinois, and worked for some time at farming in Ford County. In
September, 1874, he removed to Martinsville, where he opened a restau-
rant, and at present enjoys a lucrative business. Mr. Harvey is identified
with the Republican party. He was married, January 14, 1877, to Annis
H. Gregory, a daughter of M. W. and O. D. Gregory, pioneers of Mor-
gan County. He is a member of the Methodist Church in good standing.
His wife has been attentive to her duties as a member of the Christian
Church. They have two childien, Harlon and Olivia.
CHARLES HASTINGS is a native of Franklin County, Ind., was
born September 2, 1820, and is a son of Job and Keziah Hastings. Job
Hastings was born near Pittsburgh, Penn., whei'e he married; afterward
removed to Franklin County, Ind., and thence, in 1835, to Morgan
County, where he ended his life. His family was as follows: Matilda,
Mary, Reese, Sarah, Charles, Kelly, Hannah C, Rebecca, Eliza J. and
Martha A. The grandfather of oar subject, Isaac Hastings, was a native
of England who settled near Pittsbui'gh, Penn., but died in E'ranklin
County, Ind., the father of nine children. Charles Hastings married,
January 1, 1850, Susanna, daughter of John and Sarah Rudicel, and
soon afterward located at his present home, which comprises a farm of
475 acres of fruitful and improved land. He is a genial gentleman and
respected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Hastings have been parents of four
children — Louisa I., Mary A. (deceased), Evangeline and William C.
AUSTIN HAT LEY was born in Chatham County, N. C, September
15, 1822, and is the eldest of the family of William and Martha (Bow-
ers) Hatley, natives respectively of North and South Carolina, who
moved to this State and county in 1832, where they closed their lives —
he in 1847, and she eight years later. They were parents of ten chil-
dren— Harriet, Jacob, William, James, Leroy, Minerva, Eliza, Polly,
Elizabeth A. and Austin. Our subject has remained in this county since
brought hither by his parents. December 19, 1850, he married Cathe-
rine, daughter of Harvey and Susan Williams. In 1869, Mr. Hatley
located on his present farm, previous to which, in 1868, his wife died,
and afterward he married Sarah Wilson, who died in 1872, whereupon,
in 1873, he married Frankie E. Martin. Mr. Hatley has been the par-
ent of fifteen children in all — William H., Martha A. (deceased), Henry
J., Elizabeth J., George W., Thomas M. (deceased), Lafayette and three
unnamed, by his first; Sarah C. (deceased) and Harriet M. (deceased), by
his second, and Mary A., tlichard P. (deceased) and Nancy E., by his
third wife.
190 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
LEEOY S. HATLEY, fifth son and sixth child of William and Mar-
tha (Giles) Hatley, natives of North Carolina, and of Scotch and English
extraction, was born April 7, 1837, in Washington Township, Morgan
County, Ind. His parents came to Indiana from North Carolina, where
they were married, and located in Morgan County, where the father died
July 3, 1847. The mother died April 15, 1855. The father entered a
farm of 220 acres, which he farmed during the last few years of his life.
Leroy S. Hatley, when nineteen years of age, went into the employ of
J. M. & S. M. Mitchell, worked on their farm for three years, and after-
ward worked for P. M. Parks until April, 1861. He then enlisted in the
three months' service, in Company K, Seventh Indiana Infantry, under
Capt. Jeff K. Scott. He participated in the battles at Philippi,
Bealington, Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford, and at the expiration of
this term of service he returned to his home. On July 7, 1862, he en-
listed in Company H, Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. A. D.
Cunning, and participated in the following engagements: Russellville,
Resaca, Marietta and Atlanta. He marched with Sherman to the sea,
and took an active part at Bentonville, and then on with Sherman to
Washington. After the battle at Atlanta, he was promoted to Second
Lieutenant, which position he filled until June 8, 1865, when he re-
ceived an honorable discharge at Washington. After the war closed, he
returned home, and for two years farmed, removing then to Illinois,
where for two years he was again engaged in agricultural pursuits, after
which he returned to Morgan County, locating in Martinsville shortly
afterward. He owns 129 acres of excellent farm land in the county,
the cultivation of which he superintends. He was for two y#ars As-
sessor of Washington Township, also served the same length of time as
Township Trustee. He was Deputy Sheriff for one year, and for some time
City Marshal. March 20, 1872, he married Kate Watkins, daughter of
John A. Watkins, a pioneer of Morgan County. Mr. Hatley is a mem-
ber of the K. of P., Anniversary Lodge, No. 89, an active Republican,
and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. They have had
three children — Oscar (deceased), Bessie and Maudie.
EBENEZER HENDERSON (ex-Auditor of State) was born in this
county June 2, 1833. His duties called him to Indianapolis quite often,
and he resided there from January, 1875, until 1879. His parents,
James C. and Mary (Piercy) Henderson, natives of Shelby County, Ky.,
were married in July, 1831. They came to Morgan County the following
fall, and the father entered eighty acres of land five miles south of Mar-
tinsville. He built a cabin, and began to clear the wilderness. At his
death, January 8, 1867, he owned 360 acres of land. The mother died
in Martinsville, October 25, 1879. Ebenezer Henderson was educated
in Morgan County in the three-months' winter schools. At the age of
twenty, he entered the State University at Bloomington, where he re-
mained for two years. On returning home, he took charge of his father's
farm and traded in stock, fast accumulating money. He was married, in
1856, to Ann C. Hunt, daughter of a neigboring farmer, soon after which
he was appointed Deputy County Treasurer, in which office he served for
four years. In 1860, he received the nomination, on the Democratic
ticket, for County Treasurer. In 1868, he was nominated for State Sen-
ator for the counties of Morgan and Johnson, was elected, and served
four years. On retiring from this office, he gave his attention to his
extensive farm, and the erection of a large pork-packing house in Mar-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 191
tinsville, which was run under the firm name of Henderson, Parks & Co.
until 1880, and now under the firm name of Harrison, Parks & Co. In 1874,
he was elected Auditor of State, and was re-elected one year later, serv-
ing for three years. He was chosen by the Democratic party in their
State Convention a member of the State Central Committee for the In-
dianapolis District, which position he occupied for two years. At pres-
ent, he resides in Martinsville, in the full vigor and prime of his man-
hood. He is the father of six children— Fannie, Ella, Maggie June,
AVilliam, Howard and Court.
CORNELIUS HILL, a native of Indiana, was born August 23,
1836, in Richmond, Wayne County. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth
(White) Hill, native of Indiana and North Carolina respectively, were
married in Indiana in 1833, and locating in Richmond, the father fol-
lowed the carpenter's trade. In 1838, they removed to Grant County,
to a farm, where in August, 1843, the father's death occurred. The mother
died in April, 1865. Cornelius was the eldest son and second child, and
was reared in Grant County until eight years of age; then with his mother
he went to Washington County. Shortly after, they removed to Orange
County, where he obtained a good education. When seventeen years of
age, he began working on a farm, which he continued until the fall of
1856, when he came to Morgan County and farmed near Mooresville for
some time. In 1859, he went into the confectionery business, and about
one year later, he went to Kentucky, farmed for some time, returning
thence to Indianapolis. In 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Seven-
tieth Indiana Volunteers, under Samuel Harriman, and served for nearly
three years, acting as Corporal. He took part in the battles at Resaca,
Atlanta, Peach Tree Creek, Averysboro, Cassville, Kenesaw Mountain
and Bentonville. After the close of the war, he located in Martin County,
Ind., as stationary engineer. In March, 1869, he was married to Letha
A. Greeson, of Morgan County. They have one child — Mabel Pearl. In
1874, he went into the confectionery business again. Iq November of
1879, he sold a half interest and added a stock of groceries. In August
of the next year, he went to Wabash and opened a bakery and confec-
tionery, which he continued to run for one year, when he came back to Mar-
tinsville, where he is at present engaged in a lucrative business. Mr.
Hill is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the G. A. R., and is
politically a Republican. His wife is an active member of the Meth-
odist Church.
JARVIS J. HILTON, a native of Indiana, was born September 21,
1855, in Morgantown, Morgan County. He was the second son and
fourth child of Emsley C. and Sarah A. (Jones) Hilton, natives of Indi-
ana and Kentucky respectively. His parents were married in Johnson
County, Ind., where they remained for some time, removing thence to
Morgan County, where his father followed cabinet-making and carpenter-
ing until his death, which occurred October 5, 1877. The mother at pres-
ent resides in Morgantown. In April, 1869, Jarvis J. Hilton was em-
ployed as clerk in a general merchandise store, where he remained for
three years. He then went into the employ of the National Publishing
Company for a short time, after which he was in Franklin, Ind., for some
time. Returning to Morgantown, he clerked for Samuel Rozengarten,
a merchant in that place, until in the fall of 1877; afterward for another
merchant in the town until December, 1878. Meanwhile he had been
reading law, and in November, 1877, was admitted to the bar in Morgan
192 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
County. He is at present extensively engaged in the practice of law
and pension business in Martinsville. In 1881, he was appointed Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney and served creditably for about two years. In
April, 1877, he was married to Ida M. Skinner, daughter of George W.
Skinner, a pioneer of Morgan County. By this union there was one
child— Fred H., November 19, 1879. His wife dying, he was next mar-
ried, May 6, 1880, to Flora B. Pervis, daughter of George C. Pervis, a
citizen of Johnson County. Mr. Hilton is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
and is at present Prelate of the K. of P., Anniversary Lodge, No. 89.
D. L. HINE was born in Lincoln County, N. C, May 26, 1829, and
is the youngest child of Philip and Mary M. (Shufford) Hine, the former
born in Germany in 1774, the latter in Lincoln County, N. C, in 1784
Philip Hine emigi-ated to America in 1795, and located in Lincoln Coun-
ty, N. C, where he married in 1803. In 1836, they moved to Morgan
County, Ind., where they ended their days, he in 1856, she in 1844.
Their family comprised eleven children — Elizabeth, George J., Barbara,
Daniel S., Henry, Anna, Philip J., Clara, John W., Sarah and David L.
Our subject married in this county, July 6, 1856, Miss Sarah, daughter
of Cutter and Elizabeth Salmon, and born in Morris County, N. J., July
21, 1824; she died December 25, 1876, having borne one child— Flora B.
February 19, 1879, Mr. Hine married Miss Jennie, daughter of "William
and Cynthia Clark, and born in Appanoose County, Iowa, November 11,
1856. The result of this union was two children — Gentry S. and
Edna M.
HIRAM J. HINSON was born in Mooresville, Morgan County, De-
cember 31, 1850. His parents, William H. and Mary (Butner) Hinson,
natives of North Carolina, were married in Morgan County, and located
in Mooresville, where the father has farmed, and they at present reside.
Hiram J. Hinson is the fourth son and o.hild of a family of nine children.
He was reared and educated in his native town. When sixteen years of
age, he began working on a farm in the neighborhood and continued to
farm for five years. In 1861, he began learning the cabinet-making with
his uncle in Mooresville. Remaining with him for two and a half years,
he came to Martinsville. Here he entered the employ of Lewis & Co.,
and in 1873 he opened a shop of his own in Monrovia, Morgan County,
and after one year in this, he returned to Martinsville. He then en-
tered the employ of J. A. Lewis, a furniture dealer, with whom he re-
mained for four years. On December 23, 1878, he became a partner of
W. W. Kennedy in the same business, having bought his stock of Mr.
Lewis. Three years later he purchased the other half interest, and has since
carried on the business by himself, at present being one of Martinsville's
most successful and enterprising merchants. He has a stock of furniture
worth $4,000, and is also doing a superior class of undertaking. Mr.
Hinson is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Martinsville Lodge, No. 74.
Politically he is a Republican.
GEORGE HUBBARD, born in Columbus, Bartholomew Co., Ind.,
June 31, 1843, is the fifth of six sons born to John C. and Hannah
(Brice) Hubbard, natives of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. In August,
1862, he enlisted in Company A, Ninety-third Indiana Volunteers, under
Capt. Charles Hubbard. He served for three years, and took part at
Jackson, Miss., Vicksburg and the Mobile campaign. After the war, he
resided in Edinbur^ until 1869, and then went to Columbus, Ind. , where
he remained four years in the general merchandise business. In 1873,
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 193
he went into the himber business and ran a saw mill in Bartholomew Coun-
ty for three years, when he again went into the general merchandise bus-
iness in Columbus. In the fall of 1878, he removed to Seymour, Ind. ;
went into the saw mill business again, afterward going to Bartholomew
County and engaging in the same business for a shoi't time. In 1880, he
was appointed Deputy Sheriff in that county, serving for two years, when
he came to Martinsville, where, becoming a partner in the saw and plan-
ing mills, he manufactures doors and sashes and builders' and general mer-
chandise. September 11, 1882, he was married to Hannah B. Stevens,
daughter of John and Mary Stevens, citizens of Ohio. Mr. Hubbard is
a member of the K. of P., and in politics is a stanch Republican. His
wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
D. P. KENNEDY, M. D., was born in Morgan County February 19,
1845> and is the son of Luke C. and Jane (Blockford) Kennedy, who were
born and married in Kentucky, but were early settlers of Jefferson Town-
ship, this county, where the father still resides. The mother died in
1854, leaving seven children, of whom D. P. is the youngest. The
early days of Dr. Kennedy were passed on the home farm and attending
the district school. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in Company H,
Seventieth Indiana Infantry, in August, 1862, and served three years,
taking part as private and non-commissioned officer in the fights at Buz-
zard Roost, Resaca, Golgotha Church and Peach Tree Creek; he was 104
days under tire in the Atlanta campaign, and went through with Sher-
man to tixe sea; he saw the surrender of Johnston and was in the grand
review at Washington. At Golgotha, he was shot through the nose and
mouth; his muster-out took place in June, 1865. On his return, he
farmed in Jefferson Township one year; then attended and taught school
two years; then commenced the study of medicine at Paragon with Dr.
John Kennedy, with whom he remained nearly three years. He grad-
uated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College in 1870, returned to
Paragon, and for seven years was in practice in partnership with his
brothel'. In March, 1877, he came to Martinsville, where he has ever
since enjoyed an extensive and lucrative patronage. He is a member of
the State Eclectic Medical Society, of the G. A. R, and K. of P., and in
politics is a Republican. In 1871, he married Miss M. Olive Chambers,
who has borne him two children — Alexander R. and Park W. Mrs. Ken-
nedy is a native of Hendiicks County, Ind., and is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
THOMAS A. KENNEDY is the sixth son and tenth child of John and
Mary K. (Alexander) Kennedy, natives of Virginia, and of Scotch-Irish
descent. He was born, October 18, 1843, in Georgetown, Brown Co.,
Ind. His parents were married in or near Greenville, Tenn. , about
1825, where they lived for seven years, removing thence to Indiana. They
located in Johnson County, and in 1838, moved to Brown County. Lo-
cating in Georgetown, his father followed merchandising for several
years, and afterward engaged in farming, which he followed until his
death in 1864; his mother is still living in Brown County at the age of
seventy- eight. Thomas, when eighteen years of age, enlisted in Com-
pany C, Twenty-second Indiana Volunteers, under Col. Jeff C. Davis.
He served for four years, and took part in the fights at Pea Ridge, Stone
River and Mission Ridge, and in almost every encounter from the last-
named battle to Peach Tree Creek, where he was made a prisoner of war,
being placed in Andersonville Prison, and thence removed to Charleston,
194 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
S. C. ; then to Florence, remaining a prisoner altogether about eight
months, when he was discharged under a general order. He re-enlisted
and took part in the Chattanooga campaign. He went to the relief of
Burnside before Knoxville, and thence returned to Chattanooga. In
June, 1865, he received an honorable discharge and retm-ned to his home
in Brown County, where, in January following, he was married to Sa-
mantha Davis, of Virginia. They have seven children — William D,,
Eosa, Clement R., Orrin and Odell (twins), Earl and Pearl (twins).
After his marriage, he farmed in Brown County and then in Illinois for
three years, after which he removed to Johnson County and became
agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. In February, 1878, he
came to Martinsville, where he has since resided, representing the same
company. Mr. Kennedy is a member of the K. of P., and with his wife
is an active member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Politically he is
a Democrat.
JAMES P. KENNEDY was born in Brown County, Ind., on May
3, 1846. His parents, John and Mary (Alexander) Kennedy, were na-
tives of Virginia. James P. is the youngest of a family of seven chil-
dren. He was reared and educated in Brown County. When he was
nineteen years of age,he entered the employ of William Stafford, a farmer
in Johnson County, where he remained for one year. He was then em-
ployed by George W. Ware, of Amity, to work in a saw mill and stave
factory, with whom he remained for three years. He then began farming
in Johnson County and continued for eight years, after which, in 1879,
he sold out and came to Martinsville. He was here employed by the
Singer Stowing Machine Company. In February, 1882. he formed a
partnership with A. P. Shields, and purchased the "Red Cloud" saloon,
where he is at present enjoying a lucrative trade. He was married on
December 17, 1868, to Addie Mitchell, daughter of James A. Mitchell,
a citizen of Johnson County. They have four children — Willie E., Wal-
ter A., Maudie and Cecil C. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are identified with
the Christian Church, and Mr. Kennedy is politically a Democrat.
DR. CHARLES A.KESSINGERwasborn.February8, 1853, in Athens
County, Ohio. He is the eldest child, and second son of Joseph L. and
Mary (Jewett) Kessinger, natives of Ohio, who were married in their na-
tive place. The father was elected Sheriff of the county in 1852, and
served for four years. In 1868, he was appointed Internal Revenue Col-
lector, which office he filled for ten years. He served all through the
war, and was commissioned Captain of the Fortieth Ohio for meritorious
conduct. Charles A. Kessinger was reared in Athens County, where he
received a good collegiate education in the Ohio University. In 1873,
he began reading medicine with Dr. A. B. Frame, of Athens, and con-
tinued for three years, during which time he graduated at the Ohio Med-
ical College at Cincinnati in the spring of 1876. April 8, 1876, he was
appointed Superintendent of the Ohio Penitentiary Hospital, and served
five years. In March, 1883, he came to Martinsville and entered the
regular practice, and is at present so engaged. On September 19, 1883,
he was married here to Julia D. Blackstone, daughter of Dr. D. B. Black-
stone. Mr. Kessinger is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Parmacetia
Lodge, Athens, Ohio. Politically he is a Republican. He is eminent as a
practitioner and respected as a citizen.
LINDEN LAUGHLIN is a native of Owen County, Ind., was bom
May 9, 1832, and is directly descended from William and Nancy (Mac-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 195
kindley) Laughlin, natives respectively of Tennessee and Indiana, and of
Irish extraction. They were parents of four children, namely: Mary J,,
John, Matilda and Linden. The subject of this sketch. Linden Laugh-
lin, married, January 11, 1856, in this county, Miss Mary, daughter of
William and Sarah Sraver, and a native of this county, born October 25,
1835. This union was endeared and cemented by the blessing of two
children— Francis M. and Margaret J., both of whom are deceased. Mr.
Laughlin is a well-known and much-respected citizen.
FRANCIS C. LLOYD is the youngest son in a family of eight chil-
dren, born to Owen and Sarah (Coleman) Lloyd, natives of Ireland and
Ohio, respectively. He was born in Morgan County, Ind. , September
10, 1852. His parents were married in Ohio and lived there until 1840,
when they came to Indiana and located in Morgan County, on a farm of
320 acres, a part of which he entered, and where, in the full enjoyment of
excellent health, they at present reside. Francis C. Lloyd was reared
on the old home farm in Morgan County, where he obtained a good edu-
cation in the district schools. In 1871, he went to Indianapolis
and entered the wholesale and retail meat business, where he re-
mained for two years. He then went to Morgan County and commenced
farming there. In 1877, he went into the meat business in Morgan-
town, Morgan County; removing thence to Martinsville, he opened
a meat market and after two years in this was elected Deputy Sheriff.
In April, 1883, he entered the grocery business and is at present carrying
on quite a successful business, one door north of the post office. In Oc-
tober, 1871, he was married in Paris, 111., to Miss Margaret Norman, a
daughter of Hiram and Annie Norman, old and respected citizens of
Morgan County. By this union there were six children — Ira, Bertha,
Edna, Edgar (deceased) Effie and Harry. Mr. Lloyd and wife are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the I. O.
O. F. , Martinsville Lodge, No. 274, and is a Republican.
CHARLES LONG is a native of Morgan County, Ind. , and was born
July 24, 1829, his parents being Samuel and Nancy (Smith) Long, both
of whom were natives of North Carolina, and who at a very early time emi-
grated to this county, where they lived until overtaken by death. Samuel
Long was twice married, and was the father of twelve children — James
R., Charles, Alexander, Minerva, "William, Elijah, Lizah, Erastus, Eras-
pus and three others. Charles, having remained in the county of his
birth, married, November, 1849, Elizabeth Asher. They had a family of
fourteen children — Minerva, Nancy, Alice, George (deceased), Martha
(deceased), Charles, "William, Alexander, Cosey, Julia, Edwin, and three
who died in infancy. Mr. Long is a pleasant gentleman and a gi-eatly
respected citizen.
HARVEY McDANIEL is a native of Pulaski County, Ky., was bom
August 29, 1825, and is the fifth of the family of Spencer and Martha
McDaniel, natives of Virginia and Tennessee respectively. The grand-
father of our subject was also a native of Virginia, where he married, and
in the early time emigrated to Pulaski County, Ky. , there continuing to
reside until his decease. His family consisted of Polly, "William, Eliz-
abeth, John and Spencer. Spencer McDaniel was born in 1782, and in
Kentucky married Martha Derosset, with whom, in 1834, he moved to
Monroe, and the following year to Morgan County, Ind., where he closed
his life January 21, 1871. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812,
and the parent of eight children — Mary, Hardin, Elizabeth, Channa,
196 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Samantha, Julia, Clarinda and Harvey. Harvey McDaniel, January 10,
1850, married Rebecca A, Darrell, who died May 25, 1853. He next
married, March 24, 1880, Martha Owens, widow of Jacob Owens. Mr.
McDaniel is the father of two children — Elizabeth (deceased) and Martha
E. (now Mrs. Beattie, residing in Wisconsin).
JAMES M. McGOWEN is a native of this county, was born January
3, 1840, and is one of the seven children of John and Malinda (Thomas)
McGowen, natives respectively of Tennessee and Kentucky. They were
married in Kentucky, whence at an early day they moved to this county,
and lived the remainder of their days, having been parents of seven chil-
dren— Polly A. , Andrew J. , Thomas, Greenberry, Sarah, Elizabeth and
James M. In August, 1862, our subject enlisted in Company H,
Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, in which he served until discharged,
November, 1864. March 15, 1865, in Monroe County, Ind., he married
Nancy A., daughter of John and Adaline Martin, from which union re-
sulted seven children — John, Rebecca J., Mary E., Nancy A., James M.
(deceased), Nora A. and William J. After marriage, Mr. McGowen settled
here, but four years later purchased a farm in Monroe County, to which
he removed, and where he remained until 1873, at which period he pur-
chased and occupied his present home and farm, embracing 490 acres of
valuable land. Mr. McGowen is much regarded by his neighbors.
WILLIAM MABEE, Township Trustee, is a native of Sussex
County, N. J.; was born March 8, 1822; was reared in his native county,
and there maiTied November 2, 1849, to Miss Catherine Peters. In
1854, he emigrated to this State, located in this county, and engaged at
carpentering in this town until 1865, when he purchased ninety acres
three miles from town, and combined farming labor with his trade. In
April, 1882, he was elected School Trustee, which office he now fills.
Mr. Mabee is a Democrat. He enlisted as a volunteer for the Mexican
war, took active part at Contreras and Churubusco, and in the latter bat-
tle was wounded. Mr. and Mrs. Mabee are the parents of five children,
which are thus named: Jacob, Abraham, Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas), Katie
J. (Mrs. Bergman), and Sarah H. (Mrs. Dyer).
SYLVANUS MAJOR is a native of Morgan County, Ind., born April
26, 1849, and is the second child of Noah J. and Mary E. Major. Noah J.
Major is a son of William A. Major, born August 14, 1823. In 1844,
he wedded Hannah Hastings, and after her decease married, in 1846,
Mary E. Rudicel, to which union were born five children — Isabel, Syl-
vanus, Amanda (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), and Laura. She also
died, and he thereafter married in 1875 Mrs. Margaret A. Piercy. Mr.
Major is a very prominent citizen, having been three times elected to
the Legislature and for thirty years a member of the Christian Church.
Sylvanus Major, our subject, married, March 20, 1872, Mary E., daugh-
ter of Thompson and Mary J. Hendricks, and native of this county, born
January 6, 1856, which union has produced five children — William H,
Zora I., Amanda J. (deceased), Otis H. and Mary J. Soon after his
marriage, Mr. Major settled on his farm and present home of 224 acres of
valuable land. He is a much respected gentleman.
HON. JAMES J. MAXWELL was born in Morgan County, Ind.,
February 27, 1839, and is the eldest of the family of John and Cather-
ine Maxwell, natives of Ireland. The grandfather of our subject was a
native of England, who emigrated to Ireland, and thence, in 1805, to
America, where he settled at Germantown, Columbia County, N. Y.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 197
About 1813, he moved to Lebanon, Ohio, thence to Dearborn County,
Ind., and finally, in 1842, to Morgan County, where death laid claim to
him. He was by trade a weaver, and that was his life-long business.
His family comprised seven children — Robert, James, William, Henry,
Nancy, Ellen and John. John Maxwell was born in County Down, Ire-
land, July 24, 1805, and was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1837, to
Catherine Graham, born in 1812. After marriage, Mr. Maxwell located
near Lawrenceburg, Ind., and in 1838 moved to Morgan County, pur-
chased land and settled in Washington Township, where he died Febru-
ary, 1872. His family was as follows: Susan (deceased), Jane (deceased),
Susanna, John (deceased), Robert F., Catherine and James J. James J.
Maxwell was educated in the district schools in part, but which educa-
tion he completed at Cincinnati. February 14, 1866, in this county, he
married Cynthia A., daughter of John and Lucy Hodges, and born Jan-
uary 18, 1848, a union which gave being to eight children — Josie, Min-
nie (deceased). Otto (deceased), Franklin R., Howard, Nora (deceased),
Mittie M. and Don. Mr. Maxwell was elected to the Legislature in
1874, H position which he filled with honor. He is a highly respected
citizen and a member of the Christian Church.
JAMES H. MAXWELL is a native of Morgan County, Ind. ; was
born February 6, 1855, and is the only son of James and Eleanor Max-
well, natives of Dearborn County, Ind. The grandfather of our
subject was a native of Ireland, who at an early day emigrated to Amer-
ica, and reached Dearborn County, whence, in 1840, he moved to Morgan
County, where he died in 1849, aged seventy-four years. James Max-
well, his son, was born in Dearborn County September 26, 1810, and
there married to Eleanor Paden, with issue of the following children:
Mary J. (deceased), Martha, Eliza A., Nancy E. (deceased). Prudence M.,
Nancy J. and James H. In 1839, he moved to Morgan County, and died
October 30, 1865. Mrs. Maxwell is still living. James H. Maxwell,
since the death of his father, has had charge of the homestead farm,
which he is managing in addition to forty acres of his own. He is a
very excellent and intelligent young gentleman, yet unmarried and a
member of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM H. MILLER, hardware merchant, is a native of Shelby
County, Ind., and was born December 10, 1840. He was reared in
his native county, and there remained until 1873; he attended the high
school at Shelbyville, took a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton's
College, and afterward engaged in teaching. April 21, 1861, he enlisted
for three months and afterward served almost three years in Company D,
Thirty-third Indiana Regiment; was later transferred to Company E,
One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and took
part in the following actions: Philippi, Laurel Hill, Cheat River, Wild
Cat, Thompson Station, Peach Tree Creek and the Atlanta campaign.
He was discharged September 7, 1864; returned to Shelby County; was
elected County Sui'veyor in 1866, and re-elected in 1868. December 21,
1864, he married Miss Marthena Toner, with a result of five children —
Laura B., Albert L., Alice, Edgar and Mary B. At this time, Mr. Miller
engaged in merchandising and dealing in grain, which he continued
until 1873, when he removed to this town and purchased a hardware
store. He represents himself in the firm of J^Iiller & Co. ; they also deal
in agricultural implements, have some $10,000 invested, and do from
$40,000 to $50,000 per year. Mr. Miller is a Mason and an Odd Fellow;
and has, besides a good town residence, 160 acres in Jasper County, 111.
198 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
SAMUEL M. MITCHELL was born in Charlston, Clarke County,
Ind., July 7, 1814. His parents, Giles and Maiy (Moore) Mitchell, were
natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, and were married in 1807
in Kentucky. Three years later they came to Indiana, and settled in
Charleston, where there was but a fort and one block -house. He followed
his trade as brick-layer until 1820, when he came to Bartholomew County
and remained until 1833, removing thence to Martinsville, where he built
the first court house, thus continuing at his trade until his death, which
occurred July 5, 1865. The mother died August 3, 1828. Samuel M.
Mitchell is the third son and fourth child in a family of six children.
He was reared in Clarke County until six years of age; then removed to
Bartholomew County, where he remained for twelve years. He then came
to Martinsville, and entered the employ of his brother, a dealer in gen-
eral merchandise. He remained with him one year; then went to Salem,
Ind., where he attended school for one year. Thence he went to Madi-
son, Ind. , and afterward was appointed second clerk of the " Livingston," a
steamboat between Cincinnati and New Orleans. He returned in one
year, and going to Martinsville became partner of his brother in the
general merchandise store, and continued in that until 1867. He then
sold his interest and formed a partnership with his son William in the
same business, and is at present so engaged, enjoying a lucrative busi-
ness. In June, 1867, he opened a private loan and deposit bank in
Martinsville, which is still flourishing. In 1840, he was married to Jane
M. Dietz, daughter of David Dietz, a citizen of Columbus, Ind. By this
union there were two children — William, and Mariah J. (deceased). His
wife died in January, 1846, and in December, 1849, he married Mrs.
Annie Eslinger, a daughter of Jeremiah Sandy, a citizen of Gosport. By
this union there were eight children, six of whom are living — Catharine,
Dr. Giles S. (now of Cincinnati), Mary E., Eobert B. (at present the
Cashier of Mitchell's Bank), India and Anna. Mr. IMitchell and wife
are members of the Christian Church, and he is Republican.
JAMES V. MITCHELL, attorney at law, is a native of this county,
born October 15, 1842, and was here reared. After attending the pre-
liminary schools he became a student of and graduated from the State
University at Bloomington in 1862, after which he began the study of
law with Messrs. Barbour & Howland, and later formed a partnership
with Alfred Ennis, but is now a member of the firm of Mitchell & Cox.
In 1863, he married, in Monroe County, Ind., Miss Addie Draper,
daughter of Jesse Draper; she died November 7, 1869, in San Jose, Cal.,
leaving two children — May Pearl and Dick Draper. April 26, 1871, he
wedded his second wife, Mrs. Sallie F. Lawson. INIr. Mitchell was in
early life a Douglas Democrat; during the war, he voted with the Repub-
licans, and after the great struggle he again joined the Democratic ranks.
In 1868, he was elected to the Legislature from this county by the Re-
publicans, and was the only member of that party who voted and fought
against the fifteenth amendment. In 1871, he was elected by the Legis-
lature Trustee of the Wabash & Erie Canal. Mr. Mitchell is a member
of the Masonic fraternity,
JOHN S. NEWBY, attorney at law, of the firm of Adams & Newby,
is a native of this county, of which he is also a citizen, and was born
December 20, 1848. After attending the general schools of the county,
the Mooresville High School and the State University at Bloomington,
Ind., in which he took a four years' course and from which he graduated
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 199
in the literary department as B. S. in 1873, and in the law department
in 1874, in the autumn of which year he located in Martinsville for the
practice of his profession, and in 1877 he made a partnership with Mr.
Adams. January 21, 1880, be married in Martinsville Miss Mary Miller.
Ml'. Newby is a Kepublican, and takes deep interest in the success of
that party. He is a member of the Masonic, also of the Phi Gamma
Delta, college fraternity, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
has a farm of 120 acres in Section 28, Washiugton Township, one-half
mile north of Martinsville, and likewise a pleasant residence in the town.
WILLIAM NICHOLSON was born in Salem County, N. J., July
20, 1830. His parents, Isaac and Rebecca (Fogg) Nicholson, natives of
Maryland and New Jersey respectively, were married in Philadelphia,
and shortly afterward removed to Salem County, N . J. , where the father
carried on the manufacture of edged tools until a few years prior to his
death in 1868. The mother died in 1873. William Nicholson is the
third son and fourth child in family, and was reared in New Jersey,
where he obtained a good education in the schools of his native town.
When iifteen years of age, he came to Milton, Wayne County, Ind.,
where he learned the blacksmith's trade with his brother John, with
whom he remained for three years; returning thence to New Jersey, he
followed his trade until 1866, when he began the study of dentistry with
his brother George, and one year later purchased the business of his
brother. The spring of 1869, he removed to Wilson County, Kan., and
practiced dentistry until in 1875. He then came to Indiana, and opened
an office in Xenia, Miami County, where he remained only a short time.
Removing to Plainfield, he engaged in his practice there, and in 1878,
came to Morgan County and opened an office in Mooresville, where he
lived until June, 1882, when he came to Martinsville and is at present
here engaged very successfully. On March 4, 1852, he was married to
Emily Sickler, of Salem, N. J. They had five children — William S.,
Albert A., Harriet E., Anna B. (deceased) and an infant. His wife died
August 20, 1866, an active member of the Baptist Church. On May 15,
1868, he married to Sallie D. Price, daughter of Jacob and Mary Price,
of Salem, N. J. They have had four children — Mary D.,Harry, Fannie and
Frank (deceased). Mr. Nicholson is a member of the K. of .H., Moores-
ville Lodge, No. 997; in politics, he is a Republican, and he and wife are
members of the Christian Church.
JOHN NUTTER was born in Fayette County, Ky., August 29, 1817,
and is a son of Hewitt and Susan Nutter, also natives of Fayette County,
Ky. Hewitt Nutter, a son of Thomas Nutter, was born in 1785; married
in Kentucky, Susan Talbott, removed to Warrick County, Ind., in 1823,
and thence in 1828 to Morgan County. Mrs. Nutter died in 1837, after
which Mr. Nutter married Catherine Wilson, and died February 26, 1846,
the father of seventeen children — thirteen by his first and four by his last
wife. John Nutter came with his parents to this county, where he has
since remained. August 26, 1841, he married Sarah Wilson, a native of
Franklin County, and daughter of Joel Wilson, who emigrated to that
county in 1811. This union was graced by three children — Harriet A.
(deceased), Albert H. and an infant unnamed. After his marriage, Mr.
Nutter located on a farm at Indian Creek, and in 1842 purchased a
boat and ferried over White River until 1849, when he purchased and
occupied his present farm. He began life unaided, but now owns over
2,000 acres, being one of the most extensive farmers and stock dealers in
the county.
200 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
CLEMENT H. NUTTER was born in Fayette County, Ky., Decem-
ber 7, 1820, and is descended from Hewitt and Susan (Talbott) Nutter,
also natives of Fayette County, Ky., the former born in 1785, the latter
in 1787. In 1823, they moved to Warrick County, Ind., and thence in
1828 to this county, where, in 1837, Mrs. Nutter died. Mr. Nutter died
in 1846, having previously married Catherine Wilson. His family was
as follows: Ellen, Rebecca, Sarah, John (deceased), Richard, Edwin,
John, Cassandra, Clement H., Daniel G., David, William, Thomas, Mary
A., Isaac W., Robert W., and an infant, deceased. Clement H. Nutter
married in this county, November 13, 1846, Julia A., daughter of Will-
iam H. and Julia Craig, and born in this county February 15, 1831;
she died February 13, 1866, having borne a family of six — Sarah E.,
Mary A., Emma (deceased), Walter E., Hattie and William (deceased).
Mr. Nutter is a greatly esteemed gentleman, and a consistent member of
the Christian Church.
ALBERT H. NUTTER first saw the light of this world in Morgan
County, Ind., on the 2d day of May and of the year 1854. He is a son
of John and Sarah Nutter, and a young man of uncommon excellence
and much promise. September 2, 1875, he married Miss Charlotte T.,
daughter of Thompson and Mary J. Hendricks, and a native of this
county, having been born August 29, 1858. To this happy union have
been born two children— William C. and Edith E. Mr. Nutter is highly
respected in his community, and resides on one of the farms belonging
to his father, in Section 21.
HENRY H. OLDS, proprietor of the "Eureka House," was born in
this county June 6, 1840, where he was reared and has made a home.
George W. Olds, father of our subject, was born in Connecticut Janu-
ary 11, 1810. He came early to this county, where he married, June 6,
1834, Miss Eliza A. Wall, who died August 18, 1842, leaving two chil-
dren— William (deceased) and Henry H. He next married, August 10,
1843, Miss Louisa Rudicel, which union gave being to five children-
Harriet E., Francis A. (deceased), Charles W., Lina E. and Eliza Ann
(deceased). Mr. Olds was a carpenter, and worked many years thereat.
He built the first steam saw and grist mills in the town — the former in
1848, the latter in 1858. In July, 1861, Henry H. Olds enlisted in Com-
pany K, Twenty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was
assigned to the Fifteenth Army Corps, marching to Newport News, and
thence to New Orleans. He was in many skirmishes, and was wounded
in the battle of Baton Rouge, which wound was severe, shattering a bone
and making him a cripple. He served three years, was promoted to a
First Lieutenancy, and resigned on the death of his father. February 20,
1863, he man-ied Sarah Koons, who died October 8, 1872, the mother of
three children — Butler (deceased) William A. and Perry. He next mar-
ried Mrs. Alice Raniez November 23, 1873, and that year he sold his
farm interest, moved to Martinsville, worked at carpentering, and in
1880 became landlord of the "Eureka House." Mr. Olds is a Free-
mason, a member of the G. A. R. and a Republican, by which party he
was elected, November, 1882, County Recorder.
WILLARD E. PARKS was born in Martinsville, November 7, 1855.
He was the youngest of nine children born to Perminter M. Parks, a na-
tive of North Carolina. He came to Indiana when seven years of age,
and in twenty-two years was married and living in Martinsville with a
family growing up around him. He was quite a prominent man in In-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 201
diana; his death occurred on July 24, 1867, in his sixtieth year. The
subject of this sketch was reared in Martinsville, and educated in the
public schools. In 1873, he entered Wabash College at Crawfordsville,
which he attended for one year. In 1875, he entered Washington and
Lee University at Lexington, Ky., where he stayed for one year. In
1874, he had attended the Christian University at Indianapolis one year.
Shortly after he was through college, he began speculating, and is so en-
gaged at present. On December 4, 1879, he was married to Miss Fannie
Henderson, daughter of Ebenezer Henderson, of Martinsville. They
have two children — Myra and Robin. Mr. Parks is a member of the K.
of P. Anniversary Lodge, and also of the I. O. O. F., Martinsville Lodge,
No. 274. In politics he is Democratic.
EATON W. PAXSON was born in Warren County, Ohio, January
13, 1854. His parents, William and Margaret (Shrack) Paxson, natives of
Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively, and of Scotch, Irish and Grerman
extraction, were married in Warren County, Ohio, in 3853. Thence,
three years later, they removed to Greene Township, Morgan Co., Ind.,
and located on a farm of 160 acres, to which the father added 122 acres
before his death, which occurred June 26, 1883. The mother is now liv-
ing on the home farm, seventy-two years of age. Eaton W. Paxson is
the elder of two sons, and was reared in Green Township, Morgan
County, where he received a good education. When twenty years of
age, he began teaching school. His first two years he taught in Green
Township. He then entered Valparaiso Normal College, and three years
later graduated. Ho is also a graduate of the commercial course there.
After this time until June, 1881, he farmed and taught school. He was
then elected County Superintendent on the Democratic ticket, and in
1883, having faithf ally served his term of o£&ce, he was re-elected and at
present is in discharge of the duties devolving upon him. Mr. Paxson is
a member of the A. F. & A. M., of the I. O. O. F. and also of the En-
campment. In September, 1875, he was united in marriage to Mary E.
Koons, a native of Morgan County, and a daughter of James and Rebecca
Koons, respected pioneei's of Morgan County.
VAN B. PEARCY was born in Johnson County, Ind., September
15, 1843, and is one of the thirteen children of Henry and Lovina Pearcy,
natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. The grandfather of our
subject, Robert Pearcy, was a native of Kentucky, where he married.
Subsequently he removed to Jennings County, Ind., where he died about
1852. He was twice married and reared a large family. Henry Pearcy
was the eldest of his father's family. He was born July 24, 1815, and
after coming to Jennings County married Miss Lovina Whitsitt, then
moved to Johnson County, and in the spring of 1847 to Morgan County,
where he closed his life. His children were by names — Jacob, Robert,
John, George, Van B., Mary, Martha, Charity, Harriet, William, Joseph,
Nancy and Hiram T. Van B. Pearcy, our subject, married November 9,
1865, Miss Caroline, daughter of Charles and Louisa Hess, and a native
of this county, born August 22, 1844. Shortly after marriage, Mr. Pearcy
moved to Crawford County, 111., and remained until 1867, when he re-
moved to this county, and located on a good farm of 139 acres, all well
improved. Mr. and Mrs. Pearcy have had seven children — George R.
(deceased), Charles H., John W., Wilford B., Annettie, Robert and an
infant daughter (deceased).
202 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
FRANCIS p. A. PHELPS, attorney at law, was bom in Jackson
County, Ind. , December 4. 1822. His parents, Geoige A. and Rebecca
Phelps, removed to this county in 1824, shortly after its organization,
and settled on what was subsequently the site of Brooklyn. In 1826,
Mr. Phelps was elected Sheriff, the second person who held that office,
and removed to Martinsville. In 1828, he was elected Clerk of the county,
the second incumbent of that office, which position he held at his death,
February 25, 1833, aged thirty-six. He served as Drum Major of a Bal-
timore regiment in the war of 1812; his wife survived him until
February 25, 1863, and, strangely true! died on the same day and
month thirty years afterward. They were the parents of five chil-
dren, two of whom are living and reside in Martinsville. Francis P. A.
had but meager facilities for education in boyhood, yet later attended two
sessions at the county seminary. At the age of twenty-one, he served as
Deputy Sheriff, with full management of the office. In 1846, he was
elected Sheriff, re-elected in 1848, and on October 21 of that year mar-
ried Miss Eleanor E. Tull; they have seven children — Zerilda, Tull, Al-
len H., Francis P. A., William C, Eleanor E. and Thursa R. After this
time, Mr. Phelps engaged in the drug business at Martinsville for five
years, during which he studied law, engaged in its practice in 1857, and
in February, 1883, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for this district.
He was a Whig, is a Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian
Church. He has a good residence in town, and 220 acres adjacent.
TULL PHELPS, eldest son and second child of F. P. A. Phelps,
was born January 26, 1851, in Martinsville, where he was reared and
educated. When nineteen years of age, he went into the employ of N.
T. Cunningham, a general merchandise merchant of Martinsville, and re-
mained with him for about one year. He then attended Bryant &
Stratton's Commercial College at Indianapolis, where he took a course in
book-keeping. Returning to Martinsville, he began the study of law with
his father, which he continued for some time, afterward being again em-
ployed by the same firm, in which he had formerly been as book-keeper.
In 1875, he took an intere.st in this business, and it was continued under
the firm name of N. T. Cunningham & Co. for five years, when a third
interest was purchased. The business has since then been conducted
under the firm name of Cunningham, Bollinger & Phelps, and is in
a flourishing condition. Mr. Phelps was married December 20, 1876, to
Lina E. Olds, daughter of George Olds, a pioneer of Morgan County, the
Rev. W. T. Furgeson performing the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps
are identified with the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Phelps is a prom-
inent member of the Republican party.
JAMES PRATHER, Sr. , was born in Fleming County, Ky. , August
4, 1806, and is the eldest of the family of Basil and Mary (George)
Prather, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina, the former
born in 1785, the latter in 1784. They were married in Kentucky, and
remained there until 1817, when they moved to Jackson County, Ind.,
where Mrs. Prather died in 1839. Subsequently, Mr. Prather married a
Mrs. Dobson, and died in 1874, the father of six children — Susan, Mar-
garet, Thomas, Elizabeth, Jane and James. February 6, 1824, in Jackson
County, Ind., James Prather married Josephine Hagard, born January
1, 1808. In 1834, he moved to Morgan County, where Mrs. Prather died
August 16, 1846, and March 5, 1847, he married Mrs. Almira Taylor,
widow of Simeon Taylor, a native of Plymouth County, Mass. Mr.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 203
Prather has been the parent of twelve children — John, Martha, Mary,
Judith, Basil, Thomas, James, William, Edward, Elizabeth and two that
died in infancy,
JOHN FEATHER is a native of Morgan County, Ind., was born
October 10, 1849, and is a son of James H. and Susan (Townsend)
Prather, both natives of Indiana, the former born in 1817, the latter in
1815. They were married in Morgan County, where Mr. Prather died in
1879, and where Mrs. Prather now resides on the homestead. Their
family consisted of William E., Hannah, Robert, Julia A. (deceased),
John, George, Jennie, Amanda and Joseph. Our subject, John Prather,
married, l^'ebruary 27, 1876, in this county, Mary E., daughter of Henry
and Jane Remer, and born February 10, 1856. The issue of this union
was two children — Emma J. and James M. Mr. Prather resides at Ma-
halasville, where he is proprietor of fifty acres of superior land. He is
now engaged in the lumber business, and is a reputable citizen.
WILLIAM Y. PRATT was born in Henry County, Va., June 3, 1834
His parents, James A. and Leanna (Lake) Pratt, natives of Virginia, and
of Irish and German descent respectively, were married in Henry County
in 1832, where the father followed his trade as blacksmith until 1836,
when he came to Indiana, and located in Morgan County. He worked at
his trade a number of years and then began farming, which he continued
until January, 1879, when he died. The mother died in March, 1850.
William Pratt is the eldest child in a family of six children, and was
reared in Jackson Township, Morgan County, where he obtained the ru-
diments of a good education. When twenty-two years of age, he began
learning the carpenter's trade with E. Hilton, and worked with him for
four years. He then moved to Martinsville and formed a partnership
with Alfred Carver, and carried on the carpentering business with him for
three years. In 1876, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Washington
Township for four years, at the expiration of which time he was re-elected,
and at present is in the discharge of the duties of that ofiice. In April,
1857, he was married in Johnson County, Ind., to Lydia C. Winchester,
daughter of Jordon Winchester, a citizen of Johnson County. By this
union there were four children — Meliuda J., George N., James (deceased),
and Joe. Mr. Pratt is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, No. 89, and he
and wife are members of the Methodist Church. In politics, he is a Re-
publican.
JOHN F. RAY, Justice of the Peace, is a native of Wayne County,
Ky., was born January 26, 1830, and is a son of James and Polly Ray,
who in that year removed to Bloomington, Ind., and in 1831 to Washing-
ton Township. James Ray was a carpenter, and for many years labored
as such, and died in March, 1875; Mrs. Polly Ray is still living. John F.
Ray learned the trade of a carpenter under his father, and followed the
same for a long time. He served as Deputy Clerk of this county from
1852 to 1856, in which year he went to Kentucky, and on May 29 mar-
ried Miss Angeline Bogle. He remained there until 1863, when he came
again to Martinsville. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are parents of five children,
namely, James D., Delia V., Jennie, John B. and Eddie. In 1872, Mr.
Ray was appointed Deputy Auditor, as which he served about two years.
He is politically a Democrat, and was elected in 1880 a Justice of the
Peace for a four years' term.
FELIX A. REINHART, Justice of the Peace, is a native of Lincoln
County, N. C. ; was born August 17, 1815, and is a son of John C. and
204 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Elizabeth L. Reinhart. Felix was reared in that county, with the ordinary-
advantages for education, and there married, October 1, 1835, Miss Mary
Havner, after which he engaged in farming, and in 1838 emigrated to
Morgan County, Ind. , where he also engaged in farming, and continued
the same since, except 1854-55, during which years he acted as hotel-
keeper. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of Indiana.
He is politically a Republican; was appointed to till a vacancy as Justice
of the Peace, and was afterward elected to the position; he has also
served as Deputy Sheriff of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Reinhart have
had born to them a family of seven children, of which number four are
yet living — Lewis A., John C, George W. and Felix A. He and wife
are members of the Christian Church.
CAPT. FLETCHER D. RUNDELL, born January 5, 1839, in Rich-
land County, Ohio, is the tifth son and seventh child of Hiram R. and
Mercy (Wyatt) Rundell, natives of New York, and of English and French
descent. His parents were married in New York, whence they moved to
a farm in Richland County, Ohio, and lived until 1842, when they came
to Indiana. They entered eighty acres of land in Green Township, Mor-
gan County, which they continued to improve for several years. In 1850,
they removed to a farm near Morgantown, where, in November of the
same year, the father's death occurred. The mother still lives in Morgan
County. Capt. Rundell was reared at home until after his father's deaths
and he was then employed to help on a farm in the immediate neighbor-
hood. He kept this situation until in 1860, when he began learning the
carpenter's trade in Morgantown, continuing until 1861. He enlisted in
April, 1861, in Company K, Seventh Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. J.
K. Scott, and on September 12, 1861, he enlisted in the three years^
service in Company G, Twenty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, under Capt,
J. R. Fessler. He served nearly four years, and took part in the follow-
ing engagements: Philippi, Laurel Hill, Carrick's Ford, Antietam,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Atlanta, and a large number of smaller
engagements. After the battle of Antietam, he was promoted to Second
Lieutenant. April 5, 1863, he was promoted to First Lieutenant for
meritorious conduct, and soon after to the rank of Captain. He received
an honorable discharge November 4, 1864, and returning to Morgantown
was soon afterward married to America A. Holman, daughter of William
P. Holman, of Morgan County. By this union there was one child,
Chester Q. His wife died August 12, 1867. On June 17, 1870, he mar-
ried Mary A. Moran, daughter of John Moran, an old citizen of Martins-
ville, They have one child, Eunice May, In 1867, the Captain came to
Martinsville, and has since resided there, engaged in carpentering. He
is a Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and is politically a Re-
publican; and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
ALFRED W. SCOTT is a native of Fayette County, Ind., having
been born on the 8th of November, 1856. He was reared on a farm near
Connersville, in this State, and attended the common schools of his
county, an academy at Spiceland, and later the State University at
Bloomington, from which he graduated, after a four years' course, in
1881, Previous to his collegiate course, he had studied law at Indian-
apolis. In 1881, he came to Martinsville and engaged in the practice of
the legal profession. Recently, he formed a partnership with Mr. Phelps,
and is now Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for this judicial district. In
politics, he is an earnest and active Republican; he is also a member of
the L O. O. F,
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 205
ISAAC D. SHEPPARD was born October 30, 1811, in Cumberland
County, N. J. His parents, Harvey and Amelia (Davis) Shep-
pard, natives of New Jersey, came to Indiana in 1818, and located near
Madison, removing thence, in 1834, to Martinsville, Morgan County, Ind.,
where, in 1852, the father died. The mother died in 1880, in Franklin,
Ind. Isaac D. Sheppard is the eldest in a family of five children, and was
reai'ed on a farm near Madison, Ind. He received his education in the-
district schools in the neighborhood, and when fifteen years of age began
to learn harness-making in Madison. After five and a half years of serv-
ice, he worked in various places until 1834, when he came to Martins-
ville. He here opened a harness shop, and at the present time is doing
a successful business. Mr. Sheppard is a member of the Republican
party. He was married, in September, 1836, to Thiirza Tull, of Martins-
ville, and he and wife are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and are active workers in its cause. By their union they have three chil-
dren— William, James and Letitia.
JAMES S. SHEPPARD is the second son and child of Isaac D. and
Thurza (Hess) Sheppard, natives of New Jersey and Kentucky respect-
ively. He was born November 11, 1839, in Martinsville, Moi-gan
County, Ind. James Sheppard was reared in Martinsville, where he ob-
tained a good English education. When thirteen years of age, he en-
tered his father's harness shop and began learning the trade, at which
he worked until June 16, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Six-
teenth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Paul J. Beachbard. He
served more than three years, participating in the battles at Richmond,
Ky., Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg (Red River campaign),
Black River, Sabine Cross Roads, and some few others. After the close
of the war, he returned to his home, where he resumed his trade, which,
in 1875, he gave up, becoming a partner of N. T. Cunningham, of Mar-
tinsville, in the general merchandise business. He continued in the
business for five years, when, his health failing, he sold his interest and
retired from business for one year. In January, 1881, he became agent
for pianos and organs in Martinsville, and at present is so engaged very
successfully. On September 19, 1867, he was married to Lydia S. Me-
ginnis, a daughter of the Rev. William Meginnis, ' one of the oldest
Methodist ministers in the Indiana conference. By this union there are
two children — Harry A. and Lulie A. Mr. Sheppard is a member of the
I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 274, and also of the G. A. R. Politically, he is
a Republican.
JOHN SHEERER is a native of Morgan County, Ind., was born
November 15, 1838, and is the son of Joseph and Phebe Sheerer, both
natives of Ireland, who were brought to America when very young.
They were married in W^ashington County, ]\Id., April 30, 1837, and
the same year moved to Morgan County, Ind. , and settled near Mar-
tinsville, where Mr. Sheerer was killed by the limb of a tree falling upon
him March 29, 1842. Mrs. Sheerer subsequently married a Mr. Thomas
McClure, with whom she moved to Martinsville for a time, and then re-
turned to her present abode; Mr. McClure died January 11, 1867. Mrs.
McClure is the mother of eight children, two by her former husband^.
John, and Robert (deceased), and six by her latter husband — Nancy A.
(deceased), Lida, Isabel W., Francis, Martha A. and Thomas. John
Sheerer, our subject, was married in this county, May 17, 1872, to Maria
J. Morbley, and afterward settled on the old homestead, which is still
206 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
his home. This wife died October 15, 1872, and March 16, 1879, Mr.
Sheerer wedded Sarah Stewart. Mr. and Mrs. Sheerer have no family,
but have a good home of 180 acres of excellent land.
ABEL P. SHIELDS was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., October
8, 1842. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Roberts) Shields, natives
of North Corolina and Indiana respectively, were married in Indiana in
1838, and located on a farm near Columbus, Ind., where they lived until
their deaths — the mother's occurring in 1859, the father's in 1875. Abel
P. is the second son and child in a family of five children, and was reared
in Bartholomew County until twenty years of age, when he enlisted in
Company D, Sixty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Abbott.
He served for two years, and took part at Mun ford vi lie (where he was
captured, and soon after paroled, then discharged), Yazoo Swamps (near
Vicksburg), Arkansas Post, Yicksburg, the battle between Alexandria and
Brashear City (where he with his regiment was captured; after remaining
in prison for thirteen days he escaped, and finally reached his own line).
Cross Roads, Plainfield and the entire Red River campaign. In July,
1864, he received an honorable discharge at Baton Rouge, La., and re-
turned to his home, where he commenced work on his father's farm, re-
maining about two years. On February 25, 1865, he was married to
Margaret Davis, daughter of Enoch Davis, a eitizen of Brown County.
They have one child — Elizabeth Luella. After his marriage, he farmed
for eight years, and then went to Edinburg, Ind., where he acted for two
years as agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He soon after-
ward came to Martinsville and acted in the same capacity until February,
1882, when he purchased the Red Cloud Saloon, which he is now running.
He is a Democrat.
MAXVILLE SHIREMAN is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Shuf-
ford) Shireman, and was born in Lincoln County, N. C, November 2,
1821. In 1835, his parents removed to Morgan County, Ind., where Max-
ville grew to manhood. March 6, 1846, he married Miss Sarah, daughter
of Archibald and Margaret Cramer. After his marriage, he settled on the
farm which is now his home, and which he has improved to be a good
property, embracing a territory of 317 acres of superior land. Mr.
Shireman is an honorable and esteemed citizen, and the parent of thirteen
children — Emeline, Henry, Archibald, Mahala, Lewis, Andrew, James,
Margaret, Robert, Edward, Dayton, Harry and one unnamed.
HENRY SHIREMAN, Sr., is a native of Lincoln County, N. C,
was born December 18, 1823, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth
(Shufford) Shireman, both natives of North Carolina — the former born in
1783, the latter in 1789. They were married in Lincoln County, and in
1835 emigrated to Morgan County, Ind., where they made a local habi-
tation. Mrs. Shireman died March 31, 1846, after which Mr. Shireman
married Catherine Clodfelter, and died in Washington Township, the
father of the following family: Polly, Anna, Barbara, Daniel, Elizabeth,
Rhoda, Maxville, Catherine, Michael, Susan, John S. and Henry. Our
subject, Henry Shireman, on the 13th of April, 1854, married Miss Maria,
a daughter of Isaac and Lydia Deturk. After his marriage, Mr. Shire-
man purchased and located on the farm he yet holds. He is now owner
of more than 500 acres of land, and is comfortably and independently
situated. Mr. and Mrs. Shireman have been the parents of ten children
— Mary E., Louisa A., William A., Ellen A., Isaac (deceased), Charles E.,
Harriet C, Maxville, Flora B. and Eugene C.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 207
HENRY SHIREMAN, Jr., is a native of Morgan County, Ind. ; was
born November 13, 1849, and is one of the thirteen children born to
Maxville and Sarah Shireman, of this county. October 28, 1874, he
married Margaret, daughter of John and Martha Rothwell, and a native
of this county, horn December 3, 1856. In 1876, Mr. Shireman moved
to the farm he now occupies. He is a very promising young man, greatly
esteemed and liberally educated, having taught successfully six succes-
sive terms of school. Mr. and Mrs. Shireman are the parents of four
children — Frederick, Martha, Sarah and an infant son, which died before
receiving a name. Mr. Shireman is a member of the order of Odd
Fellows.
ABRAHAM SIMMS is a native of Surrey County, N. C, was born
April 29, 1820, and was the third of the family of John and Frances
Simms, both natives of North Carolina, the former born August 8, 1793,
the latter May 18, 1784. They were married in Surrey County October
27, 1814; in 1832, moved to Shelby County, Ky., and, in 1833, to Hen-
dricks County, Ind., and one year later to Morgan County, locating on
the identical farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where
they both closed their lives, he August 22, 1837, and she September 3,
1854. They reared a family of five — Cyrus, Elizabeth, Matthew, Nim-
rod and Abraham. Abraham Simms came with his parents to this county
in 1834, where he grew to manhood and married, March 29, 1843, Miss
Ellen, daughter of Daniel and Sophia Graver, who died April 15, 1877,
having been the mother of five children — Sarah J. (deceased), Catherine,
Sophia, Susanna and George W. Mr. Simms is sole owner of the home-
stead created by his father; he is a member of the Baptist Church, an
excellent man and a respected citizen.
HENRY A. SMOCK, attorney at law, is a native of Marion County,
Ind., was born October 11, 1847, and is a son of Abraham V. and Re-
becca J. (Brenton) Smock, the former a native of Kentucky. Henry was
reared in Iowa, whither his parents had removed, and where they after-
ward died. After working on a farm he learned the trade of a printer,
at which he was employed in several large cities before coming, in 1870,
to Martinsville, where he worked in the Republican office, then purchased
a half interest therein, continued until 1874, when he sold said interest
to considerable advantage after he had raised the paper to be a first-class
one. November 11, 1873, he married Miss Dora T. Barnard, and they
have had born to them three children — Thomas B., Mary I. (deceased)
and Antoinette. In 1875, Mr. Smock began the study of law, and was
admitted to the bar in 1880, forming a partnership with Mr. Ferguson;
they are doing a good practice. Mr. Smock also manages the real estate
of the Northwestern Life Insurance Company. He is an active Repub-
lican, and has sei'ved as Secretary of the Central Committee of this
county since 1880. Mr. Smock is a Knight of Pythias, and owner of a
good farm five miles north of town.
THOMAS M. SOMERVILLE, a native of Indiana, was born in
Ripley County March 30, 1841. His parents, Thomas W. and Sarah
(McCreery) Somerville, natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland respectively,
were married in Versailles, Ripley County, and shoi'tly afterward settled
in Pennsylvaniaburg, where the father farmed, and has since resided.
He is sixty-seven years of age. His wife is sixty-four years old.
Thomas M. is the eldest son and second child in a family of five. He
was reared and educated in his native county. When twenty years of
208 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
age, he enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
under Capt. J. C. McQuistine. After his return from the war, he entered
the employ of the I. C. & L. E. R. Company asbrakeman for three months,
and was then promoted to conductor. He remained in this capacity
until 1872, when he was put in charge of the yards of the same com-
pany at Indianapolis. After two years in this, he again took charge of
a train as conductor. On February 14, 1881, he was appointed General
Manager of the F. F. & M. R. R., which position he has since filled. He
was married in Versailles, Ripley County, to Maggie Mathes, daughter of
Andrew Mathes, a citizen of Dearborn County. By this union there are
three children — Flora E , Melville D., Elmer W. Mr. Somerville is a
member of the A., F. & A. M., Lawrenceburg Lodge, No. 21; of the I.
O. R. M., Red Cloud Tribe, No. 18, at Indianapolis. Is a Republican,
and he and wife are members of the Baptist Chui'ch.
JESSE R. STARKEY, second son and third child in a family of
nine children, was born August 12, 1849, in Madison County, 111. His
parents, Joel W. and Jane C. (Hagerman) Starkey, natives of Illinois
and Indiana respectively, were married in Illinois in 1844, and located
on a farm in Madison County, where they lived until 1869. Removing
thence to a farm in Logan County, they have since resided there. Jesse
Starkey was reared and educated in his native county. When he was
twenty years of age, he entered Lincoln University at Lincoln, 111., from
which he graduated in 1874 after four years of hard study. During the
winter following (1874-75), he was Principal of the schools at Broad-
well, 111.*, and during the two succeeding winters taught select school in
Boyle County, Ky. In the fail of 1876, he took the Princi])alship of the
Martinsville Schools, where he at present resides. On December 21,
1876, he was married to Phibbie H. Caldwell, daughter of R. H. Cald-
"well, a resident of Boyle County, Ky. By this union there have been
iour children — Lucy C. (deceased), Ella, Horace L. and Russell I. Mr.
Starkey is a member of the I. O. O. F., Martinsville Lodge, No. 274, and
in politics is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Starkey are members of the
Cumberland Presbvterian Church.
E. F. STIMSON was born in Iredell County, N. C, December 13,
1829, and is the fifth of the eighteen children of Henry E. and Annie
L. (Brandon) Stimson, natives of Halifax County, Va., where they mar-
ried and afterward moved to Iredell County, N. C. In 1845, they moved
to Monroe County, Ind., and there remained till death. Their children
were Robert T., Sarah J., Elizabeth, George, Erasmus F., Mary A., John
W., Henry A., Lafayette, William, Louisa, Joseph, Wilbur, Edward,
and others who died in infancy. E. F. Stimson moved with his parents
to Monroe County, and in 1856 removed to Morgan County, where, June
10, 1860, he man-ied Mercy A., daughter of Jacob and Mabala Vansickel,
and a native of Morris County, N. J. To this union were born nine
children — Jacob, Harry, Louisa (deceased), Dayton C, Anson R., Maha-
la, Mary, Anson M. (deceased), and Evalina. In 1861, Mr. Stimson en-
listed in Company G, Twenty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
served until September, 1864. After his discharge, he moved to his
present place and engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Stimson are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
AUSTIN SWEET is a native of Fleming County, Ky. , was born
August 16, 1881, and is the youngest of the three children of Benjamin
and Harriet (Mills) Sweet, natives respectively of Kentucky and Vir-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 209
ginia. Benjamin Sweet was born in 1798, his father, William Sweet, hav-
ing been one of the earliest pioneers of Fleming County, Ky., and the
parent of eight sons and two daughters. Benjamin moved to Morgan
County, Ind., in 1884. where he and wife closed their lives. Our sub-
ject, Austin Sweet, married in this county, November 22, 1855, Hannah
K., daughter of John and Isabel Clark, and born March 11, 1838. This
union gave being to six children — Benjamin F., Halleck (deceased), Ed-
ward M., Harriet A., Ann (deceased) and Otis A. Mr. Sweet is a worthy
and genial gentleman, as Avell as a respected citizen.
ROBERT H. TARLETON, M. D., druggist, was born in Mason
County, Ky., March 24, 1822, and reared in Brookville, in that State.
During his boyhood, he attended the schools of the day, and when seven-
teen one of a higher grade. At the age of twenty- one, he removed to
Missouri, but soon returned to Kentucky, and engaged in teaching and
in the study of medicine. In 1846, he located as a practitioner near
Edinburg, Ind.; in 1847, came to this county, and in 1849 attended lect-
ures at and in 1850 graduated from the Ohio Medical College, during
which year he removed to Kentucky and there married Miss Maria Pra-
ther April 18, 1850. He then located at Patriot, Ind., where he lost his
wife in 1851, and afterward came to this town, where he has since been
engaged in the practice of his profession, together with the drug basi-
ness, which he established in 1852, in which he has now a partner in his
nephew, W. B. Tarleton, and does a business of from $15,000 to $18,000
annually. March 2, 1852, he married Miss Elizabeth S. Wampler, with
an issue of eight children — Carrie, Emma J. B., Harriet S., James W.,
Harry H., Edgar, June and Maurice. In 1867, he laid out the beautiful
Hillsdale Cemeteiy. In addition to his store building, Dr. Tarleton
owns a fine residence and other property. He is a member of the Ma-
sons and a Democrat. In 1879, he was appointed Trustee of the Indiana
Hospital for the Insane, and re-nominated in 1881.
WILLIA]^[ B. TAYLOR was born in Lawrence County, Ind., Sep-
tember 15, 1819. His parents, Joshua and Mary (Armstrong) Taylor,
natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, came to Indiana in 1809,
and settled on a farm in Washington County, where they remained for
eight years, removing thence to Lawrence County. In February, 1821,
they came to Morgan County, locating on a farm one mile from Martins-
ville. In 1834, the mother died, and ten years later the father, with his
children, moved to Green Township, where he died in June, 1855.
AVilliam B. Taylor is the fourth son and seventh child in a family of
eleven children reared in Morgan County, and when fifteen years of age
he began learning the blacksmith trade. After one year at this, he
worked for the neighboring farmers until 1839. He then worked on a
flat-boat between New Orleans and Martinsville for Mitchell Bros, until
1842. For some time he worked in lead mines in Wisconsin, and in Au-
gust, 1845, he was married to Jane Estlinger, a native of Washington
County, Ind. They have two children — Mary A. and Sarah A. His
wife died in November, 1854, and one year later he was married to Caro-
line Hough. By this union there is one child, Lillie. After his first
marriage, he farmed near Martinsville, in Washington Township, for
nine years, and then sold his farm and purchased another one in Green
Township. Here he farmed for thirteen years. In 1869, he began trad-
ing in stock, and at present resides in Martinsville, engaged in the same
way. Mr. Taylor is an active member of the Republican party. He
210 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
was County Commissioner for two years, re-elected, and served six years
longer. He was Township Trustee for two years. He filled the unex-
pired term of office for Mr. Perham (deceased) in 1861, and was again
elected in 1862 and 1863, and again in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are
members of the Cumberland Church.
JOHN THOMAS is a native of Tennessee, was born January 2, 1817,
and is the eldest of the ten children of Peter and Sarah Thomas, both of
whom were natives of North Carolina. John Thomas, the subject of this
sketch, came with his parents to this State in 1823, who settled in this
county, and here John has remained. April 1, 1841, he married Miss
Nancy, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Maxwell, and born in this
county November 11, 1823. After his marriage Mr. Thomas located in
this township, where he has since made his home. Mrs. Thomas died
October 17, 1859, and March 31, 1861, Mr. Thomas married Mrs. Lucy
J., widow of Joshua King, and a daughter of Henry and Mary Harper. Mr.
Thomas is the parent of three children — Sarah, Harrison and an infant
daughter, which died unnamed. Mr.Thomas is a generally respected citizen.
ELI THOMAS was born in Morgan County, Ind., on the farm on
which he stil) resides October 15, 1830, and is a son of Peter and Sarah
Thomas, both natives of Orange County, N. C, the former born Decem-
ber 15, 1791, the latter May 3, 1795. The grandfather of our subject,
Abram Thomas, was a native of Wales, who emigrated to America during
the last century and settled in North Carolina, where he married, reared
a family of nine children and passed away. Peter Thomas married, in
1816, Miss Sarah Graves, soon after settled near Knoxville, Tenn. ; in
1818, moved to Clarke County, Ind., and thence in 1822 to Morgan County,
where he died December 2, 1868, and his wife December 25, 1878. They
were parents of ten children — John, Henry, Daniel, Solomon, Lucinda,
Louisa, Eli, George W., Elizabeth and Nancy A. Eli Thomas married,
December 2, 1855, Miss Ruth, daughter of Abraham and Nancy A. Huff,
and a native of Monroe County, Ind., born May 14, 1831. After mar-
riage, Mr. Thomas settled on a small farm previously purchased, and in
1869, having purchased the homestead, moved thereon. In 1864, he en-
listed in Company C, Thirty- third Indiana Volunteers, and served until
the struggle ended. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had six children — Albert
W., Nancy E. (deceased), Sarah E., Mary E., Francis M. (deceased), and
an infant (still-born).
ELI THOMAS, Jr., is a native of Morgan County, Ind. , wa& born
September 11, 1852, and is a son of Daniel Thomas, also a native of said
county. Daniel Thomas was twice married, and the parent of nine chil-
dren, viz. : By the first wife five — Eliza, Elizabeth, Allen, John and Eli,
all of whom are deceased except the subject of this writing; by the sec-
ond wife four children — Sarah, David D., Susanna and Charles ^\., all
of whom are living. Eli Thomas married in this county December 31,
1874, Miss Anna L., daughter of William and Katie Maybee, and born
February 2, 1857, » union which was conspicious in the birth of four
children — Bertha M. (deceased), Charles O., Daisy (deceased), and Ger-
tie. Mr. Thomas is an energetic and genial gentleman, and much es-
teemed among his fellow- citizens.
HARRISON THOMAS is a native of Morgan County, Ind., was born
April 25, 1852, and is one of the family of three children born to John
and Nancy Thomas. October 28, 1875, our subject married Miss Martha
A., daughter of John and Martha Bothwell, and a native of this county,.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 211
born July 4, 1854. This union has been endeared by the birth of two
children — John and Harry. Mr. Thomas is a most promising and
greatly regarded gentleman, as well as practical and enterprising farmer.
His farm comprises 215 acres of rich and cultivated land.
AMOS THOENBURG, of the firm of Thornburg & Small, dealers in
grain and proprietors of the Union Mill and Elevator, was born in this
county February 27, 1827, and likewise reared here. His father, Benja-
min Thornburg, was born near Harrodsburg, Ky., September 25, 1797;
reared in Washington County, Ind., and in 1822 removed to this county;
settled near Brooklyn, and entered in all 160 acres, 100 of which are now
in cultivation. He was rigidly temperate, and thus set a fair example to
the pioneers; a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also
an exhorter and class-leader; he was an old-time Whig, and later a Re-
publican. In 1817, he married a Miss Susan Monical, who died in 1876,
having borne fourteen children, seven of whom survive — Rachel (Mrs.
Moon), Hannah (Mrs. Davis), Amanda (Mrs. Hornor), Ada (Mrs. Dryden),
John H., Peter F. and Amos. Our subject engaged in farming for his
father several years, and in 1856 purchased sixty acres in Brown Town-
ship, to which he added forty afterward. He continued farming until
1877, when he moved to this town and engaged successfully in the mill-
ing line, having one of the best mills in the country, with buhr and roller
combined. Their elevator is also very superior, having capacity of
40,000 bushels; they can, too, load and weigh a car of wheat in eight
minutes. Mr. Thornburg has been twice married — first, April 10, 1854,
to Miss Caroline E. Doughty, of Vermont, who died January, 1876, leav-
ing three living children — James D., Benjamin E. and Albert M. ; second,
October 3, 1877, to Mrs. Amanda B. Wilson. Mr. Thornburg is an Odd
Fellow, a Republican and strictly temperate and prudent.
SALEM A. TILFORD, M. D., was born in Jefferson County, Ind., Feb-
ruary 2, 1827, with good opportunities for education in the Madison High
School. In 1845, he took up the study of medicine under Dr. J. H. D.
Rogers, of Madison; afterward attended lectures at the University of
Louisville and the Indiana Medical College, at Indianapolis; graduated
from the latter, and took 'the ad eundem degree in 1879. In 1848, he
located here and has continued his practice successfully. November 28,
1849, he married Miss Emeline Major, who died in May, 1853, leaving
one child — Ella R., now a well-known teacher in this county. April 1,
1857, he married Miss Ann Wolfe, which union was favored with eleven
children — Isabel, Benjamin W., Lulie, Jennie, Ann, Alex S., Mary, Jo-
seph W., Amanda, Harry and Roy E. Dr. Tilford was a Whig, but
afterward became a Republican; was zealous during the war, but later
affiliated with the Democrats, by which party he was elected, in 1870,
Auditor of Morgan County, having served about eighteen months pre-
viously as said officer. Dr. Tilford is a Chapter Mason. When he came
first to this town there were only 350 souls therein.
BENJAMIN W. TILFORD, physician and druggist was born in this
town November 8, 1859, where he was reared and attended the high
school. In 1878, he began the study of medicine under his father's in-
struction; also attended lectures at the Indiana Medical College at In-
dianapolis in 1879 and 1880; graduated in March, 1881; came home to
Martinsville, and in the autumn engaged in the drug trade. He has a
$2,000 stock, and has done a satisfactory business.
212 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
J. E. TONER, a native of Shelby County, Ind., was born on January
21, 1841, and is the son of John and Nancy (Parker) Toner, natives of
Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively. The father still resides in
Shelby County, the mother having died in 1856, leaving four children,
of whom our subject is one. The father subsequently remarried, and has
four children by his last wife. One subject was engaged in early life on
the farm and attending school; later entered the Northwestern (now But-
ler) University, at Indianapolis. From this university he enlisted in
April, 1861, in Company D, Seventh Indiana Infantry (three months'
service), went to Virginia and was a participant in the battles of Philippi,
Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford. Returning home after his time expired,
he re-enlisted for three years in Company D, Thirty-third Indiana In-
fantry, proceeded with his regiment to Kentucky, and participated in the
battle of Wild Cat, siege of Mill Spring and Cumberland Gap. At the
latter place he was taken prisoner by Morgan, held for seven weeks, when
he was paroled and sent to Columbus, Ohio, Parole Camp, where he re-
mained four weeks, and then decamped and came home. On January 8
following, he was exchanged, and returned to his regiment at Nashville,
TenD. He with his command took part in the battle of Thompson's Sta-
tion, where a large portion of his regiment was captured by the enemy.
Our subject, with about eighty others, escaped. Returning to Franklin,
he was discharged for disability, and again returned home. In January
following he again re-enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Indiana (mounted)
Infantry, served sixteen months, and was engaged in the siege of Vicks-
burg, in the Red River campaign, and at the battle of Sabine Cross
Roads. After his regiment's term of service expired, he was transferred
to Company C, 'I hirteenth Indiana Cavalry, and served with it until De-
cember, 1865, when he was mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss. He was
wounded at Thibodeaux, La., in the left leg, the enemy's bullet severing
the main artery near the groin. Upon his return home, he assisted his
father on the farm until he was twenty-seven years old. On September
24, 1867, he was married to Sophia Salla, a native of Rush County, Ind.
Then for seven years he farmed for himself in Shelby County. In 1875,
he came to Martinsville and embarked in the grocery trade, continuing
nine years, when he purchased the Mason House, and has since been con-
ducting it. This is the only first-class hostelry in town. Mr. Toner is a
Republican, and served as Chairman of the City Council seventeen months.
He is a member of the A. O. U. W., the K. of P., and of the G. A. R.
He and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
and Mrs. Toner have five children living — Ottway C, Edward, John,
Grace and Annis; an infant deceased. He is one of the liberal and en-
terprising citizens of Martinsville.
ERVIN TOWNSEN.D, a son of Silas and Hannah Townsend, was
born in Washington County, Ind., November 20, 1820. The grand-
father of our subject, William Townsend, was a native of South Caro-
lina; moved to Washington County, Ind., in 1810, and to Morgan County
in 1821, where he died. He was a soldier for seven years in the Revolu-
tionary war. Silas Townsend married in Washington County, Ind.,
Hannah Nogles, about 1813, who died in 1821. In 1822, Mr. Townsend
moved to Morgan County, where he married Susan Thacker, after which
he removed to Louisville, Ky., and ended his days. He was father to
five children — Robinson, Susan, Huston and Ervin by first wife, and
Martha by second wife. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Ervin
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 213
Townsend came to Morgan County with his grandparents, with whom he
remained until December 31, 1840, when he married Mary A., daughter
of Richard and Rebecca Deakins, and a native of Washington County,
Tenn., born May 25, 1825. After marriage, Mr. Townsend settled in
this township, where he has an improved farm of 240 acres. Mrs.
Townsend died June 5, 1883, having borne twelve children — Sarah J.,
Thomas J., Martha, William, Franklin P., James (deceased), Rebecca,
Emma ¥., John, Hattie, Maggie and Nora E. Mr. Townsend is an
esteemed citizen.
THOMAS J. TOWNSEND, sou of William and Mary Townsend, natives
of North Carolina, was born May 16, 1840, in this towDship. His par-
ents were married in South Carolina, and immigrated to Indiana, locating
in Washington County, whence they shortly afterward removed to Mor-
gan County, and settled on a farm in Washington Township, where the
father farmed until 1847. He then removed to Missouri and remained
until the spring of 1857, when he returned with his family to Morgan
County. In the fall of 1857, the father died. The mother in November,
1865. Thomas Townsend was reared in his native county, and educated
in Missouri. When seventeen years of age, he returned to Morgan
County with his parents, finally locating on a farm of 130 acres in
Washington Township, which he inherited upon his father's death. He
remained there for twenty-three years, when he removed to Martinsville,
where he at present resides. In 1863-64, he served as Township Assessor.
He also served several times as Supervisor of Roads in the township.
On December 13, 1860, he was united in marriage to Melinda J. Cox,
daughter of John L. Cox, an old and respected citizen of Morgan Coun-
ty. By this union, there have been eight children — Mary E. (deceased),
William L., Thomas A., Ruth A. (deceased), Viola (deceased), Maggie,
Nettie and Lillie. Mr. Townsend is a Republican.
SAMUEL TUCKER was born in Henry County, Ky., May 26, 1819,
and is a son of James and Mary (Kitcher) Tucker, natives respectively
of Ireland and Virginia. James Tucker emigrated from Ireland to
America and settled in Eeyette County, Ky. , when twenty one years old,
where he married. In 1836, he moved to Marion County, Ind., located
near Indianapolis, and shortly after died, his wife surviving him about
twelve years. Their family consisted of Robert, William. James, Har-
vey, Margaret, James R., Stephen, Sarah and Samuel. When Samuel
was eighteen years of age, he became an apprentice to the cabinet-mak-
ing trade, after completing which, in 1839, he moved to Martinsville,
worked for a time, and then comrdenced business for himself, which he
continued a number of years. April 23, 1843, he married Sarah C,
daughter of Jeremiah and Nancy Vincent, and born in Franklin County,
Ind., February 2. 1823. To this union were bequeathed a family of
eight — Nancy A. (deceased), Ledgard R., Clarinda, Rees H., Isaac W.,
Ida A., Palmanora and Lily P. In 1865, Mr. Tucker moved to Indiau-
apolis and engaged in hotel-keeping one year, then returned to Martins-
ville and purchased the Mason House, which he managed eighteen
months, and finally moved to his present home and farm. Mr. and Mrs.
Tucker are members of the Christian Church.
REV. AARON TURNER was born in Greene County, Ohio, June 4,
1835. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Burnsides) Turner, natives of
Ohio, were married in Ohio in 1830, removing thence, in 1849, to Rush
County, Ind. His father, a Methodist minister, resides in Pike County,
214 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Ind., at the advanced age of seventy-three years. The mother died in
1849. The subject was the third son and fourth child in a family of
fourteen children, and was reared in his native county until fourteen
years of age, removing thence to Eush County, Ind., where he taught
school for two years. In 1857, he entered the ministry at the Annual
Conference, held at New Albany, over which Bishop Morris presided.
His first appointment was on the Poseyville Circuit, where he remained
for one year, then receiving an appointment to Owensvillo Circuit. At
the end of his first year at Owensville he was ordained " Deacon " at
Bloomington, Ind., by Bishop Scott. His third appointment was Sullivan
Station, where he remained for two years. After his first year at Sullivan,
he was ordained "Elder" by Bishop Simpson at Rockport. He was at
Greencastle, during which time he was appointed agent for the Asbury
University, which position he filled for two years; for the past five months
has been located in Martinsville. In 1870, the Wesleyan University
conferred upon him the degree of "A. M.," and in June, 1883, the Asbury
University conferred upon him the degree of "D. D. " In October, 1858,
he was married to Mary E. Van Sickle, daughter of Jacob Van Sickle, a
pioneer of Morgan County. There was one child by this union, Luella
(deceased). His wife died in 1861. August 21, 1866, he married Lucy
Bowles, daughter of Henry Bowles, of Evansville, Ind. By this union
there are two children, Helen and Jessie. Rev. Aaron Turner is a mem-
ber of the A. F. & A. M. , also of the K. of P. , and is a Republican.
JOHN A. WAGNER is a native of Germany, was born July 6, 1821,
and is a son of Adam F. and Wilhelmina Wagner. In 1848, he emigrated
with his mother to America, his father having died in his native country
in 1840. January 2, 1849, in Onondaga County, N. Y., our subject
married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Adam and Hannah Ditze, and born
May 6, 1824. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Wagner moved to the
State of Ohio, thence to Indianapolis, Ind.. and finally, in 1865, to
Morgan County, where he has since resided. Mr. Wagner is the owner
of 183 acres of very excellent land, which is well improved and cultivated.
Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are the parents of five children — Catherine, Charlie,
Frank, John and Louisa. Both are highly respected in their community.
GEORGE M. WALKER is a native of Monroe County, Va., was
born October 5, 1830, and is a son of Goodlow and Rebecca (Henderson)
Walker, both natives of Virginia; the former born 1800, the latter 1804.
Goodlow Walker was a son of George Walker, also a native of Virginia,
who married a Miss Adams, then moved to Tennessee, and finally to
Madison County, Ind., where he died. He was twice married and the
father of ten children. Goodlow Walker moved to Hendricks County,
Ind., in 1835, and there died in 1864, the father of five children, James
D., Harriet S., Clarinda J., John E. and George M. Our subject mar-
ried, October 6, 1853, Mary T. , daughter of John M. and Martha E.
(Branch) Satterwhite, and born March 27, 1836. In 1851, Mr. Walker
moved to Montgomery County, Ind., and September, 1862, enlisted in
Company F, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Regiment, in which he served
until December, 1863, during which time his family moved to Martins-
ville, where our subject made a home after his discharge from the service.
He is now serving most satisfactorily as Superintendent of the Poor. Mr.
and Mrs. Walker have a family of seven children — James H., Susan M.,
Ida T., Louisa E., George, Nettie B. and William A.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE. 215
A. B. WALKER, eldest son of Michael and Mary (Andrews) Walker,
natives of Maryland and Ohio, respectively, was born in Johnson County,
Ind., October 20, 1855. His parents located in Milford, Ohio, after
marriage, where the father followed his trade of cooper for a short time,
removing thence to Indianapolis, where he began the manufacture of
barrels. His property there being destroyed by lire, he went to Franklin,
Ind., his present residence. A. B. Walker was reared in Johnson
County, Ind. He received a good education in the graded schools at
Franklin, and at the age of seventeen, was employed by the F. F. & M.
R. R. in the office of John M. Johnson, at Franklin. Two years later,
he was appointed agent at Martinsville for the same road, and is at pres-
ent acting in that capacity. In 1878, he began buying timber and for
two years past he has also been dealing in coal. In August, 1883, he
built a factory for the manufacture of hubs, spokes and staves, and has
thus far been very successful. In February, 1882, he was married to
Louisa A. Clapper, daughter of W. G. and Martha Clapper, Martins-
ville. Mr. Walker is a charter member of the K. of P., Anniversary
Lodge, No. 89, is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the
Christian Church.
F. M. WARNER is second of four children born to Andrew J. and
Judith (Lockhart) Warner, natives of Kentucky. He was born in this
township August 3, 1842. His parents located on a farm in Morgan
County after marriage, where they lived for some time, removing thence
to a farm one mile south of Martinsville. Four years later, they moved
to Martinsville, where the mother at present resides. F. M. Warner
remained with his parents until nineteen years of age. He received his
education in the graded schools at Martinsville. He was refused enlist
ment in the army in 1861, being under age; he afterward entered his
father's employ in a livery stable, which he purchased three years later,
and is now profitably conducting. Mr. W^arner is a Republican, and
acted as Councilman of the Fourth Ward for two years. In October,
1878, he was married to Laura F. Bogle, of Putman County, Ind. She
was a good Christian, and at the time of her death, which occurred
August 15, 1879, she was a member of the Methodist Church.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS was born near Paoli, Ind., May 1, 1816,
a son of Jonathan and Celia (Silcox) Williams, natives respectively of
Tennessee and North Carolina. Jonathan Williams was a son of tfohn
R. Williams, of East Tennessee, who married Margaret Reed, and in the
early time moved to Morgan County, Ind., where he died about 1830,
the parent of ten children, seven boys — William, Lewis, John R., Isaac,
Key ton, Robert and Jonathan. He was born in Tennessee February 17,
1795, came to this territory when young, and in 1820 to Morgan
County, where he and wife died, the former September 15, 1845, the
latter July 26, 1868. He was one of the first County Commissioners
who located the city of Martinsville. He was elected Sheriff in 1834,
again in 1836, and in 1838 was elected to the Legislature. He was with
Gen. Jackson in his first battle, was a prominent and respected citizen,
and the father of the following family: William Pleasant, John, Jona-
than, David, Jackson, James, Polly and Nancy. William has resided
here since he came with his parents in 1820. December 3 1, 1846, he
married Emma, daughter of John King, to which union three children
followed: Celia A., Howard (deceased) and an infant (deceased). After
Mrs. Williams' death, February 25, 1849, he wedded Martha J., daughter
216 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of William A. Major, with an issue of seven children — Angeline (deceased),
Franklin, Perry (deceased), Eobert H., Dora E., Jennie (deceased),
and California. Mr. Williams has served as Sheriff and is now Township
EDWARD WOODS was born in Morgan County, Ind., July 12,
1848, and is one of the five children composing the family of Patrick and
Mary (Dougherty) Woods, natives of Ireland and Ohio respectively.
Patrick Woods was born in 1811, emigrated to America, and in 1813 to
the State of Ohio, where he man-ied the same year, and afterward moved
to Morgan County, lad., and settled on the identical land where our
subject now resides, which was his home until his death in 1865. Mrs.
Woods subsequently wedded Thomas Dougherty, and is yet living, her
family comprising five in number — James, Thomas, Edward, Patrick and
Catherine. Edward Woods married in this county, October 8, 1873,
Miss Mary E., daughter of William and Ruth Kemp, and a native of
Morgan County, born February 13, 1857. Mrs. Woods died April 15,
1881, having been the mother of six children — Rosie A., Mattie, Alice,
Thomas, William (deceased) and Mary E. (deceased). Mr. Wood is
much respected by his fellow-citizens.
OWEN WOODS is a native of Ireland, and was born June 24, 1814,
and is the youngest of the family of James and Mary (Welch) Woods,
both natives of Ireland, where they were married and died. They were
the parents of four children — Thomas, Patrick, Catherine and Owen. Our
subject was married while in Ireland, in 1835, to Ellen McCarugh.
After emigrating to the United States, he settled in Morgan County, Ind.,
in the year 1848, on the farm on which he now lives, and where he is com-
fortable and independently situated. Mr, and Mrs. Woods are members
of the Catholic Church, and have been the parents of eight children —
Mary (deceased), Catherine (deceased), Bridget (deceased), Mary, Ellen
(deceased), Katie (deceased), Ann and James. Mr. and Mrs. Woods
are greatly respected in the community.
A. R. VANSICKEL was born at Martinsville, this county, February
27, 1842, and is one of the eight children of Jacob and Mahala (Salmon)
Vansickel, natives of Sussex County, N.J. Jacob Vansickel was born in
1814, his wife in 1812, and in 1838 they moved to Henry County Ind.,
and thence to Morgan County, where Mr. Vansickel died in 1860, and
Mrs. Vansickel twelve years later. Their family was Mercy A., Mary
E., Sarah S., John D., Andrew R., Alonzo, George W. and Susan R.
Our subject, August, 1861, enlisted in Company G, Twenty- Seventh
Indiana Volunteers, and served until September, 1864, with much
experience in many severe battles. After his discharge and return to
this county, he married, November 24, 1864, Mary L., daughter of Hemy
and Phebe Miller, and a native of New Jersey, born February 20, 1840,
which union was favored with six children — Otis H. (deceased), Sarah
E., William F., Maggie A., Joseph A. and Mary E. Mr. Vansickel is a
member of the Masonic order, of the G. A. R., and of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
ALBERT VOYLES was born in Morgan County, Ind., August 20,
1842, and is a son of Ivan and Irena (Elgin) Voyles, natives of Indiana;
the former born in 1813. Mrs. Voyles died in 1855, after which Mr.
Voyles married Catherine Shireman; he died in 1880. The grandfather
of our subject, Moses Voyles, was one of the earliest settlers of Wash-
ington County, Ind., whence he moved to Morgan County, and there lived
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 217
out his days; he was a soldier of the war of 1812. Albert Voyles is the
youngest of the four children of his parents. August 11, 1862, he be-
caroe a soldier of Company H, Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, in which
he served until June, 1865. In October, 1868, he married Susan,
daughter of Joshua and Ehoda Gilpin, and born in this county February
20, 1849, which union was cemented by two children — Mamie D. and
James K. Mr. Voyles is a practical man and a respected citizen.
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE.
GEORGE W. BASS is a native of Johnson County, Ind., and was
born June 20, 1812. His parents, Josiah H. and Elizabeth (Robinson)
Bass, natives of Kentucky, had seven children, of which George W. was
the sixth, and with three older brothers. His youth was spent upon the
farm, and his education acquired at Greenwood High School in his na-
tive county. In the summer of 1862, he enrolled at Springfield, Mo.,
in Company I, First Missouri Calvary, and served to the close of the
war. The first year of his service was spent scouting in Southwestern
Missouri and Northeastern Texas; and he also participated in the battle
of Prairie Grove and the Van Buren (Arkansas) raid. He was at the
siege of Vicksburg as Orderly to Gen. Herron, and afterward saw service
at the following places in their order: Yazoo, Miss., Baton Rouge,
CarroUton, Morganza Bend, and New Orleans, La. From Brownsville,
Tex. , he returned to Baton Rouge, where he had charge of the division
mail for some time, when he was ordered to his regiment, then at Little
Rock, Ark., from which place he was honorably discharged from the serv-
ice. After leaving the army, he clerked awhile in a dry goods house, a
di'ug store, and finally, in the year 1874, settled down in the drug busi-
ness at New Augusta, Ind., where he remained four years. In 1878, he
removed to Mooresville, where he has since been engaged in the drug
business. On November 8, 1871, he was married at Greenwood, Ind., to
Mary E., daughter of W. A. Woods, Esq. By this marriage he has had
born to him three children — Frank R., Charlie W. and Nellie B. The
mother of these children, died March 30, 1880, and October 27, 1881,
Mr. Bass was married in Morgan County to Martha T. (Turley) Bysly.
Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and Mr. Bass belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and
Knights of Honor, of which latter lodge he is present Financial Re-
porter. He owns a small farm in Johnson County, and his residence in
Mooresville, as also the business property in which he carries a lucrative
drug trade.
JAMES M. BISHOP, a promising young lawyer of Mooresville, was
born in Hamilton County, Ind., May 31, 1850. His parents, Joseph and
Nancy (Chew) Bishop, were natives of Virginia, and of English descent.
They had eight children, our subject being the seventh, with two older
brothers. He grew up in Westtield, and finished his education at the
Mooresville High School. In May, 1873, he began the study of law
with Ford & Blair in Shelbyville, Ind., and in the year following was
admitted to the bar in Indianapolis, and from there came soon afterward
218 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
to Mooresville. As a practitioner, he is successful, and we bespeak for
him a prominent place in the very front rank of his profession at no dis-
tant day. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Chm'ch, an active
Republican, a good debater, and a public speaker of much more than
average ability. He made his first political speech in 1876, and has
since taken an effective part in all the election campaigns. The declin-
ing years of his aged mother and father are made comfortable and happy
by the generosity and kind attention of an ever dutiful son.
HARRIS BRAY, a pioneer of Brown Township, Morgan County, Ind. ,
a native of Chatham County, N. C, is the sixth child and fourth son of
six sons and eight daughters of William and Peggy (Brooks) Bray, na-
tives of North Carolina, and of English descent, and was born December
24, 1798; came into Morgan County in the year 1822; entered from the
Government a tract of land in the year 1823; settled upon it, and here as
a farmer he has since lived. Until nearly twenty-one years of age, he
lived with his parents in North Carolina. His education was limited to
that of reading, and something of penmanship was acquired at the sub-
scription schools of his native place. In September, 1819, he was mar-
ried in North Carolina to Rachel Moon, by whom he had born to him ten
children — Brantley, now in Iowa; Austin, now in Iowa; Nancy, now in
Iowa; Eli, now in Kansas; Wesley, now in Iowa; Riley, now in Morgan
County, Ind.; Alfred, now in Kansas; William, died in the army at
Buford, S. C. ; Ellen, wife of David Sheets, in Morgan County, Ind. ;
and Younger, died at the age of thirty-eight years. The mother of these
children died in April, 1876, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr.
Bray joined the Methodist Episcopal Church when about forty-five years
of age, and has since lived the life of a consistent Christian. His de-
ceased wife was a member of the same church many years of her life,
and was noted for her purity of life and Christian conduct. Together,
these two people labored as only pioneers of a new country can appre-
ciate. Their home was for many years the headquarters for all immi-
grants to the " new purchase, " and what they had they gave freely.
They inherited nothing but cheerful hearts and strong arms, and their
worldly goods were acquired by their united industry. Mr. Bray en-
tered from the Government from time to time in Indiana about 240 acres
of land, and has put about 100 acres in cultivation. He owns now a
fine farm, where he lives, of 108 acres, all in cultivation and well im-
proved. He has upon this farm a magnificent quarry of blae sandstone
of much value. About 1831, he erected a still-house on the East Fork of
White Lick, about one mile from where Mooresville now stands, and for
twelve years ran it with a capacity of about thirty gallons per day.
After his conversion, he abandoned the trade in liquor. About the year
1841, he put into operation a grist mill at the confluence of the East
Fork and the main White Lick Creeks, and ran it about three years. As
the mill was run mostly to supply meal for his distillery, he parted with
it soon after going out of the liquor business. He is a Democrat. He
has been a liberal giver to both chui'ch and school.
JAR VIS P. CALVERT was born in New York City June 17, 1842,
and is the youngest of four children of John T. and Sarah (Reese) Cal-
vert, of Rhode Island and Pennsylvania respectively, and of English ex-
traction. WheD he was but an infant, his parents removed to Cincin-
nati, Ohio, where his mother died in the year 1844, and his father in less
than a year afterward. Until about ten years of age, Jarvis P. existed a
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 2l9
part of the time in Louisville, Ky., and a longer period at Columbus,
Ohio. From the age of ten to twenty- one years, he lived on a farm in
Ohio, and attended the public schools. In the spring of 1863, he came
to Indiana and stopped a few months at Plainfield, and October 26, 1863,
he enrolled at Indianapolis in Company I, Sixty-third Indiana Volun-
teer Infantry. From this command he was transferred to Company H,
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the spring
of 1865, and was finally mustered out of the service April 10, 1866.
While in the Sixty-third Regiment, he saw much hard service, and took
part in some nine or ten regular battles, and any number of hot skir-
mishes. With the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, his service
was lighter, having been most of the time on detached duty as clerk
about headquarters. He returned to Plainfield and there studied photog-
raphy, and in February, 1867, opened his art gallery in Mooresville,
where he has since made great progress in his profession. May 19, 1868,
he married Delia Perce, by whom he has had born to him five children —
Archie B., Lennetta May (deceased), Gertrude (deceased), Percy H. and
Bertha Emma. Mr. Calvert is Steward and Chorister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He is a member of the I. O, O. F. and K. oE H. He
is a Republican in politics, and an advocate of prohibition.
JOHN D. CARTER was one of the pioneers of " the new purchase,"
a wealthy farmer of Brown Township, a native of Ashe County, N. C, is
the son of Nathaniel and Ann (Ramsy) Carter, and was born March 1,
1811. His parents came to Indiana in 1814, and settled in Orange
County, where they lived eight years, coming to Morgan County in 1822,
when they located upon a small tract of land entered from the Govern-
ment, and at once proceeded to erect a log cabin, upon the dirt floor of
which they stowed away their little family and scant supply of household
goods. Their stock, consisting of horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, geese and
ducks, they brought with them from Orange County. From a journal, writ-
ten by the subject of this sketch, in which it faithfully recounted the many
experiences of this family, we quote: "We saw hard times the first win-
ter; we had to cut down green beech and sugar trees for our cattle to eat
the buds; had to go from twenty to thirty miles for corn to make bread;
and five to six miles for help to raise the cabin. " But their experiences
were but repetitions of those of hundreds of brave pioneers whose hard-
ships and privations are recounted upon the pages of the early history of
our country. November 26, 1834, Mr. Carter was married to Ruth Pick-
ett, in the manner and form peculiar to the Friends' Society, of which
they were both birthright members. This union has been blessed with
ten children — George, Amos (deceased), Vincent, Sarah Ann (deceased),
Mary, Ella (deceased), William P., Nathaniel, Benjamin, Harriet B. and
Emma. Three of his sons, George, Vincent and Nathaniel, are promi-
nent attorneys at law in the city of Indianapolis, and his son William
lives in San Antonio, Tex. Mr. Carter has been one of the hardest work-
ing men of the county. His children have all been thoroughly educated,
and as they have arrived at the estate of men and women, have received
bountifully of the world's goods from the munificent hand of an ever gen-
erous parent. The declining years of his life are being happily spent
upon his magnificent farm of about 350 acres, one and a half miles south-
east of Mooresville, where at least once a year he assembles around his
hearthstone and at his sumptuous table his children and grandchildi-en,
and where the merry romp and laughter of the little folks are subdued to
220 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
breathless silence, as they listen to the tales of pioneer life, as they come
from the lips of one who has been an actor in scenes that seem to their
young ears fraught with wondrous impossibilities. In politics, Mr. Car-
ter has always been a Republican of the most pronounced type. He is a
consistent Christian gentleman, and lives supremely happy in the glori-
ous anticipation of eternal life in Heaven.
NATHANIEL CARTER, native of Orange County, Ind., the sixth
child and third son of Nathaniel and Ann (Ramsey) Carter, natives of
North Carolina, and of Irish and Scotch extraction respectively, was
born March 25, 1815. His parents came into Morgan County in 1821,
and located upon land entered from the Government, and where the two old
people spent the remainder of their days, and where Nathaniel has since re-
sided. He attended a little at the subscription schools and learned
something of reading and writing. November 23, 1837, he was married
at Plainfield, Ind., to Martha, daughter of Edward Chamness, a native
of North Carolina. She bore him six children — James R., Hannah,
Thomas F., Mary B., Nathaniel W. and William Edgar. His son,
Thomas F., was killed at the battle of Chattanooga, Tenn., on May 31,
3865. The mother of these children died October 2, 1871, at the age of
fifty-four years, and February 13, 1873, subject was married at Mon-
rovia, Ind. , to Louisa Jane (Hubbard) Blair, daughter of George lEub-
bard, deceased, native of North Carolina. Our subject and wife are
birthright members of the Friends' Church. He is a Republican in pol-
itics, and a strong advocate of temperance. He gave the land gratis
upon which is located public school building No. 1. What Mr. Carter
possesses he has toiled for, and after giving away considerable land to
his children, he yet owns a nice farm of ninety seres, all in cultivation
and well improved. He lived with his parents and took care of them
till their death. His religious work and charities are mostly among the
poor of the country, and in such labor he is endeavoring to do the will of
the Everlasting Father.
MATTHEW COMER is the second son of Joseph and Hester (Comp-
ton) Comer, natives of North Carolina and Ohio, and of Irish and English
extraction respectively. Joseph Comer came to Indiana Territory in
1804, and located upon the site now occupied by the city of Richmond,
and Matthew was born Jiily 1, 1825. He lived twenty-one years with
his parents, learned the habits of a farmer, and attended a few terms at the
subscription schools. The first twelve years of his majority were devoted
to the carpenter's trade, an apprenticeship to which he began a short
time before. He was married in Randolph County, Ind. , in November,
1846, to Adila J. Harris, who died March 27, 1881, having borne seven
children — Mary Jane, Jabez S., Sarah A., Levi C, William C, Minnie H.
and Mattie F., all of whom are living at this writing (December, 1883). The
Comer and Harris families were of the Quaker faith, but having refused to
" marry in meeting " young Comer and wife were peremptorily dismissed,
and the Methodist Episcopal Church immediately gained two new mem-
bers. August 13, 1862, Mr. Comer enlisted at Richmond, Ind., in Com-
pany B, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and served to the close of the war. His
Company was the first tc> charge upon and occupy the town of Knoxville,
Tenn. They also took a prominent part in the capture of the famous
command of John A. Morgan. He came to Mooresville in 1865, and soon
afterward embarked in the saw mill business, which he has since fol-
lowed, and at which he has made considerable money. He is a strict
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 221
temperance man, a Republican in politics, and a citizen of unimpeachable
integrity.
PAUL COX (deceased) was a native of Pennsylvania, son of Alexan-
der and Elizabeth Cox; was born November 6, 1808, and died March 15,
1876. He had four brothers and two sisters, two of the brothers being
older than himself. He was reared a farmer and followed it all his life,
though he was a brick -mason by trade, and also did a great deal in that
line. His parents removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and later on to
Indiana, and settled near Centreton, where they spent most of their after
lives. Paul received at the neighborhood schools in Indiana such educa-
tion as was practicable in so new a country. He was first married when
quite young to Mary Mathews, who bore him seven children — Milton,
Morgan, Elizabeth Ann, Emily, Harriet (deceased), Margaret and Oeorge.
The mother of these children died in April, 1846, and in the fall follow-
ing Mr. Cox was married in Morgan County to Elizabeth Chandler, who
bore him seven children — Morris, Alfred, Madison, Mariah, Ida, Laura
and Austin. Mr. Cox was a consistent member of the Christian Church,
as is also his widow. He inherited a small tract of land from his father,
but the rest of his property he worked for, leaving his family a handsome
patrimony which his widow has managed with skill. She was left with four
minor children, which she reared and cared for, educated and made of
them honored and respected men and women. Mr. Cox was one of the
best citizens of Morgan County, strictly honest and upright in all his
dealings, beloved byhis neighbors, and respected by all who knew him.
NATHAN DAY is the son of John and Edith (Lowder) Day, who were
born in North Carolina, where they met, loved and married, and from
whence, as hopeful young pioneers they came to Indiana in the year
1820. They located at once upon a tract of land which they entered
from the Government, and which lies about half a mile southeast from
the present town of Mooresville, in Morgan County. Here they under-
went the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life. Here their chil-
dren were born; here, by their united effort and direction, the primitive
forests were reduced and replaced by broad and fertile fields, and from
here, when life was no longer fraught with privations and anxious cares, they
took their final leave of all earthly things, and, their spirits returning to
Him who gave them, their bodies were laid away to await the final resur-
rection morn. They were members of the Friends' Church, and died in
the sixtieth and fiftieth- fourth years of their ages respectively. Nathan
is their third son and the only one of the family now living. He was
born June 29, 1843, and has always lived upon the old homestead which
he now owns. He was married November 24, 1864, to Candace C,
daughter of Asbury Kooker, and has had born to him two children —
Nellie E. and Francis R. Mr. and Mrs. Day are members of the Friends'
Church, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F. He is a strict temperance
man, and in politics a Republican. His farm, consisting of 120 acres, is
one of the best improved and most valuable in the neighborhood.
JOSEPH H. EDWARDS is the son of Henry J. and Hannah (Davis)
Edwards, natives of Virginia and North Carolina respectively; was born
in Grayson County, Va., May 4, 1833, and was brought by his parents to
Indiana in 1837. They settled first in Wayne County, where they lived
about twelve years, and where the mother died. The family afterward
removed to Randolph County, where the father is living at this writing.
Joseph H. was married in Hendricks County, November 24, 1855, to
222 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Sarah Jane Mills, who has borne him seven children — Lucinda A.. Ase-
nath D. , Martha A., Lima J., EffieM. , Lottie C. and an infant deceased,
not named. Mr. Edwards was reared upon a farm, and sent to the neigh-
borhood schools when a boy, whei-e he learned something of the element-
ary studies. In the spring of 1856, he came into Morgan County, lived
a few years at Mooresville, and removed to his farm where he has since
resided. He was taken seriously ill in July, 1882, and has never fully
recovered. He has sold his farm property with a view to removing into
Mooresville, where he will make his future home. Mr. Edwards is a
self-made maa. His mother died when he was but thirteen years of age,
and his father turned him at once upon the world. He worked four
years for one man at $50 per year, and two years after at something of
an increase. Thus he began life, and slowly but surely he has crept up.
He has given each of his children $2,000, and reserved to himself a
handsome competency. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, having come into that organization from the Society
of Friends.
GEORGE FARMER is a farmer, a native of Guilford County, N.
C, is the third of ten children — four sons and six daughters — of Jacob
and Peoa (Shoffner) Farmer, natives of North Carolina and of German
descent, and was born April 11, 1821. His parents came to Morgan
County in 1824, and after about eight years' residence in Brown Town-
ship removed to Hendricks County, where they lived the remainder of
their days, the father dying in September, 1861, in the seventy-ninth
year of his age, and the mother in August, 1865, in the sixty-eighth
year of her age. George was reared upon a farm, at the subscription
school learned something of reading, writing and arithmetic, and lived
with his parents until twenty-eight years of age, when, on December 24,
1848, he was married in Monroe Township, Morgan County, to Lydia
Elliott, daughter of Alfred Elliott, also a native of North Carolina, and
by this marriage he has had born to him eleven children, the first of
whom died in infancy not named. The others were Jacob (died at the
age of seven years), Mary, Caroline, Alfred, William, Catharine, John,
Alvaro (died), George and' Leonard R. Both Mr. and Mrs. F. are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. F. is a member of the
I. O. O. F. at Mooresville. He removed from Guilford Township, Hen-
dricks County to Brown Township, Morgan County, in August, 1858,
where he purchased and settled upon the farm he has since owned and
occupied. He was one of the incorporators of the Mooresville Monitor.
He and his wife inherited from their respective parents a small sum of
money, and the rest of their possessions have been acquired by their
united industry. He owns at present a splendid farm of 200 acres,
mostly in cultivation, well improved, stocked and equipped for agricult-
ural purposes. In politics, he is a Republican. He is an ardent tem-
perance man and an advocate of prohibition. He is a good, substantial
citizen, held in high esteem by his neighbors and those who come in
contact with him.
ABNER HADLEY, farmer, Brown Township, Morgan Co., Ind., is a
native of Hendricks County, Ind., and the third of four children of
Joshua B. and Mary T. (Hadley) Hadley, natives of North Carolina.
He was bom December 28, 1828; reared upon a farm; at the public
schools of Indiana acquired a good English education, and in his early
manhood taught two terms in Hendricks County. His father died in the
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 223
twenty- eighth year of his age when our subject was about three years of
age. His mother died in Hendricks County November 19, 1880, in the
seventy-third year of her age. Subject lived with his mother until he
was about twenty-one years of age, when he set out in the world for him-
self. On March 21, 1850, he was married, at West Union, Morgan
County, to Ann, daughter of Uavid and Mary Lindley, natives of North
Carolina. By this marriage he had born to him four children — Charles
(farmer in Hardin County, Iowa), Mary E. (wife of Thadeus S. Town-
send, now at Albany, Oreg.), Franklin M. (in Morgan County), and Flora
E, (wife of James P. Henley, of Hendricks County, Ind. ). The mother
of these children died February 1, 1862, in the thirty-third year of her
age. On April 15, 1863, he was next married to Beulah, daughter of
William and Ann Hadley, natives of North Carolina. By this marriage
two children were born, Joshua and Edgar. Mr. Hadley' s second wife
died February 24, 1867, in the thirty- seventh year of her age, and on
January 14, 1869, he married for his third wife Sallie A., daughter
of William B. and Ludah E. Hubbard, natives of North Carolina. Mr.
and Mrs. Hadley are both birthright members of the Friends' Society,
and are at present Elders in the White Lick Church of that denomina-
tion; Mr. H. is also one of the Trustees of this church. He is a liberal giver
to all churches and schools in his vicinity without regard to sect or creed.
In politics, he is a Republican; is also an ardent temperance man and ad-
vocate, and a friend of prohibition at all times. From the estate of his
father, he inherited a tract of land of small value, The rest of his prop-
erty he has acquired by his own industry. He owns at present a line
farm of 285 acres, nearly all in cultivation, well improved and stocked
with horses, hogs and cattle. The farm and stock receive his personal
supervision and management. He came into Morgan County in the
spring of 1863, and located upon the farm since owned and occupied by
him, about one-half mile north of the town of Mooresville. He is a
reputable and influential citizen, respected by his neighbors and esteemed
by his church as one of its most substantial pillars and supporters. His
wife is a woman of unquestionable merit, and noted for her charities and
Christian conduct.
CLINTON C. HADLEY, druggist, Mooresville, Ind., was born in
Brown Township, Morgan County, Ind., May 11, 1855, and is the young-
est of four children of Isaiah and Emily (Hadley) Hadley, natives of
Ohio and Indiana respectively. He was but about two years of age when
his father died. The first sixteen years were spent by Clinton C. upon
the farm, and by devoting a portion of the time to his studies at the
Mooresville school he acquired a good English education. At the age
of eighteen, he began the drug business as clerk for Joseph Pool, and
two years afterward, in the fall of 1875, he went to Mt. Carmel, 111., and
for one year had charge of a drug house belonging to his brother. Re-
turning to Mooresville he clerked for Hadley & Harvey, druggists, -until
the summer of 1880, when he bought out the interest of the senior mem-
ber of the firm, and shortly afterward became the sole owner of the estab-
lishment. Mr. Hadley is a "birthright" member of the Friends' Church,
and fills official chairs in the Subordinate Lodge and Encampment of the
I. O. O. F. He is unmarried, and in consequence very popular with the
ladies, a wide-awake Republican politically, and possessed of all the es-
sential requisites to an upright citizen and gentleman.
224 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
JOHN FRA.NKLIN HADLEY is of the sturdy old Quaker stock, and
adheres faithfully to the teachings of that unostentatious society. A
native farmer and stock grower of Brown Township, is the youngest son
of Aaron and Lydia (Hadley) Hadley, originally of North Carolina, was
born January 14, 1840, and educated at the Friends White Lick School.
He was married, March 13, 1860, to Lydia Ann, daughter of William
Macy (deceased), and has had born to him four childi-en — William A.,
Linnie, Mahlon and Cora. His son William is studying medicine, Mah-
lon is at Earlbam College, and the accomplishments of his daughters are not
being neglected. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Hadley was elected County
Commissioner, and re-elected thereto in 1882. He was one of the organ-
izers of the Farmers' Bank of Mooresville, and for eight years was one
of its directors. Though a straight Republican politically, he is not
radically partisan, and to this fact was due his first nomination for the
office of County Commissioner. His second nomination and election re-
sulted naturally from the efficient manner in which the affairs of the
office were administered during his first incumbency. Mr. Hadley holds
the office of Assistant Dictator in the order of K. of H. ; he is an unqual-
ified advocate of prohibition, and was among the very first public men in
Morgan County to oppose the system of legally licensing the whisky traffic.
Mr. H. owns and resides upon the farm upon which he was born and
reared.
ARNOLD W. HADLEY was born at Mooresville, Ind., May 8, 1846.
His parents, Jeremiah and Eliza (McCracken) Hadley, had eight chil-
dren, of whom our subject was third, with two brothers older. He lived
upon the farm with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age,
spending about one-third of his " school age" in pursuit of an education.
In 1867, he went to Kansas, and remained six years — four years in mer-
cantile business, and two dealing in live stock. Returning to Indiana in
1873, he for the next succeeding ten years, in company with his brother,
ran the Mooresville Elevator, handling large quantities of grain, and also
dealt extensively in coal. September 16, 1873, he was married at Mon-
rovia to Almeda, daughter of Amos Hunt, deceased, and has had born to
him two children — Edward d. and Hermon A. In April, 1883, as the
head and sole manager of the firm of A. W. Hadley & Bro., he began the
manufacture of drain tile at Mooresville, and at this writing they have
one of the most extensive works of the kind in Morgan County.. Mr.
Hadley and wife are members of the Friends' Church, and he is Deputy
(District) Grand Dictator of the Order of Knights of Honor. Subject is
a Republican in politics, an active worker in the cause of temperance,
and prominently identified with the educational interests of Mooresville.
WILLIAM FOSTER HADLEY was born in Brown Township,
Morgan County, Ind., August 3, 1855. His parents, Jeremiah and
Eliza E. (McCracken) Hadley, were North Carolinians, and traced their
ancestral blood to the persecuted Quakers of the British Isle. They
accompanied their respective parents into Indiana probably about half a
century ago, and here they married and reared a family of eight children,
William F. being the youngest son and seventh child. The subject of
this sketch spent the first eight years of his life upon the farm, and his
education, which consisted of a thorough English course, was acquired
before he was seventeen years of age. At the age of twelve years, he was
placed in charge of the M. & M. Gravel Road Toll Gate, just west of.
Mooresville, and at this time his business career commenced. At the age
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 225
of fifteen, he entered the grocery house of R. R. Scott, at Mooresville, as
clerk, and the following year studied the mysteries of pharmacy in
the drug store of J. Edwards. It will not be forgotten that up to this
time his winters had been regularly spent at school. In the fall of 1872,
he went into the Mooresville office of the Indianapolis & Vincennes Rail-
road, and there learned the art of telegraphy, which he followed profes-
sionally for the next nine years. December 29, 1880, he was married in
Morgan County to Cassie, daughter of George Farmor, and has had born
to him one child — Everard F. May 16, 1881, he was elected cashier of
the Farmers' Bank of Mooresville, and has since filled that position. In
the spring of 1882, the citizens tendered him the office of Treasurer of
Mooresville, but the trust was declined for reasons of his own. He is a
member of the firm of A. W. Hadley & Bro. , in the manufacture of drain
tiles, and up to June, 1883, was largely interested in the grain and coal
business. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in
politics a Republican. He is a thorough business man, a gentleman and
a scholar.
S. M. HADLEY, eldest son of John and Elenor (Chambless) Hadley,
natives of 'North Carolina, was born in Morgan County, Ind., October 12,
1838. He grew to manhood upon a farm, and during his youth received
a good English education at the subscription and public schools of his
native county, supplemented by a coui-se at the Parke County Graded
School. October 2, 1858, he was married to Samira Ann Kemp, a native
of Parke County, Ind., and has had born to him two children — Curtis J.
(dead) and Lizzie E. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley are birthright members of
the Friends' Church, and Mr. Hadley belongs to the order of Knights of
Honor. In politics, he is a Republican, and with the anti -temperance
element he admits of no compromise. He removed from his farm into
Mooresville about the year ] 872, and engaged at once in the drug business,
which he has since followed. He owns a nice farm of eighty acres, well
improved, stocked and cultivated, and in addition to his many other
duties, he has been for several years past Deputy United States Postmas-
ter at Mooresville. His worldly acquisitions are the results of his indi-
vidual effort and management.
JOHN W. HINSON was born at Mooresville, Ind., on January 2, 1842,
and is the eldest of eleven children born to his parents, William H. and
Mary (Putner) Hinson, of North Carolina. His early life was spent upon
the farm, and his education acquired at the Mouresville High School. On
August 15, 1861, he enrolled in Company C, Thirty- third Indiana Volun-
teer Infantry, and served until September, 1865, having veteranized with
his regiment in 1863. He took part in many hard-fought battles, and at
Kenesaw Mountain, June 29, 1863, as a result from a shot fired from a
Mississippi rifle, lost his right leg above the knee. December 27, 1869,
he was married at Mooresville to Margaret Elliott, who died October 9,
1881, having borne him three children — Viola, Maude (deceased), and
Ethel E. Mr. Hinson was elected Assessor of Brown Township in 1866,
and held the office about five years. In 1869, he was appointed Post-
master of Mooresville, and has since been the incumbent of that office.
To his present wife — Flora B. Roseberry — he was married at Cofi"man,
Mo., August 1, 1883. Mr. Hinson owns both residence and business
property in Mooresville, and while, with reference to worldly goods, he
is comfortable generally, nothing has been given him. He is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics a Republican.
226 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
HENRY HOUSE, native of Prince William County, Va., and third
of eight children of John and Catharine B. (Bless) House, natives of
Germany, was born March 23, 1823. His parents came to America in
the year 1800, and into Morgan County in 1836, where they spent the
remainder of their lives. Our subject was reared upon a farm; remained
with his parents till twenty-one years of age, and at the neighborhood
schools, both in Virginia and Indiana, acquired a fair English education.
His father died in 1874, at the age of eighty-four years, and his mother
two years earlier, at the age of seventy-seven. On September 5, 1845,
our subject was married, at Mooresville, to Elizabeth King, a native of
Indiana, who died September 28, 1848, leaving two children — Sarah Jane
and Harriet. Sarah Jane died at the age of five years. On October 25,
1849, he married Sarah E. Fultz, of Tennessee, and by her had born to
him eleven children — Anna, Virginia, Charlotte (deceased), Nathaniel
(deceased), Dora, Douglas, John, Otto, Catharine, Gertrude (deceased),
and Ethel. Mr. H. is a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
a Democrat in politics, and a temperance man from principle. He is an
industrious and successful farmer and stock-grower, and his property ac-
cumulations are due solely to his own industry. He owns 400 acres of
fine land in Morgan County, to the management of which he gives his
personal attention. He is a lover of learning, and a liberal supporter of
churches and benevolent institutions without reference to sect or creed.
WILLIAM A. HUNT, editor of the Mooresville Monitor, is a native
of Martinsville, Ind., and is the only child of Nathan A. and Mary A. (Coble)
Hunt, natives of the State of North Carolina, and of English and Ger-
man extraction respectively. ^Villiam A. was born August 5, 1853, and
his parents removed to Mooresville in the year 1854. where, with the ex-
ception of two years spent in Danville, Ind., our subject has since resided.
At the age of fourteen years, he was thrown upon his own resources, and
his schooling, limited to about eight months in the aggregate, was pro-
cured after that age. In 1865, he entered the confectionery store of his
grandfather, at Mooresville, and remained up to 1874. At this time, his
grandfather having died, he embarked in business on his own account,
and for two years, though nearly destitute of financial capital, he man-
aged, young as he was, to support himself, his mother and grandmother,
both the latter being confirmed invalids. In 1877, he entered the office
of the Mooresville Herald, as a " printer's devil," where he remained
three years, learning the trade of a printer in the meantime, and in 1880
engaged as a compositor on the Mooresville Monitor, and in 1881, upon
the retirment of A. W. Macy, Mr. Hunt was appointed by the directors,
editor, which position he has since held, and the duties of which he has
discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his patrons.
Since becoming the editor of the Monitor — which is owned by a joint-
stock company — he has by industry and economy been able to possess him-
self of two-thirds of its stock, and is at this writing, December, 1883, the
owner of a controlling interest. January 9, 1877, he was married, in
Mooresville, to Mary E. Dickinson, by whom he has had born to him two
children — Dwite A. and Margaret A. Mr. Hunt is a consistent member
of the Methodist Episcopal Charch, and is Reporter or Secretary of the
Lodge of the Knights of Honor. He is also Secretary of the Old Set-
tlers' Association, of the district comprising the counties of Morgan,
Hendricks, Johnson and Monroe. He is a writer of more than ordinary
ability, and the Monitor, under his management, is rapidly increasing in
popularity.
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 227
GEORGE ANDREW JACKSON was born in Stokes County, N. C,
June 1, 1842, and is the sixth of the twelve children born to William
and Celia (Gorden) Jackson. He was reared a farmer, and came to this
county in February, 1866; he resided for some time in Madison Town-
ship, and then came to Brown Township and purchased a farm of 100*'
acres, which he has well stocked and improved. May 21, 1871, he mar-
ried Lucy J. Perkey, daughter of George and Lucy (Landers) Perkey,
and to this marriage have been born the following children: Violette J,,
Laura Etta, AVilliam Sidney, George Amer, Louisa Jane and Allen Hick-
lin. Mr. Jackson is a member of Mooresville Lodge, No. 78, F. & A. M.,
and Mrs. Jackson is a member of the Christian Church.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JONES, carriage- trimmer and harness-
maker at Mooresville, Ind., is a native of Warren County, Ohio; is the
youngest of ten children, four sons and six daughters, of Nathan and
Margaret (Hawkins) Jones, natives of New Jersey and Ohio, and of
Welsh and English extraction respectively, and was born INIay 9, 1846,
He was reared upon a farm, and at the public schools of Ohio acquired a
good English education. September 2, 1864, he enrolled at Waynesville,
Ohio, in Company B, One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry, and served to July 25, 1865. when he was honorably discharged
with the rank of Duty Sergeant on account of cessation of war. While
in the service, he participated in the battle of Kingston, N. C, and a
number of skirmishes. Soon after enlistment, he was detached and put
into garrison duty. Mr. Jonen came to Mooresville in November, 1870,
and took service with Dorland & Gregory, dealers in hardware and agri-
cultural implements. In January, 1873, he began the trade of harness-
maker and carriage-trimmer, and, in 1876, set up in business on his own
account. April 26, 1876, he was married at New Albany, Ind., to Emma
Thompson, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Rev. I. N. Thompson,
and by this marriage he has had born to him one child — Bertram T.
After returning from the army, he was engaged in the dry goods business
at Lebanon, Ohio, during the year 1867 and a part of 1868, and, in
1869-70, he was at Oskaloosa, Iowa, in the grocery business. Aside
from a small inheritance from the estate of his father, he has worked for
what he has, and owns a nice residence property and the splendid brick
building in which he carries on his business. In politics, he is a wide-
awake Republican, a temperance man and an advocate of prohibition.
From 1879 to 1882, he carried on the manufacture of carriages and bug-
gies in addition to his other business, and altogether his industrious
efforts have proved satisfactorily remunerative. He is a highly respected
citizen and a reliable business man. In 1876, he was Town Clerk of
Mooresville, and as such wrote and compiled the town ordinances. The
father of our subject died in August, 1865, at the age of sixty-eight
years. His mother yet lives at the age of about seventy-eight years, and
makes her home with him.
THOMAS ELWOOD LAWRENCE was born in Grant County, Ind.,
June 19, 1847, and was the eldest of eight children — four sons and four
daughters — of William and Priscilla (Williams) Lawi'ence, natives re-
spectively of North Carolina and Indiana. When eighteen years of age,
our subject accompanied his parents to Morgan Coiinty, where he has
since lived, and where his father died in 1883, at the age of sixty-four
years, and his mother eight years before, at the age of fifty-one. Subject
was educated at the public schools, five terms of which he afterward
228 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
taught in Morgan County. He married Delphina Harvey April 26, 1871,
and has two children — lvalue and Gertrude. He is a birthright member
of the Friends' Church, in which society his mother was for tifteen years
4 preceding her death a prominent minister. Mr. L. is a prominent Odd
Fellow, a Republican politically, and an ardent temperance worker, In
1882, he rented out his farm, and engaged in the lumber business at
Mooresville, Martinsville and other points, and is to-day one of the most
extensive hard-wood lumber dealers in the county, dealing extensively in
walnut lumber. To give an idea of the present value of walnut lumber,
we will state that Mr. Lawrence has just shipped one car load of five-
eights walnut, of 14,230 feet, which brought him, loaded on car at
Mooresville, $825.35.
JAMES MADISON LEATHERS (deceased), native of Franklin
County, Ky., was born May 15, 1814, and died July 3, 1880. In 1828,
he accompanied his l^rother Thomas J. into Indiana, and spent the rest of
his life in Morgan County. His school advantages were very limited,
though he learned something of reading, writing and arithmetic by at-
tendance at the subscription schools when not engaged upon the farm.
He married Martha Jane McDonald September 15, 1835. and she bore
him twelve children — William W. (deceased), Charles S., Nancy A.,
Mary, Theodore (deceased), John (deceased), Margaret (deceased), Sam-
uel (deceased), Sarah M., Harrison, Douglass and Mintie E. From the
age of fourteen years until the day of his death, subject was a consistent
member of the Christian Church, and was for many years a Master Ma-
son. His first wife died March 4, 1871, and November 5, of the same
year, he was married in Morgan County, Ind., to Phoebe T. Jones, daugh-
ter of the Rev. H. T. Burge. By this marriage he had born to him
three children — Florence Mabel, Bessie B. (deceased), and Samuel M.
Mr. L. left his family a nice property, consisting, among other
things, of a tine farm of 183 acres, which his widow manages with skill
and success. He was a great religious worker, educated his children, and
voted the Democratic ticket with persistent regularity.
RILEY McCRARY is a native of North Carolina, but the name of
his father and the date of his birth are unknown. He was left an orphan
at a very early period of his existence, and bound out until twenty-one
years of age. He was taught only in manual labor, and has turned his
accomplishments in that direction to good account. He was about twen-
ty one years of age when he came into Morgan County, probably about
1834-35, and for several years carried on the blacksmith business at
Mooresville, at which he made considerable money. On April 2, 1837,
he married Oracle Staley, who bore him twelve children — Mary Jane,
John Wesley, William A., James F. (deceased), Samuel L., Margaret M.
(deceased), Sarah M. (deceased), Rebecca (deceased), Elizabeth E.,
George T., Joseph W. (deceased), David J. (deceased). The mother of
these children died in 1870, and January 3, 1873, he married Mary Jane
Lockwood, who has borne him three S(ms — Franklin (deceased), Charles
and Frederick. He lives now upon his farm, about one mile north of
Mooresville, and makes a specialty of breeding thoroughbred hogs. In
addition to hi a home place of 186 acres, he owns a fine farm in Hendricks
County. He has done as much hard work as any man of his age in any
country. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
a Democrat in politics, and has never in his life used tobacco or whisky,
nor had one dollar given to him.
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 229
PHILIP McNAB, M. D., a native of Morgan County, Ind., only
son of Henry and Casandra (Evans) McNab, natives of Kentucky, and
of Scotch and Welsh extraction respectively, was born July 12, 1833.
Philip was reared upon a farm and educated at the Northwestern Chris-
tian University at Indianapolis. In the summer of 1859, he entered
the office of Dr. Ford at Wabash, Ind., and began the study of medicine,
and the following fall and winter took a full course of lectures at Ann
Arbor (Mich.) University. Returning to Wabash for the summer, he
attended the succeeding fall and winter at Ann Arbor, from whence he
graduatedjin chemistry in the spring of 1863 ,andin May of this year(l861),
he opened an office at La Gro, Ind., and practiced medicine for the next
two years. In March, 1863, he entered Long Island Hospital College,
Brooklyn, and in June, 1863, graduated therefrom with the degree of
Doctor of Medicine, and after another short stay at La Gro removed to
Indianapolis, where in the beginning of 1864, he formed a partnership with
Dr. R. T. Brown, Professor of Natural Sciences in the Northwestern Chris-
tian University, and for four years following pursued his profession of
physician and surgeon. In the fall of 1868, he came into Morgan County,
and the following year opened an office iu West Newton, in Marion
County, where he remained about three years. In November, 1872, he
removed to Mooresville, Ind., where he immediately took rank among the
leading men of his profession. On July 29, 1861, he was married at
Bethel, Me., to Mary, daughter of Aaron and Ruble Mason, of that State,
and by this union he has had born to him two children — Solon Mason,
now a student at Butler University, and Howard Barlow, a resident of
Arizona Territory. Dr. McNab is respected for the knowledge he has
gaioed in his profession, in the practice of which he has enjoyed more
than ordinary experience. Some years since, he was associated with Dr.
L. D. Waterman, of Indianapolis, as expert in the chemical analysis of
the stomach of a Mrs. Dr. Beason, who, it was alleged, had been mur-
dered by her husband at Kokomo, Ind., and was one of the most cele-
brated cases of the day. Later on, in 1873, he was employed in the
same capacity in the case of Basil Bailey, another notorious case, at
Frankfort, Ind., and was the author of the exhaustive synopsis of the
analysis published in the Mooresville Enterprise, June 19, 1873. Upon
the analysis m the case first named, he was highly complimented by the
celebrated Prof. Blainey, of Chicago, who fully indorsed it in every par-
ticular. The subject of this sketch is a man of versatile ability. His
lectures on " Medical Sciences " before the society of physicians and sur-
geons, upon Physiology before the high school, and upon temperance be-
fore the people, are noted for their purity of diction and originality of
thought and eloquence of delivery. At this writing (November 1883),
Dr. McNabb is Secretary of the Mooresville Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons; member of both County and State Medical Societies, an active
Republican in politics, an ardent " Prohibitionist," a consistent member
of the Christian Church, and in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice iu
the community where he is best known, and therefore most highly
esteemed.
REV. PERRY T. MACY, a wealthy and influential farmer and stock
grower, was born in Randolph County, Ind., August 19, 1825, and there
lived upon the farm with his parents, William and Hannah (Hinshaw)
Macy, until he was twenty-three years old. His parents, who were na-
tives of North Carolina, and descended from the English and Irish
230 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
respectivfily, had thirteen children (seven sons and six daughters), of
whom our subject was the ninth, with five older brothers. The subscrip-
tion schools supplied the source of his education, which was limited to
elementary studies. Though he continued to reside in his native county
until the spring of 1856, he was married in Morgan County September
14, 1848, to Charity, daughter of Henry Mills. She bore him four
children, thi-ee of whom, Albert W., Charles L. and Ida Ellen, were liv-
ing at her death, which occurred December 27, 1863. August 26, 1869,
he married in Dallas County, Iowa, Rebecca Hadley, daughter of George
Bowles, and has had born to him two children — Oliver P. and Vernon D.
Rev. Mr. Macy has been many years regular recorded minister o f the Friends
Church, and since moving to Morgan County he has owned and occupied
the farm upon which he now resides, about one mile west of Mooresville.
From 1860 to 1872, he was superintendent of the business department of
the Mooresville High School, and for two years, 1873-74, was proprietor
of the Mooresville Entei^prise, a weekly paper now known as the Moores-
ville Monitor. His son, Albert, W., is at this writing (December, 1883)
the talented editor of the Richmond (Ind.) Palladium. Our subject is
well supplied with this world's goods, nearly all of which have been ac-
quired by his own industry.
ALLEN T. MANKER was born in Highland County, Ohio, April 15,
1827; is the sixth son of nine children (eight sons and one daughter) of
Jacob and Marion (Jones) Manker, natives of Ohio. His mother died
when he was five years of age, and the succeeding eleven years of his life
were spent at different places in the neighborhood of his nativity. He
acquired something of an education by a few months' attendance at the
winter schools in his neighborhood, and in 1841, in the town of Hillsboro,
Ohio, began the trade of carpenter and served an apprenticeship of three
years. He came into Morgan County in 1845, and has since recognized
Mooresville as his home. In 1854-55, he ran a grist mill in Montgome-
ry County, and from 1874 to 1880 had charge of the Magnolia Mills at
Mooresville two different times, aggregating something over three years.
Going thence to Brooklyn, Ind. , he closed his mill experience by about
one year's service. In 1856-57, he was engaged in the livery business at
Mooresville, and the rest of his life has been devoted to the business of
contractor and builder. He was married at Darlington, Ind., April 16,
1857, to Nancy J. Gaskill and has had born to him seven children — Frank
E., Clinton W., Mary I., James M., John W., Charles and Livingston.
In 1852, he "bull-whacked" across the plains from Iowa to Portland,
Oreg., and returned to New York via the Isthmus. The best buildings in
Mooresville are marks of his handiwork. He superintended the erection
of the new Methodist Episcopal Church, drew the plans of the Masonic
building, and erected the Odd Fellows Hall. He is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, belongs to the Masons and Knights of
Honor; is a strict temperance man, and in politics an out and-out Demo-
crat.
GILES BEFORD MITCHELL, M. D. (deceased), was born in Bar-
tholomew County, Ind., November 17, 1822. His parents, Giles and
Mary (Moore) Mitchell, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively,
were married in Kentucky in 1807, and emigrated to Indiana in 1810,
locating in Charleston, Clarke County, when the only buildings there were
a block-house and a log fort. In 1820, they removed into Bartholomew
County, and in 1833 settled in Martinsville, Morgan County, where Giles
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 231
Beford, who was the fourth of a family of nix children, acquired the
rudiments of an English education. In about 1837, he began the study of
medicine with Dr. Barnard, of Martinsville, and at the end of one year
entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which institution
he subsequently graduated as M. D. He practiced medicine a few years
in Martinsville, and from 1847 to 1857 in Mooresville, when he returned
to Martinsville and embarked in the mercantile business. This he fol-
lowed about three years, but growing dissatisfied sold out and returned
to Mooresville, where he resumed his practice which he continued up to
within a few days of his death, which occurred October 6, 1878. He
was a man of much more than ordinary mental caliber, and his success
through life was due to his own industry, energy, and indomnitable
perseverance in the pursuit of knowledge. He was married, November
30, 1847, at Mooresville, to Sarah Reagan, daughter of Eeason Reagan,
an early settler of Morgaa County, and had born to him six children —
Mary E., Laura A. (deceased), John (deceased), Ida E. (deceased), Sarah
V. (deceased), Emma G., and William L. At his death. Dr. M. had
been many years a consistent member of the M. E. Church, and a Mason
in high standing. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Bank
of Mooresville, and for several years its President. In politics, he was
an unswerving Democrat, and was at one time his party's candidate for
Representative in the State Legislature. He esteemed his profession
above all other employments in which he was engaged, and devoted him-
self to the bank only because the accumulation of his toil required it.
His aim was to be a successful practitioner, and he allowed nothing to
conflict with his darling purpose. His perceptions were very keen, and
in the treatment of acute diseases he was very successful. Much of his
extensive practice was due to the promptness of his calls. He attended
strictly to work, and was careful not to neglect any of his patients. He
took hold with a firm hand, and the result was not doubtful. His suc-
cessful career is a brilliant example of what can be accomplished by
earnest devotion to present duty. He started with nothing, having to
sign a note for borrowed money with which to prosecute his studies in
the medical college. As a business man, he was exact in his habits and
prided himself on system in all that belonged to his affairs. When he
received certain premonition of his approaching death, he arranged to
settle his business, that future embarrassment might be avoided. He be-
lieved in applying bank principles to ordinary business affairs, and this
system, no doubt, had much to do with his success in temporal matters.
He deserved great credit and reaped a liberal harvest for his painstakings
in departments of duty. He left his family a handsome patrimony,
which has been skillfully managed by his surviving widow.
JOHN NAUGLE, blacksmith and wood worker, Mooresville, Ind.,
second son of Emanuel and Delinda (Reede) Naugle, natives of Pennsylva-
nia and Virginia, and of German and English extraction respectively; was
born in Scott County, Ind., October 25, 1832. He was reared upon a
farm, and at the common schools acquired the rudiments of an English
education. On January 1, 1854, he was married at Salem, Washington
County, Ind., to Charlotte A. Hoggett, by whom he has had born to him
ten children, two of whom died in infancy, not named; the others were
named as follows: John Albert, Joseph Wilburn, Edward Emanuel, Alice
Irene, Leonora (deceased), George Elmer (deceased), Ernest Morton (de-
ceased) and Archibald T. Both Mr. and Mrs. Naugle are members of the
232 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Naugle came to Mooresville in Feb-
ruary, 1864, and for the next five years followed blacksmithing. Having
patented a garden and field hoe, he for a few months traveled from place
to place introducing them. He next perfected other patents, and devoted
his time to them for about three years. In 1871, he removed with his
family to Center Valley in Hendricks County, and lived there four years.
He then lived seven years at Valley Mills, in Marion County, and carried
on a blacksmith and wood working shop. His shops having been con-
sumed by fire, he returned to Mooresville in August, 1883, and again
embarked in his old business. He now owns a nice residence property,
and the handsomest blacksmith and wood working shop combined in the
county. He employs, aside from his own labor, two skillful workmen
and is rapidly placing himself at the head of this particular branch of
business in the town of Mooresville. What he has of this world's goods
he has worked for.
EGBERT BARCLAY NEWBY was born at Salem, Washing-
ton County, Ind., July 21, 1827, and lived there, following farming as an
occupation, until eighteen years of age. He is the eldest son and third
child of five boys and three girls born to Micah and Mary (Cofdn) Newby,
natives of North Carolina and of English descent. Robert B. was
schooled at the Washington County Seminary, and in the year 1845,
came to Mooresville, where he has since resided. His first service here
was with S. Moore, as clerk in a mercantile establishment, going into a
partnership with him at the end of five years. After being with him three
years Mr. Newby retired from the mercantile business, but continued a
partnership with Mr. Moore in farming and stock business for several
years. June 16, 1850, he mamed his partner's daughter, Jane M., who
died in August, 1853, after having borne him two children — Samuel M.
and Frank W. (deceased). Mr. Newby married his second wife, Mary
Rariden, in Morgan County in April, 1870. Since 1870, he has been
farming and stock trading. In 1879, he was elected Marshal of Moores-
ville, and held the ofiice one year, and since 1882, has been Justice of
the Peace of Brown Township, and in addition to the duties of that ofl&ce,
is carrying on a general collecting agency. He is a member of the Ma-
sonic order, and in politics an active Republican.
WILLIAM D. OVERTON is the third son of James H. and Ann M.
(Parker) Overton, who spent their lives in North Carolina; he was born
in Northampton County that State, July 4, 1852; came to Morgan County,
Ind., in the winter of 1874, and up to the spring of 1882 farmed near
Monrovia. At this town, after a short trip West, Mr. Overton entered the
hardware store of Hobbs & Johnson, as clerk. In July, 1883, he bought
out the Mooresville elevator and has since been engaged in the grain
business. On November 19, 1878, he was married at Hillsdale, to
Maggie Lankford, who died March 21, 1881, leaving her husband one
child— William Henry. In 1860, Northampton County, N. C, cast 14
votes for Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States and James
H. Overton was one of the number. On account of his anti- Southern
principles, he was compelled to leave home during the war, and the
mother dying in the meantime, the family was completely broken up.
So it will be readily understood that so far in life William D. Overton
has "paddled his own canoe." He is a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, an earnest supporter of the cause of temperance, belongs
to the Masonic order and votes the Republican ticket.
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 233
BENJAMIN HENRY PERCE, M. D., prominent physician and sur-
geon of Mooresville, Ind., is eldest of live children of Prosper and
Mary O. (Robinson) Perce, natives of New York and New Hampshire,
and of English and Scotch-Irish extraction respectively, was born in St.
Joseph County, Mich., June 27, 1838. His father having died in 1854.
leaving the family in somewhat straitened circumstances, the sub-
ject of this sketch was thrown early in life upon his own resources. He
had acquired some knowledge of sign writing and ornamental painting,
and did considerable work in that line, by which he accumulated a
small sum of money, the most of which he liberally gave to his mother
and young sister, and with $3 in his pocket and his extra wearing appar-
rel rolled up in an old silk handkerchief, young Perce left the place of
his nativity, and took up his march in search of a livelihood. Trudging
onward, stopping occasionally to saw wood for bread, he arrived finally
at the crossing of the New Albany & L. S. R. R. Footsore, tired, hun-
gry and discouraged, he thrust his cane into the sand and allowed its
failing to decide the course of his further travel. It bent its head to the
south, and in the year 1857, after sleeping in fence corners and feasting
ofif dry crackers alone as sable night spread her wings over hill and dale, our
subject landed at Greencastle, Ind., the sole possessor of but 25 cents.
He retired without supper and began work before breakfast, so that when
dinner arrived — a good one to which he was kindly invited — the manner
in which he attacked the eatables, made the eyes of his generous host
and hostess stand out from very wonder. He alternated the two succeed-
ing years between Greencastle and Plainlield in following his trade, and
in the spring of 1859, came to Mooresville, and a year afterward formed
a partnership with a Mr. Mitchell in the manufacture of carriages and
buggies, which enterprise failed in the following year. As "journey-
man," he followed his old trade at different places up to the summer of
1862, when he raised a company preparatory to entering the army, and
drilled it, but declined a commission as its commander in favor of
Capt. Peoples. In August of this year, he entered as a Corporal in Com-
pany E, Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served up to June,
1865. In July, 1864, at Marietta, Ga., he received a sunstroke which
resulted in the destruction of his right eye. In October, 1864, he was
placed upon detached duty as Hospital Steward in the provisional divis •
ion of the Army of the Tennessee, going from there to Washington in
the same capacity in the Auger General Hospital, and here received his
final discharge. Dr. Perce is a self-educated man, having attended
school but about eighteen months of his early life. His first ideas of
medicine were acquired while in the army, and in the winter of 1872-73
he took a course of lectures at the Indiana Medical College, where the
following winter he held the office of Prosector to the Chair of Anatomy.
At the end of this session he graduated as Doctor of Medicine, and in
February, 1879, took adeicndem degree at the Medical College of Indiana.
In the spring of 1873, he began the practice of medicine at Mooresville,
and, growing rapidly into popularity, he to-day (December, 1883), ranks
among the foremost in his profession. May 14, 1867, he was married at
Mooresville to Eunice Ann, daughter of Jacob and Jemima Coombs.
By this marriage he had born to him two children — Henry (deceased in
infancy), and Elsie Gertrude. The mother of these children died Sep-
tember 18, 1874, and in April, 1876, the Doctor married at Plainfield,
Ind., his present wife, Elvira, daughter of Simon and Martha Hornaday.
234 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Two children, Edith (deceased in infancy) and Mary, have crowned this
union. The Doctor is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, belongs to the I. O. O. F. , is a Master Mason, a Knight of
Honor; has filled most all the official chairs in these societies and is at
present Examiner of the one last named. In Masonry and Odd Fellow-
ship, he belongs to the Grand Lodges of the State. He is a member of
both county and State Medical societies, of the first of which he has
been twice President. He is in the enjoyment of a lucrative position,
owns a handsome property, is proud of his profession, and justly so of
his successes; he votes the Kepublican ticket.
AMOS W. REAGAN M. D. , a prominent physician and surgeon of
Mooresville, Ind., is the fourth son of Eeason and Diana (Wilson) Rea-
gan, natives of South Carolina, and probably of Irish and English
extraction respectively. Amos W. was born in Marion County, Ind.,
April 3, 1826, and the first sixteen years of his life were spent upon a
farm, alternating, in the usual manner of farmers' sons, the duties thereof
with occasional attendance at the common schools. In 1845, he entered
Asbury University, where for three years he assiduously devoted himself
to study, acquiring a thorough English education and a fair familiarity
with the classics. January, 1847, in the office of Dr. G. B. Mitchell,
at Mooresville, he began the study of medicine, and at the end of one
year entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from whence he
graduated in the spring of 1851 with the degree of M. D. Returning
to Mooresville, the Doctor formed a partnership with his old preceptor,
and for the next succeeding twenty -two j'ears, interrupted only by a three
years' service in the army, carried on the practice of medicine. Dr. Rea-
gan rose rapidly in the profession, and ere many years was ranked among
the most successful practitioners in Morgan County. Early in July,
1862, he entered the service of the United States, and was at once com-
missioned Surgeon of the Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. From
his enrollment to the close of the war, his command was never without
his services, and the last eighteen months of the time he was Acting Bri-
gade Surgeon of the First Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth Army
Corps. The distinguished services of the old Seventieth Indiana are
immortalized in the already written history of our country, and it is not
essential to the purposes of this sketch that many bloody engagements
be here detailed or even referred to. Suffice it to say that in bivouac or in
battle, its sick, its wounded and its dying were never without the attend-
ance of one of the most skillful surgeons of the army. While at Bow-
ling Green, Ky. , in September, 1862, the Doctor contracted chronic
diarrhoea, resulting in disease of the heart. From the efifects of this, he
has never recovered; but, on the contrary, the symptoms have grown
perceptibly worse within the past few years. From 1872 to 1875, our
subject was associated with Dr. Perce at Mooresville, since the dissolu-
tion of which partnership he has been alone in the practice. He has
been thrice married, and is the father of three children, two only of
whom are living. His first wife was Nancy Rooker, daughter of Jesse
Rooker, who died in the fall of 1858, after having been married about
three years. His second wife was Sarah E. , a younger sister of his first
wife. She lived about five years of married life, and died without issue
in October, J871. To his present wife, a Mrs. Ella Elliott, who has
borne him one child, he was married in November, 1882. In 1860, he
was elected to his third term of Trustee of Brown Township, but entered
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 235
the United States Army before the term of his office expired. At this
writing (November, 1883), Dr. Keagan is enjoying a lucrative practice;
is a prominent member of both County and State Medical Societies; be-
longs t(; the Masonic order, and to the Methodist Episcopal Church; has
been for the past nine years member of the JMooresville High School
Board; is a Republican in politics, an upright gentleman, and rightfully
holds the esteem and confidence of the community in which his life has
so far been spent.
THOMAS A. RICHAEDSON was born in Hendricks County, Ind.,
September 8, 1837. His parents, James and Rachel (Little) Richai'dson,
natives of Virginia, came to Mooresville when Thomas A. was an infant,
and here the father died in 1882, at the age of seventy-eight years. Up
to fifteen years of age, our subject lived in town, and the next five years
he spent upon the farm. His education was limited to such as could be
had at the public schools, and having learned the tinner's trade at
Mooresville, he, in 1861, went to Wabash, Ind., at which place and at
Indianapolis he worked as tinsmith for the next six years. October 5,
1865, he was married at Mooresville, to Miss Hawk, daughter of Dr.
Charles Hawk, and has had bora to him three childi-en - an infant (de-
ceased) not named, Oracle and Florence. Mr. Richardson is one of the
Stewards of the Methodist Church; Treasurer of the "Morgan" Lodge,
No. 211, 1. O. O. F., and " Guide " of " Vesty " Lodge, No. 997, K. of H.
In the spring of 1880, he was elected Trustee of Brown Township, and
re-elected thereto in the spring of 1882. In the fall of the year last
named, he was defeated in his candidacy for Clerk of the Circuit Court.
In politics, he is a Democrat, and his preferment in a township largely
Republican at once indicates his popularity and his fitness for the office
to which he has been twice called. In the spring of 1868, in partner-
ship with J. H. Rusie, he embarked in the stove and tin business at
Mooresville, and here he has since remained and has been successful.
He is a self-made man, and the result is an upright and honorable mer-
chant, conscientious alike in his dealings and his public trusts.
DR. CLARK ROBBINS is the son of Alford and Isabel (Griggs)
Bobbins, who were natives of Ohio, and of Irish extraction. They came
into Indiana about a half a century ago, and settled in Morgan County,
where on July 10, 1836, their second son, the subject of this sketch, was
born. Clark alternated the duties of farm life with attendance at the
public schools. He lost his father when but fourteen years of age, and
since that time has " paddled his own canoe." At the age of nineteen, he
began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Hutchinson at Moores-
ville, and in the winter of 1856-57 took a full course of lectures at Ann
Arbor (Mich.) University. The following winter, he spent profitably at
the Cincinnati (Ohio) Medical College, and in August, 1858, began the
practice of medicine at Monrovia, Ind. At the end of two years, he re-
moved to Brooklyn, Ind., where for the ensuing sixteen years he pur-
sued his profession with flattering success. The superior school advan-
tages of Martinsville took him to that town in the spring of 1876, and
from Martinsville he removed to Mooresville in the fall of 1880. Here
he has since plied his profession with credit to himself and to the satis-
faction of his patrons. September 29, 1859, he was married in Monro-
via to Eliza J., daughter of John K. Wilhite, and has had born to him
one child — John A. Mrs. Bobbins having died, the Doctor was married,
December 10, 1863, at Centreton, Ind., to Melissa Hardwick, by whom
236 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
he has had born to him three children — Ella, Minnie and Schuyler. He
and family are all members of the Methodist Protestant Church, the
Doctor in fact being one of its most substantial pillars. He is class
leader, Financial Steward, and Superintendent of the Sabbath school.
For twenty-three years, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, but in February, 1881, joined the above body and has since
been an earnest worker. The only political office the Doctor ever
aspired to was that of Trustee of Clay Township, and this office he held
for ten consecutive years. Dr. Bobbins was by education, early training
and many years' practice, identified with the " allopathic system," but a
few years since he chose to adopt a more liberal course, so he cut loose
from " creeds and ethics," and now praftices under the best authorities
of the allopathic, eclectic and homoeopathic schools.
ISAAC W. EOOKER was born in Blount County, Tenn., November
25, 1806, and came to Indiana in 1818, with his parents, who settled in
Wayne County. I'rom Wayne the family removed into Morgan County
in 1822, and located upon land entered from the United States Govern-
ment in Brown Township, and here the father and mother, William and
Nancy (Saffell) Booker, spent the remainder of their Jives. They were
natives of England and Old Virginia respectively, and lived to a very old
age, being each about eighty-four years when they departed this life.
They were married in Virginia, and lived together as man and wife about
sixty-five years, rearing a family of eleven children, five sons and six
daughters, of which number Isaac W. was tenth. He was reared as a
farmer, and had the benefit of about nine months' schooling in Brown
Township, but seems, however, to have improved his opportunities for
learning, for he was employed several months at teaching the young
children in his neighborhood. April 6, 1826, Mr. Booker was man-ied
in Morgan County to Polly Ballard, a native of Ohio, by whom he had
born to him nine children — Elizabeth J., Nancy A. (deceased), Bachael
E. (deceased), Mary Ann, Calvin F., Rufus B. (deceased), John W.,
William A. (deceased), and Catharine L. William A. died in the United
States Army, and the mother of these children died October 8, 1883, at
the age of about seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. B. both became mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church when young, and Mrs. R. lived
and died as a Christian should. His property, aside from a small in-
heritance from the estate of his father, has been acquired by his own in-
dustry, and like most of the pioneers of a new country, he learned lessons
of hardship and privation, and has eaten of the bread earned by the sweat
of the brow. He has always been of a somewhat retiring disposition,
and to attend strictly to his own business and allow other people to do
the same, has been the rule of his actions through life. His declining
years are being spent peacefully upon his old homestead, where his wants
are administered to by his daughter and her husband, who live with him,
and who spare no efforts to make his old age comfortable and happy,
CAPT. SAMUEL M. BOOKEB, citizen of Mooresville, Ind., is the
third son of Jesse S. and Candace L. (Conduitt) Booker, natives of Ten-
nessee, and descendants from the German and the French, respectively.
He was born at Mooresville May 22, 1824. He was trained to farm life,
and educated at the public schools. His parents came into Morgan
County in the year 1816, and here spent the remainder of their years,
his father dying in 1843, at the age of forty- nine years, and his mother
ten years earlier, at the age of thirty- eight. He was maiTied, February
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 237
24, 1844, to Nancy McNeff,by whomhehad born to him six children — Mary
Candace (deceased), Marion Howard (deceased), Kansas, Adalide, Otto E.
and Mattie B. August 13, 1862, he entered the service of the United
States as Captain of Company E, Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
and five months thereafter was compelled to resign on account of phys-
ical disability. Though out but a short time, he saw considerable real
service, having participated in the battle of Richmond, Ky., and any
number of skirmishes. Returning from the war, he engaged in the mer-
cantile business at Mooresville, from which he retired in about a year,
and built the Magnolia Mills, and conducted them twelve or thirteen
years. He has bought and sold over 4,500 acres of valuable lands in
Brown Township; dealt extensively in grain, and been an active business
man generally. The panic of 1875-76 cost him over $20, 000, and in Novem-
ber, 1881, his residence in Mooresville was completely destroyed by fire.
So, with all, Capt. Rooker has had his share of theups and downs of life,
and still rides the waves. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church; high up in the order of Odd Fellows; a Democrat in politics; a
farmer by occupation, and takes life easy in his new splendid residence,
into which he has just moved.
WILLIAM ASBURY ROOKER (deceased) was born in Wayne
County, Ind., January 6, 1819, and died at Mooresville, Ind., August
16, 1849. He was the second son of Jesse S. and Candace L. (Conduitt)
Rooker, and had one brother and six sisters younger than himself. At
the age of about twelve years, he entered a dry goods house as clerk, and
remained nine or ten years. On December 26, 1839, he was married to
Susan Rusie, daughter of Michael and Catharine (House) Rusie, of
Mooresville, and had born to him four children — Thomas B. D., Candace C,
Mary C. and Wallace A. (deceased). Soon after the death of his father,
which occurred in 1843, our subject purchased the old homestead, consist-
ing of about 200 acres, the title to which descended to his widow, who yet
owns and manages it with the skill of an adept. His early education was
limited to such as the neighborhood schools of the day afforded, but lived
to be a self-taught and self-made man, and at the time of his death was a
superior scholar. In 1837, he was elected Treasurer of Morgan County,
and was the incumbent of that office when he died. He was a consistent
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Master Mason, under
and by the rites and ceremonies of which order he was buried. In poli-
tics, he was a Democrat, but his election to the office of Treasurer of Mor-
gan County was due not alone to his rank and standing in that party, but
to his true worth and merit as a good citizen as well. His widow was
left with four small children, whom she has reared and cared for as only
a Christian mother could. Wallace A. died at the age of twenty-three
years. Thomas resides at home with his mother, and the two daughters,
married, and with families of their own, live in the immediate neighbor-
hood.
HENRY ROSSIER, a native of Canton Vaud, Switzerland, was born
December 11, 1839, and came to America in the spring of 1862. He was
well educated in the French language, and before he was nineteen years
of age had mastered the trade of watch-maker. His parents, Jacques and
Margaret (Tetaz) Rossier, had five sons and five daughters, and of the ten
children our subject was next to the youngest, and the only one who ever
came to America. From 1862 to 1867, Henry alternated between New
York, Indianapolis and Terre Haute, the first three years at his trade, and
238 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
the last two in the grocery business. January 20, 1865, he was married
in Terre Haute to Emily Drotz, who has borne him five children — William,
Katie, Emil, Charles and Walter (deceased). By persistent effort and the
application of a naturally superior mind, Mr. Rossier has possessed him-
self of a good English education, and is at this writing (December, 1883)
one of the Trustees of the Mooresville High School. He was brought up
in the Presbyterian faith, but is now a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He belongs to the T. O. O. F., A. F. & A. M. and K. of R at
Mooresville, where he has been engaged in the jewelry business since the
year 1867.
JOHN H. RUSIE, born in Prince William County, Va., December 22,
1834; came here with his parents, Michael and Catharine (House) Rusie,
natives of Germany, who settled at Mooresville in 1836, and here spent the
remainder of Iheir years. In his youth, our subject learned the tinners
trade, and received a fair English education. In 1855. he engaged in the
hai'dware and tin business, and followed it for five years; sold out, and
for the next two years managed the business for his successors. In Sep-
tember, 1857, he married Mary J. Olleman, daughter of James Olleman,
of Mooresville, and has had born to him three children — Arameda, James
H. and Frederick. August 17, 1862, Mr. Rusie entered the service of the
United States as Fourth Daty Sergeant of Company E, Twelfth Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, and served to the close of the war, when he was honor-
ably discharged, having in the meantime been promoted to the rank of
First Lieutenant. He took an active part in the battles of Richmond,
Ky. ; Jackson, Miss. ; Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, Gridersville, and
Savannah, Ga.; Columbia, S. C. ; Bentonville, N. C, and in Sherman's
celebrated campaign from Atlanta to the s(fa. He returned to Moores-
ville in 1865, and again embarked in the stove and tin business, to which
was subsequently added hardware. In the spring of 1882, he sold oat
to his partner, Mr. T. A. Richardson, and engaged at once in his present
business — of furniture and undertaking. 'He is a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church; a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and in
politics an uncompromising, first-class Democrat.
ROBERT R.^SCOTT was born in Franklin County, Ind., July 16,
1833, and lived in the State of Wisconsin from 1842 to 1853, since which
time he has made Brown Township, INForgan County, his home. The first
seventeen years of his life were spent upon a farm, since when he has
been in mercantile business as much as twenty-five years. August 13,
1862, he enrolled in Company E, Twelfth Indiana Volunteers, and
served three years. He was promoted to Orderly Sergeant almost im-
mediately upon his entering the service, and was next raised in order to
the rank of Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and in June, 1863, to
that of Captain of the company. He was with his command in all the
deadly battles through which it passed, and the history of Indiana's
soldiery is augmented no little by the brilliant achievements of the " gal-
lant Twelfth." Capt. Scott retired from the mercantile business in 1883,
and has since been upon his farm recuperating his health, which had been
somewhat depleted by long confinement at indoor labor. He entered the
directory of the Mooresville Bank in 1880, and was elected its Vice
President the year following. In addition to his Mooresville property,
he owns five fine farms in Morgan County. All his property has been ac-
quired since the late war by his own industry, and in a strictly legitimate
way. January, 1866, he was married to Mary Hadley, who died in August,
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 239
1869, and in June, 1872, he married Louisa H. Harvey, who has borne
him five children — Mary, Carie, Jennie, Robert H. and Sallie. Capt.
Scott is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, belongs to the
Masonic Order, is a Republican in politics, and is a citizen of whom
Mooresville may well be proud.
FREDERICK SHEETS, merchant, farmer and stock grower, was born
in Prince William County, Va., February 24, 1823. His parents, George
and. Margaret (House) Sheets, were natives of Germany, and came to
America in 1814 or 1815, and in 1836 took up their abode at Mooresville,
and here spent the remainder of their days, the former dying in 1877 at
the age of ninety-one years, and the latter in the year of 1847 at the
age of fifty-seven years. Our subject learned the carpenter's trade with
his father, and followed it about eight years. He was first married, at
Mooresville, to Charlotte, daughter of Dr. Charles Hawk, and has had
born to him six children — Laura Alice (deceased), William O., Kate Alma,
Harry O., Hattie L. and Mertie. The mother of these children having
died, Mr. Sheets was married, October 20, 1879, to Caroline Peoples, his
present wife. In 1851, the firm of F. Sheets & Bro. was organized at
Mooresville, and has since existed. They do a large mercantile business,
and carry on four extensive farms in Morgan and Hendricks Counties.
Aside from the firm property, F. Sheets owns some half dozen pieces of
town property, among them the finest residence in Mooresville. He is a
member of the Republican County Central Committee, belongs to the
Masonic order, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
His property has all been acquired by his individual effort and enterprise.
DANIEL SHEETS, a native of Prince William County, Va., and
younger brother of Frederick Sheets, was born June 18, 1825, and came
with his parents into Morgan County in 1836. He remained with his
parents until he was about twenty-two years of age. His early life was
spent upon the farm, and at the neighborhood schools he acquired a fair
English education. Since 1851, he has been an active partner in the
firm of F. Sheets & Bro. He was one of the organizers, and for two
years Director of the Farmers' Bank, Mooresville. He is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Treasurer of the Mooresville Lodge
of A. F. & A. M. He is an enterprising bachelor, a good business man,
an upright citizen and a Republican.
REV. HUGH STACKHOUSE, present resident minister of the
Methodist Protestant Church, Mooresville, lud., was born in Breckinridge
County, Ky., November 9, 1837. His parents, William and Jane(McNab)
Stackhouse, natives of England and of North Carolina respectively,
came to Indiana in the year 1841, settled in Orange County, and there
ended their days. They had eleven children — eight sons and three
daughters — and six of the sons and one of the daughters were older than
the subject of this sketch. Up to eighteen years of age, Hugh Stackhouse
lived upon a farm, and from his father (who was a superior scholar), and
through a pretty regular attendance at the public schools, he received a.
good English education. About this time, he began his theological
studies, and in the year 1859 was received into conference at Morristown,
Ind., and two years thereafter regularly ordained Elder of the church.
After being received into conference in 1859, he was at once assigned to
Richland Circuit, which embraced twelve places for preaching, and held
this charge three years. The year following he occupied the Monroe
Circuit; and on April 29, 1863, he was married at Solsberry, Ind., to
240 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Nancy Jane, daughter of William and Mary Hannum, of Ohio, and has
had born to him four children — Urbine, Charles H. (deceased), Arthur
and Cora May. Since entering the ministry, the Rev. Mr. Stackhouse
has been kept constantly on duty, and during the time has held some of
the most important charges in the United States. He is a thorough
theologian, and ranks high among the many eloquent ministers of the
Methodist Protestant Church. In addition to his pastoral duties, he is
the occasional correspondent for several Church periodicals, and holds
the position regularly of Corresponding Elder for the Methodist Recorder.
He has represented his conference in four General Conferences and two
General Conventions; is a Royal Arch Mason, a Republican in politics
and a stanch advocate of the cause of temperance.
ELI J. SUMNER was born in Highland County, Ohio, May 28, 1812.
His parents, Absalom and Priscilla (Jackson) Sumner, were natives of
Surrey County, N. C, and of Welsh aud Scotch extraction respectively.
Eli J. Sumner received a respectable common school and academic edu-
cation, and subsequently became a teacher in Union Seminary, in his
native county. In the fall of 1830, he visited Mooresville for the first
time, spent a few weeks in prospecting, and then returned to Highland
County, where, June 13, 1833, he married Anna E. Boxley, daughter of
George Boxley, of Spottsylvania County, Va. May 5, 1834, Mr. Sum-
ner's wife died. In the fall of the same year, he came on horseback to
Mooresville, and the following winter taught in the Moon Schoolhouse,
near by. January 21, 1836, he was married in Morgan County to Jane
E., daughter of Joshua Carter, and at once settled on a tract of land pre-
sented to him by his father, about six miles west of Mooresville. In the
fall of 1849, he purchased a large floui'ing and saw mill near the village,
and operated it until the spring of 1853, when he removed to Sharpsville,
Tipton County, and engaged in the manufacturing and shipping of lum-
ber for a few months, and then returned to his farm near Mooresville,
where he remained until 1865 (in the meanwhile carrying on a lumber
trade in the Wabash Valley), when he moved to Wabash. In the spring
of 1868, he moved to Indianapolis, and in the fall of 1869 returned to
Mooresville. By his second wife he became father of seven children, all
born in Morgan County — Thomas C, William C, Caswell B., James O.,
Anna E., Hannah C. and Nancy E. ; of these, the eldest two only are
living. Mr. Sumner has been identified with several religious denomi-
nations, but is now, with his wife, a consistent Methodist. In politics,
he is a Republican, and he has always been an active worker in the cause
of temperance.
GEORGE P. THOMPSON, a farmer of Brown Township, was born
in Chatham County, N. C, September 5, 1814, and came to Indiana in
1833. After spending a few months in Morgan County, he returned to
his native State, but before the end of 1834 he was back in Morgan
County, where he has since lived. His life has been spent upon a farm,
and his schooling acquired at the Friends' School, White Lick. Decem-
ber 18, 1836, he was married in Brown Township to Millie, a daughter
of George A. Schoffner, a native of North Carolina, who came into Mor-
gan County in 1826, and was one of the four men drowned in 1829 while
attempting to cross White Lick Creek in a canoe. Mr. Thompson has
had born to him eleven children — Louisa (dead), Margaret, Mary A.,
Asbury, Sylvester, Anson, Spencer, Malinda (dead), Sarah, Fremont and
Samuel. Mr. Thompson's parents, Samuel and Sarah (Womble) Thomp-
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 241
son, were natives of North Carolina. The Thompsons came originally
from England, and the two old people emigrated into Indiana in 1869
and located in Hamilton County, where the mother died in 1881 at the
age of eighty-four years. The father, however, died in North Carolina,
whence he had returned in 1872, at the age of ninety-five years. Our
subject owns a tine farm of 100 acres, upon which he resides; is a stock-
holder in the M. & M. Gravel Road Company, and was for fifteen years
one of the Directors of said company. His property has been acquired
by the united industry of himself and wife. They are both consistent
members of the Christian Church, and have been for more than a quarter
of a century.
JAMES O. THOMPSON is the son of Jonathan H. and Elizabeth E.
(Latta) Thompson, who were born and mai'ried in North Carolina, and
there, in the county of Orange, on August 11, 1839, the subject of this
sketch first saw the light of day. The family came to Indiana in the
year 1845, and for the next two years lived about four miles west of
Mooresville, when they removed to Tipton County, where a change of
county lines subsequently placed them in Howard County, and here they
lived up to the year 1867. Returning thence to Morgan County, they
lived again two years upon their old homestead, when they removed to
Mooresville, and the firm of J. H. Thompson & Son, dry goods mer-
chants, first became known to the business world. The father, Jonathan
H., was a highly respected and enterprising citizen of both the town
and county. He died February 5, 1884, aged sixty-seven years. Prior
to 1869, J. O. Thompson lived upon a farm, and his education was the
best possible to his circumstances and surroundings. December 20,
1866, he was married, in Howard County, Ind., to Gulic E,, daughter of
Jonathan Lee, Esq., and by her had born to him five children— William
L., two infants not named, Gulic and Ella, the four last all dying in in-
fancy. The mother of these childi'en having died, our subject was mar-
ried, May 14, 1874, at Irvington, Ind-, to Melissa R. Ritter, who has
borne him three children — Ralph R., Harry H., and Clyde C. (deceased
in infancy). Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and he is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Honor,
He was elected Trustee of Brown Township in 1876, and held the office
two terms. As a business man, he is enterprising and successful, and as
a politician, an active Republican,
JOHN HARBISON THORNBURGH is the second son of Benjamin
and Susan (Monical) Thornburgh, and was born in Washington County,
Ind., November 4, 1821, He was reared upon the farm, and acquired
the rudiments of an English education at the neighborhood schools. At
the age of twenty -two years, he left the parental roof, and for the next
four years taught school during the winter months and farmed during
the summer. He was married, December 24, 1846, in Mooresville, to
Eliza Gray, widow of Dr. Gray (deceased) and daughter of Reason Rea-
gan (also deceased). Their first born, Thomas, died in infancy, and his
daughters are Elizabeth (wife of A. W. Conduitt), Alice L. (widow of
Dr. Wharton), and Susie (wife of O. E. Rooker). At the age of
forty years, our subject gave up farming, and for fifteen years followed
merchandising in Mooresville, and in the spring of 1881 engaged in
general insurance, real estate and money brokerage, which he has since
followed. He has been thrice Trustee of Brown Township, and
Deputy Revenue Collector for Morgan County under Grant's administra-
242 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
tion. The late panic came nearly bankrupting him financially, but
left his energy and business ability unimpaired. He is a prominent
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a Eepublican, an advocate
of temperance, and a public speaker of merit and a progressive citizen.
BENJAMIN THORNBUKGH (deceased) was born September 25,
1797, in Mercer County, Ky. In 1808, his parents moved to Indiana
Territory, and settle! one mile southwest of Salem, on Blue River, in
Washington County. He lived with his father on the farm until his
twentieth year, when he was married to Susan Monical on the 20th day
of February, 1817, by Rev. James Harbison. During the war of 1812,
he joined the Territorial army of the frontier under the proclamation of
Gov. Jennings, and helped to build several block-houses for defense,
into which the early settlers fled for protection from the Indians. He
enlisted under Maj. William Hockett, and they sent out pickets who
passed over the country from where Fredericksburg now stands to Liv-
onia and Brownstown. They built a fori near Salem, in which his par-
ents remained about three months before the close of the war. In April,
1822, he moved to Morgan County and settled on the east side of White
Lick, near where Brooklyn now stands. He assisted his father-in-law,
Peter Monical, in building the first permanent dam across White Lick,
at Brooklyn. In about 1825, he entered the land from Congress, which
he cultivated and lived upon until his death, which occurred on the 13th of
November, 1883, at the advanced age of eighty -six. He joined the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church in August, 1816, and was licensed as
an exhorter in 1833, by Eli P. Farmer. He was a firm believer in the
truth of the Bible and in the Christian religion, and tried to follow out
every day, during his long and eventful life, the principles taught in
that great Book. He was among the first to speak out against licensed
saloons in Mooresville. He never had a law suit with any one, but peace
seemed to crown his pathway, and he closed his life iji full hope of im-
mortality and eternal life.
BENJAMIN F. TROGDON, farmer and stock dealer of Brown
Township, Morgan County, Ind., second of the twelve children of Joel
J. and Sallie I. (Julian) Trogdon, was born in Randolph County, N. C,
February 15, 1847. His parents emigrated from Carolina to Missouri,
and from there came to Indiana in 1865, our subject having at that time
been in Morgan County about five years. Benjamin grew to manhood
on a f arnj, and at the common schools acquired the rudiments of an En-
glish education. On February 9. 1864, he enlisted in Company L,
Twenty-first Regiment, First Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served until
January 10, 1866. August 17 following, having laid aside the accou-
terments of war, he donned those of a true civilian, and forgetting not the
many pretty promises he had made, and remembering the heart that beat
most wildly as two tearful eyes glanced over the dispatches that told of
the booming of the cannon at the siege of Mobile, he led to the altar El-
mira J. Moon, and there took upon himself the obligation which enrolled
him again in the service of his country, and though his commission en-
titles him not to gilt bands and epaulets, he is nevertheless captain of
the host which to the time of sweetest music engendered by happy hearts
goes marching on, making the world better for having lived in it. Mr.
and Mrs. Trogden are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
They have had born to them four childx-en — Ada B. (deceased), Lena
D., Glenney V. and Ida May. Mr. T. is a self-made man, and there is
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE. 243
nothing in his make-up that he need be ashamed of. He belongs to the
I. O. O. F. and G. A. K.
EEV. JOHN ANTHONY WAED was born in Eock Island County,
111. , December 25, 1839, and is the second son and fourth child born
to Stephen and Adaline (Baxter) Ward, natives respectively of North
Carolina and Ohio, and of English extraction. The family came into
Indiana in 1846 and located in Putnam County, where they resided several
years, coming finally into Morgan County in 1857. John Anthony was
reared upon a farm, and educated at the public schools, two terms of
which he afterward taught. On February 16, 1860, he was married in
Morgan County to Sylvina Farmer, and on August 12, 1862, enrolled
at Indianapolis in Company D, Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
and served about three years. He was with this regiment in many
bloody engagements and escaped without injury. At Peach Tree Creek,
Ga., he contracted chronic dysentery, from which he has never fully
recovered. He has six children living — Laura L., Charles Gr. , Luella
Ann, Harry H., John S., Walter E. and Francis Asbury (deceased). He
united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858, and in the fall of
1865 was licensed local preacher, and a year afterward entered the
traveling connection. In 1868, he was ordained Deacon, and in Septem-
ber, 1870, graduated in the theological course of study, and was
regularly ordained Elder at Bloomington, Ind. In the fall of 1866, he
was assigned to Francisco Circuit (Gibson County, Ind.), and has since
devoted his entire time to the service of the Master. The Eev. Mr.
Ward is a forcible and argumentative speaker. He has received into
church membership not less than 1,200 persons. He ook charge of the
Methodist Episcopal congregation at Mooresville in 1881, and is at this
time upon the last year of the maximum limit according to the rules of
the church. He is purely a self-made man; belongs to the Masonic
order, and ignores politics.
WILLIAM FLETCHEE WHITE was born in Putnam County, Ind.,
November 1, 1842, and is the second son and fourth child of John and
Cynthia (Euggles) White, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively.
William F. was twenty-eight years of age before he left the parental
roof for the purpose of making a home for himself. The vigorous exer-
cises incident to farm life, and the tutelage of the public schools had
supplied him with both muscle and a fair English education before he
arrived at his majority. In the spring of 1861, he enlisted in the three
months' service as a private in Company H, Tenth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and in the summer of 1862, did the sixty-day service in the
Seventy-eighth Indiana. At Uniontown, Ky., the enemy " gobbled him
up" and put a temporary " embargo " upon his soldiering. However,
being full of patriotism and ' ' fight, " and having been exchanged as
prisoner of war, he enlisted October, 1863, in Company F, One Hundred
and Twenty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry: was promoted to a non-
commissioned office, and stayed with them until August 25, 1865. He
fought the enemy at Eichmond, Ky., Eesaca, Ga. , and in the Atlanta
campaign, at Nashville, at Franklin, at Kingston, N. C, and at Kene-
saw Mountain; and when the war was over, returned to his home as sound
as a dollar. From 1866 to 1871, he worked at carriage-making in Green-
castle, and in 1872 canvassed a few months in the picture business. He
came to Mooresville in October of the latter year, and for five years
worked as "journeyman" at his trade. In 1877, the firm of White &
244 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Shanafelt, carriage manufacturers, was organized, and has proved a suc-
cess. Mr. White was married, December 25, 1873, to Ladoskey Jenkins,
and has had born to him two children — Jessie Pearl and Arthur Earl.
Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and the voting one of the family is a Eepublican.
MICHAEL M. WILSON was born in Guilford County, N. C, on
July 6, 1838, and was twenty years old when he came to Morgan County.
His life has been spent upon the farm, and his learning, consisting of a
fair English education, was not acquired at school. He was married,
February 10, 1861, atMooresville, to Margaret, daughter of Hiram Staley,
and has had born to him ten children — William M., John B., Mary C,
Peter F., Charley O. (deceased), Michael M., Cora (deceased), Thomas
M. (deceased), Robert R. and India P. His parents, Louis and Mary
(Coble) Wilson, were natives of North Carolina; came to Indiana in 1865,
and have since resided in Morgan County, and at this writing are both
octogenarians. They had five children, four sons and one daughter; the
eldest being the subject of this sketch. Since July, 1883, M. M. Wilson,
in addition to his farming and stock growing, has been engaged in the
buying and shipping of grain at Mooresville. He is well fixed financially,
every dollar of which has been acquired by his own industry. He be-
longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church; holds official positions in both
Masonic and Odd Fellows societies, and in politics is a Democrat.
WILLIAM HENRY PRESLY WOODWARD is descended from the
English and Welsh. His parents, William and Lavina (Munsee) Wood-
ward, spent their | lives in Virginia — the mother, who lived seventeen
years after the death of the father, having died in 1834. Thev had
three children; the youngest. W^iHiam H. P., was born in Lee County,
Va. , September 30, 1816, and came to Mooresville in the spring of 1835,
having walked all the way. From fourteen to eighteen years of age, he
learned the tailor's trade, and followed it for several years after coming
to Mooresville. October 17, 1839, he was married to Keziah Bray,
daughter of John H. Bray, one of the early settlers of Morgan County.
She bore him five children, two of whom — Sarah and Ella — were living
at her death, December 1, 1858. August 25, 1859, our subject married
Lydia E. Thompson, who has borne him one child — Mattie, wife of W.
A. Comer, of Martinsville, Ind. In 1853, Mr. Woodward accepted a
clerkship with Holman Johnson in the mercantile business, and at the
end of four years, in partnership with D. Fogleman, bought his
employer out, since which time he has continued in the goods busi-
ness, Mr. Fogleman having retired from the firm in 1856. July 3, 1881,
his business house was consumed by fire, as was also much of his stock;
but by the fall of the same year he had rebuilt, and was again in busi-
ness at the old stand. He received little schooling. His father was a
school-teacher, but his step-father took no interest in him. Mr. W. is a
prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Republican.
He inherited from his father one old book, and from his grandfather $65.
What else he has has been acquired by his industry, and though some-
what crippled by the burning of his store and by friends (?), for whom
he unwisely indorsed, he is yet full of life and euergy, and possessed of
sufficient property to insure ease and tranquillity to his declining vears.
HENRY L. WOODWARD is the fourth son of Clark an.d Ann
(Warren) Woodward, natives of Vermont and Ohio respectively, and
was born in Jefferson County, Ind. , October 26, 1840. He accompanied
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN. 245
his parents to Mooresville in the summer of 1861, and here he has since
remained. His father, who died at the age of seventy-two years, was
Postmaster at Mooresville from the year 1861 to 1864-65, and was suc-
ceeded therein by the subject of this sketch, who held the office for several
years, carrying on the boot and shoe business at the same time. In 1873,
he formed a partnership with Reuben Harris in the grocery business.
In 1875, Mr. Harris sold out to James Hinson, and the business was con-
tinued under the firm name of Woodward & Hinson until November,
1879, since which time Mr. Woodward has been alone. In February,
1873, he was married in Mooresville to Ai-tie, daughter of William Rose,
of Ohio, and has had born to him four children — Luther, Walter,
Charles and Sadie. From about the year 1868 to 1880, excepting prob-
ably one year of the time, Mr. Woodward held the office of Clerk of the
town of Mooresville. He is a member of the Methodist ^ Episcopal
Church, a Republican, a good citizen, an honorable merchant, and does
the leading grocery business of Mooresville.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN.
HUGH ADAMS, pioneer farmer and stock-raiser, was born April 11,
1808, in Henry County, Ky., and is the eleventh of the fourteen children
of David and Polly (Kephart) Adams, the former a native of Ireland, the
latter of Germany, and respectively of Irish and German descent. David
Adams came to this county about 1830, remained awhile and returned to
Kentucky, then came back, and here finished his course of hfe. Hugh
Adams was brought up to farming, and located in this township in 1832,
which has since been his residence, he living now upon his original entry
of 1 20 acres, to which he has added 180, making a large farm, well improved
and stocked. W^hen he was eighteen years old, he became an apprentice
to the blacksmithing trade, which he set up in Morgantown and continued
five years. He afterward engaged in farming, working alternately on the
land and in his shop; but after 1869, he devoted himself entirely to his
farm and stock-raising. Mr. Adams has been twice married — first, Janu-
ary 8, 1829, with Miss Ruth Paton. who bore ten children — Charity, David,
Mary J., Elizabeth, Christina, Ruth (deceased), C. H., Amy, Sarah (de-
ceased), and an infant deceased. His second marriage was with Mrs.
Eunice Kephart, August 26, 1875. Mr. Adams is a Democrat, and gave
his first vote for Gen. Jackson. His career has been honorable and his
life a useful one. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
JACOB ADAMS, farmer and stock raiser, was born in this township
July 24, 1829, and is the eldest of the six children of Henry and Amy
(Kephart) Adams, both natives of Kentucky, and of Irish and German
descent respectively, who came to and settled in this vicinity in 1828.
Jacob attended school some time during the winters,and worked on the farm
in other seasons until he was twenty-five years of age, when he began the
effort of taking care of himself, as a help to which he received 100 acres
of rich land as a parental reward. April 13, 1854, he wedded Miss Mary
Lake, a native of Virginia, which marriage gave being to six children —
George A,, Rebecca A. (deceased), Henry A., John J. C, Hendricks V.
246 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and infant. Mr. Adams is an esteemed member of the Masonic frater-
nity, of the Knights of Honor, and also of the Democratic party, and has
served his township seven years as Trustee and four years as Assessor.
He is an advocate of all good and progressive measures, a well-to-do
farmer and able manager. Mrs. Adams is a member of the Missionary Bap-
tist Church.
SAMUEL T. ADAMS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of this
township, was born May 19, 1848, and is the fourth of the eight children
of Henry and Nancy (Slusser) Adams. Samuel T, Adams received a
common school education, and was reared to the venerable business of
farming. He worked for his parents until he was twenty -five years of
age, at which period he began life on his own account, his father pre-
senting him with eighty acres of good land, on which he has erected
buildings and added other improvements, making a good home and a de-
sirable property. May 25, 1873, he married Miss Jemima Kephart, a
native of Owen County, and to which union five children have been be-
stowed— Nancy O., deceased; William H.; Charity J-, deceased; Ida M.,
deceased; and an infant unnamed. Mr. Adams is an ^aergetic Demo-
crat, a rational and charitable gentleman, and a prosperous fSrmer and
stock breeder. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are highly respected members of their
community.
JOSEPH ADAMS, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of this town-
ship, was born March 22, 1852, and is the eighth of the twelve childi-en
of Henry and Nancy (Sluser) Adams, the former a native of Kentucky,
the latter of Virginia, and of English and German extraction respect-
ively. Joseph Adams was reared to the farming profession, and received
a fair education. He is the owner of eighty acres of good land; his
father — who is now residing with him in his age — having given to each
of his children some assistance. Recently Mr. Adams has added forty
acres to the paternal gift, making a valuable property and a desirable
home. He is a Democrat by political preference, and a liberal and re^
garded citizen. Thus far he has been successful in the battle for inde-
pendence, and, with his good management and bright foresight he must
become one of the prosperous farmers of his section.
JOHN ADAMS, farmer and stock- raiser, was born December 14, 1834,
in this township, and is the second of the fourteen children of Jacob and
Julia A. (Shell) Adams, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of East
Tennessee, and of Irish and German descent respectively. Jacob Adams
came hither about 1830, married, went back to Kentucky for about two
years, when he returned to this county and reared a family. In 1862, he
was elected County Treasurer; he is now a resident of Kansas. John
Adams gave his boyhood to the labor of the farm, during which he ob-
tained about three months" schooling each year; but he qualified himself
by self- study, and has taught two terms of school. November 20, 1856,
he married Miss Ann Lake, a native of this county, which union was fol-
lowed by ten children, eight of whom were named Leroy, Joseph S.,
Jacob (deceased), Mary A., William K., Amanda C, Elizabeth and George
H. Mr. Adams has managed his business successfully, now having two
good farms, and dealing somewhat in stock. In politics, he has always
been a Democrat, and was elected Township Trustee in 1866, which office
he held for three terms, Mr. Adams is a liberal citizen, an advocate of
public education, and a member of the Knights of Honor. Mrs. Adams
is an esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN. 247
GEN. WILL A.. ADAMS (deceased) was born near Greenville, E.
Tenn. , October 24, 1839, and was the eldest of the family of David B.
and Desdemona (Orto) Adams, natives of Tennessee, and of Scotch de-
scent, who moved to Brown County, Ind., in 1849, where our subject was
educated. During the war — 1861 — he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-
second Indiana Volunteers, at which time he was Clerk of the Circuit
Court of Brown County. He was made Second Lieutenant, and, from
efficiency and valor, promoted again and again, until at the close of the
war he was Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Regi-
ment, and, when discharged, a Brigadier General. He was a brave, hon-
orable, worthy officer, and an affable and respected gentleman. After the
war, he engaged in merchandising in Brown County, in which, as in all
his efforts, he was signally successful, and happy in obtaining the confi-
dence of the community. Mr. Adams married, July 9, 1861, Miss Mary
K. Butler, of Belmont County, Ohio, with an issue of four children —
Amanda (born September 19, 1865), Ada L. (born May 1, 1868, died
January 12, 1869), Edwin B. (born January 19, 1870, died August 6,
1876) and Emma D. (born August 11, 1872). In the midst of his useful-
ness', and'in all his well-earned glory, the great ravager, consumption,
laid untimely hands upon him, and carried him through death to greater
victory than any earth had given him. He was a true member of the
Masonic fraternity, and also of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His
funeral was large, and his body was interred in the peerless ceremony of
Freemasonry. In politics, he was Eepublican. He left his widow well
cared for, and provided for his children a fair beginning.
EZRA H. BRIGGS, stock-raiser and farmer, was born October 8,
1823, in Franklin County, Mass., and is the ninth of the thirteen chil-
dren born to Simeon and Elizabeth (Saddler) Briggs, natives of Massa-
chusetts and of English extraction. Ezra was reared a farmer, and
remained in his native county until he was twenty six years old, at which
time he came to this State and settled in Dearborn County, where he was
engaged at farming for several years. In 1863, he came to Morgan
County, which has since been his home. Mr. Briggs is a member of the
Republican party, by which he is very highly regarded, and was elected
in the spring of 1872 Assessor of this township. He is a man of liberal
views, of generous character and a prosperous farmer and raiser of stock.
GEORGE E. BRONSON was born in Summit County, Ohio, Janu-
ary 25, 1823. He is a deaf mute, in consequence of early inflammation
of the drums of the ears. He graduated at the Deaf and Dumb Insti-
tute at Columbus, Ohio, where he remained five years, and later learned
the printing trade in Cleveland; but, becoming discouraged, he went to
work for the Recorder of Lenawee County, Mich. ; moved thence to De-
troit and was in the Auditor's office, where he remained three months;
thence he went to Milwaukee and thence to Iowa City, where he became
a legislative clerk, and afterward worked in the Recorder's office at St.
Louis. He was later appointed Principal of the Deaf and Dumb Insti-
tute at Nashville, Tenn., where he remained until the war began, after
which he purchased 200 acres of land, and made a trial of farming.
July 14, 1852, he married Lucy C. Blacknall, of Tennessee, the result of
which union was ten children — Josephine Alice, Charles Egbert, Benja-
min Franklin, Emma Dora, Abraham Lincoln, Fannie Lisslie, Clarence
Ashley, Silas Ailing, Mildi-ed ISiIaggie and Ida Lucy. After the death of
his first wife, Mr. Bronson wedded, in Logansport, Ind., Annie Barnes;
248 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
this marriage took place May 5, 1874, and was followed by five children:
Effie Nellie, Cassie Mabel, Jessie Edna, Myrtle Maud and George Eg-
bert, Jr. In 1868, he sold his Tennessee property and moved to Morgan-
town, Ind. His father bequeathed him $15,000 and his uncle a like
amount.
W. H. BUTLER, M. D., prominent physician and surgeon of Mor-
gantown, was born January 15, 1846, in Jennings County, Ind., and
is the fourth of the six children of George and Eliza (Stott) Butler, na-
tives of Kentucky, and of Irish and English descent respectively. They
removed to Bartholomew County, Ind. , where our subject received some
education, worked on the farm, and grew to manhood, having sufficient
money to pay for three years' tuition at Hartsville. December 4, 1863,
he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment In-
diana Volunteer Infantry, served at the battles of Dalton, Marietta, Ken
esaw Mountain, Atlanta, Columbia, Franklin, Nashville and Kingston.
He was discharged January 8, 1866, after which he prepared himself for
teaching; taught two terms; became salesman in a drug store, and be-
gan the study of medicine under Dr. McLeod, of Barnesville, which he
continued two years, then attended lectures at the Indiana Medical In-
stitute, at Indianapolis, and graduated in 1879, -having previously prac-
ticed at Middlebury, where he continued for a time. May 31, 1877, he
married Miss Jennie Horner, with a result of two children — Chloe A.
and George J. In 1880, Dr. Butler came to Morgantown, in which
place he has established a good and growing practice. He is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, and an active Republican. Mrs. Butler is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
MOSES T. COFFEY, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of this
county, was born May 24, 1831, and is the fifth of the ten children of
Lewis and Delilah (Turpin) Coffey, natives of Kentucky, and respectively
of English and Irish descent. Lewis Coffey emigrated to this county in
1828; entered land, which he afterward cleared and sold, then engaged
in flat-boating to New Orleans and died in the spring of 1844. Moses
was reared on the paternal farm, and received the rudiments of an edu-
cation from subscription schools. After the death of his father, the care
of the family descended upon him, and to which he gave the wages
earned by monthly labor; yet now, as a result of his economy and appli-
cation, he owns a good farm of fifty acres, containing stock, and being'
generally well improved. March 11, 1852, he married Miss Lucinda
Renner, a native of Ohio, born March 24, 1834, a union which has been
prolific in thirteen children, only eight of whom received names — George
W., Mary J., John D., Philip L., Barbara A., Eliza C, Martha P. and
William T. Mr. Coffey is a radical and active Democrat, by which party
he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1874, for a term of four years.
He is a liberal gentleman and his wife is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
F. M. COLEMAN, retired farmer, was born April 10, 1823, in the
State of Ohio, and is the fifth of the eight children of Jacob and Eliza-
beth (Thomas) Coleman, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of
Pennsylvania, and respectively of German and English descent. F. M.
Coleman was reared a farmer, and received but sixteen days' schooling;
yet he has made himself a fair scholar by application. When he was
sixteen years old, his parents moved to Johnson County, Ind., where he
remained until 1880, engaged in farming, at which time he sold his place
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN. 249
and retired to Morgantown. He began business when of age; was al-
ways successful and industrious, and when young worked at wagon-mak-
ing, coopering and blacksmithing, when not employed on his farm. He
has also dealt largely in and been a shipper of stock May 14, 1845, he
married Miss Mary A. Woolard, who died August 6, 1877, having borne
seven children — Eliza J., Jacob (deceased), Lavica, MarandaH., Ophelia,
Margaret (deceased) and Marion. His second wife was Miss Ada Wright,
a graduate of Lebanon College,Ohio,the ceremony taking place December
24, 1881. This lady died in less than one year. His third wife is Re-
becca Stephens, a native of Putnam County, Ind., and also a graduate of
Lebanon College, which ceremony was performed May 17, 1883. Mr.
Coleman is an active member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraterni-
ties. He is a liberal and respected gentleman, and votes with the Dem-
ocratic party.
JAMES S. COLEMAN (deceased), was born in Hartford, Conn., No-
vember 29, 1848, and was the third of the four children of Jesse O. and
Salina M. (Gardner) Coleman, both natives of Connecticut, who moved
to Columbus, Ind., in 1850, and thence to Edinburg. James S. received
a good school education, and early evinced an aptitude for business, for
when but twelve years old he bought and sold tax titles on speculation,
and when thirteen assisted his father in his store. In 1863, he enlisted
in Compary I, Ninety-third Indiana Volunteers, and served through the
war, being discharged November 29, 1865. In the following spring, he
entered into partnership with his father in the stove, tin and hardware
business. In 1872, he purchased his father's interest, and after-
ward he sustained several heavy losses, but soon resumed. He was
also owner of a saw and planing mill, and was one of the most enter-
prising and successful men of his time. May 10, 1870, he married Miss
Harriet Lake, with an issue of five children — Jesse, deceased; James O.,
born June 15, 1874; Cora E., born September 8, 1877; Walter Z., born
October 8, 1879; and Cecil C, born July 5, 1882. Mrs. Coleman was
born March 17, 1851. Mr. Coleman died January 9, 1883. He was an
earnest member of the order of Odd Fellows, an active laborer for the
Republican party, and a lamented citizen. Mr. Coleman left his family
in comfortable circumstances, with several farms and a good town prop-
erty.
ROBERT C. DAVIS, merchant at Mahalasville, was born December
18, 1833, in Hancock County, W. Va. , and is the eldest of the family of
Enoch and Nancy (Cunningham) Davis, natives of West Virginia, and
respectively of Welsh and Irish descent. Robert, in company with his
parents, moved to Washington County, Penn., where he attended the
high school and acquired a good education. He early showed a tact
for business, and when seventeen engaged as traveling salesman, which
he followed some years, and then peddled on his own account. In 1862, he
and parents moved to Georgetown, Brown County, where he continued in
business until 1877; during this trip he lost his goods by the sinking of
the boat transporting them. January 1, 1856, he married Miss Louisa
H. Ritchey, of Ohio, with the following issue: John C, William W. and
James W. (twins), Ella M., Eva E., Nancy J., Robert, Charley C, Edgar
and Lela. While in Ohio, Mr. Davis served two terms as Trustee. He
is Postmaster, railroad agent and express agent; carries a large stock of
goods, and is an upright and efficient business man. He is a member of
the Masonic fraternity and of the Knights of Honor. Mr. and Mrs.
Davis are members of the Presbyterian Church.
250 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
DAVID S. DODSON, blacksmith and wagon-maker at Mahalasville,
is a native of Hardin County, Ky. ; was born August 2, 1834, and is a
son of John B. and Catharine (Ament) Dodson, the former a native of
Kentucky, the latter of Holland, and of English and German extraction
respectively. The subject of this sketch received a good common -school
education; was reared a farmer, and remained with his parents until his
twenty-fifth year, at which age he coramenced learning his trade, which
he has since almost constantly followed, besides having served nearly
four years in the regular army. In the fall of 1862, he began business
for himself at his present location. The spring of 1868, he married Miss
Sarah E. Helton, a native of Morgan County, Ind. , who died after hav-
ing borne one child — Judiah K. (deceased). Mrs. Dodson was a member
of the M. P. Church. Mr. Dodson is a member of the Masonic frater-
nity, the I. O. O. F. and the United Order of Honor. He is an enthu-
siastic Democrat, by which party he was elected Justice of the Peace in
1878, and again in the spring of 1882.
CAPT. PETER FESLER, Justice of the Peace and cabinet-maker
at Morgantown, is a native of Botetourt County, Va., was born April 27,
1836, and is the third of the family of John and Rebecca (Bickner) Fes-
ler, natives of Virginia and of German extraction, who came to this
county in 1838, and remained until their deaths. Peter Fesler received
a plain education, worked on the farfta, and when eighteen years old
settled to learn carpentering, which he afterward followed. April, 1861,
he enlisted for three months in Company K, Seventh Indiana Volunteer
Infantry; was in the first engagement of the war at Philippi, Va. After
this term he re-enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seventh Indiana Volun-
teer Infantry; was made First Lieutenant and afterward Captain; served
three years, and was in all the battles of the Potomac division. After
his service expired,*he was retained and given command of Company E,
Seventieth Indiana Regiment, and so served until the end, being dis-
charged at Washington, D. C. On returning to peace, he resumed his
trade, and in 1880 began business for himself. December 31, 1869, he
maiTied Miss Emma Collett, of Johnson County, Ind., to which union
have followed three children — Leo K., Mayo R. and Luna A. Mr. Fes-
ler is an ardent Republican, and was made Justice of the Peace in 1882.
He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM THOMAS GIBSON, merchant at Morgantown, was born
March 8, 1862, in Greene County, Tenn., and is the second of the nine
children of Charles and Sarah E. (Kelton) Gibson, the former a native
of Tennessee, the latter of Virginia, and both of English descent, who
first moved to Franklin, Ind. ; remained two years, and then to Nashville,
Ind., where they now reside. William Thomas remained at home until
he was twenty years of age, at which period he came to Morgantown
and engaged in his present enterprise, first as a grocery trade, to which
he has added dry goods and notions, of which he has always a full line
and carries a $3,000 stock. He has a good practical education and is a
first-clasH business man, having begun business with $10 cash capital.
September 21, 1881, he married Miss Amanda, daughter of Col. W. S.
Adams (deceased), a long resident of Morgantown. Mr. Gibson is a
member of the Masonic fraternity; inclined to the Republican party po-
litically, and is a promising young merchant. Mrs. Gibson is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
REUBEN C. GRIFFITT, M. D., physician and surgeon at Morgan -
town, was born December 28, 1845, in the identical dwelling in which
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN. 251
he now resides, and is the thirteenth of the fourteen children of Keuben
and Lovina (Shell) Griffitt, natives of Sullivan County, E. Tenn. They
were early settlers of this township, and here ended their days. Reuben
C. Griffitt was reared in Morgantown, and went to school and worked on
the farm until he was eighteen years of age. February, 1864, he became
a soldier of his country; was in the range of battles from Chattanooga
to Atlanta; captui'ed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1861; confined at Ander-
sonville, Florence and Charleston, in all six months, and released February
26, 1865. On account of disability, he received a furlough, which was
renewed uutil his discharge, June, 1865. He then attended school until
1868, when he studied medicine under Dr. Johnson, of Martinsville, for
two years, and attended lectures and graduated at the University of
Louisville in 1870, soon after which he opened an office at Morgantown;
practiced until 1875; then attended lectures in New York, receiving there
the ad eundem degree. He then resumed his practice, with honor and
renown. August 14, 1872, he married Miss Minerva D. Prosser (sister of
the present Auditor), and his union has been favored with three children
— Harry D., Bessie L. and Delia M. Dr. Griffitt is a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES HAMILTON, stock raiser and farmer, is a native of Wayne
County, Ky., was born January 13, 1815, and is the fourth of the eleven
children of John and Elender (Collett) Hamilton, the former a native of
North Carolina, the latter of South Carolina, and of Scotch-Irish and
English extraction, who came to and settled in this township in 1825.
John Hamilton was a pioneer, and made the third entry of land. He,
with the assistance of his family, improved a good farm from these prim-
itive wilds, and here closed his useful life. James i-eceived a frontier
education, and was reared to assist his father, with whom he remained
until his twenty-second year; then receiving from his sire the sum of
$50, with which to begin his own sustaining; and with this he entered
forty acres, which has grown to be 200 of choice and valuable land, well
improved — all the outcome of labor and frugality. October 20, 1836,
he wedded Miss Teresa Dorothy, of Kentucky birth, and this marriage
was cemented by five children — Elender, Lucinda, William R., Jesse
(deceased) and Louisa (deceased). Mr. Hamilton is a stanch Repub-
lican; a liberal and benevolent gentleman, now rearing the three children
of bis youngest daughter. He and wife are members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church.
JOHN F. HAMILTON, farmer aud stock-raiser, was born April 12,
1833, in this county, and is the fourth of the seven children of James
H. and Hannah (Francis) Hamilton, natives of Kentucky, and respect-
ively of Irish and German descent. James H. Hamilton moved to John-
son County, Ird., in 1829, remained two years, then moved to this town-
ship, where he died. He was one of the first settlers and, with the aid
of his son John, made one of the best farms in the township. John F.
Hamilton was bred a farmer, and afibrded such education as the schools
could give. After the death of his father, which took place in the win-
ter of 1861, he took charge of the farm and remained with his mother
until her death in 1881. He then purchased the homestead, containing
120 acres, to which he added forty, and has now a good farm, with many
and valuable improvements. January 28, 1864, he married Miss Matilda
Ferguson, born October 8, 1841, by which union they have become par-
ents of nine children — Lucy A., William F. (deceased), Mary B., Al-
io
252 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
mira M., James E., Iia W., Minnie, John E. and Clarence U. Mr.
Hamilton is an able manager of his affairs and a prosperous, liberal gen-
tleman. He and his wife are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
ABRAM B. HART, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of this
township; was born July 13, 1819, in Sussex County, N. J., and is the
third of four children born to Nathaniel and Mercy (Rose) Hart, natives
of New Jersey, and respectively of English and Irish extraction. Abram
was reared a farmer, and in 1841 came to this county, locating where he
still resides. With the help of $1,300, he has succeeded in life, and
owns a farm of 220 acres, 150 of which are under tine cultivation, with
good orchard and many improvements. February 8, 1840, he married
Miss Sarah A. Chipps, daughter of Morris and Margaret Chipps, of New
Jersey, with a result of nine children — Mercy, Margaret A., Amos S. ,
Mary (deceased), Aaron R. (deceased), Mahala E., John W., Sarah E.
and Emma M. Mr. Hart is a practical and prosperous farmer, and a
life-long Democrat, having given his first vote for Mr. Van Buren. He
is a man of progressive ideas, and a model father and husband, and a
very greatly esteemed citizen.
MATTHEW T. HANCOCK, druggist at Morgantown, was born May
1, 1849, in Harrison County, Ind. , and is the third of the seven children
of Benjamin H and Margaret A. (Senssensney) Hancock, the former a
native of Tennessee and of Irish, the latter of Virginia and of German
descent, who now reside in Washington, in this State. Matthew was
reared a farmer, and continued to labor as such until he was eighteen
years of age, when he engaged as salesman at Bloomfield, and remained
in that employment more than two years, afterward at Bowling Green,
and then began business on his own account in Lancaster, Owen County,
with a stock of drugs, and continued this two years. After disposing of
his stock, he became a salesman for Robinson & Co., of Terre Haute, for
one year. July, 1880, he came to Morgantown and engaged in his pres-
ent enterprise, in which he has been signally successful. Mr. Hancock
has always been a diligent student and a close observer. May 3, 1882,
he married Miss Effie C. Johnson, of Spencer, a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hancock belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
He has the promise of becoming a leading business man of his section,
having begun business with but $50, and being now worth probably
$5,000.
W. W. HELTON, farmer and stock-raiser, was bom October 25, 1807,
in East Tennessee, aud is the fifth of the eight children of Beecher and
Susan (Winkler) Helton, natives of North Carolina, and respectively of
English and German extraction. After the death of his father, our sub-
ject moved with his mother to Kentucky, where he was reared on a farm.
In 1828, he came to this county and entered the land on which he now
resides — having once owned 310 acres in the county, and now has 190.
For several years he followed the Irade of a shoemaker. September 6,
1827, he married Miss Nancy Hale, of Tennessee, with an issue of ten
children — James B., Eliza J., Julia A., Harriet L. (deceased), Sarah E.
(deceased), Mary C, Nancy (deceased), Miranda (deceased), John W.
and Susan C. Mr. Helton is a strong Democrat, having first voted for
Gen. Jackson; he also took an active part in the late Grange movement.
He is a worthy citizen, and has the blessed record of a well-spent life.
He and wife have been members for fifty years of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN. • 253
JAMES HICKEY, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Sullivan
County, E. Tenn. ; was born January 5, 1824, and is the eldest of the
nine in family of John and Catherine (Shell) Hick(?y, the former a na-
tive of East Tennessee, and of English, the latter of Pennsylvania and of
German descent, who emigrated to this township in 1843, and lived and
died here. James Hickey received the rudiments of an education
from the public schools, in the meantime working on the home farm and
assisting his father at the trade of brick-laying. He continued to per-
form these duties until he was twenty-four. In 1854, he commenced
mercantile business at Morgantown, and was recognized as a successful
and leading merchant until his retirement, November 1, 1883. He now
resides on a snug and attractive farm of thirty-five acres, cultivated and
improved, and still deals largely and only in the purchase and disposi-
tion of timber. November 23, 1848, he married Miss Hulda Swain,
which union was blessed by five children — George S. (deceased), John
H. (deceased), Mary C, Elbert M., and Walter S. (deceased). Mr. Hick-
ey is an old-time member of the I. O. O. F., an active Republican since
the rebellion and a liberal and benevolent gentleman. He and wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
\ JAMES H. HICKMAN, stock- raiser and farmer, is a native of John-
son County, Ind. ; was born December 2, 1833, and is the fourth of the
six children of James T. and Dorothy (Hamilton) Hickman, natives of
Kentucky, and respectively of English and Irish descent, who came to
this section of the State in 1832; afterward moved to near Morgantown,
where he closed his life. James H. Hickman was reared to the business
of farming. He began for himself on reaching manhood, and, although
.he received but $600 as an aid in the struggle of life, has accumulated
350 acres of fine land, in good cultivation and with many improvements.
March 2, 1854, he married Miss Elender Hamilton, of Morgan County,
which union has been crowned by six children — Theresa J., deceased;
Louisa I.; William H., deceased; Joseph P., James N. and Ira E. ;
they have also adopted a daughter — Louisa I. Donnell. Mr. Hick-
man is a Republican, and was an active member of the Grange organiza-
tion. He is a liberal contributor to every good work, and an esteemed
citizen. He and wife are efficient members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
JOHN S, HINE, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Lincoln
County, N. C, January 3, 1836, and is the second child of John G. and
Mary M. (Bolinger) Hine, both of whom were born in the " Old North
State," and of German extraction. Our subject remained at home until
he was twenty-eight years old; then began efforts for himself, and, with-
out any assistance, has obtained a good home and farm, embracing sixty-
seven acres, well situated, drained, stocked, and containing various im-
provements. He was reared a farmer, working during summer and going
to school during winter. August 27, 1863, he married Miss Marietta A.
Prather, born November 10, 1844, in this State. This union gave issue
to two children — David L., born February 22, 1866, and Jarvis E., de-
ceased, March 30, 1872. Mr. Hine took an earnest part in the late
Grange organization, and is an active Democrat, having given his first
suflfrage for Stephen A. Douglas. He is a genial, generous, enlightened
and progressive citizen, also an advocate of public education. In 1882,
he was elected Road Superintendent. Mr. and Mrs. Hine are communi-
cants of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
254 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
OLIVER L. HINE, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of this
county, was born November 22, 1846, and is the sixth of eleven children
born to John G. and Mary M. (Bolinger) Hine, both natives of North
Carolina, who came hither about 1837, at which early period the country
was a wild, but of which they have made a desirable home and valuable
property, comprising 302 acres well situated and improved, with full
amount of stock. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian
Church. Oliver L. Hine is now managing his father's farm. He is a
promising and energetic gentleman, a stanch Democrat and a member of
the I. O. O. F. Like his father, he is liberal in character and progressive
in ideas, and is a useful and appreciated member of society.
HAKRY JACKSON was born May 29, 1843, in Jefferson County,
Ind., and is the fifth of the eight children of Samuel and Jane (Hillis)
Jackson, the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Indiana.
Harry remained with his parents on the farm until he was sixteen years
of age, when he began the struggle of life for himself, working by the
month until August 12, 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, Seventieth
Indiana Voluntary Infantry, serving in the battles of Dallas, Resaca,
Marietta, Savannah, New Hope Church, Atlanta, Peach Ti-ee Creek and
Bentonville^ where he was captured and sent to Libby Prison, being
made to march 170 miles, and with but one meal in three days. He was
held captive from February, 1864, until the day before Mr. Lincoln's
assassination, and was discharged June 30, 1865. After his return, he
purchased a farm in Johnson County, and September 26, 1867, married
Miss Ollie F. Miller, who died, leaving four children — Rosa, Guy, Roy
and Eddie; she was a member of the Christian Church. His second wife
was Miss Sarah A. Lake, whom he married Febi'uary 27, 1880. Until
the fall of that year, Mr. Jackson followed farming and buying and sell-
ing stock, but afterward came to Morgantown and engaged in the keeping
of a bakery and butcher shop. Mr. Jackson is a Republican, and he and
wife are members of the Christian Church.
GEORGE W. KEMP, farmer and stock-raiser, was born December 9,
1849, in this county, and is the sixth of the nine children of James and
Christina (McGowan) Kemp, natives of Kentucky, and respectively of
English and German extraction. James Kemp was a son of John and
Nancy Kemp, of North Carolina. He came to this county in 1826, where
our subject was educated to farm work, grew to manhood, and has ever
remained. He continued at home until he was twenty-three years of
age, when he began business for himself, with no capital but a bold
heart and a strong will. February 14, 1872, he married Mrs. Caroline
(Norman) Hamilton, of this county, born March 3, 1844. This marriage
was honored by three children — Rebecca J., Andrew J. and Sarah E. Mr.
Kemp has been reasonably successful in his efforts for independence.
He has a farm of 165 acres, well located, cultivated and improved. He
is an ardent Democrat, and socially an honorable and benevolent gentle-
man. Mrs. Kemp is a member of the Separate Baptist Church.
SAMUEL KEMP, farmer and stock-raiser, was born February 6,
1842, in this coimty, and is the eighth of the nine children of Samuel
and Tabitha (Hicks) Kemp, both natives of Tennessee, and of English
extraction. The subject of this sketch received a fair education, and was
reared to the plow by his father, who located in this township about
1840, and where he died, having acquired 200 acres, which he sold to
his son Samuel, who now cultivates 150 acres thereof. February 9, 1865,
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN. 255
be married Miss Nancy J. Kent, a native of this county, which union has
been cemented by four children — George (born November 29, 1865),
Lewis (born May 23, 1868), David (born September 13, 1870), and Corda
E. (born June 26, 1874). Mr. Kemp takes proper pride in bestowing
education on his children, and is liberal and progressive in his character.
He is a shrewd manager and a careful investigator, a good business man
and a respected citizen. In political matters,Mr. Kemp is a solid Dem-
ocrat.
JAMES KEPHAET, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Henry
County, Ky., July 17, 1823, and is the second of the family of William
and Elizabeth (Herrel) Kephart, also natives of Kentucky, and of German
and English extraction respectively. James was brought to Clark County,
Ind., by his parents in 1824, where they lived two years; then removed to
Johnson County and remained thirteen years, after which they came to
this county, where James received some education and was taught farm-
ing. March 26, 1846, he married Misg Mary A. Moore, of Kentucky,
who died a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the
mother of eight children — Serilda, Kobert M., John W., Christina, Clar-
inda, Mahala (deceased) and two infants (deceased). Mr. Kephart re-
ceived no assistance in his early struggles for honie and land, but has
now 160 acres, favorably located and well improved and cultivated, with
many improvements. He is a stalwart Democrat, a good business man-
ager and a respected citizen. His son is now managing his farm mechan-
ically and he overseeing.
ISAAC KNIGHT, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Nansemond
County, Va. , October 16. 1830, and is the sixth of the eighteen children
of Levin and Emily (Ellis) Knight, both natives of Virginia, and respect-
ively of English and German extraction, who emigrated to Monroe
County, Ind., in 1832, remained seven years, thence moved to Brown
County for twelve years, and thence to Iowa. Isaac Knight was reared
a farmer, with the rudiments of an education. In 1852, he came to Mor-
gan Coimty and settled in the village of Cope, where he engaged in busi-
ness for two years, and afterward took up farming. He has been very suc-
cessful in his efforts, being the owner of 120 acres of good and improved
land, together with eight residences, a brick block and a public hall —
these the result of his ability and energy, he having received but $2,500
from his father-in-law's estate. May 14, 1854, he married Miss Emily
Briant, which union has been favored with nine children, eight having
lived to receive names— Benjamin, John W., William B., Annie M.,
Nettie, Alonzo, Clarence and Lulie. Mr. Knight is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and an active Kepublican; he cast his first vote for
Henry Clay. Mr. and Mrs. Knight are members of the Christian Church,
having been such since they were seventeen years of age.
JOHN W. KNIGHT, school teacher and merchant at Morgantown,
was born February 11, 1857, in this county, and is the second of the nine
children of Isaac and Emily (Briant) Knight, the former a native of
Virginia, and the latter of this county. Our subject was reared a farmer,
and obtained a good education, having been a one-year student of Butler
University. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age,
when he began life for himself as a teacher, and as which he has been
remarkably successful. September 1, 1883, he purchased the grocery
stock of Abraham Wootten, and has since managed the business satisfac-
torily, having a salesman to attend to his store while engaged in teaching.
256 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
February 27, 1879, he married Miss Lizzie Blackburn, of Brown County,
Ind. , wliich union has been favored with two children — Omar (born Decem ■
ber 20, 1880) and Otto M. (born December 14, 1883). Mr. Knight is a suc-
cessful man, and is in prospect of a large and increasing trade, being a
good observer and a shrewd manager. He is a liberal Republican politi-
cally, and a generous and valued citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Knight are both
members of the Christian Church.
JACOB T. LEACH, stock-raiser and farmer, was born September 10,
1850, in Johnson County, Ind., and is the seventh of the eleven children
of John A. and Abigail (Miller) Leach, both natives of Kentucky, and
of Scotch and German extraction respectively. In 1853, these parents
moved to this county and located in Green Township. Jacob T. Leach
has made his home in this locality since the coming of his father, for
whom he labored, except during school periods, for several years.
When seventeen years old, he began the experiment of life for himself,
and, being industrious and economical, saved the money to found his
success. September 22, 1872, he married Miss Sarah I. Adams, a native
of this township. Five children have crowned this union — John H.,
Joseph B., William B., Nancy B. and Robert T. (deceased). Mr. Leach
is a practical farmer, an energetic worker, a liberal and respected
citizen, and an active Democrat. He has made his own way with but
little aid, although his wife received $2,000 from her parents as a re-
ward of her fidelity to them.
OWEN LLOYD, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Ireland; was
born March 21, 1807, and is the seventh of the ten children of Owen
and Margaret (Murdock) Lloyd, both natives of Ireland. Owen received
a good ordinary education and was reared a farmer. His grandfather
and a brother received from Oliver Cromwell a grant of 1,900 acres of
land, and his father was a large land owner and extensive farmer. In
1834, our subject emigrated tq, these shores, settled in Cleveland, Ohio,
for four years, and thereafter, in 1839, came to his present home and
farm. To his original forty acres he added until he owned at one time
360 acres, most of which he has bestowed among his children. When
quite a young man, Mr. Lloyd manifested a predilection for trading, in
which he was generally successful, and is indebted to no one but himself
for his progress and prosperity. April 7, 1838, he married Miss Sarah
Coleman, a native of Ohio. To this union were bestowed nine children
— Robert C. (deceased), Edwin (deceased), Owen, Davis (deceased),
Clotilda, Alice, Francis C, Eliza, and an infant unnamed. Mr. Lloyd
is a Democrat, and was twice elected Trustee of this township; he is
also a benevolent and worthy citizen. Mr. Lloyd is a member of the
Episcopal; and Mrs. Llovd of the Missionary Baptist Church.
JOHN F. MAXWELL, liveryman at Morgantown, is a native of
Butler County, Ohio; was born August 14, 1849, and is the third of the
seven children of John K. and Ellen (McElwain) Maxwell, the former
a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of New Jersey, who moved to
Johnson County, Ind., in 1860. John F. Maxwell began the way of
life for himself, when seventeen years of age, by taking charge of a
woolen factory at Eminence, Ind.. having formerly worked in such a
place. This he continued for eighteen months, when he moved to
Brownsburg and had charge of the weaving department for about three
years; thence he went to Crawfordsville, and there had charge of a
woolen factory for about six years, and finally came to Morgantown and
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN. 257
began his present enterprise — livery and stave-making. In 1883, he
shipped about 3,500,000 staves. Mr. Maxwell has been twice married
— first, to Miss Mary J. Gibson, who died after bearing two children —
both of whom departed before getting names; second, to Miss Minerva
J. Julian, who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
Maxwell is an energetic business man, an esteemed citizen and an active
Democrat.
GEORGE M. MONTGOMERY, hardware merchant at Morgantown,
is a native of Johnson County, Ind., and is the second child of his par-
ents, Duncan and Li His (Holman) Montgomery, the former a native of
Scotland, the latter of Indiana. Mr. Montgomery emigrated to Amer-
ica in 1832. George M. was born December 15, 1853; was reared a
farmer, and worked thereat and attended school until he was sixteen
years old, at which time he became a cripple, and thus incapacitated from
farm labor, although he is owner of 137 J acres of excellent land, im-
proved and cultivated. In the summer of 1880, he moved to Morgan -
town and purchased the hardware business of James S. Comer, which
he has since managed successfully and satisfactorily. He carries a
varied stock of about $3, 500, which is increasing. October 17, 1876, he
married Miss Mary E. Bass, and to them have been born two children —
Arthur D. and Ivey M. Mr. Montgomery is a Liberal in politics, an
upright and watchful merchant and a generally esteemed citizen.
CAPT. WILLIAM MOUNT, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in
Hamilton County, Ohio, October 25, 1827, and is the eldest of the four
children of Obadiah B. and Gitty A. (Skillman) Mount, both natives of
Ohio, who moved to Union County, Ind., about 1837, on the 2d of Feb-
ruary of which year Mr. Mount departed this life. William Mount re-
ceived a fair education from the common schools, and learned the ancient
vocation of farming, which he followed until the summer of 1862-, then,
together with W. W\ Wingett, raised Company G, of the Sixty ninth
Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Mr. Mount being made First Lieutenant,
but was acting Captain most of the time, that officer being on detached
duty. He was in the following engagements: Richmond (Ky.), Arkansas
Post, Thompson's Hill, Raymond, Baker's Creek, Black River Bridge,
and with Gen. Grant at Vicksburg. After his regiment was transferred
to Texas, he participated at the battle of Mobile, where he received a
slight wrist wound and was mustered out, but discharged at Indianapolis
in August, 1865. The war being over, he removed to Columbus, Ind.,
where he engaged in the grocery business for several years, when he sold
the same, removed to Indianapolis, and was some time on the special
police force; thence he removed to this county in 1879, where he has
since resided on a good farm of 100 acres. December 1, 1847, he mar-
ried Miss Eleanor Dare, with a result of one child — Edward F. (deceased).
Capt. Mount is an energetic Republican, a liberal, charitable gentleman,
a shrewd man of business and a valued citizen. His mother resides with
him, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church since girlhood.
JOSEPH H. NORMAN, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in this
township October 8. 1839, and is the sixth of the eight children of James
and Sarah A. (Harrison) Norman, the former a native of North Carolina,
the latter of Tennessee, and both of Irish descent. James Norman emi-
grated to this county in 1831; then returned to Tennessee for three years,
when he came back to this county and finished his days; he was pos-
sessed of 320 acres of land. His wife survives him and resides with the
258 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
subject of this sketch. Joseph H. was reared a farmer, and has a good
farm, embraciug ninety-six acres, well cultivated and with stock and im-
provements. March 28, 1861, he married Miss Ruth Kemp, a native of
this coiinty, which union has been fruitful of five children — George W.,
Robert C, Harriet V., Samuel A. and Edward. Mr. Norman received
some aid in the beginning of his career, but has succeded by means of
his will and management. He is a good husband, father and citizen, an
unchangeable Democrat, and, with his wife, a valued member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOSEPH T. NORMAN, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Over-
ton County, Tenn.; was born October 1, 1823, and is the youngest of the
twelve children of William and Mary (Kemp) Norman, natives of North
Carolina and of English extraction. William Norman came to this
county in the fall of 1830, where he enterM land, and, with the assist-
ance of his sons, made a very excellent farm, which continued to be his
home until removed by death. He had been a soldier of the war of 1812.
Joseph T. Norman was reared a farmer under his father, obtained a pio-
neer education and remained with his parents until he was about twenty-
two years of age, engaged in rail-making, log-rolling and clearing land.
In 1844, he married Miss Betsey E. W^illiams, of North Carolina, who
lived to bear eleven children — Caroline, Nancy, Sarah, Catherine, Jeffer-
son, Joseph L., Frank P., George W., William (deceasjed), Rutha J.
(deceased) and Thomas A. He next married, September 7, 1864, Mrs.
Nancy R. Thomas, a native of Indiana, to which union were bestowed
four children — Grant, Sheridan, Daniel W. and Sherman (deceased). Mr.
Norman has been successful in his efforts toward independence, being
possessed of 600 acres of land, much of which is improved, cultivated
and stocked. , He cast his first vote for James K. Polk, but adopted the
Republican party as soon as born, and has adhered to it. He is a charita-
ble, liberal citizen, and much esteemed.
JOHN J. NORMAN, fai^mer and stock-raiser, is a native of this
county; was born January 17, 1850, and is the fifth of the eleven children
of Joseph T. and Elizabeth (Williams) Norman, the former a native of
Tennessee, the latter of North Carolina, and respectively of English and
German extraction. John J. Norman was reared a farmer, received the
rudiments of an education, and remained with his parents until he was
twenty- one years of age, at which time he began life for himself, receiv-
ing from his parents a horse and cow to begin with. May 26, 1870, he
married Miss Emeline Lake, a native of this county, by which union suc-
ceeded two children — Delie (born February 17, 1871) and George W.
(born April 18, 1874). Mr. Norman is now residing on the farm of his
father. He is a Republican by political preference, a liberal gentleman
and an esteemed citizen; he is likewise a practical farmer, whose success
is due to his energy and wise management.
W. W. RAPER is a native of this county, was born August 28, 1861,
and is the second of the family of nine children bestowed on Andrew J.
and Julia A. (Helton) Raper, the former a native of Monroe County,
Ind., the latter of this county, and both of English extraction. The
subject of this sketch was reared to the ancient business of husbandry,
and acquired some education from the common schools. He is now act-
ing as overseer of the farm of his grandfather. Mr. Helton is an ener-
getic, industrious and promising young man, a practical farmer and an
esteemed gentleman. In political preference, he is a member of the Dem-
ocratic party.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND MORGANTOWN. 259
HENRY RENNER, proprietor of a saw mill and grist mill at Maha-
lasville, also a farmer and stock-raiser, was born January 15, 1828, in
Wayne County, Ohio, and is the second child of Philip and Mary (Bidle-
man) Renner; the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Ohio,
and both of German extraction, who came to this section in 1839. Henry
Renner was brought up to the farm and the school, thus acquiring some
education and learning the farming vocation. By industry and frugality,
he has acquired a good property, having a tine farm of 246 acres, much
cultivated and variously improved; he is also in enjoyment of a liberal
patronage in his mills and purchases grain largely. January 15, 1852,
he married Miss Jane, a daughter of James and Mary A. Gibbs, to which
union eight in family have been bestowed — Philip, Mary, Eliza E., James
W., Martha A., Louisa, Retta and Eddie. Mr Renner is a gentleman of
enterprise and liberality, an uncompromising Democrat and a worthy
citizen. Mrs. Renner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
GEORGE W. SKINNER, farmer, was born June 15, 1825, in Bel-
mont County, Ohio, and is the fifth of the family of Philip and Hannah
(Coon) Skinner; the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of West
Virginia, and both of German descent. George W. received only a ru-
dimentary education, but has been a close student, thereby acquiring much
practical knowledge. In 1844, he located in Morgantown, and after the
death of his parents he received a small amount of means with which to
begift life; he first purchased forty-four and then forty acres of the
homestead, and has dealt also in lumber and timber. June 29, 1846, he
married Miss Partheny Lake, a native of Virginia, which union gave
issue to ten children — William (deceasedj, Mary, Elizabeth A. (deceased),
Emma (deceased), Samuel, Ida (deceased), John A. , Caleb and Barbara
(twins, the latter deceased) and Burto. Mr. Skinner has been usually
successful in his undertakings, having a clear perception and much exe-
cutive capacity. He is a warm adherent of the Republican party, a
stanch friend to humanity and a good citizen. He and wife belong to
the Missionary Baptist Church.
IRA C. WILLAN, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons
of Morgantown, Ind., was born July 27, 1859, in Hart County, Ky., and
is the third of the eight children of Dr. Elzy B. and Carrie R. (Murrey)
Willan, natives of Kentucky, and of English extraction, who moved to
Trafalgar, Johnson County, Ind., in 1861, where Ira grew to manhood,
and, in his father's drug store, received an early medical training, having
served as clerk for eighteen months therein. After receiving a good ed-"
ucation at the schools, he entered on the study of medicine under his
father for two years, after which he attended two courses at the Indiana
Medical College, department of Butler University, from which he gradu-
ated in the class of 1883, and with great honors. July 26, 1883, he
opened a medical oflQce at Morgantown, and has even now been success-
ful in establishing himself with the people as a young practitioner of
ability and promise. We predict for him a lucrative practice and gen-
eral renown.
FREDERIC WILLIAMS (deceased) was born May 3, 1828, in
North Carolina, and was the fourth of the eleven children of William
and Catherine (Haase) Williams, also natives of North Carolina, and of
Irish and German descent respectively. Frederic came to this county
when quite young, which was his home until his decease — July 21,1882.
He received his education from the pioneer schools, and was reared on a
260 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
farm. Tie settled in the forest, and, with some help from his father and
rigid economy, accumulated sufficient to make his family comfortable.
March 12, 1858, he married Miss Rutha J. Kemp, a native of this
county, and to their union were bestowed eleven children, nine of whom
lived to be named — George W. (born December 8, 1860), Aaron (born
November 22, 1861), John J. (born May 5, 1863), James W. (deceased),
Andrew J. (born June 22, 1866), Robert E. L. (January 16, 1869), Fred-
eric (born April 10, 1870), Nelson (born February 13,1872) and Cordelia
(born May 1, 1874). Mr. Williams was possessed of about 200 acres of
farm land, and was a man of energy and endurance toward the end of
becoming independent. He was liberal, genial and esteemed. In polit-
ical matters, he was an active Democrat
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM BLACK, J. P., Brooklyn, is the second of four children
of Samuel J. and Mary J. (Lewis) Black, and born in Mooresville, Mor
gan County, on February 29, 1836. Samuel J. , the father, was born in
Erie County, Fenn., on June 16, 1812, and came to Indiana in 1824,
settling near Indianapolis, but coming soon to Mooresville, Morgan County.
On October 17, 1833, he married Mary J. Lewis. He died on March 19,
1851; his wife September 5, 1855. Our subject was reared upon a
farm, and received but a limited education. In 1848, he went to Iowa
with an uncle, sojourning in that State ten years, when he returned to
Indiana in October, 1859. On July 6, 1861, he enlisted in Company
K, Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, served until December 16, 1863, when
he " veteranized" and continued in the service until the close of the war.
On the organization of his company he was made Corporal, but was pro-
moted to First Sergeant before his discharge. He participated in the
battle of Baton Rouge, sieges of Port Hudson, Fort Morgan, Fort Span-
ish and Fort Blakely. At the time of his discharge, January 22, 1866,
he had contracted a disability from which he will probably never recover.
While at home on a furlough, he was married, on December 7, 1865, to
Sarah Steele, a native of Morgan County. Mrs. Black's father was in
the Mexican war, and died in that service. To Mr. and Mrs. Black have
been born four children. Both are members of the Christian Church,
as is also their eldest daughter. Mr. Black is a member of the I. 0.0. F.,
and a stanch Republican. He held the office of Trustee of Clay Town-
ship from 1872 to 1874. He is at present a Justice of the Peace of this
township. By trade he is a carpenter.
BARNARD B. BUSH, of the firm of Bush & Brother, dealers in gen-
eral merchandise, was born in Orange County, N. Y., on September 18,
1856, and is a son of George B. and Mary (Lyon) Bush, having been the
second of their four children. The firm of Bush & Brother does a thriv-
ing business, is carrying a stock of 13,000, and trading annually to the
amount of $10,000 at Centerton, Ind. Barnard B. was reared on a farm,
and attended the public schools a sufficient length of time to enable him
to teach. Mr. Bush, Sr.. and his wife came to Indianapolis from New
York, and from there moved to Centerton. On the breaking-out of the
CLAY TOWNSHIP. 261
war, he went into the service, but never returned to his home. Barnard
B. began life for himself at nineteen years of age, at farming, and con-
tinued in that pursuit until 1880, when he engaged in the mercantile
business, and ever since has been doing a thriving trade in that line at
Centerton. Mr. Bush was married, on September 30, 1878, to Emma
Ferguson, a native of Morgan County, Ind. , and by her he has had two
childi-en— May, born May 2, 1880, and Lee, born September 23, 1883.
Mrs. Bush is a consistent member of the Christian Church, Mr. Bush is
a Kepublican and holds the office of Trustee of the township, being now
in his second term. After his first election, he made a special levy of 35
cents on the 1100, for the purpose of building a graded schoolhouse of
four rooms. This became an issue in his second election, and he having
been successful, the building was completed, and a school is taught there
which is a credit to any township. Mr. Bush is a self made man, not
having depended upon any one for help in climbing the ladder to pros-
perity.
CALVIN ELY is the fourth of the five children born to David and
Mary E. (McCracken) Ely, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, and
of English descent; was born in Clay Township, Morgan County, Ind.,
May 3, 1849, and passed his childhood on his father's farm. He received
instruction at the public schools sufficient to enable him to become one of
our county's teachers. Mr. Ely attended the State Normal School at
Terre Haute during 1874 and 1875, and also graduated from the Inter-
national Business College of Indianapolis June 1, 1872. As he was
then fully competent as a teacher, he followed that profession for about
eight years, at the same time engaging in book-keeping In the mean-
time,he served as Deputy in the Auditor's, Treasurer's and Clerk's offices
at Martinsville. On January 10, 1878, Mr. Ely was married to Frances
A. Staflbrd, a native of Morgan County, and daughter of Wiley and
Sarah (Slaughter) Stafibrd, natives of Morgan County, Ind., and of Eng-
lish and German descent. By this union they have had one child born
to them — Charles, born August 2, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Ely belong to the
Christian and to the Methodist Episcopal Churches respectively. Mr.
Ely is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Since his marriage, he has been
engaged in farming 192 acres which he owns, and has highly improved.
On this place is a fine residence, barn, fences, orchard, etc. ; it is stocked
with hogs, horses, sheep and cattle, and further provided with all neces-
sary farming implements. In collecting this, Mr. Ely has depended
upon himself only and has received nothing from any man.
A. J. ^FIELDS was born in Madison Township, Morgan County,
August 20, 1830, and is the son of Allen and Elizabeth (Ritcher) Fields,
natives respectively of North Carolina and Virginia. The parents came
to Indiana in 1828, and located in Madison Township, where they resid-
ed until their death. Our subject was reared upon a farm, received a
rather limited education, and came to Clay Township on January 1,
1853, and continued farming, being at present located upon a farm of
138 acres of well-improved land, of which he is the owner. He has been
twice married. First to Clarissa Butterfield, on December 18, 1853.
She was a native of Morgan County, and daughter of Veloris and Clarissa
Butterfield. Seven children were born to them — Omer A., born February
12, 1856, died July 17, 1870; Francis O., born August 10, 1860, died
March 30, 1882; Martin A., born November 30, 1868, died May 18, 1882;
George A., born December 4, 187 J, died November 25, 1874: Ada A.,
262 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
born August 18, 1858; William F., born July 13, 1864; Annetta, born,
July 15, 1862. The mother of these children died on October 2, 1872,
a consistent member of the Christian Church. He was next married, on
March 20, 1874, to Eleanor Butterlield, who was born on January 15,
1837. She is the daughter of John H. and Eleanor Butterfield. They
have no children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fields are members of the Christian
Church, in which he has been Deacon for the past twenty years. Con-
sistent in his piety, lavish in his gifts to charity, upright in his dealings
with his fellow-man, Mr. Fields is respected by all who know him. Mr.
F.'s father, Allen Fields, was born on March 18, 1789, and died on Oc-
tober 24, 1877; his mother, Elizabeth Fields, was born on December 2,
1793, and_died on April 23, 1864.
W. C. 'GEEESON, harness -maker, Brooklyn, is the youngest of
fourteen children born to John and Barbara (Spoon) Greeson, natives of
North Carolina, and respectively of German and English extraction.
The parents emigrated from their native State to Indiana in about 1840,
coming to Mooresville, Morgan County, and there lived until their death,
respectively in 1851 and 1852, both members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. W. C. Greeson was born in Mooresville November 18, 1844,
and grew to manhood upon a farm, receiving a common school education.
At about eighteen years of age, Mr. Greeson enlisted in Company E,
Twelfth Indiana Infantry, and served three years. He was promoted to
Corporal in 1863. He took part in battle of Richmond, Ky. He was
here captured August 27, 1862; was paroled on the 30th, and in No-
vember was exchanged. He was sent from Indianapolis to Cairo, 111.,
and thence to Memphis, and finally to winter quarters at Tallahassee
Bottoms. In the spring the regiment went to Vicksburg, and there took
part in that severely contested engagement. In September, after the
evacuation of the city, they went to Memphis, Tenn. Corp. Greeson
was also engaged in the battles of Jackson, Miss., Missionary Ridge,
Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek,
Atlanta, Jonesborc, Savannah, Griswoldville, Columbia, S. C, Benton-
ville and Raleigh, N. C, and in Sherman's " march to the sea."
Through exposure, our soldier subject became afflicted with chronic
diarrhoea, and also received a severe wound with "an ax in his left leg at
Vicksburg. He was discharged June 20, 1865. He was married Novem-
ber 9, 1865, to Mary A. Peek, a native of this township, and a member
of the Christian Church. Mr. Greeson is a Mason; was Junior Warden
for three and Senior Warden for two years, and was also Trustee of
Clay Township for five years, and is a Republican. Mr. Greeson owns
ninety -three acres of land, well improved, six lots, two dwellings, and a
shop in Brooklyn. In 1876, Mr. Greeson left his farm and came to
Brooklyn, where he is engaged in harness-making, and has since been do-
ing a good business.
JOHN HINER GREGORY (deceased) was born in Morgan County,
Ind., July 4, 1842, and is the son of Daniel and Mary (Cox) Gregory, of
English lineage. John H. was reared upon a farm, and was educated at
the common schools. February 7, 1866, he was married to Amanda J.,
a native of Morgan County, born February 14, 1844, and a daughter of
William and Eleanor (Clark) Rinker. Three children were given them
— Oliver L. (deceased), Albert and Melva I. The father died on April
7, 1882, in the membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which
his wife belongs. Mrs. Gregory is living upon a farm of 122 acres of
CLAY TOWNSHIP. 263
land, well improved and abundantly stocked. Mr. Gregory enlisted
August 6, 1862, in Company H, Seventieth Indiana Infantry, and served
three years. He participated in the following battles: Russellville,
Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mount-
ain, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah, and was also with
Sherman on his "march to the sea." He was honorably discharged on
June 8, 1865. He then resumed farming, was always a most devoted
husband and father, as well as a respected citizen. Being early left an
orphan, Mr. Gregory lived with an uncle until he had nearly attained
his majority, when he returned to Morgan County, Ind. Mrs. Gregory
is residing on the old homestead of Levi Rinker.
ALEXANDER HARDWICK was born November 10, 1842, in Clay
Township, Morgan County, Ind. His father, "William Hardwick, was
born in Tennessee in 1808, and while he was quite young his parents
moved with him to Kentucky. He then went with them to Mooresville,
at the age of fifteen, and in 1835 married Elizabeth Cox, who was born
in Pennsylvania in 1815. She went to Ohio with her parents in early
youth, and thence to Morgan County. Here she was married to William
Hardwick, and they have been living in this county ever since. Mr.
Hardwick was of English-Scotch, and his wife of Irish-Dutch descent.
Alexander, their son, and our subject, was born and reared near Center-
ton. His advantages for an education were limited, but he improved
such opportunities as he had, and thus acquired sufficient learning to be-
come a successful teacher. This profession he has followed for about
ten years. He has been for six years engaged in the flouring-mill and
in the grain business. For about two years he was engaged in the mer-
cantile business. Mr. Hardwick never aspired to any public ofiice, but
was elected Trustee of the township in 1874, which position he resigned
at the expiration of the first year. He has been a member of the I. O.
O. F., Martinsville Lodge, No. 274, since 1868. In i860, he began to
do business for himself, and in March, 1868, married Eliza E. , daughter
of Joel and Elizabeth Matthews. Joel was a son of Hiram, or Judge
Matthews, as he is commonly known. Elizabeth Rooker is a daughter
of Wilson and Polly Rooker, all old settlers of Morgan County, and have
lived and are living near Mooresville. Mr. Hardwick's present occupa-
tion is teaching, of which he is seemingly fond.
HON. FRANKLIN LANDERS was born in Morgan County, Ind.,
March 22, 1825. His father, William Landers, was one of the pionbers
of the New Purchase, and here Franklin was reared a farmer and edu-
cated at the country schools. After reaching his majority, he followed
teaching a few terms, and with his earnings therefrom, added to those
from his farm labors, in company with his brother, Washington, he
opened a general store at Waverly, Ind. A few years later, he purchased
a section of land in this township, laid out the town of Brooklyn,
brought his merchandise here, and for several years sold goodb, farmed,
reared and dealt in stock, and before he was of middle age, became one
of the wealthiest men in the country. He accumulated money without
an apparent effort, and spent it like a prince. Objects of charity and
benevolent institutions were the recipients of his bounty, and the poor
and the needy who knew him have every reason to bless him. He has
established no less than five churches upon his lands, and to their sup-
port has given liberally. In 1860, he was nominated for State Senator,
and defeated his opponent, Samuel Oyler, one of the most popular men
264 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of Indiana, by a large majority. In the Legislature, he acquitted him-
self with honor, and to the satisfaction of his constituency. He favored
a vigorous prosecution of the war for the preservation of the Union; he
advocated the enforcement of military law wher^ civil law was overthrown,
and upon all questions tending to establish the supremacy of a united
government, his voice was in the affirmative. He removed to the city of
Indianapolis in 1864, where, in company with other well-known gentle-
men, he engaged in the wholesale dry gootis business, which he has
since followed. He is also the head of the firm of Landers & Co. , pork
packers and commission merchants, and is one of the most extensive
farmers in the State. He owns four fine farms, aggregating 2, 100 acres,
in Morgan County, one of 250 acres in Marion, and one of 160 acres in
Hamilton, all of which receive his personal supervision. He was candi-
date for Presidential elector on the McClellan ticket in 1864 In 1874,
he was elected to Congress, where he took rank as leader upon all ques-
tions of finance. In 1875, the Greenback party nominated him for Gov-
ernor, but the Democratic convention before which his name was pre-
sented for indorsement, finding the contest between Mr. Landers and the
Hod. W. S. Holman to be so warm as to preclude the possibility of har-
mony in the party, both those gentlemen were withdrawn, and a com-
promise effected upon the Hon. James Williams. Over his protest, Mr.
Landers' friends nominated him for Congress in 1876, and though de-
feated, he ran ahead of his ticket over 800, and his candidacy added
much to the strength of the Democracy, and led to the election of Mr.
Williams as Governor, and carried the State of Indiana for Tilden and
Hendricks. In 1880, he led the Democratic hosts as their candidate for
Governor, the result of which campaign is a part of the history of our
country. Mr. Landers has been twice married; first to Miss Mary Shuf-
fleberger, who died in 1864, leaving two children, and next to Mrs.
Martha Conduitt, by whom he has had born to him four children.
DR. CHAMBERS M. LINDLEY was born in Crawford County, 111.,
on January 1, 1832. His father came from North Carolina, and settled
in Orange County, Ind., while the country was yet a wilderness and in-
habited by the Indians. Shortly afterward, he moved to Crawford Coun-
ty, near Huntsville, 111., and the country being wild and unsettled, he,
with all the early settlers, endured many hardships and privations. He
was a member of the Friends' Church, and his ten children were brought
up under its influence. He died in 1837. Chambers M. , the subject of
this sketch, was reared on a farm. At the age of fifteen, he lost an arm
by a runaway horse. After a season at the pioneer schools, he came to
Parke County, Ind. , and attended the Bloomingdale School, conducted
by the Friends. Then he taught for a period of three years. He then
began the study of medicine, and attended the medical colleges at Ann
Arbor, Mich., and Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from the latter institu-
tion in 1860. He then began the practice of medicine at Waverly, Mor-
gan County, where he continued in his profession ten years. Failing in
health, he retired to a farm, where he remained six years; thence came
to Brooklyn, where for twelve years he has been actively engaged in the
practice of medicine and snrgery. In May, 1856, he was married to
Elizabeth J. Province, of Pleasureville, Ky. She has borne him two
children — Ella and Minnie. The Doctor and wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Brooklyn
Lodge, No. 47 1, A. , F. & A. M. As a farmer, he owns 260 acres of
CLAY TOWNSHIP. 265
well-improved land. The Doctor has a tine medical library, as well as
the works of nearly all the standard authors on miscellaneous subjects.
P. S. McNEFF was born in 1834, near Brooklyn, Morgan County.
He lived on the farm until the autumn of 1852, when he went to Iowa,
where he worked on a farm for two years, and then served time at the
carpenter's trade, and worked at it until the spring of 1856, when he re-
turned to Indiana, and remained until September of the same year. He
then returned to Iowa, and in 1858 went to Lawrence, Kan.; thence
again, in 1859, to Iowa; thence, in September of the same year, to New
Albany, Ind. ; thence to Salem, Ind. After a short sojourn South, he
returned to Salem, Ind., where he remained until March, 1861. In the
meantime, he was married to Catharine, daughter of Jonathan and Eliza-
beth Winslow. After a trip to Iowa, he returned to Salem, and bought
a farm near that town, on which he remained until March, 1869, owning
meantime different farms. He then sold out and moved to French Lick,
Orange Co., Ind., and engaged in the dry goods business, following it
several years, when he closed out his stock and returned to Brooklyn,
Morgan County, having been absent nineteen years. Here he purchased
a stock of goods, formed a partnership with his brother, W. A. McNeff,
and remained in the business five years, when our subject retired from
the firm and moved to Monrovia, Ind., and again engaged in the mer-
cantile trade. After over two years' experience in the business, he moved
his stock to Louisville, on the county line between Morgan and Owen.
In February, 1881, he disposed of his stock, and again returned to
Brooklyn and purchased another stock of goods. At the end of sixty
days, he again sold out, and purchased his brother's stock, and is, just
at this time, engaged in the mercantile business, having a successful
trade.
WILLIAM A. McNEFF, farmer, was born in Brown Township,
Morgan County, Ind., March 25, 1838, and is the seventh of the ten chil-
dren born to Thomas W. and Sarah (Smith) McNeff, natives of Kentucky
and Pennsylvania, and respectively of Scotch- Irish and German descent.
William A. was reared upon the home farm, and attended the subscrip-
tion schools. His father brought him to Indiana in an early day, coming
to Harrison Township. There he was married, and afterward came to
Morgan County. In 1852, William A. went from Indiana to Iowa with
his father, and there remained until 1862. Mr. McNeff, Sr., died in
1856. After returning to Indiana, William A. went to Washington
County, and afterward went to Orange County, and came to Morgan
County in 1871. Since that time, he has resided in this township. He
is engaged in cultivating a farm of 120 acres, improved, and having a fine
residence, besides other appliances necessary to a finished farm. It is also
stocked with horses, hogs, cattle and sheep. On December 28, 1872, ho
was married to Mary C. Rinker, a native of Clay Township, Morgan
County, and a daughter of William and Eleanor Rinker. They have had
two children — Leslie, born February 8, 1874, and Don Clyde, born Sep-
tember 13, 1882. Mrs. McNeff is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Democrat,
having cast his tirst ballot for James Buchanan. In earning a com-
petence, he has been aided by no one, having been dependent entirely
upon himself.
DR. GRANT MONICAL, resident of Brooklyn, was born February 18,
1857, and is a native of Morgan County, Ind. He was reared upon a
266 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
farm, but received a good education, and liually began teaching school,
which pursuit he followed for five years. On March 1, 1879, Grant be-
gan studying medicine with Dr. C. M. Lindley, and afterward took a
course of study at the Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated
from that institution in 1881. Dr. Monical then located at Brooklyn,
Ind. , and has a good practice. He is universally regarded as a most
promising young physician, and one who is rising rapidly in his profes-
sion.
■ O. C. MOON, farmer, was born in Brown Township, Morgan County,
Ind., May 1, 1852, and is the second of three children born to L. D. and
Rachel (Thornburg) Moon, natives of Warren County, Ohio, and of Mor-
gan County, Ind., and of English ancestry. O. C. was reared upon a
farm, and received sufficient instruction to enable him to teach school,
later, in the schools of this county. He was very successful in this, and
followed it for ten years. He attended the business college at Indian-
apolis, and graduated from there in 1877. March 13, 1879, he was mar-
ried to Jennie Grriggs, a native of this county and township, and daughter
of Clark and Margaret (Marrow) Griggs. After marriage, Mr. Moon
engaged in farming, and is now living upon a farm of 360 acres, near
Brooklyn, and which belongs to his father-in-law, Clark Griggs. Mr. and
Mrs. Moon belong to the Methodist Episcopal and Christian denomina-
tions respectively. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a Republican.
PERRY O. PHILLIPS, dealer in groceries and stationery, was born
in Clay Township, Morgan County, Ind., May 22, 1857, and grew to
manhood upon a farm. He received some instruction in the common
branches of study, and after he had attained his majority, began life in-
dependently, by farming. Mr. Phillips has been married twice. On
February 2, 1879, he wedded Nancy J. Everling, a native of Johnson
County, lud. She died on Novembei- 24, 1880, leaving an infant, which
died soon after. Mrs. Phillips was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mr. Phillips was next married to Eliza E. (Stafford) Koons,
who was born June 1, 1855. One child was born to them, on August 28,
1883. The parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
Phillips is a Republican and a Mason, and is now holding the office of
Assessor of Clay Township.
ELI T. RINKER (deceased) was born in Ohio, May 15, 1812, and,
while yet a small boy, came with his parents to Washington County, Ind.
He came to Morgan County some forty years ago. On October 21, 1841,
Mr. Rinker was married to Charity, daughter of David and Sarah (Clay-
pool) Ely, Virginians. David Ely emigrated to Indiana, located in
Hendricks County, and remained there until his death, July 20, 1845.
Sarah Ely died at the residence of her sons, in Morgan County, October
25, 1857, in her seventy-fourth year, having been a faithful member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church for Hf ty-two years. For sixteen or seven-
teen years, her house was used as a place of holding services, and the
weary, wandering minister always found a welcome home at " Mother
Ely's." Mrs. Ely was the mother of twelve children. To Mr. E. T.
Rinker's marriage have been born two children, one of whom died in in-
fancy, and the other, Simeon K., at twenty years of age. On March 12,
1873, Mr. Rinker departed this life. Since 1837, he had been a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a consistent Christian, and
in losing him the community sustained a bereavement which will long
be felt. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Chui'ch, and is
CLAY TOWNSHIP. 267
living upon the home place of 140 acres, which her husband had im-
proved. She is over sixty-four years of age, and dwells there alone, hav-
ing neither husband, children, father nor mother, and being much lo^ed
and respected by all her friends. In Morgan County, on January 18,
1862, Simeon K. Binker departed this life, aged twenty years, and was
the only child of Eli and Charity Rinker. Simeon K. was trained
in religious matters by his parents, and at thirteen years of age united
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a kind, affectionate and
obedient son, and, although the Master called for him so early, his work
was done, and as he left his weeping friends in his father's house below,
it was but to pass to the fellowship of those who had " gone before " to
his Father's house above
NOAH R. RINKER was born in Washington County, Ind., March
22, 1820, and is the son of Levi Rinker, who was born October 5, 1790,
and died July 24, 1858. Levi Rinker married Elizabeth Cracraft, who
was born October 13, 1794, and died December 22, 1852. They were
natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, and were married in Ohio,
in 1815. They came from Ohio to Indiana in an early day, locating
in Washington County, and from there coming to Morgan County in
183(*. They were early pioneers, and lived here until their death. Levi
was a soldier of 1812; Noah was reared upon a farm and received a lim-
ited education. On September 1, 1842, he was married to Lydia Ann
Griggs, who was born November 15, 1819, in Clinton County, Ind. By
her he had born to him seven children, of whom four are living- -Eliza-
beth (Allen), Margaret (Underwood), Martha E. (Williams) and Christo-
pher C. The mother died October 7, 1855, a member of the Christian
Church. On March 27, 1856, Mr. Rinker took for his second wife Lydia
E. Johnson, a native of North Carolina, who was born August 19, 1823.
They have had seven children, three of whom are living — A. Dayton,
Mary A. and Orlando O. Mr. and Mrs. Rinker are members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. Since bis tenth year, Mr. Rinker has been a
resident of this county and township. He belongs to the I. O. O. F.,
and is a Democrat. Through his own exertions, he has become inde-
pendent.
SILAS RINKER was born September 17, 1835, in Clay Township,
Morgan Co., Ind., and is the son of Levi and Elizabeth (Cracraft) Rinker.
Silas was reared upon a farm, received ordinary school advantages, and
at the age of eighteen started out for himself. Since that time he has
followed farming, with the exception of fifteen months in the mercantile
business. He is living now upon fifty-seven acres of land near Brooklyn.
Mr. Rinker has been twice married. On October 10, 1852, he was mar
ried to Melissa Jane, of Monroe County, and daughter of Joseph and
Lucinda (Harper) Hiatt. By this union there were eight children, of
whom four are living — George W., William E., Louella J. and Silas E.
The mother died May 26, 1876, a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mr. Rinker was next wedded, on August 12, 1876, to Lu E.
Reaves, a native of Gibson County, Ind., and a daughter of William and
Eleanor (Burton) Reaves, Indianians, of Irish and German extraction re-
spectively. Two children have crowned this union — Levi R. and Burton
C. Both Mr. Rinker and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and belongs to the I. O. O. F. Mr. Rinker is a politician of
Democratic proclivities, and through life has risen by his own efforts to
his present independent position.
268 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
WILLIAM KINKER (deceased) was born in Washington County,
Ind., on July 30, 1816, and died in Morgan County on May 6, 1881.
He came to Morgan County with his parents in ]S30, where he lived un-
til his death. In 1846, he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and for thirty-five years testified his faith in the Savior, his joy
in the Holy Ghost, and his hope of a blessed immortality. His disease
was erysipelas, and for four long weeks his sufferings were terrible, but
he endured them with Christian fortitude, and he was never heard to
murmur or complain. When questioned as to his feelings, he replied
that he was trusting in the Lord, that all was well with him, and that
he had not missed praying every day for fifty years. Although he was
remarkably diffident as to his ability as a useful man, he remained an ac-
ceptable member of the church until his death. He was truly an affec-
tionate husband, ever treating his companion kindly and tenderly, and
ever striving to render her life agreeable and happy. As a father, he
dearly loved his children, by whom in return he was beloved. His chil-
dren, some of whom are young men beginning life for themselves, miss
his wise counsels, his kind advice, his Christian example. In his tem-
poral affairs he was signally successful, never undertaking anything
that he considered in the least hazardous, and by his industry and fru-
gality he accumulated considerable means, which, while it afforded him
and his family luxury as well as comfort, also enabled him to con-
tribute liberally to charity, and in being a kind neighbor and useful
citizen. At his death, he owned a farm of 500 acres of land, well im-
proved and stocked. In politics, he was a Democrat, being at the time
of his demise a member of the Board of County Commissioners. On
January 25, 1844, he was married to Eleanor Clark, a native of Ohio,
born January 16, 1823, and daughter of John and Rebecca (Matthews)
Clark. Eleven children were born to them — John M., E. A. (deceased),
Amanda J., Mary C, Leonidas, Margaret A. (deceased), Rebecca (de-
ceased), Lewis A. (deceased), Ida E. (deceased), George D. and Oscar B.
Mrs. Rinker a consistent Christian, a kind mother, yet survives her
husband. Although she mourns the loss of her husband, father, sister,
three of her grown childi'en, a son and daughter-in-law — all of whom
have passed away within the last two years — she still holds fast to her
faith in the Lord, with a hope of meeting them.
BARTLEY SELLERS, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, was
born in Guilford County, N. C, October 21, 1830, and is the second of
nine children born to Jordan and Mary (Mason) Sellers, natives of
Virginia and of English and Irish extraction. Mr. Mason was a soldier
of the Revolutionary war. Bartley's parents came from North Carolina
to Indiana in the fall of 1850, and located in Brown Township, in this
county, where they remained until Mrs. Sellers' death, in 1856. She
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sellers, Sr., is
also a member of that church, and he is now residing with his son Peter,
in Hendricks County. Bartley was reared upon a farm, received limited
schooling, and at nineteen years of age began life independently in
North Carolina, and when he had earned money enough for the trip, he
came to Indiana in 1851, and located in Morgan County with |1
in his pocket, engaged in farming, and worked at $15 per month. Au
gust 12, 1855, Mr. Sellers was married to Mary, a daughter of Andrew
and Elizabeth Wright, and a native of Morgan County, by whom he has
had three children — Andrew, John and an infant unnamed. Mr. Sellers
CLAY TOWNSHIP. 269
and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He owns and man-
ages a farm of 140 acres of well-improved land, all cultivated. His farm
is supplied with a fine orchard and a commodious residence, and stocked
with horses, hogs, cattle and sheep. Mr. Sellers is engaged extensively
in shipping stock to Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. He belongs
the A. F. & A, M. Lodge, No. 78, Mooresville, Ind., and has had three
brothers who were in the late war. Mr. Sellers has built up his own
fortune, has had no assistance whatever from anybody except his indus-
trious wife, and the couple are rewarded by tife possession of their com-
fortable home.
BENJAMIN STAFFORD, pioneer farmer of this county, was born
in Highland County, Ohio, May 28, 1810, and is the third of the seven
children born to Robert and Sarah (Bullick) Stafford, natives of North
Carolina, and of English ancesti-y. Benjamin accompanied his parents
from Ohio to Indiana in 1818. They located in Monroe County, and re-
mained there until March, 1820, at which time the family came to this
county. The county was then a wilderness, and was not then organized,
the Indians roaming at their sweet pleasure through the leafy forests.
Robert Stafford entered land, and made a home in the wilderness, amid
bears, wolves, panthers and other wild animals, and, with the poorest
advantages for an education, Benjamin grew to manhood. On February
15, 1830, he was married to Rutbie Gifford, a native of Indiana, and a
daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Marshall) Gifford. They had one child^
Sarah (deceased), and the mother dying, Mr. Stafford was married to
Margaret Price on March 17, 1835. Eight children were born to this
union, of whom six are living — Nancy J. (Woods), John, Marion, Will-
iam Benjamin, Barnard and Grant. Mrs. Stafford having departed this
life, Mr. Stafford was again married. He took for his third wife Mrs.
Susan Fry, by whom he has had seven children, of whom six are living
— Mary (Passor), James, Priscilla (McKinley), Martha (Myrick), Eme-
line (Gooch) and Oliver P. M. Mr. Stafford and wife are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Stafford began life by clearing
out a farm in the wilderness, and enduring great privations. He has
succeeded, and now owns seventy acres in this township. He alone has
made from the green woods the home which he now occupies. His only
help has been a faithful and saving wife, who has been indeed a help-
meet in all his struggles and adversities. Although Mr. Stafford is
seventy-three years of age, he has a robust constitution and promises to
live many years of usefulness in the township which he has helped to
build up. He is very strong in Christian faith, and faithful in the per-
formance of his duties, and has read his Bible through nearly fifty times
during the last twelve years. He could not read a word until he was
forty years old. Mr. Stafford is much prized as a good neighbor and cit-
izen, and is fully appreciated in the community in which he has moved
so long.
270 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
JOSEPH H. ALLISON was boru fn Oldham County, Ky., July 22,
1833, and is the son of Elijah and Margaret (Frederick) Allison, natives
of Kentucky, who moved to this State in 1834, and settled in Gregg
Township, where they drew from the wilderness a farm and home, resided
thereon thirty- two years, and in 1866 removed near by, where they have
remained. Joseph H. lived with his parents until he was twenty-one
years old. A.ugust 11, 1855, he married Miss Nancy J. Wellman, a na-
tive of Kentucky, and to them was born one child — Charles S. In 1868,
Mr. Allison removed to Monrovia, where lie had charge of the Monrovia
Flouring Mills, and since then he has driven a hack between Monrovia
and Mooresville. He is at present Treasurer of Monrovia Lodge, A. F.
& A. M. He is a Republican, a most exemplary man and citizen, and
he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
EDWARD WILLIAM BRAY, pioneer of Orange County, Ind. , was
born June 5, 1820, and is a son of John H. and Hannah (Shelton) Bray,
natives respectively of North Carolina and Virginia, who moved to Ken-
tucky and were there reared; they had four sons and eight daughters,
and came to this State in 1815, into this coanty in 1823, and finished
their lives in this township — he in 1875, aged ninety-six, and she in
1873, aged eighty-four years. Edward W. Bray is well educated, and
was a teacher, from his twenty-third to his twenty-eighth year, in the pub-
lic schools. November 5, 1840, he married at Belleville, Ind., Lucy
Jane Gilmer, to which union were born ten children — Mary E., Hannah
A., Eunice A., Sarah E., Mildred (deceased), John W., Thomas W.,
Henry, Alexander Gilmer and Shelton. In 1876, Mr. Bray was elected
Justice of the Peace of this township, and was re-elected four years
afterward. He is an active Republican and an original thioiker, having
taken out a patent for an improved shuttle; he is also active in Sabbath-
school labor.
DAVID W. BREWER, dealer in groceries, hardware, glass and
queensware at Monrovia, was born in this county June 16, 1835, and is
the second child of Henry and Sarah (Hadley) Brewer; the former a na-
tive of West Virginia, the latter of North Carolina, and both of English
descent. David was reared to farming, and soon after his majority mar-
ried Maria L. Rennard, who died August 22, 1876, leaving two children
— Cynthia and William A. ftlarch 31, 1879, Mr. Brewer married IMattie
M. Vihman, who died October 6, 1882. In August, 1861, Mr. Brewer
enlisted in Company A, Thirty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteers,
served three years, and was taken prisoner at Thompson's Station, and
confined sixty days in Libby Prison; afterward paroled, and fought in
many battles, as Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw
Mountain and others. After his discharge, he engaged in farming near
Monrovia; was afterward engaged in the produce business, and in 1879
entered the livery business until 1882, with a branch at Mooresville, and
in 1883 returned to Monrovia and engaged in his present business. Mr.
Brewer cast his first vote for Gen. Fremont in 1856. He is a member of
the I. O. O. F.
MONROE TOWNSHIP. 271
JAMES A. BRICK, of Monrovia, was born in this county August 6,
1845, and is the fifth of eleven childx-en born to William and Sarah
(Graves) Brick, natives of Ohio. When he was sixteen years of age, he
left the home farm, and enlisted in Company H, Thirty-third Indiana
Regiment, in which he served three years, and then became a veteran.
He was taken prisoner at Thompson's Station, was confined thirty-two
days in Libby Prison; was then exchanged, returned to active duty, and
was with Gen. Sherman in his historic march to the sea; then sailed for
Fortress Monroe, and was discharged at Indianapolis July 18, 1865. Mr.
Brick was sunstruck at Peach Tree Creek. After coming home, he en-
gaged in farming, but was compelled to abandon labor on account of im-
poverished health. August 6, 1865, he married Jane Brewer, which
union was cemented by five children — Anna Eliza, Mary F., Minnie J.,
Elsie D. and Ella M. Mr. Brick controls a good and well -improved
farm, is a successful agriculturist, and a worthy citizen. He is a mem-
ber of the G. A. R., and of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs.
Brick of the Friends' Society.
REV. JOHN BRUNER, A. M., is a son of Elias and Jiney' (Tarrant)
Bruner, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina, and of Ger-
man and English descent. He was born in Monroe County October 31,
1828, whither his parents removed in 1820, and settled on a tract of
Government land, whex'e they remained until 1835, when the mother
died; the father died in 1871 in Arkansas. Rev. Mr. Bruner was reared
to farming, and, after some study and preparation, became a teacher, as
which he served about two years. In 1853, he entered Asbury Univer-
sity, and graduated therefrom after six years, with the degrees of A. B.
and A. M., an attainment which he secured unaided. He desired at first
to become a lawyer, which, however, he gave up for the ministry of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, receiving for his first year's service the
sum of $142, and was ordained Deacon in 1862. His first charge was
Bloomington, in which he was very successful. He has now a record of
admissions amounting to 1,000 persons. April 5, 1860, he married Re-
becca S. Mason, which union gave being to nine children — Mary (de-
ceased), Belle, Mason, Frank, Maggie, Anna L., Burke, Hugh and Maud.
Rev. Mr. Bruner is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was as-
signed to the charge of Monrovia City in 1883.
JOHN BUND Y was born in Perquimans County, N. C, August, 1805,
and is a son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Lowe) Bundy, natives of North
Carolina, and of English extraction. John Biindy was i-eared on a farm
to industry and usefulness. March 10, 1831, he married Mary, daugh-
ter of Jesse and Mary (Morris) Moore, and this union was productive of
the following children: William P., Samuel C, Jesse M., Daniel W.,
Martha E., Sarah J., Semirah E., Mary D. and John E. In 1858, Mr.
Bundy moved to this township, and purchased 120 acres near Monrovia,
where he yet resides. He is a practical farmer, a Republican, and he
and family are birthright members of the Friends' Society. J. E. Bun-
dy, son of John Bundy, is a native of Guilford County, N. C. ; was born
May 1, 1853, and was reared like his father to the farm and industry.
In boyhood, he devoted much time to the art of drawing, in which he
has made much proficiency; he has also painted many model and valu-
able works in oil, as well as being engaged in giving instruction in this
divine endowment.
272 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
JOHN M. DAVIS is a native of Henry County, Ind., and the fourth
son of John and Lydia (Davis) Davis, natives respectively of North Caro-
lina and Virginia, and both of Scotch extraction. Our subject first saw
the light April 4, 1836; spent the first twelve years of his life in Henry
County, at which period his parents moved to Wabash County, where he
lived until he was thirty years of age, when his mother died, and where
his father yet lives, aged ninety-four years. September 16, 1857, our
subject married Eliza J., daughter of Abraham Nordyke, and with an
issue of eight children — Alice, Sabinus A., Marietta, Evington E., Albert
L., Leoto, Ulyssus and Elmer (deceased). In 1865, Mr. Davis moved to
Hendricks County, was engaged in mercantile business at Plainfield, and
in 1870 he came Monrovia, where he has been engaged in manufacturing
drain tile. Mr. Davis has acquired his property and business position
by his unaided industry and energy. He is a much respected citizen,
and he and wife and children belong to the Society of Friends.
JAMES D. HADLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Chat-
ham County, N. C, was born August 30, 1807, and is the eighth of the
nine children of Jeremiah and Ruth (Maris) Hadley, also natives of North
Carolina, who moved to this State about 1823, located in this township,
and entered 720 acres of Government land, on which they lived and died.
James began the struggle of life on the home farm, and obtained what
education he could command from the public schools. October 1, 1831,
he married Matilda Morris, of North Carolina, and to this union were
granted the following children: Esther (deceased), Ruth, Eli (deceased),
Martha J. (deceased), Enos (killed in the late war), Eli A., Martha J.
and Nathan R. Mr. Hadley is the owner of a good farm of 120 acres,
and has been owner of 600, much of which he has given to his children,
and all of which he acquired by well-directed industry and frugality.
He is a Republican in politics, a liberal gentleman, an vipright citizen,
and, with his wife, one of the adherents of the Society of Friends,
SAMUEL HADLEY, a pioneer farmer of this township, was born in
Randolph County, N. C, January 1, 1811, and is the third of the six
children born to John and Hannah (Allen) Hadley, both natives of North
Carolina, and respectively of Irish and English extraction. Samuel was
reared on the farm, and attended the subscription schools, and studied so
as to be prepared for teaching, which he followed until 1835, when he
came by horseback and located at Monrovia, Ind., and the following
winter taught school here. He afterward engaged in mercantile business
for some twelve years. March 18, 1839, he married Jane Clark, who
died eleven years thereafter, and after he wedded, in 1852, Eliza W.,
widow of Jesse Reynolds, to which union was born one child — Jesse H.
Mr. Hadley is a practical farmer, owning 177 acres of well-cultivated and
improved land, containing good residence, barns, fencing, orchards, etc.
He is now a Republican, but gave his maiden vote for Henry Clay in
1832. He has been School Examiner, and has held the office of Postmas-
ter of Monrovia. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley are members of the Society of
Friends.
LOT M. HADLEY, pioneer farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of
Chatham County, N. C, was born February 15, 1811, and is the young-
est of the nine children of Jeremiah and Ruth (Maris) Hadley. Lot M.
came to this State in 1823, whtm the family located on Government land
near Mooresville. Mr. Hadley lived to be about eighty years of age, and
Mi's, Hadley to be within four years of one hundred. Lot M. received a
MONROE TOWNSHIP. 273
fair education, which he has continually improved by study and reading.
January 1, 1832, he married, in this township, Eunice HaydocJi, of North
Carolina, which union produced six children — Nathan, Asenath, Ann
(deceased), Amy, Julia and Jared C. (deceased). After the death of Mrs.
Hadley, July 5, 1867, Mr. Hadley wedded, March 4, 1868, Sophia Craw-
ford, by which marriage he became the father of two children — Arthur
M. and Estella B. Mr. Hadley is a Republican, and was once a Whig.
He was one of the founders of the Farmers' Bank at Mooresville, and is
now a Director and one of the finance committee. He has also a good
farm of 130 acres, where he resides. He is a member of the Friends'
Society, as was his first and is his second wife.
EVAN HADLEY was born in Chatham County, N. C. , September 26,
1816, bhe year in which Indiana was admitted to the Union. His father,
James Hadley, died in 1843; his mother, Mary Hadley, died in 1874.
In 1819, the parents came to Orange County, this State, where a num-
ber of relatives and acquaintances had settled within a few years, and
after the harvest of 1820 James Hadley and others made a careful ex-
amination of a large portion of the " New Purchase," selected land in the
White Lick country, and bought at the public sale at Terie Haute. The
settlement of this land is thus described by Evan Hadley: " As father
had with his brother Eli Hadley been first to leave his native State, he
was first, with a brother-in-law, John Jones, to move to the newer part
of the country, where many of their friends and relatives expected to fol-
low as soon as circumstances permitted. So they loaded the two families
and provisions for the winter in wagons, and set out for the promised
land, accompanied, as I have heard my parents say, by seven men. in-
cluding a hand that father hired, to stay and assist in clearing land for a
crop the next season. This hand assisted my father seventy days, and
they cleared and fenced ten acres of ground and raised a cora crop on it
the next season. The wagons and emigrants arrived on the twentieth day
of eleventh month, 1820, at the cabin of Thomas Ballard, near where the
William Macy brick house now stands, and by the kindness of the newly
formed neighbors, the women and children obtained shelter with them,
and the men of the party proceeded to camp on my father's land, being
the quarter section adjoining south of the Macy farm. They entered at
once on the work of building a cabin for a residence, and iu seven days
they had a house completed with stick and clay chimney, cracks well
stopped, door, shutter, floor, and all complete without a nail, pane of glass
or scrap of sawed lumber; what light there was when the door was closed
came down the chimney; the family and assistants took possession and
proceeded to housekeeping in a comfortable manner, and the men all
joined in the erection of a smaller cabin on an adjoining tract of land,
for the use of Uncle and Aunt Jones, before mentioned, which was soon
completed, when those who came to assist returned to Orange County,
taking the wagons and teams with them. A few families had ' squatted '
on some tracts of land the previous spring, and had partially cleared
some patches of ground, and had raised a small supply of soft corn,
pumpkins and squashes. I remember two families of Ballards, Mc-
Crackens, Virtrees, Lockharts, Barlows, Reynolds and perhaps others, all
of whom have long since disappeared, except Thomas Lockhart, who,
something over ninety years old, resides in Hendricks County. In the
spring following, father and his hired hand walked back to Orange Coun-
ty for the team and wagon and stock, of which there were cattle, sheep
274 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and hogs, some assistance coming back with father to help get the stock
along. An additional supply of provision was also brought out; a cow
and a young calf had been procured from a neighbor, which had supplied
a much needed article of diet for some of the children, and I have heard
my mother say that cow did as well without feeding any as others have
done since with plenty of food given them. Some of the hogs ' went
wild;' the old ones being ear-marked, gave a right by law of custom to a
' wild-hog claim,' and the proprietor of the ' mark' was justified in tak-
ing what he could capture that herded with those of his mark, as the
addition was supposed to be the natural descendants of the original
marked ones, and sometimes by strategy all would be decoyed into a kind
of trap pen by finding where they bedded in winter, and erecting
the strong pen near the place, then continuing to place corn around and
leave it for them to find it until they would follow it into the pen. and by
interfering with a bait, properly arranged, spring the trap, and find
themselves confined, when the young would be marked, and thus perpet-
uate the claim. Wolves were some trouble to the sheep, but as the wool
was indispensable for winter clothing, much care was taken to protect
sheep by housing them of nights, and at times wolves howl around the
sheep house very tumultuously when disappointed by being unable to
reach their prey. Wolves were sometimes caught in strongly constructed
pen traps, by baiting with the fresh carcass of sheep which they had re-
cently killed. Summer clothing, bed cords and plow lines were sometimes
made from the lint of the native nettle, after the woody portion had be-
come sufficiently tender to be separated from the lint in the same man-
ner that flax is prepared for spinning. I recollect a visit from a large
black bear to our house, or near there, where he stopped when passing,
sat down on haunches like a dog does, and deliberately viewed the sur-
roundings for some time, turning his attention toward the house, where
he could see the persons, though my mother and the children were all
there were at home at the time. Late in the evening, too, some of the
children were a good deal alarmed, but mother did what she could to con-
vince us that there was not likely to be any danger, at any rate when we
were in the house. After satisfying his curiosity, he deliberately walked
away in the same direction he was going when he stopped, as though he
knew where he was going; after he was gone, mother went to my uncle,
W^illiam Hadley's, about a quarter of a mile, and informed him of our vis-
itor; he procured some company hastily and attempted to pursue with a
view of capturing or at least attacking " Bruin," but it soon became so
dark that the chase was abandoned. Bears frequently in the fall of the
year, and especially when there was a good crop of mast, came in quite
plentiful, but were seldom killed, as there were few, if any, expert bear
hunters amongst the settlers. I remember seeing a few young bears af-
ter they were killed, but never saw a grown one caught or killed. Deer
were plentiful, and in winter would come around the clearings and pick
buds from the green brush, but were very shy of exposing themselves to
danger, so that it required considerable stratagy to secure them, though
many were killed and furnished a very agreeable change of diet. Wild
turkeys were abundant, and I suppose all the families had considerable
supplies of that luxury in the fall and winter. After corn crops had be-
come plenty, and some remained in the fields till winter closed in, so as
to shut off access to the mast in the woods, both turkey and deer would
congregate in the cornfields, when turkeys could be caught in rail pens,
MONROE TOWNSHIP. 275
by building a few rails high, and covering the top with rails, then mak-
ing a narrow ditch from the outside through under one side to the inside,
coming up toward the middle; a few rails were placed over it next the
wall of the pen then bated by sprinkling shelled corn in the ditch clear
through to the inside, and some was scattered around on the ground out-
side to first arrest their attention; when they had used up what was scat-
tered around, they would follow the trail through the ditch to the inside,
and as soon as they would discover they were inclosed, they would devote
themselves to active eftbrts to escape through the openings between tbe
rails of the walls and overhead, and when the proprietor of the pen dis-
covered them, he would readily capture them by placing a man or boy in-
side (I have been used for that purpose), who would catch and hand them
out. A few panthers and wild cats or catamounts infested the country
and did some damage by destroying young stock, but never, that; I know of,
attacked any person. During the first year, there was no use for mills, as
there was nothing to grind; all provision was brought from older settle-
ments. The first mill was built where McDaniels' Brooklyn Mill now
is; that served to grind corn; the buh)-s wei-e cut out of native bowlders.
A mill was early built by Joseph Moon at the present Moon Ford, which
had a bolt to separate bran from flour; the customer had to do his own
bolting by turning a crank similar to the operation of turning a grind
stone. He also had to elevate the ground flour from the flour chest on
the lower to the third floor, by hand, to the hopper of the bolt. My father
sowed an acre or two of wheat about the second year, which made a crop
of very poor grain, on account of the wild, green nature of the soil; he
had some of it ground as corn, and sifted by a fine hair sieve, and from
this flour our first native wheat bread was made. The people became
quite anxious for religious association, and the Friends first met in volun-
tary meetings for worship in 1822, if I mistake not, at the cabin of Asa
Bales, on what is now the Moon farm; in 1823, they obtained authority,
according to their rules, from the organized superior meetings in Wash-
ington and Orange Counties to organize religions meetings in these parts,
which was done, and they have from that beginning originated all the
meetings of that order in Central, Northern and Western Indiana and
Eastern Illinois. My father and his brother-in-law. Jones, before spoken
of, with their families, were the first members of the Friends' Church
who settled in Central Indiana. The Methodists (Episcopal) had some
religious services in the neighborhood of the present White Lick Church
of that denomination, perhaps a little earlier than the Friends had. The
education of the children of the new settlement early claimed attention,
and a cabin for the purpose of a schoolhouse was built near where R. R.
Scott's brick dwelling now stands in Mooresville, and Asa Bales was the
first teacher. This schoolhouse at first was designed to accommodate
both sides of White Lick, but as the crossing was often difficult then as
well as now, and as the settlement on the south and west of the creek
soon increased sufficiently to sustain a school on that side of the creek, in
1824 the original Sulphur Spring Schoolhouse was built, and school was
opened in it by my father, who taught several terms of three or six
months, counting thirteen weeks of five days' school to each week for
three months; the schools were paid for by the patrons by subscription
of about $1.50 per scholar for three months. I omitted to mention in
connection with the introduction of milling another device for preparing
grain for bread now out of use, called a hominy mortar, made usually by
276 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
burning out of the top of some solid green stump, a bowl-shaped cavity,
which was dressed out smooth after burning to a sufficient size; a post
was then placed at a suitable distance from the mortar, and a spring pole
placed on the top of the post or fork; a pestle was then fastened to the
end of the pole over the mortar, then the corn was placed in the cavity,
and the pestle brought down on it with a sudden jerk, when the elasticity
of the pole would immediately jerk the pestle up. So, by oft repeating
this operation, the corn would be mashed into good hominy, and some-
times could be made into bread. A water-power hominy mill was some-
times erected by balancing a considerable beam, leaving one end heavier
than the other. A cavity was made in a substantial block and placed
solidly under the heavy end of the beam, water was then conveyed by a
small race across some creek of a branch, and conveyed by some kind of
spout into a trough prepared in the light end of the beam, till the weight
became sufficient to lower that end and lift the other up till sufficient
water ran out to reverse the balance of the beam, when the pestle would
down on the corn with forcible effect, and thus the operation would con-
tinue as long as was necessary. * * * In conclusion, I might state I
have continuously resided within six miles and less of the place where
my father first located, and I think I have had the longest residence in the
White Lick part of the county than any now living. My father's family are
all gone to the next world, except a sister, who has long resided in the
West. I might further say that my wife, who was Mary Ann Ballard,
daughter of Jesse and Sarah Ballard, both deceased, was born in Monroe
Township in 1826, and has continuously resided in the township ever
since, and is believed to be the oldest native born person in the town-
ship."
ALLEN HADLEY (deceased) was born August 14, 1828, and was
the seventh of thirteen children born to John B. and Elizabeth Hadley,
the former having died October 12, 1845, in his forty-seventh year; the
latter December 22, 1858, in her fifty-ninth year. They were natives of
North Carolina, located in Morgan County, founded a home, and lived
until their deaths, both members of the Friends' Society. Allen
Hadley was a native of this township, where he grew to manhood.
March 20, 1851, he married Nancy T., daughter of Eli and Cecilia
Townsend, to which union were born three children — Cecilia A., John F.
and Allen. After his marriage, he followed farming, and continued the
same until his decease, September 10, 1881. He was owner of 166 acres
of improved land; a birthright member of the Friends' Society, a Repub-
lican and a Prohibitionist. Mrs. Hadley resides on the farm owned by
her husband, near Mooresville.
DANIEL C. HADLEY, farmer, is a native of this township, was
born March 1, 1834, and is the eldest of the five children of Hiram and
Louisa J. (Carter) Hadley, both being natives of the "Old North State."
Daniel was reared on a farm, working and going to school, and later he
attended college at Richmond, where he obtained a good education.
January 23, 1857, he married Sarah J. Ballard, which union gave being
to three children — Byron, born November 9, 1857; Arthur J., June 18,
1860; and Lizzie D., May 14, 1863. Mrs. Hadley died October 6, 1869,
in her thirty-second year. Mr. Hadley afterward married his second
wife, Sallie W., widow of Clark Hadley. Mr. Hadley is an enterprising
farmer, and the owner of a home and farm comprising 185 acres, well
cultivated, and under good improvement. He is a Republican by polit-
MONROE TOWNSHIP. 277
ical preference, and he and wife are members of the Society of
Friends.
WALTER HADLEY is a native of this county, was born June 10,
1857, and is the third child comprising the family of Hiram and Juliana
(Painter) Hadley. Our subject was reared to farming, and obtained a
good common school education, having been for a time at the high school
at Jennings, and a student of Earlham College, at Richmond. November
15, 1878, he married Louisa A., daughter of Silas and Rebecca (Hola-
way) Portis, and a native of North Carolina, to which union were born
three children — Julia E., Jacob E. and an infant. JVlr. Hadley is a
practical farmer, has a good place adjoining Monrovia, which is well cul-
tivated and handsomely improved, having good fencing, orchards, etc.,
and generally stocked with horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. He is Repub-
lican as a voter, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
NIXON HENLEY, Trustee of Monroe Township, was born in Ran-
dolph County, N. C, October 30, 1846, and is the second of the eight
children of John and Asenath (Hadley) Henley, natives of North Caroli-
na, and of English extraction. Nixon was reared to the farming busi-
ness, but received a fair education, which he improved until he was com-
petent to teach, and that duty he followed with satisfaction for thirteen
years, farming during the summer seasons, but abandoned the same
after being elected Township Trustee. April 16, 1869, he married Alida
C, daughter of Evan and Mary Ann Hadley, which union gave issue to
five children — Lena, Everett Evan, Phebe A., Sibbie and Ruth Angle.
Mr. and Mrs. Henley are birthright members of the Society of Friends,
under the rules of which they were married. Mr. Henley is a practical
farmer, and owns 160 acres, with good improvements, and furnished with
residence, barns, and containing fencing, orchards and the like; he has
also a stock of Poland-Chma hogs, shortrhorn cattle, and long-wool sheep,
some of which are imported from Canada. Mr. Henley is a straightout
Republican, and has been Township Trustee for two terms. He is like-
wise a member of the I. O. O. F.
JOHN S. HUBBARD, farmer and stock-raiser, was born September
22, 1811, in Stokes County, N. C, and is the third of the nine children
of George and Nancy (Shields ) Hubbard, natives of North Carolina. He
was reared on a farm, and in 1826 emigrated to Indiana with his parents,
who located in Wayne County; moved to Morgan County in 1830, and
purchased the site of Monrovia, where they remained until their deaths,
in 1865 and 1866 respectively. After his majority, John S. Hubbard
worked as a laborer until able to pay for eighty acres; he also entered
forty, which he prepared for cultivation. February 29, 1836, he mar-
ried Abigail Henshaw, a union cemented by four children — Jesse, Will-
iam, John I. and George E. , all soldiers in the late war. Mrs. Hubbard
died in 1865, and November 15, 1866, Mr. Hubbard married Catharine
Day. which marriage was crowned by one child — Mary B. Mr. Hubbard
is the owner of 230 acres, well cultivated, stocked, impi'oved and ap-
pointed. He is a Republican, and voted first for Henry Clay, in 1832.
He has served three terms as Justice of the Peace, two as Commissioner,
five as Notary, and has also been Township Trustee. Mr. and Mrs. Hub-
bard are members of the Friends' Society, advocates of temperance, work-
ers in all charities, and highly respected in their community.
NATHAN E. HUBBARD was born in this township February 24,
1840, and is the fourth of the nine children of William B. and Ludah
(Vestal) Hubbard, natives of North Carolina, and of English extraction.
278 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
William B. Hubbard settled in this county in 1827, where his parents
had entered land. Here he lived and made a home for his family, and
at the age of tifty-three laid down his useful, quiet life; his wife sur-
vived him about six months. Nathan was reared to the life of a farmer,
but received a fair education; attended the Bloomingdale Academy, be-
came a teacher, and followed the same about seven years. October 15,
1863, he married Elizabeth A., daughter of Uriah Ballard, of North Car
olina, a union which gave being to five children — William B., Ludah E.
(deceased), Byron C, Homer S. and Edith E. Mr. Hubbard is a Repub-
lican, and has served as Township Trustee. He gives his time and at-
tention to stock-raising and farming, and has a magnificent place of 324
acres, in good and profitable condition. He is a respected and worthy
citizen, and he ^.nd wife are connected with the Friends' Society.
PHILIP JOHNSON was a native of Stokes County, N. C, w^s born
June 21, 1804, and died in this township January 19, 1879. His parents,
William and Elizabeth Johnson were natives of North Carolina, came to
this State in 1818, settled at Richmond, remained some years and then
moved to this county, where they finished their useful lives. Philip was
brought up to the importance of a farmer's life, with some attendance at the
subscription schools, and in 1828 settled upon land near Monrovia entered
by his father. July 25, 1827, he married Martha S. Hubbard, which union
gave issue to nine children, of which number are living Emeline, Eliza,
Mahlon and Mahala (twins), and George H, Mr. Johnson was for many
years of his life an Elder in the Friends' meeting, and for twelve years
an Overseer. He left his family a full competency for the needs of the
present life. He was a consistent Christian, a benevolent and liberal
gentleman, and an honored citizen.
EDWIN JOHNSON was born in this township April 14, 1833, and
is the fourth of five children of Ashley and Lydia R. (Rhodes) Johnson;
the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ohio. Ashley
Johnson emigrated to Indiana when sixteen years old, and located in
W^ayne County, where he lived, married and entered land for a home. He
died in 1870, a member of the Friends' Society; his wife survives him
and resides in Iowa. Edwin Johnson remained on the home farm until
April 20, 1854, at which time he married Miss Asenath Hadley, of this
county, of which union four children were the issue — Elizabeth A.,
Eudora, Lydia Alice and Joseph. Mr. Johnson owns and manages an
excellent farm, comprising 127 acres of improved and well-appointed
land, having a good residence, barns, orchards, etc., and thoroughly
stocked with horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. Mr. Johnson is a Repub-
lican, a Prohibitionist, and he and wife are birthright members of the
Society of Friends.
DAVID B. JOHNSON, dealer in hardware, groceries, stoves, glass
and queensware, is a native of this county, born July 9, 1851, and is a
son of Thomas A. and Elizabeth (Jessup) Johnson, natives of North Caro-
lina, and of English extraction, who emigrated to this State in 1830,
locating in Wayne County until 1831, when they moved to this county
and entered eighty acres. David B. Johnson was reared a farmer, and
attended the county schools, by which he obtained a fair education,
became a teacher in the public schools, and followed the same success-
fully for three yeai's, when he took up the mercantile business with his
brother; then he went to Illinois for a time, after which he returned and
united with Mr. S. Phillips, in Monrovia, which association was contin-
MONROE TOWNSHIP. 279
tied for three years; he then became a partner with Hobbs & Johnson,
and in 1883 succeeded to the business, having successfully continued the
same onward. November 15, 1867, Mr. Johnson married Hattie Carter,
with an issue of one child — Howard (born April 20, 1883). He has
been a successful merchant, a member of the I. O. G. T., is n Republican,
and first voted for Gen. Grant. He and wife are members of the Friends'
Society.
AARON D. LINDLEY was a native of Chatham County, N. C, was
born March 1, 1827, and died October 18, 1878. His parents were David
and Mary (Hadley) Lindley, natives of North Carolina, who moved to
this State and located on a tract about fourteen miles from where is now
Monrovia, whence, in 1865 they moved to Iowa, where the father died
in 1877, but his widow is still living. Aaron was reared to farming,
received some education from the common schools, and afterward
attended Earlham College for a time. He devoted his life to agricult-
ure, and died where he had passed his days. September 20, 1849, he
married Martha Painter, of Ohio, which union gave birth to six children
— Jacob P., Samuel (deceased), Mary (deceased), Irwin D., Sibyl J. and
Howard. Mrs. Lindley died April 11, 1864, and on the 11th of Septem-
ber, 1865, Mr. Lindley wedded Sarah Maxwell, of Wayne County, and
to this union was born one child — John M. Mr. Lindley was a birth-
right member of the Friends' Society. He left his family well provided
for, and his farm has been well managed by his widow. He was a
worthy and progressive citizen, and made great effort to have the Indian-
apolis & Sullivan Railroad completed, but did not live to see that enter-
prise consummated.
GEORGE A. LONG was born in Hendricks County, Ind., July 21,
1850. and is the second of the fom- children born to Avington F. and
Esther (Elliott) Long, natives of Indiana. Mr. Long died in this town-
ship July 1, 1859, a member of the Christian Church, and father of four
children Mrs. Long is now living at Gasburg, a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. George A. Long worked on a farm, and went
to school during boyhood. He also labored in a saw mill; in 1878 he
purchased a half interest in said mill, which was destroyed in 1881.
Soon after the mill was rebuilt, Mr. Long became proprietor in self, and
is now doing a thriving business. He is also manager of a threshing
machine. Mr. Long has been solely dependent on his own exertions for
his success and attainments. He is a Republican, and a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOEL C. McCLELLAN is a native of Kentucky, was born June 16,
1822, and is the second of the ten children of William and Elizabeth
(Cline) McClellan, respectively of Irish and German extraction, who
emigrated to this county in 3836, and located in Mooresville, where Mr.
McClellan followed his trade — that of tanner — for considerable time.
He then moved to Monrovia, and soon after purchased land and cleared
a farm, on which he resided until his death in 1844, a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, as is Mrs. McClellan, who is yet living at
Lake Valley. Joel C. was reared in the town, and from the common
schools obtained a good education. When he was fourteen years old, he
went as an apprentice to carpentering, at which he served three years,
and became a journeyman. November 7, 1844, he married Eliza N. John-
son. No children have followed this union. Mr. McClellan is an up-
right man and a worthy citizen. He is a member of the Masonic order,
280 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
a Republican in politics, and, with his wife, a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which he has been many years a class-leader, and
assisted in organizing the first Sabbath School at Monrovia in 1881.
JOSEPH M. McCOLLUM, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in
Randolph County, N. C, April 4, 1828, and is the fifth of the seven chil-
dren of Joseph and Mary (Kobson) McCollum, natives of North Carolina,
and respectively of Scotch-Irish and English extraction. Joseph was
reared to farming in his native State, and attended the subscription
schools. He remained with his parents until his majority, and with the
family emigrated to Indiana in 1849, and located in this county, where
he worked on a farm and in a saw mill. February 26, 1852, he married
Miss Matilda, daughter of William and Rachael Weesner, to which union
succeeded six children — Delphna, Elmira, Mary Jane, Louisa, John L.
and Joseph. Mrs. McCollum is a birthright member of the Friends'
Church. Mr. McCollum is a practical farmer, and controls 285 acres of
improved land, having a good residence, fences, orchards, etc., aQd well
stocked with horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. He is a Republican voter,
and is a charitable gentleman and a respected citizen,
P. THOMPSON, dealer in dry goods, groceries and general merchan-
dise, was born in North Carolina, December 1, 1850, and is the eldest
of the eight children of Thomas and Margaret J. (Tate) Thompson, na-
tives of North Carolina, and of English extraction. Our subject grew to
manhood on the farm, and received some rudimentary instruction from
the common schools. His parents having moved to this county, they
purchased a farm, which they afterward sold and removed to Hendricks
County, there, too, purchasing land. After farming, our subject, in
1881, engaged in mercantile business, in which he has continued with
much success. March 17, 1881, he married Julia Kellum, a member of
the Society of Friends. Mr. Thompson is an efficient and diligent
business man, a good citizen, and a truly self-made man.
WILLIAM O. THOMPSON, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in
Orange County, N. C. , November 17, 1825, and is the twelfth of the
fifteen children of Abel and Martha (Hadley) Thompson, natives of
North Carolina. William O. was reared on a farm, and attended the
subscription schools of the time, wherefrom he received a fair education.
Shortly after his majority, he emigrated to Indiana, and located in this
township, where he has continued to reside. He devoted his time to
farming, and manages a good farm of 400 acres, well improved, stocked
and appointed — a valuable property and home; he has also considerable
stock in the Bank of Mooresville, all made by his own application and
direction. April 29, 1852, he married Mary Ann, daughter of Isaac and
Rosanna Marshall, to which marriage were allotted six children — Abel,
Anson H., Atlas M., Martha R., Lydia J., and Sarah E. Mr. Thomp-
son is Republican in politics, and an esteemed and worthy citizen. He
and wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church of Antioch.
JOHN WEESNER was born in Orange County, N. C.,May 14, 1835,
and was brought by his father, Josiah Weesner, to this State in 1838;
he is of German extraction, paternally, and a descendant of Michael
Weesner, who settled in North Carolina about the middle of the eight-
eenth century. He was reared a farmer and also learned to be a carpen-
ter. He acquirecT a fair education at the school in Hopewell, at the Al-
len Schoolhouse, West Union, and at No. 6, now called the Gasburg
School, supplemented with one term at the Friends' Manual Labor
MONROE TOAVNSHIP. 281
School, and subsequently taught a public school. November 15, 1866.
he married Jane Allen, daughter of Charles Allen, and shortly afterward
purchased a few acres ofif the northeast corner of his father's farm,
erected a carpenter shop, and engaged at his trade — lumber dealing be-
ing now a part of his business. In 1864, he was commissioned Post-
master at the new office of Qasburg, a position he has held ever since.
JEREMIAH L. WELMAN is a native of Oldham County, Ky. ; was
born June 10, 1831, and is a son of Andrew N. and Elizabeth (Williams)
Welman, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. His father
having died, his mother and family moved to this county in 1845, where
he has since lived, and where his mother died August 1, 1883, in her
eighty-fifth year. Our subject was reared as a farmer, and followed the
same until he was thirty-five years of age. March 20, 1856, he married
Elzina Lewallen, a native of Kentucky. Mr. Welman began the carpen-
tering business in 1863, and devoted himself thereto for about ten years;
and then, coming to Monrovia, engaged iu the furniture and undertaking
line, which he has continued without competition. He owns a comfort-
able residence and good business property. August, 1861, he enlisted in
Company A, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, served about eleven months,
and was discharged from physical disability, having contracted typhoid
fever in the service. Mr. Welman is Tiler of Monrovia Lodge, 261, A.,
F. & A. M.
DAVID WILSON is a native of North Carolina, and was born De-
cember 10, 1835. His father resides in Monrovia, Morgan County,
where our subject grew to manhood. April 19, 1861, David enlisted for
three months, and afterwai-d joined the Eleventh Indiana Regiment, and
served three years. He participated at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shi-
loh, Vicksburg, and with Gen. Banks in the Gulf campaign. The regi-
ment re-enlisted as veterans in 1864, served under Gen. Sheridan, and
was afterward assigned to duty at Fort Henry. The regiment was also
on duty in Georgia when Jeff Davis was captured. He vfas slightly
wounded at Cedar Creek, and left the service with the rank of Captain
in August, 1865. August 8, 1867, he married Miss Samantha, daughter
of Gideon Johnson, one of the founders of Monrovia. Two children
were born to them, one of whom is living — Otis G. Mr. Wilson has
given attention to the study of law, and was admitted to practice in
1870; he now, however, gives all his attention to his farm. He has
served three terms as School Trustee, and, in 1880, he was nominated on
the Republican ticket for Representative in the Legislature, being elected
by 310 votes. He was appointed Chairman of the Committee of Fees
and Salaries. Mr. Wilson is a highly respected citizen.
JOHN A. WILSON is a native of Randolph County, N. C. , was born
December 2, 1830, and when eighteen years of age, came to Indiana
with his parents, who located in Wayne County, and afterward in this
township, where his father died in 1883 in his seventy eighth year, his
mother being yet alive and in her eighty fourth year; is a member of
the M. P. Church. John A. grew to manhood on a farm, and also
attended the public schools and acquired a fair education. August,
1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Regiment, served three years,
and participated in the glorious record of said regiment. Mr. Wilson
has been twice married, first to Rebecca Pearson November 15, 1866,
who bore one child now living — Lena E.; the mother died March 13,
1872, a consistent Christian. December 28, 1876, Mr. Wilson married
282 ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Mary A. Allen, who also bore one child, now deceased. Mr. Wilson has
been located in Monrovia for the past six years, having charge of the
post office; he also deals in stationery, school books, clocks, watches, etc.
In 1882, he added a stock of groceries, and is doing a good business. In
politics, he is a Republican; he is a Freemason, and a Trustee of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is, too, a member.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
REUBEN S. ALDRICH, stock- dealer and farmer, was born October
9, 1824, and is a son of Barlow and Phebe Aldrich. Barlow Aldrich
was born in Massachusetts in 1799, and his wife in Ohio in 1800, where
they married in 1821. They came to Decatiir County, Ind. ; located on
160 acres, whence they moved to this county, and purchased 117 acres.
Reuben married Miss Susan K., daughter of Joseph and Sarah Wharton,
who died in 1872, having borne one child — an infant, deceased. October
7, 1873, he married Mary E., daughter of Samuel and Nancy Province,
and to them were born three children — Minnie S., infant (deceased) and
Gracie S. Mr. Aldrich owns 688 acres of land in this township, all of
wTiich is under cultivation, and contains good residence, buildings and
other adornments. Mr. Aldrich resides at this time on the homestead
farm, surrounded by the many necessities and comforts which make life
desirable. He has served his township as Justice of the Peace and as
Trustee. In politics he is Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he having joined in 1874.
FRANCIS M. FIELDS is a son of Allen and Elizabeth (Pitcher)
Fields, the former a native of North Carolina, born 1789; the latter of
Virginia, born 1792. They were married in North Carolina, and parents
of nine children, and in 1826 moved to what is now Mooresville, this
State, and one year later moved on to eighty acres, on which he remained
until death, having reared ten children. Francis M. married Miriam
Shafer, a union smiled upon by six children — -Martin, Mary A., Minnie,
George (deceased), Anna B. (deceased) and Effie. Mrs. Fields died Sep-
tember 8, 1874, and on January 8, 1878, he married Mrs. Mary A. Loy.
After marriage, Mr. Fields purchased, in conjunction with his brother-
in-law, 160 acres, which they cultivated about seven years, when Mr.
Fields purchased 130 acres alone, and to this, in 1871, added iifty-six
acres. Some of this he afterward sold, and engaged in mercantile busi-
ness at Waverly. His lands will average a value of $50 per acre. Mr.
Fields is a Democrat, and was elected Township Trustee in 1882. He
is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
GEORGE PAUL was born July 7, 1812, in West Virginia. He mar-
ried Miss Eliza A., daughter of Joseph and Sarah (TuU) Wharton, in
1841, as a result of which union were born eight childi-en — Julia A.
(deceased), John, Joseph, Farendine, Catherine, Jacob, George D. and
Frank. After his marriage, Mr. Paul purchased a small corn-mill on
Crooked Creek, in partnership with his brother-in-law, John Brenton,
to whom he subsequently sold said mill, and engaged in farming on 160
RAY TOWNSHIP. 283
acres, giving some attention to the raising of stock. This farm has
grown by aggregation to be 812 acres, containing 500 head of stock,
which feed on blue grass pasture. Mr. Paul is a Republican. He had
two sons in the war of the rebellion — John, in the Thirty-third Indiana,
and Joseph in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana Regiments.
Mr. Paul is a practical farmer and successful business manager, a fact of
which the best evidence is given in his prosperity and success.
PHILIP PAUL was born at West Liberty, W. Va., May 21, 1816,
and is a son of John and Keziah (Mills) Paul. John Paul moved his
family to Cincinnati, and thence to Brookville, Ind., in 1821, where he
soon after purchased 160 acres. He also purchased land on White River
bluffs, whither he went alone, fell a victim to fever, was brought home
and died. After this event, Mrs. Paul removed to the land on the bluffs.
Philip Paul remained with bis mother until her death, after which his
brother and he lived on the homestead with one sister, both brothers be-
ing unmarried. The family suffered many privations in that new local-
ity, which will ever be remembered. Our subject united with the
Methodist Episcopal Church at a camp-meeting in 1846, and has been a
consistent adherent of that faith. He is an honored citizen, a genial
gentleman and a Democrat politically.
RAY TOWNSHIP.
ANDREW J. BAKER was born January 31, 1840, in Monroe Coun-
ty. Ind., and is the sixth of the seven children of James H. and Nancy
(Kemper) Baker, natives respectively of Tennessee and Kentucky. An-
drew was reared as a farmer, and received some education from the public
schools. In August, 1861, he became a soldier of Company H, Thirty-
third Indiana Volunteers, and served in the following battles: Wild Cat,
Thompson's Station, where he was wounded in the leg, taken prisoner
and confined two months in Libby Prison. He was then exchanged and
fought afterward at Resaca, Keneaaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Mar-
ietta, Atlanta, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Savannah, Bentonville and
the famous march to the sea. He was also present in the grand review
at Washington, and was discharged August 8, 1865. August 17, 1865.
he married Mrs. Margaret J. Goss, widow of Sims H. Goss, which union
produced five children, three of whom are living— Alvina H., John and
Franklin. Mr. Baker has been elected Justice of the Peace of this town-
ship, as which he is now serving, and is a Republican.
Henry E. Goss was born December S, 1862, and is one of the two
children of Sims H. and Margaret J. (Stanger) Goss, the former of Ger-
man descent. Henry attended the public schools, and was brought up a
farmer, having inherited 200 acres of excellent land from his father. He
is an energetic and promising young man, an earnest Republican and a
good citizen.
I. C. BAKER is a native of Kentucky, was born June 10, 1828, and
is the eldest of the family of James H. and Nancy (Kemper) Baker, na-
tives of Kentucky, and of English and German descent, respectively,
who removed to Morgan County, Ind., and located in Baker Township
284 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
until 1839, when they moved to Monroe County and occupied land en-
tered by Mr. Baker previously. In 1847, they moved to a farm near
Martinsville, then to Paragon about 1855, and linally to Gosport about
1865, where Mr. Baker died. I. C. Baker remained on the home farm
until he was nineteen years old, when he left to learn cabinet-making.
He worked by day and studied by night, thereby making up for neglect
of education in boyhood. After finishing his trade, he worked as a
journeyman — often until 10 o'clock at night — until 1853, being consid-
ered a master workman. July 1, 1852, he married Cinderella, daughter
of Isaac and Lodicea (Maskel) Rogers, which union gave issue to nine
children, of whom five remain — Salem A., Charles F., Jessie B. (now
Mrs. Pierson), Maggie B. and Anna L. August 15, 1862, Mr. Baker en-
listed in Company H, Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. In 1862, during a grand
review, he became exhausted, from which e£foct he has never recovered;
he also suffered from blindness following impure vaccination, and was
discharged August 11, 1863. Since returning home, being unable to do
hard labor, he has followed wagon-making. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are
members of the Christian Chui'ch.
WILLIAM H. BEACH is a native of Erie County, N. ¥., was born
March 22, 1830, and is the fourth of the nine children of Asher and
Mercy (Yaw) Beach, natives of Vermont and of English descent. Will-
iam secured all the advantages for education which came to his lot, and
was reared to the business of farming, at which he worked by the month.
His parents moved to Winnebago County, 111., in 1838, to reach which
they passed through Chicago, then merely a village, where Mr. Beach
was offered land, now part of the city, for $2. 50 per acre. When our sub-
ject became of age, he moved to Wisconsin, where he endured many pri-
vations of pioneer life. After one year, he moved to Michigan, where,
March 7, 1852, he married Catherine Brown, of North Carolina. Six
children followed this union, of whom five are living — Lucy E., Andy
F., Lora I., Julia E. and Effie L. After leaving Michigan, Mr. Beach
returned to Illinois, then moved to Wisconsin, where he engaged in farm-
ing and saw milling. In 1856, he moved to Dunn County, Wis., and
was some time engaged in milling. In 1874, he moved to Cumberland
County, 111., where he lost his wife in February, 1875. In 1879, he
moved to this county, and married a second wife, Mrs. Catherine, widow
of Franklin Marsh, whose parents, David and Barbara Secrist, were pio-
neers of Illinois; the former moving thither in 1823, and the latter in
1825. Mr. and Mrs. Beach have had born to them two children — Kitty
C. (deceased) and Ray Garfield. Mr. Beach is owner ol: forty acres in
Illinois, and his wife of 184 acres in this county.
P. H. BLANKENSHIP, business man and farmer, is a native of this
township, was born August 22, 1846, and is the second of the nine chil
dren born to Perry M. and Bethsheba (Hodges) Blankenship. Mr. Blank-
enship was reared on a farm, and given a good education. September,
1869, he married Delilah Craig, which union has given birth to four chil-
dren— Lora, Craig, Claude and Aibin. During the war, Mr. Blanken-
ship enlisted in the Twenty-first Indiana Volunteer Regiment, First
Artillery, and was discharged June, 1865. He is possessed of 170 acres,
which is well-cultivated and improved, in addition to which he is en-
gaged in the lumber business and in brick-making. Mr. Blankenship
was formerly largely interested in stock- dealing, but this he has disoon-
RAY TOWNSHIP. 285
tinned. He Js a Republican in political faith, and he and wife are
members of the Christian Church.
PERRY M. BLANKENSHIP, a leading and enterprising farmer and
stock-raiser, was born near Paragon, Ind., November 30. 1858, and is
the sixth of the nine children of Perry M. and Bethsheba (Hodges) Blan-
kenship, natives respectively of Jenning and Morgan Counties, Ind. , and
of Dutch and English extraction, being among the earliest settlers of this
township. Our subject was reared to the plow and the independent vo-
cation of farming, during which early period, he attended school at times,
and obtained a rudimentary education. So far, Mr. Blankenship is a
successful gentleman. He is possessor of 145 acres, eighty-five of which
amount is cleared and well cultivated, improved, stocked and adorned
with good dwelling, barns and other outbuildings, a result mainly due
to the strictest attention to business and the ablest management. Mr.
Blankenship is a member of the Christian Church, a liberal, benevolent
gentleman, and an estimable citizen.
ELIJAH BOW EN, a pioneer and leading farmer of this county, was
born September 23, 1807, one mile east of Nicholasville, Ky., and is the
seventh of the elev«^n children of Elijah and Nancy Bowen, natives of
Virginia. The grandfather of our subject was one of the first settlers in
old Kentucky. Our subject was reared on a farm near the cave of Daniel
Boone, where that hero and family lived three months. In 1830, Elijah
moved to Owen County, Ind., and soon after to Morgan County, where
he had purchased 120 acres, on which is his present home. August, 1830,
he married Nancy, daughter of Abner and Polly (Hill) Alexander. This
union gave being to ten children, five of whom are living. Mr. Bowen,
being a good manager and industrious man, succeeded in acquiring 063
acres, and a good home as well. Of this land, which was highly im-
proved, he has sold 560 acres, and given the proceeds, about $18,000, to
his children, retaining the residue for himself. Mrs. Bowen died, De-
cember 1 3, 1882, and Mr. Bowen married a second wife, Mrs. Margaret,
widow of John Asher. Mr. Bowen is a member of the Christian Church,
as was his first wife, who left at her death a legacy of about $5,000 and
eighty acres to her youngest daughter. Mr. Bowen gave his first vote
for Henry Clay, and has been n^cently Republican.
JAMES M. BROWN is a native of Kentucky, was born June 6, 1833,
and is the second of the nine childi'en born to Francis O. and Mary E.
(Wright) Brown, respectively of Irish and Dutch extraction. James M.
was brought up a farmer, as which he labored and also attended school
during his minority. November 7, 1856, he married Sarah Jane, daugh-
ter of Louis and Elizabeth (Smith) Carroll, to which were born two chil-
dren— William L. and Mary E. Francis O. Brown entered land soon
after coming to this State in 1834, near Bloomington, where he and wife
yet reside. James came to Morgan County when fourteen years of age,
and commenced the care of himself, so that he began the world under
rather discouraging circumstances; but he is now possessed of a good
home and eighty acres in Monroe County, which are improved and culti-
vated; he has also a good house and store in Paragon, having been en-
gaged in the mercantile and butchering business for the past six years.
Mr. Brown and wife are members of the Christian Church, and very
greatly esteemed by the people of their neighborhood.
TOBIAS D. BUTLER, stock-raiser and farmer, was born February
4, 1838, in this township, and is the youngest child of Tobias H. and
286 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Sallie (Goss) Butler, natives respectively of Maryland and South Caroli-
na. Tobias D. was reared on a farm, with but small opportunities for
education, and when nineteen years old began to work for himself. July
6, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty -first Infantry (afterward
First Heavy Artillery), and ,took part at the battles of Baton Rouge,
Brashear City. Bayou Teche, and was forty-two days in the siege of Port
Hudson. He was in three years' active service, and discharged August
10, 1864 October 20, 1864, he married Mary S., daughter of Allen and
Sarah Asher. To this union were born nine children — Thomas (deceased),
Edward, Frank, Blanche, Daisy (deceased), Leota, Richard, Walter and
Mary S. Mr. Butler has a valuable farm of 238 acres, situated in Owen
and Morgan Counties, which is in a good state of cultivation, well stocked
and improved. He has been generally successful in life by great atten-
tion to business. He ie a Republican in politics, and served as Assessor
of Harrison TowQship one term. He is a liberal and respected citizen,
and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
WILLIAM J. GOSS, farmer and stock-raiser, was born November
10, 1835, in Owen County. Ind., and is fifth of the eleven children of
Ephraim and Sarah (Goss) Goss, natives of North Carolina and of Dutch
descent His grandparents emigrated to the West, and settled in what
is now Washington County in 1810, and in 1817 moved to the present
site of Gosport. His parents came to this county when he was a child,
locating about one mile from where he now lives, and where his father
had entered land. When AVilliam was sixteen years old, his father died,
whereupon he assumed care of the family. January 11; 1856, he mar-
ried Sarah C, daughter of Joseph and Delilah (Sandy) Goss, a union
productive of five children, four of whom yet live — Theodore D., Joseph
L., Corna L. and Dollie D. By dint of persistent and well-directed labor.
Mr. Goss has acquired a property of -140 acres of as fine land as the
commonwealth affords, which is well stocked, improved and cultivated,
as well as adorned with convenient dwelling, barns, orchard and the like.
He also owns a store in Paragon, managed by his son. Mr. Goss is a
Republican in politics, and a good business man and respected citizen.
Mrs. Goss is a consistent member of tliH Christian Church,
HENRY C. GOSS, farmer and stock-raiser, was born May 18, 1838,
on the farm on which he now resides, the land having been entered by
his father in or about 1823, and is the second of three children now liv-
ing of Ephraim and Sarah Goss. He was reared to farming as a busi-
ness, and has resided here continuously, except for a period of three
years when his mother moved to Gosport. Mr. Goss is possessed of 280
acres of land, in the highest state of cultivation and improvement, also
made desirable by the erection of a tine residence, barns, a necessary
amount of stock, a growing orchard, and other valuable additions. Mr.
Goss has living with him Elizabeth Myers and Joseph Magers, who take
care of the place. He is a Republican in the political lit e, and a liberal
and greatly valued citizen.
J. H. GOSS, enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of this
township, was born September 10, 1845, and is the tenth of a family of
Ephraim and Sarah Goss, natives of North Carolina. After going to
school for a time, our subject worked for his parents on the home
farm. December 3, 1874, he married Amanda, daughter of William
C. and Mary Welton, which union was favored with one child, Oliver
P. Morton; they have also one they are rearing, Marian J. Robinson.
RAY TOWNSHIP. 287
Mr. Goss owns 450 acres of land on White River bottom, which is a
well improved and cultivated farm, fairly supplied with stock, and having
a good orchard. He is an active Republican, and was elected Township
Trustee in 1876. He has been a successful farmer, and is a much re-
spected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Goss are members of the Christian Church.
REV. GEORGE GOSS is a native of Wayne Township, Owen Co.,
Ind. , was boi'n September 26, 1845, and is the second of the nine chil-
dren of Ephraim and Margaret M. (Halbert) Goss, the former a native of
Indiana, the latter of Kentucky, and respectively of Dutch and Scotch
extraction. His great-grandfather came to this locality about 1810, and
was the founder of Gosport. George was reared to farm labor, and at-
tended school some time during the winter seasons. March 10, 1867, he
married Margaret A., daughter of Thomas and Cynthia A. (Whitaker)
Applegate, natives of Kentucky. This union was followed by three chil-
dren— Rosie E., Sarah J. and Alice M. In December, 1874, Mr. Goss
was licensed to preach by the Baptist Church, and was ordained minister
April 13, 1876, since which time he has given his attention to religious
duties. He has twenty-nine acres of well- cultivated and improved land,
making a desirable home. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fel-
low fraternities, a greatly esteemed minister and citizen, and one of the
stanchest Republicans of the township.
THEODORE D. GOSS, an enterprising and promising young busi-
ness man of Paragon, is a native of Ray Township, Morgan Co. , Ind. ,
was born August 11, 1859, and is a son of AV. J. and Sarah C. Goss,
both of German descent. Our subject was reared on a farm, and in the
interim of labor thereon attended the public schools of his district until
he was eighteen years of age, at which period he became a student of
Bedford College for three terms. In February, 1883, he engaged in
mercantile business at Paragon, and in this venture has been prominently
successful, his whole energy and time being given to his business. Few
men at his age have had so flattering an assurance of a prosperous and
useful career. Mr. Goss is an earnest and honorable Republi(5an.
EPHRAIM L. GOSS, one of Morgan County's youngest and most
promising farmers and stock-raisers, was born July 21, 1860, and is the
first child born to Sims H. and Margaret J. (Stanger) Goss, natives re-
spectively of Morgan and Monroe Counties, Ind. , and of Dutch descent.
Our subject is a grandchild of Ephraim Goss, one of the oldest settlers
in Indiana Territory, and founder of Gosport. He was reared to the
occupation of his predecessors — farming; received what education he
could from the common schools, and has since been industrious and fru-
ga). Mr. Goss is well situated for so young a man, being possessed of
208 acres in good cultivation and much improved by dwelling house and
barns and other valuable additions; he has also considerable stock. More
particularly of late he has given much attention to the breeding of Jer-
sey Red and Poland hogs, and has been successful in that enterprise.
Mr. Goss has the promise of much usefulness and prominence in the fut-
ure time, inasmuch as he is greatly respected generally. He is active
as a member of the Republican partv.
DR. JOHN J. HARRIS was born in Ellettsville November 15,
1848, and is the fourth of the twelve children born to James M. and
Sarah A. (Fletcher) Harris, natives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana.
James M. Harris is a retired physician. Our subject, after attending the
graded schools, engaged with his brother in the hardware business, and
288 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
was later in the drug business with his father, which he has since con-
tinued. About 1867, he commenced studying medicine with his father,
afterward attended lectures at Oxford Medical College, Cincinnati, and
has since practiced medicine at Ellettsville, Stinesville and Paragon.
He afterward graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and has been
a successful practitioner since that event. September 22, 1869, he mar-
ried Rebecca A., daughter of Allen Mills, by which union they had four
children — Fred C, Clara E., Delia M. and John R. Dr. JEarris has
served as Town Clerk and Trustee of Ellettsville. He has been and is
now successful as a physician, and has the confidence of the community.
He is a Republican in politics.
PHILIP HODGES, the oldest living settler in Ray Township, was
born October 31, 1797, in Randolph County, N. C, and is the youngest
of the seven children of John and Margaret (Lacy) Hodges, of English
and Irish descent respectively. John Hodges was a native of Herford-
shire, England, was born in 1749, and hj trade a glover. About the
beginning of the Revolutionary war, he emigrated to America and served
three years in that heroic campaign, soon after which he married
Margaret Lacy. Philip Hodges was reared to farming, with the advan-
tage of some schooling. When of age, October, 1818, he moved to In-
diana, or Northwest Territory, and took a lease of land near Grosport,
and where. May, 1819, he wedded Miss Mary Goss (then but fifteen
years old), daughter of Ephraim and Anna (Workman) Goss, founders (>f
the town of Gosport. Ten children were born to them — Ephraim, John
(deceased), Bethsheba (deceased). Noah, Joseph, Sarah (Mrs. Sims),
Thomas, Anna (deceased), Harvey (deceased) and Henry 0. In 1820, at
the Terre Haute land sale, he purchased 160 acres in Sections 1 and 2,
Range 1 east, 11 north — the first land sold from the Indian pui'chase of
818. In 1824, he located on eighty acres of land he had entered in
Ray Township, among the hills, and afterward entered 220 more,
where he remained until 1833, where he entered and occupied
160, where he now resides. To this he added 140 acres, all of which he
constantly improved, thus possessing 810 acres of good and well-culti-
vated land. In 1837, he built his residence, then one of the finest in that
section. With but a legacy of $150 he began life, and has succeeded by
industry and skill. Mr. Hodges is yet hale, and useful and benevolent.
His present politics is Republican; he was formerly a Whig, and gave
his first Presidential vote for Mr, Adams. He and wife are members of
the Christian Church.
EPHRAIM HODGES, stock-raiser and farmer, was born July 19,
1820, in Owen County, Ind., where now stands Gosport. He is the
eldest of the ten children of Philip and Mary (Goss) Hodges, natives of
North Carolina. Our subject attended the subscription schools of his
boyhood, and was reared to farming. Afterward he became an instruc-
tor, and taught many terms of school. September 5, 1845, he married
Ann, daughter of Daniel T. and Polly (Crums) Smith, with the issue of
nine children — Noah (deceased), May, John Q., Clarinda, Joseph C,
Charles S., Maliuda, Philip S. and Cora. Mr. Hodges was a member of
the fir.3t Board of Trustees held in his township, and served as Commis-
sioner from 1862 to 1868. He is possessed of about 600 acres of land
under fair cultivation and with many improvements, good residences,
barns, outbuildings, oi'chard and the like, all of which possession is the
outcome of his enerirv and able manairement. Mr. Hodsres is a member
RAY TOWNSHIP. 289
of the Masonic order, the Republican party and the Christian Church, a
generally respected citizen and liberal gentleman.
DR. JOHN KENNEDY is a native of Lamb's Bottom, this county,
and was born September 30, 1833. His father was a native of Kentucky,
and of Irish descent; his mother wai also of Kentucky, and of German
descent. Both have been residents of this county since 1830. After re-
ceiving home instruction, Dr. Kennedy attended Belleville Academy, and
also the Edinburg Grammar School, of which he became an assistant
teacher in 1855. About this time, he began the study of medicine under
Dr. Clark, of Edinburg. Soon afterward, he returned to the home farm
to recover his impaired health, after which he taught school in Sanga-
mon County, 111., and spent his leisure time in studying medicine, and
in 1858 became a student of Dr. Osgood, of Gosport. During the win-
ter of that year, he attended lectures at the Cincinnati Medical Institute,
and afterward commenced practice near his old home, where he obtained
a reputation for being one of the ablest practitioners in his neighbor-
hood, and he is now at Gosport, which is his residence. April, 1862, he
married Angeline, daughter of Richard Laughlin, of Owen County, with
an issue of eight children. In 1874, Dr. Kennedy was elected to the
State Legislature, where he served two years most faithfully. He is a
Republican, a member of the Christian Church, and active as a Sunday
school worker.
CASPER LINGLE, a prominent stock-raiser and farmer, was born in
Burke County, N. C, March 7, 1823, and is the eighth of the ten chil-
dren of Adam and Catherine (Tipps) Lingle, of German descent. In
1829, he came with his parents to what is now this township; was reared
to farming, and has been an important personage in the development of
the county. The first township election was held at his father's house,
and continued so to be for twenty years, when the same were held at
Salem. June 7, 1845, he wedded Matilda, daughter of Henry and Re-
becca (Goss) Ratts, who died about three months after his marriage.
Augiist 9, 1846, he married Catherine, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca
Sandy, to which union succeeded five children — John S., William A.,
James E., Jeremiah S. and Thomas Lincoln. In 1857, he removed to
Missouri for three years, after which time he returned home. While there
he built a Methodist Episcopal Church, the last payment on which he made
after leaving that State. Mr. Lingle has been a successful man, having
acquired a possession of 700 acres of land, but now having sold some,
and given much to his children, retains only 132 acres, which are, how-
ever, well- cultivated, stocked, improved and adorned. His only ally was
his faithful wife, who died August 9, 1882, a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Mr. Lingle is an enlightened citizen, an advocate of
public education, an active Republican and a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM A. LINGLE, a successful stock-raiser and farmer, was
born in Ray (now Ashland) Township, November 16, 1849, and is the
second in the family of five belonging to Casper and Catherine (Sandy)
Lingle, respectively of Dutch and Irish descent. William worked on his
father's farm, and went also to school, when not so engaged, until man-
hood. May 11, 1871, he wedded Martha J., daughter of Hiram Groun,
and this marriage was made happy by two children— Newton D. and
Perry E. (deceased). Mr. Lingle is the possessor of forty acres of land,
which are in a state of superior cultivation, with good dwelling, barns,
290 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
stock in variety, a young orchard and every necessary improvement for
comfort and profit. Mr. Lingle is a leading Republican, and has served
as Township Assessor one term. He is a liberal-minded man, and a
promising and enterprising agriculturist.
JEREMIAH S. LINGLE was born in Ray (now Ashland) Township
October 10, 1855, and is the fourth of those comprising the family of his
parents, Casper and Catherine (Sandy) Lingle. Jeremiah, in common
with the other sons of his father, was reared to the dignified and ancient
calling of tilling the soil. After atten,ding school for a time in his boy
hood, he continued to labor at home until he attained his majority, where-
upon he married Martha E. , daughter of John and Catherine (Haase)
Shelton. These young people have had born to them four children, of
which ntmiber three are living— Orville E., Minnie Catherine and Orra
E. Mr. Lingle has largely assisted his father in developing the home
place, and is an enterprising, able and promising young farmer.
FIELDING MARtSH, a leading farmer and stock-raiser, came into
life December 26, 1826, in Washington County. Ind., and is the fifth of
the nine children of Cyrus J. and Elizabeth (^Shultz) Marsh, respectively
of English and Dutch descent. During his minority, Fielding worked
by the month, with occasional attendance at school. In May, 1847, he
volunteered for the Mexican war, in the Foui'th Indiana Regiment; was
landed at Brazos Island, and marched up the Rio Grande to join Gen.
Taylor. After his discharge in 1848, he resumed farming for a time,
then followed flat-boating on the Mississippi River, and afterward lo-
cated his land warrant for 160 acres in Marion County. March 24, 1853,
he maiTied Rachel, daughter of Benjamin and Rachel (Milton) Mugg, a
union which produced three children — Amanda E. (Mrs. Smith), Cincin-
natus and Curtis. February 14, 1865, he enlisted in the One Hundred
and Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in
September of that year. Mr. Marsh is possessed of a good home, com-
prising 157 acres of excellent land, well cultivated, stocked and improved,
being the homestead of his father; there is also a good orchard. Mr.
and Mrs. Marsh are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
GABRIEL ROBINSON is a native of Anderson County, Ky. ; was
born January 31, 1828, and is the sixth of the eight children of Gabriel
and Mary (Rice) Robinson, of Irish and German extraction. Our sub-
ject was reared on a farm, and secured but one month's schooling during
his youth. At the age of thirteen, he became a learner of the blacksmith
trade, at Middletown, Ky., where he remained until 1852; then moved
to Washington County, and thence to Leesville, Ind., where he worked
at wagon-making, and also managed a blacksmith and wagon shop until
1864, when he came to this county, where he carries on the same busi-
ness. December 25, 1847, he married Mary E. Gwathmey, to which
union were born two children — Kate M. and Camden. In May, 1846,
Mr. Robinson enlisted for the Mexican war, in Company I, First Ken-
tiicky Volunteer Infantry. He served in the battles of Monterey, having
made a forced march of sixty-nine miles in seventeen hoiirs, and Buena
Vista, being discharged in May, 1847. Mr. Robinson was also in our
late war, a recruit of Company K, Sixty-seventh Indiana Regiment, go-
ing out as private, and being promoted to a Lieutenancy, as which he
resigned in April, 1863, having served at Munfordville, siege of Vicks-
burg and other engagements. Mr. Robinson is a member of the L
O. O. F.
RAY TOWNSHIP. 291
JOHN A. SANDY, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Montgomery
County, Ind., March 19, 1843, and is the sixth of the eleven children of
William H. and Lucinda (Thompson) Sandy, natives respectively of Ten-
nessee and Kentucky, and of English and Irish descent. William H.
Sandy emigrated to Washington County, Ind.. about 1810, thence moved
to Owen County about 1812, and after his marriage settled near Gosp(^rt,
about 1830, and thence moved to Montgomery County, locating near
Crawfordsville. In 1852, the family moved to Morgan County, where
Mr. Sandy yet resides. John H. Sandy passed his boyhood on the pa-
ternal farm, and in going to school. In 1861, he enlisted in Company
H, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry; was assigned to the Fourth
Corps, Army of the Cumberland; was mostly engaged in skirmishes, and
was discharged November, 1862, after which, being unable to work, he
went to school for a time, then farmed until February, 1865, when he
re-enlisted in Company F.One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, and
served until Septembei'. August 30, 1866, he married Susanna, daughter
of Kobert and Nancy W^alters, to which union was born one child — James
S. Mr. Sandy owns iBighty-two acres of good land, well-cultivated and
improved, thus being in comfortable circumstances. In 1880, he engaged
in the drug business for one year with fair success. Mr. Sandy is an
Odd Fellow, and he and wife are members c>f the Christian Church.
WILLIAM A. SHARP is a native of Ellettsville, in this State; was
born April 10, 1855, and is the third of the live children of George W.
and Agnes (Ashbrook) Sharp, both natives of Indiana. William A. was
reared on a farm, and obtained some education from the common schools.
His father died when he was seven years old, after which he lived with
his grandfather until May 13, 1877, when he married Theresa, daughter
of Gideon Holiday, by which union were produced two children — Ida and
Roy C. After his marriage, Mr. Sharp moved to Ellettsville, where he
labored as a quarryman for thirteen years. In July, 1883, he moved to
Paragon, to take charge of his mother's farm of ninety-three acres on
White River bottoms. Mr. Sharp is in comfortable circumstances, hav-
ing a house and two lots in Ellettsville. He is a member, and was First
Commander of Sons of Veterans' Camp, No. 2, and is a Republican in
politics. His father, George W. Sharp, was a soldier of the late war,
and died in the service. Mrs. Sharp is a member of the Baptist Church.
JOHN A. STIRWALT, stock-raiser and farmer, was born November
18, 18-49, in the house in which he now dwells — his father having pur-
chased the same about 1828— and is the eighth of the nine children of
Adam and Lucy (Sandy) Stirwalt, natives of North Carolina, and of Dutch-
English extraction. John was brought up to labor on the home farm,
and when not so engaged attended the free schools, thus receiving the
rudiments of an education. November 2, 1872, he married Martha E.,
daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Lingle) Knox, natives of North Car-
olina, a union which produced three children, two of whom are living —
Jasper E. and Mary Lavina. Mr. Stirwalt is the owner of 100 acres,
well improved, cultivated and stocked, with good residence, young or-
chard and the like. He has been largely successful, and is a diligent,
careful manager. He is a Democrat in politics, a most reputable citizen,
and a trusted member of the Baptist Church.
DANIEL H. VOSHELL, pioneer farmer and stock-raiser, was born
in this township February 8, 1826, about one mile west of his present
residence, and is the second of the ten children of William H. and Polly
292 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
(Sandy) Voshell, natives respectively of Delaware and North Carolina,
and of French and German descent. William H. Voshell emigrated from
Maryland to Ohio, and thence to Jackson County, Ind., about 1820. He
also lived in Owen County about 1825, and located land, likewise, in
this township, making an aggregate of 400 acres. Daniel lived with his
parents until he was twenty years old, having entered 160 acres. His
opportunities for education were of the most meager character, having to
labor almost incessantly. February 17, 1846, he wedded Delilah, the
widow of Joseph Goss, which union gave issue to six children, three be-
ing now alive — Mary A. (Mrs. McGinnis), William S. and Thomas S.
Mr. Voshell is possessor of 307 acres in Morgan, and 180 in Knox Coun-
ty, Ind., all under the best cultivation, well stocked, improved, and with
as good a residence as one may find in the township. Mr. Voshell is one
of the most upright and respected of citizens, a man whose record is duty
well done. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
LEVI J. VOSHELL, farmer and stock-raiser, was born at his pres-
ent residence — the land having been entered by his father about 1825 —
passed his boyhood on the farm, and received but little schooling. He
remained at home until his majority, and October 19, 1859, married Miss
Sarah, daughter of William R. and Rebecca S. (Chambers) Mannan. na-
tives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina. To this union were
born three children, two of whom are living — Manda A. (now Mrs. Whit-
taker) and Emma R. In September, 1864, Mr. Voshell enlisted in Com-
pany F, Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Atlanta
campaign; he was also in Gen. Sherman's famous march to the sea, and
was engaged in the taking of Savannah and Columbia. After the grand
review at Washington, he was discharged June, 1865, and returned to
his home and the duties of his farm, having 588 acres in Morgan, Owen
and Putnam Counties, which are well improved, cultivated and adorned,
containing a number of short-horn cattle and other stock. Mr. Voshell,
aided by his wife, has been more than usually successful. They are
members of the Baptist Church, and respected members of their commu-
nity. Mr. Voshell is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a very
earnest Democrat.
JOHN M. VOSHELL, farmer and stock-raiser, was born August 15,
1848, where he now resides, and is the second of the five children, two of
whom are yet living, born to Thomas S. and Catherine (Stierwalt) Voshell,
natives of Owen County, Ind. John was reared on a farm and to the hon-
ored and independent business of farming. His father died when he was
but five years of age, so that he acquired only a spare education, having to
give his services at home. September 3, 1874, he married Miss Mollie,
daughter of Adam and Annie E. (Miller) Renner. Mr. Voshell has a
good home and farm of 133 acres, which are well improved, in fine cul-
tivation, and supplied with stock and all necessary appurtenances. For
the past few years, he has given most attention to stock trading, in which
enterprise he has been fairly successful. He is an active young Demo-
crat, and he and his ^nie and mother are consistent members of the
Baptist Church.
ASHBEN W. WA.LTERS was born in this township October 3, 1856,
and is the sixth child of Robert S. and Nancy A. (Duckworth) Walters,
the former a native of Owen County, Ind., the latter of Kentucky.
Our subject was brought up on a farm and remained there until
he was twenty-two years old, when he engaged in the dry goods bus-
RAY TOWNSHIP. 293
iness at Paragon, and also attended two terms at Bedford xicademy in
1878. He remained in business one year; then returned to the farm for
two years, after which he engaged with his brother-in-law in the drug
basiness at Paragon; he afterward went to Colorado, and engaged in
mining for a short time, when he returned home and resumed farming
on the land entered by his grandfather. Mr. Walters is a radical Dem-
ocrat, a member of the Baptist Chui'ch, a liberal gentleman and an es-
teemed citizen.
S. G. W. Walters, a young, successful and enterprising farmer,
was born at his present residence September 11, 18B4 — a farm cleared
by his father — and is the youngest of the eleven children of Kobert S.
and Nancy Walters, who were among the earliest settlers of this township,
both members of the Baptist denomination, and known as liberal and
benevolent persons; the father died July, 18S1; the latter June, 1877.
They were possessed of 300 acres of land, acquired by diligence and
perseverance. Mr. Walters politically is a Democrat.
DR. E. D. WHITAKER was born in this township November 27,
1834, and is the fourth of the seven children of Grafton B. and Mar-
garet (Gregg) Whitaker. During his boyhood, our subject worked at
farming and attended subscription school, and at the age of twenty-two,
at an academy in Belleville, Hendricks County. Soon aftei*, he began
the study of medicine under Dr. Stuckey. of Gosport, and attended
lectures at Louisville during the sessions of 1858, 1859 and 1860. In
April. 1862, he entered the service; went to Pittsburg Landing, was
assigned to the Medical Department as Acting Assistant Surgeon, and,
after six months, commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the Fifteenth Ken-
tucky Infantry. After the expiration of this regiment's term of service,
he was made Surgeon of the Thirty- eighth Indiana, as which he con-
tinued until the war was closed. Succeeding his discharge, he located
as a practitioner at Gosport, which, after one year, he gave up for the
purpose of attending to his farm. December, 1867, he married Martha
J., daughter of Wiley and Rebecca (Crow) Williams, who died Novem-
ber, 1874, leaving one child, Wiley W. December, 1877, he wedded
Amanda A. , daughter of Harman and Elizabeth (Guy) Vickery, to which
marriage succeeded two children — Eli G. and Margaret Elizabeth. Dr.
Whitaker has a most excellent, highly cultivated and well-stocked farm
of 240 acres, a portion of which was entered by his father. He is a
member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Baptist Church, and is a
liberal gentleman aad a Democrat; he was once nominated for Repre-
sentative, but declined the same.
DR. RALPH B. WILLIAMSON was born near Watford, Ont., March
4, 1851, and is the ninth of the fourteen children of John and Margaret
(Calbert) Williamson, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of France.
Dr. Ralph B. Williamson was reared on a farm, and when fifteen years
old clerked for his father, and continued so to do for five years. He
attended the public school, a commercial college at London, and after-
ward began the study of medicine with Dr. Harvey, and attended lectures
at Ann Arbor, and at the Cincinnati College of Medicine, from each of
which he received a diploma. In July, 1876, he located at Vandalia, re-
mained three years, removed thence to Santa F6, Owen County, and thence
to Paragon. October 9, 1877, he married Alice E., daughter of William
and Jane Williams, of Owen County. This union furnished two chil-
dren— Lionas Listwell Dufferein and Damietta Bell. Dr. Williams was
294 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
formerly an Odd Fellow, and is in politics a Democrat. He and wife
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN H. YOUNG, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in this county,
and is the tenth of the eleven children of Scott W. and Polly (Mathews)
Young, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. John H. was
reared on a farm, and has had good advantages for education, having
attended a high school two terms, the Indianapolis Commercial School
and the Normal School at Terre Haute. He has been some time teacher
in this State and in Kansas. After his father's death, in 1873, he took
charge of the home farm, entered by his father, who came to the State
in 1822. Our subject is owner of 140 acres, well cultivated, stocked and
improved, with commodioiis residence, built about forty years ago. Mr.
Young is an active Eepublican, a good citizen, and one of the best in-
formed men in his township.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
JOHN W. ALEXANDER, farmer, was born in Putnam County, lud.,
March 4, 1830, and is the fifth child in a family of twelve children born
to William and Jane (Wallace) Alexander, the former of whom was a
native of the " Old Dominion," and the latter of East Tennessee. They
were of English and Irish decent respectively. William Alexander re-
ceived his early education in his native State. While yet a young man,
be removed with his parents to East Tennessee, where he was afterward
married, and engaged in agricultural pursuits for several years. From
Tennessee, he removed to Kentucky, and from thence, in about 1827, to
Putnam County, Ind., where he bought a partially improved farm, and
resided until about 1838. He then removed to that part of Morgan
County, Ind., which has since become Mill Creek Township, Putnam
County. Here, he farmed for several years; then opened a small country
store, and was engaged in merchandising until his death, which occurred
February 8, 1881, in his eighty-second year. From early life, until his
first wife's doath, which occurred in 1808, both were members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. After that event, he joined the Christian
Church. He was Justice of Peace in Putnam and Morgan Counties for
some thirty years. During this time, he was robbed of some $400, which
he afterward recovered, and sent the thief to penitentiary. John W.
Alexander, the subject, received only a limited common school education,
but has acquired a fair practical business education by his own exertions
since he became a man. He was employed on his father's farm until he
was twenty-one years old. He then farmed on shares in Putnam County,
Ind., for several years. In 1860, he bought a farm in Adams Township,
Morgan County Ind. , and has since been engaged in farming, threshing
and stock-dealing. He was for two years Trustee of Adams Township,
and has held various lesser offices. He was married, August 27, 1850, to
Miss Martha J. Patrick, a native of Putnam County, Ind. Twelve chil-
dren were the fruit of this union, nine of whom — five sons and four
daughters — are' yet living. He is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440,
A. F. & A. M., where he has held various official positions. Mrs. Alex-
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 295
ander is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr.
Alexander is a Democrat.
WILLIAM ANDERSON, wagon and carriage manufacturer, was born
in Johnson County, Ind., May 4, 1844, and is the youngest in a family of
seven children born to James and Mary (Coy) Anderson, both natives of
Kentucky, and of English descent. James Anderson was educated and
married in his native State. In 1828, he removed to Bartholomew County,
Ind., then almost a wilderness. Here he entered land and commenced
improving a farm, but remained only two years. In 1830, he removed to
Johnson County, Ind., where he entered 120 acres of land, and improved
a farm, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in Sep-
tember, 1865. Himself and wife were members of the Separate Baptist
Church. William Anderson, the subject, received a fair common school
education, and was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty-
one years old. He then farmed on shares for some four years, after which
he commenced to learn the carriage and wagon maker's trade, serving an
apprenticeship of three years, and has followed the trade ever since. In
the fall of 1881, he removed to Gosport, Owen County, Ind., and in the
following spring came to Eminence, iVforgan County, Ind., where he
opened a shop, and has since been doing a good business. He was
married, December 22, 1865, to Emarine N. Slack, a native of Johnson
County, Ind. Six children blessed their union, five of whom— two sons
and three daughters— are yet living. In politics, he is identified with the
National, or Greenback, party, and is one of the enterprising mechanics
and business men of the township and county.
THOMAS S. AREND, harness-maker, was born in Ashland Town-
ship, Morgan Co., Ind., April 5, 1857, and is a son of Christopher J. and
Rebecca F. (Russell), Arend, the former a native of Bavaria, Germany,
and the latter of Johnson County, Ind., but of English descent. Chris-
topher J. Arend received a good common school education in Bavaria.
At the age of fifteen, in 1846, he emigrated to the United States, accom-
plishing the journey alone. He first settled in Monmouth County, N. J.,
where he learned the tanner's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three
years. He then followed his trade as a journeyman for several years,
and in ]854 located at Martinsville, Ind., where he took charge of a
shop, receiving half the profits for conducting the business. Here he
was married, and resided for a short time. He then removed to Ashland
Township, same county, where he started a tannery, and is still engaged
in that business. Mrs. Arend departed this life May 18, 1883. She was
a member of the Christian Church, to which Mr. Arend also belongs.
Thomas S. Arend, the subject, received a fair common school education,
and taught for a time. At the age of twenty- three, he commenced to
learn the harness -maker's trade, and has followed that business ever
since, now owning a shop in Eminence, where he has a good trade. He
was married January 14, 1883, to Amanza J, Modrell, a native of Putnam
County, Ind. Mr. Arend is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 317,
I. O. O. F., of which lodge he is at present N. G. In politics, he is a
Republican.
COL. WILLIAM C. BANTA, M. D., was born in Hendricks
County, Ind., August 31, 1839, and is one of ten children born to Cor-
nelius and Rebecca (Eckles) Banta; both natives of Kentucky. The an-
cestors of the former were of Italian and Scotch extraction. Cornelius
Banta came to Madison County, Ind., at a date prior to the organization
296 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of the State. After a few years, he removed to what was known as the
Brick. Tavern, near Stilesville, Hendricks Co., Ind. His place was a
regular stopping place for stage-coaches over the old National pike, run-
ning between St. Louis and Cincinnati. In 1838, he removed to Belle-
ville, where he remained until 1850, when he removed to Whitley County,
Ind., where he bought a farm and resided two years; then returned to
Belleville, where he again engaged in mercantile pursuits and resided un-
til his death, which occurred in 1857. Mr. Banta and wife were mem-
bers of the Christian Church. William C. Banta, the subject, received a
good common school and academic education, and was employed in his
father's store until the latter's death, after which the support of the fam-
ily devolved upon him. When in his eighteenth year, he commenced
teaching school and studying medicine under the instruction of Drs.
Moor & Kennedy, of Belleville. In April, 1861, he resigned his school,
went to Indianapolis and enrolled in Company A, Seventh Indiana Vol-
unteer Infantry, the first Indiana regiment recruited for the three
months' service. They participated in the battle of Philippi. At the
close of the three months' service, in August, 1861, Col. Banta re-
organized and filled up his company, A, from seventy to one hundred
men, in a day. and night, for the three years' service, and was chosen
Captain. After about one year, he was promoted to Major, and soon after
to Lieutenant Colonel. The Colonel of the regiment, I.|,G. Grover, was-
captured in the battle of the Wilderness, after which Col. Banta com-
manded until the regiment was mustered out. He also, for a short time,
commanded the First Brigade, of the First Division, of the First Army
Corps. Col. Banta participated in all the principal battles in which the
Armies of West Virginia and the Potomac were engaged to the fall of
1864. In 1862, at the battle of Port Republic he was severely wounded
in the right shoulder by a shell, and was mustered out with his regiment
at Indianapolis, in September, 1864. He then engaged in the drug
trade at Belleville, Ind., and continued the same some five years; he also
resumed his medical studies. In the spring of 1870, he graduated from
"The Indiana Medical College," at Indianapolis, and in June of the
same year came to Eminence, Morgan Co., Ind., where he has since
practiced his profession with excellent success. He was married, August
25, 1861, to Elizabeth May, a native of Montgomery County, Ind.
Eight children, three sons and five daughters, blessed their union, all of
whom are yet living. The Doctor and wife are members of the Christiaa
Church. He is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities,
and has been a member of the Grand Lodge of the State in both orders.
In politics. Col. Banta is a stanch Republican, and is one of the leading
and representative men of the county.
JOSEPH BLUNK, stock-raiser and farmer, is the son of Goldsby
and Elizabeth (Pritchett) Blunk, the former a native of Indiana, the lat-
ter of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Virgin-
ian and a soldier of the Revolution. He was known as Aaron Blount,
which surname has been since changed to Blunk. Goldsby Blunk was
a farmer, but labored as a steamboatman on the Lower Mississippi River
for several years, and in 1827 married and began farming where our sub-
ject now resides, having entered eighty acres of timber. He cleared his
land, and was the first settler in that part of this township. He was an
expert hunter and marksman, a man of strong will, owner of 237^ acres,
and died February 4, 1857, aged fifty-eight. Mrs. Blunk died in 1871,
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 297
aged sixty- three years. They were parents of five sons and five daugh-
ters, and members of the Christian Church. Joseph Blunk was born
February 14, 1841. He received but a fraction of schooling, yet by
well-directed study he has obtained a fair education. When he was six-
teen years old, his father died, and he remained with his mother until
he was of age. April 10, 1862, he married Elizabeth Cown, a native of
Illinois, born November 9, 1840, which union gave being to nine chil-
dren, of whom six sons and two daughters are living. After marriage,
Mr. Blunk located near his present home, to which he removed in 1874.
This farm comprises fifty-three acres, valued at about |60 per acre,
is well improved and supplied with good stock, and the yield of his in-
dustry and care. Mr. Blunk is a progressive citizen, and he and wife
are members of the Christian Church.
HENRY BOURN, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Ray Township,
Morgan Co., Ind., January 29, 1837, and is the fourth child in a family
of ten children born to Elijah and Nancy (Alexander) Bourn, the former
a native of Jessamine County, Ky., and the latter of Owen County, Ind.,
where her father, Abner Alexander, was one of the earliest pioneers.
Our subject received a fair common school education, and was employed
on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then came
to Adams Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he bought the farm of 16Q
acres upon which he stilJ resides, adding to it until he has now some 400
acres, well improved, making one of the best farms in Adams Township.
He was married. September 23, 1858, to Miss Milla S. McGinnis, a na-
tive of Owen County, Ind. Seven children blessed this union, five of
whom, three sons and two daughters, are yet living. Mr. Bourn and
wife are consistent members of the Christian Church, in which he is and
has been for several years a Ruling Elder. Mr. Bourn is a stanch Re-
publican.
ELISHA A. BOURN, teacher and farmer, was born June 23, 1859,
and is a son of Henry Bovirn, of whose family he is the eldest. He was
reared to the hard but honest labor of a farmer's life, and attended school
considerably in early life, thus laying the foundation for a life of useful-
ness as an instructor of youth. Mr. Bourn also attended the State Nor-
mal School for a time in furtherance of his purpose, and has qualified
himself thoroughly. He has the happy faculty of imparting knowledge
to his pupils, and has been very successful, having taught seven school
years in succession, in alternation with farming, in which he is also en-
gaged, and also in raising the ordinary grades of stock. March 7, 1882,
he married Miss Clara E., daughter of James Wallace, and born in this
township February 27, 1862. To this union has been born one daughter
— Mamie E. Mr. Bourn is a practical farmer, an energetic and promis-
ing gentleman, and a Republican in political faith.
POWEL S. BRASIER, dentist, was born in Owen County, Ind,,
March 9, 1850, and is one of four living children born to Gideon and
Sarah (Jones) Brasiei% both natives of Kentucky, and of English, Welsh
and Irish descent. Oideon Brasier received no education in youth, there
being no school of any kind on the Indiana frontier at that time. He
-was employed on the home farm until twenty -one years old, then learned
the carpenter trade, and has followed the same part of the time ever
since. In early manhood, he followed flat-boating from Gosport to New
Orleans, having made nineteen trips. In March, 1865, he enlisted in
Company F, Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the
298 ■ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
following August. In the fall of 1865, he came to Eminence, Morgan
Co.. Ind., where he was engaged in the hotel business until March, 1883,
when he moved to New Winchester, Hendricks Co., Ind., where he now
resides. He was married February 3, 1840. Mr. Brasier and wife are
members of the Baptist Church. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat,
and is one of the pioneers of Morgan County. Powel S. Brasier, our
subject, received a fair common school education. At the age of four-
teen, he went to learn the harness- maker's trade, afterward learning the
carpenter trade and dentist profession, which latter he is still following
at Eminen\?e, Ind. He has had some eight years' experience in the fruit
tree business, and intends to resume that occupation in a short time. He
also clerked for a time in both a dry goods and drug store. Mr. Brasier
is yet unmarried; is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A.
M. In politics, he is a Democrat.
ATLAS BRAY, fai-mer and stock-raiser, was born in Chatham Coun-
ty. N. C, July 7, 1826, and, is the second child of seven sons and three
daughters born to James and Sarah (Edwards) Bray, the former a native
of North Carolina, born 1796, the latter of the same State, born 1802.
James Bray was a farmer, who located in Hendricks County, Ind., about
1834; farmed on rented land; then removed to this county, where he se-
cured land. This he afterward sold and went to Missouri about 1853,
and to Kansas in 1869, where he now enjoys a retired life. Mrs. Bray
is also living, aged eighty-two years. They are long-established mem-
bers of the Baptist Church. Atlas Bray remained at home until he was
of age, when he worked at farming in jobs at 37 cents per day. Not-
withstanding this poor labor, he was enabled after a time to purchase
forty acres of timber land, which he set about to clear and improve; af-
terward sold the same and purchased 280 acres in Iowa, and finally ex-
changed for the farm on which he now resides, combining 153 acres. He
likewise possesses a good farm in Monroe Township. In July, 1849, he
maiTied Emily Craven, by which union were born to them seven chil-
dren— John F. (deceased), Enos, Mary, Sarah, Clara, Oscar and Luther.
Mr. Bray has been a successful farmer and is a worthy citizen. He and
family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAINEES K. BURGESS, druggist, was born in Putnam County, Ind.,
October 12. 1844, and is the third child in a family of seven children
born to Dawson and Catherine (Holbert) Burgess, natives of Kentucky,
the former of German and the latter of Irish descent. Dawson Burgess
received his early education in his native State. While yet a young man,
he removed to Putnam County, Ind. Here he bought 100 acres of wild
land, and improved a farm, upon which he resided until December, 1868,
when he removed to Stilesville, Hendricks Co., Ind., where his death
occurred August 12, 1878, in his sixty- fourth year. James K. Burgess,
the subject of our sketch, received a fair common school education, and
was employed on the home farm until he was twenty years old. In Octo-
ber, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, Forty-third Indiana Volunteer In-
fantry, and served with that regiment in all its marches and engagements
until the close of the war. being mustered out at Indianapolis in June,
1865. After his return from the army, he farmed the home place on
shares, and ran a threshing machine for three years. He then removed
to Hendricks County, Ind., near Stilesville, where he remained one year,
then returned to Putnam County, and engaged in agricultural pursuits
until March, 1880. He then came to Eminence, Morgan Co., Ind., where
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 299
he has since been engaged in the drag trade. He was married, October
14, 1869, to Elizabeth Dobbs, a native of Putnam County, Ind. Two
daughters have blessed their union, viz., Dora and Claudia. In politics,
Mr. Burgess is a Democrat.
STEPHEN H. CHENOVVBTH, blacksmith, and Justice of the Peace,
was born in what is now Ashland Township, Morgan Co., Ind., July 8,
1837, and is a son of Ephraim B. and Mariah (Risinger) Chenoweth, the
former a native of the "Old Dominion," and the latter of Kentucky.
They were both of German descent. When three years old, Ephraim B.
Chenoweth removed with his parents to Jefferson County, Ky., where his
early education was received, and where he was afterward married. Here
he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and followed the same for several
years. Later, he engaged in agricultural pui'suits. In 1835, he came
with his wife and family to what is now Ashland Township, Morgan Co.,
Ind., where he entered 160 acres of wild land, and improved a farm, to
which he added until he was the owner of a farm of 240 acres. In
1855, he sold this farm, and bought another in Adams Township, same
county, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 8, 1875,
in his seventieth year. He was for several years one of the Township
Trustees under the old constitution. He was a member of the Christian,
Mrs. Chenoweth of the Baptist Church. Stephen H. Chenoweth, the
subject, received a limited education in the primitive schools of the
Indiana frontier, and was employed on his father's farm until he was
twenty-one years. Ho then farmed on shares until the spring of 1862,
when he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
He served with that regiment until the close of the war, being mustered
out at Richmond, Va., in May, 1865. He then farmed for two years,
when he commenced blacksmithing at Eminence, Ind. , and has followed
that business ever since. He has been three times elected Justice of the
Peace, but only qualilied once. He is now holding that office. He was
married, in 1859, to Bena M. Gray, a native of Ashland Township, Mor-
gan Co. , Ind. Seven children blessed their union, only two of whom,
one son and one daughter, are now living. Both himself and wife are
members of the Christian Church. He is also a member of Eminence
Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M., and of the O. A. R. In the former
order he is a Past Master. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is one of
the early settlers of the township and county.
DAVID A. CURTIS (deceased) was born in Randolph County, N. C,
September 17, 1§06, and was the eldest of the two sons and one daughter
of Jesse W. and Judy Curtis, natives of North Carolina and of Eaglish
extraction. Our subject was reared to farming with but little education.
He married, after becoming of age, Miss Tabitha Staler, who proved a
faithful spouse for fifty-six years. In 1837, Mr. Curtis moved to this
State and located on Government land, where he built a cabin and pro-
ceeded to found a home, in which, after some years of discouragement
and toil, he succeeded. On the morning of February 24, 1883, he arose
well, ate a usual breakfast, and died peacefully soon after, his wife and
daughter supposing him to be asleep. He was an industrious and suc-
cessful man, and at one period owned 1,750 acres. He was the father of
fourteen children, eleven of whom lived to maturity. He was an upright
man and honored citizen, a Democrat in politics, and a Patron of Hus-
bandry. Mrs. Curtis yet survives, aged seventy-six. Mr. Curtis was a
300 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Curtis now adheres to the
same denomination.
Emezire D. Curtis, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in this town-
ship July 27, 1839, a son of D. A. Curtis. He was practiced in
industry, and kept at home until he was twenty-one years old, when he
began the labor of life where he is now living, his father having given
him eighty acres as a beginning, on which he has built a good residence,
and also variously improved his farm, as well as adding thereto 140
acres, now a desirable home and valuable estate. He is now raising the
better grades of sheep, being well supplied with stock, which he feeds
from his own grain. In 1867, he married Miss Rachel Mosier, with an
issue of seven sons. He is a Democrat, and has held several township
offices. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are members of the Christian Church.
CALVIN CURTIS, farmer and stock- raiser, is a native of Randolph
County, N. C, was born April 26, 1828, and is the eldest of the family.
He was nine years of age when his father moved to this county, whom
he assisted to make a home in the wilds of nature. When twenty- four
years old, he located on eighty acres of timber land, from which he made
his present home, having lived in a cabin until 1865, at which time he
built a good house. The farm comprises 220 acres, 160 of which are in
full cultivation; he also possesses a forty-acre tract in Gregg Township.
March 24, 1852, he married Miss Rosie York, who died two years later,
leaving one daughter — Martha. November, 1857, he wedded Miss Eu-
phemia Johnson, who also left the world, March 22, 1879, leaving four
children — David A. M., Lieudary A., Daniel andLaurena. Mr. Curtis is a
practical farmer, an industrious man and good citizen; he raises a high
breed of geese and turkeys, Plymouth Rocks, Light Brahmas, Cxolden
Spangle chickens, etc. Mr. Curtis has been a prominent hunter, and is
an expert rifle-shot.
WESLEY CURTIS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Randolph
County, N. C, was born September 26, 1830, and is the second son of
David A. Curtis. He was reared by his father, a fax'mer; received almost
no education, and early began to do for himself. As an aid, he received
eighty acres of timber land, on which he toiled while living at home
until 1857, at which period he married Miss Elizabeth Jones, of Bar-
tholomew County, and shortly after located on his own land. He soon
built a house, which was biu-ned. in 1872, and has now one of the b.est
two-story brick houses in the township, having as well cleared and estab-
lished a desirable farm, which comprises 320 acres, besides sixty acres
in Jasper County, 111., and some town property. He is a practical
farmer, and has a fair supply of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. After
the decease of his wife, who left two sons and one daughter — Margaret
E., Francis M. and George W. — Mr. Curtis wedded Miss Jane Carman,
an orphan of this county. Mr. Curtis is a liberal and well-intentioned
citizen, a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the
Christian Church. Mr. Curtis has made a property valued at $30,000,
and has in all a yearly income of $3,000.
SOLOMON DORSETT, farmer, was born in Chatham County, N. C,
February 2t, 1832, and is a son of Duty and Rachel (Edwards) Dorsett,
natives of North Carolina. The former was of German and the latter of
English descent. Duty Dorsett, was a farmer by occupation, and also
followed vai'ious mechanical pursuits. In the fall of 1840, he came
with his family to what is now Mill Creek Township, Putnam County,
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 301
Ind. Here he bought a farm, upon which he resided until his death,
which occurred in November, 1844. Both himself and wife were mem-
bers of the Baptist Church. He was a soldier during the war of 1812.
Solomon Dorsett, the subject, received only a very limited education in
the schools of the Indiana frontier. After attaining to manhood, how-
ever, he acquired by his own exertions a good practical education, and
taught subscription and public schools during the fall and winter for
seventeen years. He was employed on the home farm until he was
twenty-one years old. He then farmed on shares for five years, after
which he bought a partially improved farm of forty acres in Adams
Township, Morgan County, Ind., to which he afterward added 150
acres. On this farm he resided until the fall of 1872, when he came to
Eminence, same township, and engaged in the general mercantile trade,
continuing in that business some sixteen months. He then bought a resi-
dence in Eminence and a farm of 130 acres adjoining the village. Here
he has ever since resided, and has been mainly engaged in agricultural
pursuits. His dwelling burned in January, 1879, which he replaced by
one of the best brick residences in the township or county. Mr. Dorsett
has also been engaged in the local practice of law for the past fifteen
years, and is now Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Adams Township.
He was alpo Trustee of Adams Township for thirteen years, and in 1864
was a candidate for County Treasurer. He was married, March 8, 1853,
to Sylvania C. Marley, a native of Kandolph County, N. C. To this
union were born eight children, only two of whom, both daughters, are
still living. Mrs. Dorsett died April 21, 1874. She was a member of
the Christian Church. Mr. Dorsett was next married October 1, 1874,
to Martha W. Parker, a native of Putnam County, Ind. Four children,
two sons and two daughters, have blessed their union. Both Mr. Dor-
sett and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of
Blue Lodge and Chapter in the Masonic fraternity, being a charter mem-
ber, and Post Master of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, F. & A. M. In politics,
he is a Democrat, and is one of the prominent citizens of the township
and county.
THOMAS FELKINS, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Garrard
County, Ky. , and is the youngest of the family of eight born to William
and Jane (Williams) Felkins, natives respectively of Virginia and Ken-
tucky, and of Irish extraction. The paternal grandfather of our subject,
John Felkins, was a Revolutionary soldier, and was once taken prisoner
by the British. William Felkins was a soldier of the war of 1812, after
which he located in Kentucky, married, and farmed until 1852. when he
moved to Arkansas and died in 18G9, aged seventy-two. He was a Dem-
ocrat, and a member of the Christian Church. Thomas Felkins was born
November, 1825, and left motherless when eight years of age. and
remained at home until he was nineteen, when he faced the world on his
own account, and came to this county with $2.50 in cash and one horse.
He made h's home with his brother, and worked at farming on shares for
some time. September, 1850, he married Miss Martha Wheeler, of this
county, but a native of Kentucky, which union gave birth to eight chil-
dren, of which number three sons and three daughters survive. After
marriage, Mr. Felkins lived in a log cabiu on land he had previously en-
tered, and afterward took charge of his father-in-law's farm, where he
lived until 1858, at which period he purchased 132 acres known as the
"Old Joe Rhodes" farm. This he has improved and added to until he
302 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
DOW owns 218 acres under good cultivation and well stocked. Mr. and
Mrs. Felkins are members of the Christian Church.
SAMUEL G. GASH, farmer, was born in Lincoln County, Ky., Jan-
uary 3, 1828, and is the eldest of live children born to Thomas and Eliza
(Wilson) Gash, natives of Kentucky, and of Scotch and Irish descent re
spectively. Thomas Gash was educated and married in his native State,
where in early life he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed the
same, in connection with farming, all his life. He and his wife were
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The death of Mrs.
Eliza Gash occurred March 6, 1835, and that of Mr. Gash October 5,
1840. Samuel G. Gash, the subject, received a fair common school edu-
cation. After his father's death, he made his home with his uncle, David
R. Wilson, until he attained to his majority, with whom, during that
time, he learned the blacksmith's trade. After leaving his uncle, he was
employed as a laborer on a farm for some four years. He then farmed
on shares in Kentucky for one year, after which, in the fall of 1853, he
came with his wife and family to Adams Township, Morgan Co., Ind.,
where he bought a partially improved farm of forty acres, upon which
he still resides and to which he has added another forty acres. In 1846,
he enlisted for service in the war with Mexico, but was never engaged in
active service. He was married, August 7, 1852, to Miss Margaret S.
Reid, a native of Jefferson County, Ky., and a daughter of John and
Esther (Gilliland) Reid, who were among the early pioneers of Jefferson
County, Ky. One son has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gash, viz.,
John T. Mr. Gash was at one time Adjutant in the Kentucky militia,
and for a time carried the mail from Eminence to Quincy. Himself and
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are earnest
advocates of the temperance cause. In politics, he is a Democrat.
ELERSON GENTRY, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Hen-
dricks County, Ind. ; was born January 19, 1833, and is the eldest son of
Garland and Susan (Stringer) Gentry, natives of Kentucky, and of English
extraction. The grandparents of our subject were natives of Virginia,
lived in Kentucky, and removed to and farmed in Indiana. Garland
Gentry moved from Kentucky to this State about 1831, thence to this
township, and subsequently to Texas, Arkansas, and again to Indiana,
where he now lives in retirement, aged seventy-seven years. He is a
Democrat, a member of the Christian Church. Was twice married, and
is the father of three children by the first and nine by the second mar-
riage. Elerson Gentry was reared a farmer by his father, whom he
accompanied to Texas and Arkansas; resided in Missouri four years;
returned to Hendricks County, Ind., and thence to this county. When
twenty-one years of age, he left his father's house to struggle for him-
self, and worked for three years by the month; then leased land for sev-
eral years; finally purchased eighty acres of his father-in-law's estate,
and now owns, in addition, eighty acres west of Mud Creek. December
29, 1855, he married Miss Mary M. Smith, of this county, born February
2, 1838. This union produced six childi'en — Theresa A., Franklin A.,
Susan A., William A., Mary Etta and Thomas A. Mr. Gentry is a Free-
mason and a Democrat, and he and wife are worthy members of the
Christian Church.
HARRISON GENTRY, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Adams
Township, Morgan County, Ind., September 28, 1846, and is the fourth
in a family of ten children born to Barry M. and Elizabeth J. (Ludlow)
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 303
Gentry, both of whom were born near Lexington, Ky., and were of
English and German descent respectively. When but live or six years
old, in about 1825, Bary M. Gentry came with his parents to what is now
Hendricks County, Ind., then a part of Morgan County. Here his father
entered 160 acres of land, and improved a farm, upon which young Barry
passed his early life. He received such an education as could be
obtained at the subscription schools of that frontier settlement. He was
married at the age of eighteen, and soon after commenced for himself,
and farmed on shares for several years. In about 1850, he came to
Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind., where he bought eighty acres of
wild land, and to which he has added, now owning a well-improved
farm of some 230 acres. In June, 1871, he removed to Stilesville, Hen-
dricks County, Ind., where he has since been engaged in the dry goods
trade. He was one of the Commissioners of Morgan County for some
sixteen years, and has held various township offices. Mr. G. acd wife
are members of the Christian Church. He cast his first vote for William
H. Harrison, but, since 1856, has been identified with the Republican
party. Harrison Gentry, the subject, received a fair common school
education, and was employed un the old homestead until he was twenty -
one years old. He then farmed on shares for some ten years, after which
he bought a farm of sixty acres in Adams Township, Morgan County,
upon which he still resides. The farm is well improved. He was mar-
ried, November 10, 1870, to Miss Eliza J. Hubble, a native of Hendricks
County, Ind. Two children, one son and one daughter, have blessed
their union — Clara M. and Conard. In politics, Mr. Gentry is a stanch
Republican.
DAVID H. GOSS, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in what is now
Davie County, N. C, May 28, 1819, and is the sixth in a family of nine
children born to Daniel and Martha (Ingram) Goss, the former of whom
was a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of North Carolina. They
were of German and Welsh descent respectively. When a lad, Daniel
Goss removed with his parents to North Carolina, where he received a
fair German education, and where he was afterward married, and en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits for a time. In the spring of 1821, he
emigrated with his wife and family to Owen County, Ind., and settled
near Gosport, where he entered some 700 acres of wild land, erected a
log house and improved a farm, to which he added some 200 acres, and
upon which he resided until his death, which occurred February 14,
1834, in about his fiftieth year. Both himself and wife were members
of the Christian Church. Mrs. Martha Goss departed this life in Feb-
ruary, 1835. David H. Goss, the subject, received his education at the
subscription schools of the Indiana frontier. After the death of his par-
ents, he lived with his guardian, Abner Alexander, until he was married,
which was in his twentieth year. He then farmed on shares for one
year, after which he moved on to 160 acres of the old homestead in Owen
County, Ind., which had been willed to him by his father. To this he
afterward added other lands, and here he resided until January, 1880,
when he sold the old farm and bought another in Adams Township,
where he now resides. He was first married, August 20, 1838, to Miss
Marietta Johns, a native of Morgan County, Ind. To this union were
born three children, two of whom, both sons, are yet living. Mrs. Goss
died May 17, 1843. She was a member of the Christian Church. Mr.
Goss was next married, May 3, 1844, to Miss Zerilda E. Littell, a native
304 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of Clarke County, Ind. Eight children blessed their union, five of whom,
three sons and two daughters, are yet living. Both himself and wife are
members of the Christian Church. He is also a member of Eminence
Lodge, No. 440, A. F. & A. M. ; Gosport Chapter, R. A. ]M. , and of the
Council at Gosport of R. & S. M. Mrs. Goss is a member of the Order
of the Eastern Star, and of the W. C. T. A. In politics, Mr. Goss is
identified with the National or Greenback party. He is also an earnest
advocate of the temperance cause, having been fi'om early manhood a
member of the old Washingtonian society.
DANIEL N. HOLMES, merchant, was born in Decatur County, Ind.,
June 10, 1831, and is the fourth child in a family of five children born
to Jacob and Frances (Stogsdale) Holmes, natives of Kentucky and of
Irish descent. In early life, Jacob Holmes emigrated to Decatur County,
Ind. , where he was educated and married, and was engaged in agricult-
ural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1840. Himself and
wife were members of the Baptist Church. Daniel N. Holmes, the sub-
ject, received a limited common school education. He has since, however,
acquired a fair practical business education by his own exertions. At
the age of thirteen, he went to learn the blacksmith's trade, and served
an apprenticeship of some six years in Decatur, Shelby and Johnson
Counties, Ind. In 1856, he came to Eminence, Ind., where he followed
his trade for some thirteen or fourteen years. He then bought a farm in
Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind., and was engaged in agricultural
pm-suits and the stock trade until the spring of 1879, when he rented the
farm and returned to Eminence. Here he opened a general store, and
has been successfully engaged in merchandising ever since. He was
first married in February, 1857, to Martha A. Fidler, a native of Ken-
tucky. To this union were born eight children, six of whom, five sons
and one daughter, are yet living. Mrs. Martha A. died May 27, 1877.
She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Holmes was next mar-
ried, July 4, 1878, to Miss Mariah H, Smith, a native of Indiana. In
politics, Mr. H. is a Republican.
ELIAS HUBBARD, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Guilford
County, N. C, October 23, 1813, and is a son of George and Nancy
(Shield) Hubbard, natives respectively of Virginia and Maryland. The
paternal grandfather of our subject was a Revolutionary soldier. George
Hubbard was a soldier of the war of 1812, and by occupation a farmer.
In 1822, he moved to Wayne County, Ind., purchasing eighty acres, and
entering eighty of timber, on which he made a good home for his family
and endured the privations of a pioneer. He died in 1867, aged
eighty-one, and his wife one year later, at the same age. They were
upright and honored people. Elias Hubbard was reared a farmer, and
in 1828 moved to this county, and after a time began life in earnest.
October 18, 1839, he married Miss Margaret J. Gray, a native of Indiana,
whose parents were pioneers of Clarke County. To this union were be-
stowed, of whom survive, Mary J., Marilda, Malinda, Margaret, Abigail,
David W., Mahala and Anna. In 1846, Mr. Hubbard purchased forty
acres of his present home, and after many struggles and hardships has
succeeded in making a comfortable property. He is a stanch Republican,
and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, merchant aad farmer, is the second son
in the family of Hezekiah and Eliza (Green) Johnson, natives of North
Carolina. Hezekiah Johnson was a farmer, married in his native State,
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 305
and emigrated to this county; entered land in this township, erected a
cabin of logs, and resided until 1867, when he moved to Clayton and
embarked in mercantile business, in which he continued with his son
Elhanon until his death, in 1870, at the age of sixty-one. He was once
a Whig, later a Republican, an honored citizen, and about 1840 was
licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, but later joined
the Christian Church, and previous to his death held a large revival at
Mount Tabor. Mrs. Johnson was a Methodist, and died in 1872. Will-
iam H. Johnson was born in this township November 12, 1835, and
named after President Harrison. He is a natural mechanic, and when
but a boy made from seven to nine flour barrels a day. He remained
under his parents' care until his thirtieth year, looking after the home
farm. March 29, 1859, he married Mary Shoemaker, with an issue of
five children — Eliza J., William S., John Edmund, Hezekiah and Miran-
da F. After marriage, Mr. Johnson managed his father's homestead for
a time, and afterward purchased a 11,200 stock of merchandise at La-
Clair, and three years later removed to Lake Valley. He carries a select-
ed and full stock of goods, and is a very popular dealer. March, 1877,
he was made Postmaster at Lake Valley. He has invented a grain tally
and other valuable devices. He is a Kepublican, a Freemason, and he
and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
MILO D. LITTELL, farmer, was born in Clarke County, Ind. , June
29, 1816, and is the fifth child in a family of eleven children born to
Abraham and Elizabeth (Van Buskirk) Littell, the former a native of
Fayette County, Penn. , and the latter of Ohio. They were of English-
Scotch and Holland-English descent respectively. When but a lad thir-
teen years old, in 1799, Abraham Littell emigrated with his parents to
the Northwest Territory. In that year, his father, Absalom Littell, who
was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, settled on Silver Creek, Clarke's
Grant, in what is now Clarke County, Ind. Here young Abraham
received his early education, and learned the blacksmith's trade, which
he followed in connection with farming all his life. He was also married
in Clarke County, where he owned a farm which he afterward lost in con-
sequence of a defective title. In 1819, he emigrated to Monroe County,
Ind., where he entered eighty acres of land and commenced to improve a
farm. In 1822, he sold this place, and moved to Owen County, Ind.,
where he again entered land and improved a farm, upon which he resided
until about 1860, when he left the farm and moved to Alaska, where his
death occurred March 8, 1862. He was Justice of the Peace in Owen
County for three terms, and Township Trustee for a like period. He en-
listed during the war of 1812, but was not in active service. Both him-
self and wife were members of the Christian Church. He was also an
earnest advocate of the temperance cause, being a member of the old
Washingtonian Society. Milo D. Littell, the subject, received such an
education as could be obtained at the rude log schoolhouses of the Hoosier
frontier settlements, and was employed on his father's farm until he was
thirty-four years old. During this time, and for some three years after
he left home, he followed flat-boating down the White, Wabash, Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. He was also a successful hunter.
In 1845, he entered 120 acres of land in Adams and Ashland Townships,
Morgan County, Ind.. and improved the farm upon which he still resides,
and to which he added until he was the owner of a well -improved farm
of 184 acres, a part of which he has since deeded to his children. He
306 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
was married, September 11, 1853, to Martha Donaldson, a native of Jeffer-
son County, Ky. Seven children blessed their union, six of whom, five
sons and one daughter, are yet living. Mr. Littell and wife are mem-
bers of the Christian Church. In polities, he is independent, but is an
earnest advocate of the temperance cause.
W. H. H. McCLOUD, farmer, is a native of Hendricks County,
Ind., was born February 14, 1841, and is the fourth of the ten children
born to George W. and Eunice (Bray) McCloud, natives respectively of
Virginia and North Carolina. Our subject was reared a farmer's boy,
with but slender opportunities for education, and was thrown on his own
efforts at the age of sixteen, whereupon he worked as an engineer, and
also drove cattle for several years. In 1861, he enlisted in Company A.,
Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, which formed for a time part of the
Army of the Ohio, and was afterward transferred to the Army of the
Cumberland. His first experience as a soldier was at the battle of
"Wild Cat, then at Richmond (when he was detailed in the artillery),
Thompson's Station, Resaca, Marietta, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree
Creek, and was discharged September, 1864. March 9, 1865, he married
Miss Mary Appleby, a union by which they became parents of eight
children, three daughters and five sons. After marriage, Mr. McCloud
engaged in farming, and continued until March, 1879, when he moved
to this county, where he has since resided. Mr. McCloud was one of the
first to use the thresher, and has continued the same for sixteen years;
he has also a portable saw-mill, and his whole machine outfit is valued
at $2,000. He is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R.
JOHN W. MAHORNEY, M. D., was born in Hendricks County,
Ind., January 13, 1857, and is the only living child born to Morgan D.
and Julia A. S. (Reese) Mahorney, the former a native of Kentucky and
the latter of Hendricks County, Ind., and both of Irish descent. Mor-
gan D. Mahorney received his early education in his native State, but
when a lad of thirteen summers removed with his parents to Hendricks
County, Ind. At the age of fifteen, he left home and was employed as a
laborer on a railway for some three years, after which he worked on a
farm for some three years longer. At the age of twenty-one, he was mar-
ried, after which he farmed on shares until 1859, when he bought a farm
in Franklin Township, Hendricks Co., Ind., upon which he still re-
sides. John W. Mahorney, the subject of our sketch, received a good
common school education. His mothei- died when he was only five years
old, after which he made his home with an uncle for four years,
when his father was again married and he returned home, remain-
ing until he was twenty-one years old. In the spring of 1878, he com-
menced the study of medicine with Dr. J. N. Green, of Stilesville, Hen-
dricks Co., Ind., and graduated from the Medical College of Indiana, at
Indianapolis, in March, 1883. In the following April, he located at
Little Point, Morgan Co., Ind., where he now resides, and is rapidly
building up a lucrative practice, and is regarded as one the rising young
physicians of the county. He was married, October 24, 1883, to Miss
Mary E. Smith, a native of Morgan County, Ind. Dr. Mahorney and
wife are members of the church — he of the Regular Baptist and ahe of the
Christian. In politics, the Doctor is a liberal Republican.
JOHN R. MANNAN, general merchant, was born in Owen County,
Ind., January 16, 1859, and is a son of William C. and Margaret E.
(Carter) Mannan, the former a native of Morgan and the latter of Owen
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 307
County, Ind. Both were of English, Irish and German descent. William
C. Mannan received a good education at the common schools of his na-
tive county, and also attended Asbury University, of Greencastle, Ind.,
for a time. At the age of nineteen, he left home; followed various pur-
suits for some seven years. He was married in 1856, and soon after
bought wild land in Ashland Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he
improved tlie farm upon which he still resides. He is a member of the
Baptist Church and of the Patrons of Husbandry. John R. Mannan,
the subject of our sketch, received a good common school education, and
was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty cue years old.
He then taught school during the fall and winter in his native county
for three years, being employed on a farm during the summer season.
He clerked in a general store at Eminence for one year. In March, 1883,
he bought this store in company with Mrs. H. H. Nicholas. Mr. Man-
nan was married, September 7, 1880, to Laura M. Nicholas, a native of
Clay County, Ind. Two sons have blessed their union. Mr. Mannan is
a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 317, I. O. O. F., of which lodge he
is at present V. G. In politics, he is a Democrat.
MICHAEL E. MILLER, proprietor of Eureka Flouring Mills, was
born in Botetourt County, Va., February 10, 1824, and is a son of John
and Elizabeth (Vinyard] Miller, both natives of the " Old Dominion,"
and of German descent. John Miller was educated aud married in his
native State, where in early life he learned the tanner's trade, and fol
lowed the same for several years. In 1830, he came with his wife and
family to Morgan County, Ind., and opened a tannery near where the
village of Brooklyn is now situate, and remained some ten years. He
then removed to Hendricks County, Ind., and started a tannery near
Belleville, where he resided until his death, which occurred in February,
1876. Both himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He was a soldier during the war of 1812. In 1822, he came
to Indianapolis, then only a small village, on a prospecting tour. The
State was then almost an unbroken wilderness; there being no roads, they
were obliged to make their way by the blazed lines of the Government
surveys. Both the grandfathers of our subject were veterans of the
Revolutionary war. Michael E. Miller, our subject, received such an
education as could be obtained in the schools of the Indiana frontier.
He learned the tanner's trade with his father, and followed the same in
Hendricks County, Ind., for more than twenty years. In 1872, he en-
gaged in the saw and planing mill business at Eminence, Morgan Co.,
Ind. , which he followed until the fall of 1883, when he bought a half-
interest in the Eureka Flouring Mills at same place. He still owns,
however, the saw and planing mill. He was married, August 25, 1849,
to Jane Cox, a native of Hendricks County, Ind. Six children were
born to them, five of whom — two sons and three daughters — are yet liv-
ing. Mr. Miller was for many years a member of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, but at present belongs to no church. Mrs. Miller and daugh-
ters are members of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Miller is a
Democrat, and has been for many years an earnest advocate of the tem-
perance cause.
JOHN T. MILES, blacksmith, was born in Orange County, N. C,
August 13, 1849; is a son of James W. and Nancy N. (Squires) Miles,
both born in North Carolina, and were of German and Irish descent.
James W. Miles was educated and married in his native State; he, in
508 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
-early life, learned the wagon-maker's trade, also followed agricultural
pursuits and undertaker's business in connection with the same for many
years. In the fall of 1868, he came with his family to Monroe Town-
ship, Morgan Co., Ind., where he remained for one year; then moved to
Orange County, Ind. , and remained some four or five years, after which
he returned to Gregg Township, Morgan Co., Ind., residing there until
his death, which occurred in the fall of 1879, in his sixty-seventh year.
John T. Miles, our' subject, received a fair common school education.
At the age of seventeen, he came to Hendricks County, Ind., and com-
menced to learn the blacksmith's trade, following the same in Missouri and
Indiana ever since. In 1873, he removed to Hall, and in December,
1881, came to Eminence, Morgan Co., Ind., where he now resides. Mr.
Miles was married, February 11, 1877, to Martha A. Mannan, a native
of Owen County, Ind. Four children bless their union, three of whom,
one son and two daughters, are yet living. Mrs. Miles is a member of
the Christian Church. Mr. Miles is a member of Eminence Lodge, No.
440, A. , F. & A. M. , having been a member of that order for the past
fourteen years. In politics, he is a Democrat.
THOMAS MILLS, farmer, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Atril 8,
1838, and is the sixth in a family of seven children born to William and
•Catherine (Strawn) Mills, natives of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and of
Scotch-English and German descent respectively. William Mills was
educated and married in his native county. Soon after his marriage, he
removed to Carroll County, Ohio, where he was engaged in agricultural
pursuits for several years. In 1841, he removed to Putman County, Ohio,
where he bought 120 acres of wild land, which he improved and lived
upon until his death in April, 1846. Mrs. Catherine Mills departed this
life in March, 1856. She was a member of the Christian Church.
Thomas Mills, the subject of our sketch, received a fair common school
education, and was employed on the old homestead in Ohio until he was
fourteen years old, when the family removed to Gilboa, Putnam County,
Ohio. In 1856, he removed to Cataract Falls, Owen County, Ind., where
lie was employed in a floui'ing mill for some four years. In August,
1862, he enlisted in Company B, Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteer In-
fantry, and was mustered out with the same at Washington, D. C, in
June, 1865. He participated in the battles at Vicksburg and Jackson,
■campaigns in Mississippi, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mount-
ain, and on return march of Sherman's famous raid to the sea. He
was three times wounded — first at Jackson, Miss., severely by a cannon
ball in the right side; second, June 15, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain,
slightly in the right hand; third, June 27, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain,
severely in the left thigh. From the first and third he has not and
never will fully recover. After his return from the army he bought a
small farm in Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind. , where he remained
about one year; then removed to Putnam County, Ind., where he resided
another year. In the spring of 1868, he returned to Adams Township,
Morgan County, Ind., and bought a partially improved farm of some
200 acres, upon which he still resides. He was married, October 23,
1860, to Miss Amanda E. Williams, a native of Green Township, Mor-
gan County, Ind., and a daughter of Louis and Mary (Cultion) Williams,
who were among the early pioneers of Morgan County. To Mr. and
Mrs. Mills have been left six children, two sons and four daughters. Mr.
Mills is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M. In
politics, he is a stanch Republican.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 309
CYRUS E. NICHOLAS (deceased), was born in Hendricks County,
Ind., March 5, 1836, and was the third child in a family of eight chil-
dren born to John and Parmelia (Huff) Nicholas, the former of whom
wa3 a native of Kentucky, and the latter of New York. They were of
Scotch-Irish and French descent respectively. When a lad of some sev-
en or eight summers, the parents of John Nicholas removed to Owen
County, Ind. Here his father's death soon afterward occurred, in about
1815. His early education was extremely limited. Afterward, however,
by his own exertions and the assistance of his wife, he acquired a fair
practical education. From Owen County, while yet a single man, he
came to Monroe Township, Morgan County, Ind., where he entered land
and improved a farm. From thence he removed to Heudricks County,
and afterward to Pulaski County, Ind. In the spring of 1868, he re-
turned to Morgan County, Ind., settling at Eminence, where he was en-
gaged in the general mercantile trade until his death, which occurred in
March, 1870, in his sixty-third year. Himself and wife were members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which church he was for some forty
years a local preacher. Mrs. Parmelia is yet living, and resides at Emi-
nence, being now in her eighty-first year. Our subject. Cyrus E. Nich-
olas, received a fair common school education, and was employed on the
home farm until he was twenty- one years old. He then learned the
brick-mason's trade, which he followed for a number of years. In 1866,
he engaged in the general mercantile trade at Eminence, Ind., and con-
tinued the same until his death, which occurred June 7, 1882. He was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the I. O. O. F. Feb-
ruary 6, 1859, he was united in marriage with Hester H. Rhea, a native
of Washington County, Va., and a daughter of George G. and Dorcas
(Lowrey) Rhea (a sketch of whom will be found in this volume). Hes-
ter H. received a good common school education. She is and ha sbeen
through life an extensive and careful reader, being well informed on all
the current topics of the time, the current literature of the day as well as
ancient and modern history. Since her husband's death, she has con-
tinued his business, that of general merchandising, at Eminence, being
now in partnership with her son-in-law, Mr. John R. Mannan. She is
a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Chui'ch, and has been
blessed with a family of three children, two of whom, both daughters,
are yet living.
LEVI OGLES, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Adams Town
ship, Morgan County, Ind., June 17, 1843, and is the youngest of the
ten children born to James and Hannah (Salliers) Ogles, the former of
whom was a native of Tennessee, and the latter of the Old Dominion.
They were of German and English descent respectively. James Ogles
was educated and first married in his native State, removing from thence
to Washington County, Va., where he lost his wife, and was again mar-
ried to the mother of our subject. In 1829, he came to Adams Township,
Morgan County, Ind., entered eighty acres of land and improved the
farm upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in February,
1865, in his seventy-fifth year. To his first purchase he added until he
was the owner of some 280 acres. In politics, he was a Whig, until
1856, after which he was identified with the Republican party. Mrs."
Hannah Ogles is yet living, and resides with her son Ira, in Adams
Township, being now in her eighty-fourth year. Levi Ogles, the sub-
ject of our sketch, received only a limited common school education, and
310 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
«
was employed on the home farm until he attained his majority, when his
father deeded him a farm of eighty acres, near the old homestead, to
which he has added aoother eighty, and upon which he still resides. In
addition to farming, Mr. Ogles is also quite extensively engaged in stock-
raising, and gives special attention to the breeding of Norman horses.
He was married, May -4, 1865, to Miss Margaret E. Summers, a native of
Jefferson County, Ky. Five sons have blessed their union, viz.: George
W., James G., John L., Orlando E. and Orie D. In politics, Mr. Ogles
is a Democrat.
MARTIN PARKER, merchant, was born in Adams Township, Mor-
gan County, Ind., October 3, 1834; is the eldest of ten children born to
William H. and Barthenia P. (Dobbs) Parker, the former a native of
East Tennessee, and the latter of Kentucky. They were of English and
Scotch-Irish descent respectively. William H. Parker emigrated with
his parents from Tennessee to Putnam County, Ind., when only ^fourteen
years old, in 1827. From thence they came, after about one year, to
what is now Adams Township, ^Morgan County, Ind. Here the
father of William H. entered eighty acres of wild land, and with the help
of his son and only heir improved a farm. This place William H. inher-
ited at his father's death, and to it he added until he was the owner of
a well-improved farm of some 400 acres. In this county he was also
married. In 1846 or 1847, he engaged in the general mercantile trade,
in connection with farming, and continued the same at Mount Washing-
ton and Eminence for some twenty-five or twenty-six years. He was one
of the Township Trustees, under the old constitution, for several terms,
and was also Postmaster. He was one of the men who helped to grub
the right of way of the old National Plank Road, through the present vil-
lage of Stilesville. Himself and wife were members of the Baptist Church.
His death occurred in September, 1875, and that of Mrs. Parker in Sep-
tember of the previous year. Martin Parker, the subject, received an
education in the subscription schools of the Indiana frontier. He re-
mained on the home farm until he was twenty years old. He then took
a lease of twenty acres, which he cleared and upon which he remained
one year. After this he moved onto a partially improved farm of forty
acres belonging to his wife, where he remained another year. He then
farmed the home place on shares for one year. After this he farmed on
shares in Putnam County for four years. In the spring of 1861, he
moved onto 113 acres of wild land in Adams Township, Morgan County,
Ind. Here he improved a farm, which he still owns, and here he resided
until the fall of 1878, when he rented the farm and came to Eminence,
where he owns valuable residence property, and also owns the best two-
story brick business building in the place, in which he intends opening a
general store in the spring of 1884. Mr. Parker was married, May 21,
1854, to Margaret E. Meek, a native of Morgan County, Ind. Ten chil-
dren blessed their union, of whom only two sons are now living. Mr.
Parker is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M. In
politics, he is a member of the Greenback or National party, and is one
of the earliest pioneers of the township and county.
NOAH N. PATRICK, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Putnam
County, Ind., October 25, 1835, and is the sixth child in a family of
eleven children born to Gabriel and Keziah (Williams) Patrick, a sketch
of whom will be found in this volume. Our subject received only a very
limited education, but by his own exertions, since he became a man, has
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 311
acquired a fair business education. He was employed on his father's
farm until he was twenty years old, after which he farmed a part of the
home place on shares for some seven years. In September, 18G2, he
enlisted in Company B, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
served with that regiment until the close of the war, being mustered out
at WashingtoQ, D. C, in June, 1865. Ho participated with his regiment
in the battles of Corinth, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, the Atlanta cam-
paign and Sherman's' march to the sea, and many other lesser engage-
ments. After his return from the army, he was employed in agricultural
pursuits and the stock trade in Morgan County for several years. He
was then employed as a salesman in a general store at Eminence for
some two years, after which he returned to his farm in Adams Township,
Fame county, remaining until the spring of 1884. when he sold the farm
and came to Eminence, where he now lives. He has been for the past
five or six years Assessor of Adams Township. He was married, Decem-
ber 6, 1855, to Pheba A. AUee, a native of what is now Mill Creek Town-
ship, Putnam Co. , Ind. Three children, two sons and one daughter,
were the fruit of this union. Mr. Patrick and wife are members of the
Baptist Church. He is also a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A.,
F. & A. M., in which lodge he has tilled every station and is a Past
Master. He is also a member of Gosport Chapter, R. A. M. tn politics,
he is a Democrat.
ENOCH A. PATRICK, carpenter, was born in Putnam County, Ind.,
August 14, 1837, and is the seventh child in a family of eleven children
born to Gabriel and Keziah (Williams) Patrick, the former of whom was
a native of Virginia, and the latter of Bath County, Ky. They were of
English and Irish descent, respectively. Gabriel Patrick received a good
common school and academic education in Bath County, Ky., where he
married, and soon afterward, in 1826, removed to Putnam County, Ind.,
where he had the year before entered forty acres of wild land near
Greencastle, erected a rude log cabin, and improved a farm. To this he
afterward added forty acres, and erected one of the first brick dwellings
in Putnam County. In 1837, he sold this farm and bought another of
160 acres, in the southeast part of the same county, where he resided
until 1847. He then came to Adams Township, Morgan Co., Ind., and
bought a farm of 211 acres, upon which he resided until his death, which
occurred in May, 1864, in his sixtieth year. Mr. Patrick was also a
veteran teacher, having taught for more tban twenty consecutive winters.
He and wife were members of the Baptist Church. Enoch A. Patrick,
the subject, received a limited common school education. At the age of
eighteen, he went to learn the carpenter's trade, which, after serving an
apprenticeship of one year, he followed for another year. He then en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits for about six years, when he resumed the
carpenter's trade. In 1873, he was employed as a salesman in a general
store at Eminence. After about one year, he bought an interest in the
store, continuing therein until in January, 1881, when he sold out, and
was engaged in the saw mill business for two years. He then resumed
the carpenter's trade, and is still so employed. In March, 1876, he lost
both his store and dwelling house by fire, sustaining a loss of $3,000. In
1878, he erected a two story brick store building at Eminence, which he
still owns. He was married, January 8, 1857, to Elizabeth A. Leonard,
a native of Putnam County, Ind. Eleven children have been born to
them, only five of whom, three sons and two daughters, are now living.
312 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Mr. Patrick and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is also a
member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M., in which lodge he
was the first man raised, and of which lodge he is a Past Master. He is
also a member of Gosport Chapter, R. A. M. In politics, he is a Dem-
ocrat, and is one of the old and representative citizens of the township
and county.
WILLIAM A. POTTORFF, M. D., druggist, was born in Jefierson
County, Ky., August 20, 1839, and is a son of Simeon and Eliza A.
(McKewen) Pottorfif, both natives of Jeflferson County, Ky. The former
was of German and the latter of Irish descent. Simeon Pottorff was
educated and married in his native State, where in early life he was
employed at the carding business in a woolen factory, at Jefferson,
Ky. ; afterward he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and continued the
same until the spring of 1877, when he came to Eminence, Morgan
County Ind., and made his home with his son, our subject, until his
death, which occurred March 23, 1878, in his eightieth year. Both him-
self and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he hav-
ing been a member for more than seventy years. William A. Pottorff,
the subject, received a good common school education in his native
State, and was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty-one
years old. He then went to Southern Kentucky, where he was engaged
in teaching for two years, and afterward, for a short time, was employed
as salesman in a general store. In the spring of 1864, he commenced the
study of medicine, in Jefferson, Ky., with Dr. M. L. Cooper, and gradu-
ated from the Medical Department of the Louisville University in the
spring of 1867. He then commenced the practice of his profession in
his native county, where he remained some three years. In January,
1871, he came to Eminence, Morgan County, Ind., where he has since
practiced his profession with excellent success. In June, 1883, he
bought a drug store at Eminence, and is now conducting that business in
connection with his profession. The Doctor was married, February 15,
1870, to Mary E. Butler, a native of Louisville, Ky. Four children, two
sons and two daughters, have blessed this union, all of whom are yet
living. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The Doctor is also a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A.,
F. & A. M. In politics, he is a Democrat, aiid is one of the leading and
prominent citizens of the township and county.
DANIEL PRUITT, farmer, brick-maker and brick-layer, was born
in Oldham County, Ky., December 3, 1823, and is the third child in a
family of eleven children born to Eli and Nancy (Williams) Pruitt, the
former of whom was a native of North Carolina and the latter of Wash-
ington County, Ky. They were of German and English decent respect-
ively. When but a lad of some four summers, in 1795, Eli Pruitt emi-
grated with his parents from North Carolina to Kentucky, which was
then almost an unbroken wilderness. They settled near the present site
of Lexington, where his father. Bright Pruitt, bought some 600 acres
of military lands, which he lost in consequence of a defective title.
Afterward he entered 400 acres in what is now Oldham County, Ky. ,
where still later he built and operated a distillery until 1830, when he
came to Gregg Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he resided until his
death. Young Eli received a very fair education at the rude log school-
houses of the Kentucky frontier, and learned the cooper's trade with his
father, which he followed for a number of years. At the age of twenty-
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 313-
seven he was married, soon after which he bought a farm in Oldham
County, Ky., and was engaged in agricultural pursuits in connection
with his trade until the fall of 1835, when he came with his family to
Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind. , entered and bought 743
acres of wild land, and improved a farm upon which he resided
until his death, which occurred March 28, 1868, in his seventy- seventh
year. He was an enrolling officer in Kentucky during the war of 1812,
and Township Trustee for one term after he came to Indiana. Himself
and wife were members of the Christian Church. In politics, he was
identified with the Democratic party, and was one of the pioneers of
Morgan County. Daniel Pruitt, the subject, received a fair common school
education, and was employed on the home farm until he was twenty-one
years old. He then went to Mooresville, where he remained one year,
and learned the brick-making and brick-mason's trades, which he fol-
lowed in connection with farming for some thirty-five years. In 1846,
his father deeded him forty acres of wild land in Adams Township, Morgan
Co., Ind., to which he added, now owning a well- improved farm of 113
acres, upon which he resides. He was married, December 29, 1846, to
Elizabeth Arnold, a native of Harrison Couaty, Ind., and a daughter of
Richard and Lovina (Potts) Arnold, who were among the early settlers
of Morgan County. To Mr. and Mrs. Pruitt have been born eleven
children, ten of whom, four sons and six daughters, are yet living.
Both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church. In politics,
he is a stanch Democrat.
REV. ELI PRUITT, farmer and stock- raiser, is the eldest son of James
and Polly (Wilhite) Pruitt, natives respectively of South Carolina and Vir-
ginia. James Pruitt was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was in the
battle of New Orleans. He moved to Kentucky, there married, and farmed
until 1832-33, when he came to this county, and located on land he had
previously entered. He built a cabin, but lost his health the first year,
and died with consumption in 1846, upward pf sixty years old. He was
possessor of nearly 1.000 acres, was a Democrat and an upright citizen.
Mrs. Pruitt afterward lived with our subject until her decease in 1866,
being sixty-six years old. Eli Pruitt was born in Oldham Couaty, Ky. ,
August 19, 1820, was reared to honest farm toil, and is largely self-edu-
cated. When he was twenty-two years old, he located where he now re-
sides, having, however, previously entered forty acres adjoining, and
beginning with but a horse and a cow, his outfit being of the most primi-
tive kind. Being an expert with the ax, he soon accumulated, by industry
and care, a farm consisting of 200 acres. September 29, 1842, he mar-
ried Miss Barbara M. Kivett, a native of North Carolina, by which union
were produced two sons and four daughters, of whom are living John
M., Belinda A., Paulina J. and Sarah M. Mr. Pruitt has been a leader
in society, and is a licensed minister of the Christian Church; he has
held several large revivals, made many ba])tisoQs and solemnized a num-
ber of marriages. His conduct proves his professions, and he is greatly
esteemed.
JOSEPH W. RHEA, farmer and attorney, was born in Washington
County, Va., December 28, 1825. and is one of ten children born to
George G. and Dorcas (Lowrey) Rhea, a sketch of whom will be found
elsewhere in this volume. Joseph W. Rhea, the subject of our sketch,
received a good common school education in youth, and was employed on
his father's farm until he was seventeen years old. He then attended an
314 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
academy in Washington County, Va., for three years, after which he
taught in Virginia for six months. In the fall of 1847, he removed to
Jefferson County, Ky., where he taught continuously for five years, near
Louisville. In the fall of 1852, he came to Adams Township, Morgan
County, Ind., where he built the first dwelling house on the site of the
present village of Eminence, which was laid out the following year.
Here he was engaged in general merchandising for two years, when he
sold the store and went to East Tennessee to visit his father, whom he
brought with him on his return to this township and county. In the
spring of 1855, he moved onto a partially improved farm of ninety-five
acres, one-half mile north of Eminence, where he has since resided. To
this farm he has added till he now owns some 500 acres. Soon after he
came to Adams Township, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which
office he held continuously for thirteen years. He purchased a law li-
brary and commenced the study of law, which profession he has practiced
since with excellent success. He was regularly admitted to the bar in
1874. He also taught school nearly every winter from 1855 to 1879.
He was first married in March, 1852, to Sirrintha A. Odair, a native of
Jefferson County, Ky. To this union were born three children, two sons
and one danghtert Mrs. Rhea died in May, 1864. She was a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Rhea was next married in
December, 18G4, to Elizabeth Shoemaker, a native of this township and
county. Two children — one son and one daughter — blessed their union.
In politics, Mr. Hhea is a Democrat. In 1872, he was a candidate for
the Lower House of the State Legislature. Mr. Rhea is one of the pioneers
and prominent citizens of the county. The grandsire of our subject was
one of several brothers, who emigrated from Ireland to the United States,
all of whom then spelled their names Ray, but he, our subject's grand-
father, became acquainted with a certain school teacher, who advised him
to change the spelling of the name to Rhea, which he did, and so his
descendants have spelled it ever since; but the other brothers and their
descendants still spell the name Ray.
JOHN L. RHEA, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Washington
County, Va., February 15. 1837, and is the sixth in a family of ten chil-
dren born to George G. and Dorcas (Lowrey) Rhea. Our subject re-
ceived a fair English education at the common and high schools of
Tennessee and Indiana. He was employed on his father's farm until
eighteen years of age, when he went to learn the carpenter's trade, and
followed the same until the breaking-out of the late civil war. In Oc-
tober, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and served with that regiment in all its marches and engage-
ments until, in March, 1865, when he was discharged at Indianapolis,
his term of service having expired. He participated in the capture of
Island No. 10, the siege and battle of Corinth, the battles of the
Jackson and Vioksburg campaign, Missionary Ridge and many other
lesser engagements. After his return from the army, he followed his
trade for some five or six years. He then bought a farm of 140 acres,
adjoining Eminence on tbe east, where he was engaged in farming and
the stock trade until 1871. He then sold this farm and bought another
of 160 acres, in same township, one mile west of Eminence, where he is
still engaged in the same business. He was first married in 1861, to
Miss Nancy Walters, a native of Morgan County, Ind. Two children
were the fruit of this union, only one of whom, viz., Hattie L., is now
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 315
living. Mrs. Nancy died November 3, 1865. She was a member of the
Baptist Church. Mr. Rhea was next married, December 17, 1869, to
Miss Nancy J. Mugg, a native of Owen County, Ind. Three children —
one son and two daughters — have blessed their union. Both Mr. Rhea
and wife are members of the church, he of the Methodist Episcopal and
she of the Baptist. He is also a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440,
A., F. & A. M., of which lodge he is a charter member, and was its first
Master. In politics, he is a stanch Republican.
WILLIAM C. RHEA, attorney, was born in Washington County,
Va. , September 24, 1845, and is a son of George G. and Dorcas (Low-
rev) Rhea, both natives of the " Old Dominion. " They wei*e of Irish
and Scotch-Irish descent respectively. George G. Rbea removed to Jef-
ferson County, East Tenn., in 1848, where he purchased a farm and re-
sided until 1854. He came to Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind.,
where he bought a farm upon which he resided until his death, which oc-
curred March 29, 1864. He and wife were members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Although reared in a slave State, Mr. Rhea was from
his youth an Abolitionist and an ardent advocate of the cause of liberty.
William C. Rhea, the subject, received a fair education at the common
schools, and also attended Asbury University for one year. After this,
he taught in this (Morgan) and Johnson Counties for some twelve years
during the fall and winter. During this time, he also commenced the
study of law. In 1874, he engaged in general merchandising at Emi-
nance, Morgan Co., Ind., and also practiced his profession. In Febru-
ary, 1883, he sold out his store, and has since been exclusively engaged
in the practice of his profession. He was Justice of the Peace in Adams
Township from 1878 to 1882. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Com-
pany D, Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, first commanded by
Gen. Benjamin Harrison. He served with his regiment in all engage-
ments until the close of the war, being mustered out with his regiment
at Washington, D. C, in May, 1865. He was married, June 15, 1875,
to Frances A. Watson, a native of Morgan County, Ind. Two daughters
have blessed this union, viz., Elma M. and Mary Y. Mr. Rhea is a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal, and Mrs. Rhea of the Baptist Church.
He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics, he is a Dem-
ocrat, and is one of the old and prominent citizens of the township and
county.
JOSEPH C. RHEA, Postmaster and merchant, was born in Wash-
ington County, Va., May 6, 1838, and is the fourth child in a family of
ten children born to Robert H. and Frances G. (Dungan) Rhea, both na-
tives of the "Old Dominion," and of Irish descent. Robert H. Rhea
was educated and married in his native State, where in early life he
learned the millwright's trade, which he followed in connection with ag-
ricultural pursuits all his life. He owned a farm in both Washington
and Smith Counties, Va., and at one time was the owner of three flour-
ing mills. His death occurred in Washington County, Va., June 27,
1855, in his fifty-fifth year. He was for many years Adjutant General
of the Virginia militia, and he and wife were life-long members of the
Methodist Church. Joseph C. Rhea, the subject, received an excellent com-
mon school and academic education in youth, and also attended Emory and
Henry College, of Washington County, Va. , for a time. At the age of
sixteen, he commenced teaching, and taught three years in his native
State. In the spring of 1861, he fled, a refugee, from Virginia to Emi-
20
316 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
nence, Morgan Co., Ind., where he taught for one term, and then, Octo-
ber 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and served with that regiment in all its marches and engage-
ments until September, 1862, when he was discharged on account of dis-
ability. He was First Sergeant of his company for a time, and was after-
ward company Clerk. In August, 1863, here-enlisted in Company D, One
Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with
that regiment in all its marches and engagements until March 25, 1864,
when he was mustered out at Indianapolis. In this company he also served
as First or Orderly Sergeant. After his return from the army, he again
engaged in teaching, and taught for seventeen winters, being employed
at the carpenter's trade in the summer season. In March, 1883, he en-
gaged in the general mercantile trade at Eminence, and is still so en-
gaged. At the same time, March, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster at
Eminence, and is now holding that office. From 1874 to 1876 inclusive,
he served as Commissioner of Morgan County, Ind. He was married,
September 21, 1865, to Margaret A. Ogles, a native of Adams Township,
Morgan County, Ind. Mr. Rhea is a member of the Methodist Episco-
pal, and Mrs. Ehea of the Baptist Church. He is also a member of Em-
inence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A.M., and of Eminence Lodge, No. 317,
I. O. O. F. In the latter order, he has passed all the chairs, and is now
D. D. G. M. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, and is one of the
leading and prominent citizens of the township and county.
JAMES H. RHEA, carpenter, was born in Smith County, Va., No-
vember 23, 1842, and is the sixth child in a family of ten children born
to Robert H. and Frances G. (Dungan) Rhea. He received only a very
limited education in yoiath, but has since by his own exertions acquired
a fair practical business education. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Com-
pany H, Thirty -seventh Virginia Volunteer Infantry, the regiment being
assigned to Gen. R. E. Lee's army of North Virginia, and to the com-
mand of the famous Gen. " Stonewall" Jackson, until the latter's death.
He served with his regiment in all its marches and engagements until
the battle of Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 1864, when he was taken
prisoner and confined at Fort Delaware until March 22, 1865, when,
through the influence of friends and the recommendation of Gov. Mor-
ton, he was released. He participated in the battles of Petersbui'g, Fred-
ericksburg, the Wildnerness, Spottsylvania, and many other engagements.
After being released from Fort Delaware, he came to Eminence, Morgan
Co., Ind., where he immediately learned the carpenter's trade, and has
followed the same ever since. He landed at Eminence with only $2 in
money, and no property of any description, but by industry and economy
has since amassed a handsome property. He was married, September 9.
1866, to Miss Sarah J. Sligar, a native of Owen County, Ind. Six chil-
dren blessed their union, five of whom, four sons and one daughter, are
yet living. Both Mr. Rhea and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He is also a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 317,
I. O. O. F., in which lodge he has passed all the chairs, and is now a
member of the Grand Lodge of the State. In politics, he is a Demo-
crat, and is one of the enterprising mechanics and prominent citizens of
the township and county.
JAMES G. RYAN, farmer, was born in Mercer County, Ky., Octo-
ber 11, 1836, and is the fifth child in a family of eight children born to
Patrick D. and Permelia A. (Grayham) Ryan, the former a native of the
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 317
"Old Doninion," and the latter of Kentucky. They were of Irish and
English descent respectively. Patrick D. Eyan received his education
in his native State. In early life, he removed with his parents to Ken-
tucky, where he was afterward married, and where for twenty years he
followed teaming, from Louisville to various points in Kentucky, Ten-
nessee and Virginia. He then engaged in agricultural pursuit?, and fol-
lowed the same in Oldham and Jefferson Counties, Ky., until his death,
which occurred June 4, 1852. James G. Ryan, the subject, received an
ordinary education in the common schools of Kentucky and Indiana.
In November, 1852, the family came to A.dams Township, Morgan Co.,
Ind. , where they rented a farm and engaged in agricultural pui'suits.
Our subject remained at home until he was nineteen years old, after
which he was employed as a laborer on a farm for some three years. In
July, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-tirst Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, afterward known as the First Indiana Heavy Ai'tillery. He
served with that regiment in all its marches and engagements until
April, 1862, when he was discharged by reason of disabilities at Ship
Island. October 23, 1863, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and
Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, recruited for the six months'
service, and served until the expiration of their term of service, being
mustered out with the regiment in April, 1864. October 25, 1864, he
again enlisted in Company H, Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
and served with that regiment in all its marches and engagements until
the close of the war, being mustered out with the regiment at Dalton,
Ga., June 23, 1865. After his return from the army he engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits, and has been so employed ever since in Adams Town-
ship, Morgan County, with the exception of two years, from 1867 to
1869, when he resided in Illinois. For the past three or four years, he
has been employed part of the time at blacksmithing. He was married,
July 17, 1859, to Marticia Surber, a native of Adams Township, Morgan
Co., Ind. One daughter has blessed their union — Luena G. In politics,
he is a Republican.
WILLIAM A. RYAN, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Campbell
County, Tenn., September 26, 1825, and is the second child in a family
of six children born to John and Elizabeth (Dag ley) Ryan, both of whom
were natives of Tennessee, and were of Irish and Holland descent re-
spectively. John Ryan was educated and married in his native Tennes-
see, where he was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits. In
the spring of 1833, he sold the farm in Tennessee, and, with his wife
and family, started for Indiana, but died on the way at New Albany,
where he was buried, and where he had resided some eighteen months.
He was a member of no church, but belonged to the Masonic fraternity.
After Mr. Ryan's death, in August, 1835, the family removed to Owen
County, Ind., where they were engaged in farming for some four or live
years. They then came to Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind. Here
the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Ryan occurred October 3, 1849, in her forty-
fifth year. From early life she was a devoted and consistent member of
the Missionary Baptist Church. William A. Ryan, the subject of our
sketch, received sucli an education as could be obtained at the subscrip-
tion schools taught in the primitive log schooihouses of the Indiana
frontier. He was employed at home with his moth er until twenty-three
years old. He then settled on a partially improv ed farm in Adamg
Township, Morgan County, w hich had been deeded him and wife by his
318 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
father-in-law. He also entered and bought wild land in what is now
Ashland Township, same county, which he improved and subsequently
sold. In 1870, he bought a partially improved farm half mile north of
Eminence, in A.dams Township, Morgan County, upon which he now re-
sides, which is one of the best improved farms in the township. He
continued to add to his real possessions until he was the owner of some
840 acres of well-improved land, a part of which he has since deeded to
his children. He was married, October 29, 1848, to Miss Louisa J.
Walters, a native of Owen County, Ind. Nine children blessed their
union, eight of whom — four sons and four daughters — are yet living. Mrs.
Louisa J. Ryan departed this life October 22, 1883. She was and had
been from childhood a devoted and consistent member of the Missionary
Baptist Church. Mr. Ryan also is and has been from early life a mem-
ber of the same church, having been a Deacon in the same for many
years. He is also a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 317, I. O. O. F.,
in which lodge he has passed all the chairs, being a member of the
Grand Lodge of the State. In politics, he is a Republican, and is one
of the early settlers, prominent farmers, and respected citizens of the
township and county.
ADAM R. SHAKE, farmer, was born in Jefferson County, Ky., April
25, 1821, and is the youngest in a family of five children born to George
and Cristiann (Donaldson) Shake, natives of Jefferson County, Ky., and
of German and Scotch descent respectively. George Shake was educated
and married in his native State, where he owned a small farm, and was
■engaged in agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1835, when he came
with his family to Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind. B!ere he en-
tered and bought 400 acres of wild land and improved a farm, upon
which he resided until his death, which occurred in 1848, in his iifty-
sixth year. Mr. S. was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and his wife of the Baptist Church. He was also a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity. Adam R. Shake, the subject, received only a limited
common school education, and was employed on his father's farm until
he was twenty-oue years old. His father then deeded him 160 acres of
wild land adjoining the old homestead, which he improved and upon
which he still resides, having 240 acres, upon which is the best sugar
orchard in the township. Mr. Shake was married, January 7, 1841, to
Miss Martha B. Whitaker, a native of Shelby County, Ky. Nine chil-
dren blessed their union, six of whom — two sons and four daughters — are
yet living. Mr. Shake and wife are devoted members of the Christian
Church. He is also a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A.
M., of which lodge he is a Past Master. In politics, he is a Republican.
LEONARD B. SHAW (deceased farmer and stock dealer) was
born in Ohio, June 18, 1832, and was the eldest in a family of
eight children born to Upton and Susan (Branam) Shaw, the for-
mer a native of the "Old Dominion" and the latter of Ohio, and of
English and German descent respectively. Upton Shaw received his
early education in his native State. When only a lad, he removed with
his parents to Ohio, where he was married. In about 1840, he, with his
wife and family, went to Putnam County, Ind., where he bought wild
land and improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death, which
occurred in 1875. Mrs. Susan Shaw is yet living and resides on the old
homestead in Putnam County. She is and has been from early life a
devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Leonard B. Shaw,
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 319
the subject, received a fair common school education in youth in Ohio
and Indiana. When but a small boy, his parents removed to Putnam
County, Ind., where he was afterward married, and where he was en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits for a time. After this he resided in Mor-
gan and Hendricks Counties, Ind., and in Douglas County, 111., for a
time, where he was employed at farming. He then returned to Morgan
County, Ind,, remaining only a few months. He then moved to Stilesville,
Hendricks County, where he was engaged in the milling business for
some three years and afterward at farming in the same county, In the
spring of 1869, he came to Adams Township, Morgan County, where he
bought a partially improved farm of eighty acres, to which he added
until he became the owner of 500 acres of well-improved land, upon
which he resided until his death, which occurred August 26, 1880. He
was Postmaster at Little Point for some two or three years. He was
married, March 27, 1855, to Amanda J. Wallace, a native of Tennessee.
Eight children blessed their union, five of whom are still living, viz.:
Mary E., James B., William A., Elijah U. and Amber E. Mrs. Amanda
J. Shaw still resides on the old homestead, and with her three of the
children, viz.: James B., who was born May 3, 1857; Elijah U., born
August 8, 1861, and Amber E., born May 23, 1866. James B. has
recently started in a religious life, but has not as yet identified himself
with any church. He is also a member of Morgan Lodge, No. 211, I. O.
O. F. William A. Shaw was born December 16, 1858, and was married
January 5, 1882, to Miss Mary A. Ryan, a native of Morgan County, Ind. ;
one son — an infant not named — has blessed their union. Mrs. Mary'
A. is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Shaw, also, has recently
started in the Christian life, but has not as yet identified himself with
the church. The Shaw family have been and are among the early set-
tlers and prominent citizens of Morgan County. In politics, they are
identified with the Democratic party.
ELLISON SLIGAR, cabinet-maker and undertaker, was born in
Bullitt County, Ky., October 11, 1822, and is the youngest of ten chil-
dren born to David and Margaret (Stafibrd) Sligar, both of whom were
natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and Scotch descent respectively.
David Sligar was edacated and married in his native State. In about
1797, he emigrated to Bullitt County, Ky., then an unbroken wilderness.
Himself and wife, with several other families, came down the Ohio River
in flat-boats from Pittsburgh, landing at the present site of Louisville, Ky.,
which then contained only a few log cabins. He proceeded immediately
to Bullitt County, where he entered 263 acres of land, which he was
obliged to pay for twice in consequence of a defective title. Here he
improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred
January 4, 1832, in his seventy-fifth year. Ellison Sligar, the subject
of our sketch, received such an education as could be obtained at the
primitive log schoolhouses of the Kentucky frontier. After his father's
death, he resided with his brother Thomas until he was seventeen years old.
He then went to learn the carpenter's and cabinet-maker's trades, serving
an apprenticeship of three years, and has followed one or both of these
trades ever since. In 1843, he removed to Gosport, Owen County, Ind.,
where he resided two years; thence to Adams Township, Morgan County,
Ind., and settled near the present site of Eminence, where he still
resides. He erected the first two buildings in the village of Eminence.
In 1851, he bought wild land and has since improved the farm where he
320 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
now lives, and for the last twenty-five years has been engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits in connection with his trade. He was for a time
one of the Trustees of Adams Township under the old constitution.
He was married March 25, 1844, to Margaret Gilliland, a native of
Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Stogdal) Gilli-
land, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States in 1793.
They were lifelong members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The
former died in 1825, in his sixty-sixth year, and the latter in 1869, in her
one hundred and second year. To our subject and wife have been born
one daughter, viz. , Sarah J., now Mrs. James H. Rhea. Mr. and Mr's.
Sligar are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a
member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M., of which lodge he
has been Chaplain for some ten years. In politics, he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM H. SMITH, farmer, and Justice of the Peace, was born in
Hendricks County Ind., March 22, 1843, and is the fifth in a family
of nine children born to Hackney and Rebecca T. (Duty) Smith, natives .
of North Carolina. Our subject received only a very limited education,
but by his own exertions since he attained to manhood's estate, has ac-
quired a fair practical business education. He is an extensive reader,
being well informed in general history and the current literature of the
times. His father died when he was fourteen years old, and he remained
on the old homestead with his mother until he was seventeen, after which
he was employed as a laborer on a farm until in Augu.st, 1861. He then
enlisted in Company A, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
served with that regiment until the close of the war, being mustered out
at Louisville, Ky., in August, 1865. He was twice slightly wounded.
At Thompson's Station, Tenn., March 5, 1863, the brigade to which he
belonged was captured, but after about one month was exchanged. He
participated in the battles of Resaca, Dallas Woods, Culp's Farm, Ken-
esaw Mountain, all the battles of the Atlanta campaign and the march
with Sherman to the sea. After his return from the army, he came to
Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind., where he has ever since resided
and been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He bought the farm where
he now lives in 1872. He is now serving his second term as Justice of
the Peace, and has held various other township offices. He was married,
July 29, 1866, to Juliet E. Shake, a native of Morgan County, Ind.
Seven children blessed their union, six of whom, two sons and four
daughters, are yet living. Mr. Smith and wife are members of the Chris-
tian Church, and are earnest advocates of the temperance cause. In pol-
itics, Mr. Smith is a Republican.
ALFRED M. SMITH, teacher, was born in Adams Township, Mor-
gan County, Ind., November 24, 1851, and is a son of Hackney and
Rebecca T. (Duty) Smith, both natives of North Carolina, and of En-
glish descent. Hackney Smith was educated and married in his native
State, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the fall of
1838. He then removed with his wife and family to Hendricks County,
Ind., and settled near Belleville, where he farmed on shares for some five
years. In 1843, he came to Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind.,
entered a tract of land and improved a farm, upon which he resided un-
til his death, which occurred in 1855. Both himself and wife were
members of the Baptist Church. Alfred M. Smith, the subject, received
a'good common school and academic education. His mother died in
1860, but he remained on the home farm with his sister until 1866, after
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 321
which he made his home with Solomon Dorsett until the fall of 1871.
He then commenced teaching, and has taught during the fall and winter
ever since, being employed as a salesman or at farming in the summer.
He was married, in December, 1874, to Nellie J. Ogles, a native of Mor-
gan County, Ind. Three children blessed their union, only one of whom,
Lena F., is now living. Mrs. Smith died in October, 1880. She was a
member of the Baptist Church, of which church, Mr. Smith is also a
member. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities.
In politics, he is a Democrat, and is one of the enterprising and respected
citizens of the township and county.
JOSEPH J. SMITH, farmer, was born in Chatham County, N. C,
April 8, 1818, and is one of the family of Jonathan and Martha (Hack-
neyj Smith, also natives of North Carolina. The grandparents of our
subject were Quakers and natives of Pennsylvania, who soon after the
Revolutionary war joined a Friends' colony in North Carolina. Jona-
than Smith was born February 22, 1783, was reared a farmer and had a
good education, afterward becoming a teacher. He was also a Major of
cavalry in the war of 1812. In 1837, he settled near Monrovia in this
State, soon after locating on the farm where our subject now resides.
He was married in 1807, was a Baptist, a Whig, and died October 24,
1859, his wife February 19, 1867, aged seventy-five. Joseph J. Smith
was reared by his parents, received a fair education, and worked as a farm
hand for several years. He came to this township in 1840 and took
charge of the homestead, March 2, 1854, he married Nancy J. Bray,
by which marriage he became the parent of three living sons and
four living daughters. Except an absence of four years, Mr. Smith has
resided where he now is, on a farm of 80J acres, solely acquired by him-
self. He raised the first barn in the township, and used the first thresh-
er and the first separator here operated. He is an active Republican,
and has served as Justice twenty- four and as Constable four years. He
has likewise held many township offices. He is a public-spirited citizen,
and was a member of the Central Committee from 1844 to 1874, Mr.
and Mrs. Smith are members of the Friends' Society.
ELI AS R. SMITH, farmer, is a native of Chatham County, N. C,
was born June 7, 1834, being the second of three sons born to George
and Celia (Paschal) Smith, both natives of North Carolina, and respect-
ively of English and Scotch descent. George Smith was a soldier of
the war of 1812, and by occupation a farmer. His father, David Smith,
was a soldier of 1776 and a Quaker. George Smith was Secretary of a
Quaker colony, and died in 1857. He was a Whig and an Abolitionist.
His wife closed her life in 1846, a consistent Baptist. Elias R. Smith
was reared a farmer, obtained but little education except what is self-
acquired, and when of age reached out for himself. He took charge of
his father's business when said father passed away. In 1858, he came
to this county, mainly because of his anti-slavery predilections, and
farmed on rented land. In 1863, he located where he has since resided,
his farm now embracing 138 acres of well-improved land. March 1,
1863, he married Mary, daughter of John and Polly McCollum, a union
rich in the birth of nine children — Mary E., John E., William L., Celia
A., Minnie B., Roxanna P., Effie J., Ellen S. and Florence L. Mr.
Smith is a stanch Republican, a member of the great order of Masonry
and a Patron of Husbandry. His youngest brother was a soldier of the
ebellion, and perished in the service. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members
of the Christian Church.
322 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
GEOKGE T. SUMMEES, farmer, was born in Jefferson County,
Ky., July 27, 1843, and is the second child and eldest son in a family of
nine children born to George G. and Diana (Gilliland) Summers, both
of whom were natives of Kentucky and of Irish descent. George G.
Summers was educated and married in his native State, where he was en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1852, when he came to Adams Town-
ship, Morgan County, and bought 200 acres of wild land and improved
a farm. In 1876, he left the old home farm, which he afterward divid-
ed among his children, and removed to Eminence, where he resided un-
til his death, which occurred December 24, 1883, in his sixty-fourth year.
He was enlisted and mustered for the war with Mexico, but was dis-
charged before going into active service. He was educated in the Cath-
olic faith, but belonged to no church. For many years he was a member
of the Masonic fraternity. George T. Summers, the subject, received a
fair common school education, and also attended commercial college at
Indianapolis. He was employed on his father's farm until he was twen-
ty years old. In October, 1863, he enlisted in Company D, One Hun-
dred and Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, recruited for the six
months' service, and was mustered out with same in April, 1864. After
his return from the army, he engaged in the live stock trade, mainly
horses and cattle, for a number of years. He also taught for three win-
ters, and was employed for a time as a salesman in a notion store at In-
dianapolis, and still later as a salesman in a general store at Eminence.
He is at present engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was married, Sep-
tember 15, 1870, to Sarah F. Mosier, a native of Morgan County, Ind.
To this union were born three sons, all of whom are living. Mrs. S. died
in April, 1881. Mr. Summers was next married, February 1, 1883, to
Mrs. Elizabeth E. (Voshell) Miller, a native of Morgan County, Ind.
Mrs. Summers is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr.
Summers is a Democrat, and is one of the early settlers and enterprising
citizens of the township and county.
JAMES S. SUMMEES, farmer, was born in Jefferson County, Ky..
August 25, 1845, and is the third in a family of nine children born to
George G. and Diana (Gilliland) Summers, whose sketch will be found
above. James S. Summers, the subject of this sketch, received a fair
common school education. He was employed on his father's farm until
he was of age. He then farmed on shares for several years, during
which time he bought property in Eminence, where he resided three
years. In 1875, he removed back to the old homestead in Adams Town-
ship, Morgan County, a part of which he bought and upon which he now
resides. He was married, January 28, 1866, to Cynthia A, Sligar, a
native of Bullitt County, Ky. , and a daughter of Thomas Sligar, who
was also a native of Bullitt County, Ky., where he was born in 1803.
He now lives with the subject of our sketch and is in his eighty-first
year. To Mr. and Mrs. Summers have been born six children— three sons
and three daughters — all of whom are yet living and take a great interest
in music. In politics, Mr. Summers is a Democrat.
WILLIAM E. SUMMEES, farmer, was born in Morgan County, Ind.,
August 1, 1852, and is the sixth in a family of nine children born to
George G. and Diana (Gilliland) Summers. Our subject received a
very fair common school education and was employed on his father's
farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then continued to farm the
home place on shares for several years. He now owns a part of the
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 323
home farm, near Eminence, to which he has added other land. He was
married, February 17, 1878, to Miss Loda A. Skelton, a native of Audrain
County, Mo., and a daughter of Thomas and Rachel (McCord) Skelton,
natives of Indiana and of Scotch and English descent respectively. To
Mr. and Mrs. Summers have been born three children, viz.: Nettie M.,
Charles G., and an infant not named. Mr. Summers is a member of
Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M. In politics, he is a Democrat.
JOHN H. TWOMEY, proprietor sawmill, and a lumber dealer, was
born in New Albany, Ind., December 20, 1848, and is a son of Evan E.
and Mary E. (McKinly) Twomey, Our subject received a good C(jmmon
school and academic education, and at the age of seventeen engaged in
the saw mill business in company with his father and others at New
Albany, Ind., remaining some two years. He was then employed in the
sheet iron works, at the same city. In March, 1868, he came to Ashland
Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he farmed for one year, and then
again engaged in the saw mill and lumber business in company with his
father and brother and has been so employed ever since. In the fall of
1873, they moved the mill to Adams Township, same county, near En^i-
nence. Mr. Twomey is at present Constable of Adams Township. He
has been twice married, first, February 9, 1871, to Lydia E. Spain, a
native of Morgan County, Ind. Mrs. Lydia E. died January 9, 1872.
She was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Twomey was next
married October 21, 1878, to Mary J. Shake, a native of Adams Town-
ship, Morgan Co., Ind. Three children, one son and two daughters,
have blessed their union. In politics, Mr. Twcjmey is a stanch Democrat.
WILLIAM E. VARLEY (boots and shoes) was born July 4, 1855, in
Richland County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Lucy (Crawshaw)
Varley, both natives of England. Joseph Varley received a very limited
education, but by his own exertions after he became a man, he became
well informed. In about 1848 or 1849, he emigrated to the United States
on the Great Eastern, on her first trip. His family afterward joined him.
He first settled in Utica, N. Y., where he worked in a brass foundry for
two years. He then removed to Newcastle, Richland Co. , Ohio, remaining
about two years, returning to Utica. After a few years, he moved to
Mansfield, thence to Marion, remaining there until 1868. He then re-
moved to Clay County, Ind., where he still resides, following his trade,
that of watch-making. Mrs. Varley died in 1873; was a member of
the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Varley is a member also. William E.
Varley, our subject, received a common school education. At the age of
eighteen, he commenced to learn the trade of a shoe-maker, serving an
apprenticeship of two and a half years, after which he worked as a
journeyman about two years. In the fall of 1877, he came to Eminence,
Ind., and set up a shop of his own, where he is doing a thriving bus-
iness. He held the office of Postmaster at Eminence for one year; was
married, November 1, 1883, to Sarah J. Hazlette, a native of Morgan
County, Ind. Mr. Varley belongs to a subordinate Lodge of the I. O. O.
F., of which he is P. G.
JAMES WALLACE, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Adams
Township, Morgan County, Ind., October 21, 1837, and is the third child
in a family of eleven children born to Elijah and Melvina (Manley)
Wallace, natives of East Tennessee, and of Irish and English descent
respectively. Elijah Wallace received only a limited education at the
subscription schools taught in the rude log schoolhouses of the East Ten-
324 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
nessee frontier. Here he was also married, and soon after, in 1834, came
to what was then Adams Township, Morgan Co., Ind., but is now in-
cluded in Hendricks County. Here he bought and entered some 200
acres of land, which he partially improved, and afterward sold and
bought other lands in the same township, where he has since improved
a farm to which he added until he was the owner of some 2,000 acres in
Putnam, Morgan and Hendricks Counties, Ind., a part of which he has
since deeded to his children. He now lives in Hendricks County, and is in
his seventy -fourth year. His father, David Wallace, was a veteran of the
war of 18i2. James Wallace, the subject, received a fair common school
education, and was employed on the home farm until he was twenty-one
years old, afterward farming on shares for some four years. He then
bought a farm of 190 acres in Adams Township, Morgan Co., Ind., upon
which he still resides. The farm is well improved, and Mr. Wallace has
given especial attention to breeding fine stock, especially Norman horses,
Poland-China hogs and Cotswold sheep. He is now serving his second
term as Trustee of Adams TownAip. He was first married March 21, 1861,
to Rebecca Allee, a native of Putnam County, Ind. To this anion were
born seven children, three sons and four daughters, all of whom are yet
living. Mrs. Rebeca Wallace died March 5, 1879. She was a member
of the Chui'ch of God. Mr. Wallace was next married June 15, 1882,
to Mrs. Mary A. (Pike) McFadden,a native of Hendricks County,Ind. One
daughter has blessed their union — Hattie M. In politics, Mr. Wallace is
a Democrat.
ROBERT S. WALTERS, farmer and teacher, was born in Adams
Township, Morgan Co. . Ind., March 5. 1850, and is the youngest of
seven children born to Richard and Frances (Asher) Walters, natives of
Clay County, Ky., and of Welsh descent. Richard Walters re-
ceived his early education in his native State. At the age of eighteen
years, in 1823, he emigrated with his parents to Owen County, Ind. ,
where he was first married to Miss Susan Brasier, who bore him two
children; after her death he was married, in the same county, to the
mother of our subject. In about 1835, he came to Adams Township,
Morgan Co. , Ind. , where he entered and bought 240 acres of wild land,
and improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death, which oc-
curred April 13, 1871, in his sixty-fifth year; both were members of the
Baptist Church. His wife died September 11, 1873, aged sixty-six.
Robert S. Walters, the subject, received a good common school education,
and has taught during the winter season in his native township and
county for the past fourteen years. He has always resided on the old
homestead, a part of which he now owns and cultivates. He was mar-
ried, April 12, 1874, to Miss Mary C. Patrick, a native of Adams Town-
ship, Morgan Co. , Ind. Three children have been born to them, only
one of whom, an infant, not named, is now living. Mr. Walters is a
member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M. In politics, he is a
Democrat.
ANDREW J. WATSON, merchant, was born in Ashland Township,
Morgan Co., Ind., February 23, 1845, and is the sixth child in a family
of eleven children born to Simon and Samirah (Bowman) Watson, the
former of whom was a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Ken-
tucky. When but an infant one year old, in 1813, Simon Watson's par-
ents emigrated from North Carolina to Washington County, Ind., where
I ^ y remained only a few months. They then removed to Jackson
ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 325
County, Ind., where young Simon passed his childhood and youth, re-
ceiving only a very limited education at the rude log schoolhouses of that
frontier settlement. In about 1830, the family came to Adams Town-
ship, Morgan Co., Ind. , where his father entered land, and improved a
farm. Simon was married November 27, 1836, and soon afterward en-
tered 160 acres of land in Ashland Township, Morgan Co. , Ind. , to
which he has since added, now owning a well-improved farm of 200
acres. For more than forty-live years, he and wife have been mem-
bers of the Missionary Baptist Church; he is also a member of the Emi-
nence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M. ; and in politics is a Democrat.
ThH father of Mrs. Samirah Watson, viz., John Bowman, was one of the
companions of Daniel Boone in the early settling of Kentucky. Andrew
J. Watson, the subject of our sketch, received a good common school
education in youth, and was employed on the old homestead, in Ashland
Township, until he had attained his twenty-third year. He then taught
in this and Owen County during the fall and winter seasons for some
sixteen years, being employed at the painter's trade during the summer
months. In March, 1883, he engaged in merchandising at Eminence,
Ind. , in company with Mr. Joseph C. Rhea, continuing in the trade one
year. He is not at present engaged in any active business. Mr. Watson
was married, June 21, 1874, to Miss Lucretia A. Cummings, a native of
Morgan County, Ind. Two daughters have blessed their union. Both
Mr. Watson and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
He is also member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A. , F. & A. M., of
which lodge he is a Past Master, and has represented the same in the
Grand Lodge of the State. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is one of
the prominent citizens of Morgan County.
ALFRED A. WATSON, blacksmith, was born in what is now Ash-
land Township, Morgan Co., Ind., October 22, 1848, he being the seventh
in a family of eleven children born to Simon and Samirah (Bowman)
Watson, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Al-
fred A. Watson, our subject, I'eceived a good common school education
in his native county. At the age of twenty-two, he began learning the
trade of blacksmithing, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He
then opened a shop of his own in Eminence, Morgan Co., Ind., where he
is still conducting the business. He was married, December 24, 1869,
to Mrs. Jane (Nicholas) McMorries. Six children were born to them, of
whom three daughters are still living. Mrs. Watson dying Febru-
ary 23, 1881, Mr. Watson next united himself with Mrs. Mary J. (Sum-
mers) Sligar November 16, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Watson belong to the
Baptist and the Methodist Episcopal Churches respectively. Mr. Watson
is a member of the Eminence Lodge, No, 317, 1. O. O. F. In politics, he
is a Democrat. He is one of the principal business men of Eminence,
Morgan Co., Ind.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
DONALD BAIN, Sr., is a native of Scotland, was born Mai-ch 17,
1809, and is descended from James and Margaret (Murray) Bain, both
natives of Scotland. The grandfather of our subject, John Bain, was a
native Scotchman, who married a Miss Christina Tait, with an issue of
four children — William, Robert, Ellen and James. James Bain was born
in 1781, and was married in Scotland to Slargaret Mun-ay, who died in
1814; he subsequently married a second time, and died in Maryland August,
1841. He was father of ten children — Catherine, John, Donald, Chris-
tina, William, Robert, Margaret, Ozena^ George and James. Donald
Bain, March 17, 1839, in Scotland, married Jeannette Davidson, and in
the same year emigrated to America and located in the State of Mary-
land. In 1843, he moved to this county and State, and here has made a
home. Mrs. Bain died October 13, 1863, having borne seven children —
James (deceased), John, Esther, Christina, Catherine, Donald and Will-
iam. Mr. Bain is a highly regarded citizen.
W. G. BAIN was born in this county August 23, 1846, and is a son of
John and Bridget (Gallagher) Bain. John Bain was born in County
Caithness, Scotland, October 13, 1806; emigrated to America, landing at
Halifax, in 1827; came to the United States in 1828, and was for several
years contractor for stone work on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. In
1841, at Hancock, Md., he married, and in 1843 moved to this State; lo-
cated near Martinsville, and there continued to remain until his death,
September 24, 1872. After he came West, he abandoned his trade of
stone-cutter and adopted farming, being the owner at his death of sev-
eral hundred acres. After the death of his wife in 1855, he wedded
Mrs. Bethsheba Abbott in 1859, who survived him. He was a Christian
man, a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and father of
eleven children — James G., William G., Mary C. (deceased), John E.,
Charles F., Benjamin F., Emma E. (deceased), Emma, Alfred M., Henry
and Harvey. Our subject, W. G. Bain, received his education at Rich-
mond, this State. In 1867, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of this
county, and afterward acted as clerk at Martinsville. July 29, 1862, he
enlisted in Company H, Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, from which he
was discharged March, 1863, by reason of disability. In 1869, he pur-
chased an interest in the Martinsville Flouring Mills, which he relin-
quished after about a year, and has since engaged in farming. October
25, 1869, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of William and Susanna
flynds, who died February 11, 1874, the mother of two children — Lillie
B. and John E. October 25, 1877, Mr. Bain wedded Laura J., daughter
of William W. and Sarah A. Yeager, and born in this county July 18,
1851, which marriage was followed by two childi'en — Maudie E. and
Mary E. In 1878, Mr. Bain was elected County Auditor for one term.
He is a highly-respected citizen, a member of the A., F. & A. M., the K.
of P. and G. A. R. fraternities.
WILLIAM BEST was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February
11, 1814, and is descended from George and Sarah (Kelly) Best, both
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 327
natives of Ireland. The grandfather of our subject, William Best, was
born, married, and died in Ireland at the age of one hundred and four
years, the father of six children. George Best was married in Ireland,
and in 1812 emigrated to America; located in Muskingum County, Ohio,
whence he removed to Morgan County, Ind., where he and his wife died,
the parents of twelve children— Valentine, William, Robert, George,
Walter, James. Elizabeth, John, Richard H., Joseph, Isabelle and Sarah.
Our subject, William Best, began work when eighteen years of age in ^a
flouring mill, which he continued for twenty-one years. September 15,
1836, he married Lydia, daughter of Amos and Nancy Longshore, who
died July 12, 1844, the mother of four children— Sarah, George, Thomas
E. and Josephine (deceased). He subsequently married Ann Bond, a
native of New Jersey, who died in 1863, the mother of nine children —
Harriet (deceased), James (deceased), Valentine, Charles H. (deceased),
William S. (deceased), Emma E., Lydia N., and two infants deceased.
Mr. Best finally married, in 1864, Beulah L. Bond, a sister of his second
wife, who gave birth to foiu- children — Martha J., Albert M., Franklin
O. and Cora E.
DAVID BOTHWELL was born in Ireland June 9, 1815, and is a
son of Hugh and Ann J. (Gordon) Both well, both natives of Ireland, the
former born in 1788, the latter in 1796. They were married and died in
Ireland, he in September, 1854, and she eight years later. Their family
was Mary, David, Jane, Sarah A., Samuel, John, Elizabeth, Martha,
Henry, James, Margaret and two which died in infancy. David Bothwell
emigrated to America in 1841, visited Ireland in 1846, returned to this
country in 1852, settled in New Orleans, and shortly afterward removed
to this county, where, April 8, 1855, he married IMiss Letitia, daughter
of Robert and Jane Wilson, and born in Ireland in 1825, who died Sep-
tember 18, 1878, the mother of eight children — Ann J. (deceased), Hugh
H., John J., Mary, David, Charles, William and Andi-ew. Mr. Bothwell
is a highly respected citizen.
WILLIAM A. CUNNINGHAM was born in this county January
13, 1847, and is a son of William N. and Nancy Cunningham. William
N. Cunningham was born in Woodford County, Ky., March, 1804,
whence he moved to Johnson County, Ind. , and afterward to Morgan
County, where he married Nancy Lankford. He was twice married, and
the father of six children— Eliza, Nancy, Marion, Perlina, Norman T.
and William A. Our subject married in Owen County, Ind., November
10, 1867, Mary J., daughter of George and Margaret Dittemore, and
born in Owen County January 6, 1850. In 1871, Mr. Cunningham
moved to and occupied his present home and farm, which numbers 445
acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are parents of six chil-
dren— Emma J., Laura E., Edward, Benjamin F. and two which died
before receiving names. Mr. Cunningham is generally greatly esteemed,
and is a hospitable gentleman.
CAPT. WILLIAM A. DILLEY was born in Darke County, Ohio,
January 7, 1840, and is a son of Arthur M. and Elizabeth (Mclnturf)
Dilley, the former born in Ohio, December 27, 1814, the latter in Ten-
nessee, July 29, 1816; ti^y were married in Preble County, Ohio, De-
cember 27, 1835, andJ^Hlf2 moved to and settled in this county.
Their family was Sar^hBIPv^illiam A., Martha A., Mary E., John W.,
Lucretia E., Elmira M.,^liver C, James M, and an infant deceased.
William A. Dilley enlisted April 20, 1861, in Company K, Seventh In-
/
328 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
diana Volunteers; served three months and re-enlisted August 15, 1861,
in Company A, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers. In January, 1863, he
was made Orderly Sergeant, and in February, 1864, again re-enlisted.
In April, 1864, he married Lucy A., daughter of Stephen L. and Maria
A. Dane. In November, 1864, he was promoted First Lieutenant, and
March, 1865, Captain of Company A, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers,
and served as such until July 21, 1865. Mr. Dilley saw considerable
service; he was wounded in the left ankle at Thompson's Station, March
5, 1863, and was also a prisoner in the famous " Libby " one month.
In 1866, he settled on his present farm, which he sold and moved to
Wilson County, Kan., but returned and repurchased his farm in 1882.
Mr. and Mrs. Dilley have five children — Augustus M. (deceased), Minnie
v., Effie M., Pearl M. and Euby; they are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
THOMAS H. DIXON was born in this county May 4, 1840, and is a
son of Thomas and Margaret (Hynds) Dixon, both natives of Ireland,
Thomas Dixon is a son of Henry and Sarah Dixon, who married and re-
mained in Ireland until their deaths, and were parents of nine children.
Thomas Dixon married in Ireland, emigi-ated to America, and in 1837
moved to this State and settled in this county, where he now resides.
Mrs. Dixon died August, 1866, the mother of seven children — Sarah,
Mary, Margaret, Thomas H., William, John and Eobert. Thomas H.
Dixon, our subject, married in this county, April 11, 1861, Sarah, daugh-
ter of Isaac and Rebecca Kenworthy, and born in Marion County, Ind.,
May 30, 1844. In August, 1862, Mr. Dixon enlisted in Company H,
Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, and served until January, 1865, during
which he participated in all the engagements of the company. In 1871,
he purchased a saw mill, and engaged in the lumber trade until 1874,
when he sold out, removed to Martinsville, and was elected Sheriff of
this county, which he held for two terms. In 1881, he moved to his
home and farm. Mr. Dixon is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and K.
of P.
WILLIAM H. DIXON a son of Thomas and Margaret Dixon, is a
native of Morgan County; he was born October 18, 1844, and was mar-
ried in this county, October 24, 1869, to Eebecca, daughter of William
and Mary Brown, and born November 16, 1841. Mrs. Dixon died June
13, 1883. Mr. Dixon is a much esteemed citizen, a practical man, and a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are
parents of five children, whose names are as follows: Eobert H., John
P., Morgan, Mary, and Lawson J. (deceased).
WILLIAM DOWNEY is a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and
was born April 17, 1843, being a son of John and Mary Downey, also
natives of County Tyrone. The grandfather of our subject, James Dow-
ney, was a native of and married in Ireland, where he closed his life.
John Downey was born June, 1806. After his marriage he emigrated to
America in 1857, located in Coshocton County, Ohio, and in 1863 moved
to this county. His family consisted of Margaret, James, William,
Jan e, Andrew, Eobert, John, Mary, and three which died in infancy.
Our subject, William Downey, came with his parents to this county,
where, February 2, 1868, he married Eebecca J., daughter of William
and Sinah E. Bragg, and born in this county December 15, 1848 — a
union which gave being to a family of five — Harriet T., William M.,
M ary E., Pearl A. and Edna. Mr. Downey is the owner of 248 acres of
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 329
superior land, a comfortable home and valuable property. He is also a
worthy gentleman and a member of the Masonic brotherhood.
JAMES M. DUCKWOETH is a native of this county, was born
September 10, 1833, and is a son of John and Mary (Gwin) Duckworth,
both natives of Virginia. They were married in Kentucky, whence,
shortly afterward, they moved to this State, and settled first in Ray
Township, and then moved to Martinsville, where they finished their
cmirses of life — he, October 17, 1867, and she three years thereafter.
Their family comprised Nancy A., William M., Maiinda, Melvina, An-
drew J., Mary A., Minerva G. and James M. Our subject married in
this county, November 8, 1860, Nancy M., daughter of William and
Susanna Hynds, and born in this county February 14, 1842, who died
April 15, 1882, the mother of eight children— Ellen M., Mary B., Ed-
ward M., Susanna, Minerva Gr. , William H., James M. and John L.
After marriage, Mr. Duckworth settled on the farm where he now resides,
and where he has spent most of his life. His farm embraces 404 acres
of excellent and well-improved land. Mr. Duckworth is a valued citi-
zen, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
JAMES R. ELMORE is a son of John and Andalusia Elmore, na-
tives of Virginia. The grandfather of our subject, James R. Elmore,
was a native of Virginia and a soldier of 1812; he afterward moved to
Muskingum County, Ohio, and there finished his life, the parent of six
children. John Elmore was married in Ohio, and in 1861 moved to
Clarke County, Ind., where Mrs. Elmore died in 1865. Mr. Elmore, is
yet living, the parent of the following family: Levi R., Elizabeth J.,
John T., George A., Andakisia N. and James R. Our subject, James
R. Elmore, married in Clark County, in 1864, Malvina C, daughter of
William and Sarah Sligar, who died in 1871, leaving three children —
JohnW^, Selby S. and Mary R. In 1872, Mr. Elmore married Mrs.
Sarah, widow of Levi Devore, which marriage gave issue to four children
— George A., Jennie J., Levi L (deceased) and Benjamin F. In 1874,
Mr. Elmore moved to this county. He and wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
LEWIS T. HANCOCK is a native of Anderson County, Ky., was
born May 22, 1825, and is a son of Stephen F. and Martha (Lacey) Han-
cock, who, in 1826, moved to Owen County, lud., and thence, in 1847,
to this county, where he remained until his decease, in 1869, aged sev-
enty six. Mrs. Hancock is yet living, at the advanced age of eighty-six.
Their family comprised six children — Levi E., John W., Martha A.,.
Stephen L., Elizabeth F. and Lewis T. Our subject married, December
24, 1849, Harriet Farley, who died March 17, 1872, having borne seven
children — Lorenzo D. (deceased), Nancy A., Sinah R., William L. (de-
ceased), Thomas F,, Mary J. and George A. After his marriage, Mr.
Hancock settled in Ray Township, and later, in 1854, moved to this
township, and to the farm which is now his home. November 23, 1874,
Mr. Hancock wedded Miss Emeline, daughter of Lewis and Margaret
Fonville, and a native of Tennessee, born August 20, 1836. Mr. and
Mrs. Hancock are respected members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
W. J. lEARRISON is a native of Morgan County, Ind., was born
October 5, 1851, and is a son of William R. and Elizabeth J. Harrison,
of Martinsville. In the year 1872, on the 18th of July, subject mar-
ried Miss Margaret E., daughter of Christopher C. and Julia A. Bishop,
and born in Guilford County, N. C, E'ebruary 28, 1856. After his
330 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
marriage, Mr. Harrison settled on tlie farm which he now cultivates
and calls his home — a comfortable and valuable property. Mr. Harri-
son is now Township Trustee, and is a member of the ancient brother-
hood of Freemasonry. He and wife are parents of three children — Bet-
tie J., Maud E. and William R.
BRICE M. HOWELL was born in Hendricks County," Ind., January
7, 1847, and is one of the eight children of Millar and ilartha (Deanty)
Howell, both natives of North Carolina, the former born in 1808, the
latter in 1814. They were married in Chatham County, N. C. ; moved to
Hendricks County, Ind., and later to Morgan County, where he now re-
sides. Millar Howell was twice married, and the father of fourteen
children — eight by his first, and six by his second wife. Brice M.
Howell enlisted, July, 1863, in Company D, One Hundred and Seven-
teenth Indiana Volunteers; served six months; re-enlisted June, 1864, in
Company E, One Huudred and Thirty-ninth Indiana Regiment; served
100 days; again enlisted February, 3865, in Company A. Thirty-
third Indiana Regiment, aod served until June, 1865. October 3, 1869,
he married Isabella, daughter of Robert and Ellen Foster, a native
of this county, born June 12, 1852. This union was productive
of six children — Martha E. (deceased), Theodosia E., Emma R., Robert
M., William W. and Ethel E. In 1869, Mr. Howell moved to the farm
on which he now resides. He and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
L. C. KENNEDY was born in Hardin County, Ky., August 31, 1804,
and is the fourth of the family of Peter and Rachel Kennedy, both na-
tives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject, John Kennedy,
was also a Pennsylvanian, and of Irish descent, who removed to Hardin
County, Ky., in 1780, where he closed his valued life, having been a
soldier of the Revolutionary war; he had been twice married and the
father of ten sons. Peter Kennedy whs born in 1769. When twelve
years of age, he was stolen by the Indians, remained nine years a captive,
and escaped and returned to his parents, in Hardin County, Ky. He
afterward was engaged as Government spy on the Kentucky frontier; then
married Rachel Calvin and settled on a farm, where he passed his life.
He was father to seven children — John, James, Nancy, Luke C, Sarah,
Charles and Decker. Our subject, Luke C. Kennedy, married, June 20,
1830, in Hardin County, Ky., Miss Jane, daughter of William and Sarah
Blackford. In October following, Mr. Kennedy moved to this county,
and purchased and settled on the farm where he now lives. In 1850,
Mrs. Kennedy died, and in 1855 he married Isabella, daughter of Will-
iam and Mary Hindes. Mr. Kennedy is the owner of 220 acres of good
land, and is comfortably situated. He is the parent of seven children —
Samuel (deceased), John, James, Decker, Marv, William and Daniel P.
■ DANIEL KIRK was born in Shelby County, Ind., October 1, 1828.
His parents were William H. and Elizabeth (Depew) Kirk, natives of
Kentucky. The grandfather of our subject, Daniel Kirk, was an early
settler of Marion County, Ky., where he died, the father of two children —
Lydia and William H. The latter was born March 1, 1799. In 1819,
he, with his wife, moved to Shelby County, Ind., where Mrs. Kirk died.
Mr. Kirk subsequently married Susanna R. Sloan, and in 1838 came to
this county, where he died in 1865, the father of sixteen children. Dan-
iel Kirk, the subject of this sketch, married, December 7, 1857, Martha
E. , daughter of Nathan and Matilda Dow, and a native of Clarke County,
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 331
born September 9, 1835. This union was cemented by thirteen chil-
dren— Ellen M., William H. (deceased), Charles H., Harvey A., Mary E.,
Benjamin R. (deceased), Susan M. (deceased), James E., Daniel F,,
Nathan F., Benjamin A., Martha J. (deceased) and Maggie R. (deceased).
Mr. Kirk is a generally respected citizen.
JAMES H. LANKFORD is a native of Morgan County, Ind., was
born November 6, 1850, and is one of the family of William L. and
Martha (Kirk) Lankford, natives respectively of Indiana and Kentucky.
The grandfather of our subject, Nathan Lankford, was a native of Vir-
ginia, where he married, and in an early day moved to this county, where
he remained until death. He was the father of seven children. Will-
iam L. Lankford was born August 1(3, 1828, married Martha Kirk, who.
was born July, 1880, and died December 5, 1883. They were parents of
ten children — Minerva G., James H. , Nathan M., William P., Maggie
M., Harvey M., Edward S., Joseph H., John H. and Toney H. James
H. Lankford, our subject, married, March 17, 1875, in this county, Mrs.
Mary J. Stine, widow of James P. Stine, and daughter of Emanuel and
Cynthia Isenhower. Mr. and Mrs. Lankford have a family of two chil-
dren— Ida B. and Iva D. (twins). Mr. Lankford is a worthy and much
respected citizen.
L. B. LEWIS is a native of this county, wiis born October 2, 1828,
and is a son of Gideon and Lewis (Huston) Lewis, the former born in
Kentucky in 1794. After marriage, Gideon Lewis settled in this coun-
ty, married, and afterward moved to near Martinsville, and in 1836 to a
farm in this township, where they remained until their decease, he dy-
ing in June, and she in May, 1844, leaving the following family: El-
hanan, James, Hunstead, Harriet, Jeannette, Kellis, William H., Ange-
line, Sarah and Leander B. In December, 1847, Leander B. Lewis
married Julia A , daughter of Benoni and Abigail Pearce, and a native
of Chatham County, N. C, born J^'ebruary 12, 1823. After his marriage,
Mr. Lewis settled in this township, and has a very fine and well im-
proved farm. Mr. and Mr. Lewis are the parents of ten children —
Louisa J., William H., Elizabeth F., Benoni, Gideon, Ruth E. (de-
ceased), Daniel A., James A. M. (deceased), Ann F. and Grant (deceased).
He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ROBERT MILLER is a native of Greenbrier County, W. Va. ; was
born July 21, 1810, and is descended from John and Jane (Hodge) Mil-
ler, both natives of Virginia. They were married in Augusta County,
Va., and afterward moved to Greenbrier County, where they ended their
lives, having been blessed with the following family: Hemy, James,
Jane, Ervin B., Mary A., Margaret E., Alexander, William and Robert.
Our subject married in Monroe County, W. Va., February 13, 1834, Miss
Ankey, daughter of James and Elizabeth Alderson, which union was
favored with seven children — Alexander, Louisa (deceased), Robert (de-
ceased), Oliver, John, Martha and Isabelle (deceased). After his mar-
riage, Mr. Miller moved to Hancock County, Ind., and in 1836, to this
county, where he located on the identical farm on which he now resides.
Mr. Miller is a practical farmer and an esteemed gentleman and citizen.
W. C. MILLER was born in Lincoln County, N. C, June 18, 1827,
and is a son of Henry and Anna Miller, both natives of North Carolina.
Henry Miller was born in North Carolina in 1805, and married in Lin-
coln County. In 1830, he moved to Owen County, Ind., and in 1835 to
Morgan County, where his wife died in 1858, the mother of fifteen chil-
332 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
dren. Hi? second wife was Nancy Reins, who is the mother of two chil-
dren. In 1879, Mr. Miller moved to Missouri, where he remains. Our
subject was married, March 31, 1853, to Hannah, daughter of Archibald
and Lucinda Taylor, and a native of Hendricks County, Ind. , born May
6, 1836. This union was productive of fourteen children — Henry A.,
Lucinda, Sarah K, Mary E., Anna E., John E., William J., Luther L.,
Silas C, Albert E. and four which died in infancy. Mr. Miller is a re-
spected citizen.
JOHN MOSER was born in Randolph County, N. C, April 8, 1801,
and is a son of John and Mary Moser, natives of North Carolina, and
respectively of German and Irish descent. The grandfather of our sub-
ject, Tobias Moser, was a German, and emigrated hither previous to the
Revolutionary war, during which struggle he was a soldier. He settled
in North Carolina, and afterward moved to La Fayette, Ind., where he
died, aged one hundred and seven years. He was also a soldier of the
war of 1812. His wife died in Orange County, Ind., aged one hundred
and eleven years. They had a family of seven. John Moser was mar-
ried in North Carolina, moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1812,
and one year later to Orange County, Ind., whore he was killed in
1821. After this event Mrs. Moser moved to Owen County, and thence
to Morgan County, where she died in 1861. The children of these par-
ents were named Rebecca, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Kezia, Jane,
Tobias, Joseph, Adam, Jacob, Alexander, Jeremiah and John. Our sub-
ject, John Moser, married in Owen County, September 13, 1830, Miss
Mary, daughter of David and Catherine Lukinbill, a native of Washing-
ton County. In 1831, Mr. Moser moved to this county, which has since
been his home. He and wife are parents of eight children — Kezia, Da-
vid (deceased), Catherine, Julia A., Mary E., Margaret, John and Will-
iam.
JAMES R. MOSIER was born in Lawrence County, Ind., August
16, 1844, and • is a son of John and Esther (Burris) Mosier, natives of
North Carolina and Ohio respectively, who moved to this county in 1845,
where Mr. Mosier died twenty years later. Mrs. Mosier subsequently
married Joseph Lain, and still later George Moore. Our subject, James
R. Mosier, enlisted August 14, 1862, in Company H, Seventy-ninth In-
diana Volunteers, and served until April, 1863, having been shot through
the shoulder at the battle of Stone River. September, 1863, he re- en-
listed in Company D, One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Regiment^
serving six months, and again enlisted March, 1864, in Company K,
First Indiana Regiment, and served until January, 1866. August 28,
1868, he married Mrs. Ann, widow of David Anderson, and daughter of
John and Ann Dixon, by which union they had five children — Sarah R.,
James R., Hester A., and two infants, deceased. Mr. Mosier is a highly
respected citizen.
WILLIAM R. NOSLER was born in Owen County, Ind., November
9, 1835, and is a son of John and Mary (Pirtle) Nosier, natives respect-
ively of Virginia and Kentucky. The grandfather of our subject, Con-
rad Nosier, moved to this State in an early day, and finished his days
here. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. and father of five children.
John Nosier was born January 4, 1806, came to Indiana in 1827, mar
ried, and settled near Spencer, where he and wife ended their lives — he
in September, 1837, and she in February, 1837; they had three chil-
dren— Sarah A., James and William R. Our subject was reared by his
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 333
uncle, James L. Pirtle, after his parents' death. In 1850, he moved to
Fayette County, Ind.; thence, in 1851, to Connersville, where he learned
saddle and harness making, and in 1855 to Rushville, where he pursued
his vocation. September 13, 1857, he married Viola, daughter of Na-
thaniel and Mary Moore, who died July 13, 1873. In 1858, he moved to
Missouri, and in 1861 returned to Hush County, Ind., after which, in
1876, he came to this county, and November 9, 1879, wedded Mrs. Ma-
tilda J. Garrison, widow of William Garrison. Mr. Nosier is the parent
of six children — Alethea M. (deceased), Mary A. (deceased), William E,,
Sarah A. and two that died in infancy.
JOHN REEVES is a native of Mason County, Ky., and was born
February 20, 1802, and is a son of James and Sarah (Holton) Reeves,
the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Maryland. John Reeves,
Sr. , emigrated with his parents, Isaac and Margaret Reeves, to America
previous to the Revolutionary war, and when sixteen years of age entered
the army under Gen. Washington, serving the seven years. He then
married and settled in Mason County, Ky., where he and wife ended
their days. John Reeves, our subject, is the only child of his father liv-
ing. In 1823, he moved to Monroe County, Ind. , and in 1824 to Owen
County, where he married, in 1828, Mrs. Eleanor Hayward. In 1829,
he removed to this county, where Mrs. Reeves died in 1861, the mother
of eight children — James, Nancy, Abigail, Austin S., Sarah, Samuntha,
Benjamin and Julia A. In 1863, he married Mrs. Ann Edwards. Mr.
Reeves is an excellent gentleman, and he and wife are members of the
Christian Church, of which Mr. Reeves has been an active worker for
fifty years.
S. R. STILES, Sk., was born in Orange County, Ind., October 12,
1830, and is one of the family of William and Mary (Bragg) Stiles, na-
tives respectively of Georgia and Tennessee. William Stiles was born
January 22, 1798; was married in Tennessee, thence moved to Washing-
ton County, Ind., and thence to this county, where he ended his life in
1872. He and wife were parents of eight children — Sarah, Nancy,
John B., Abigail, Jesse, Stakley R., Harriet and Mary A. Our subject,
S. R. Stiles, was reared in this county. December 24, 1852, he mar-
ried Elizabeth Foster, who died August 24, 1854. He next wedded
Louisa Miller, who died in 1858, and in 1859 he married Eleanor Se-
crest. In 1865, Mr. Stiles enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and
Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, in which he served for seven months,
and after which he purchased and occupied his present home and farm,
comprising 420 acres of desirable and productive land. Mr. Stiles has
been the father of four children — Indiana, Ida B.,,Candace, and an in-
fant, deceased. He and wife are consistent members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
334 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES;
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP.
DR. A. P. W. BRIDGES, a leading jouug physician and surgeon of
the township, was born September 27, 1856, in Clay County, Ind., and
is the fourth of the six children born to Moses C. and Sophia J. (Doyle)
Bridges, natives of Wayne County, Ind., and of North Carolina, and of
English extraction. A. i\ W. Bridges moved with his parents to Clover-
dale, Putnam County, Ind., when he was eight years old, and there he
grew to manhood. Mr. Bridges, Sr., owned a di'ug store, and our sub-
ject entered it when he was ten years old. He remained there for about
nine years. He had a liking for the study of medicine, and, having an
opportunity of cultivating this talent, he attended one term of lectures
at the Indiana Medical College, and some time at the College of Physi-
cians and Surgeons. Dr. Bridges located finally at Jordan, Owen County,
Ind., remaining there about three years. He then went to Cloverdaie
for one year, and lived a short time ia Quincy. In February, 1882, he
came to Alaska, where he now resides, and is endeavoring to insure suc-
cess in his profession by every means in his power. Dr. Bridges was
married, March 25, 1883, to Emma F. Alverson, a native of Owen County,
Ind. They have one child — Ralph, born December 30, 1883. Dr. Bridges
and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a
firm Democrat. The Doctor superintends the Methodist Episcopal Sun-
day school. Mrs. Emma Bridges is the daughter of James and Louisa
(Bartlett) Alverson, natives of Indiana.
WILLIAM BURKHART, farmer and stock-raiser, was born October
1, 1845, in Morgan County, Ind., and is the fourth of the ten children
born to Ambrose and Ann (Bragg) Burkhart, the former a native of In-
diana, the latter of Tennessee. William gi'ew to manhood on a farm,
receiving the rudiments of a common school education. His father was
reared in Monroe County. William enlisted, on August 25, 1861, in
Company H, Thirty-third Indiana Infantry, remaining in the service
until the close of the war. At the engagement of Thompson's Station,
he was taken prisoner, and confined in Libby Prison twelve days, tb.en
paroled. At the battle of Resaca, he was struck five times with bullets.
He was in almost a continuous fight from Resaca to Peach Tree Creek,
and was with Sherman's famous " march to the sea." He was discharged
at Indianapolis. Ind., on August 5, 1865, holding the rank of Sergeant.
He was married, November 18, 1868, to Mary A. Ratts (deceased), who
left him two children, viz.. William H., born September 9, 1869; Mary
A. (deceased), born August 13, 1873. He was next married to Sarah J.
Shuler, on September 27. 1874. Two children have been born to them —
Norman E., born September 6, 1876; Robert O., born September 13, 1878.
Mrs. Burkhart is the daughter of Charlton and Phebe (Warthen) Shuler,
natives of Virginia aad Indiana, and of German and Irish extraction re-
spectively. Mr. Burkhart and wife are consistent members of the Chris-
tian Church. He owns 140 acres of land, very fairly improved. In poli-
tics, he is a wide-awake Republican.
BENJAMIN O. BUTTERFIELD, a wide-awake farmer, carpenter and
millwright, of Ashland Township, was born August 17, 1835, in Owen
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP. 335
County, Ind., and was the fifth of fourteen children born to Velorus and
Clarissa (Badgeley) Butterfield, natives of New York and Virginia, and
of English descent. They settled in Owen County very early, and built
a water mill, and, selling this, they finally moved to Morgan County, and
now reside here. Benjamin O. Butterfield lived upon the farm until his
sixteenth year, when he learned the trade of millwright, and followed it
for several years. He also worked at that for five years in Iowa, after
which he returned home and purchased a farm. He and his brother
bought a mill near the town of Centerton, in this county. They moved
this to the town, and ran it for several years, when it was sold. Mr.
Butterfield then purchased the farm which he now owns, and which con-
sists of 139 acres, abundantly supplied with spring water, and well culti-
vated. On (September 22, 1859, Mr. Butterfield was married to Sylvania
Moser. Three children were born to them — Clarissa E., born November
7, 1860; AlfarataB., November 17, 1862; and Georgie A., December 6,
1864, died November 6, 1865. The mother died on December 24, 1865.
On February 3, 1867, Mr. Butterfield married Samantha E. (Hedrick)
Reeves. They had three children — Benjamin O., born November 27,
1867; LeotaM., Mav 8, 1869; and Oliver P., December 24, 1870. Mrs.
Butterfield was born February 20, 1839, and died September 25, 1872.
Mr. Butterfield was next married to Mrs. Louzann (Brown) White, on
February 14, 1876. She died June 1, 1880. Leota M., his daughter,
keeps house for him. His wives all belonged to the Christian Church, of
which he is also a member. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is
very public spirited. He is a Republican, and is noted for his generosity.
W. T. COLWELL. farmer and stock-raiser, was born October 29,
1861, in Morgan County, Ind,, and is the fifth of the eight children born
to Philip and Carrie (Stierwalt) Colwell, natives of Ireland and of In-
diana, and of Irish and German descent, respectively. They were early
settlers in the county, and reared their son, W. T., on a farm, sending
him to the common schools, and giving him as a start in life forty acres
of land. Philip Colwell owned over 600 acres at his death. He and
his wife ai'e both deceased. Our subject deals some in stock buying and
selling. He is an active Democrat, is very energetic, and, with his pres-
ent start in life, will succeed.
MARTIN L. MARSH, farmer and stock-raiser of Ashland Township,
was born in Morgan County, Ind., February 22, 1836, and is the eighth
of nine children born to Cyrus J. and Elizabeth (Shults) Marsh, natives
of Virginia and North Carolina; and of English and German descent.
Cyrus J. came to Washington County, Ind., in 1817, soon married, and
there remained for sixteen years. He then moved to Jackson County,
Ind., remained two years, and in 1835 moved to Morgan County, where
he lived until his death. He owned 240 acres of land. Martin L. was
reared a farmer, and received a very poor education. Two of his broth-
ers, Daniel and Fielding, were in the Mexican war. He enlisted in the
last war, but was not enabled to reach the battle-field. On January 29,
1857, he was married to Lucinda J. Sandy, of Morgan County, Ind.
They have had six children — Newton M., Lavena K. (deceased), Henry
E., Ella B., Nettie and Eldon F. He and wife are members of the
Christian Church. He is a Mason, and was Secretary of the Grange for
four years, when that body was in operation in his locality. He was As-
sessor of his township for one term. He has a farm of 120 acres, em-
bellished with many of the modern improvements. For some time Mr.
336 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Marsh followed carpentering. He is a lover of education, and has en-
deavored to instill the same into the minds of his children. For the
last year and a half, he has, in addition to farming, been selling pianos
and organs.
ANANIAS MICHAEL, farmer and stock-raiser, was born March 22,
1830, in Augusta County, Va., and is the eldest of ten children born to
Jonathan and Susan (Huffer) Michael, Virginians, of German descent.
Ananias came with his parents, in the fall of 1834, to Clinton County,
Ind. , and they remained here until 1849, when he moved to Putnam
County, where the old people remained until their death. Ananias set-
tled in Morgan County, Ind., in the fall of 1853. From his father's es-
tate he received about 11,200, and has a nice farm of 158 "acres, beauti-
fully situated and supplied with many of the modern improvements.
When he first settled here, roads were scai'ce, and there were but a few
houses scattered around for a considerable distance, the principal feature
being vast forests. Mr. Michael was united in marriage, on December
29, 1852, to Lucinda Stanton, a native of Putnam County, Ind. They
have had sis children — Mary A., Jonathan, Sarah A., Susan A., Ida B.,
and Minnie M. (deceased). Mrs. Michael is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Grange, and is a very liberal
citizen. Mr. Michael voted first for President Taylor, and since that has
been a Democrat. Mrs. Lucinda Michael is a daughter of George W.
and Sarah (Hood) Stanton, natives of Tennessee and of Virginia re-
spectively.
JOHN C. MILLER, farmer and stock raiser of this township, was
born February 1, 1846, in Morgan County, Ind., and is the fifth of the
seven children born to Robert and Auka (Alderson) Miller, natives of
West Virginia, and of Irish and English extraction respectively. John
C. was reared upon a farm, and received a rudiuientary education. He
remained at his parents' home until he was twenty-three years of age,
but since his eighteenth year has been doing for himself. He takes great
pride in raising fine horses. One, a fine animal, " Shaker Boy," paced a
mile in two minutes and twenty seconds, and Mr. Miller sold this horse
for $1,200. He has raised many other fine horses. Mr. Miller married,
on November 15, 1866, Delilah C. Whitaker, a native of Morgan County,
Ind. Four children have crowned this union — Charles G. , born January
2, '1868; James R., January 14, 1870; Margaret I., born December 27,
1875, and Homer A., September 19, 1879. His wife is a member of the
Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Miller received $1,700. from his wife,
as a start in life. For several years he followed the business of buying
and shipping stock. He is now farming on a place of 240 acres, pleas-
antly situated, and having the advantages of all the modern improve-
ments. He is a Democrat. He gives liberally to all benevolent institu-
tions, which tend to promote the welfare of the human family. Mrs.
Miller is a daughter of Grafton and Margaret (Gregg) Whitaker, na-
tives of Shelby County, Ky., and respectively of Welsh and Irish de-
scent. They were early settlers in this county, and remained here until
their death. Mr. Miller is giving his children the best of advantages
for an education. His son, Charles G., is at present attending Asbury
University, and is progressing rapidly in his studies.
CALEB A. PRITCHARD, a teacher in this township, was born on
February 9, 1862, in Putnam County, Ind., and is the eldest of three
children born to Greenbury and Margaret J. (Buis) Pritchard, both na-
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP. 337
tives of this State, and of English and German extraction respectively.
The father was born in Owen County, and his father moved to Morgan
County in an early day. Greenbury, the father of our subject, moved
to Illinois in the year 1862, and in the fall of 3864 he enlisted in Com-
pany F, Eleventh Illinois Infantry, remaining in the service until the
close of the war. He took part in the engagements of Fort Blakely and
Spanish Fort, which lasted fourteen days and nights; also in numerous
skirmishes. He received his discharge at Baton Rouge, La. The sub-
ject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a good education.
He attended three terms at the Central Normal School at Danville, Ind.,
and two terms at the State University at Bloomington, Ind. He began
teaching at the age of fifteen, and has taiight seven terms very success-
fully. Mr. Pritchard has not really decided what profession he will fol-
low, other than that in which he is engaged. He has a fine collection of
books on miscellaneous subjects. In politics, he is an energetic, stanch
Democrat.
JOHN W. SHIELDS, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of this
township, was born November 20, 1853, in Hendricks County, Ind., and
is the second of nine children born to Harrison and Sarah A. (Johnson)
Shields, both natives of North Carolina, and of English extraction. They
came to Morgan County about the year 1864, and are still living here.
Our subject was reared a farmer, and received a good common school
education. He attended one term at the State Normal School, Terre
Haute, after which he taught two terms with success. The profession of
a teacher was his chosen one, but he was compelled to retire from it on
account of failing health. January 21, 3877, he was married to Mrs.
Mary J. (Whitaker) Edwards, from which union two children have re-
sulted, viz., Homer (deceased), Cora M. (born September 6, 1879). Mr.
Shields is a member of the Christian, his wife of the Missionary Baptist
Church. He is a stanch Republican. Mrs. Shields is the owner of a
tine farm of 100 acres, well improved, and under a high state of culti-
vation.
MICHAEL STIERWALT, Sk., an enterprising farmer and stock-
raiser of Ashland Township, this county, was born on December 3, 1821,
in Washington County, Ind., and is the eldest of eleven children born
to John and Elizabeth (Sandy) Stierwalt, both natives of North Carolina,
and of German extraction. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood
a farmer, and attended subscription schools about three months of each
winter, during his youth, thus acquiring a common school education.
For a start in life he received about $1,500, with which he purchased
land. He finally sold out and came to Morgan County, locating, in 1851,
in Jefferson Township, remainiug four years, at the end of that time
coming to this township, where he has resided since. He owns a fine
farm of 300 acres, well- improved. On December 11, 1842, he was mar-
ried to Adaline Guy, a native of North Carolina. Eight children have
been born to them, viz. : Elizabeth (Shake), John M., Martha (Schrim
sher), .Keziah (Hodges), Elsie C. (Shake), William^M., Michael A, and
Mary A. (Knoy). Mr. and Mrs. Stierwalt are members of the Missionary
Baptist Church. He is an active member of the Grange, and cast his
first vote for President for James K. Polk, being a Democrat. In 1860,
he was elected Assessor of this township, having been twice re-elected
since. In the fall of 1876, he was elected Township Trustee, re-elected
in 1878, again re-elected in the spring of 1882, and is at present serving
330 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
in that capacity. Mr. Stierwalt is a public-spirited citizen, an industri-
ous, well-to-do farmer, and a genial gentleman.
MICHAEL A. STIERWALT, was born on March 6, 1857, in ^lor-
gan County, Ind., and is the seventh child of Michael and Adeline (Guy)
Stierwalt, natives of Indiana and North Carolina respectively, and of
German descent. Our subject was reared on a farm, received a common
school education, and is at present making his home with his parents.
In 1875, he had the misfortune of losing his left arm, by the bursting of
a gun. On December 16, 1880, he was married to Joanna Pritchard, a
native of Illinois. Two children have been born to this union, viz. :
Cornie E., born October 11, 1881; Eddie L., July 11, 1883. Mr. Stier-
walt is a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church. In
politics, he is a stanch, wide-awake Democrat.
JOHN F. STIERWALT, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of
this township, was born on August 12, 1833, in Owen County, Ind., and
is the sixth of eleven children born to John and Elizabeth (Sandy) Stier-
walt, both natives of North Carolina, and of German extraction. Our
subject was brought up on a farm near Gosport, Ind., and received a
limited education. He spent the most of his early youth'in rolling logs,
picking brush, and helping to clear land for a farm. As a start in life^
he received about $1,500, and now owns a farm of 164 acres of good
land, well-improved. In 1854, he came to this county, and has resided
here ever since. On April 11, 1861, he was married to Milcha A. Shake,
a native of this county. Nine children have been born to them, viz. :
Eli F. (deceased), born November 27, 1862; Levi A., born February 28,
1864; Martha E., born November 26, 1866; Michael H., born March 1,
1869; Robert_W. (deceased), born October 7, 1871; William T., born
August 15, 1874; Rosy E., born February 24, 1877; Mary A., born July
6, 1879; Miranda C, born October 7, 1881. He and his wife are mem-
bers of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Stierwalt is a stanch Demo-
crat, and at one time took an active part in the Grange movement. He
cast his first vote for President for James Buchanan. He is a liberal
giver to benevolent and charitable institutions and movements, is a
public-spirited citizen, and much respected by his associates and ac-
qi^aintances.
THOMAS S. STIRWALT, farmer and stock-raiser, was born De-
cember 11, 1835, in Morgan County, Ind., and is the third child of Adam
and Lucy (Sandy) Stirwalt, natives of North Carolina, and of German
extraction. Adam Stirwalt was a very early settler here, and made him-
self a farm from the forests. Thomas S. was reared on this farm, re-
ceiving but little education. At his twenty -fourth year, he received
eighty acres from his father, and by energy has increased this to 240
acres, and added to it all the modern improvements. On October 19,
1859, Mr. Stirwalt was married to Lucinda C. Mannan, who was born in
this county October 10, 1841. Six children have been born to them —
Sims H. and La Fayette (both deceased), Cornelius R. (deceased), Benja-
min F. (deceased), Eli E., born December 11, 1865, aod Sarah C.^ Janu-
ary 10, 1871. The parents belong to the Missionary Baptist Church.
Mrs. Stirwalt is a daughter of William R. and Rebecca (Chambers) Man-
nan, natives of Indiana, and of German extraction. He is a liberal
citizen, and cast his first vote for Douglas. He is firmly stranded on
Democratic rocks, is a most worthy gentleman, and in whatever position
he is placed, he will succeed well.
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP. 339
EVAN E. TWOMEY, farmer and stock grower, was born in Eowan
County, N. C, March 14, 1817, and is the third in a family of fourteen
children born to William B. and Nancy (Wayman) Twomey, of Irish and
English extraction respectively. When only three years of age, the sub-
ject of our sketch removed with his parents from his native State to East
Tennessee. There the family remained some thirteen years, and there
our subject received the rudiments of an English education. In after
years, however, he acquired by his own exertions a good practical busi-
ness education. At a very early age, he learaed the wagon-maker's trade,
and afterward learned the ship-carpenter's trade, which he followed for
many years. In 1834, he removed to New Albany, Ind. , where he started
a ship-yard, and also owned and operated a saw-mill aud foundry. Still
later, he added steamboating to his other business, which he followed for
a number of years on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, owning several
valuable boats. Soon after the war, however, he met with severe finan-
cial reverses; but, nothing daunted, in the fall of 1868 he came to Mor-
gan County, Ind., and commenced with a stout heart and willing hands
to rebuild his shattered fortunes. Here, by industry and economy, he
has again amassed a handsome property, now owning a well-improved
farm in Ashland Township of 160 acres, upon which he still resides, as
well as other valuable property. August 26, 1836, he was united in mar-
riage with Miss Mary E. McKinley, a native of Kentucky, and of Irish
descent. Thirteen children were the fruit of this union, six of whom,
two sons and four daughters, are yet living. Botb Mr. Twomey and wife
are members of the church, he of the Christian and she of the Missionary
Baptist. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Masonic
fraternity. He cast his first vote for William H. Harrison, but is now
identified with the Democratic party.
THOMAS S. VOSHELL, farmer and stock- raiser, of Ashland Town-
ship, was born on January 14, 1854, in Morgan County, and is the fourth
of the six children born to Daniel H. and Delilah (Goss) (Sandy) Voshell,
natives of Morgan County, Ind., and residents of Ray Township. Thomas*^
grandfather, William Voshell, was one of the first settlers of this county.
Thomas S. was reared a farmer, but was well educated, and attended an
academy in Henry County, Ind., and also eighteen months at the Bedford
College, in Lawrence County, Ind. He has also taught two terms of
school with success. He and his sister, Mrs. Mary A. McGinnis, ol Knox
County, Ind., are all that are left of his father's family. On January 1,
1879, Mr. Voshell was married to Rebecca E. Knoy, a native of this
county, who was born July 27, 1854. Two children have been given
them — Daniel J., born December 29, 1879, and died June 18, 1880, and
Mary D., born January 30, 1881. He is a member of the Baptist
and his wife of the Christian Church. He is an active member of the
Grange. He is a Democrat. Mi-. Voshell received from his father about
$400, and his wife was presented with an eighty-acre farm by her parents.
He has added fifteen acres to this farm. Mrs. Voshell is a daughter of
Solomon and Mary (Ratts) Knoy, natives of North (Carolina and Indiana,
and of German extraction. Mr. Voshell is a shrewd and industrious
business man, and from present appearances will make a success in life.
He is now agent for the New Home Sewing Machine in this township.
PRESTON D. WAKELAND, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser
of this township, was born August 23, 1830, in Butler County, Ohio, and
is the third of the six children born to Turner R. and Nianetia (Arthur)
Wakeland, Kentuckians, of Irish and Scotch-Irish extraction. Preston
340 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
D.'s parents brought him to Marion County, Ind., in his fourth year,'
and here he attained manhood on the farm, and received the rudi-
ments of an education. In 1856, he came to Morgan County, and
has remained here ever since. He enlisted, in the fall of 1862, in
Company H, Seventieth Indiana Infantry. He was in the following
battles: Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, and in the sieges of Atlanta,
Bentonville and Averyboro, besides other battles and numerous skir-
mishes. He was discharged at Indianapolis in the spring of 1865. He
also accompanied Sherman on his "march to the sea." Mr. Wakeland
was married, on October 16, 1853, to Sarah P. Hawkins, a native of In-
diana. They have had seven children — one deceased (unnamed), Ed-
wilda J. (deceased), Turner R., Clytus C, Eliza J., John J. and Charley
A. Mrs. Wakeland is a member of the Christain Church, and he is a
member of the G. A. R. He has a farm of ninety-eight acres, well im-
proved, and is a liberal giver to all charitable institutions. He is a Re-
publican. He has been acting as Deputy Sheriff, more or less, for the
past eight years.
BLUFORD CLARK WATSON, a farmer and stock-raiser of Ash-
land Township, was born July 29, 1852, in Morgan County, and in the
ninth of eleven children born to Simon and Samirah (Bowman) Watson,
the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky. Our
subject was reared a farmer, but received a good education from the pub-
lic schools. At the age of twenty years, he commeaced teaching school,
and has taught, with the exception of one winter, ever since with good
success. On February 3, 1876, he was married to Sarah A. Michael, a
native of Morgan County, born August 9, 1857. Three children have
been born to them — Minnie B., born September 22, 1877; Maud E., born
May 17, 1880; and Ivy C, born September 29, 1882. Mr. Watson is a
member of the Masonic fraternity at Eminence, this county. In politics,
he is a stanch Democrat. He owns a fine little farm of 110 acres, acquired
through his own thrift and industry. Mr. Watson is a genial, whole-
souled gentleman, and very much respected by his associates and ac-
quaintances.
LEVI B. WHITAKER, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of
Ashland Township, was born March 1, 1828, in the western part of this
county, near Owen, and is one of the eleven children born to Grafton and
Margaret (Gregg) Whitaker, Kentuckians, of English descent. Grafton
Whitaker came to this county in 1826, and at his death owned 680 acres
of land. He was Colonel of the militia in the county soon after his
arrival. He died July 19, 1862. Levi B. Whitaker grew to maturity
on a farm, receiving a rudimentary education. As the schools were poor,
he studied at home by the light of the fire — they had no lamps then. He
remained with his father until his twenty-fifth year, when his father
gave him 200 acres of land in the woods, and he began to make him a
home. Mr. Whitaker now owns 540 acres in this county, pretty well-
improved, and made it by his industry. On January 21, 1869, Mr.
Whitaker was married to Susan C. RobertsoQ, a native of Owen County,
Ind., and a daughter of Thomas and Delilah (Asher) Robertson, natives
of East Tennessee and Kentucky, and of Irish and English extraction.
Mr. Whitaker is a member of the Missionary Baptist and his wife of the
Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat, and was elected Trustee of
Ashland Township in the spring of 1874, holding the position one term.
Mr. Whitaker is a liberal giver to all charitable institutions, and by his
kind and sympathetic nature has won for himself many friends.
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP. 341
DAVID L. WHITAKER (deceased) was born August 30, 1830, in
Morgan County, Ind., and died January 3, 1872, and was one of
the eleven children born to Grafton and Margaret (Gregg) Whitaker, na-
tives of Kentucky, and of English extraction, and early settlers of this
county. David L. was reared on a farm, and received the rudiments of
an education. He remained at home until his twenty-eighth year, when
he went to work for himself. On November 18, 1858, Mr. Whitaker
married Mary J. Edwards, a native of Owen County, Ind., and born
February 9, 1841. Two children were born to this couple — John S.,
born on December 5, 1859; and Melinda B., on April 14, 1863. Mr.
Whitaker was an active member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He
had received 100 acres of land from his father, and at his death owned
334 aci'es, which has since been divided between the two children and his
widow. The children each received 117 acres, and Mrs. Whitaker 100
acres; each also received an equal portion of $3,300. Mr. Whitaker was
a devout Christian gentleman, and very liberal in all his dealings. He
was a stanch Democrat, and at one time acted as Assessor of Ray Town-
ship. Mrs. Wuitaker is a daughter of William and Lucinda (Asher)
Edwards, natives of Indiana.
JOHN S. WHITAKER, farmer and stock-raiser of this township,
was born December 5, 1859, in Morgan County, Ind., and is the eldest
of the two children born to David L. and Mary J. (Edwards) Whitaker,
natives of Morgan and Owen Counties, Ind., and respectively of English
and German descent. John S. was reared upon a farm, but received a
good education, graduating from the Spencer High School, and attend-
ing two years at the State University at Bloomington, Ind., where he
acquitted himself with honor. He has followed farming since his return
home. November 14, 1882, he was married to Alice Voshell, a native
of this county. He and his wife belong to the Missionary Baptist
Church. Mr. Whitaker belongs to the following: The Sigma-Chi frater-
nity at Bloomington, Ind., and the Masonic fraternity at Eminence, Ind.
He is a wide-awake Democrat, and in the spring of 1882 was elected As-
sessor of Ashland Township, an office which he holds four years. He re-
ceived from his father's estate 117 acres of good land, takes great pride
in raising good stock, and is an excellent business manager. Mrs.
Whitaker is a daughter of Levi J. and Sarah A. (Mannan) Voshell, na-
tives of Indiana.
JOHN WINGLER, farmer and stock-raiser of this township, and
also a manufacturer of brick, was born March 5, 1842, in this county, and
is the youngest of four children born to John and Eva (Knoy) Wingler,
both deceased, natives of Indiana and North Carolina, and of German
extraction. John was reared a farmer, being poorly educated. When
he was quite young, his parents died, and he lived with his grandfather,
George Knoy, until his twentieth year. At that time he enlisted in
Company H, Seventy-ninth Indiana Infantry, August 20, 1862, and re-
mained in the service until September, 1863, wheu he was discharged on
account of disability. He was engaged in numerous skirmishes, and on
his return home he engaged in farming. In the year 1873, he began
manufacturing brick, and has since that time burned about 12,000,000.
Mr. Wingler married, November 2, 1865, Milkey Costin, of this county.
They have had six children — Lewis F., Ella F.* Katy E., Jesse E. and
two infants unnamed. He belongs to the I. O. O. P. , and his wife to
he Christian Church, He is a Democrat. He is industrious, and is
ow cultivating a nice farm of forty acres, which is well improved.
342 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
GREGG TOWNSHIP.
GEORGE RILEY BRIANT was born in Clay Township, this coun-
ty, August 17, 1843, being a son of John S. and Rachel (Burr is) Briatit,
who came at an early day to this State, married, and reared nine sons
and one daughter. George R. Briant, after working on the farm and
going to school, enlisted August 12, J 801, in Company A, Thirty-third
Indiana Volunteer Regiment, and served actively for three and a half
years; he experienced many hard battles, and May 25, 1865, had his left
arm shot off at the sh(julder, which led to his discharge in February,
1865. He was previously taken prisoner at Thompson's Station, and
held thirty-three days in Libby Prison, and afterward, in February,
1864, became a veteran. After the war he engaged in farming, and in
1879 commenced the photographic business at Wilbur, in which he is now
engaged. While on veteran furlough, April 26, 1864, he married Emily
S., daughter of W. Gordon (deceased), which union gave issue to seven
children — Franklin Sherman, Bennie Ellsworth, Lodema Ellen, Naomi
E. (deceased), Yiola Eldora, Letida Evaline and Dudley Erech. In
1878, Mr. Briant came into this township, and has for some years re-
sided at Wilbur. He was Township Assessor from 1876 to 1878, and
has served eight years as Constable. He is owner of 120 acres in Jeffer-
son, and of 12^ acres in this township. Mr. Bnant is an active Repub-
lican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
RICE EVANS BROWN was born m Oldham County, Ky., January
27, 1819, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (AVilson) Brown, na-
tives of Virginia, whero they married in 1796. Mr. Brown came to In-
diana in 1834, after living in Kentucky for some years, where Mrs.
Brown closed her life in 1829, aged tifty-two years. He aftei-ward mar-
ried Elizabeth Phillips, and died in 1854, aged eighty years, in this
township. Rice Evans Brown was reared on the farm, and received the
rudiments of education from the subscription schools. September 7,
1837, he mai-ried Ann C, daughter of Bright and Elizabeth Pruitt, by
which union were born to them ten children — William B., Andrew C,
Emily S., James M., Sarah E., Amos (deceased), Alvin H., Almira J.,
Mary M. (deceased) and Ida May. Mrs. Brown departed this life Au-
gust 5, 1883, aged sixty-two years, a member of the Christian Church.
Mr. Brown owns and cultivates 160 acres, of which Mrs. Brovra inherited
eighty from her father. Three of their sons — William B., Andrew C.
and James M. — were soldiers in the late war. Mr. Brown is a pillai' of
the Christian Church, and a respected citizen.
JAMES HENRY BROWN was born in this township September 15,
1842, and is a sod of Oliver H. and Betsey (Carter) Brown, natives of
Kentucky, whose parents moved to Indiana in the early time, and located
in Morgan County, where the parents of our subject were married.
James Henry is the eldest of this family, and assisted his father on the
homestead farm. September 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Thir-
ty-third Indiana Volunteer Regiment, served three years, and in Febru-
ary, 1864, became a veteran. He took part in the battles of Wild Cat,
GREGG TOWNSHIP. 343
Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, the historic " Sherman's march," and
during his service was promoted from Corporal to Captain of his com-
pany, as -which he left the army. After his return, he pursued farming
for some years, and in February, 1871, engaged in mercantile business
at Hall, which enterprise he has successfully continued. While at home
on furlough, April 17, 1864, he married Miss Emeline, dau.ghter of
Michael Pruitt, to which union have been born six children — Leroy N.
(deceased), Oraola, Josephine (deceased), Ina Bell, Daisy D. and Ralph
Edwin. In 1866, Mr. Brown was elected Township Trustee, and has
been Postmaster at Hall since 1876. He is a stanch Republican and a
Master Mason, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
BENJAMIN CORN WELL was born in Oldham County, Ky., Decem-
ber 3, 1844, and is the eldest of the five children of John and Minei'va
(Williams) Cornwell, natives of Kentucky, who located in Washington
County, Ind., where our subject grew to manhood and obtained the com-
mon education the schools afforded. During boyhood, Benjamin learned
the blacksmith trade, at which he labored until August, 1861, when he
enlisted in Company K, Fifty-third Indiana Volunteers, and served
actively at Vicksburg, Black River, Bolivar, Jackson, Shiloh and on other
fields; received an honorable discharge in 1864, aad afterward engaged
at farming for one year; then resumed blacksmithing, at which he has
siuce continued. November 16, 1865, he wedded Vernilla Ludlow, of
this county, and they have become parents to five children, three of
whom are living — John Milton, Altha and Levada. Mr. Cornwell is an
excellent man and a patriotic citizen. Like all the soldiers, glory nestles
around him and shows him worthy of confidence and support. He is an
esteemed citizen, and Mrs. C. is a member of the Christian Church.
JAMES COX was born in Dayton, Ohio, August 8, 1823, and is a son
of John W^. and Nancy (Swisher) Cox, natives of Pennsylvania, who
came to this State in 1824, and settled in this county, about three miles
from Martinsville; they reared a family of five — two sons and three
daughters. James Cox, after reaching manhood, in conjunction with G.
W. Clapper, purchased his father's interest in a mill, and managed the
same until 1868, when Mr. Clapper retired, and he conducted the same
alone. In 1846, he married Sarah Rogers, a union cemented by six
children — John W., William (deceased), Mattie, Emma, Sarah (deceased),
and Aquilla B. ; Mrs. Cox died in December, 1863, a member of the
Christian Church. May 5, 1864, Mr. Cox wedded Elizabeth J. Hoyt,
and to this marriage were bestowed three children — Edgar G., Hattie
and Minnie Bell. In 1868, his mill at High Rock having burned, Mr.
Cox moved, to Martinsville, and in company with another, erected a steam
flouring mill, which was continued nine years. In November, 1882, he
removed to Hall, and purchased a half interest in the steam saw and
flouring mill, to which he has since devoted his, time and energy. Mr.
Cox is an esteemed and worthy citizen, and he and wife are members of
the Christian Church.
REV. JESSE BROOKS JOHNSON was born in this county, January
20, 1837, and is a son of Brooks S. and Anna B. (Green) Johnson, natives
of North Carolina, who came to this section about 1835, and settled in
Adams Township, where Mrs. Johnson ended her life in 1858; Mr. John-
son is still living, aged eighty-five years. Rev. Mr. Johnson was reared
at home, and is the youngest son of eight children. He early acquired
a good education, and afterward taught for some time, instructing in
344 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
penmanship for live years. He grew up in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and being gifted as a speaker, naturally leaned toward the
ministry; he afterward, however, affiliated with the Christian Church in
1867, and was ordained Elder in 1870. in which denomination he has
continued to preach efficiently. October 20, 1859, he married Mary E.,
daughter of Allen R. Seaton, and to this union have been bestowed six
children — Lieusely, Charles S. , Melvin A., Carrie, Ernest F. and Oliver.
The mother of this family came to her death March 29, 1882, aged
forty-three years, a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Johnson
removed to his farm in 1871, comprising 107 acres; but he has never
neglected the service of God and the welfare of his fellow-man. Dur-
ing 1883, he was pastor of Mount Pleasant Church at Hall. He is a
noted temperance orator and Sabbath school worker, an upright man, a
persuasive preacher, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
HOWARD C. JONES, M. D., was born in Hendricks County, Ind.,
May 4, 1853, and is the only child of William W. and Mary Ann (Poe)
Jones, both natives of Kentucky, but married in this State. Dr. Jones
was reared at home, in Clayton, and afterward worked three years in a
woolen factory, but attended the common schools a due time. After pre-
paring himself, he entered, in 1874, the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons at Indianapolis, from which he graduated in 1877, as Doctor of
Medicine. His first experience was at Pittsboro, whence he removed to
Marion County, and became physician to the Marion County Asylum.
December 23, 1877, he married at Clayton, Julia A., daughter of Robert
S. and Elizabeth Pearson, to which union were bestowed three children —
Rilus, Pearl (deceased) and Irwin. Two months succeeding his marriage,
he moved to Hall, in this county, and began the practice of his profes-
sion, taking rank immediately as a practitioner. He is an old-school
regular physician, and enjoys the confidence of his fellow-citizens, having
graduated No. 1 in a class of thirty-four. Dr. Jones is a Republican and
an esteemed citizen.
WILLIAM KIRK is a native of Shelby County, Ind., having been
born February 7, 1830, and his parents having been William H. and
Elizabeth (Depew) Kirk, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, who
came to this State in the eai-ly days, and in 1838 to this covmty. They
were blessed with five sons and four daughters. Our subject was reared
at home and on a farm, obtained some rudimental education from the
common schools, and began life for himself when twenty-two years of
age. In 1851, he married, in this county, Mary E , daughter of Nathan
Dow, and to them were bestowed five children — Nathan H. (deceased),
David B. , Daniel R., Martha Alice, and Nancy Elizabeth. Mr. Kirk is
owner of 217 acres of good farming land in two tracts, both in this town-
ship, and most of which is in fair improvement and cultivation. Out of
this property, he received but sparse assistance from his father's estate.
Mr. Kirk is a practical farmer, a successful man in business, a Republican
in politics, and he and his wife are strict members of the Christian
Church.
SMITH LABERTEW, farmer, is a native of Owen County, Ind.;
was born September 25, 1841, his parents being Joseph and Mary Ann
(Hart) Labertew, natives of Ohio, who came to Indiana in an early day
and settled near Gosport, where Joseph Labertew died in 1846. Mrs.
Labertew is still living, and is about eighty years of age. Smith worked
on the farm and attended school as a boy, receiving a mediocre education.
GREGG TOWNSHIP. 345
September, 1861, he enlisted in the Thirty-third Indiana Regiment, be-
came a veteran, and served in all nearly four years. He was detailed for
hospital duty in 1863, and continued therein until the end. March 18,
1865, he was captured at Blackwater, S. C, and held eight days. Soon
after, he was sent to Tennessee from Resaca with wounded men, and re-
turned to hospital duty at Resaca. November 22, 1866, he married
Asenath Lewallen, from which union has resulted one child — Carl A.
Mr. Labertew came to this township in 1870, settled where he now li ves
on 120 acres of well-improved land, the earning of his own industry and
care. Mr. Labertew is a Master Mason; in politics a Republican, and,
in company with his wife, a member of the Christian Church.
ROBERT W. McNAUGHT is a native of Morgan County, Ind., was
born November 28, 1837, and is the youngest son of Robert W. and
Martha McNaught; the former a native of Scotland, the latter of Penn-
sylvania, who removed to this State and settled in Owen County, and
still later in this county, where they finished their lives — Mr. McNaught
in December, 1847, aged forty-eight, and Mrs. McNaught in November,
1866, aged fifty-five years, having reared four sons and four daughters.
Our subject was reared in Martinsville, attended the usual schools, and
afterward the University at Indianapolis; and afterward married Mary
C. Garrison, with an issue of eight children in all — Ada L., Lora B.,
Emma A., Olive M., Cora, Joseph W., Frank and Walter. Mr. Mc-
Naught served as Justice of the Peace in 1865, and was re-elected in
1869. In the spring of 1871, he moved into Hall, and there engaged in
the harness trade, but is now a journeyman. May 25, 1862, he enlisted
in Company H, Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, served three years, was
engaged in the battles of Resaca, Lost Mountain. Rich Mountain, Peach
Tree Creek, Marietta, Atlanta and others. Mr. McNaught is a Repub-
lican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
JOHN WESLEY MINTON was given birth in Knox County, Tenn.,
November 19, 1833, his parents being Ebenezer and Dorcas (Baldwin)
Minton, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Tennessee, who
moved to this State in 1849; settled in Clark County for two years, and
thence came to this township, where Mr. Minton died in 1877, aged
sixty-nine; Mrs. Minton yet lives, aged seventy-five years; they had five
sons and five daughters. Our subject grew up on the home farm, and
when of age went to Illinois for five years, attending and teaching
school; but the greater part of his education was obtained after his
marriage, which took place September 20, 1856, in Illinois, the bride being
Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph Norton, now of Kansas. The result of
this union was twelve children — Maria Elizabeth, Mary Alice, Emma
(deceased), Ida May, Delilah, Rufus Carlton, Elbert, "Cuty" (deceased),
Dollie, Lida, Clyda and Lillie. In 1858, Mr. Minton moved to Kansas,
where he farmed for twelve years. September 10, 1861, he enlisted in
Company G, Seventh Kansas Cavalry, became Second Sergeant, served
three years; re-onlisted in 1864. He was at the battles of Corinth,
luka, Pilot Knob and many skirmishes. In 1871, he returned to Indiana
and settled in Wilbur, where he engaged in mercantile business, and
was made Postmaster in 1872; he was appointed Trustee in 1874, and
elected in 1876, and served in all five years. Mr. Minton has a fai-m of
217 acres, which he owns and manages. He is an active Republican and
a progressive citizen.
NATHAN NICHOLAS, farmer, is a native of Washington County,
Ky., was born September 16 1804, and is a son of Nathan and Nancy
346 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
(Gresham) Nicholas, natives respectively of North Carolina and Vir-
ginia, who emigrated to Orange County, Ind., in 1815. vphere Mr. Nich-
olas died. Our subject settled in this county in 1830, near Mooresville,
and in this tovt^nship in 1848. Mr. Nicholas has been twice married —
first, October 23, 1828, to Sarah Kearby, a native of Kentucky, with an
issue of seven children — Edward C. (deceased), Nancy M., Giles H.,
Elizabeth B. , Sophia Jane, Mary and Thomas K. (deceased). The
mother of these died in 1843, and November 1, 1853, Mr. Nicholas mar-
ried Mrs. Lena Hancock, by which marriage succeeded five children —
Delphina (deceased), Samuel, Loretta F., Lena Fiuatta (deceased) and
Arli'ta T. Mr. Nicholas is owner of eighty acres of excellent and im-
proved land, which possession is wholly his own acquirement. He is in
political matters a Republican, and he and wife are communicants of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
.\LLEN R. SEATON was born in Jefferson County, Ky., April 28,
1808, a son of George and Sarah (Drake) Seaton, natives respectively of
Virginia and Kentucky, who dated their ancestry back to the Scots and
Britons. They were married in Kentucky in 1803, and raised a family
of ten. Allen grew to manhood with his parents and remained with them
until he was twenty-two years old. August 11, 1830, he married Sarah
Pound, a union which produced nine children — John P., George W.,
Charles, Richard (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), James P., Sarah J.,
Grafton W. and Apphia M. (deceased). In 1832, he came to and settled on
a tract of land entered by his father in this township. His sons Charles
and Grafton are prominent physicians of this county, the former being
now Treasurer thereof. Mrs. SeattDn died at Hall January 31, 1884,
aged seventy-two years. She, with her husband, joined the Christian
Church in 1835. Mr. Seaton owns a comfortable eighty -acre farm given
to him by his father. He was once a Whig, but is now a Republican.
Grafton W. Seaton, M. D., was born March 5, 1846, in this
county, and is a son of Allen R. Seaton. He was bred to the farm,
attended public schools, and also the N. W. C. University for two terms.
In 1868, he commenced the study of medicine with his brother Charles,
a physician at Hall, and at the end of a year attended Rush College, Chi-
cago; then, later, the Louisville Medical College, from which he gradu-
ated in 1870, and began practice with his brother the same year. From
1878 to 1881, he was in the drug business. March 2, 1871, he wedded
Sarah E. Welman, with a bestowal of four children — Hany A., Guy,
Edna E. and Nellie. Dr. Seaton is a Freemason, and he and wife are
members of the Christian Church.
ELI P. SHAKE, farmer, was born in Gregg Township, Morgan Coun-
ty, Ind., May 21, 1841, and is the second child in a family of five chil-
dren born to George W. and Catherine H. (Pruitfc) Shake, the former a
native of Jefferson, and the latter of Oldham County, Ky. They were of
German-Scotch and German descent respectively. George W. Shake re-
ceived his early education in his native State, and while yet a young
man, in 1835, came with his parents to Morgan County, Ind. He was
married at the age of eighteen, and soon after bought 160 acres of wild
land in Gregg Township, where he subsequently improved the farm upon
which he still resides. He was once elected Commissioner of Morgan
County, but did not qualify. He is an active member of the Masonic
fraternity. Eli P. Shake, the subject, received a limited common school
education in youth, and was employed on his father's farm until he was
GREGG TOWNSHIP. 347
twenty-one years old. He then leased forty acres of wild land in Gregg
Township for six years, which he cleared. In the fall of 1870, he re-
moved to Bates County, Mo., where he settled on ninety acres of wild prai-
rie land deeded t6 him by his father. Here he built a house, improved
a farm and resided three years. He then sold this place and returned
to Gregg Township, Morgan Co., Ind. , where he bought eighty acres of
the old homestead, upon which he resided until the fall of 1883, when he
sold out and came to Adams Township, same county, where he bought
the farm of eighty acres upon which he now resides. He was married.
July 24, 1862, to Miss Mary E. Yager, a native of Gregg Township,
Morgan Co., Ind., and a daughter of William W. and Sarah A. (Hinkle)
Yager, who were among the pioneers of Gregg Township. Three chil-
dren have blessed their union, of whom two sons — William W. and How-
ard J. are yet living. Both Mr. Shake and wife are and have been from
<^arly youth, devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. In politics, Mr. Shake is a Democrat.
JACOB ALONZO SHIPLEY first saw the light of this world on
March 4, 1846, in Jefferson Township, Morgan County, being the second
son of Tolbert and Sarah (Mclnturf) Shipley, natives of Tennessee and
Ohio respectively; they were pioneers of this county, having lived in this
township for forty- five years. Jacob Alonzo Shipley spent his boyhood
in farm work and pursuing education in the schools. August 15, 1861,
he enlisted in Company A, Thirdy-third Indiana Volunteer Regiment,
and served four years, having become a veteran in February, 1864. He
was made a Corporal, and was captured at Thompson's Station, held
thirty -three days and exchanged. After the war, he engaged in saw
milling for five years in Jefferson Township, after which he resumed
farming, which he has since followed. October 19, 1871, he married
Victoria Rouseau, from which union descended five children — Bertie (de-
ceased), Percy (deceased), Myrtie, Jesse and Hazel. Mr. Shipley was
elected Trustee of this township in 1882, and still serves as such. He
is a Republican in politics, a member of Blankenship Post, G. A. R.,
and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
HENRY B. SMITH, farmer, is a native of Owen County, Ind., was
born February 11, 1827, his parents being Daniel and Elizabeth (Crum)
Smith, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Kentucky, later to Indiana
in 1825, and settled in Owen County until 1831, whence they moved to
this township, made a home on entered land, and there remained until
1875, at which time they removed to Clayton, -^here Mr. Smith closed
his life in 1879, aged about seventy-nine. After this event, the mother
returned to the homestead, now occupied by our subject, and ended her
life in 1881, aged seventy-six years; they had a family of ten children.
Henry B. Smith was reared on the homestead farm, and at seasons
attended the subscription schools. December 2, 1847, he married Jane
Carder, a native of Kentucky, to which union have been given nine chil-
dren— Vernilla A., Ruth J., Sanders, Theodore R., Harvey M., Stephen,
Henry K., Eva J. (deceased) and Martha R. Mr. Smith is the owner of
a good farm of 160 acres, and has a desirable home — most of which he
has acquired by his own efforts. He is a Democrat, and he and wife are
members of the Christian Church.
ELIJAH SMITH, farmer, is a native of Owen County, Ind., was born
February 23, 1829, and is the second son and third child of Daniel and Eliza-
beth (Crum) Smith. He was brought up and grew to manhood on the home
348 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
farm, after he had had some advantages from the schools of the time.
Angust 24, 1852, he married, in this township, Mary Carder, by which
union they had a family of two children — Lafayette C. and James H.
Mr. Smith came to this county in company with his parents, and here he
has made a home, which embraces eighty acres of well improved and
cultivated land, the most of which has been gained by his own unaided
exertions and exacting frugality. By political preference, he is a Demo-
crat, and by cotemporary judgment a good citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Smith,
are members of the Christian Church.
BAKTHOLOME W SMITH, farmer, was born in Owen County, Ind. ,
February 5, 1837, and is the eldest of seven children born to Marcus M.
and Malinda (Pierson) Smith, the former of whom was a native of Mus-
kingum County, Ohio, and the latter of Bourbon County, Ky. They
were of English and Irish descent respectively. Marcus M. Smith-
received orly a very limited education in youth, at the rude log school-
houses of the Indiana frontier; but by his own exertions, and by the
light of a shell-bark fire afterward acquired a fair, practical business
education and became of the best historians in the country. After his
father's death, in the fall of 1824, the family removed to Owen County,
Ind., and settled on some 600 acres of land on the White River, which
his father had entered some years before. Here young Marcus learned
the miller's trade, which he followed for several years, and here he was
afterward married. Later he bought a farm in Owen County, where he-
still resides, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Both himself
and wife are members of the Christian Church, in which church he has
been a minister for more than thirty years. The father of Mrs. Malinda
Smith, Bartholomew Pierson, served under Gen. William H. Harrison
at the battle of Tippecanoe and in that General's other campaigns
against the Indians, and his father, Shadrach Pier§on, was a veteran of
the Revolutionary war, having served seven years, or through the entire
struggle. Bartholomew Smith received such an education in youth as
could be obtained at the primitive log schoolhouses of the frontier, and
was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old.
He was then employed as a salesman for the Turner Scale Company for
about two years. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Tenth Indiana
Battery, and served with the same in all its marches and engagements
until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Indianapolis in
June, 1865. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Chattanooga,
Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign, as well
as many other lesser engagements. At Dallas, Ga. , he was severely in-
jured by the recoil of a piece of artillery, resulting in partial paralysis.
For two years after his return from the army, he was engaged in rail-
roading. He then bought a farm in Ray Township, Morgan Co., Ind.,
where he resided until October, 1876, when he sold and bought another
in Gregg Township, where he still resides. He was married, September
21, 1861, to Miss Mary J. Hancock, a native of Franklin County, Ky.
Five children, two sons and three daughters, have blessed their union, all
of whom are yet living. Mr. Smith is a member of Eminence Lodge,
No. 440, A., F. & A. M., and is also a member of the G. A. R. In pol-
itics, he is a Republican, and is a respected citizen of Gregg Township^
WILLIAM H. SMITH, dealer in general merchandise, Herbemont,
Ind., was born in this township November 5, 1846, and is the sixth of
the twelve children of Allen and Elizabeth (Brown) Smith, natives of
GREGG TOWNSHIP. 349
Kentucky and of English descent. William H. Smith was reared to
farming, and received his education at the common schools. December
6, J 866, he man-ied Mollie E. , daughter of Thomas Dickson, and became
the father of seven children — Ida B., Thomas A., Esta D., Lura E.,
Iva (deceased), Maggie and Herman. In 1874, Mr. Smith embarked in
mercantile business at Herbemont, where he has done a thriving business.
He is a Master Mason, and has acted as Past Master. In 1882, he pur-
chased an interest in a saw-mill, with which he has done fairly. He is
owner of a good and improved farm of sixty acres, which will always
furnish a tine home and revenue. He is a Democrat in politics, and he
and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN B. STALEY was born in Randolph County, N. C, February
21, 1821, and is the third son of the thirteen children of Eli and Mary
(Rhodes) Staley; the former born January 6, 1794, the latter January 4,
1796, married in 1813, and both natives of North Carolina, who moved
to this State in 1832, and settled in Adams Township on Groverument
land, where they resided for thirty years, and reared a family of nine
daughters and three sons. John B. was reared at home and to farming,
but without education. July 13, 1840, in Paris, 111. , he married Sarah
Brown, a native of Virginia, as a result of which contract were born
twelve children — an infant (deceased), George T. (deceased), Mary (de-
ceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Lucinda, Matilda (deceased), Margaret,
Malinda J. (deceased), Martha Ann (deceased), Delphina (deceased),
Sarah Emily and Luella. Mr. Staley is owner of a line farm of 160
acres near the town of Hall, which, after eleven years' residence, he has
rented and retired to the town. He has been liberal to his children in
matters of education, and is an exemplary man generally. He is Demo-
cratic in politics, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
WALTER C. STOUT was born in Randolph County, N. C, October
11, 1828, and is the second son of Allen and Sarah (Brewer) Stout, who
moved to this State in 1831, and settled in Monroe Township, where they
resided five years; then removed to Hendricks County, and entered 320
acres. There Mr. Stout died in 1841, aged forty-six years, and Mrs.
Stout died at Monrovia in 1852, aged fifty-two years. Walter C. Stout
passed his boyhood on the home farm, and in school going. In 1844,
be began learning brick-masonry, at which he worked fourteen years.
May 16, 1848, he married Candace Williams, a union productive of eight
children — Elvina E., Howard, John Wesley, Crittenden C, Mary, Byron,
Thomas and Ira. The mother of these children died December 8, 1864,
when about thirty-eight years old, a member of the M. E. Church. Feb-
ruary 17, 1868, he married Mrs. Dartula Wolf; this marriage gave being
to four children — Joseph, Cordelia, Leotis and Ollie (deceased). In
1844, Mr. Stout began studying law, which he afterward gave up and
went to farming. In 1852, he was engaged in mercantile business at
Hall. In 1856-58, he was Deputy Sheriff* of this county under Dick
Williams. In 1867, he resumed his legal studies, and is at present Dep-
uty Prosecutor of this township. In 1870, he located in this township,
since when he has lived at Wilbur. He is a prominent stump speaker,
and a radical Republican.
THOMAS WILHITE, the seventh son of the fifteen children born to
Noah and Polly (Williams) Wilhite, came into the world at Oldham
County, Ky., October 9, 1831. His parents moved to this State from
Kentucky in 1835, and here resided until death. Thomas was reared to
850 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
farming in this county, receiving by times some education from the com-
mon schools. After his majority, in March, 1852, he married Miss Can-
dace Wilson, which union was united by the birth of four children —
Perry, Mury, John A., and Grant (deceased). The mother of these chil-
dren died March, 1871, and five years thereafter Mr. Wilhite married
Eleanor Kirns, and to this alliance was vouchsafed one child — Ernest.
For some years, Mr. Wilhite has been engaged in the saw and flouring
mill enterprise, which he has managed very encouragingly; previous to
this departure, his business was farming and stock-raising. He is a Re-
publican in politics, and an earnest temperance advocate. He is promi-
nent in good and benevolent works, an honored citizen, and he and wife
are members of the Christian Church.
NOAH H. WILHITE is a native of this township, was born April
26, 1835, and is a son of Noah and Mary (Williams) Wilhite, natives of
Virginia and Kentucky, who came to this State from Kentucky in 1834
and settled on land in this township, where they reared thirteen children.
Our subject was reared to the honorable pursuit of farming, acquired a
fair education from the public schools, and became an adept in music,
both instrumental and vocal. October 6, 1855, in Adams Township, he
married Mary A. Hobbs, by whom he has become father to five children
— Saletha Belle, Urban C, John R., Emma G. and George W. In 1872,
Mr. Wilhite removed to Illinois, remained three years in Effingham
County, where he taught the science of music, and later returned, from
ill health, to Indiana. For the last five years, he has managed the home-
stead. The father of our subject died in March, 1860, aged sixty-nine,
and his mother in July, 1858, aged sixty-two years. The daughter of
our subject — Mrs. Deer — is also a teacher of vocal and instrumental
music.
AARON L. W^ILHITE is a native of Oldham County, Ky., was born
June 16, 1824, and is a son of Lamech and Mary (Koebler) Wilhite, na-
tives of Virginia, who moved first to Kentucky, and later, in 1836, to In-
diana, where they settled on a tract of Government land in this township;
thence they moved to Monrovia, wherethey closed their lives — he at about
seventy-four, and she at about seventy-nine years of age — and they had a
family of seven sons and seven daughters. Aaron worked for his father
and attended school until he reached the age of twenty-two. November
19, 1846, in Hendricks County, he married Rebecca Wiltz, which union
was cemented by five children — Alexander, Sarah (deceased), Mattie, El-
nora and Lafayette. Mr. Wilhite is agreeably located on a fine farm,
comprising ninety-nine acres, cultivated and improved. He is a liberal,
charitable man, a strong temperance advocate, a practical farmer and an
honored citizen. One of his sons and one of his daughters hold posi-
tions as teachers. He and wife are communicants of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, of which Mr. Wilhite is a Steward.
THOMAS J. WILHITE was born in what is now this township
March 25, 1840, and is the fifth child of Joshua and Virginia A. (Brown")
Wilhite, natives of Virginia, who married in Oldham County, Ky. , whence
they came to this State in 1831, and settled in this county, where they
remained until 1858; then removed to Kansas, where they died, the
father in 1867, aged sixty-two, the mother in 1879, aged seventy-four
years, having reared a family of six children. Thomas J. was bred to
farming, and attended the schools of the time. July 6, 1861, he enlisted
in Company B, Twenty-first Indiana Heavy Artillery, in which he served
GREGG TOWNSHIP. 351
actively until January, 1866, being then honorably discharged. He took
part in the battles of Baton Rouge, Port Hudson, Port Morgan, Spanish
Fort, Mobile and many skirmishes. Returning home on veteran furlough
March 15, 1864, he married Miss Candace, daughter of John H. Phillips.
This union wslb strengthened by seven children — Minnie C, Clara I.,
Gertrude, Frank E., Beryl E. , Tennie E. and an infant (deceased). In
1873, Mr. Wilhite was elected Justice of the Peace; moved to Plainfield
in 1876, and to this county in 1879; farmed one year; embarked in
the harness business at Monrovia, and came to Hall in 1881, where he
engaged in the harness business for himself. In politics, he is a Green-
backer. Mr. Wilhite has considerable property, for which he has labored
actively and honorably. He and wife belong to the Christian Church.
JACOB A. WILHITE is a native of this township, was born June
10, 1849, and is the eldest child of Elijah and Jane (Pruitt) Wilhite,
natives of Kentucky, who came to this State in early life with their
parents; they married in this township and reai'ed a family of seven
children. Jacob A. Wilhite was reared to farming, and educated
at the common schools. April 7, 1870, he married Miss Maggie,
daughter of John B. Staley, and to them were bestowed four children —
Clara, Minnie, Bertha and Sarah. Mr. Wilhite is a practical, experi-
enced and successful farmer, who manages his improved and adorned
farm of 160 acres, which is situated about one and a half miles west of the
town of Hall. Mr. Wilhite is a member of the fraternity of Odd Fellows,
and a Republican in political choice. He and wife are consistent and
useful members of the Christian Church.
JOHN WILLIAMS was born in Shelby County, Ky., August 19,
1801, and is a son of John and Sarah (Kirkendall) VVilliams, natives of
Pennsylvania and of German descent. He grew to manhood on a farm,
and acquired a rudimentary education at the Kentucky subscription
schools. February 1, 1821, he married Elizabeth Pruitt, and to them
were born nine children — Zerilda (deceased), Tabitha (deceased), Can-
dace (deceased), Perlina (deceased), John B., William, Matilda, Rice
(deceased) and Levi (deceased). The mother of these children died March
11, 1845, aged about forty-eight. August 7, 1848, Mr. Williams wed-
ded Elizabeth K, Whittaker, from which marriage resulted one child —
Mary M. This mother also died (October 6, 1883,) aged seventy-two.
Mr. Whittaker came to this State in 1830, and located on Government
land. He now owns a good farm of 300 acres.
William Williams was born June 20, 1832, and is a son of
John Williams. He was reared a farmer, and March 25, 1854, married
Martha A., daughter of Samuel Wilhite, deceased, to Avhich marriage
were allotted live children — -Delphina, Olive E., Charles, Calvin and
Elvin. January, 1861, at Austin, Mo., he enlisted in Company B.,
Fourteenth Missouri State (iruard: served fourteen months, and in a
skirmish suffered a broken hip. In 1863, he returned to and settled in
this State. Mr. Williams has more than on-ce been engaged with the
James and Younger outlaws. He resides with his father, and is owner
of eighty acres of superior land. He is a brave, courageous man, and
feared, but respected.
JOHN A. WILSON is a native of this couuty, was born August 28,
1843, and is a son of John F. and Hannah (Pruitt) W^ilson, natives of
Kentucky. John A. Wilson obtained an ordinary education and remained
at home until he was of age. July 20, 1863, he enlisted in Company L,
352 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Twenty-first Keojiment, First Heavy Artillery, served until February,
1866, and was discharged honorably. After long and active service his
only casualty was an injury to his little finger. After the war, he en-
gaged in farming, where he has since made his home. November 22,
1866, he married in Cumberland County, 111., Mary M. , daughter of John
Williams, and a native of this township. To this uniou'were bestowed
six children — Otis E., Olin M., Ira E., Myrtie, Myron L. aud Chauncy
L. Mr. Wilson manages his home farm of fifty-five acres — a good, im-
proved and valuable property. Except some little time passed in Mis-
souri and Kansas, Mr. VVilson has made his home in these parts. He is
Republican in political principles, and he and wife are consistent and
honorary members of the Christian Church.
JEFFERSON WOODEN was born in Jefferson County, Ky., May
27, 1821, and is the eldest son of Robert M. and Malinda Wooden, na-
tives of Kentucky, and respectively of Irish and Scotch descent. Jeffer-
son was brought up on a farm and educated in the subscription schools of
Owen County, Ind., where his parents had located, and where they ended
their days. He left his father's home when he was twenty years of age,
and January 14, 1844, married Mary E. Wilson, and to them were be-
stowed four children — Leanhor, Thena, John R. and Malinda B. (de-
ceased). Mr. Wooden is located on 165 acres of improved land, making
a very comfortable home, nearly all of which is his own acquirement.
He is a Republican, was elected County Assessor in 1872, and is an es-
teemed, quiet and useful citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Wooden are members
of the Missionary Baptist Church, and greatly regarded in their church
and community.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
JOHN B. COX, deceased, was born November 12, 1829, in Morgan
County, Ind. , and here made his home until the day of his death, which
occurred October 11, 1865. He was reared as a farmer, and educated at
the public schools and at Franklin College, in Johnson County, Ind.
September 20, 1853, he was married in his native county to Harriet
Landers, daughter of the Hon. William Landers, an early settler of Mor-
gan County, and had boi-n to him three children — Florence C,
Emma S. and Ida B., all of whom were still living at the time of his
death. Mr. Cox was one of the most extensive farmers and stock-dealers
in Morgan' County, and was one of the firm of Fee, Conduitt & Cox,
wholesale dry goods merchants of Indianapolis. He was a cheerful and
honorable man, a liberal and consistent Christian, a devoted, active and
prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Upon his
death-bed he appropriated $1,000 to be expended in annual pay-
ments toward supporting the circuit minister in charge of the church
to which he and his family belonged. He was also a prominent Ma-
son, by the rites and ceremonies of which order his funeral and burial
services were conducted. He left an extensive property, most of which
had been acquired by his own industry. The three little girls, under the
care and guidance of a Christian mother, have grown to womanhood.
Two of them — Mrs. J. L. Matthews and Mrs. C. H. Sheets — reside at
MADISON TOWNSHIP. 353
Mooresville (at which place Mrs. Cox has lived since 1869), and the other,
Mrs. Dr. Stuckey, in the city of Indianapolis.
THOMAS ELY is the tenth of twelve children born to David and
Sarah (Claypool) Ely, natives of Virginia, and of German and English
■descent. Thomas Ely was born in Lee County Va., January 2, 1826 ;
in 1837, he came with his parents to Heudi'icks County, this State, where
his father died in 1845 ; he came with his mother to this county, in
1847, and located in Brown Township, but a short time afterward came
to. this township, and here his mother departed this life in 1857. Mr.
Ely has cleared from the forest a tine farm of 135 acres, which is well
tilled and equipped, and stocked with horses, cattle, hogs and sheep.
December 28, 1848, he married Martha J., daughter of Caltonand Nancy
(Jones) Grisham, and a native of Morgan County. The children born to
this union are Reuben, Elizabeth, Benjamin F. and Drusilla. Mr. Ely
is a Democrat, and was once elected Justice of the Peace of Madsion
Township, but declined the office; he is an advocate of temperance and
an Odd Fellow, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church.
DAVID T. EVANS was born in Metcalf County, Ky., August 7,
1843, is the third of fifteen children born to Robert and Lucy (Button)
Evans, and came to Indiana in 1861 with his parents. He worked at
farming until 1877, when he began mercantile business at Redhouse,
now known as Waverly. Three years later, he moved to Exchange, Ind. ,
remained one year, and then came to Landersdale, where he is now do-
ing a first-class business. July 3, 1878, he married SophroniaE. Smith,
daughter of William H. Smith, and a native of Kentucky. Three chil-
dren have been born to this union — Elsie, Elmer and William R. Mr.
Evans was Postmaster at Exchange for a year, and has been Deputy
Postmaster at Landersdale since March 1, 1881. He is a member of
Waverly Lodge, No. 318, I. O. O. F., and also of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. Mrs. Evans is a member of the Christian Church.
ANDREW J. GOODP ASTER (deceased) was born in Bath County,
Ky., November 24, 1822, was the son of Michael and Margaret (Car-
penter) Goodpaster, and was reared a farmer. September 19, 1844, he
married Scythia Carpenter, also a native of Bath County, born February
20, 1824, and daughter of Michael and Sallie (Jones) Carpenter. The
month following his marriage, Mr. Goodpaster came to this township
and settled on a farm which had been entered by his father-in-law, built
a cabin and reduced the forest to a home, where he lived until his death,
July 18, 1865. His widow now conducts the farm, which consists of
eighty acres, and is well cultivated and stocked. She is a consistent
Christian, an amiable woman, and the mother of six children — Sarah M.,
Andrew Jackson, Mary M., Betsy Ann, Nancy J. (deceased), and Lou,
the last named now a teacher.
WILLIAM LANDERS (deceased) was born in Virginia December
18, 1789, and died in Madison Township, this county, December 10,
1851. When be was but a mere child, his parents removed to the State
of Kentucky, where his mother died, and fi-om whence his father came
into Indiana. Our subject arrived in Morgan County in the year 1819,
and at once purchased from the Government a large tract of land, upon
which he settled and spent the rest of his life. Before leaving Ken-
tucky, he was married to Ibbe Stone, who died in Morgan County Octo-
ber 3, 1821. She had borne her husband five children, viz. , Jonathan,
354 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
William, Joshua, Nimrod and Jeremiah, Joshua being the only one
now living. November 29, 1822, our subject was maiTied, in Jackson
Township, to Delilah Stone, a younger sister of his first wife. She bore
him the following children, viz., Washington, who died in the thirtieth
year of his age; Franklin, now the Hon. Franklin Landers, of Indian-
apolis; Sarah, wife of Cyrus Vickery, of Iowa; Ibbe, who died in 1838
at ten years of age; John, now of Landers & Co., Indianapolis; Martin,
died in 1852, about twenty years of age; Harriet, widow of J. B. Cox;
and Jackson, now of Landers & Co., Indianapolis. The mother of these
children died March 11, 1883, and the following from the obituary notice
published in the Indianapolis Journal of the following day pays a fitting
tribute to a noble woman: "The pioneers of the 'New Purchase' are
leaving one by one, and in a few years none will remain to tell of the
early settlement of this section of the State. The last to leave was Mrs.
Delilah Stone Landers, the venerable mother of the Hon. Franklin Lan-
ders, who died in this city yesterday morning, at the home of her son,
Jackson Landers, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. Mrs. Landers was
born in Mercer County, Ky., November 15, 1798. In the fall of 1819,
her father emigrated to Indiana, and settled in Morgan County, near the
Marion and Johnson County lines. In 1822, she was married to William
Landers, one of the earliest settlers of this section of the State. She
bore him nine childreD, six of whom are now living, three of them — Hon.
Franklin Landers, John Landers and Jackson Landers — being well
known residents of this city. When Mrs. Landers was married, her hus-
band had five small children by a former wife. These, with the nine she
bore him, grew up under her care and guidance, and became respected
and honored citizens. What brighter crown than this could gild her
brow ? * * * After her husband's death, she continued to reside
upon the farm and direct its cultivation until some ten years ago, when
she removed to this city, and has since lived here with her sons. She
conducted her farming operations with success, and added much to the
patrimony left by her husband. She was a member of the first Baptist
Church organized in the section where she lived. * * * g^ie died
in the assurance of a blessed immortality. * * * Her memory
will be revered by those who grew up around her, for she was a good
woman, abounding in those virtues which honor womanhood and make
the world better." At his death, William Landers had been for several
years one of the Associate Judges of Morgan County; he was also Coun-
ty Commissioner for a number of years, and at a very early date was
elected Justice of the Peace, and held the ofi&ce for about sixteen consec-
utive years. About the year 1835, he made the race for the Legislature
against Dumont, the issue being based upon the internal improvement
schemes so largely undertaken by the State about that time, Landers
maintaining that the undertaking was too great, that the State was finan-
cially incapable of meeting such gigantic obligations, and, though de-
feated, he lived to see his opponents go down, and the correctness of his
theories demonstrated. In politics, our subject was an uncompromising
Democrat, and his life and influence were such as to mold and shape the
politics of the community in which he lived, and it is somewhat remark-
able that, though he has been dead nearly a third of a century, the town-
ship in which he lived and died has never once given a Republican
majority. At the time of his death he was a Master Mason, and had
been for many years a consistent member of the Baptist Church.
MADISON TOWNSHIP. 355
GEORGE W. LOWE was born in Guilford County, N. C, July 4,
1832, and is the fifth of seven children born to Absalom and Sarah
(Coble) Lowe, natives of North Carolina and of German extraction. In
1832, while George W. was yet an infant, the family came to Hendricks
County, this State, remained a year, and then came to this township,
purchased a farm, developed it from the wilderness, and here the father
died in July, 1877, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; his
widow, now eighty-three years of age, still survives. On this farm
George W. Lowe was reared until eighteen years old, when he .entered
upon an apprenticeship of three years at carpentering. June 20, 1858,
he married Sarah J., daughter of John Simpson, a native of Kentucky;
and now the mother of three children — William W\, Anderson and Noel.
In politics, Mr. Lowe is a Democrat, and is Assessor of Madison Town-
ship, having been elected for four years. He and wife are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his son William is now a teacher.
The home farm contains 161 acres, and is well stocked and improved.
EZRA A. OLLEMAN was born in Mercer County, Ky., October 6,
1828, and is the eldest of four children born to James and Mary (Tisin-
ger) Olleman, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina. At
the age of fourteen, Ezra lost his father; he was then employed at di'iv-
ing cattle from Indianaj)olis to New York, at $8.50 per month; was thus en-
gaged, alternating with farming, until 1846, when he began a three years*^
apprenticeship at cabinet-making in Cincinnati. In 1849, he came to
Mooresville, and for three years conducted business as cabinet-maker,
then sold out and engaged in merchandising at Waver ly until 1858; he
next purchased 320 acres of land in this township, on which he has
since resided, with the exception of three years. When he was employed
as associate editor of the Indiana Farmer at Indianapolis. During this
period he also established, in company with James Buchanan, the Sun,
the first paper ever published in the interests of the Greenback National
party, of which party he was the first Chairman of the State Central
Committee, and also first Chairman of the State Executive Committee.
Through the regular session of the Legislature of 1863-64, and the
called session of 1864-65, he served as a Republican, having been elect-
ed from a district that usually gave 700 Democratic majority. In the
spring of 1863, he enlisted in Company D, Seventieth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, but was discharged on account of physical disability. August
16, 1849, he was married to Amanda M. Kelley, daughter of James S.
and Eliza (Whetsel) Kelley, natives of Harrisburg, Penn., and Wheeling,
Va. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and the Whetsel fam-
ily came to Indiana in 1819, and settled on the banks of the White Riv-
er, in Harrison Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley were mar-
ried in December, 1826; were the parents of four children, and died re-
spectively in 1862 and 1852, members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Olleman are the parents of' five children — Or-
lando A., Alma Belle, Flora E., Laura E. and Edward L., and are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. INlr. O. is also a member of
the Mooresville Masonic Lodge, No. 78.
JOHN B. RINKER, farmer and stock grower, was born in Washing-
ton County, Ind., May 2, 1825, and is the son of Levi and Elizabeth
(Craycraft) Rinker. In 1829, the family came to Clay Township, this
county, where the parents closed their lives. John R. Rinker was edu-
cated at the subscription schools of his early days, and remained upon
356 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
the home farm until February 2, 1851, when he married Elizabeth Clark'
a native of Morgan County, and daughter of John and Rebecca (Mat^
thews) Clark. The children born to this union were three — Frank, El
M. and Anna E. Their mother died January 29, 1874, a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and on March 30, 1875, Mr. Rinker mar-
ried Ella Beckley, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of James and
Elizabeth (Christie) Beckley. One child, Walter A.., has crowned this
union. Mr. Rinker is a Democrat, and for three years was Township
Trustee. He owns a well- improved farm of 100 acres, made by his own
exertions. His daughter, Annie E., is a prominent teacher in the schools
of the county, and his wife, Mrs. Ellen Rinker, for twelve years taught
in Hendricks and Morgan Counties, this State, and one term in Missouri.
Mr. Rinker is a Methodist and his wife a Baptist.
JOHN SAWYERS, farmer and stock grower, was born in Ouilford
County, N. C, January 22, 1825, and is the youngest of the eight chil-
dren born to John and Sarah (Tansy) Sawyers, natives of the same State,
and of English descent. The family came to this State about the year
1832, the parents dying in this county. John Sawyers was reared on a
farm, and after reaching his majority traveled through a number of the
Western States. On his return, he married Phoebe Lindley, daughter of
Edward and Joanna (Kirk) Lindley, and to this union have been born
ten children: Dayton, Ella (now Eversol), Anna, Ola, Li Hie (now Pugh),
Mattie, Ida, Lewis, Bernice and Wallace. Mr. Sawyers has always pro-
vided for himself and is now the owner of 740 acres, well improved and
stocked. He makes a specialty of stock-raising, and ships largely to
Indianapolis. He is a member of the Society of Friends, while his wife
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
RUFTJS B. SMITH was born in Harrison Township, this county,
October 16, 1845, and is the second of nine children born to Robert and
Cynthia (Stotts) Smith, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively, and of
English extraction. He was reared on the home farm, and was educated
at the common schools. February 7, 1865, he enlisted in Company E,
One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, served seven
months, and was honorably discharged in September of the same year.
February 3, 1868, he married Harriet P. Paxton, a native of Tennessee,
and daughter of William and Mary Paxton. The following children
were born to this marriage: AnnaGr., Guy O. (deceased), Dovie, Nellie,
Robert Walter and Bertha. Mr. Smith is the owner of 495 acres of well-
improved land, and is largely engaged in the live stock trade — growing
and buying, and shipping extensively to Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.
■On bis land is also one of the township schoolhouses. In politics, Mr.
Smith is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
HENRY T. SWEARENOIN was born in Randolph County, N. C. ,
April 19, 1819, and came with his parents to Morgan County in 1836.
On the 27th of December, 1843, he was happily married to Mary M.
Parks, who bore him eight children, of whom two died in early child-
hood. In July, 1846, he and wife were baptized in the Christian Church
at Mt. Gilead, in which he became a Deacon in 1847 and a Trustee in
1860, and of which he continued a leading and consistent member until
his death, January 20, 1884, at the age of sixty-four years nine months
and one day. His widow still resides on the old homestead of 500 acres,
in the management of which she is assisted by two of her sons — the
youngest now twenty-three years old. Mrs. Swearengin was born in
MADISON TOWNSHIP. 357
Mason County, Ky., April 10, 1826, and is the daughter of William and
Henrietta (Thoraas) Parks, natives of Kentucky, and of English extrac-
tion; they came to Indiana in 1840, located in this township, and here
died in 1849 and 1879 respectively, at the ages of tifty-five and seventy-
nine years.
CYRUS A. WATSON, farmer and stock- grower, was born in this
township August 17, 1829, and is the eldest of live children born to
Thomas and Mary Ann (Royston) Watson, natives respectively of Vir-
ginia and Tennessee, and of Welsh and Irish descent. They erected the
iirst log cabin in Madison Township in 1819, and came here to reside in
1823, having purchased two farms, and also having entered about 400
acres of land. Here Thomas Watson, who had served his country in the
war of 1812, died in 1856; his widow still survives, at the age of seventy-
seven. Cyrus A. Watson was reared a farmer, and at his majority began
for himself by clearing away the forest, the country still being more or
less a wilderness; he is now the owner of a well improved and well
stocked farm of 200 acres. December 12, 1869, he married Susan,
daughter of Daniel and Frances (Langyer) Thornberry, all natives of
Virginia. To this union one child, Samuel, was born January 17, 1871.
Mr. Watson is a Freemason, an Odd Fellow and a Democrat, and has
held the ofl&ce of Township Trustee four terms. His wife is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
BENJAMIN R. WATSON, farmer and carpenter, was born in this
township October 21, 1838, and is the fourth of the live children born to
Thomas and Mary (Royston) Watson, natives of Virginia and North Car-
olina, and respectively of Irish and English extraction. Benjamin Wat-
son was reared on a farm, but received a good education at the subscrip-
tion schools, and subsequently taught in the public schools of Morgan
County for seven and one-half years. November 22, 1859, he married
Elizabeth Woodward, a native of Morgan County, who bore him four
children — Thomas B., Mary M., Andrew I. and Alfred. December 14,
1874, Mr. Watson, having lost his wife, married Rachel M. Perisho, a
native of Clarke County, 111. As a farmer, Mr. Watson owns and man-
ages a farm of fifty-six acres, and as a carpenter has followed the trade
for over thirty years. He was one year Secretary of Grange Lodge, No.
1246, at Brooklyn, Clay Township, and in politics he is a Democrat.
ANDREW WRIGHT, a pioneer of Madison Township, was born in
Harrison County, Ind., August 8, 1808, and is the eldest of ten children
born to William and Mary (Inyard) Wright, natives respectively of Ken-
tucky and Pennsylvania. William Wright served as a Lieutenant in the
war of 1812, and came from Kentucky to Indiana about the year 1807;
he settled in Harrison County, and there died, a respected pioneer.
Andrew Wright was reared a farmer. May 15, 1834, he married Eliza-
beth Blunk, who bore him ten children, two of whom are yet living —
Mary A. and James. The mother of these having died, Mr Wright mar-
ried Roema Harden, who bore him two children; she died in 1865. Mr.
Wright next married Delia Hornady. In the spring of 1834, Mr. AVright
came to this township and purchased 120 acres of unimproved land, to
which he has since added eighty acres. His farm is now well improved,
and well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs, sheep and the necessary farm-
ing implements. In politics, Mr. Wright is now a Republican, although
his first ballot was cast for Andrew Jackson for President. He is an
advocate of temperance, and he and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
358 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES;
GREEN TOWNSHIP.
RICHARD A. ABRAHAM was born in Morgan County, Ind. , July
4, 1842. He is a son of William and Maria (Arnold) Abraham, both
natives ot England. William Abraham was a resident of this township
for thirty-seven years. He was born in the Isle of Wight, England, in
1815, and is the son of James and Sarah (Pittis) Abraham. James was
born in the Isle of Wight about the year 1777. His wife Sarah also was
born in the Isle of Wight. James and Sarah were married in 1810; on
May, .26, 1821, the husband, wife and five children embarked for Amer-
ica, arriving in Philadelphia July 19, 1821, and thence proceeded to
Newcomerstown, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and thence in a few years to
Deersville, Harrison County, Ohio, where they permanently resided untjl
his death at the age of eighty-two years. He was the father of seven
children, three of whom are still living, and of whom William is the
second son. The latter was only six years of age when he crossed the
Atlantic, but he still remembers many incidents of the voyage. After
reaching manhood, he traveled down the Ohio River into the then wild
regions of the Lower Mississippi River through the States of Louisiana,
Mississippi and Arkansas, and as far north as W isconsin. Returning home
to Deersville, he there married, on October 7, 1840, Maria, daughter of John
Arnold. She was also born in the Isle of Wight on September 18,
1817. With her parents, and in the same vessel with the Abraham fam-
ily, she emigrated to America in 1821. John Arnold, soon after his ar-
rival, proceeded with his family to Rush County, Ind., and entered a half
section of land east of Rushville, which land is still owned by his chil-
dren, and on which he died June 27, 1864, aged seventy-six years. His
wife, Mary Ann Cole, was also born in the Isle of Wight. After his
marriage, William Abraham proceeded with his young wife to Cumber-
land, Marion County, Ind., where, ten miles from Indianapolis, he pur-
chased 160 acres of land, and moved on it. The land at that early day
not being considered desirable, he soon disposed of it and came to
Green Township, Morgan County, and moved on a fai'm he had previous-
ly purchased, and which is at present owned by his son, Richard A. He
moved on this farm in December, 1845, and lived here about sixteen
years. In 1861, he moved to what was known as the John Hughes farm
— now owned by William R. Abraham — where he lived until 1882, when
he moved to near Providence, Johnson County, where he still resides.
During the many years which William Abraham has been a resident of
Morgan County, he and his wife have braved many hardships and suf-
fered many privations, but they have been rewarded with a competence
for themselves and their children. Richard A., the eldest of the children,
and our subject, came to this county with his parents, and, on April 6,
1870, was married to Mrs. Mary A. Flake, the widow of Aimor Flake,
and daughter of Henry and Sarah (Davis) Elkins. She was born in this
county on March 22, 1849. After his marriage he settled in this town-
ship, where he has since remained, moving on the farm which he at
present occupies in the year 1873. He owns over 700 acres of land. Mr.
GREEN TOWNSHIP. 359
Abraham and wife are the parents of three children, viz., Alfred O.,
Nora and Richard. Both are members of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM ADAMS was born in Morgan County, Ind., on April 9,
1844, and is a son of Henry and Nancy Adams, natives of Kentucky and
Virginia. Henry Adams was born February 2, 1804; married Emily
Kephart, and moved to this county, where he now lives. He lost his
wife Emily by death, and subsequently married Nancy Slusser. His
family were Jacob, Abraham, Rebecca, George W., William, Eliza-
beth, Amanda, Samuel, Joseph, Thomas, Sarah T. and Emily C. Will-
iam Adams was married, in this county, November 31, 1865, to Charity,
daughter of Henry and Lavina Pearce. She was born in Morgan Coun-
ty on April 4, 1848. They have six children — Minnie E., JSancy B.,
Mary J., Martha C, Clarence E. and Lavina D.
JOHN F. BRAUN was born in Germany on September 29. 1819, and
is a son of Christian and Eliza (Schnider) BrauQ, natives of Germany,
where they remained until their death. They had born to them — Chris-
tian, George and John F. Our subject was youngest of the three chil-
dren, and at the age of fourteen began learning the tailor's trade of his
father, and followed it for a number of years. Mr. Braun, our subject,
was married in Germany, in 1846, to Catherine Miller, and in 1850 they
came to the United States, and settled in this county. Mrs. Catherine
Braun died September 22, 1871, and on April '.i3, 1872, Mr. Braun was
married to Louisa, daughter of Peter and Hannah Schniter. She was
born in Germany July 12, 1842. Mr. Braun is the father of thirteen
children — Eliza B. (deceased), Henry, Frederick, Elizabeth, Christian
(deceased), Augusta (deceased), Mary J. (deceased), Minnie H., George
W., Franklin A., Mary I., and two infants (deceased).
WILLIAM CAIN was born in Brown County, Ind., January 7, 1850,
and is a son of William and Lydia (Shroyer) Cain, natives of Pennsyl-
vania. William Cain, Sr., was born on February 12, 1812, and Lydia
Cain on November 17, 1816. They were married in Pennsylvania, moved
to Ohio, and subsequently to Brown County, Ind., where Mr. Cain died
February 14, 1882, and his wife is still living. They were parents of
the following: Mary, Jacob, Barbara, Marvin, Lewis, Elizabeth, Jonas,
Hannah and William. William Cain, our subject, was married in this
county on December 9, 1873, to Mary E., daughter of James H. and Re-
becca A. Gillaspy. Mrs. Mary E. Cain was born in this county on March
20, 1848. They are parents of six children — Ida, Lucinda, Ella, John
M., Rebecca A. and George I. Mr. Cain is a much respected young man.
JOSEPH EGBERT was born in Warren County, Ohio, September 4,
1835, and is a son of James and Sarah (Brandenburgh) Egbert, natives
of Pennsylvania. James Egbert was a son of John Egbert, a native of
New Jersey, who was born January 13, 1752, and in 1774, married, in
Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Bowman. They moved to Wan-en County. Ohio,
and remained there the rest of their lives. He was a soldier of the Rev-
olutionary war. James, the father of our subject, was born in 1798,
went to Ohio in 1818, and on October 11, 1821, married Catherine
Pauley, who was born on June 28, 1803, bore her husband four children
and subsequently died. These children were Lydia E., George W.,
John P. and Catherine. Mr. Egbert, August 18, 1830, married Sarah
Brandenburgh, and by her had ten children— Israel, Elizabeth, Joseph,
Sarah, Jonathan, Celia, Elvy, Martha, James and. Thomas, Mrs. Egbert
was born in Pennsylvania on November 3, 1808. In 1836, they moved
360 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
to Dearborn County, Ind., and in 1838 to this county, and remained her&
until their death, on January 11, 1868, and on September 16, 1875.
James accompanied his parents to this county in 1838, and married on
November 1, 1859, Julia A., daughter of Benjamin and Kebecca Brian.
She was born in this county April 15, 1839. After marriage, Mr. Egbert
settled on a farm in Green Township, and has since lived here. He
owDs 140 acres of land. They have a family of ten children — Willard
B., Lorcna A., Sarah J., Vilena (deceased), Laura E., Luella, Joseph O.^
Ora, Elva P. and Dora. He and his wife belong to the Christian Church.
IVlr. Egbert has been Township Assessor for three terms.
S. H. PEARCY was born in Shelby County, Ky., on March 13, 1829,
and is a son of William and Mary (Holly) Pearcy, natives respectively
of Virginia and Pennsylvania. William was a son of George Pearcy, a
native of Pennsylvania. In an early day, George Pearcy moved to Vir-
ginia, and there married Esther Campbell, moved to Greene County, Tenn.,
and in 1795 went to Fayette County, and two years afterward to Shelby
County, Ky., and there remained until their death. Their children were
John, Hugh, George, Henry, Elizabeth, Robert, Ann and William.
William Pearcy was born in Rockingham County, Va. , on March 4, 1784,
and in Shelby County, Ky., married Mary Holly, who was born in Penn-
sylvania on January 2, 1790. In 1836, Mr. Pearcy moved to Morgan
County, Ind., settling in Green Township, on the farm which our subject
now occupies. Here he remained until death overtook him. His chil-
dren were as follows: Charity J., Elizabeth A. (deceased), Jeremiah H.,
Elizabeth E. , Samuel H. and Mary A. Samuel H. Pearcy was next ta
the youngest in the family, and came to this county with his parents in
1836, and has lived here since that time. On February 12, 1852, he was
married to Mary H., daughter of William and Jemima Hughes. Mrs.
Pearcy is a native of this county, and was born April 18, 1832. They
have seven children — Sarah E., Charity L. E., Stanton W., William T.,
Jemima E., John K. and Mary V.
JACOB PIERCE was born in Greene County, Ind., and is a son of
John and Frances Pierce, natives of Kentucky and South Carolina.
John Pierce was born on January 31, 1797, and his wife, Frances, in
1801. They were married in Kentucky, and moved thence to Greene,
and finally, in 1834, to Morgan County, Ind. Here they remained until
their deaths, Mr. Pierce dying in 1883, and his wife preceding him in
1865. Their children were Nancy, Mary, Elizabeth, William, John S.,
Eliza J., Jacob, Rachel, Sarah, Angaletta, George, James M. and Jeriah.
Jacob Pierce, our subject, married, in this county, on November 16, 1859,
Catherine, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Flake. She was born in
Morgan County, Ind., on March 16, 1842. After his mai-riage, Mr.
Pierce settled in Johnson County, where he purchased land, and re-
mained for about five years. The family then moved to this county, and
have lived here since. To this household were added ten children —
George W. (deceased), Sarah A. , John, Arrena E. , Cordelia (deceased),
Thomas W., Cornelius, James, Oliver and Elmer.
SARAH RADCLIFF, widow of John Radcliff was born in Madi-
son County, Ky., on April 1, 1824, and is a daughter of Daniel
and Rebecca (Johnson) Holman, natives of Virginia. Daniel Holman
was married in Virginia in an early day, and then moved to Kentucky,
where he died. Mrs. Holman afterward moved to this county, and died
here. Their children were Alfred, Joel, Abel, Harden, James, Harrison,
GREEN TOWNSHIP. 361
Tarleton, Jackson, Madison, Perlina, Parmelia, Amanda, Minerva and
Sarah. Sarah Holman, onr subject, was married in Anderson County,
Ky., on August 15, 1844, to Edward J. Rice. The couple settled in
Mercer County, Ky., and in 1848 came to Morgan County, Ind. , where
Mr. Rice died November 18, 1867. In 1869, Mrs. Sarah Rice married
John Radcliff, who died on January 25, 1879. She owns 175 acres of
very fine land. Mrs. R. has no family.
WILLIAM RADFORD was born in Shelby County, Ky , September
11, 1833, of parents William and Nancy Radford, natives of the same
county and State. William Radford, Sr., was a son of George Radford,
a Virginian, who married Catherine Woodcock. They moved to Shelby
County, Ky. , in an early day, and resided there until their death. He
was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and was the father of these
children: Jacob, Henry, Elizabeth, Richard, Mary and William. William
Radford, father of our subject, was the youngest of these children, was
born in 1809, and in course of time married Nancy Pearcy, in Shelby
County, Ky. , who was born in 1806. After marriage, they settled in that
county, where he died in 1833. She was subsequently married to John
Radcliif, and moved with her husband to this county in 1838, Mrs. Rad-
cliff died in 1868, mother of two children — Mary, and W^illiam, our sub-
ject. William Radford was married on November 31, 1854, to Elizabeth,
a daughter of Enoch S. and Sarah (Dugan) Tabor. She was born on
March 18, 1838, in Nelson County, Ky. After marriage, the couple
moved to Green Township, remained here until 1871, when they went
to Martinsville, and there Mr. Radford opened a hardware store. He
continued in that business for three years, and then returned to this
township where he has resided ever since. They have had four children
— John L., Mary (deceased), Thomas B. and Frances. Mr. Radford was
elected Justice of the Peace in 1876, and has retained that office until
the present time.
S. N. RUNDELL, M. D., was born in Morgan County, Ind., August
6, 1844. He is the youngest son, and his parents were Hiram R. and
Mercy (Wyott) Rundell, both natives of New York, the father born on
November 9, 1796, the mother on December 23, 1805. On October 16,
1823, the parents were married, in 1837 moved to Ohio, and in 1842
came to Morgan County, where the father died November 2, 1850. The
mother still survives, and lives in Jackson Township. Their children
were William W., Hester A., Andrew J., Reuben J., Malvina, John
W. (deceased), Fletcher, Amy I. and Samuel N. The latter, our sub-
ject, was fairly educated at Attica, N. Y. ; from thence he was sent to
Greencastle, Ind., but completed his education at Franklin, Ind. , after
which he engaged in teaching school. In 1869, he began the study of
medicine, Drs. Griffith and Sparks, of Morgantown, being his preceptors,
until 1870, when, in the winter of 1870-71, he took a course of lectures
at the University of Louisville, Ky. He then taught school in Johnson
County, Ind., continuing his studies in medicine in the meantime, and
in the winter of 1873-74 again attended lectures, graduating in Febru-
ary, 1874. He entered upon the practice of his profession at Elkinsville,
Brown County, Ind. He was there married on November 21, 1874, to
Anna B., daughter of Reuben and Amanda Varney. She was born on
August 19, 1853. In 1875, the Doctor moved to Cope, Morgan County,
and resumed his practice, which he has since pursued with flattering
success. To the Doctor and his wife have been born four children — Ora
362 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
E., Mabel M., Reuben and Esther. The Doctor is a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity, also of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
FREDERICK SANDERS was born in Germany November 13, 1837,
and is a son of Julius and Minnie (Bundgard) Sanders, natives of Ger-
many. They were married in Germany, and in 1846 emigrated to the
United States, coming at once to this county, and Julius Sanders still
lives here, but lost his wife in October, 1851. He next married Annie
E. Miller. Mr. Sanders has the following children: Charles, Dolly, Au-
gusta, Robert, Edward, Mariah, Elizabeth and Frederick. Frederick
Sanders, the second of the family, and our subject, accompanied his par-
ents to this county in 1846, and has lived here ever since. On October
8, 1858, Mr. Sanders married Mary, daughter of John Green. She was
born in this county on September 25, 1839. Mr. Sanders settled in this
township and has made it his home ever since. Mrs. Mary Sanders
died on March 14, 1865, having borjie four children— John J., Frederick,
George W. (deceased) and Jacobina. Illr. Sanders took for a second
wife Martha M. Bailey, widow of Benjamin Bailey, on June 2, 1865. She
has had six children — Hanford E., Jacob, Harriet S., Charley (deceased),
Francis M. and Bartholomew (deceased). Mr. Sanders is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church and of the Masonic fraternity.
ROBERT H. SCROGIN was born in Lexington, Ky., October 22,
1810, of parents Joseph and Martha (Campbell) Scrogin, natives of Ken-
tucky and Pennsylvania. The former was a son of Robert Scrogin, who
was a native of Maryland; married a Miss Cullinson; went to Fayette,
and finally to Woodford County, Ky., and there lived imtil their death.
Robert was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, and the father of
thirteen children — Nathanial, Robert, John, Samuel, Luther, Sarah,
Nancy, Millie, Ann, Elizabeth, Julia, an infant (deceased, unnamed), and
Joseph (father of our subject). Joseph Scrogin was born in 1790, and
his wife, Martha, in 1785, and they died respectively on May 25, 1841,
and May 26, 1846. They had these children: Nancy, Robert H.,
Thomas B., Grandison J., Ann A., Julia E., Cordelia E., Ethelinda B.
and Martha J. Robert H. Scrogin married, on January 1, 1837, in Hen-
ry County, Ky., Nancy B., daughter of James and Letitia (Bryan) Hays.
She was born in Washington County, Ky., on September 25, 1807. They
moved to Morgan County, Ind., in 3839, and settled on the farm upon
wbich the family has since resided. Mrs. Scrogin died on October 21,
1875, the mother of nine children — Martisha, Ethelinda C, Ann E., Jo-
seph S., WilliamH., Robert J., Thomas B. C.,and two infants who died
unnamed.
JOHN SIGHTING was born in Germany, July 22, 1834, and is
the son of Henry and Louisa Sichting, Germans, born respectively in
1800 and in 1807, and were married in 1830. They emigrated to the
United States in 1848, landing at Baltimore, and from there coming to
Morgan County, Ind., and here they still reside. They had children —
Maiy, John, Minnie, Augusta, Caroline and an infant (deceased). Of this
family, John was next to the oldest, and came with his parents to this
county in 1848, and was here married on March 29, 1859, to JMartisha
E., daughter of Robert H. and Nancy B. Scrogin. She was born in this
county, August 7, 1839. After his marriage, Mr. Sichting settled on
the farm which the family now occupy. They had nine children — Rob-
ert H., John G., Felix B., Mary E., Minnie E., Nancy C, Ida E., Emma
A. and Frederick W.
BAKER TOWNSHIP. 363
JOHN S. SKA.GGS was born in Morgan County, Ind., February 5,
1881, and is a son of John and Edna (Ennis) Skaggs, Kentuckians, born
respectively October 16, 1800, and in January, 1801; they were married
in Barren County, Ky., in 1818, and came thence to Indiana, locating
in Morgan County in 1828. Mr. Skaggs died in July, 1870, and his
wife in May. 1881. Their children were James E., Mary J., Thomas P.,
Zachariah, Elizabeth B., John S., Eliza A., Jonathan W., Harriet and
Madison V. John S. was married, on September 26, 1854, to Perlina,
daughter of William and Sarah Franklin. She died October 1, 1864,
the mother of six children — Sarah E., Eliza C, Mary J. (deceased), Elva
A., Henriette and Lavina. On February 15, 1866, Mr. Skaggs married
Martha A. Crawford, widow of James Crawford, and a daughter of James
and Matilda Morris. Mrs. Skaggs was born February 20, 1838, and by
her Mr. Skaggs had born to him three children — Walter M. (deceased),
Stella M. and Nellie M. Mr. Skaggs belongs to the Masonic fraternity,
is holding the ofl&ce of Township Trustee, and is a highly respected cit-
BAKER TOWNSHIP.
H. M. BAKER, leading stockbreeder, was born September 28, 1843,
in Washington Township, Ind., and is the third of the four children of
William and Delia (^Manley) Baker, natives of Kentucky, and of Irish
descent, who removed to this State about 1822. Our subject, when a boy,
was inured to farm work, but attended select school for some time. Au-
gust 26, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-third Indiana Volun-
teer Infantry, the regiment being assigned to the Army of the Cumber-
land, and taking active part in the battles of Thompson's Station (where
the regiment was taken prisoners, and exchanged after thirty days), Res-
aca, Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta, and
was discharged September 28, 1864, the day he attained his majority.
After returning, he served three years as Deputy Sheriff. February 15,
1871, he married Sarah J., daughter of Jefferson and Sarah Farr, by.
which union were born four children — Zulie A., Emma, Sarah D. and
Charlie J. In 1871, he moved to his present abode — a farm of 240
acres, well improved, cultivated and stocked. Mr, Baker has made a
specialty of stock-breeding with Duke thoroughbred cattle, and by in-
dustry ^nd ability has established himself in life. He has served two
terms as Township Trustee, is an active Republican and an honored cit-
izen.
E. B. BUSKIRK is a native of this township, was born September
30, 1859, and is the eldest of the seven children comprising the family
of Bennett Van and Arvy (Smith) Buskirk, the former a native of this
township, born in the same house as our subject, the latter of Georgia.
E. B. Buskirk was brought up a farmer, and received some education
from the common schools, which he attended by times until sixteen years
old. In 1876, he went to Texas, and engaged in buffalo hunting and
herding cattle for about two years, and later followed the same line in
Nebraska. In the winter of 1880-81, he took a departure for Wyoming
Territory, and worked on a ranch near Cheyenne, and engaged in herd-
364 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
ing on the Platte River until the year 1883, at which period he returned
to his father's home in this township. In politics, he is a Republican.
JEFFERSON FARR (deceased), was born December 25, 1812, at
Lexington, Ky., and was one of the family of James and Catherine
(Kurry) Farr, respectively of English and Irish descent. James Farr
was a soldier of the war of 1812, and came to and settled in Ray Town-
ship in 1824. Jefferson Farr married, February 26, 1834, Sarah Miller,
to which union were bestowed twelve children, eight of whom are living
— Julia, James, Thomas, Jane, Martha, Joseph, Angeline and William H.
In 1841, Mr. Farr moved to this township, where he met his death De-
cember 29. 1883. He was owner of about 300 acres, well improved and
provided with a good residence. During life, he gave to each of his
children about $1,500. He was an industrious and prudent man, by the
exercise of which virtues he accumulated his property. He was a lead-
ing Republican of his township, and served several terms as Township
Trustee. Mr. and Mrs. Farr were both members of the Baptist Church.
Charles H. Guy was born September 1, 1856, in Ray Township, this
State, and is a son of Martin V. and Martha (Stout) Guy. Charles was
reared as a farmer, and September J8, 1879, married Angeline A. Farr,
daughter of Jefferson and Sarah Farr, by which union were born two
children — Arthur Roscoe and William A. Mr. Guy died April 22. 1882.
He was an active Democrat, and was elected Road Commissioner. He
was a highly-esteemed citizen, and a member of the Baptist Church.
W^ILLIAM H. FARR, enterprising young farmer and stock-raiser,
is a native of this township, was born March 23, 1861, and is the young-
est of the twelve children of Jefferson and Sarah (Miller) Farr, natives of
Kentucky and of English extraction. William H. passed his youth, be-
tween attendance at school and assisting at farming; he remained with
his parents until August 31, 1879, when he married Mary J., daughter
of Presley and Louisa (Hodges) Johnson, and to this union were be-
stowed two children — Elmer Edgar (deceased) and Roscoe. Mi-. Farr is
the owner of 160 acres of highly cultivated land, with much necessary
stock and implements, also a comfortable dwelling-house, barns and the
like. Mr. Farr is a liberal and esteemed citizen, a Republican and a
member of the Baptist, whil,e his wife united to the Christian Church
JONATHAN H. HENRY, stock-raiser and farmer, was born August
3, 1831, in Clark County, Ohio, and is the hfth of the nine children of
Hamilton and Rebecca (Dalrymple) Henry, natives respectively of Ken-
tucky and South Carolina Jonathan was reared on a farm, and attended
two terms of select school in Fayette County, Ohio. His father died in
1842, whereupon he assisted his mother, and also taught during the
winter. December 3, 1857, he married Miss Anna, daughter of Elder
James and Ellen (Rider) Simpson, of England, who emigrated to this
country and purchased land in Ohio, where they died; Mr. Simpson was
a Baptist minister. Three children followed this union — John C. (de-
ceased), James H. and Ella N. ; they have also one by adoption — Juniata.
After his marriage, Mr. Henry taught two terms of school; then took
charge of a Christian Chui'ch in Harrison, Ohio, for two years; thence
he moved to Martinsville, Ind., in 1863, where he had a church; thence
to Gosport, in charge of a church for six years, and also for a time in
business. In 1875, he moved to where his home now is, but was some
time in Martinsville, and acted as Deputy Treasurer, and as Trustee twa
years. He has a fair farm of 120 acres, with good buildings, stocking
BAKER TOWNSHIP. 365
and various improvements. In addition to preaching, he served as County-
Examiner two years. In 1879, he was elected Trustee of Gosport, and
afterward as a member of the School Board. Mr. Henry is a member of
the Masonic fraternity, a Republican and a highly-regarded citizen.
DR. WILLIAM N. HODGES was born on the section on which he
now lives October 22, 1836, and is the fourth of the twelve children of
John and Lucy (Newlin) Hodges, the former a native of Indiana, born
1810. The grandfather of our subject, Thomas Hodges, emigrated to
Washington County, Ind. , about 1808, and his great-grandfather was a
soldier of the Revolutionary war. John Hodges came to this county in
1830, and died in this township September 7, 1856; he was a pioneer,
and owned about 1,000 acres, most of which was improved. Dr. Hodges
was reared on a farm. After studying medicine, and graduating from
the Cincinnati Medical School, he located at Edwardsport, Ind., in 1866,
as a practitioner, after which he traveled extensively until 1871, when he
returned home and engaged in farming. October 1, 1871, he married Mary
A. Baker, which union produced five children — Louisa A. , John L. , Joseph
H., Lucy and Rachel C. Dr. Hodges' farm is well stocked, cultivated,
improved and appointed, and embraces 300 acres. In August, 1862, he
enlisted in Company H. Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers, and served
in most of the battles of the Southwest. He was discharged Jime 7,
1865. Dr. Hodges is a Freemason, a Republican, and has served as
Justice of the Peace and County Coroner. He and wife are members of
the Christian Church.
JOHN P. HYNDS, stock-raiser and farmer, was born June 10, 1854,
in Je£ferson Township, Morgan County, and is the youngest of the eight
children of William andfSusanna (Laakford) Hynds. He was reared on
a farm, and remained until manhood. June 10, 1874, he married Nancy
C. Hodges, of this county, a union which produced four children — Em-
ma, Susanna E. (deceased), William T. (deceased), and Lilly B. Mr.
Hynds is the possessor of 127 acres, eighty-seven acres of which lie on
White River bottom, and all of which is in good improvement; the ad-
ditions are a tine residence, with barns, outhouses and the like. Mr.
Hynds has succeeded well in life, notwithstanding many losses; having
lost at times his house and barns, valued at $1,500. He is an active Re-
publican, and has served one term as Assessor. He and wife are consist-
ent and esteemed members of the Baptist Church, as well as liberal and
benevolent neighbors and friends.
PRESLEY JOHNSON, stock-raiser and farmer, was born August 15,
1835, in Monroe County, Ind., and is the fourth of the family of Joab
and Elizabeth (Smith) Johnson, natives of Tennessee, who emigrated to
this State in 1832, settled in Monroe County and entered and improved
240 acres, and where Mr. Johnson died October 12, 1846. After the
death of his father, our subject labored on the home farm, as a conse-
quence of which his educational advantages were spare. January 20,
1859, he married Miss Louisa, daughter of John and Lucy (Newton)
Hodges, to which union were bestowed two children. — Mary Jane and
Jarvis J. Mr. Johnson was elected Trustee of this township for two
terms of two years each. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. , and in pol-
itics is a Democrat. In 1867, he settled near where he now resides on a
proprietary farm of 256 acres, well cultivated, improved, and stocked
with short -horn cattle. He is now mainly engaged in raising stock, and
is comfortably situated, having given to his cliildren and sold about 200
366 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
acres. Mr. Johnson is an enterprising and esteemed citizen, and, with
his wife, a member of the Christian Church.
ISAAC LAFAVER was born in Virginia in 1801. He is the third
of the eight children of Abraham and Mary (Brock) Laf aver, natives of
Virginia, the former of French and the latter of Dutch descent. Isaac
was reared on a farm. His parents moved to Wayne County, Ky. , about
1806, where he attended the primitive schools of that time. About the
year 1816, his parents moved to this State and settled in Washington
County, where they entered 300, and cleared about 100 acres thereof. About
1823, they came to this county, entered land in this township, where
Abraham Lafaver died in 1840. October 23, 1823, Isaac married Mary,
daughter of Michael Cooper, a soldier of the Revolution. To this union
were born nine children — John, Jacob, James, Isaac, Mary, Louisa,
Nancy, Lovina and Abraham (deceased). In 1824, our subject came to
this county, entered eighty acres on White River bottoms, and forty
where he now resides. To this, he has added 100 acres, since purchased.
This land is well stocked, cultivated and improved, with good orchards.
In 1826, Mr. Lafaver moved to this township. He has been a worthily
successful man; has served nine years as Justice of the Peace, and is a
Democrat, having given his first vote for Gen. Jackson. He is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his wife, who died in 1880,
aged seventy-five years.
JAMES LEMON is a native of Johnson County, Ind., was born Feb-
ruary 6, 1847, and is the second of the five children of William P. and
Lucinda Lemon, natives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana, and of
Dutch and English descent. James moved to Gosport with his parents
in 1860, but returned to Johnson County in 1871, and worked at carpen-
tering and farming. October 5, 1873, he married Miss Cynthia, daugh-
ter of Malachi and Sarah Collier, by which union they had three children
— William E., Ira Francis and Thomas J. After marriage, Mr. Lemon
moved to this county, and purchased twenty acres, in good cultivation,
and with good dwelling and some improvements. July 17, 1863. he en-
listed in Company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, which regiment joined the Army of Cumberland. He was dis-
charged March, 1864, and re-enh'sted January, 1865, in Company C,
One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; was stationed
at Nashville and Decatur, and finally discharged November, 1865. Mr.
Lemon is a Democrat, and a much respected citizen. Mrs. Lemon is a
member of the Baptist Church.
JOHN WESLEY LEONARD, stock raiser and farmer, was born
September 26, 1850, in Fayetteville, Ind., and is the youngest child of
Isaac and Lucy (Culver) Leonard, respectively of German and French
descent. Mi's. Leonard had been previously married to Mr. John Dun-
ning, and was mother of two children. Our subject was reared on a
farm, his parents having moved to Owen County, Ind. , when he was one
year of age, where they purchased a farm and resided about six years;
this they sold and removed to near Spencer, where they remained until
the spring of 1865; this land they likewise sold, and removed to near
Martinsville, where John resided until May 27, 1874, when he married
Eliza M., daughter of James and Eleanor (Peten) Maxwell, natives of
Indiana. The fruits of this union were two children — Nora M. and
Minnie lolia. Mr. Leonard has a farm of 102 acres, containing a good
dwelling, barns and other buildings, and which is well cultivated, stocked
BAKER TOWNSHIP. 367
and improved, the whole a result of saccessful farming and judicious
management. Mr. Leonard has been twice elected Justice of the Peace,
and is now serving as Trustee. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity
and an active Democrat.
JOHN McDANIEL was born January, 1834, in Pulaski County, Ky.,
and is the fifth of the nine children of John and Unia Elizabeth (Little-
john) McDaniel, natives of Kentucky, and of Scotch and Irish descent.
John, our subject, was reared to the plow, and in 1852 came to this
county, lived with an uncle and worked by the month for several years.
About 1858, he lived in Missouri and Kansas, and afterward was em-
ployed to drive a cattle team across the plains. From Salt Lake he
assisted in driving one thousand head of cattle to California, where he
engaged at farming by the month, but soon afterward returned to his
present location. April 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-third
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, the regiment marching immediately to join
the Army of the Cumberland, which took part at the battles of Frank-
lin, Cumberland Gap, the Atlanta campaign and the march through
Georgia. While in the hospital, his regiment was captured by the enemy,
and he was thereafter assigned to the heavy artillery, in which he
remained for ten months, and was discharged April, 1865. January 11,
1866. he married Mary A., daughter of James and Ellen Martin, which
union was cemented by six children — James H. , William Franklin, John
E., Clinton H. , Kelle B. and Ella J. Mr. McDaniel is owner of eighty
acres, being a good farm and comfortable home. He is a member of the
G. A. K., and of the Baptist Church, also an active Republican.
BARBAKA A. MARTIN is a native of North Carolina, and was
born December 24, 1828. Her parents emigrated to Morgan County,
Ind., where, January 28, 1849, she was united in marriage to Dr. Isaac
Martin, a native of Monroe C'ounty, who died about 1873, having been
the father of nine children, four of whom are living — William A., John
M., Mary S. (Mrs. Russell) and James L. The parents of Dr. Martin
were early settlers of Monroe County, and had traded considerably with
the Indians.
Mary A. Miller, one of the oldest settlers of Morgan County,
was born in North Carolina, January, 1800, a daughter of Robert and
Catherine (Troutman) W^arx-en, also natives of North Carolina. Our sub-
ject was marx'ied to John W. Miller, a wagon-maker, who afterward
abandoned his trade and became a farmer. Their union was made happy
by eleven children — Robert A. (who perished in the late war), John M.,
Catherine E. (Mrs. Maxley), Barbara A. (Mrs. Martin), Susan (deceased),
Betsy L. (deceased), Henry W. (died in the late war), Mary A. (Mrs.
Harvey), Peter C, Zelny (deceased), and Eliza A. (Mrs. Hickson). Mr.
and Mrs. Miller moved to Morgan County about 47 years ago and pur-
chased land on White River bottoms, but afterward moved to the hills.
Mr. Miller was about one year older than she. and died about 1869, hav-
ing cleared a good farm. Mrs. Miller owns 220 acres of good land, with
a comfortable house and productive orchard. Mr. Miller was a member
of the Baptist Church, as has been Mrs. Miller for nearlv fifty years.
SARAH C. REGESTER is a native of Monroe County, Ohio, was
born December 30, 1843, and is the fifth of the seven children of Thomas
and Catherine (Lewis) Gray, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and
Virginia, and both of English extraction. The father of our subject was
a Quaker, and shortly subsequent to his marriage, moved to Harrisville,
368 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Ohio, where he labored as a tanner, and a few years later purchased a
farm in Harrison County, whither he moved, and on which he resided
for about fifteen years. While there a reward of S2,000 was offered for
his and one of his neighbor's heads, in consequence of advocating the
anti-slavery movement. He was counseled to remain on this side of
the slavery line, but, being a man of strong determination, gave no heed
thereto, remarking that, were he slain, a thousand would rise in his
place. And so he removed to Jay County, Ind. , aboat 1858, where he
purchased a farm, remaining until his departure for Iowa, where he and
his wife are now living with a daughter. Mrs. Sarah Kegester has been
twice married — first to John Sumption, with a gift of three children —
Mary E. (Mrs. Robbins), Eva I. and Mercy Ann (Mrs. Rice). Mr.
Sumption died December 21, 1865. Her second marriage, November 11,
1869. was to Robert Regester, with an issue of one child — John F. When
alive, Mr. Regester was in the hotel business in Jay County, and died Sep-
tember 16, 1881. In 1882, with her two children, she removed to Mor-
gan County and purchased 76 acres, for the purpose of cultivating fruit
and having a congenial home. She is a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church.
JOHN H. THOMAS was born in Spencer, Ind., December 13, 1840,
and is the seventh of the thirteen children of Alvin and Jane (Christison)
Thomas, natives of Kentucky, and of Irish descent. John H. Thomas
was bred to the farming profession, but received little education, inas-
much as his father died when he was eleven years old, and his services
were required to assist the family. July 6, 1861, he enlisted in Company
D, Twenty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers, in which he was engaged at
Baton Rouge, where he was wounded in the left thigh, and at the siege
of Port Hudson. In consequence of his wound he was discharged June,
1864. December 5, 1869, he married N. Frances, daughter of James M.
and Elizabeth Campbell, which union was followed by seven children —
Nettie, James Madison, Cynthia, Mary, Bessie, John A. and Jane. Mr.
Thomas is the proprietor of 102 acres of good farming land, which is well
stocked, cultivated and improved, and containing a good dwelling house.
He is a strong Republican in political faith, and he and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
E. M. W^ AMPLER, farmer and stock-raiser, was born August 26,
1853, in Monroe County, Ind., and is the sixth of the ten children of An-
drew and Margaret (Cowden) Warupler, natives of Virginia, and of Ger-
man descent. Our subject was reared a farmer, yet received some educa-
tion from the public schools. When of age, he went to McLean County,
111. , and thence to Daviess County, Ind. , where he remained fifteen months,
and then returned to Monroe County to engage in farming. April 12,
1877, he married Mollie, daughter of Madison and Elizabeth Huston.
To this union were born four children — Homer M. , Lora Estella, James
C. and Maud E. Since his marriage, Mr. Wampler has farmed in this
county, first on rented land, and moved to his present place in 1881; this
comprises 256 acres, all in good cultivation and improvement, with valu-
able stock and a fine orchard. Mr. Wampler is a promising young man
and a Democrat in political views.
ABRAHAM W^EAVER, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of this
township, was born November 21, 1830, and is the fourth of the five
children born to John and Elizabeth (Davis) Weaver, natives of Wythe
County, Va., and of German and English descent respectively, who came
BAKER TOWNSHIP. 369
to Indiana in 1830 and entered land in Monroe County. Abraham was
reared on a farm, attended school but a short time, working closely for
his father. November 5, 1857, he married Mary Jane, daughter of
Thomas and Elizabeth Languell, a union which was followed by four
children — Cyrus, John T., Henry Washington Halleck and George Mc-
Clelland. Mrs. Weaver died September 13, 1865, and December 12, 1866,
he wedded Nancy S., daughter of David and Eliza (McCown) Allen. To
this union were Ijorn three children — James S., Daniel Vorhees (deceased)
and Albert Homer. Mr. Weaver has taken two degrees in Masonry. He
has 400 acres of excellent land, which is under fine cultivation and well
stocked; also improved by a comfortable residence. Mr. Weaver has been
generally successful, having lost $6,000 by misplaced confidence. In
politics, he is a Democrat.
HENRY W. H. WEAVER, an enterprising young farmer and stock-
raiser, is a native of this township, was born September 8, 1862, and is
the third of the seven children of Abe and Mary A. (^Languell) Wea-vyer,
natives respectively of Virginia and Indiana, and both of Dutch descent.
Henry was bred to the independent profession of agriculture, and obtained
the rudiments of an education at the public schools. November 13, 1881,
he married Miss Matilda, daughter of Stephen" and Ellen (Loller) Bolin,
natives of the State of Indiana. Mr. Weaver is the owner of forty acres
of timber land in Monroe County. He is a much-esteemed young gentle-
man, a Democrat in political classification, and a promising farmer.
JOHN C. WILSON, farmer, is a native of Owen County, Ind., was
born January 24, 1841, and is the second of the four children of Thomas
and Orphy Wilson, natives respectively of Kentucky and North Carolina,
and of German and Irish extraction. John C. labored on the home farm
during summer, and attended subscription school during winter. His
father was one of the early settlers of Monroe County, who there entered
land, and afterward moved to Owen County, where he entered 300 acres
near Gosport, and where he died May 24, 1883, aged eighty -six years.
He had also entered about 1,000 acres in Jasper County, 111., which he
bestowed among his children. May, 1861, our subject married Catherine,
daughter of Jefferson and Sarah Farr, a union cemented by seven chil-
dren, five of whom are living —Albert J., Frances (Mrs. Hodges), Joseph
P. , Thomas O. and John Otto. During the war, Mr. Wilson enlisted in
Company F, Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until
July, 1865, when he returned to his home farm and remained until Octo-
ber, 1879, when he removed to his present abode. Mrs. Wilson died
January, 1880, and on September 13 he married Mrs. Guy. Mr. Wilson
owns 365 acres of fruitful land, on which has been found a vein of gold,
yielding $300 to the ton, becoming richer as descent is made. His farm
is well improved, cultivated and valuable, bearing some of the largest
poplar and tulip trees in the State, one so large as to admit of a vehicle,
horse and driver when hollowed out. He and wife are members of the
Christian Church.
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.
SETTLEMENT, ORGANIZATION, ETC
THE INDIAN OCCUPANCY.
THE territory now comprising the county of Monroe was formerly the
undisputed domain of the Miamis. This is also true of all of Indiana.
At the treaty of Greenville, Ohio, in 1795, Tiittle Turtle, or Mish-e-ken-
o-quah, the head chief of the Miamis, and one of the most intelligent and
renowned aboriginal Americans of any tribe, that ever lived, stated to
the Government Commissioners that the Miamis formerly owned all the
territory within the following bounds : From Detroit south to the Scioto
River and down the same to the Ohio, thence down the Ohio to the
mouth of the Wabash, thence up the same to near Covington, thence
north to Lake Michigan, thence east to Detroit. Immediately after the
Revolutionary war, the efforts to colonize the lands west of the Atlantic
coast were so extensive and persistent that the natives inhabiting those
regions were forced slowly back into the wilderness upon the territory of
their Western brethren, and thus the broad domain of the Miamis was
invaded by homeless natives of various tribes, who were given tracts of
territory upon which to hunt and live. At what time the Delawares,
Shawanees, Wyandots, Pottawatomies, Piankeshaws, Weas, Kickapoos,
etc., gained a footing upon the soil of Indiana cannot be stated with
certainty, but there seems to be no doubt that Little Turtle stated the
truth when he claimed all of the above bounded territory as the former
domain of his people — the Miamis. It is possible that some of the tribes
named above occupied portions of Indiana before the Revolutionary war.
The former home of the Delawares was on the Delaware River, and later
in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, and still later in Indiana.
The original home of the Wyandots was in Canada, and later in Michi-
gan and Northern Ohio, and still later in Southern Indiana. The
Shawanees were of Southern origin, and were wanderers, but finally
were given a home in Southeastern Indiana, and also a section of country
on the Wabash about La Fayette. The Pottawatomies seem to have
owned territory in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, and to have
gained from the Miamis at some early period by invasion or conquest
much of the land of Indiana north of the Wabash. The Weas, Kicka-
poos, Piankeshaws and Pecankeeshaws seem to have owned land along the
western boundary of the State. At the treaty of Fort Wayne on the
30th of September, 1809, the second article was made to read as follows:
" The Miamis explicitly acknowledge the equal right of the Delawares
372 HISTORY OE* MONROE COUNTY.
with themselves to the country watered by the White River. But it is
also to be clearly understood that neither party shall have the right of
disposing of the same without the consent of the others, and any im-
provements which shall be made on the said land by the Delawares, or
their friends, the Mohecans, shall be theirs forever." As to the territory
of Monroe County, it seems to have been on the boundary between the
land of the Delawares and that of the Piankeshaws and Pecankeeshaws,
so that it was the home and hunting ground of the three tribes as well as
the Miamis.
INDIAN CESSION TREATIES.
The territory now composing the county of Monroe was not obtained
from the Indians wholly at one time. The old Indian boundary which
extends from near Gosport in a southeasterly direction, leaving the
county at Section 26, Benton Township, divides two important Indian
cessions. The territory of Monroe County south of that boundary was
part of Harrison's Purchase, obtained from the Indians by the treaty of
Fort Wayne, September 30, 1809 ; and all of Monroe County above that
boundary was part of the New Purchase, obtained from the Indians by
the treaty at St. Mary's, Ohio, October 2 to 6, 1818. As Monroe County
was organized before the last-named treaty was effected, it will be seen
that all of the present county north of the Indian boundary was not at
first a part of the county. The exact boundary of the county when
first formed will be seen from the act creating the county, quoted entire
a few pages in advance.
THE SURVEY AND FIRST ENTRIES OF LAND.
The survey of all the lands of Monroe County lying south of the
old Indian boundary occurred in the autumn of 1812, Arthur Henrie
and William Harris being the surveyors. All of the county north of the
Indian boundary was surveyed in 1819 by Thomas Brown and J. Hedges.
Although that portion south of the old boundary was surveyed in 1»12,
the land was not thrown into market until 1816, at which many entries
were made, the following being a complete list for that year : In Town-
ship 7 north, Range 2 west : William Bigger, Richard Beam, John
Kutch, Isaac Withers, John M. Sadler, Archibald Wood, William King,
John Storm, Elzy Woodward and Henry Speed. In Township 7 north,
Range 1 west : Henry Burkhart, Thomas Grimes, William Anderson,
Bartlett Woodward, Adam Darling, Robert Fields, Roult & Brenton,
William Bigger, Fetters & Hughes, George Buskirk, George Paul, John
Musser, Michael Buskirk, John Vanderoot, Michael Harvey, Jacob
Mumma, Jonathan Lindley, John Durham, Samuel Caldwell, John
White, William Carl and William Craig. Township 8 north. Range 2
west: Arthur Patterson, Wright & Morgan, Jacob Cutler, William
Wright, David Sears, James Parks, James Matlock, John Cutler, John
Allen, Jonathan Rains, John Carr. John W. Lee, James Borland,
Michael Wood, David Matlock, John Collins. Joseph Berry, William
Wilson, William Newcomb, John Harvey, Jonathan Nichols, Solomon
Green, Levin Lawrence, Adam Bower, John Briscoe, Jesse Tarkington,
Thomas McCrang, Josiah Jackson, John Johnson and Joseph Richard-
son. Township 9 north. Range 1 west : John Ketchum, Henry
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 373
Wampler, Thomas Smith, James Matlock, William Julien, William J.
Adair, John Kell, C and F, Bullett, John Owens, Daniel Stout, Samuel
Caldwell, Roderick Rollins, Joseph Taylor, David Raymond, Jacob Ben-
derback, Eleazer Dagget, James Borland, Gideon Frisbee, John Lee,
William Matlock, Samuel Camphreys, Thomas Graham, Abraham Ap-
pier, Chris Esling, George Ritchey, George Hedrick, David Rogers,
Henry Rogers, John Thompson, Wheeler Mallett, Samuel Scott, Nich-
olas Fleener, William Jackson, John Jackson and Thomas Heady.
Township 9 north. Range 2 west : Joseph Evans, Asa Osborn, Lewis
Noel, Jonathan Gilbert, George Cutler, George Sharp, James Goodwin,
Joseph Harris, Ambrose Carlton, John Simons, John Gordon, John
McCormlck, William Thornton, Abel Bigelow, David Johnson, John
FullenjlWilliam Baker, David Sears, Samuel Zunicks, William Oliver,
Thomas Hodges and Benjamin Johnson, Township 10 north. Range 2
west : John Fullen about all of Section 4, Abner Evans, Archibald
Wood, Jonathan Gilbert, C. & F. Bullett, Fettus <& Hughes, John Mc-
Cormick, Julius Woodward, William Milliken, William Kelso, John
Bigger, Samuel Jennings, nearly all of whom entered several hundred
acres each. No entry was made before September, 1816, and during the
remainder of that year entries were only made wes't of the meridian line
and south of the old Indian boundary. These entries were all in the
present townships of Clear Creek, Indian Creek, Van Buren, Richland.
Blooraington and Bean Blossom. Several tracts were purchased by
speculators, but the greater number passed to actual residents or to those
who became actual residents.
An Act fok the Formation of Monroe County out of the County of Orange:
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembhj of the State of Indiana, That from
and after the 10th day of April next, all that part of the county of Orange inclosed in the
following bounds shall form and constitute a new county: Beginning on the line of
Orange and Jackson Counties where the line dividing Townships 6 and 7 crosses the same ;
thence west with the last mentioned line to the line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 west of the
Second Principal Meridian; thence north with said range line to the Indian boundary ;
thence southeastwardly with said boundary to the line of Orange and Jackson Coanties ;
thenc-i south with the same to the beginning — to be known and designated by the name
and style of the county of Monroe. And the said county of Monroe shall enjoy all the
rights, privileges and jurisdictions which to separate coanties do or may properly belong
or appeitain.
Sec. 2. John Penicks and Jonathan Jones, of Orange County; Daniel Connor, of
Daviess County; David Fouts, of Washington County, and Samuel Burcham, of Jackson
County, be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners for the purpose of fixing the
permanent seat of justice in Monroe County, agreeably to an act of Assembly entitled
"An Hct tixing the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter laid off." The Commis-
sioners above named shall convene at the house of Abner Blair, of said new county, on
the tirst Monday of April next, and then proceed to discharge the duties assigned them
by law.
Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Sheriff of said new county to notify the above-
named Commissioners, either in person or by writing, of their said appointments and of
the time and place at which they are required by this act to meet, at least six days pre-
vious to the day appointed for their meeting, and the said Sheriff shall be allowed a
reasonable compensation for his services out of the first money in the treasury of the said
county of Monroe to be paid as the county claims usually are.
Sec. 4. The Board of County Commissioners of said new county shall, within twelve
months after the permanent seat of justice shall have been established, proceed to erect
the necessary public buildings thereon.
Sec. 5. Until suitable accommodations can be had (in the opinion of the Circuit
Court) at the seat of justice for said county, all the courts which by law become necessary
to be held at the county seat shall be holden at the house of Abner Blair aforesaid, or at
374 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
any other place in the same neigh Ijorhood to which the Circuit Court may, for the purpose
of getting better accommodations, think proper to adjourn, after which time the said
courts shall be adjourned to the seat of justice established as aforesaid.
Sec 6. The agent to be appointed for the county of Monroe shall reserve in his
hands ten per centum out of the net proceeds of the sales of lots, which may be made at
the seat of justice of said county for the use of a counfy library, which sum or sums of
money so reserved shall be paid by said agent or his successor in ofiBce over to such per-
son or persons as may be authorized to receive the same, in such manner and with such
installments as may be directed by law. This act to take effect from and after its publi-
cation in print.
Approved January 14, 1818.
In accordance with the provisions of this enactment, the machinery
of the county was immediately put in running order. An election was
ordered held under the supervision of the Sheriif, John W, Lee, appointed
by the Governor, for the necessary county officers. Bartlett Woodward,
Michael Buskirk and James Parks were elected County Commissioners ;
William Lowe, County Clerk and Auditor ; Chesley Bailey, Recorder ;
Joseph Berry and Lewis Noel, Associate Judges. The details of this
election cannot be given, as the tally-sheets were not preserved. The
election took place early in 1818. The house of Abner Blair was the
first court house, but Bloomington was immediately laid out and a log
court house built. The Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to
locate the county seat met, deliberated, and finally submitted the follow-
ing report to the first County Board :
To THE HONOKABLE BoARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE CoUNTY OF MONROE :
We, the undersigned Commissioners, appointed by an act of the last General Assembly,
for fixing the pemanent seat of justice in and for said county, having met agreeable to
the above recited act, and after being duly sworn, proceeded to business as the law
directs in such cases, to receive donations from persons offering lands to fix the county
seat on, and after examining the same and taking into contemplation the future as well as
the present weight of population, together with additions and divisions that may take
place hereafter, do agree that 'the southwest quarter of Section 33, in Range 1 west,
Township 9 north, is the most eligible and convenient place for the permanent seat of
iustice for said county, and have accordingly purchased the same of D. Rogers, at
$1,200; also have purchased 150 acres out of the northeast quarter of Section 32, of
Robertson Graham, for $900. in the same range and township above mentioned, the said
Robertson reserving the balance of the above described quarter section of land to himself
in the northeast corner of said quarter section of land, beginning »t the northeast corner
and running south twenty poles, thence west eighty poles, thence north twenty poles,
containing ten acres.
Given under our hands and seals this 11th day of April, 1818.
David Fouts, ~|
Samuel Buecham, ' Locating Com-
JoNATHAN .Jones, ] missioners.
John Pernicks, J
THE BOARD DOING COUNTY BUSINESS.
The first meeting of the Commissioners of Monroe County was held
at the house of Abner Blair on the 10th of April, 1818. The Commis-
sioners were Bartlett Woodward. Michael Buskirk and James Parks, the
time which each was to serve being determined by the comparative num-
ber of votes polled for them. Mr. Woodward received the highest num-
ber of votes, and was to serve three years : Mr. Buskirk the next highest,
and was to serve two years ; and Mr. Parks, the lowest, and was to serve
one year. The first official act was the appointment of William Lowe
County Clerk, pro tempore, and the second was the appointment of Capt.
James Bigger as Lister or Assessor of the county for the year 1818, his
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 375
bond being fixed at $1,500. Roderick Rawlings was then appointed
County Treasurer, and required to give bond in the sum of $20,000.
On the second day of this first session, the board adopted a temporary
county seal, which was simply a scrawl inclosing the words, " Temporary
seal of Monroe County." William Millikan was appointed Superintend-
ent of the sixteenth section in Township 10 north, Range 2 west ; George
Parks the same in Township 9 north, Range 2 west ; William Newcomb
the same in Township 8 north, Range 2 west; James Wright, the same
in Township 7 north. Range 2 west ; John Storm, the same in Township
7 north, Range 1 west ; William Matlock the same in Township 9 north.
Range 1 west. Benjamin Parks was appointed County Agent, with bond
at $20,000. By order of the board the county seat was to be known as
Bloomington. The Commissioners who had been appointed by the
General Assembly to fix the county seat of Monroe County were ordered
paid as follows: David Fouts, $33; John Pernicks, $30 ; Jonathan Jones,
$30 ; Samuel Burcham, $30. The first petition for a county road came
from William Hardin and others, and was to extend from Bloomington to
Scott's Ferry on Salt Creek, and thence to the Lawrence County line.
William Jackson, John Scott and William Craig were appointed Viewers.
This road was ordered built and was the first constructed wholly at the
expense of the county. The town of Bloomington was then ordered laid
off", the County Agent to have exclusive management. On the third day
of this first session a double-log court house was ordered built for the
temporary use of the county, an account of which will be found else-
where. On this day the first grand jurors of Monroe County were
selected as follows : Dudley Carl, William Chambers, David Chambers,
John Scott, John Mercer, Thomas Grimes, John Berry, William New-
comb, Jesse Tarkginton, Solomon Green, Jonathan Nichols, George
Sharp, William Milliken, George Parks Sen., Coleman Puitt, Eli Lee,
William Hardin and Henry Wampler. The Sheriff in attendance, John
W. Lee, was ordered to notify the above men to meet for action at the
house of Abner Blair. The traverse jury was then selected as fol-
lows : William Matlock, George Birdrick, John Thompson, Samuel
Scott, Thomas Clark, Jonathan Rains, John Storm Jr., John Couch,
John Matlock, John Cutler, Joseph Peeshaw, David Sears, Elijah
Morgan, James Wright and James Matlock. The first county road
above referred to was reported on by the Viewers in May, 1818, and
ordered built. Jonathan Rogers, Robert Russell and Samuel Scott
were appointed Road Supervisors. The Sheriff, John W. Lee, was paid
$18 for notifying the locating Commissioners of their appointments, and
was also paid $7 for making the returns of the first election held in
the county.
SUBSEQUENT ACTS OF THE COUNTY BOARD.
Bloomington was immediately laid off, and the lots were offered for
sale at public auction. A full report of these sales will be found in the
chapter on the town. The proceeds from the sale of lots were the
principal source of revenue for a number of years. The board from the
first were forced to issue orders at a discount, which were afterward
ordered received for county dues. Wild-cat bank issues were the only
paper money then, and almost every early report of the Treasurer shows
376 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
an entry to his credit of certain per centum of depreciation on the
bank bills in his possession. The holder of a bank bill in those days
was not sure that the next morning would not find his bill greatly de-
preciated in value, if not absolutely worthless. What a contrast with the
excellent stable paper currency of the present.
Capt. James Bigger, County Lister, -was ordered paid $32 for his
services. A tax of 37| cents was levied on each horse ; 50 cents on
each 100 acres of first-class land ; 48| cents on each 100 acres of
second-class land; and 25 cents on each 100 acres of third-class land.
In February, 1819, the board fixed store license at $7.50 in Blooming-
ton, and at §5 in the country. They also, curiously enough, fixed the
charges of tavern keepers as follows : 25 cents for breakfast ; 25 cents
for dinner ; 18| cents for supper ; lodging 6 J cents ; corn or oats, per
gallon, 12J cents ; horse at fodder or hay, 25 cents ; one-half pint of
whisky, 12|^ cents ; one-half pint of brandy, 18 J cents ; one-half pint of
rum or French brandy, Sl^ cents; one-half pint of wine, 37i cents. We
may now smile at the folly of our fathers ; but, after all, are we any
wiser or better ? The following standard weights and measures were also
ordered obtained : A foot measure ; a yard ; a dry bushel of 1,075.2
cubic inches ; a dry half bushel ; a wine gallon of 231 cubic inches ; one
set of avordupois weights ; a quart ; a pint, and a half pint. Lewis
Noel became Lister in 1820. In August, 1820, Benjamin Parks,
County Agent, reported that the total sales and rents of the town lots
and other donated lands amounted to the surprising sum of $27,874.58|^,
with which figures he was charged. He was credited with notes worth
$18,360.54 ; with cash paid over, $9,383.73 ; with discounts on bad cur-
rency, $98.80 ; balance on hand, $32.51^. This exhibits the rapid
growth of Bloomington.
In August, 1820, Addison Smith succeeded Benjamin Parks as
County Agent. Late in 1820, James Borland succeeded Roderick
Rawlins as Countv Treasurer. Addison Smith was the Census Enumera-
tor in 1820. He" was also the Lister for 1821, and C. J. Hand in 1823.
Jesse Moore was Lister in 1819.
POPULATION OF MONROE COUNTY.
In 1820, 2,679; in 1830, 6,577; in 1840, 10,143; in 1850, 11,-
286; in 1860, 12,8-17; in 1870,14,168; in 1880, 15,875.
THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT OF MONROE COUNTY.
The first term of this court was held on the first Monday in June,
1818, at the house of Abner Blair, by Hon. Thomas H. Blake, President
Judge, and Joseph Berry and Lewis Noel, Associate Judges. The first
act of the court was the issuance of a writ of ad quod damnum for the
benefit of Robert Hamilton to ascertain what damage would be caused by
his erection of a grist and saw mill and a dam on his land — on Section
24. Township 8 north. Range 2 west, on Clear Creek. The Sheriff,
John W. Lee, was directed to summon twelve fit persons to ascertain the
damage. They reported that the land of James Speed would be damaged
to the amount of $158. Nothing farther seems to have been done until
the September term, at which time the first case came to trial. It was
David Teague vs. Leonard Nicholson, trespass on the case for words
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 377
spoken, damages being laid lat |,000. The attorney for the plaintiff
was Addison Smith, and for the defendant John F. Ross. Before suit
was begun, the defendant stated that if the plaintiff would desist from
farther prosecution he would pay all costs thus far ; which proposition
was accepted by the plaintiff, and the defendant was discharged. At
this term the court convened at the new log court house in Bloomington.
The following men constituted the first grand jury: Jonathan Nichols,
William Anderson, Edward Armstrong, John Treat, David McHollen,
Thomas B. Clark, Abner Blair, Julius Dugger, John Tullen, James
Ellege, John Storm, Joseph Cox, Joseph Baugh and Joseph Gilbert.
They were sworn, sent out, and soon returned with the following "true
bills:" State of Indiana vs. James Green, larceny (stealing a rifled gun
owned by John W. Lee). John Law was the Prosecuting Attorney. The
defendant pleaded " not guilty " to the charge, and the following first petit
jury was impaneled to try the case : Joseph Perisho, John M. Sadler,
Isaiah Wright, James Thompson, George Parks Sr., Absalom Morgan,
John Wakefield, Solomon , David Scott, Jonathan Gilbert,
Granville Ward and John . The evidence was heard and the
jury was sent out. They returned the following verdict: "We of the
jury do find the traverser guilty." The defendant's counsel moved an
arrest of judgment, which was granted until the next day, upon which
occasion the following reasons for an arrest of judgment were filed : "1.
It does not appear upon the record that the jurors sworn to try said
cause were good and lawful men. 2. It is bad for uncertainty, as it
does not appear that Clear Creek Township is within Monroe County, so
as to preclude intendment. 3. It is informal in its conclusion, as it does
not conclude in a manner directed by the constitution. 4. The verdict
is against law and evidence." The court overruled the motion and
rendered judgment as follows : The defendant to pay to John W. Lee
$30, to pay a fine of $30, to pay costs of prosecution, and to stand com-
mitted until sentence be complied with.
On the second day of the September term, the grand jury returned a
bill against Seth Goodwin for assault and battery upon Jacob Leabo.
The case was continued until the March (1819) term of the court, at
which time Leabo himself was fined $9.50 for an assault. The March
term of the court was held by the Hon. Gen. Washington Johnston,
President Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, and Joseph Berry and
Lewis Noel, Associates. George R. C. Sullivan was Prosecuting Attor-
ney. Seth Goodwin was fined 6J cents for his assault on Leabo. At
this term also came the action of debt, David Teauge vs. William Baker.
Teaugehad hired to Baker for $205 to build a miU-dam, mill, etc., but
had failed, as alleged by the plaintiff, to pay all that was due. Suit was
dropped, a compromise being effected. The next case was G. W.
Harden vs. William Harden on a debt of $187.50 with interest, which
amount was recovered by the plaintiff. At the June term, 1819, the
Hon. Jonathan Doty, President Judge, held court, assisted by the above-
named Associates.
THE FIRST PROBATE COURT OF MONROE COUNTY.
The first court of this character was held at Bloomington on the 31st
378 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
day of August, 1818, by Joseph Berry and Lewis Noel, Associate Judges.
The first act was as follows : On motion of Eli Lee, it was " ordered that
William Dorsey, infant son of Joseph Dorsey (deceased) and Sarah Dor-
sey, born January 24, 1811, be bound unto Eli Lee and Sarah Lee until
he arrives at the age of twenty one years, to learn the art of agriculture ;
whereupon the said Eli Lee and Sarah Lee, together with William ,
their security, entered into bond in the penal sum of ^500, conditioned
that the said Eli Lee and Sarah Lee learn (teach) him, the said William
Dorsey, reading, writing, and arithmetic as far as the rule of three ; and
also to find him in wholesome diet, washing, lodging and clothing, and to
deal with him in all cases as an apprentice ought to be dealt with, and to
find him upon his becoming of age the sum of $10 and a good suit of
clothes. At this time also, Dorcas Dorsey, infant daughter of Joseph
Dorsey, deceased, was bound out to George Hedrick. This was the only
business performed at the first session of the court. In vacation, letters
of administration were granted to David Chambers upon the estate of
James Sheffield, deceased.
At the March term, 1819, Lory Loving was granted letters of admin-
istration on the estate and last will and testament of John Loving, de-
ceased. At this term. David Chambers, administrater of the estate of
John Henson, deceased, returned the following inventory of the sales of
such estate : One kettle, 50 cents ; one kettle, $3 ; one kettle, $3 ; one
pot, $2.75; one pot, $2.62| ; fire dogs, $2; one shovel, 62h cents; one
plow (spelled plough), $4.40 ; leather, $1 ; leather, $1 ; one steel trap, $3;
one plate, $1.25; three hoes, 50 cents; one basket, 31^ cents; one
churn, 6J cents; one cutting knife, $1.66^; smith tools, $5.87|- ; one
curry comb, 54 cents; one ladle, 12| cents; one reeler, 21 cents; one
pair of steelyards, $2.36j; two chairs, 62J cents; three pair of cards;
50 cents ; sheep shears, 52 cents; tobacco, $2.82 ; one keg, 46 cents;
one barrel, 75 cents; one note, $20.25; one note, $2.25; one hackle,
$4; one reed and gears, $1.18f ; one reed and gears. 50 cents ; total,
, This list is given here to show what personal property our
grandparents possessed. It will not bear close inspection under the crit-
ical and aristocratic eye of the present generation, but it is an honest
record that speaks in volumes of the self-denial of early times.
" Let not ambition mock their useful toil —
Their homely joys and destiny obscure —
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smil^,
The short and simple annals of the poor."
ERECTION OF TOWNSHIPS.
At the first session of the Commissioners, the following townships
were laid off: Bloomington Township — Beginning at the corner of Sec-
tions 18 and 19, where they intersect the line dividing Ranges 1 and 2
west ; thence north on said range line to the boundary line ; thence south-
east with said line to where the Jackson line intersects the same ; thence
south of the Jackson line to the middle of fractional Township 8 ; thence
through the middle of Township 8 to the place of beginning. Beanblos-
som Township — Beginning on the line dividin>i Ranges 1 and 2 west, at
the corner of Sections 13 and 14, where they intersect the same; thence
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 379
north on said line to the boundary line ; thence northwest on the bound-
ary line to the northwest corner of Monroe County ; thence south on
Daviess County line to the middle of Township 8 ; thence through the
middle of said town to the place of beginning. Indian Creek Township
— Beginning at the corner of Beanblossom and Bloomington Townships,
on the line dividing Ranges 1 and 2 west ; then south on said line to the
Lawrence County line; thence west on said line to where it intersects the
county line of Daviess ; thence north on said line to the corner of Bean-
blossom Township ; thence on the line of the last-mentioned township to
the place of beginning. Clear Creek Township — Beginning at the cor-
ner of the townships interlocked on the line dividing Ranges 1 and 2
west ; thence south on said line to the county line of Lawrence ; thence
east on said line to where it intersects the Jackson County line ; thence
north on said line to the corner of Bloomington Township ; thence on the
last-mentioned line to the place of beginning. Granville Ward was ap-
pointed Inspector of Elections in Bloomington Township ; John Cutler,
same in Beanblossom Township ; James Trotter, same in Indian Creek ;
and John Storm, same in Clear Creek. Elections were ordered held in
the above townships on the 9th of May for two Justices of the Peace in
each, the elections to be held at the following places : Bloomington Town-
ship, at the house of David Rogers ; Beanblossom Township, at the house
of Coleman Peets ; Indian Creek, at the house of John Berry ; Clear
Creek, at the house of Thomas Graham.
In May, 1821, Lamb's Township, in the new purchase, was created as
follows : Beginning at the old Indian boundary line, where the line of
Township 10 intersects the same; thence east on the line of Town 10
until it intersects the meridian line ; thence north with said line to the
southeast corner of Township 13; thence west on the line between Town-
ships 12 and 13 until it intersects the said boundary line; thence to the
beginning. This township now composes the southwestern portion of
Morgan County, and took its name from old man Lamb, who settled in
Lamb's Bottom, that county, in 1819, before it was a county. At the same
time this township was created. Walnut Creek Township was also erected,
with the following boundaries : Beginning at the northeast corner of Lamb's
Township on the meridian line ; thence north on said line to the north-
west corner of Township 15 north; thence west on the line dividing
Townships 15 and 16 until it intersects the boundary line ; thence south-
east on said boundary line until it intersects the line of Lamb's Township.
This township comprised the northwestern portion of Morgan County,
At this time also was created Raccoon Township, with the following
bounds : All of Wabash County north of Walnut Creek Township. All
this territory had been attached by the Legislature to Monroe County.
Reuben Fullen was appointed Inspector for Lamb's Township, and Samuel
Rogers the same for Walnut Creek Township.
On the 1st day of March, 1825, it was " ordered that a township be
laid oif in the northeast corner of the county, to be known by the name
of Jackson, and designated by the following bounds, to wit : Beginning
at the northeast corner of said county, thence west eight miles to the me-
ridian line, thence south to the line dividing Townships 8 and 9, thence
east eight miles to the county line, thence north on said line to the begin-
24
380 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
ning." An election was ordered held on the last Saturday of April, 1825,
at the house of Banner Brummett, for the purpose of electing a Justice of
the Peace, with Elias Swift, Inspector. A three-mile strip on the west
side of Brown County was then a part of Monroe County.
In May, 1825, Salt Creek Township was created, as follows: Begin-
ning at the southeast corner of said county ; thence west to where the me-
ridian line intersects the same; thence north on the meridian line to where
the corner of Townships 8 and 9 intersect the same ; thence east on the
line dividing said Townships 8 and 9 to where the same intersects the
county line ; thence south on said line to the place of beginning. Elec-
tions were ordered held at the house of Boston Bails. John Pollard and
Ezekiel Hendricks were appointed Fence Viewers, and George Todd and
Solomon Butcher, Overseers of the Poor, and Henry Kendall, Inspector.
In July, 1828, it was ordered that all the territory attached to Monroe
County (on the east), by an act of the Legislature of 1827-28, should be
attached to the townships of Salt Creek and Jackson, as follows: Begin-
ning at a point on the line dividing Townships 7 and 8, Range 3 east,
where the line dividing Sections 31 and 32 intersect the same ; thence
north to the line dividing Townships 8 and 9 ; thence west to the former
county line of Monroe County ; thence south to the line dividing Townships
7 and 8 ; thence east to the place of beginning — such territory to form a
part of Salt Creek Township, Also : Beginning at the northeast corner
of Salt Creek Township, as above enlarged ; thence north to the line di-
viding Johnson and Barthlomew Counties ; thence west to the northeast
corner of Monroe County, thence south to the northern boundary of Salt
Creek Township, thence east to the place of beginning — such territory
should form a part of Jackson Township. It will be observed that the
territory thus attached to Salt Creek and Jackson Townships now consti-
tutes much of the western half of the present county of Brown.
In July, 1829, two new townships were erected, as follows : Wash-
ington Township — Beginning at a point on the meridian line between
Townships 10 and 11 north ; thence west with said line dividing Townships
10 and 11 aforesaid to the line dividing Ranges 1 and 2 west ; thence south
with said line dividing Ranges 1 and 2 aforesaid to main Beanblossom
Creek ; thence in an eastern direction with said creek to the meridian line ;
thence north with said line to the place of beginning. Richland Town-
ship— Beginning at a point where the line dividing Ranges 1 and 2 west
intersects the line dividing Townships 9 and 10 north ; thence west with
said line last mentioned to the Owen County line ; thence south with said
last-mentioned line to a point where the line dividing Sections. 18 and
19, in Township 8 north. Range 2 west, intersect the same ; thence with
said line last mentioned to the range line dividing Ranges 1 and 2 west ;
thence with said range line to the place of beginning. The elections for
Washington Township were ordered held at the house of John Scott,
with Daniel Ray, Inspector. Those in Richland Township were ordered
held in the house of William D. Shrevies, with James Parks, Inspector.
At the January term, 1830, it was ordered "that all territory attached
by legislative enactment to the county of Monroe subsequent to the orig-
inal formation of townships therein be and it is hereby attached to and
included and shall compose parts of the said townships in the following
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 381
manner : By extending the boundary lines of the townships which run
in a direction perpendicular to the county boundary entirely thereto, and.
thereby attaching to the respective townships all such territory as lies ad-
joining thereto."
In May, 1830, pursuant to a petition signed by seventy- one resident
citizens, the township of Perry was ordered erected, with the following
boundary : Beginning at the line dividing Sections 12 and 13, Township
8 north, Range 1 west ; thence west along said line to the west line of
said Township 8 north. Range 1 west ; thence south to the line dividing
Sections 6 and 7, Township 7 north, Range 1 west; thence east on said
line to the east line of the last-named township ; thence north on the east-
ern line of said township to the place of beginning. An election was
ordered held on the 26th of May, 1830, at the house of Benjamin Kenton
(the old Clearwater place), for two Justices of the Peace, Mr. Kenton to
serve as Inspector. Jesse Davis and George A. Ritter were appointed
Overseers of the Poor; Solomon Butcher and Finney Courtney, Fence
Viewers.
In May, 1833 upon petition of Jacob Romans and others, Jackson
Township was divided, and Benton Township was organized from a part
thereof, as follows : Jackson to be divided into two portions by the line
dividing Ranges 1 and 2 east, the eastern portion to retain the name of
Jackson, and the western portion to be known as " Benton Township, in
honor of Thomas H. Benton, United States Senator from Missouri." An
election of a Justice of the Peace was ordered held in the new township
on the last Saturday in September, 1833, at the house of John Young.
In March, 1837, in pursuance of a petition from the citizens in-
terested, the County Board ordered the creation of a new township to be
known as Van Buren, to comprise all and no more of Congressional
Township 8 north, Range 2 west. An election of a Justice of the Peace
was ordered held on the 3d of April, 1837, at the house of Conrad
, who was appointed Inspector.
In September, 1849, Salt Creek Township was divided and Polk
Township created, as follows : Commencing in the bed of Salt Creek on
the line dividing Township 7, Range 1 west and Range 1 east ; thence
due south on said township line to the south county line ; thence due east
to the southeast corner of the county, thence north on the county line to
the Muddy Fork of Salt Creek, or where the same crosses the county
line ; thence down said stream to the main Salt Creek ; thence down
said stream to the place of beginning. An election was ordered held
in the new township at he house of John Todd, at Big Springs, with
Peter Norman Inspector. VVylie Davar and Samuel Axam were
appointed Fence Viewers, and Wylie Davar Constable.
TERRITORY ATTACHED TO MONROE COUNTY.
By an act of the Legislature, approved December 31, 1821, all of
Monroe County lying west of White River was attached to Owen, the
second section of the act reading as follows : All that part of Monroe
County lying west of White River be and the same is hereby attached to
Owen County, and that all suits, pleas, plaints, actions and prosecutions
whatsoever, shall be conducted in the same manner as if no change had
382 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
taken place. Section 3 of this act reads as follows: So much of the
New Purchase as is contained in the following boundary, to wit : Begin-
ning on White River where the line dividing Townships 10 and 11 north
crosses the same ; thence east with said line to the corners of Sections 4
and 5, Township 10 north, Range 2 east ; thence south to the Monroe
County line — shall form and constitute a part of Monroe County. It
will be seen that this section attached to the county all of the present
county north of the old Indian boundary, together with a strip three
miles wide now a part of Brown County. By an act of the Legislature,
approved January 16, 1828, the following territory was attached to
Monroe County : Beginning at a point on the line dividing Townships 7
and 8, where the line dividing Sections 31 and 32 intersect the same ;
thence north with the last-mentioned line to the line dividing the
counties of Johnson and Bartholomew ; thence west with said line to the
northeast corner of Monroe County ; thence south to the line dividing
Townships 7 and 8 ; thence east with the last-mentioned line to the
place of beginning.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The first courts assembled in the house of Abner Blair, but at the
first session of the County Board a double log cabin was ordered erected
on the public square without delay, to be used for court purposes until a
better one was built. It was called the "temporary court house." The
order was issued on the third day of the first session. The double cabins
were to be 20x20 feet and 12x20 feet respectively, were to be ten feet
apart with covered entry connecting the two — in fact, the two cabins and
the entry were to be covered by one roof. The cabins were to be built
of round logs, which were afterward to be hewed down. Each was to be
ten feet high to the eaves, and each was to contain one door and one
window. A few slight changes were made to this plan, but in the main
the double' building has been described. Samuel Elliott was the con-
tractor, but the contract price cannot be stated, though it did not exceed
about $400. Mr. Elliott also contracted to clear the trees from around
the new court house, which he did. So rapidly was the work pushed,
that the building was ready for use in August, 1818.
In October, 1818, preparations were made to build a county jail.
Roderick Rawlins was authorized to draft the plan. It was to be built of
oak timber a foot thick, was to stand north of the court house, was to be
30x20 feet, was to have a dungeon and a criminal's room, and a jailer's
room was to be built on the east side. Roderick Rawlins took the con-
tract. The building as described was soon completed. John Woodward
built a stray-pen for the town, and was paid $23 for the job. James
Smith made a set of chairs for the court house. Joel Woodward, John
Mercer and others dug a well on the public square. Early in 1819, a
contract was called for to inclose the public square with a substantial
fence, but the work was postponed.
In February, 1819, preparations were made to build a permanept and
substantial court house. The plan prepared by William Low stated that
the building was to be of brick with a stone foundation, was to be two
stories high, and was to be forty-five feet long, east and west and forty
feet wide, north and south. In May, 1819, Robert Stafford took the
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 383
contract, but as he could not give security at the price of his bond — $20,-
000 — the contract was re-let to John Ketchum for $7,965. The work
was begun in June, and in August the first installment of $1,000 was
paid the contractor. It was at this time that posts and railings were
erected around the temporary court house. Samuel Harryman was one
of the brick-makers for the new court house. In February, 1820, Raw-
lins, County Treasurer, donated certain commissions due him on receipts
from the sale of town lots, provided such donation was used in the pur-
chase of a public clock for the temporary court house. His offer was
accepted. In 1820, David Teauge finished clearing the timber from the
public square for $24. In February, 1820, some important changes
were made in the plan of the new court house. At this time, the county
jail was reported finished, but a committee appointed to examine the
work found that the debtors' room was incomplete, and David H. Max-
well was employed to remedy the work. So the old jail had a debtors
room, and that, too, in Bloomington, only sixty years ago ! Well, no
wonder; one could be happily utilized now, when men refuse or neglect to
pay for their county histories. Enos Blair was the first jailer. In Au-
gust, 1821, Mr. Ketchum was paid $4,000 on his court house contract.
At this time, the rough work of the building had been completed. David
Armstrong was hired to build a " cubola" (as the county clerk wrote it)
on the building. For the three years prior to December, 1822, the
clerk's office was in the house of Jacob B. Lowe. He was ordered paid
$60 for the rent. It was a long time before the court house was fully
completed. Just why, cannot be certainly stated, but probably because
the county board paid the contractor before the work was completed,
whereupon he permitted the work to languish. In 1824, Edward Borland
was paid $352.70 for extra woodwork on the building, and David Arm-
strong $1,505.20. Benjamin Neeld was also paid $24, and others, $81.
Mr. Ketchum was not paid his full contract price. The building was not
fully completed, outside and inside, until 1826. It cost about $8,300.
The board had great trouble about a "Franklin rod," which they consid-
ered necessary for the safety of the building. Austin Seward was hired
to paint the building a bright red, and then pencil it with white, and to
have the work completed before September, 1826. In 1825, Samuel
Dunning took the contract to build a combined clerk's office and county
library room, which he did before November. Seward painted it. The
public square was fenced at this time. Z. Williams. did the wood work
on the clerk's office. Ewing & Montgomery did the plastering. In
May, 1826, the building was occupied. Mr. Z. Williams was delivered
the key to the court house, and instructed to keep it locked, permitting
it to be occupied only by the courts, County Commissioners, taking of
depositions. Fourth of July celebrations, elections, '■"ivTien any person
shall want admittance for the purpose of acquiring architectural knowl-
edge, and in the discretion of the keeper to any preacher of the Gospel."
When the building was fully completed, it was turned over with all its
architectural excellence to the county board. And it was a fine building
for that day, and Bloomington was one of the most promising towns in
the State. In March, 1827, the citizens petitioned the County Board as
follows: " To the Honorable Board of Justices of Monroe County: The
384 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
undersigned petitioners respectfully represent that they conceive that the
honor of our county and the future interest and importance of Blooming-
ton, which now ranks among the best villages in the State, imperiously
requires that the court house should be surrounded by a permanent in-
closure, which would add to the convenience and beauty of our public
square, and at the same time hold forth a powerful inducement to the cit-
izens of the town to make corresponding improvements in the streets and
alleys." Then followed a long suggestion as to how the fence should be
built — of brick, with a stone foundation. The prayer of the petitioners
was granted by the County Board. The petitioners were Thomas Graham,
William Alexander, Edward Borland, John Hight. George Henry, James
Whitcomb, Edmund Wayman, Granville Ward, Richard Hardesty, Will-
iam S. Wright, James Slocumb, Robinson Farmer, George H. Johnson,
Frederick Butler, Jacob Harsh, John S. Barnes, " and others." William
Bannister and John Robinson did the work on the inclosure. John
Ketchum, the contractor of the court house, was not fully settled with
until 1828 or 1829. In 1856-58, the court house was remodeled, the
work being done under the contract of John F. Rogers, who built the
two brick wings at a cost of about §7,000. A few other alterations have
been made in the building, otherwise it is the same that was erected over
sixty years ago, and is apparently as solid and substantial as the day it
was completed.
In 1837, the County Board concluded to build a new jail and ap-
pointed John Bowland, F. T. Butler, William S. Wright, Samuel
Hardesty, Joseph Baugh and John W. Lee, a committee to remove the
old jail and build on the same lot a new one. The contract was awarded
to Hardesty, Graham & Chapman, but the contract price cannot be
given. The construction seems to have been delayed somewhat, from
what cause cannot be stated. The building was a strong brick structure
and cost in the whole about §5,000. It was not fully completed until
early in the forties. There was talk of building another jail as early as
1856, but nothing definite was done until 1869, when bids were called
for for a combined jail and Sheriflf's residence. The following bids were
received.
George Finley & Co., all the stone work $ 6,998.
J. L. Farman, cut stone, all the stone work 6,387.
C. A. Nichols, rubble and cut-stone work 10,071.
A. C. Halstead, cut stone work 5,500.
The proposal of Finley & Co. being considered the best was accepted.
Adams & Denton bid in the brick work for §1,000. James Small was
appointed superintendent of the work. The prison was to be 34x41
feet ; the residence 20x44 feet, and the kitchen and guard room 14x33
feet, stone foundation and walls of brick. The building was constructed
according to contract, and is yet in use.
COUNTY POLITICS.
Unfortunately, owing to the fact that the election returns were not
preserved in the office of the County Clerk, the details of the early elec-
tions in the county cannot be given. One thing is certain, however, that
the county was uniformly Democratic. If any innovation was made in
this rule by any other party, such fact is no longer remembered.
Reference is made to the ticket in general. It was no doubt occasionally
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 385
the case that a rival candidate on an opposing party ticket sometimes
stepped in by reason of some local sentiment or prejudice. But the
Democratic ticket as a whole was invariably elected. But little attention
was paid to national political questions until the memorable Presidential
campaign of 1840. Indiana came forward with her idol, William Henry
Harrison, and the new West united forces and means to elect him. An
important feature of the election was the newly born prejudice existing
between the eastern and western portions of the country. The log cabins
and hard cider of " Injiana " were the butt for Eastern ridicule, but the
friends of Mr. Harrison accepting the terms conducted the campaign
with a rush that was never before known in the history of the nation. At
every political gathering of the Whigs barrels of hard cider and
miniature log cabins were the battle cries. Gen. Harrison's military
record was the pride of his friends, and another battle cry was "Tippeca-
noe and Tyler too."
A famous political song of that campaign, set to the air of " Rosin
the Bow," was sung on all occasions. One verse was as follows :
' 'And if we get any ways thirsty,
I'll tell you what we can all do;
We'll bring down a keg of hard cider
And drink to 'Old Tippecanoe.' "
Huge canoes were hauled around on wagons at the political meetings
to advertise the claims of Gen. Harrison to the suffrages of the people.
The campaign in Monroe County was quite spirited, and meetings were
held everywhere. The result of this election can be given of only three
townships, as follows :
November, 1840.
DEMOCRATIC. WHIG.
Van Buren Harrison
and and
Johnson Tyler.
Bloomington 587 541
Salt Creek 11 0
Bean Blossom 117 50
Totals 715 591
Although this is only a partial vote of the county, it illustrates the
Democratic strength, and may be taken as a measure in degree of the
full vote. Mr. Harrison was triumphantly elected and the East was for
the first time compelled to bow to the wild West. The county of Monroe
did not cut much of a figure in the general result, but she fully
established her claims to an unfailing Democratic majority. Slavery
began to attract national attention about this time. Anti-slavery or-
ganizations sprang up in various portions of the North, and the struggle
for an increase or a decrease of slave territory began to assume violence
as the territories clamored for admission into the Union. As the Presi-
dential campaign of 1844 approached, it became apparent that Texas,
which had gained her independence of Mexico a few years before, would
apply for admission into the Union. The South was gratified, as that
meant an increase of slave territory ; but on the other hand the North deter-
mined if possible to prevent the admission of the territory in order to
limit the domain of slavery. The Democcats put forward James K.
Polk, and the Whigs, Henry Clay. Considerable activity was developed
386
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
in Monroe County during the campaign. The result of the election was
as follows :
November, 1844.
BEMOCEATIC. WHIG.
Polk Clay
and and
Dallas Frelinghuysen.
Bean Blossom 141 28
Richland 117 66
Van Buren 12 17
Indian Creek 146 41
Clear Creek 48 49
Salt Creek 32 4
Benton 32 1
Washington 56 32
Bloomington 534 483
Totals 1,118 721
Polk's Majority 397
The result of no other Presidential election can be given until 1856,
at which time the New Republican party appeared. The campaign in
this county was very warm. The result was :
November, 1856.
DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN. AMERICAN.
Buchanan Fremont Fillmore
and and and
Breckinridge. Dayton. Donalson.
Bloomington 203 134 79
Bean Blossom 144 25 36
Benton 81 22 10
Clear Creek 127 27 41
Indian Creek 154 9 15
Marion 35 20 0
Perry 86 90 50
Polk 69 6 12
Richland 74 46 94
Salt Creek 84 5 5
Van Buren 56 61 37
Washington 78 53 13
Totals 1,191 498 392
During the next four years, people even in the North were almost on
the brink of open war. In 1858, the South began to make preparations
to leave the Union. The result in 1860 presented the following singu-
larly broken appearance :
November, 1860.
NORTHERN S017THERN ^^^^^j^^^j,^^ AMERICAN.
DEMOCRACY, DEMOCRACY.
Douglas Breckinridge Lincoln Bell
and and and and
Johnson. Lane. Hamlin. Everett.
Bean Blossom 136 17 55 6
Richland 36 17 163 25
Benton 62 12 36 2
Washington 63 21 79 0
Bloomington 109 84 316 19
Van Buren 21 36 129 1
Marion 30 11 24 0
Indian Creek 102 32 46 0
Polk 36 10 28 1
Perry 27 54 199 4
Salt Creek 3 65 14 1
Clear Creek 91 36 109 5 ^
Totals 716 395 1,198 64
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 387
This was a remarkable election. The noticeable feature is the very
heavy vote for the ticket of the Southern wing of the Democracy. The
Democratic party of the county was " all broke up." The large vote
polled for the Breckinridge Electors from the county Democracy shows
the sympathy existing for the South. The Gubernational vote in the
county the same fall (1860) was : Henry S. Lane (Rep.), 1,195 ; Thomas
A. Hendricks (Dem.), 1,168. The vote for Governor in 1856 had been :
Oliver P. Morton (Rep.), 801; A. P. Willard (Dem.), 1,133. The
Democratic majority was broken down between 1856 and 1860, but it
rallied again during the war. In 1858, the vote for Representative in
Congress was, James Hughes (Dem.), 964; W. M. Dunn (Rep.), 1,075.
The vote for Secretary of State in 1862 was : W. A. Peelle (Rep.),
1,021 ; J. S. Athon (Dem.), 1,333. It will be seen from this that the
Democracy of the county had recovered herself, but by 1864 the Repub-
licans began to creep up again, the vote for Governor being : Morton
(Rep.), 1,224; McDonald (Dem.), 1,220. The Presidential vote was as
follows :
November, 1864.
DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.
McClellan Lincoln
and and
Pendleton. Johnson.
Bean Blossom 175 57
Richland 54 195
Indian Creek 136 38
Salt Creek 98 6
Clear Creek 141 79
VanBuren 48 124
Washington 93 67
Benton 96 35
Perry 99 211
Polk 78 27
Marion 42 17
Bloomington 150 346
Totals 1,210 1,202
In 1866, the county became Republican by a majority which the De-
mocracy has failed to wholly extinguish with but one or two exceptions
up to the present. In that year, the vote for Representative in Congress
was : M. C. Hunter (Rep.), 1,589 ; H. W. Harrington (Dem.), 1,379.
The result for Governor in 1868 was : Conrad Baker (Rep.), 1,484;
Thomas A. Hendricks (Dem.), 1,402. The result for President the
same year was : Grant and Colfax (Rep.), 1,496 ; Seymour and Blair
(Dem.), 1,369. In 1870, the county again went slightly Democratic, as
will be seen from the following : For Secretary of State, Norman Eddy
(Dem.), 1,462; M. F. A. Hoffman (Rep.), 1,457. Representative in
Congress, Voorhees (Dem.), 1,471 ; Dunn (Rep.), 1,442. The result for
Governor in 1872 was as follows: T. A. Hendricks (Dem.), 1,527;
Thomas M. Brown (Rep.), 1,689. The Republicans again rolled up a
small majority. The result for Representative in Congress in 1872 was
as follows: Hunter (Rep.), 1,723 ; Voorhies (Dem.), 1,485. The re-
sult in the county of the Presideatial contest of 1872 was as follows :
388
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
November, 1872.
BOURBON
EEPUBLICAN. DEMOCRATIC. DEMOCRATIC.
Grant Greeley
and and
Wilson. Brown.
Bean Blossom 95 187 —
Washington 83 120 —
Marion .31 SO —
Benton 57 96 — *
Richland 269 91 —
Van Buren 131 57 —
Perry 247 111 2
Polk 57 87 —
Salt Creek 9 110 —
Clear Creek 121 136 —
Indian Creek 71 116 3
Bloomington 426 218 —
Totals 1,597 1,359 5
The Presidential election of 1876 resulted as follows :
November, 1876.
REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRATIC. IKDEPENDEKT.
Hayes Tilden Cooper
and and and
Wheeler. Hendricks. Gary.
Bean Blossom 112 195 5
Washington 83 135 16
Marion 38 37 4
Benton 47 97 4
Richland 290 99 6
Van Buren 158 73 5
Perry 264 136 6
Polk 38 109 15
Salt Creek 18 120 1
Clear Creek 1.30 179 10
Indian Creek 68 153 18
Bloomington 421 226 35
Totals 1,667 1,559 125
The county was still Republican by a substantial majority. In 1878,
the result for Secretary of State was as follows : John G. Shanklin (Rep.),
1,601; Isaac S. Moore (Dem.), 1,560; Henry James (Ind.), 288. In
1880, the result for Governor was : Albert G. Porter (Rep.), 1,770 ;
Franklin Landers (Dem.), 1,613 ; Richard Gregg (Ind.), 199. In 1880,
the Presidential election resulted as follows :
November, 1880.
REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRATIC. INDEPENDENT.
Garfield Hancock Weaver
and and and
Arthur. English. Chambers.
Bean Blossom 108 182 9
Washington 88 157 8
Marion 57 56 3
Benton 51 137 12
Bloomington .» 508 240 33
Richland 286 104 5
Van Buren 159 73 13
Perry 255 145 17
Salt Creek 26 130 2
Polk 53 129 24
Clear Creek 112 176 35
Indian Creek 77 153 4
Totals 1,780 1,682 165
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 389
The county was still Republican. In 1882, the vote for Secretary of
State was as follows: E. R. Hawn (Rep.), 1,751; William R. Myers
(Dem.), 1,625 ; H. B. Leonard (Ind.), 144.
THE COUNTY POOR.
Monroe County has done well by her poor. The county was no
sooner organized than allowances began to be made for the temporary and
permanent relief of the indigent. In every township, Overseers of the
Poor were appointed, whose duty was to provide for those who were help-
less, and report the expense to the County Board, who allowed the same
as any other county expense. It was customary, and is even yet, to bind
children out to learn some industry, and upon the attainment of their ma-
jority they were turned out upon the busy world to shift for themselves,
with a new suit of clothes and $10 in money. This was true of the able-
bodied. The helpless, on the contrary, were usually " farmed out," as it
was called. The keeping of them was put up at auction, and he who
would provide for their necessary wants for the least amount was burdened
with the responsibility. It was necessary to exercise some care, or other-
wise the helpless fell into rude and even cruel hands, and were half starved
and clothed, that a little money might be made in their keeping. The
system was bad, as it led the unscrupulous to prey upon the helplessness
of the poor. It was better, however, than to permit the unfortunates to
die outright. A better state of things could not be expected in the back-
woods, where the best were often in want of the necessaries of life.
Much temporary and even permanent relief was furnished by the town-
ship, and no call made upon the County Board for reimbursement. The
first order for the relief of the poor which could be found upon the records
is as follows :
State of Indiana. ^
v Monroe County, Debtor.
Monroe County. J
To Solomon Greeu for an allowance for
an injury sustained to his bedding in keeping, laying out and burying Louis Lee, a poor
person.
February 5, 1824. David Sears, j ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ p^^^
AViLLiAM Moore, j -^
After this, the settlement of the county was so rapid that the poor ex-
pense began to increase. In 1827, the county paid $46.20, and in 1830,
$75. Late in the thirties, the expense exceeded $200 annually. In 1836,
it was $204.63. These amounts do not include the help furnished in lo-
calities and not reported for county reimbursement. The total some years
would no doubt approximate $500. The number of paupers continued to
increase during the early portion of the thirties, until at last, in 1836, the
propriety of having a county poor farm and poor house began to be talked
of. A petition was presented to the County Board in November, 1836,
praying that a poor farm might be bought, and in response to this, John
Hite, John Owens and Jesse Davar were appointed a committee to inspect
various farms with a view of purchasing. Nothing further seems to have
been done until May, 1838, when another committee, consisting of John
Owens, Edward Borland and John Hite, were appointed for the same
purpose, the farm to cost not less than $500 nor more than $1,500, the
purchase price to be paid in three annual installments. All further action
390 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
seems to have been postponed until 1846, when another committee
(Elias Abel, Henry Tanner and ), were appointed to inspect
some half dozen farms that were for sale. The committee reported the
following farms for sale: One owned by E. N. Elliott, five miles from
Bloomington, 190 acres, price $1,000 ; G. H. Johnson, seven miles from
Bloomington, 176 acres, cost $2,000 ; John AcuiF, five miles from
Bloomington, 120 acres, cost $900 ; Michael Buskirk, three and a half
miles from Bloomington, 400 acres, cost $2,600 ; William Gray, nine
miles from Bloomington, 198 acres, $1,000 ; Henry Rhorer, twelve miles
from Bloomington, 160 acres, $1,200 ; James Miller, two and one-half
miles from Bloomington, 160 acres at $2,000; Samuel McCalla, eight
and one-half miles from Bloomington, 160 acres at $800. The farm of
John Acuff" was bought, and he became the first Poor Superintendent.
The farm was on the Bloomington & Spencer road, on Section 13,
Township 9 north, Range 2 west. Of the purchase price, $600 was to be
paid when the deed was made and $300 at the end of a year. Upon the
farm was an ordinary dwelling of that day, and in addition the County
Board ordered the erection of a log house. Mr. Acufi" was to have the
use of the farm for a year, and was paid $100 to care for all permanent
paupers. The first pauper. Crazy Betsey, was taken to the asylum in
June, 184*^. Acufi" continued Superintendent until 1849, when he was
succeeded by Robert Ray. At this time the paupers numbered three.
John N. York was the third Superintendent.
During the fifties, the poor expense amounted some years to nearly
$3,000. As high as eight inmates were in the asylum at one time. The
great burden of expense to the county, however, really fell upon the
townships. Later in the fifties it became evident that a new asylum
would have to be obtained to meet the wants of the county. In 1862, a
new farm of 168 acres was purchased of Samuel A. Smith for $6,000.
It was parts of Sections 30 and 31, Township 8 north. Range 1 west.
One of the County Board, Mr. Small, protested against the purchase of
this particular farm, alleging : 1, that it cost too much ; 2, the land,
though good, is too rolling and exhausted; 3, scarcity of timber, especially
rail timber ; 4, two branches of Clear Creek run through the land, thus
making it necessary to keep up several water gaps ; 5, there have been
better farms ofi"ered for sale. The protest of Mr. Small was of no avail,
and the farm was purchased and immediate preparations were made to
build thereon a poor asylum that would meet the wants of the county.
The building was erected by Milburn & McPhetridge, for $1,688. It
was a frame structure, about 35x75 feet, and contained nine rooms on
each side. Of the purchase price, $500 was paid in cash at the outset,
$500 in September of 1862, and the balance at the completion of the
work in November, 1862. It seems that the judgment of Mr. Small was
correct, when he stated that the farm was not the one wanted by the
county, and that much better ones had been offered for sale. This fact
became more and more apparent as the years passed. At last, in Decem-
ber, 1865, the farm was advertised for sale and soon sold to John F. May
for $9,150. Of this price, $1,000 was to be paid cash, $2,000 one year
after date ; $3,075 two years after date, and $3,075 three years after
date. Mr. May became the Superintendent, he agreeing to keep the
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 391
paupers for |2 each per week. Samuel A. Smith had preceded Mr. May
as Superintendent. Immediate preparations were made to buy a new
farm. In March, 1866, the County Board bought of Peter Bollenbacker
six seminary lots known as the Cuff farm, about a mile and a half west of
town, each lot comprising ten acres, for $3,000, the seller taking in pay-
ment the note of John May for $2,000 above mentioned, the county to
pay a mortgage for about the remainder held on the lots by Robert Acuff.
Immediate possession was given of the farm. Mr. May, as above stated,
became the Superintendent. In May, 1867, sealed proposals were called
for to build a brick asylum of certain specified dimensions on this farm,
the following proposals being received: William H. Owen, $6,000;
Samuel A. Smith, $5,800 ; R. A. Fulk, $6,500 ; Payne, McCalla &
Hooper, $6,300 ; Glover & Blankenship, $7,728. The proposal of Mr.
Smith being considered the best was accepted, and the contract was
awarded him at his bid of $5,800. This fine brick building, which was
immediately erected, is yet in use. It took about two years to complete
the building, however.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
So far as can be learned, the first action taken by the citizens of the
county to organize a society in the interests of agriculture was in May,
1835, when the County Board having been petitioned to that effect, or-
dered that 300 copies of a notice of a public meeting to be held at the
court house on the last Saturday in May, in pursuance of an act of the
Legislature, entitled "An act for the encouragment of agriculture," ap-
proved February 7, 1835, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural
society, should be printed, and the Clerk was instructed to see that they
were distributed and posted, and authorized to pay for the same. This
meeting was held, was well attended, and an agricultural society was or-
ganized, as will be seen from the following certificate :
We, Michael Buskirk, Chairman, and Craven P. Hester, Secretary, of the agricult-
ural society of Monroe County aforesaid, certify that we were elected according to law
for the offices as above mentioned, and that said society has electel its officers and or-
ganized itself agreeably to an act of the Legislature, entitled "An act for the encourag-
ment of agriculture," approved February 7, 1835. Done on the last Saturday of May,
1835. Given under our hands June 4, 1835.
Michael Buskirk.
C. P. Hester.
If a fair was held by this organization, such fact could not be learned
by the writer. The probability is that nothing of the kind was held, or
some record of it would have been discovered. In about the year 1850,
however, a society was organized at the county seat and one or more fairs
were held, but unfortunately no account of it can be here given. The
society was abandoned after one or two fairs, and not again revived until
1855. Austin Seward was the first President of this organization, and
Lewis Bollman, Secretary. The following men were the Drrectors :
Henry Eller, Asher Labertew, Austin Seward, W. S. Stormont, Joshua
Shreve, Luke Sanders, Joseph Bunger, James Givens, Edward Blakely,
Richard Moore, Willis Spencer, Monroe Houston, Thomas Payne and
Lewis Bollman. The first premium list offered by this organization was
as follows, in full : First annual fair of the Monroe County Agricult-
ural Society, to be held at Bloomington Wednesday and Thursday, Oc-
tober 10 and 11, 1855. Premium list :
392 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
CLASS A NO. 1 CATTLE.
Best Bull two years old or over $3
Second best Certificate
Best Bull between one and two years old 2
Second best Certificate
Best Bull Calf. 2
Second best Certificate
Best Cow two years old orover 3
Second best Certificate
Best Heifer between one and two years old 2
Second best Certificate
Best Heifer Calf 2
Second best Certificate
CLASS A NO. 2.
Best pair of Working Cattle |3
Second best Certificate
Best fatted for beef. 2
Second best Certificate
CLASS A — NO. 3.
Best Milk Cow |3
Second best Certificate
Awarding Committee — L. Bollman, I. Cron, Lewis Shryer.
CLASS B — NO. 1 — HORSES.
Best Stallion over three years old f3
Second best Certificate
Best Stallion Colt between two and three years old 2
Second best Certificate
Best Stallion Colt between one and two years old 2
Second best Certificate
Best sucking Horse Colt 1
Second best Certificate
Best Mare over three years 3
Second best Certificate
Best Mare between two and three years 2
Second best Certificate
Best Filly Colt between one and two years 2
Second best Certificate
Best sucking Filly 1
Second best Certificate
CLASS B — NO. 2.
Best Saddle Horse $3
Second best Certificate
CLASS B NO. 3.
Best Draft Horse. |3
Second best Certificate
CLASS B — NO. 4.
Best pair Matched Horses $3
Second best Certificate
Awarding Committee — Eli Worley, J. B. Shreve, John Dinsmore.
CLASS C NO. 1 MULES AND JACKS.
Best Jack $3
Second best Certificate
Best Jennet 3
Second best Certificate
Best Span of Mules 3
Second best Certificate
Best Mule Colt 2
Second best Certificate
Awarding Committee — Hugh Campbell, James Buskirk, Peter Carmichael.
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 393
CLASS D NO. 1 LONG AND COMMON WOOLED SHEEP.
Best Buck over two years old $2
Second best Certificate
Best Buck under two years 2
Second best Certificate
Best Buck Lamb 1
Second best Certificate
Best Ewe over two years old 2
Second best Certificate
Best Ewe under two years old 2
Second best ..Certificate
Best Ewe Lamb 1
Second best Certificate
CLASS D NO. 2 FINE WOOLED SHEEP.
Best Buck over two years old |2
Second best Certificate
Best Buck under two years 2
Second best Certificate
Best Buck Lamb 1
Second best Certificate
Best Ewe over two years old 2
Second best Certificate
Best Ewe under two years old 2
Second best Certificate
Best Ewe Lamb 1
Second best Certificate
Awarding Committee — Lewis Shryer, David Byers, Thomas Carter.
CLASS E NO. 1 HOGS.
Best Boar over one year old $3
Second best Certificate
Best Boar under one year old 2
Second best Certi^.cate
Best breeding Sow over one year old 2
Second best Certificate
Best breeding Sow under one year old 3
Second best Certificate
Best pair of Shoats between six and twelve months 2
Second best Certificate
Best Sow and Pigs 2
Second best Certificate
Awarding Committee — Samuel Harbison, Henry Eller, David Buskirk.
CLASS F NO. 1 POULTRY.
Best collection of Fowls |2
Best collection of Ducks 2
Awarding Committee — John Orchard, John McCrea, Sol Hickman.
CLASS G NO. 1 FARMING IMPLEMENTS.
Best Mower and Reaper, combined |3 00
Best Thrasher and Separator 3 00
Best Mower 2 00
Best Corn and Cob Mill 2 00
Best Machine for gathering Clover 3 00
Best Horse Rake 1 00
Best Cider Mill 1 00
Best Cheese Press 1 00
Best Churn 1 00
Best Straw Cutter 1 00
Best Apple Parer 50
CLASS G — NO. 2.
Best Plow for Monroe County P 00
Best Plow for sod 2 00
394 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Best Plow for loose soil $2 00
Best Subsoil Plow 2 00
Best Mattock 1 00
Best six Hoes 1 00
Best Log Chain 50
Best Cultivator 1 00
Best Harrow 50
CLASS G NO. 3.
Best Farm Wagon $2 00
Best Farm Cart 1 00
Awarding Committee — Mr. McKinley, Thomas Smith, Joseph Bunger.
CLASS H — NO. 1 — CAKRIAGES, FUENITITRE, ETC.
Best Buggy $1 00
Best Carriage 1 00
Best Sofa 1 00
Best set of Common Chairs 1 00
Best Center Table 1 00
Best Dining Table 1 00
Best pair of Side Tables 1 00
Best Work Stand 1 00
Best Secretary and Book Case 1 00
Best display of Furniture 2 00
Awarding Committee — Joseph G. McPheeters, James Burley, Michael Helton.
CLASS I NO. 1 LEATHER AND LEATHER MANUFACTURES.
Best Double Carriage Harness $2 00
Best Single Carriage Harness 1 00
N Best Wagon Harness 2 00
Best pair of Fine Boots 1 00
Best pair of Coarse Boots 1 00
Best pair of Ladies' Shoes 1 00
Best specimen of Harness Leather 1 00
Best specimen of Sole Leather 1 00
Best specimen of Kip Leather 1 00
Best specimen of Calf Skin Leather 1 00
Best Man's Saddle 1 00
Best Woman's Saddle 1 00
Awarding Committee — John Garrison, Van Swearingin, J. W. Coffey.
CLASS K— NO. 1.
Best display of Tin Ware |3 00
Best display of Sheet Iron Ware 2 00
Best Stone-sawing Machine 2 00
Best Tomb Stone or Monument 3 00
Awarding Committee — W. 0. Fee, A. Labertew, John Campbell.
CLASS L NO. 1 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND SEEDS.
Best ten acres of Corn $2 00
Best ten acres of Wheat 2 00
Best five acres of Rye 1 00
Best five acres of Oats 1 00
Best one acre of Clover Seed 2 00
Best one acre of Flax 1 00
Best one half acre of Turnips 1 00
Best one-fourth acre of Potatoes 1 00
Best display of Seed Corn, Wheat, Rye, Oats, Clover Seed, Pota-
toes 2 00
Best ten pounds Butter 1 00
Best Cheese 50
Best Cured Ham 50
Awarding Committee — William Millen, Benjamin Rogers, N. S. Mayfield.
CLASS M NO. 1 DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.
Best ten yards of Tow Cloth $0 50
Best ten yards of Rag Carpet 50
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 395
Best Woolen Knit Stockings or Socks 50
Best pound of Linen Sewing Thread 50
Best fifteen yards of Carpet 1 00
Best Yarn 50
Best Quilt 50
Best Coat, Pants and Vest 2 00
Best Lady's Dress 1 00
Best Ladys Sacque 50
Best Dress Cap 50
Best Mantilla 50
Best sample of useful Needlework 1 00
Best Home-made Bread 1 00
Awarding Committee — Miss Ellen Stone, Mrs. Paulina Hardin, Mrs. Louisa Maxwell,
Mrs. Jane Fee, Miss McGinnis, Mrs. Benjamin Neeld, Mrs. Bacon.
[This committee may recommend discretionary premiums].
CLASS N — NO. 1 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
Best display of Fruits $3 00
Best display of Garden Vegetables 2 00
Awarding Committee — Lewis Bollman, I. W. Sanders, Milton McPhetridge.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Any person may become a member by paying f 1 into the treasury.
Members will be furnished with badges, which will admit them and their wives, and
children under eighteen, at. all times during the fair.
Persons not members will be admitted at the following rates, tickets to be had at all
times during the fair:
Terms of admission per day, each individual, 20 cents ; each horse and buggy, 20
cents ; single horse, 10 cents; each carriage, or wagon, and two horses, 25 cents; chil-
dren under ten years of age, free. All subject to th» rules of the fair ground.
All competitors must first become members of the society.
Persons employed for the purpose, and wearing appropriate badges, will be on the
ground and in readiness to receive the articles intended for exhibition in the several de-
partments.
Exhibitors are required to have their articles entered on the books at the business
ofiBce before they are placed within the inclosure. On the entry of the articles and
animals, cards will be furnished with the number and class as entered at the oflice, which
are to be placed on the auimal or article to be exhibited. No article shall be removed be-
fore the close of the exhibition without the permission of some members of the Ex-
ecutive Committee. Every exhibitor should have his articles on the ground and arranged
in their places by 10 o'clock of the day they are to be exhibited.
The Judges are requested to report themselves on their arrival at the oflBce of the
Executive Couinittee, oa ttie gcouads. Tin Judges will mee . at, the said office at 10
o'clock on each day of exhibi ion, when their names will be called, vacancies supplied,
and they will then enter upon their duties. They are requested to make their reports to
the Secretary at the business office as early as practicable each evening.
INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES.
The Judges on animals will have regard to the symmetry, early maturity, size and
general characteristics of the breeds which they judge. They will make proper allow-
ance for age and other circumstances of the character and condition of the animals.
They are expressly required not to give any encouragement to over-fed animals.
A premium will not be awarded when the animal or article is not worthy, though
there be no competition.
REPORTS.
The Judges (especially those on animals) will be expected to give the reasons for
their decisions, embracing the valuable and admirable qualities of the animals, or articles,
to which premiums are awarded.
This fair was held as advertised, and was highly successful. A further
account cannot be given. The receipts and expenditures for the following
year (1856) were as follows :
25
396 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
RECK1PT8.
Money in treasury from last year $115 45
Received for badges 260 00
Received for tickets 155 75 .
Total $533 20
EXPENDITUBES.
Paid Thomas Rawlings, for lumber $410 00
Paid hands, for building fence 102 80
Paid H. Coe, for printing 27 00
Paid W. Fee, for nails 12 70
Paid Orchard, for posts 1 00
Paid A. Helton & Son, forrope 3 00
Paid Balle, for work 6 50
Paid H. EUer, for superintending the work, and work done by
him 25 00
Paid Orchard, for board of EUer 6 75
Total $594 75
533 20
Debt on work, etc $61 55
L. BoLLMAN, Secretary.
The early fairs were all held just east of Bloomington, on the land of
Mr. Dunn, where a small yard was leased and inclosed. The limits of
the yard would not permit of racing. Annual fairs were held until the
war, when they were abandoned, but were again renewed in 1868, and
continued with a few interregnums until a few years ago, when they be-
came defunct. The later fairs were held on the new ground, west of
town. The officers of the society in 1859 were as follows, with the rates
of admission : John McCrea, President ; Ezra Perring, Vice President ;
Thomas Smith, Treasurer; James Small, Secretary; Pressley Buckner,
James H. Waugh, John Dinsmore, George A. Buskirk, George Eller,
W. S. Stormont, M. L. Snodgrass, Board of Managers. Terms of Ad-
mission— Each individual per day, 25 cents ; each horse and buggy per
day, 50 cents ; each horse per day, 25 cents ; each two horses and car-
riage or wagon per day, $1.
A very popular organization was the Equestrian Fair, established in
1857. It was a district organization, as will be seen by the following
programme:
Open to the World — Second annual fair of the Union Equestrian Society, composed
of Lawrence, Monroe and Owen Counties, to be held at the District Fair Grounds, near
Gosport, Ind.. on Thursday and Friday, the 21st and 22d days of October next, 1858.
The exhibition grounds, containing thirteen acres, are the mo^l beautitul in the State,
well fenced in, with two good wells of water within the inclosure, and a splendid track
for gaited horses — three times around for one mile. Two hundred and sixty-five dollars
in cash premiums ! So bring on all of your fine saddle, harness and match horses. The
premiums are worth competing for. A magnificent premium will be awarded to the best
and second best female equestrian. Also to the best male equestrian. Young ladies and
gentlemen from every section are invited to be present and make an exhibition of their
proficiency in the art of horse management and equestrian merit. Certainly no art is
more desirable than that of complete horsemanship, and every young lady and gentleman
in our proud Hoosier State should possess some just claim to proficiency in ihe art.
Come on, then ; if you cannot make the display that your friends can, come and do your
best, which is laudable.
This fair was for many years very popular. It was held alternately
at Gosport, Bloomington and Bedford, and possibly elsewhere. A Miss
Jackson for many years took the first premium as lady rider, in spite of all
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 397
opposers. The following shows a portion of the premiums paid at Bloom-
ington in 1868.
Equestrian Fair — To be held on tbe Woodland Time Track, near Bloomington, Ind.,
on Wednesday and Thursday, November 11 and 12, 18S8. The following premiums are
offered : For the best lady rider, $15; second best lady rider, $10; best gentleman rider,
$10 ; second best gentleman rider, $5 ; best boy rider under fifteen years, $5 ; second
best boy rider under fifteen years, $3; best girl rider under fifteen years, $5; second
best girl rider under fifteen years, $3 ; fastest pacing gelding or mare, $"25 ; second fastest
pacing gelding or mare, $5; best buggy horse, mare or gelding, $10; tecond best buggy
horse, mare or gelding, $5; best saddle horse, mare or gelding, three distinct gaits,
$10 ; second best saddle horse, mare or gelding, three distinct gaits, $5 ; best pair
trained horses, mares or geldings, $10 ; second best pair trained horses, mares or geld-
ings, $5 ; fastest pacing stallion, any age, $25; second faste^t pacing stallion, any age,
$10; fastest trotting horse, mare or gelding, $25 ; second fastest trotting horse, mare or
gelding, IplO. Sweepstakes on trotting and pacing: Fastest pacing horse, mare or gelding,
$50 ; second fastest pacing horse or gelding, $25. Four entries to be made, three horses to
start.
THE OLD SETTLERS,
In about the year 1852, an attempt was made at the county seat to
organize an old settlers' association, and a call, signed by several of the
oldest residents of Bloomington, was made for a public meeting for that
purpose, but for some reason nothing further was done. In 1857, how-
ever, the first old settlers' society of the county was established, as will be
seen by the following, taken from the Bloomington Republican :
OLD settlers' meeting.
In pursuance of previous notice for an Old Settlers' Meeting, quite a large number of
the old gray-headed fathers and pioneers of Monroe County met in mass at the court house
in the town of Bloomington, on Monday, the 26th day of April 1857, for the purpose of
organizing a society to be called the Old Settlers' Society, and make sui'able arrangements
for its permanent organization. The meeting was called to order. On motion of Mattlie-v
M. Campbell, Jacob B. Lowe was called to the chair, and Morton C. Hunter appointed
Secretary. Col. Campbell, of Washington Township, moved that a committee of five be
appointed by the chair to make all necessary arrangements for an old settlers' meeting
on the 4th i.'ay of July next. Prof. M. M. Campbell moved to amend the motion by
striking out the word " fi\e " and inserting "one from e ch township in Monroe County. '
which amendment was accepted by Col. Campbell, and the motion as amended pas.^ed.
Whereupon the chair appointed the following gentlemen to serve as said committee : Col.
Campbell, of Washington Township ; John Hubbard, of Marion; David Birrow, of Ben-
ton ; James P. Ellis, of Salt Creek ; John Hanson, of Polk ; Col. Kt-tcham, of Clear
Creek; Joseph S. Walker, of Indian Creek; M. M. Campbell, of Perry; Ellis Stone, of
Van Buren ; Judge Reeves, of Piichland ; James V. Buskirk, of Bean Blossom ; Elias Abel,
of Bloomington Township. To which was added Paris C. Dunning and Austin Seward.
Eli P. Farmer, of Richland Township, moved that twenty-five years' residence in Monroe
County entitle a man to membership. George A. Buskirk, Esq., moved to amend the
motion by requiring each member to be fifty years old, and have resided in the county
thirty years, which amendment was accepted by vir. Farmer. The motion as amended
passed. Samuel H. Buskirk, Esq., moved that a committee of nine be appointed to mak»
all suitable arrangements for the meeting of the old settlers on the 4th of July, and ti>.
prepare refreshments for the occasion. The chair appointed the following gentlemen
such committee : Samuel H. Buskirk, F. T. Butler, P. L. D. Mitchell, Jesse T. Cox, Will,
iam Ward, Aquilla W. Rogers, William C. Sadler, Col. L. Gentry, George A. Buskirk.
The object of organizing the Old Settlers' Society is, that the old gray-heided fathers
may be called together at stated periods for the purpose of enjoying a social repast with
each other, and in ttieir own way entertain the meeting by the narration of anecdotes, as
well as the hardships and perdous scenes that transpire I during the early settling of this
country, in the planting of civilization, clearing up of the lands, and subduing the red
man of the forest, as also the dangers, perils and hardships of the war of 1812, that the
rising generation may be kept in remembrance of the debt of gratitude that is due from
them 10 their pioneer fathers for the blessings ttiey now enjoy, and that the pen of the
historian may record those scenes for the benefit of generations that may come after us
398 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
All will therefore come prepared to narrate the various incidents that came under their
observation. The various committees above named will meet at Bloomington on Saturday,
the 19th day of June, to make all necessary arrangements for the meeting, which is to
take place on the 4th of July next. No committeeman should fail to attend. On motion,
the proceedings were ordered to be published in the Bloomington Republican. On motion
adjourned.
Morton C. Hunter, Gen. Jacob B. Lowe,
Secretary. President.
The first meeting of the old settlers occurred on the day stated, but
unfortunately a detailed account cannot be given. It is said that 1,500
persons were in town. A fine dinner was enjoyed by the old people, who
afterward told over their experiences in settling up the county. The fol-
lowing, taken from the Republican of 1858, gives an account of the
second meeting of the old settlers of Monroe County :
OLD settlers' meeting.
Pursuant to previous notice, the old settlers of Monroe County met at the court
house, in the town of Bloomington, on the 17th day of September, 1858 The meeting
was organized by calling 0)1. John Ketcham to the chair, and appointing Milton McPhet-
ridge Secretary. The proceedings of the meeting were opened by aa appropriate prayer
by the Rev. Eli P. Farmer.
On motion of Austin Seward, Benjamin F. Rogers was admitted to all the rights and
privileges of the old settlers, he being forty years of age and the first white male child
born in the county.
The Chairman requested every person who was fifty years old and upward, and who
had resided in the county thirty years, to come forward and have their names, ages and
places of nativity registered, whereupon eighty- eight came forward and were duly
registered.
Gen. Lowe, who was selected by the committee of arrangements to deliver an address,
not. bein^ present, Rev. Eli P. Farmer was called upon, and addressed the meeting in a
brief, appropriate speech, detailing many interesting incidents connected with the early
settling of the couniy. He was followed by Col. John Ketcham, M. M. Campbell, John
M. Saddler, James V. Buskirk, Rev. Solomon Lucas, smd others, each giving an account
of his trials and har iships in the settling of the county, and of their bear, wolf, deer and
panther hunts, many of which were truly amusing, and were listened to with much inter-
est, not only by the old settlers, but by a large number of citizens who had assembled
on the occasion.
On motion of Mr. McCoUough, it was Tesolved that the next annual meeting of the
old settlers be held Ht the same place on the 17th day of September, 1859, and that each
member bring his wife, and those that have none are requested to get one, or bring a
widow ; also, that all old settlers who have nit registered their names are requested to
do so previous to the next meeting; and, on further motion of Mr. McCollough, Col.
John Ketcham was appointed Chairman, and Milton McPhetridge Secretary, to serve
until the next annual meeting.
At half-past 1 o'clock, a procession was formed, and after marching around the public
square, the old settlers, with many others, repaired to the "Young's House," and sat
down to a sumptuous dinuer prepared by mine host, Jacob Young. The tables were well
filled with everything necessary to satisfy the most fastidious.
The best kind of feeling prevailed throughout the day, no incident occurring to mar
the harmony of the meeting. After dinner was over, the old men got together, in groups,
and talked over bygone scenes. All seemed to enjoy themselves, and will long remem-
ber the haopy meeting of this day. The company dispersed at a late hour without any
formal adjournment.
places of nativity.
Kentuclfy, 30 ; Virginia, 24; North Carolina, 10; Tennessee, 8; Maryland, 6; Penn-
sylvania, 4; Indiana, 3; Ohio, 1; Vermont, 1; Delaware, 1.
By order of tbe Committee of Arrangements.
John Ketcham, Chairman.
Milton McPhetridge, Secretary.
After this, annual meetings were held until the war, when they were
abandoned. In about the year 1866, the society was reorganized and
held meetings until 1870, when the society joined the district society at
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 399
Gosport. But this did not last long, and soon afterward the old organiza-
tion was revived. It died out once or twice after this, but at the present
is in good working order with annual meetings held in various portions of
the county. If the old settlers would be as wise as they have been during
the long years since they came into the wilderness, they would record
their experiences — their hunting stories, trials, dangers, sickness, sur-
roundings, etc., etc. — so that future generations might know what they en-
dured. As it is, they unwisely come together to tell their experiences
without putting them on record. At each annual meeting, let a competent
clerk be hired (pass around the hat and raise the funds) to place on record
the stories, facts, etc., regarding the county in early years, and let the
record be kept locked sacredly in the court house vaults.
An independent society of old settlers was organized at Ellettsville in
1878, as will be seen from the following official minutes of the first meet-
ing:
MINUTES OF OLD SETTLERS' MEETING, HELD IN WORLEY's GROVE, ELLETTSVILLE, SEPTEMBER
26, 1878.
In honor to Uncle Jimmy Parks, this heini] his Ninety-seventh Birthday. — At 11, there
were about 3,000 people on the ground, and the exercises proceeded as follows: 1. A
song by congregation — "Sweet By and By." 2. Piayer by Rev. E. P. Farmer. 3.
Music by Old Band. 4. Song by all over seventy years of age. Song, " Jesus, Lover of
My Soul." 5. Elected D. Byers, President, William McNutt, Secretary. 6. Speech
by James Parks, Sr. 7. The Autobiography of James Parks, read by Elder R. Parks.
8. Music by New Band, followed by Old Band. 10. Short speeches hy all over eighty.
Robert Graham, E. P. Farmer, J. Campbell, Elias Abel and L. Walden participated. )1.
A. W. Reeves, Master of Ceremonies, announced dinner adjournment. 2 P. M. 1. Music
by Old Band. Speeches by all over seventy years old called for. A. Mills, of Spencer,
addressed the meeting. 8. Music by Hoadley String Band. 4. Speech by David Byers,
who made a very appropriate speech, and thanked the people for conferring upon him
the oflBce of President. Then came to the frout Abraham Henry dressed in ancient style
— with £(. bark-colored scissor-tailed coat, with an enormous collar which made his head
lean slightly forward. He made us a good speech, producing a splendid sensation. 5.
Song by the Galloway family, "The Old Hearth Stone." This was an excellent piece,
and was well performed. Speeches by J. Manis and R M. Parks were next. 7. Closing
speech by Rev. S. C. Kennedy — presenting a wreath of beautiful flowers to Mr. Parks and
wife, as an emblem of honesty and beauty, unsurpassed by the arts of men.
Some relics were exhibited by th« Rev. G. N. Puett aud Johnson Shwp, calling the
mind back to years gone by. 9. Ordered the Secretary to publish the minutes of the
meeting in the Sun, requesting other county papers to copy. Adjourned to meet at this
place on the 26th of September, 1879. Benediction by R. M. Parks. The following roll
of honor was prepared at the meeting and read:
ROLL OF HONOR.
James Parks, ninety-seven years of age; Francis Parks, eighty-seven; Biddie Cox, sev
enty-eight; Susan Wickens, seventy-eight; Elizabeth Kirby, eighty-two; Elizabeth Parks,
seventy-eight; Sarah Coffey, seventy-five; Rebecca Figi^, seventy; Martha Corder, seventy-
four; Rebecca Munson, seventy-three; Mollie Reynolds, seventy; Mania Buskirk, seventy-
four; Verlinda Walden, seventy-six; Esther Griffith, sixty-eight; Permelia Hansford, six-
ty-eight; John Roan, seventy-six; John M. Berry, seventy-four; W. G. Anderson, eighty-
one; Robert Delap, seventy-five; Jacob Wood, seventy two; Rev. Eli P. Farmer, eighty
five; James Manis, ; Robert Graham, eighty-three; Binona Denny, seventy-two; John
Stanger, seventy-nine; Joseph Campbell, eighty-three; James Hannah, seventy-three; John
Matthews, seventy-two; Mary Campbell, seventy-four; Elias Able, teventy-eight; John
FyfiFe, seventy-seven; John Raper, seventy-seven; Anderson Mills, seventy-four; David
Byers, seventy-two; Abraham Henry, sixty-three; Jacob Holsaple, seventy-four; Hosia
Kyle, eighty-three; Joseph Wampler, seventy-eight; Ransom Parks, seventy-seven; Hiram
Coffey, seventy-six; Joseph Baker, sixty-eight; Eld. Lewis Walden, seventy-seven; An-
drew McCoy, sixty-seven; Jonathan Kegley. seventy-three; William Brown, seventy-one;
Jane Moore, eighty-two.
400 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
The above honored fathers and mothers were seated upon the rostrum. G. K. Perry
and G. W. Faulkner assisted the Secretary in enrolling the names. G. B. Moore, J. M.
Harris, Barton Acuff, S. P. Thompson, J. D. Coffey, A. W. Reeves and Johnson Sharp,
Committee. G. K. Perry, Marshal. Ample dinner was served on thegroundand the 26th
of September was an enjoyable Jay in EUettsville. The best of order prevailed. With
these honored veterans on the rostrum, the vast crowd felt like children, whose duty it is
to honor our mothers and fathers. David Bters, President.
William McNdtt, Secretary.
THE COUNTY LIBRARY.
An early law of the State (the one which brought the county of Monroe
into existence) provided that ten per cent of the proceeds of the sale of town
lots should be used to found and maintain a county library. A treasurer
was appointed to take care of the fund. The first purchase of books was
made in 1821, when $60 was spent for a few dozen standard works. They
were bought of B. Ferguson, whoever he may have been. By July,
1830, $2,428,14 had been paid to the Library Treasurer, the greater por-
tion of which had been used in purchasing books, so at that period the
county had afine library of about 800 volumes. In 1830,^1,272.68 was re-
ceived from the Town Agent and another installment of books was ob-
tained.
In September, 1830, settlement was made with the County Agent for
the library fund in his possession, which settlement in full was as follows :
1. Proceeds of the sale of lots June 22, 1818,
one-fifth in hand, balance in four semi-an-
nual installments $14,326 85
2. Of this, ten per cent with interest, less sun-
dry expenses, is library fund |l,94-5 53
3. Second sale of lots, November 3, 1818, pay-
able in three annual installments 12,271 75
4. Of this, ten percent with interest, less ex-
pense, is library fund 1,923 22
5. First sale of outlets December 1, 1810, one-
fifth in hand, balance in four nine-months
payments 1,219 62J
6. Of this ten per cent with interest, less ex-
pense, is library funti 179 05
7. Second sale of outlots December 25, 1820,
three annual installments 976 00
8. Of this, ten per cent with interest, less ex-
pense, is library fund 139 73
9. Third sale of outlots December 17, 1821, in
five annual installments 815 00
10. Of this, ten per cent with interest, less ex-
pense, is lilirary fund 104 35
11. Proceeds of sale'of inlots to Rawlins,' Blair &
Brown 287 50
12. Of this, ten per cent with interest, less ex-
pense, is library fund 35 44
13. Total proceeds of the sale of inlots and out-
lots 29,899 72J
14. Total library fund 4,327 32
15. Amount already received by tne library 2,428 14
Twenty-five per cent loss 357 00
Loss by bad debts 10 60
Loss by relinquished lots 258 90
13,054 64
16. Balance due library July 1, 1830 |1,272 68
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 401
The ten percentage from the sale of town lots proved a munificent
fund for the maintenance of the library. As no record was kept of the
purchases, the additions to the library cannot be given. As volumes wore
out by use or otherwise, they were replaced from the constantly accumu-
lating fund. This old library, now comprising over 2,000 volumes of
standard works, is yet in the same old office that was built during the
twenties. The McClure library, founded during the fifties, was another
useful mode of disseminating knowledge among the poorer persons, but
the cheap books and newspapers of to-day have taken the place of the old
circulating county libraries.
THE COUNTY SEMINARY.
In early times, it should be remembered, the free common school
system of to-day was unknown. Scholars then paid tuition to all schools.
As the weight of the expense fell upon families less able to sustain it,
the system, if such it can be called, was not favorable to the education of
the masses. And then there was the lack of higher educational facilities.
All this led to the creation of centers of learning where private or public
enterprise or individual donations or bequests were the sustaining or
maintaining power. The County Seminary was designed to afford each
county the means of furnishing a higher education to her youth within
her own borders, and for many years was a very popular institution.
The funds were obtained from fines, forfeitures, etc. In July, 1829, the
fund in Monroe County amounted to $443.89. About six years later, the
fund amounted to nearly $2,000. At that time the old brick seminary
building was built and school in it was begun. In 1852, when the new
school law was adopted, the seminary was ordered sold, and was bought by
the Methodists, but soon Sfterward went back to the county and was used
for school purposes until purchased by Mr. Leppert a few years ago. It
is now used as a dwelling.
THE COUNTY PRESS.
It is conceded that Jesse Brandon published the first newspaper in
Bloomington, beginning about the year 1826, having come from Corydon
with his material, at which place he had formerly been State printer. It
was not long before Jacob B. Lowe became his associate. The paper was
called the Bloomington Republican^ as is shown by the County Commis-
sioners' records, where orders appear payable to Brandon k Lowe, pub-
lishers of the Bloomington Republican for printing done the county.
The name of the paper indicates its politics. How long the issue was
continued cannot be stated, but not longer than until 1829. About the
1st of January, 1830, W. D. McCullough & Co. began issuing a small
sheet called the Independent Whig. It was a small five-column folio,
was furnished for $2 per year, and its motto was "Measures, not Men."
The sheet became defunct in 1831. On the loth of September, 1832,
Jesse Brandon and Marcus L. Deal issued the first number of the Far
West, an exponent of the Whig faith, with the motto, " Willing to praise
but not afraid to blame." D. R. Eckles was the publisher. The paper
survived about two years. During the summer of 1832, Mr. Deal had
begun the publication of a semi-monthly periodical called the Literary
Register, an issue devoted to the interests of the Indiana College ; but
402 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
when the Far West was started in the following September, as
stated above, the Register was abandoned. About the 1st of June,
1835, Marcus L. Deal issued the first number of the Bloomington
Post, an organ of the Whig party. I. H, Brown and I. N. Morris
were associated with him at times. This paper was continued
eight or ten years, selling for $2 a year in advance, or ^3 at the end of
the year. In October, 1838, the first number of the Ben Franklin made
its appearance, with Jesse Brandon at the helm. The politics of the sheet
was " First choice, Harrison ; second choice. Van Buren." How long this
paper was conducted cannot be stated. Mr. Deal, for a short time, pub-
lished the Budget of Fun, date unknown. Late in the forties, C. Davison
published the Herald, a Whig paper, for several years, and during a por-
tion of the same time J. S. Hester conducted another of opposite politics.
About the same time, also. Elder James M. Mathes published a monthly
periodical called the Christian Record in the interests of the Christian
Church. He also issued a weekly newspaper called the Independent Tribune
and Monroe Farmer, C. Gr. Berry and Jesse Brandon were connected
with this paper. The brightest paper up to this time was started in 1852,
by James Hughes, and was called the Northwestern Gazette. It was
issued about a year and a half In 1853, G. H. Johnson and W. N.
Connelly were connected with it. In 1853, Eli P. Farmer and Jesse
Brandon published the Religious Times, afterward called the Western
Times. In 1854, J. F. Walker and L. M. Demotte bought the Times
office, and began issuing the Bloomington Times. This was the first
organ of the Republican party in Monroe County. The office was after-
ward removed by Jesse Brandon to Nashville, Ind. In January, 1854,
A. B. and J. C. Carlton started the Bloomington News Letter, a Demo-
cratic paper, the editor being A. B. Carlton, a man of excellent ability.
His political animosities were too severe to secure public favor and made
him many enemies. The following, taken from the paper and appearing
as an advertisement for a boy to learn the printer's trade, shows the political
asperity of the sheet:
Wanted Immediately. — A boy of sober and industrious habits, between thirteen
and fifteen years of age, can have a tirst-rate opportunity to learn the Printing business
by applying at this ofiice immediately. He must be a pretty good reader and speller, and
able to read manuscript. He will not be permitted, while under our charge, to use in /my
quantity, as a beverage, any intoxicating liquor. He must be apprenticed for at least
three years — we would prefer five. Any one wishing to learn the business will be taken
on a trial of three months.
No Know-Nothing boy, nor one who has Know-Nothing parents, need apply, as we
want no one about us who is trained or sworn to lie, or who is taught that falsehood is a
venial ofi'ense. J. C. Carlton, Publisher News Letter.
September 20.
About the last of June, 1856, the office of the News Letter was sold to
Howard Coe, who commenced the issue of a seven-column folio news-
paper called the Bloomington Republican, the name indicating the poli-
tics, and continued the sheet until the 25th of February, 1858, when the
office was sold to Clement Walker and W. S. Bush, who issued the paper
under the same name. Late in January, 1859, Mr. Bush severed his con-
nection with the office, leaving Mr. Walker sole owner and publisher.
Later in the same year, J. F. Walker became connected with the paper,
but did not purchase a half interest until 1863. It is said that this paper,
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 403
during the war and afterward, attained the largest circulation of any
paper ever issued in Bloomington. While the Republican was issued,
three attempts were made to found successful Democratic papers in the
county seat. During the winter of ISST-O"", C. T. Nixon issued thirteen
numbers of the Bloomington Advocate, and during the summer of 1858
John B. Borland started the Bloomington Presage, continuing it about
three months. It was " a paper reflecting the true principles of Democ-
racy, and which is uncontrolled by bolting demagogues or county politi-
cians." Another Democratic paper was started on the 3d of October,
1863, by C. H. Patterson, and was continued about six months and then
abandoned.
In May, 1867, William A. Gabe, the present editor and proprietor of
the Republican, purchased the office, changing the name to the Blooming-
ton Progress, and later to the Republican Progress. In about 1874, the
office and outfit were destroyed by fire, but were replaced, and the issue
has since been continued without interruption. It was issued first as a
seven-column folio, but later was changed to an eight-column folio. It
is at present enjoying a fair patronage in all departments. In 1868,
Thomas C. Pursel started the Bloomington Democrat, and continued the
issue until the entire office was burned in 1872, but within a few weeks
the sheet was again published. Mr. Pursel for a time published the In-
diana Student, a small periodical devoted to the interests of the State
University, and edited by a corps of students. In August, 1875, the
Democrat office was sold to 0. G. Hunt an»d J. V. Cook, who commenced
the publication of the Bloomington Times, a Republican organ. A few
months after this paper was started, or in October, 1875, H. J. Feltus
commenced the issue of the Bloomington Courier, a Democratic paper,
which he has issued successfully until the present. The publication has
a fair county patronage. In April, 1877, Walter S. Bradfute and a young
man named Arnott began issuing a small publication about as large as a
sheet of letter paper. It Avas designed to chronicle local news and pleas-
antry, and seemed to strike the popular fancy from the start. About the
1st of November, 1877, Arnott left, and since that time to the present Mr.
Bradfute has continued the issue alone. The paper is called the Bloom-
ington TelepJwne. The first increase in size was in the fall of 1878, the
second early in 1880, and the third and last in January, 1883. In is
now a six column quarto, and is in prosperous conditon. James Marlin
conducted a Greenback paper called the True Plan during the campaign
of 1878. In 1880, the Bloomington Hawkeye was published for a few
months. Its political face was Democratic. John East conducted a
small campaign sheet in 1880 for a few months.
The only other town in the county where newspapers have been issued
is Ellettsville. In 1872 or 1873, Howard L. Morris, editor, and S. B.
Harris, proprietor, issued the first number of the Ellettsville Republican,
which after two issues passed wholly to Mr. Harris, and Mr. Morris
stepped down and out. At the end of two issues, Mr. Harris employed
John Walker to edit the sheet, which was done for about six months,
after which Mr. Harris assumed the editorial robes for about two years.
He then rented the office to Charles McPhetridge, but before the end of
that time it went to William B. Harris, son of S. B. After W. B. had
404 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
continued the issue some time, he moved the office to Spencer, but after
about a year returned, and is yet the editor and owner. While he was
away, a paper called the Graphic was issued a short time by a Mr. Hyatt.
S. E. Harris also issued the JVetvs for a short time. The first paper was
the Republican, the second the Sun, the third the People, the fourth the
Graphic, the fifth the News, and the sixth and present one the Monroe
County Oitizen. The last is now a lively little sheet, and enjoys a
thriving patronage.
EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
James Bigger, 1818 ; William Matlock, 1818 ; William Edmundson,
1818 ; John Barnes, 1818 ; William Chambers, 1818 ; Jonathan Nichols,
1818 ; James Wright, 1818 ; John Matlock, 1818 ; James Borland,
1819; William Harden, 1819; Joseph Baugh, 1820; Joshua H. Ludes,
1820; Daniel Hawkins, 1821; Elery Woodward, 1821; Samuel Dodd,
1821; John Swift, 1823; James Mitchell, 1823; Isaac Pauley, 1823;
Samuel Hartsock, 1823; David Kelough, 1823; Elisha Pollard, 1823;
James Crane, 1823 ; Joseph Reeves, 1823 ; William Harden, 1824 ;
Michael Buskirk, 1825 ; John Bowland, 1825 ; Banner, Brummett,
1825 ; William Jones, 182 > ; Joseph Baugh, 1825 : Aquilla Rogers,
1825 ; Elzy Woodward, 1826 ; James Mitchell, 1827 ; David Kelough,
1827 ; Elisha Pollard, 1827 ; Benjamin Chandler, 1827 ; Jacob Moser,
1827 ; David Borrow, 1827 ; James Wright, 1827 ; William Hite, 1828 ;
Alexander Buchanan, 1828 ; James Crane, 1829; Joseph Reeves, 1829;
G. H. Johnson, 1829 ; Isaac Buskirk, 1829 ; Isaac Gillaspie, 1829 ;
David Byers, 1829 ; George Parks, 1830 ; Henry Burkett, 1830 ; Aquilla
Rogers, 1830 ; W. B. Mars, 1831 ; James Kippe, 1831 ; Jesse Renow,
1881 ; John W. Lee, 1832 ; James Snodgrass, 1832 ; Jonathan Rogers,
1882; David Kelough, 1883; David Paddock, 1833; David Barrow,
1833 ; James Brummett, 1833 ; John Davis, 1833 ; Benjamin Chandler,
1833; Samuel Martsock, 1833; John C. Marshall, 1833; Jacob Hud-
sonpiller, 1833; Ezekiel Hendrickson, 1833; Henry Berkey, 1834; D.
G. Weddel, 1834 ; Alexander Buchanan, 1834 ; James Crane, 1834 ;
G. H. Johnson, 1834 ; Joseph Baugh, 1884 ; Alexander Johnson, 1835 ;
Hugh McClung, 1835; Isaac Buskirk, 1835; Robert Hicks, 1835;
John McPhetridge, 1835 ; Emsley Wood, 1835 ; Joseph Mitchell, 1835 ;
F. T. Butler, 1836 ; Andrew Wampler, 1836 ; John M. Berry, 1836 ;
William Hite, 1836 ; Elmon Walker, 1836 ; William S. Wright, 1836 ;
David Byers, 1836 ; Enos Blair, 1836.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Bartlett Woodward, 1818 ; Michael Buskirk, 1818 ; James Parks,
1818 ; Elijah Morgan, 1819, vice Parks ; William Lowe, 1820, vice Bus-
kirk ; Henry, Batterton, 1821 ; Michael Buskirk, 1821 ; Elijah Morgan,
182:1 ; Joshua H. Lucas, 1828 ; Henry Batterton, 1824, vice Lucas. (In
September, 1824, the Justices of the Peace of the county were empowered
by law to transact the business previously done by the County Commis-
sioners. The names of these Justices will be found on another page. In
1831, three County Commissioners again took charge of county busi-
ness.) Joseph Reeves, 1831 ; Samuel Patten, 1831 ; William Jackson,
1831 ; Isaac W. Young, 1832, vice Jackson ; Elijah Morgan, 1833, vice
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 405
Patten. (In 1834, county business again passed to the Board of Justices
and continued thus until 1839, since which time three County Commis'
sioners have, without interruption, done the work. In 1838 and 1839
as high as nineteen Justices of the Peace assembled to do the work which
has since been done by three men.) Gideon Walker, 1839, for one year
George Finley, 1839, for two years ; Benjamin Rogers, 1839, for three
years; Isaac Buskirk, 1840; George Finley, 1841; Benjamin Rogers
1842; Benjamin Neeld, 1843; Isaac Buskirk, 1844; George Finley
1845 ; Benjamin Neeld, 1846 ; David Barrow, 1847 ; George Finley
1848 ; John Graham, 1849 ; I. S. Buskirk, 1850 ; Joseph S. Walker
1851; Henry Eller, 1852; David Barrow, 1853; Benjamin Rogers,
1854; Henry Eller, 1855; David Barrow, 1856; James Carmichael
1857 ; Reuben Ward, 1858 ; Thomas Y. Rader, 1859 ; James Carmi
chael, 1860; James Small, 1861; David Barrow, 186i ; Thomas Oli
phant, 1863; George Eller, 1864; David Barrow, 1865; Clelland F
Dodds, 1866; James Small, 1867; T. Y. Rader, 1868; Samuel H
Phillips, 1869; George Eller, 1870 ; John Hupp, 1871 ; F. M. Oliphant
1872 ; John Waldron, 1878 ; W. E. Wood, 1874 : R. M. Wylie, 1875
George Eller, 1876 ; William Peterson, 1877; J. D. Handy, 1878
John Huntington, 1879 ; W. S. Walker, 1880 ; J. D. Handy, 1881
William B. Baker, 1882 ; D. P. Burton, 1883.
AUDITORS.
William C. Tarkington, 1841 ; Robert C. Foster, 1855; Milton Mc-
Phetridge, 1863; Henry F. Perry, 1867 ; James F. Manley, 1870 ; R.
A. Fulk, 1878 ; W. M. Alexander, 1882.
William Lowe, 1818 ; Jacob B. Lowe, 1820 ; David Browning,
1838; W. F. Browning, 1844; M. McPhetridge, 1846; David Carson,
1860; David Sheeks, 1862; Robert C. Foster, 1866; John R. East,
1870 ; William F. Browning, 1874 ; D. W. Browning, 1882.
RECORDERS.
Chesley Bailey, 1818 ; James H. King, 1831 ; David Browning,
1839; Samuel H. Buskirk, 1844; Robert Acuff, 1845; James M.
Beatley, 1860 ; William H. Jones, 1867 ; Drury Rogers, 1870 ; Thomas
Howard, 1874; Oliver McLellan, 1876; Robert Gilmore, 1878; W.
N. Hall, 1880.
SHERIFFS.
John W. Lee, 1818 ; Jesse Wright, 1819 ; Enos Blair, 1822 ; James
Alexander, 1830 ; Elias Blair, 1834 ; John M. Sluss. 1838 ; John El-
ler, 1842 ; William F. Browning, 1846 ; James Kelley, 1850 ; P. L. D.
Mitchell, 1854 ; Andrew W. Reeves, 1858 ; Aquilla W. Rogers, 1862 ;
Lawson E. McKenney, 1866 ; Richard A. Fulk, 1870 ; L. E. McKen-
ney, 1872; W. M. Alexander, 1876; Silas Grimes, 1880.
TREASURERS.
Roderick Rawlins, 1818 ; James Borland, 1820 ; William Alexan-
der, 1826 ; Stephen P. Seall, 1840 ; Elias Abel, 1841; Charles Abel,
406 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
1853; Samuel Gentry, 1855 ; P. L. D. Mitchell, 1858 ; Johnson Mc-
Collough, 1860; P. L. D. Mitchell, 1862 ; David B. Buskirk, 1866 ; J.
M. Rogers, 1870 ; John A. Reeves, 1874 ; L. E. McKenney, 1878 ;
Isaac Claman, 1882.
CORONERS.
PurnalChane, 1818; William Jackson, 1822; James Slocum, 1827;
Richard Hardesty, 1828; John M. Sluss, 1832; John Hardesty, 1834;
John Deaman, 1836 ; James Slocum, 1838 ; Samuel Kirk, 1844; Y. B.
Pullen, 1850; James McBride, 1852; John S. Moore, 1854; Alexander
McClelland, 1856 ; Elbert Johnson, 1858 ; J. R. Sluss, 1859; J. W.
Pullen, 1862; John C. Hook, 1863; Wilson Adams, 1865; W. A. Legg,
1867 ; W. H. Slerum, 1868 ; W. L. Adams, 1870 ; G. P. Hines, 1872;
A. J. Axtell, 1876; James Dodd, 1878; C. D. McLahlen, 1880; J. H.
Gaston, 1882.
SURVEYORS.
Jonathan Nichols, 1818; William D. McCulloch, 1820; James
Borland, 1826; * * * Henry Farmer, 1846 ; James Woodburn,
1849; J. W. Spencer, 1852 ; John J. Poynter, 1854; J. W. Spencer,
1855; I. S. Buskirk, 1859 ; J. W. Spencer, 1863 ; W. A. Alexander,
1864; E. P. Cole, 1867 ; A. C. Spencer, 1870; Henry Henley, ]872;
M. H. Buskirk, 1876; G. W. Varroy, 1878 ; M. H. Buskirk, 1880.
SEMINARY TRUSTEES.
William Lowe, 1818 : William Jackson, 1819 ; J. Gregory, 1820 ;
William Newcombe, 1820; Samuel Irvin, 1821; Samuel W. Moore, 1823;
William Lowe, 1824; P. M. Doty, 1829; F. T. Butler, 1830; Benja-
min Rogers, 1831. * * *
PROBATE JUDGES.
William D. McCulloch, 1829 ; Aquilla Rogers, 1833 ; Stephen P.
Sealls, 1838 ; Henry Eller, 1840 ; William Edrnundson, 1840 ; Aquilla
Rogers, 1841 ; Jacob B. Lowe, 1847 ; F. T. Butler, 1847. (Rogers en-
listed in the Mexican war, and Lowe was appointed in his stead, but for
some reason did not qualify, whereupon Butler was appointed.) In
1852-53, the jurisdiction of probate matters was transferred to the Common
Pleas Court, and the office of Probate Judge was abolished.
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES.
Thomas H.Blake, 1818; Gen. Washington Johnson, 1819; Jonathan
Doty, 1819; W. W. Wick, 1822; John F. Ross, 1824; Bethuel F.
Morris, 1825; John Law, 1830; Gen. W. Johnson, 1830; Amory
Kenney, 1832; Elisha M. Huntington, 1837; David McDonald,
1839; James Hughes, 1852; A. B. Carlton. 1856; James M. Hanna,
1856 ; Solomon Claypool, 1858 ; D. R. Eckles, 1865.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Joseph Berry, 1818; Lewis Noel, 1818; John Sedwick, 1821;
William Matlock, 1823 ; Michael Buskirk, 1825; William Edmundson,
1825 ; Abram Buskirk, 1832 ; Stephen Sealls, 1832 ; Joseph Reeves,
1839; John M. Berry, 1839; Coonrod Koons, 1846.
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 407
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
George C. Sullivan, 1818; John Law, 1818; Addison C. Smith,
1819 ; John F. Ross, 1820 ; W. W. Wick, 1825 ; Calvin Fletcher,
1825 ; John Kingsbury, 1826 ; James Whitcomb, 1827 ; E. M. Hunt-
ington, 1829; John H. Dowden, 1832; Paris C. Dunning, 1833;
McJunkin, 1833; David McDonald, 1835; D. R. Eckles, 1838;
John S. Watts, 1839 ; W. G. Quick, 1843; C. P. Hester, 1844; John
S. Watts, 1849; James S. Hester, 1850; Samuel H. Buskirk, 1851;
William M. Franklin, 1852 ; William E. McLean, 1853; A. B. Carlton,
1853; G. A. Buskirk, 1854; A. B. Carlton, 1854; Theodore Reed,
1855; Francis L. Neff, 1855; Martin A. Osborn, 1857; Isaac N.
Pierce, 1858 : Willis G. NefF, 1861 ; Michael A. Malott, 1865 ; Jacob
A. Broadwell, 1866 ; John C. Robinson, 1868,
SCHOOL EXAMINERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS.
Milton McPhetridge was School Commissioner during the thirties and
forties. Robert A. Milligan, James Woodburn and John J. Poynter,
Examiners, 1853 ; James Woodburn, Ranson W. Akin and Benjamin
Wolfe, 1855 ; James Woodburn, M. M. Campbell and Theophilus A.
Wylie, 1856 ; James Woodburn, T. A. Wylie and Elisha Ballentine,
1857 ; E. P. Cole, D. J. Shaw and W. C. Foster, 1859 ; E. P. Cole,
1859-63; D. E. Hunter, 1863; James H. Rogers, 18"65; T. M.
Hopkins, 1867 ; Edward Wright, 1869 ; James H. Rogers, 1871 ; M.
M. Campbell, 1872; G. W. Rumage, 1877; John W. McGee, 1879.
In 1849, Monroe County voted on the question of having free public
schools, with the following result :
FOR FREE AGAINST FREE
TOWNSHIPS.
SCHOOLS. SCHOOLS.
Bean Blossom 59 112
Benton 44 41
Bloomington 128 307
Clear Creek 76 85
Indian Creek 40 101
Marion 16 35
Richland 59 128
Perry 127 20
Salt Creek 89 60
Van Buren 43 113
Washington 36 38
667 1,040
Excess Against 373
The total receipts and expenditures of the county from its organization
up to February 8, 1819, were as follows:
RECEIPTS.
June — . From Benjamin Parks, County Agent $810 50
July 7. From Benjamin Parks, County Agent 1,315 06
September 5. From Benjamin Parks, County Agent 820 90
November 3. From William Anderson 190 00
November 10. From Benjamin Parks, County Agent 5 00
November 10. From Benjamin Parks, County Agent 84 10
December]. From William Anderson 38 85
December 19. From J. W. Lee 264 47
December 29. From Benjamin Parks, County Agent 226 77
April 4. From John Grier, merchandise license 7 50
June 6. From William Hardin, merchandise license 12 00
408 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
December 7. From John Hayworth, merchandise license 20 00
January 2, 1819. From Edmund Phillips 7 50
February 7. From Benjamin Parks 244 07
Februarys. From Edmund R. Moss, store license 7 50
Total receipts $4,054 21
EXPENSES.
Paid Robertson Graham, on order $ 900 00
Paid Jonathan and David Rogers 1,058 60
Paid Aquilla Rogers 13 00
Paid John AVhisenand, for whisky „. 10 10
PaidChesley Bailey 10 00
Paid J. W Lee 7 00
Paid J. W. Lee 18 00
PaidDavid Fouts 33 00
Paid Jonathan Nichols 62 40
Paid Hon. Lewis Noell ,. 10 00
Paid Benjamin Parks 91 26
Paid John Scotf 2 50
Paid George Anderson 5 00
Paid James Parks 16 00
Paid James Smith 2 00
Paid AVilliam Lowe 40 00
Paid Bartlett Woodward 14 00
Paid Joseph Baugo 1 50
Paid George Sharp 3 00
Paid Michael Buskirk 20 00
Paid Addison Smith 2 00
Paid David Rogers 5 00
Paid Jonathan Nichols 3 50
Paid John Nusser 5 00
Paid Joel Woodward 15 00
Paid Bartlett Woodward 16 00
Paid Cbesley Bailey 7 02
Paid Coleman Puetl 3 00
Paid Lewis Noell 4 00
\ Paid Thomas Graham 2 00
Paid Roderick Rawlins 100 00
Paid Benjamin Parks 80 00
Paid John Penick 30 00
Paid David Rogers 1 00
Paid Roderick Rawlins 2 00
Paid J. W. Lee, Tax Collector 15 90
Paid J. W. Lee, extra services 32 50
Paid Edward Armstrong 1 50
Paid John Barnes 5 00
Paid J. W. Lee 1 98
Paid .Jesse Wright 18 12
Paid William Lowe 85 00
Paid Elijah Morgan 4 00
Paid Benjamin Parks 24 67
Paid John Treat 1 50
Paid Abner Blair 1 50
Paid James Storm 5 00
Paid Jonathan Rains 5 00
Paid Julius Diigger 1 50
Paid James Parks 14 00
Paid M. Buskirk 14 00
Paid Patrick S. Booth 13 00
Paid James Bigger 32 00
Paid Samuel Burcham 30 00
Paid M. Stout, of Vincennes 3 00
Paid Samuel Elliott 43 42
Paid Lewis Noell, salecrier 10 00
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 40^
Paid John Whisenand, for whisky |23 40
Paid Robertson Graham, chain carrier 18 60
Paid William Hardin 1 30
Paid Joseph Gilbert 1 50
Paid Benjamin Parks, for Indiana Herald 3 50
Paid James Parks, clerk of sale 6 00
Paid Jonathan Rogers, selling whisky 1 00
Paid Samuel Elliott 43 42
Paid T. B. Clark 1 50
Paid Roderick Rawlins, on jail 500 00
Paid Roderick Rawlins 100 00
Paid James Parks 9 42
Paid Daniel Stout 3 00
Paid Michiiel Buskirk 6 68
Total expenses $3,685 10
Treasurer's percentage 184 86
Total 13,869 96
Balance on hand 184 25
Roderick Rawlins, Treasurer.
For the calendar year 1821, the total receipts of the county, exclusive
of course of the proceeds of the sale of town lots, were $795.24, and the
total expenses $792.80. This does not include delinquent taxes nor out-
standing orders. In 1827, the receipts, with the above exception, were
$829.57, and the expenditures were $858.37. There had been on hand
at the beginning of the year a balance of $190.99, so that at the end of
the year there was in the treasury $162.19. These figures must be re-
garded only as approximately correct. The old records are too ambig-
uous for exact statements. In 1836, the receipts, with the exception
mentioned, were $1,306.40, exclusive of $303.38 which remained from
the previous year. The expenses were $955.28, leaving a balance in the
treasury of $351.12. In 1839-40, the receipts were $2,226.74, and the
expenses $2,450.37. In 1842-13, the county revenue was $3,228.75, and
the total receipts $3,411.46. The paupers cost $582 ; the county ofiicers
cost $844.70; outstanding orders redeemed, $103.42; total expenses,
$3,411.46; orders outstanding and unredeemed, $1,462.44. In 1846-
47 the receipts of county revenue were $2,540.33 ; County Seminary,
$41.88 ; on hand at the beginning of the year, $1,647.33 ; total receipts,
$5,837.63. The expense on the poor-farm was $625 ; the paupers,
$268.13; total expenses, $3,955.30. Owing to certain outstanding orders,
the amount remaining in the treasury was $2,175.02. In 1852-53, there
was on hand at the beginning of the year $422.84 ; county revenue re-
ceipts, $3,677.98 ; school tax, $1,919.11 ; Seminary fund, $54.15 ; total
receipts, $8,625.55. The poor-farm expenses were $262.40 ; the paupers
$456.04 ; the county officers, $1,048.56 ; total expenses, $6,446.44 ; on
hand, $2,179.11. In 1856-57, the county revenue receipts were $9,118.-
11 ; and there was on hand at the beginning of the year $3,047.93 ;
total receipts, $30,956.39. The common school fund expended was
$4,148.46; poor-farm cost $439.19 ; the paupers cost $899.83; county
officers cost $1,425.51 ; total expenses, $26,380.73 ; old outstanding
orders, $2,746.73; total orders to be redeemed, $29,127.46; total
orders redeemed during the year, $16,382.04. In 1860-61, there
was on hand at the beginning of the year $1,589.06; county rev-
410 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
enue receipts, $9,124.02 ; total receipts, $17,154.80. Of the ex-
penses the military cost $227.55; the paupers, $1,641.51; the poor-
farm, $103.04; the county officers, $1,877.40 ; total expenses, $15,612.-
42 ; old outstanding orders, $6,756.22 ; total to be redeemed, $22,368.-
64 ; orders redeemed during the year, $15,062.14 ; outstanding orders in
June, 1861, $7,306.50 ; balance in the treasury, $2,092.66. In 1864-65,
there was on hand at the beginning of the year, $4,058.91 ; county rev-
enue receipts, $26,757.07 ; school tax, $5,238,98 ; total receipts were
$39,766.18. The poor cost $5,693.10 ; the county officers cost $3,023.01 ;
county orders paid out for military bounty, $81,000 ; total orders issued
were $106,054.84 ; old outstanding orders, $21,96'^.82; total orders to
be redeemed, $128,021.66 ; orders redeemed during the year, $35,006.64 ;
on hand at the end of the year, cash, $4,759.56 ; total county debt,
$88,255.46. In 1868-69, the county revenue amounted to $37,582.49 ;
special school fund, $7,575.33 ; total receipts, $55,617.18. The County
Asylum cost $3,788.97; county officers, $3,855.83; orders outstanding
at the beginning of the year, $26,237.13; orders issued during the year,
$41,671.91; total orders to be redeemed, $67,908.01; outstanding
orders at the end of the year, $12,290.86; cash in treasury, $2,114.95 ;
county debt, $10,185.91. In 1872-73, the county fund was $22,052 ;
special school fund, $13,199.30 ; total receipts, $45,228.60. The paupers
and poor-farm cost $3,290.75 ; the courts, $3,107.10 ; the county officers,
$7,222.80; the total expense was $49,207 ; outstanding orders paid, $13,-
46i.l0; in the treasury, $7,615.51; outstanding orders, June, 1873,
$17,606.84. In 1875-76, the county fund was $35,251.45 ; special school
fund, $14,390.95; total receipts, $65,506.10; on hand at the beginning
of the year, $2,717.41. The paupers and poor asylum cost $3,467.10 ;
the courts, $6,354.10; county officers, $8,089.55; total expense, $64,-
123.80 ; outstanding orders, $14,060.59 ; in treasury at the end of the
year, $2,162.76; outstanding orders June, 1876, $12,123.24; county
debt June, 1876, $9,969.48. In 1879-80, the county revenue was $34,-
789.29; the special school fund, $4,902.77 ; total receipts, $82,053.61.
The poor cost $5,270.96 : the county officers, $6,281.90 ; total expense,
$69,798.67 ; receipt balance, $12,254.94. In 1882-83, the finances were
as follows : Balance on hand, $23,617.81 ; receipts during the year,
$58,087.21; total receipts, $81,705.02; orders redeemed, $67,099.82 ;
county officers cost $6,138.16 ; paupers, $4,190.86; poor-farm, $1,640. -
45 ; total expenses, $56,453.06; outstanding orders at the beginning of
the year, $41,682.61; grand total expense, $98,135.70; outstanding
orders June, 1883, $31,035.88 ; warrants redeemed, $67,099.82 ; county
debt, $16,430.68 ; balance in the treasury, $14,605.20. In September,
1883, county bonds to the amount of $50,000 were issued and sold to aid
in building the new university building. Each bond was of the denom-
ination of $500, bore six per cent interest, and was redeemable within
ten years.
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
411
The following exhibit of the county was prepared by the Auditor in
1836:
TOWNSHIPS.*
POLLS.
Acres of
Cultivated
Land.
Value of
Land.
Value of
Lots.
Value of
Personal
Property.
TOTAL.
Richland
181
55
128
123
76
175
85
60
66
303
20,435
$162,905
$44,579
$207,484
Perry
4,205
10,201
. 5,517
13,184
2,027
1,064
1,050
14,797
49,247
88,217
47,134
149,166
7,975
9,600
8,400
176,739
44,566
30,572
9,319
44,514
28,868
5,023
11,267
141,668
93,813
118,789
Clear Creek
56,453
Indian Creek
193,680
Salt Creek
36,848
14,623
:::::::::::::::
19,667
1103,329
421,780
Totals
1,252
72,480
$699,383
$103,329
$360,376
$1,163,088
* The townships given not only included all of the present Monroe County, but also a strip three
ihiles wide on the western side of Brown County, and considerable more of the latter county which waa
yet attached to Monroe. The statistics of Jackson Township cannot be given.
RECAPITULATION OF TAXES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1883.
TOWNSHIPS.
Value of
Lands.
Value of Value of
Im- Land and
prove- 1 Improve-
ments. 1 ments.
Value Of
Lots.
Value of
Im-
prove-
ments.
Value of
lots and
Im-
prove-
ments.
Value of
Personal
Property.
Total
Value oflPolls.
Taxables. 1
1
8260,045
105,955
50,535
72.1.55
271,620
18,898
.344,825
2,635
256,220
427,068
75,430
71,055
253,635
181,470
837,845 8297,890
34,760 140,715
12,765! 63,.300
17,845 90,000
65,020 336,640
7,750 26,648
79 350 424 175
$1,540
155
85,305
555
86,845
710
8142,878
68,790
40,248
59,470
157,060
750,060
153,535
74,330
176,530
251,805
53,825
50,050
181,595
121,155
8447,613
210,215
103,548
151,025
493,700
1,453,948
577,710
131,395
498,000
837,703
149,490
134,900
236
167
76
340
1,215
1,555
143
155
CityofBloomington
Kichland
227,230
450,010
677,240
467
160
TownofEUettsville.
9,945
61,165
85,175
20,235
13,795
45 495
12,580
317,385
512,243
95,665
84,850
9qqisn
9,965
845
50,860
34,520
3,240
22,795
44,485
4,085
73,655
120
173
Perry
156
Salt Creek
139
145
Clear Creek
4,275
24,520
28,795
230
Indian Creek
43;i65! 224;635
161
Totals
$2,391,546
S534 310 S2 925 8.56
$295,210
8542,160
8837,370
82,281,331
86,044,557
2,530
'
TOWNSHIPS.
STATE
HOUSE
TAX.
STATE
SCHOOL"
TAX.
Bean Blossom $654 58
Washington 336 06
Marion 161 91
Benton 252 75
Blobmington 672 64
City of Bloomington 1,980 28
Richland 773 15
Town of EUettsville j 219 07
Van Buren ! 685 40
Perry v 1.083 65
Salt Creek 1 249 28
Polk 2.34 85
Clear Creek 726 56
Indian Creek I 495 75
Totals $8,525 93
$89 42
42 04
20 71
20 20
99 19
291 14
115 53
26 27
99 80
167 59
29 94
27 00
101 90
69 15
8833 43
420 24
203 28
313 14
870 77
256 68
1,004 20
271 73
885 00
1,418 82
309 18
930 48
634 16
;,471 36
,219 27
592 19
;,636 85
,745 69
,048 00
780 37
;,668 75
,,346 00
888 25
821 50
1,778 25
,891 25
$10,945 96 832,785 85
206 70
226 53
496 35
135 40
509 62
519 03
151 02
742 05
67 57
254 81
345 89
83,294 40
412
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
SPECIAL
SCHOOL
TAX.
UNIVER-
SITY
TAX.
TOTAL TAX.
Bean Blossom
Washington
Marion
Benton
Bloomington
City of Bloomington..
Bichland
Town of Ellettsville.
Van Buren
Perry
Salt Creek
Polk
Clear Greek
Indian Creek
81,341 44
736 28
$1,123 70
315 90
365 45
152 70
1,235 75
1,158 70
419 00
449 65
405 70
1,274 10
519 03
747 20
840 95
225 10
272 35
766 10
S217
157
66
146
161
104
123
32
139
159
101
153
155
114
87,424 72
3,237 30
1,879 1H
2,480 06
7,435 73
12,756 58
8,561 98
1,336 00
5,750 42
8,314 91
2,559 38
2,412 97
7,522 30
5,299 16
Totals 87,318 52
50 8302 52 81,827
877,971 24
The followiDg table shows the condition of the school lands (six-
teenth sections) of Monroe County in 1846:
CONGRESSIONAL TOWNSHIPS.
ACBES SOLD.
Town 10, Range 2 west
Town 9, Range 2 west..
Town 8, Range 2 west..
Town 7, Range 1 west..
Town 9, Range 1 west..
Town 7, Range 2 west..
Town 10, Range 1 west
Town 9, Range 1 east..
Town 8, Range 1 east..
Town 8, Range 1 west*
Town 10, Range 1 east.
Town 7, Range 1 east..,
638.75
640
640
640
640
640
400
220
220
9,525
640
640
$1,480 00
1,302 80
1,205 20
1,182 20
1,480 00
1,082 40
732 00
333 40
605 00
15,583 99
No sale crdered
No sale ordered
406 00
302 80
804 40
915 8a
R80 00
887 40
220 80
216 40
126 25
007 76
* This entire township (now Perry) was, by Legislative enactment in 1820, devoted to the founda-
tion and maintenance of a State Seminary, which, in 1828, became the Indiana College, and in 1838 the
State University, as it is at present.
The following table shows the enumeration, enrollment, and the num-
ber of pupils instructed in the various branches during the year 1881, by
townships :
TOWNSHIPS.
Washington...
Marion
Benton
Bloomington...
Richmond ,
Van Buren
Perry
Salt Creek
Polk
Clear Creek ....
Indian Creek.,
Totals
260 ; 260
160 160
292 ! 292
326 I 326 326 t 326
260 260 : 260 ! 260
353 : 353 353 1 353
480 ' 480 480 ' 480
40
48 ' 68
59 I 58
52 : 72
44 ' 59
60 I 78
90 I 108
57 83
82 I
55 I
70 107
69 I 90
4368 3766 602
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
ENUMERATION OF TOWNSHIPS BY DISTRICTS, 1882.
413
NUMBER OF DISTRICT.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
49
50
63
33
41
38
38
83
51
58
63
53
26
57
36
32
25
49
46
59
37
54
43
32
52
35
53
47
38
21
54
52
26
66
50
36
36
60
24
51
22
22
68
39
58
56
164
53
17
30
40
57
67
36
46
59
37
37
Benton
56
24
60
54
58
38
73
46
48
48
22
49
50
47
42
44
30
60
40
30
58
56
53
53
43
30
31
43
36
20
Blooinington
Richland
Van Buren
Perry
Salt Creek
52
Polk
30
25
27
29
40
'
MILITARY HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY MILITIA.
MONROE COUNTY was no sooner organized than it was consti-
tuted the district for the organization of the Twentieth Regiment
of Indiana Militia, and John Storm was commissioned Co'onel, with
orders to superintend the enrollment of able-bodied men and the forma-
tion of companies. This was in 1819, soon after the war of 1812-15,
when the recollection of danger from savages was fresh in the mind, and
when the apprehension of danger from the same source was still a matter
of daily concern, as the natives were yet a few miles north in the New
Purchase. The old habits of watchfulness on the frontier could not so
soon be abandoned, and, accordingly for several years, the militia waa
mustered often and kept in readiness for any outbreak from the Indians.
After the removal of the Indians, the muster was still continued for sev-
eral years, though with steadily lessening interest or concern, and at last,
late in the twenties, became little better than a farce. In truth,
the system which had been so efficient during the Indian wars, now
that danger from that or any other source was past, degenerated
into a holiday, where dram-drinking, horse-racing and athletic sports
claimed the sole attention of the boisterous crowds. In 1822, John
Ketchum succeeded John Storm as Colonel of the Twentieth Regiment of
State Militia, but after that the regimental officers cannot be named.
William Lowe was Brigidier General of the Monroe County Battalion for
a time. The only circumstance that roused the militia was the war with
Mexico in 1846-47.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
Monroe County furnished two full companies for the Mexican war.
Soon after the call for volunteers in May, 1846, the militia of the county
met at Bloomington for regimental or battalion muster. The excitement
over the war was great, a call was made, and a full company was raised
414 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
and ready by the 1st of June. The officers were : John M. Sluss, Cap-
tain ; John EUer, First Lieutenant ; Aquilla Rogers, Second Lieutenant.
This company became A of the Third Regiment, which rendezvoused at
New Albany, and left Bloomington on the 15th of June. A beautiful
flag was presented the boys by the ladies of Bloomington, Miss Sarah
Markle making the presentation speech. Company A was in the battle
of Buena Vista, where four or five of the boys (Buskirk, Applegate,
Stout and Holland) were killed and about five wounded. The company
was mustered out at the end of the year. In 1847, three more regiments
were called for from Indiana, and Daniel Lunderman began to raise a
company. It was soon completed and became G of the Fourth Regiment.
This company was tendered a public farewell by the citizens of Blooming-
ton, who presented the boys with a national banner. The company was
with Gen. Scott on his march from Vera Cruz to the Mexican capital, and
participated in nearly all of the battles on that memorable and triumphant
route. A number of the boys was killed and many more wounded, but
their names cannot be given. The company returned at the end of one
year. Several were left in honoredgraves in the land of the Montezumas.
AFFAIRS PRECEDING THE FALL OF FORT SUMTER.
On the 2d of February, 1860, pursuant to notice, the citizens of the
county seat and vicinity, irrespective of party, met at the court house to
take into consideration the state of the Union. Judge G. A. Buskirk
was made Chairman, and C. P. Tuley and J. B. Mulky, Secretaries.
M. C. Hunter, Benjamin Wolfe, Dr. W'. C. Foster, F. T. Butler and Elias
Abel were appointed a committee to draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of the meeting. While the committee were preparing their report,
Gov. Dunning was called out. He stated that he was a member of no
party until the existing difficulties between the two sections of the country
were settled. Prof. John Young spoke against the "Crittenden Com-
promise," and in favor of the Constitution as it was, but was willing to
accept the " Border State Resolutions." The committee then presented
the following report :
Resolved, That we, the people of Monroe County, are in favor of the resolutions known
as the " Border State Resolutions," which are as follows:
1. Recommending the repeal of the Personal Liberty Bills.
2. That the Fugitive Slave Law be amended for the preventing of kidnaping, and
so as to provide for the equalization of the Commissioner's fee, etc.
3. That the (Constitution be so amended as to prohibit any interference with slavery
in any of the States where it now exists.
4. That Congress shall not abolish slavery in the Southern dock-yards, arsenals, etc.,
nor in the District of Columbia, without the consent of Maryland, and the consent of the
inhabitants of the District, nor without compensation.
5. That Congress shall not interfere with the Inter-State slave trade.
6. That there shall be a perpetual prohibition o' the African slave trade.
7. That the line of 36 degrees, 3il minutes, shall be run through all the existing
territory of the United States : that in all north of that line slavery shall be prohibited,
and that south of ttiat line neither Congress nor the Territorial Legislature shall hereafter
pass any law abolishing, prohibiting, or in any manner interfering with African slavery ;
and that when any Territory containing a sufficient population for one Member of Con-
gress in any area of 60,000 square miles shall apply f )r admission as a State it shall be
admitted, with or without slavery, as its Constitution may determine.
The committee also reported the fifth resolution of the " Crittenden
Compromise," which was as follows:
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 415
5. Congress shall have power by law to pay an owner who shall apply the full value
of a fugitive slave in all cases when the Marshal is prevented from discharging his duty
by force or rescue made after arrest. In all such cases, the owner shall have p'^wer
to sue the county in which such violence or re«cue was made, and the county shall have
the right to sue the individuals who committed the wrong in the same manner as the
owner could sue.
Before these resolutions could be disposed of, Dr. Foster reported the
following additional one :
Resolved, That " while the lamp holds out to burn, the vilest sinner may return."
That in view of this Bible doctrine, we hold that all conciliatory measures should be
adopted to prevent a collision between the South and the North, and when all the argu-
ments are exhausted, and all conciliation rejected, then we advise coercive measures to be
pursued to prevent the desecration and dissolution of the Union. The Union must be
preserved at all hazards.
After a warm discussion, the Border State Resolutions were unanimously
adopted. The fifth resolution of the Crittenden Compromise met with
greater opposition, but finally passed by a fair majority. The resolution
presented by Dr. Foster was handled severely, and finally rejected by a
majority vote. In the discussion on this resolution, violent and eloquent
speeches were made against the adoption of any measures of coercion with
the seceded States. Dr. J. G. McPheeters then ofi'ered the following :
Resolved, That the citizens of Monroe Couuty, always lojal to the Union and the
Constitution, in view of existing difficulties which threaten the existence of our glorious
confederacy, would tender the foregoing (meaning the Border State Resolutions) com-
promise as a basis of settlement ; but in the event of its rejection, are ready to declare for
the Union as it is, the Constitution as it is, aud the enforcement of the laws.
This resolution also met with fiery opposition. A motion to table the
resolution was lost. Messrs. Marlin, Wolfe, B. F. Williams and David
Sheeks hotly denounced the resolution as coercive in its meaning. After
a sharp war of words and passions, the resolution was finally adopted.
The meeting then adjourned. Among those present were Gov. Dunning,
Dr. W. C. Foster, Judge G. A. Buskirk, S. H. Buskirk, C. P. Tuley, J.
B. Mulky, Isaac Adkins, Isaac Cox, Abraham Smith, M. C. Hunter,
Benjamin Wolfe, F. T. Butler, Elias Abel, Prof. John Young, P. L. D.
Mitchell, Hugh Marlin, Johnson McCulloch, Dr. J. G. McPheeters and
David Sheeks. The most noticeable feature of the meeting was the
strong sentiment publicly and ardently manifested not to usej coercive
measures in any case with the South. On the other hand, a few citizens
warmly advocated the most advanced views of the Abolitionists. The
meeting was largely attended, the court room being crowded to its utmost
capacity. The various political sentiments manifested at this meeting
illustrate the feeling in the county at the time.
OPENING SCENES OF THE REBELLION.
On Monday, the 15th of April, 1861, when the news was received
that Fort Sumter had been surrendered to the rebels, great excitement
was manifested by all political parties at the county seat. The news
spread like a prairie fire throughout the surrounding country, and a large
crowd of bewildered and anxious citizens assembled to counsel what was
best to be done in the awful emergency. Many were so frightened that
their senses and judgment refused to act with usual accuracy, and the first
thought was to fly for Canada or the Pacific Coast. A large meeting
was held at the court house, on the evening of the 15th, pursuant to call,
416 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
to sound the sentiments of the citizens. Unfortunately, a detailed account
of this meeting cannot be given. Some five or six of the most prominent
citizens and ablest speakers, whose judgment the assemblage was anxious
to have and willing to trust, were called out to direct the general mind
through the gloom and panic of approaching war to some definite and
speedy action. Some spoke passionately for an immediate organization
of troops to crush the life from the vandals who had shamefully outraged
the national honor. Others, with less fire and loyalty, suggested concil-
iatory measures, and spoke doubtfully of the right of the Government to
adopt coercive measures with the rebellious States. One man spoke
severely against the North, especially the Abolitionists, warmly declaring
that they were the cause of the fratricidal war ; maintained with great in-
tensity that coercive measures were unconstitutional and unjust, and
publicly announced that if he fought at all it would be on the Southern
side. As the meeting progressed, it became clear that the great majority
were in favor of quelling the rebellion at all hazards without a moment's
unnecessary delay. A long series of patriotic resolutions was adopted,
declaring as the sense of the meeting that the Union must be maintained,
if need be by an appeal to arras. Several citizens earnestly opposed the
adoption of one or more of the resolutions.
A few days later, another meeting of equal, or greater, fervor and
loyalty was held at the court house, on which occasion steps were taken to
organize a company of volunteers. The enlistment was continued, and
the organization was completed on the 20th, and the officers elected were
commissioned on the 22d. The company began drilling regularly every
day, waiting in the meantime for orders to report to be mustered into the
three months' service, or even into the State service for one year, or, if no
better could be done, in the three years' service. On the 10th of May,
the day set for the departure of the company for Camp Vigo, Terre
Haute, a large assemblage of relatives and friends gathered to present the
boys a flag, and see them off" on the train. This was the first company
raised for the war, and was at a time when the sentiments of patriotism
were fresh and strong, and when the novelty of military preparations
fired the blood with the vehement loyalty of the hour. A fine banner
was presented to the company by a Miss Mitchell, it is said, on behalf of
the ladies of Bloomington, in a brief speech, which was responded to on
behalf of the company by Lieut. Black. At the conclusion of this
beautiful ceremony, the company marched down to the depot accompanied
by the wnole town. Old men who had served in the land of the Monte-
zumas, or even in the war of 1812, were present, giving the boys a kind
word of parting advice. Parents were present who saw their boys for
the last time on earth. Wives and mothers who had never known the
anguish of separation from dear ones at the stern call of a nation at war,
stood with pale faces and streaming eyes, tightly clasping the loved forms,
and regretting at the last moment to have them go. At last the train
came in, good-byes were spoken with pale lips, and the boys were
OFF FOR THE WAR.
Upon reaching Terre Haute, it was found impossible to enter the
three months' service, or even the one year's service, and the company
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 417
went into camp of instruction. Considerable dissatisfaction had existed
over the selection of the officers, which finally resulted in the division of
the company, which formed the basis for two companies. About two-
thirds of the company remained at Terre Haute under Capt. Kelley,
while the other third was transferred to Indianapolis under the command
of Capt. W. S. Charles. Both of these incomplete companies sent their
Captains and Lieutenants home to recruit their numbers to the lawful
limit. This was late in May and early in June. Capt. Kelley succeeded
in raising enough men to complete his company; but Capt. Charles in-
creased his numbers to only about fifty. Kelley's men became Company
K of the Fourteenth Regiment, three years' service, and were mustered
in on the 7th of June, 1861. The regiment moved to Virginia on the
5th of July. About fifty men of the company of Capt. Charles were
from Monroe County, and the others were obtained from various localities.
This organization became Company H of the Eighteenth Regiment, three
years' service, and was mustered in on the 16th of August, and on the fol-
lowing day was transferred to St. Louis, Mo. Milton L. McCullough
was First Lieutenant of Kelley's company, and Paul E. Slocum, Second
Lieutenant. James S. Black, of Indianopolis, was First Lieutenant of
Charles' company, and Hiram W. Rooker, of Noblesville, Second
Lieutenant.
OTHER COMPANIES.
In June and July, two or three other companies were organized in the
county. Daniel Lunderman, J. 0. McCullough, A. R. Ravenscroft and
others raised a full company. James B. Mulky and others raised
another company, and J. S. Nutt soon had a company of cavalry. Peter
Kop also began to gather around him a squad of volunteers. The bugle
was heard in every direction. The small boys of Bloomington had an
infantry company that was armed with wooden swords, tin-pans, and
other weapons of equal celebrity. It was popular, then, to be a volun-
teer. It meant a thirst for bl-l-ood. Ladies smiled like the morning
at blue uniforms, but gave the frown and cold shoulder to stalwart forms
in civilian's dress. Companies drilled almost daily, and attracted large
crowds of fond friends who saw no escape for the rebel cowards when the
field of gore was reached. All predicted that the rebels would be " licked
out of their boots " in a few months.
In the issue of the Republican of July 13. appeared the following
editorial :
Another company of volunteers for the United States service left here on Tuesilay
last for Madison, Ind., where the regiment is to be formed. The company is under the
command of Capt. Daniel Lunderman, of this place, who has had considerable experience
as an officer in the recent war with Mexico, and we have no doubt he will faithfully at-
tend to the interests and welfare of the company while they are under his charge. Dr.
J. 0. McCullough was elected First Lieutenant and Andrew R. Ravenscroft, Second '
Lieutenant, whom we have no doubt will be equally faithful to their trust. As many of
the volunteers were from the surrounding country, a large concourse of people from dif-
ferent parts of the county were present, to see them take their departure and to bid their
friends farewell. The volunteers were escorted to the train by Capt. Mulky's company
of infantry, and took their departure amid a deafening salute of musketry. The Bloom-
ington Cornet Band accompanied them to Madison. We learn that Camp Noble, to which
they are assigned, is beautifully situated at North Madison, which is ou a high bluflF
overlooking the city of Madison and the Ohio River.
418 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
In the same issue, the 13th, also appeared the following :
Recruiting. — Pe(er Kop and several other gentlemen of this place are raising a com-
pany of grenadiers for the United States service. They admit no recruits under five feet
ten inches, and equally stout and able-bodied. We pity the rebel upon whose neck the
foot of" Big Pete" shall come down with a vengeance. There will be no chance tor him
to even say his prayer.-! before his life is crushed out of him. Some of the others engaged
in raising the company are among our most athletic citizens. Their recruiting ofBce, we
believe, is at Williams & Sluss' livery stables.
The company, under Capt. Lunderman, became Company I, of the
Twenty-second Regiment, and was mustered into the service on the 15th
of August at Camp Noble, Madison. About thirty men of this company
were from Owen County and elsewhere, notably from White Hall. The
regimental commander was Col. Jefferson C. Davis. On the 17th of
August, the regiment started for Missouri, where the boys first saw serv-
ice. The company raised by Capt. Kop and others became F of the
Twenty-seventh Regiment, and was mustered into the three years' service
at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, on the ll^th of September, 1861. Only
about half of this company was from Monroe County. During the months
of August and September, the enlistment of men was very active. The
recruiting ofiicers visited all portions of the county, holding war meetings
in schoolhouses and churches, and using every art or artifice to secure men
for their companies. Every promise and inducement was held out for vol-
unteers. It was the fashion then for those who expected to volunteer or
those who pretended that they did, to declare that they would enter no
company nor regiment that could not see active service on the field of war,
and to meet this boastful assertion the recruiting officers invariably an-
nounced that their regiments were destined to be sent speedily to the
front. Prominent citizens of the county — men of great social, moral and
political standing — were taken along by the recruiting officers to give
proper assurances of good faith, secure large attendance, fire the blood of
young and old with the glory of war and secure a large enrollment of men
anxious to vindicate the supremacy of the laws and wreak vengeance upon
the vandals who had dared to trample the old flag in the dust. The
presence of ladies at these war meetings was always especially desired, as
in their presence it was much easier to appeal to the courage and man-
hood of fathers, brothers and husbands, and fire them to the pitch of a
determination to do their share in the defense of their homes. The pecu-
liarly thrilling effect of the sounds of fife and drum was also well known
and a rousing martial band was always present. Late in August and
early in September, a company of Zouaves was organized at Bloomington.
Early in July, the ladies of Bloomington gathered a large box of blank-
ets, towels and other useful articles, and sent the same to the company of
Capt. Lunderman at Madison. In September and October, Capt. Isaac
S. Dains, Lieuts. Samuel A. Harrah, Albert Adams and others, recruited
.Company D of the Fiftieth Regiment in Monroe and Owen Counties.
About half of the company was from Monroe. Some of the men were
mustered into the service in August, some in September and some in Oc-
tober. The regiment was organized at Seymour on the 12th of Septem-
ber, and on the 25th of October, it left for New Albany, marching through
the country and obtaining a considerable number of recruits. On the 25th
of December, it moved to Bardstown, Ky., where it went into camp of in-
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 419
struction. The following concerning this company was published in the
Republican of September 14:
Off for the War. — Capt. T. S. Dains' company left here for Camp Morton, Indianapo-
lis, on Thursday last. This company was raised mostly in this and Owen Counties — a
number of them being from the vicinity of White Hall. While they were waiting for the
train at the depot, a beautiful flag was presented to the company from the ladies of White
Hall. Gov. Dunning, on behalf of the ladies, made a suitable address on the presentation
of the flag, which was responded to by Capt. Dains in a short address, and by three cheers
from the soldiers for their beautiful flag. This makes the seventh company which has
been raised principally in this county, and left here for the war. One or two other com-
panies are now raising. Monroe County will be fully represented in the contest.
The companies referred to in this article were the following : Com-
pany K, of the Fourteenth Regiment, Capt. James R. Kelley ; Company
H, of the Eighteenth Regiment, Capt. William Stanley Charles ; Com-
pany I, of the Twenty-second Regiment, Capt. Daniel Lunderman; Com-
pany F, of the Twenty-seventh Regiment, Capt. Peter Kop; Company
G, of the Thirty-first Regiment, Capt. Henry L. McCalla ; Company G,
of the Thirty-eighth Regiment, Capt. James Secrest ; Company D, of
the Fiftieth Regiment, Capt. Isaac S. Dains. The company of Capt.
Secrest was raised almost wholly in the vicinity of EUettsville during the
months of August and September, by Capt. Secrest, Lieuts. G. K. Perry
and James McCormick. When this company left EUettsville, they were
given a fine dinner, at the conclusion of which a beautiful banner was
presented them with appropriate remarks, to which the Captain feelingly
responded, and the boys testified their approval with loud acclamations.
It must not be understood that the seven companies mentioned above
were the only ones then in the service containing men from Monroe
County. About half a dozen men had left the northern part of the coun-
ty for Indianapolis at the earliest stage of the war, and had succeeded in
getting into the Twelfth Regiment in the three months' service, though
they were credited to other counties. So far as known, these were the
only men from the county in the three months' service. In the Eleventh
Regiment was Chaplain H. B. Hibben, from Monroe. In the Twenty-
first Regiment, which afterward became the First Heavy Artillery, were
about ten men from the county. Four members of the Regimental band
were credited to Bloomington. A small squad from the northern part en-
tered the Thirty-third Regiment, and was credited to Morgan County.
Taking into consideration these facts, and also the fact that several of the
companies above mentioned were only partly from Monroe, it may be
safely concluded that by the middle of September the county had fur-
nished as many as six full companies. This was a splendid showing.
CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.
The cavalry company mentioned above, recruited by Capt. Nutt, con-
tained only about fifteen men from the county, the remainder being
obtained mostly from Brazil and Delphi. The Monroe boys left for
Indianapolis about the middle of September, where they were joined by
the recruits from other places, and where an organization was effected.
This company became K, of the Second Cavalry (Forty-first Regiment),
and was mustered in on the 24th of December. Jephtha M. Ellington, of
EUettsville, became the Captain. In September, 1861, the authorities
of the State ordered that in each county a thorough organization of the
420 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
militia should be at once effected ; and the Governor appointed James B.
Mulky Colonel of the Monroe County militia, with instructions to pro-
ceed at once with the organization. Under this order, ten companies
were organized during the war, as follows : The Hoosier Grays, Morton
C. Hunter, Captain, organized in the autumn of 1861; the Ellettsville
Clippers, Barton Acuff, Captain, organized in the fall of 1861 ; the
Monroe Zouaves, Daniel Shrader, Captain, organized in the fall of 1861 ;
the Richland Mountaineers, B. W. Rice, Captain, organized in the fall of
1861 ; the Hoosier Guards, H. T. Campbell, Captain, organized early in
1862; the Harrodsburg Guards, John M. Anderson, Captain, organized
in the fall of 1861 ; the Richland Rangers, John Wylie, Captain, organ-
ized during the summer of 1863 ; the Hughes Guards, James Mathers,
Captain, organized in the fall of 1863 ; the Monroe Guards, Isaac S. Bus-
kirk, Captain, organized in the fall of 1863 ; the Bean Blossom Rangers,
Thomas M. Gaskin, Captain, organized in the fall of 1863. Every one
of these companies, in some form, saw active service, as they afterward
enlisted.
LOYAL MASS MEETING.
On the 12th of October, 1861, a large Union mass meeting was held
at the court house to consider the state of the country. The first speaker
was Hon. Paris C. Dunning, who delivered an address of great power
and loyalty. He spoke eloquently in favor of pushing the war with all
the energy of the North, and favored measures of greater activity and
effectiveness in securing volunteers. His remarks were loudly applauded.
The second speaker was Judge James Hughes, whose remarks took a bit-
terly sarcastic, caustic vein, cutting like a sword of Damascus steel at the
heart of the rebellion. His splendid eloquence, effective imagery, fierce
satire and impetuous logic carried his audience before him like a torrent.
As he delivered thrust after thrust of wit and irony, and pungent mockery,
he was frequently interrupted with tempests of cheers. It was conceded
at the time to have been the best Union speech ever delivered in Bloom-
ington. The loyalty of the meeting was very decided, and had its effect
upon all present.
RECRUITING.
Late in October, Dr. J. G. McPheeters, Surgeon of the Thirty-third
Regiment, came home on a furlough, and enlisted a few men for his reg-
iment. About the 1st of November, Wallace Hight, who had superin-
tended the manufacture of a cannon at Seward's foundry in Bloomington,
left for Indianapolis with his piece of ordnance drawn by six horses. The
gun was made of burnished brass, was a six-pounder, and was an excel-
lent specimen of workmanship. He and a squad of boys from Blooming-
ton were attached to the Ninth Battery. About this time, the attention
of the loyal was especially directed to the movement of the armies and to
the wants of the boys in the fields and hospitals, and the comfort of the
soldiers' families at home more than to the enlistment of men. Early in
February, William McCullough began recruiting men designed for the
Fifty-third Regiment, and Lieut. Francis Otwell about the same time
opened an enlistment office at Fee's store for the Twenty-seventh Regi-
ment, in which was the company of Capt. Kop. He obtained about
fifteen men. During the months of November and December, 1861, and
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 421
January and February, 1862, Oapt. Thomas T. Graves and Lieuts. A.lex-
ander Jones and John Phillips recruited about two-thirds of a company
for the Fifty-ninth Regiment, which rendezvoused at Gosport, beginning
in October, 1861, About the middle of February, the regiment went
South over the New Albany road for the seat of war in Kentucky. The
men raised in Monroe County were mostly from the vicinity of Harrods-
burg. The company became I of the Fifty-ninth, Capt. Graves. The
men of this company were mustered into the service on the 11th of Feb-
ruary, 1862. Jesse I. Alexander, of Gosport, was Colonel of the regi-
ment. During the latter part of March, 1862, M. P. Burns recruited
six or eight men for the Sixty-first Regiment, which rendezvoused at Terre
Haute. Early in April, Lieut. Johnson, of Capt. Lunderman's company
(Twenty-second Regiment), opened a recruiting office in Bloomington. In
May, the members of Capt. Kelley's company, Fourteenth Regiment,
sent home to their friends $2,000. As this time also the body of Capt.
Kelley was brought home and buried. He had been mortally wounded at
the hotly contested battle of Winchester, and after lingering several weeks
had died at Cincinnati, where he had been brought by his loving and
faithful wife for medical treatment. His death cast a gloom of sorrow
over the entire county.
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
During the spring months, the columns of the Republican were full of
letters from the boys in the army, and while some were dry, others were
extremely interesting. The following, written by Capt. Henry L. McCal-
la, is a specimen of the more interesting letters. The battle referred to
was Pittsburg Landing:
Thirty-first Regiment Indtana Volunteers, "(_
Pittsburgh, Tenu., April 8, 1862. J
Dear Brother — This is Tuesday, and I take this chance to tell you that an awful
battle has been fought, commencing on Sunday morning at 7:30 o'clock, A. M., lasting
until night, and continued again on Monday. Gi'imes and I are safe. The company be-
haved nobly. The Thirty-first will now get its due meed of praise, I think. We lost
Orderly Sergeant .lames F. Fullbright and RoUey Franklin, both shot in the head, and
seven wounded, three of them severely — .Joseph Lucas, in the hand, slightly; Frank
Johnson and Jerry Serrell, in chin, slightly; John Campbell, in the hand ; Joseph Wool-
ery, in the hip, severely; Wesley Palley, in the shoulder; Joseph Gaither, in the fiice,
the ball entering the bridge of the nose and coming out under the ear, cutting the tip of
the ear. Many more were grazed. I had a bullet through the top of my hat. John
McPhetridge had his leg grazed, and Grimes was scratched in the knee. We will feel the
loss of Fullbright. He was the bravest man in the regiment — so modest and so faithful.
We buried our old companions with the honors of war, and marked their graves with
neat head-boards.
I met brother Sam on the field of battle for the first time since he was in the service.
Thompson's battery, with which Hight and other Bloomington boys are connected, were
in the fight all Monday. They fired 1,200 shots. Our regiment (belonging to Hurlburt's
brigade) fired forty rounds in one place, repulsed two attacks on the center. Grimes and
I furnished our men with thirty rounds more as they were lying down, and these were
all expended by night. The carnage is frightful. The field of battle covers over six
miles. Daniel Iseminger (formerly of Bloomington), Captain in an Iowa regiment, was
killed. Our Major, Frederic Arn, was killed ; the Colonel was wounded in two places ;
Adjutant Rose, wounded ; Capt. Harvev, killed ; and other officers wounded, all of our
reginif nt. Jo. Roddy bore the colors through all the two days' fight, onward, never fal-
tering, the foremost in the advance, the hindmost in the retreat.
The day of the battle was my first out-door service for three weeks, having been sick
ever since we came to this place. Hbnky.
Many other letters were very interesting. Some contained spicy
descriptions of camp life, detailing at length the doings of the day, or
422 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
gave extended accounts of the experiences on long and arduous marches
and expeditions.
NEW COMPANIES.
In May, 1862, the Fifty-fourth Regiment was organized at Indianap-
olis for an emergency, and a company was raised in Monroe County by
Capt. Daniel Shrader and Lieuts. W. J. Allen and I. S. Buskirk, which
became Company A of this regiment. The regiment, including Company
A, commanded by the above officers, was mustered into the three months'
service on the 3d of June, and was placed on duty at Camp Morton,
Indianapolis. In August, it was transferred to Kentucky, where it re-
mained until its term of service had expired. This regiment was after-
ward re-organized for the one year's service, but contained no company
from Monroe County. Capt. Shrader entered it, however, as Major, and
was afterward promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy, a most deserving
honor. On the 11th of June, James B. Mulky, of Bloomington, was
commissioned Major of the Fifty-fifth Regiment, three months' service,
and became a very efficient officer. Frank A. Rose, of Bloomington, was
commissioned Adjutant of the same regiment. These regiments were
specially organized to do guard duty at Camp Morton, where a large
number of rebel prisoners were confined.
On the 1st of July, 1862, President Lincoln called for 300,000 ad-
ditional volunteers, and the quota of Indiana was fixed at eleven regiments.
The Republican of July 12, said:
More Troops Wanted. — It will be seen by reference to another part of our paper
that eltiven more regiments are to be raised in our Slate in addition to those already form-
ing, one from each Congressional District. This in our district will be, on an average,
about 125 men from each county. We trust that old Monroe will promptly furnish her
quota as she has done on all former calls. She has now nine companies in the service,
besides a number of pers ms scattered in companies made up elsewht-re — in fan try, cavalry
and artillery. Now that harvest is past and our young men more at leisure, we think that
there will be no diiSculty in raising this additionil quota of troops in Monroe County.
The regiment for this district will rendezvous at M«dison, and we notice that in some of
the adjoining counties companies are already forming to fill up the regtment. Let not
Monroe be behind.
But the commencement of the active work of enlistment was delayed.
The paper came out in stirring appeals to sustain the honor of the county
by voluntary enlistments, threatening that the draft would be resorted to
soon if the quota was not filled. Influential citizens of the county began
to stir themselves, recruiting officers appeared, and soon war meetings
were held with a frequency and intensity unknown in the history of the
county. Late in July, Lieut. F. Otwell was commissioned to recruit a
company for the Sixty-seventh Regiment and opened an office in Bloom-
ington. Capt. Charles, of the Eighteenth Regiment, came home to recruit
for his company. Lieut, W. J. Allen, of the Twentieth Battery, called
for recruits. James L. Winfrey, of Bloomington, was also commissioned
to raise a company for the Ninety-third Regiment, which was being ren-
dezvoused at Madison. Lieut. Otwell and others raised about twenty
men, who became Company B of the Sixty-seventh Regiment, Samuel
Denny, of Madison, being Captain. An entire company was raised for
the Eighty-second Regiment by Morton C. Hunter, who became the Colonel
of the regiment, by Paul E. Slocum, Alfred G. Hunter, Samuel Mc-
Wilie, John McKinney, Samuel Guy and others. The men became
Company F, Samuel McWilie, Captain; McKinney, First Lieutenant;
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
423
Guy, Second Lieutenant. The men were mustered in on the 30th of
August, at Madison. A portion of Company I, of the Eighty-second, was
raised in Monroe County by William F. Neill, who became its Captain,
and by Lieut. H. E. Lundy and others. There were probably not more
than ten men in the company from this county. There were more regi-
mental officers from Monroe County in the Eighty-second than in any
other regiment : Col. Hunter; Major, and afterward Lieut. Col., Slocum;
Adjts., A. G. Hunter and M. E. Bunger ; Quartermaster, J. C.
Allenworth; Chaplain, M. M. Campbell; Surgeon, W. H. Lemon; As-
sistant Surgeons, W. B. Harris and R. H. Campbell. On the 1st of
September, the regiment moved to Louisville, Ky. About thirty men of
Company F, of the Ninety-third Regiment, were recruited by J. L. Win-
frey and others, and were mustered in at Madison from the 15th to the
23d of August. These efforts on the part of the recruiting officers and
the more prominent and loyal of the citizens came within a close figure
of relieving the county from the draft. The county was really ahead of
her quota, but some of the townships were behind. The draft was intended
to bring the " stay-at-homes " to the front.
The following table was published in the Republican of September 13,
and shows the situation of the county at about that time :
TOWNSHIPS.
Number
subject to
draft.
Num-
ber
exempt.
Num-
ber
of vol-
unteers.
Num-
ber
enroll-
ed.
151
115
51
104
358
162
130
193
86
105
208
151
23
22
6
17
75
28
19
30
15
21
26
18
300
120
100
23
41
210
131
85
130
28
23
90
62
104
128
Washington
93
45
Be ton
87
283
'Rifhlnnd .
134
111
163
Salt Creek
71
Polk
84
192
Indian Creek
133
Totals
1824
1524
The following
table was
also
published
in the
same
issue :
TOWNSHIPS.
Applicants
for exemp-
tion from
the draft.
Numbers of
exemption!.
Bean Blossom .
40
39
10
30
110
45
38
39
40
42
38
28
23
Washington
22
Marion .
6
Benton ....
17
75
Richland
28
Van Buren
19
30
Salt Creek
15
Polk
21
26
18
499
300
424 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
On Saturday, September 6, the citizens of the county assembled at
the court house and listened to a long able address on the state of the
country from Hon. Joseph A. Wright, ex-Governor of the State. It was
a fine specimen of oratory, and was loyal to the core. On the following
Monday, the citizens again assembled to listen to Hon. Joseph E. Mc-
Donald, who delivered an address of great power. He strongly favored a
cessation of hostilities.
THE DRAFT OF OCTOBER 6, 1862.
The first draft had been announced to take place on the 15th of Sep-
tember, 1862 ; but at the last moment, to give all counties behind abun-
dant opportunity to redeem themselves, the date was postponed to the 6th
of October, at which time it occurred throughout the State. The Draft
Commissioner was Ira Browning; the Marshal, W. J. Alexander, and the
Surgeon, J. D. Maxwell, for Monroe County. On the 19th of Septem-
ber, the Enrolling Commissioner reported the following facts to the Ad-
jutant General : Total militia, 1,828; total volunteers, 1,039 ; total
exempts, 298 ; total conscientiously opposed to bearing arms, 3 ; total vol-
unteers in the service, 840 ; total subject to draft, 1,527. At this date
(the 19th of September), the county lacked twenty -two men of having
filled her quota, as follows : Benton, 1 ; Salt Creek, 4 ; Polk, 12; Clear
Creek, 3 ; Indian .Creek, 2. This number was reduced to one man by the
6th of October, and this deficiency was in Salt Creek Township. A man
was drafted there, and in a few minutes after the draft was made, a vol-
unteer was reported from that township, and accepted, thus virtually
clearmg the county from the draft of October 6, 1862.
CONTINUED ENLISTMENTS.
In September, Capt. Daniel Shrader, who had taken a company into
the special three months' service of lSd2, the same being Company A,
of the Fifty-fourth Regiment, was commissioned to raise another company
for the same regiment, re-organized for the one year's service. He estab-
lished a recruiting office at Bloomington. For some reason, he did not
continue, but was soon appointed Major of the Fifty-fourth. About
the 23d of September, Bloomington, and indeed all of Monroe County,
in common with the southern half of Indiana, was thrown into the most
intense excitement by the news that Bragg's forces were rapidly march-
ing upon Louisville with the intention of capturing and sacking the place ;
and at the same time a dispatch was received from Gov. Morton, who was
then at Louisville, urging an immediate organization of the militia to be
held in readiness to march at a moment's notice in defense of that city.
A meeting was promptly held at the court house, and the nature of the
emergency explained by Judge Hughes. An adjournment was taken
until the evening, but during the afternoon nearly a full company of
volunteers was raised, which was fully completed at the evening meeting,
and the officers elected as folloAVS : Francis Otwell, Captain ; Henry Eller,
First Lieutenant ; W. H. McCullough, Second Lieutenant. Early the
next morning, the company was armed, and was then ready to march at a
moment's warning. Within a short time, however, it was learned that
Bragg would not touch Louisville, and the company disbanded.
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 425
SUSPENSION OF ACTIVE WORK.
After October, but little attempt was made to enlist men for the war
during the colder months. The people eagerly watched the movements of
the contending armies, and waited anxiously for details as soon as it
became known that a great battle had been fought. The Republican was
filled with letters from the army. The following, referring to the battle
of Stone River, or Murfreesboro, is a Sample :
FROM THE EIGHTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
Camp near Murfreesboro, Tenn., January 8, 1863.
Messrs. Editors — Our brigade, except the Eighry-second Indiana (it had been to
Nashville to guard a train through), arrived on the field of battle We Ineaday morning
about 11 o'clock, and were quickly formed in "line of battle" on the right center. There
they lay v?ithout blankets until the battle closed, but were not brought into action until
Friday evening, just at dark.
The cannonading was fearful on our side, the rebels using very little; but above the
roar of the cannon could be heard the shrill shriek of the shells as they took their way
through the air, making a noise, as the negroes expressed it, which seemed to say, " Whar
is ye? "
I rode up to where our batteries were playing, and there for the first time saw the
rebel banner, some half mile away, floating defiantly to the breeze ; but not many
minutes was it permitted to float undisturbed. Our batteries leveled on it, and it passed
away — whether cut down by our balls or removed by the rebels, I could not determine.
It started a train of thought which was very soon interrupted by the descent of a shell
not more than twenty feet distant. Fortunately for me, it did not burst. I changed my
position, still intent on watching our batteries, when one of those vicious little Mississippi
rifle balls passed across my horse's flank, and buried itself in the earth. My curiosity
was satisfied ; I had business of importance up the road. The firing only ceased when
darkness rendered it necessary.
Thursday morning it opened about daylight, and continued throughout the day.
Friday was a repetition of the others, until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when
suddenly there arose a noise on our left that would have drowned the noise of the loudest
thunder; peal upon peal arose fromihe thro^its of some sixty cannon and 20,000 muskets,
all combined to make one of the most fearful sounds ever heard. It was caused by the
rebels trying to take our batteries. A desperate charge it was, and most desperately
were they repulsed. The loss of life and limb were fearful on both sides. This desperate
charge lasted about three hours, when night again shed her mantle o'er the scene of car-
nage, to shut out, as it were, the horrible sight. It was just at nightfall that the First
Brigade was brought into action. They were sent out to make a reconnoissance in force.
They succeeded in drawing the enemy's fire, and returned it with vigor. We had none
killed, and but eleven wounded.
Saturday was a day of skirmishing throughout. Sunday, the rebels evacuated.
Monday, we took possession. Thus closed one of the hardest fought and most sanguinary
battles of the war. It was a battle for Tennessee; both sides resolved to do their best.
The victory was not as complete as it might have been under other circumstances ; but I
think it will decide the matter in Middle Tennessee at any rate.
Our loss in killed and wounded amounts to about 7,000 ; taken prisoners, 4,000.
We 'ost ihirty-nine pieces of artillery, eight of which were recaptured, leaving thirty-one
in their hands. The rebel loss, as near as I can determine it (and my chances to do so are
very good), is about as follows : Killed and wounded, 8,000 ; taken prisoners, 7,000. We
captured nine pieces of artillery, and quite a number of small aru-s, provisions, eic.
Gen. Dill wa^ killed early on Tuesday morning — shot through the eye ; Gen. Willie h was
wounded and taken prisoner. I shall not attempt a list of the names of eur ofiicers killed
and wounded — you have that already. There are many little incidents connected with
the fight that I may pive you at a future day. For the present, I must remain,
Yours, Carlos.
There was no time during the continuance of the war when some of
the men were not at home on a furlough. Some who had been racked
by the dreadful camp diseases came home to be nursed back to lite and
health by loving friends. Others, emaciated beyond recognition, with
bloodless faces and tottering steps, came home only to die in the arms of
426 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
sobbing friends. Others came back, discharged from the army with
broken constitutions, to slowly die from the effects of the ravages of war.
Sad stories of heroic death on the battle-field, where lead fell thick as a
thunder shower, and where the sickening fear blanched the faces of the
brave, were told proudly in peaceful Northern homes. One brave boy
from the county, in the thickest of the rain of dreadful death, who re-
ceived a gaping wound that was mortal, raised himseif partly up and ex-
claimed, "Oh God, if I could see my wife!" and fell back a corpse.
And this was war !
DISLOYAL MASS MEETING.
On the 24th of January, 1863, a large meeting was held by the dis-
loyal element of the county at the court house, on which occasion Judge
Eckles, of Greencastle, was the principal speaker. He was an able man,
and delivered a rousing speech. He took an ultra position in opposing a
further continuance of the war, and was enthusiastically applauded by his
andience. He denounced the administration of President Lincoln in the
severest terms ; heaped the responsibility of the war upon the Republican
party, especially the Abolitionist wing ; declared that the South were
justified in their course in view of the danger to their favorite institution —
slavery — and insisted that not another man nor dollar should be furnished
to continue the unnecessary and wicked war. A series of resolutions was
adopted embodying the substance of the speech, and the crowd dispersed,
several cheering for Jeff" Davis and cursing " Old Lincoln." The State
Sentinel spoke highly of the "spirit and determination of this meeting."
Several savage fights occurred during the day.
LOYAL MASS MEETING.
Four Weeks later, an enormous Union meeting was held at the court
house, Capt. Capps, of East Tennessee, and Col. Hawkins being the prin-
cipal speakers. Both delivered excellent, loyal addresses. Jacob B.
Lowe was Chairman of the meeting, and Maj. James B. Mulky, Secre-
tary. The following preambles and resolutions were unanimously
adopted :
Whereas, We are now engaged in a deadly struggle in defense of and for the per-
petuity of every right dear to us as American citizens, and which requires the united
efforts of all good, true and loyal men. And,
Whereas, We have beheld, with deep regret and abhorreoce, the malignant partisan
spirit in our S'ate, the tendency of which is to paralyze and frustrate the measures of the
Federal and Slate authorities in their patriotic endeavors to suppress this infamous
rebellion; to create and diflfuse secession and treasonable sentiments among the people;
and, finally, precipitate them out of the Union, and into a league with the Southern Con-
federacy, and into entangling alliances with France, or other foreign powers. Therefore,
1. Resolved, 1\\n,i viQ tender to Gov. Morton our warmest thanks for his untiring
zeal in organizing, arming and equipping the gallant army which Indiana has sent to the
tented field, and for his timely and tender attention to the want'i of our sick and wounded
soldiers, and assure him of our unswerving support in his efforts to maintain for Indiana
her present proud position for pre-eminent loyalty, and ttie high character of her citizen
soldiery.
2. Resolved, That we hold in utter detestation, and execrate any man, or class of
men, wlio, in this struggle for our national existence, are found fomenting and making
factions, and malignant partisan opposition to either the Federal or State authorities, in
their effort's and measures for the vigorous prosecution of the war, for the suppression of
this causeless, wanton, and Godless rebellion.
3. Resolved, That we unqualifiedly repudiate and denounce any and all propositions
for an armistice or compromise with the traitors, other than those uniformly offered to
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 427
them by tte proper authorities of the Federal Government, viz.: That they ground the
arms of their rebellion, return into the Union, and be obedient, law-abiding citizens to
the government of our fathers, as they made it. and consecrated it with their precious
blood, and as by their dying request they enjoined upon us to preserve and defend it,
and transmit it unimpaired to our posterity.
4. Resolved, That cowardly and traitorous demagogues at home shall never pre-
cipitate us into the attitude of requiring the noblest army of freedom the world has ever
seen to ground their arms i i front of the most perfidious, inhuman and redemptionless
army of traitors and outlaws that ever disgraced the annals of the earth.
5. Resolved, That this rebellion must and shall be effectually and forever crushed out,
leaving a lesson upon the pages of our history which, as long as it shall continue to be
read, will over-awe and deter rebellious and wicked spirits and the enemies of freedom
and the human race from ever again attempting to de'uge with the precious blood of our
brothers and sons this otherwise prosperous, free and happy land.
This meeting and the resolutions adopted had a most excellent effect
upon the county, and greatly encouraged the loyal citizens during that
gloomiest year of the war — 1863. A week later, another Union mass
meeting of equal intensity and enthusiasm was held at the court house,
the speakers being Gen. Kimball, Hon. J. A. Matson, Col. McCrea,
Revs. Hopkins, Farmer and Hearb. Several of these speakers were
Democrats, but all spoke earnestly of continuing the war. The speakers
addressed one of the largest assemblages ever in the county seat.
A CURIOUS EDITORIAL.
Scarcely any attempt was made during the spring months of 1863 to
raise volunteers; The citizens waited and watched. The following article
was published as an editorial in the Republican of April 18:
We learn that our old friend, A. Sutherland, sutler to the Fifty-ninth Regiment, was
fined $10 and costs in the Common Pleas Court the other day for bringing to this county
and harboring a " contraband " picked up somewhere in the South, and who accompanied
him home on a visit some weeks since. Good enough for you. Aleck. We have niggers
enough here now, and we hope all who violate the laws by bringing them into the State
•will be compelled to pay the penalty.
RESISTANCE TO MILITARY LAW.
In April, the news of the outbreak in Brown County near Georgetown
was received, which led to a public meeting of the citizens at the court
house, where a long series of resolutions condemning such treasonable
riots was adopted, and where preparations to thoroughly organize the
militia company to be in readiness for such an outbreak in Monroe County,
should one occur, were made. Francis A. Otwell was elected Captain of
the company, and active drilling was begun. About the same time the
citizens of Yan Buren Township met at Schoolhouse No. 3, and organized
a militia company. John Koons was Chairman of the meeting, and W. M.
Crossfield, Secretary. In June, the enrollment of men liable to do mili-
tary duty was begun in the various townships of the county. The mem-
bers of the Enrolling Board for the Third Congressional District were
Simeon Stansifer, Provost Marshal ; John R. B. Glasscock, Commis-
sioner; Albert G. Collier, Surgeon. In April, 1865, James B. Mulky
succeeded Stansifer as Provost Marshal. Col. John McCrea was ap-
pointed Provost Marshal for Monroe County in June, 1863. In one por-
tion of the county the enrolling officers encountered forcible opposition.
On Friday, June 19, an armed force of about eighty men surrounded W.
F. Hensley, enrolling officer of Indian Creek Township, while discharging
428 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
his duty, and compelled him to give up his enrolling papers, threatening
him with death if he revealed the names of any present. Mr. Hensley,
however, promptly informed the authorities at Bloomington of what had
happened; and so great was the wrath of the "Butternuts" that his
neighbors thought best to place a guard around his person. On the fol-
lowing Wednesday, Col. Biddle, with about six hundred members of the
Seventy-first Regiment, and a company of the Third Cavalry, arrived at
Bloomington, and encamped just north of town. Col. McCrea, with sev-
eral assistants and the cavalry company, immediately started for Indian
Creek Township, where he arrested about sixteen persons supposed to
have been the leaders of the outrage, and recovered the enrolling officer's
papers. The persons arrested were sent to Indianapolis to be examined
by the United States District Court. No further trouble was encoun-
tered. About the 26th of June, a section of the Twenty-third Artillery,
embracing two brass 12-pounder guns arrived at Bloomington and en-
camped. All this display of force completely checked all further resist-
ance to the enrollment or enlistment. Before this, the " Butternuts "
had been arming and drilling in one or more portions of the county, but
now they were completely subdued.
THE REBEL GEN. MORGAN.
On Monday, the 22d of June, the news was received that the rebel
Gen. Morgan, with a large force, had penetrated Indiana from Kentucky,
and was advancing upon Paoli, Orange County. All the bells in town
were hastily rung, and soon a large crowd of excited citizens assembled at
the court house. A company of over one hundred "minutemen" was
speedily formed and organized under the command of Capt. I. S. Bus-
kirk, and service was tendered the Governor by telegraph. No answer
was received until late at night, when it was learned that their services
would not be needed. They accordingly disbanded.
NEW CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS.
On the 15th of June came the call of the President for 100,000 six
months' men, and immediate steps were taken to raise a company. An
enlistment office was opened over Fee's store. Thos& who were especially
active in obtaining volunteers were W. B. Hughes, J. Rutledge, W. C.
Smith, Michael Gabbert, H. C. Gabbertand J. H. Miller. By the 31st of
July, the company numbered about seventy-five men, when they were
ordered to report at Indianapolis, which they did on that day. There
they remained until August 15, recruiting in the meantime their ranks
from Monroe County to the lawful number of men, when they were mus-
tered into the service, and on the same day sent to Kentucky. The men
became Company I of the One Hundred and Seventeeth Regiment, six
months' men, and were officered as follows : Captain, William B. Hughes ;
First Lieutenant, Jechonias Rutledge ; Second Lieutenant, James H.
Miller.
MORE OF GEN. MORGAN.
The continued threatening character of the news of the invasion of
Indiana by Gen. Morgan soon gave a new impetus to the organization of
militia companies. The company of Capt. Buskirk was again mus-
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 429
tered, and on the 9th of July left for Mitchell, Ind. A company of
cavalry, commanded by Capt. VVylie, left the next day for the same point,
and on the same day a militia company of infantry, under Capt. Marion
Blair, left for Indianapolis. Another full company left Ellettsville for
Indianapolis about the same time. Two other full companies were nearly
completed in the vicinity of Bloomington at the same time. At no peri-
od during the war did the excitement run higher than at this time. The
wildest rumors were circulated, and business of all kinds was almost
wholly suspended. The streets of the county seat were alive with mili-
tary preparations, and great crowds assembled from the country to learn
what was to be done. Within one week, all illusions of danger were dis-
pelled. The company of which Marion Blair was Captain was mustered
into the service at Indianapolis on the 10th of July, and without leaving
that city was mustered out on the 15th of July. The company was D of
the One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, minutemen. Barton A cuff was
Captain of the company from Ellettsville, which was both mustered in and
mustered out on the same days respectively as the company of Capt.
Blair. Capt. Acuff 's company was G of the One Hundred and Eleventh
Regiment, minutemen. The company of militia under Capt. Hughes
(which immediately afterward entered the six months' service as above
stated) moved to Mitchell, where it became Company A of the One Hun-
dred and Twelfth Regiment, minutemen. The company was mustered
in July 9, and mustered out July 17. This company saw slight service,
as it with its regiment moved to North Vernon, which place it assisted in
holding against Gen. Morgan, who approached within a few miles. I. S.
Buskirk was Major of this regiment. The One Hundred and Thirteenth
Regiment, minutemen, contained one company from Monroe County,
commanded by Capt. Henry L. McCalla. This was Company A, and
was mustered in July 11, and mustered out July 16. It saw the same
service as the company of Capt. Hughes. It will thus be seen that within
about one week Monroe County furnished and sent into the service four
full companies, and had three or four other companies organized and
ready. The wisdom of the organization of the county militia in 1861
was thus demonstrated. A fine company of militia cavalry was organ-
ized in Perry Township (mostly) in September, under the command of
Capt. J. E. Mathers. One of the companies referred to above was com-
manded by Capt. David Sheeks.
THE CALL OF OCTOBER, 1863.
The county was again thrown into activity by the call of the Presi-
dent of October 17 for 300,000 for the three years' service. The quota
of the county was 143 men. Calls for volunteers were made, and enlist-
ment offices established si the county seat, and for short periods in sev-
eral of the country townships. The officers commissioned to raise recruits
were Col. McCrea, Capt. Buskirk and Henry Eller. At first, the vol-
unteering was slow, but a war meeting was held at the court house on the
'28th of November, and quite a large squad was raised. They were sent
into camp of instruction at Columbus, and the recruiting was continued.
The company was so nearly completed by the 18th of December that Col.
McCrea left for Columbus. On the 14th of January, 1864, the men
430 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
were mustered in at Camp Shanks, near Indianapolis, but recruits con-
tinued to be raised in the county to the number of about twenty, who
were mustered in January 24, March 2. and a few even in April. The
officers of the company were: Isaac S. Buskirk, Captain; James E,
Mathers, First Lieutenant; G. P. Bailey, Second Lieutenant. A squad
of the men was raised at Ellettsville. The men became Company I of
the Tenth Cavalry (One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment). The reg-
iment did not leave the State until May, 1864, when it moved to Nash-
ville, Tenn. In December, 186'^, and January, 1864, about fifteen re-
cruits were sent to Company K of the Twenty-first Regiment (First Heavy
Artillery), and about tea to the Twenty-second Regiment. A few were
sent to the Twenty-seventh also. Sergt. J. Frank Fee recruited about
twenty men for Company G of the Thirty-first Regiment during the
month of February, 1864. In December, 1863, and January and Feb-
ruary, 1864, about fifteen recruits were sent to Company G of the
Thirty-eighth Regiment. They were obtained at Ellettsville. About
half a dozen men entered Company F of the Eighty-second Regiment.
A few entered other regiments.
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' MEN.
Under the call for one hundred days' men in April, 1864, a large
war meeting was held at the court house, pursuant to call, on the evening
of April 27, to take steps toward raising a company. Gov. Dunning
addressed the audience, and explained the nature of the call, and the en-
listment roll was circulated and about a dozen names secured. After
passing a resolution asking the County Commissioners to offer a bounty
of $30 for volunteers, the meeting adjourned. Active measures were
continued to increase and complete the company. By the 3d of May,
the company, though partly raised in Clay County, was completed, the
following being the officers : Jechonias Rutledge, Captain ; A. B. Wheeler,
First Lieutenant ; W. R. Kress, Second Lieutenant, About three-fifths
of the company was from Monroe County, including the Captain. The
men became Company K of the One Hundred and Thirty -third Regi-
ment, 100 days' service. They were mustered in at Indianapolis on the
17th of May, and left at once for Tennessee.
THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1864.
During the previous years of the war, no celebrations of this national
holiday were held at the county seat. Various country celebrations had
occurred, of which no record was kept. Neither at this time were prepa-
rations made to soar the eagle to the usual lofty height of American
patriotism. An impromptu celebration, or rather picnic, was held at Prof.
Wylie's beautiful grove in the southeastern part of town. Rev. J. M. Bishop
acted as President of the Day. Prayer was offered by Rev. Covey, and
the Declaration of Independence read by J. P. Rankin, Esq. Rev. Levi
Hughes delivered a short address, as did Prof. D. E. Hunter. At intervals
the national airs were sung by bevies of sweet-faced girls and boys. Their
voices were as sweet as new harmony in the cool shade on that hot day.
Of course the fire cracker was present. Swings were erected and enjoyed
in the afternoon. Thus the great day died.
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
431
THE HEAVY CALL OF JULY, 1864.
The call of the President on the 18th of July, 1864, for 500,000 men
for one, two and three years, staggered the county, and at first but little
was done in the direction of raising volunteers to fill the quota. On the
6th of August, the Republican published the following table :
Office Provost Marshal, "1
Third District, Columbus, July 29, 1864. j
Quota of Monroe County under call of July 18, H64. for 500,000 men :
TOWNSHIPS.
Bloomington..
Bean Blossom
Washington...
Marion
Benton
Richland ,
Van Buren...
Perry
Salt Creek....,
Polk
Clear Creek...
Indian Creek.
Totals....
Excess ot
Former
Calls.
87
203
Deficit 0
Former
Calls.
Quotaunder
the Present
Call.
56
27
17
8
17
28
19
33
15
12
34
21
287
Number
to be
Furnished.
S. Stansifer,
Captain and Provost 3[arshal Third District.
From this exhibit it will be seen that, although this call was enor-
mous, not a man was required from either of the townships — Bloomington,
Richland or Clear Creek. But, in justice to the other townships, this
circumstance requires some explanation. During the earlier years of the
war, the volunteers were careless in giving their true residence and were
usually, or at least quite often, credited to the places where they enlisted,
which were usually at the largest towns. For instance, a volunteer from
Benton Township would go to Bloomington to join a company that was
organizing there, and as that was his post office address he would be credited
to Bloomington Township. This accounts to some extent at least for the
great excess of men in the townships containing towns where companies
were raised.
THE DRAFT OF OCTOBER, 1864.
Time passed, but no concerted effort was made to clear the county of
her quota. A few recruits were sent to the old regiments, but no attempt
was made to raise a full company of men. The draft was threatened,
but the citizens with philosophic indifference folded their arms, and quiet-
ly waited events. Perry raised her eleven men. Bean Blossom raised
five men, Benton one. Van Buren three; but the other townships from
which men were due — Indian Creek. Polk, Salt Creek, Washington and
Marion — did not furnish a solitary man. The townships which had an
excess of men — Bloomington, Richland and Clear Creek — no doubt fur-
nished a very few. Probably twenty-five or thirty men volunteered under
the call. The draft came off at Columbus, on the 23d of September,
with the following result: Bean Blossom, 37; Washington, 25; Marion,
432
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
14; Benton, 9; Van Buren, 6; Salt Creek, 19; Polk, 17'; Indian
Creek, 32; total. 159. Double this number was really drafted to make
allowances for those unfit for service. Considerable volunteering was
done after this draft took place, and a number of substitutes were fur-
nished by those who could not or would not go to war. The drafted men
(those who reported at all) and the substitutes were taken first to Colum-
bus and afterward to Indianapolis, where they were assigned to the older
regiments. The following table, taken from the Adjutant General's Re-
ports, was prepared by authority on the 31st of December, 1864, and
shows what the county did under the calls of February 1, March 14, and
July 18, 1864; and from this it will be seen how many of the drafted
men had reported either in person or by substitute up to that time:
k
11
■5
1
2
s
a
03
Credits
by Volun-
tary En-
listments.
d
S
%
1
i
a
.&2
P
1^
2
8
2
I
a
.a
TOWNSHIPS.
1
t
1
■i
s
&
5
56
24
221 5fi! 335
134
61
3V*
19
39
66
46
76
3.-
29
76
55
143
18
18
10
32
57
45
86
20
12
54
54
32
43
"""i
26
1
1
""36
1
""22
12
7
"19
17
1
175
61
40
22
40
83
46
87
39
29
84
55
175
61
14
6
30
83
38
76
16
12
84
23
41
10
6
3
11
8
12
6
5
13
27 163
17 99
8 50
171 104
28i 169
191 115
33 198
15 98
12 71
31 188
Washington
Ifi
25
27
10
1
J
8
16
27
19
31
14
12
32
22
3
Be
1
Richland
17
8
10
23
17
'""i
n
Salt Creek
4
Polk
8
Indian Creek
9 24 142
1
'^TT
111! 287il727
675
649
135
77
761
142
2
617
86
From this it will be seen that by the 31st of December, 1864, each
township had furnished her quota, either as recruits, substitutes or con-
scripts, and that the county as a whole, by reason of eight townships
having furnished a surplus, was ahead of all calls (except the late call of
December 19, 1864) to the number of 86 men.
THE LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS,
The call of December 19, 1864 (the last of the war), for 300,000
men for one, two and three years, again aroused the citizens into a reason-
able degree of activity. The county paper published an urgent editorial
with large offers of bounty, and called upon all to assist in filling the
quota required. About the middle of January, 1865, the Deputy
Provost Marshal, Ira Browning, called meetings in each township to cor-
rect the enrollment lists. Early in January, Capt. S. W. Bonsall opened
an enlistment ofiice for veteran recruits for the First Veteran Army
Corps, offering Government bounties of $400, $500 and $600, for one,
two and three years respectively. His offer of $1,143 bounty for one
year was tempting, and when large offers of local bounty were made the
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
433
recruits began to appear. The County Board appropriated $500 for
each volunteer under the call. Townships began to offer several hundred
dollars bounty. Men felt encouraged to enlist, for it was known that the
rebellion was tottering on the verge of the "last ditch," Maj. James B.
Mulky was appointed general recruiting officer for the Third District,
with headquarters at Columbus. He called for a company from Monroe.
The county quota was 161 men. Lieuts. N. E. Mathers and J. F. Douglas
began recruiting men about the middle of January. John T. Eller,
James H. Miller, Ren C. Smith and others, also enlisted men. Within a
comparatively short space of time nearly a full company was secured, the
remainder, to the number of about fifteen, being raised mostly in Brown
County. These men became Company E of the One Hundred and
Forty-fifth Regiment, one year's service, with the following officers : John
F. Douglas, Captain ; James H. Miller, First Lieutenant ; Ren C. Smith,
Second Lietenant. This company was mustered in at Indianapolis on
the 4th and 5th of February, and on the 18th left with its regiment for
Nashville, Tenn. About half of Company I of the same regiment was
raised in Monroe County immediately after the other boys had left.
They were mustered in February 3, 4, 6 and 9. The officers of this
company were John P. Cravens (of Madison), Captain ; Newton E.
Mathers (of Bloomington), First Lieutenant ; William M. Crossfield (of
Smithvillej, Second Lieutenant. The other half of this company came
from Madison. On the 18th of February Capt. Douglas, of Company
E, was promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the regiment, and on the
same day John T. Eller, of Monroe County, was commissioned Quarter-
master. The subjoined exhibit taken from the Adjutant General's Re-
port was made out on the 14th of April, 1865, at which time all efforts
to raise troops were abandoned :
i
^'
^
«
Q
"o
Oi
-d
w ..
h
y
^"^
fl
Hs
a
s
i
^
^5
TOWNSHIPS.
2
a
1?
ii
ll
S
'
i1
3i
1
^
i
CQ
&
03
tH
'^
"^
t^
0
0
H
286
8
8
122
56
12
18
12
18
12
17
12
17
12
17
WashiDffton
1
Marion
23
64
143
130
183
42
31
176
9
10
■"24"
19
12
11
14
""{'
9
10
'"24"
19
12
11
14
10
10
2
22
19
12
10
14
""{'
10
10
2
22
19
12
11
14
10
10
2
22
19
12
11
14
1
Richland
""2
3
Perry
Salt Creek
Polk
rilAflr Prpplr
Indian Creek '.
109
32
32
33
33
33
1
Totals .
1,375
161
9
161
161
1
162
162
3
IS
434 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
By comparing this table with the one given above, there would at first
seem to be some ambiguity, but when it is recollected that the one above
was prepared on the 31st of December, ] 864, twelve days after the call
for volunteers of December 19, 1864, upon which the last table is based,
the matter becomes clearer. In other words, the second table above
includes twelve days covered by the last table. A few recruits were fur-
nished for the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment during the month
of March. The draft had been fixed for the 6th of January, and had
been postponed until the 15th of February, and was then again postponed
until the latter part of March. In the mean time, recruiting was slowly
continuing under the call of Lieut. Eller. The county did not quite
escape the draft, how6ver, which took place in Polk and Salt Creek
Townships during the last week in March. Four or five men only were
drafted, one of whom entered the service, as will be seen by the above
table.
SUMMARY OF TROOPS FURNISHED.
On the 19th of September, 1862, the county was credited with hav-
ing furnished 1,039 volunteers for the war. Under the six months' call
of 1863, she furnished a full company — say 100 men. The quota under
the October- call of 1863 was 143 men, and under the four calls of
1864 was 277, 111, 287 and 161 men respectively. As all these quotas
were filled by the county, a close estimate may be made of the number of
men sent into the army during the war. At the close of the war, the
county had a surplus of ten men to her credit. Taking the sum of 1,039,
100, 143, 277, 111, 287, 161 and 10, gives a grand total of 2,128 men,
equal to over two full regiments. As the total enrollment of county
militia in 1861 was 1,727, it will be seen how thoroughly the strength of
the county was exhausted. Of course each man has been counted above
as often as he enlisted. This estimate does not include the four compa-
nies that were mustered in for the Morgan campaign — say 400 men. As
they were actually in the service they should properly be included in the
above estimate, thus raising the number of troops to 2,528. "Old Mon-
roe" may well be proud of this showing.
MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS.
There was considerable disloyalty manifested publicly throughout the
county during the war, of which it is better now to write but little. The
subject cannot be very well wholly escaped. When the rebellious States
seceded, they claimed that they were doing as they had a right to do
under the Constitution. That they really acted in good faith in this par-
particular can no longer be doubted. They were protecting the institu-
tion of slavery, which had been their chief source of wealth and revenue
since the formation of the Government That slavery, of itself, was a
great wrong, has nothing to do with what the South considered her right
under the Constitution. The South believed in State sovereignty, in
nullification and in slavery. She thought the Union could be broken by
any State whose sovereign rights were trampled upon. But it is doubtful,
even with this opinion, if she would have seceded had she not felt that
slavery would otherwise receive its death blow. With these thoughts, is
it any wonder that she seceded? The North took an opposite position
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 435
on all these particulars, and was, of course, as we now know, right. The
point is : Did the South act in good faith? If she did, her mistake can
be overlooked. It was true of Monroe County that, as many of the cit-
izens had come from the South, and had friends and relatives there, a
strong sympathy was felt for the old home. During the winter of 1860-
61, as the Southern States seceded, many of the most prominent and
intelligent citizens publicly expressed their gratification, and when the
news was received that Fort Sumter had been captured, openly rejoiced
at the event. And they were honest in what they did — believed that
they were right. As stated elsewhere, one man declared in a public meet-
ing that if he fought at all it would be on the Southern side. As the
summer and fall of 1861 passed, savage fights occurred in town and county
over political opinion, and even women were thus involved. On one
occasion, a man who reviled the North was knocked down with a heavy
stick on the streets of Bloomington. On another, a man who had called
the Union soldiers hard names and had cheered for Jeif Davis was
compelled to leave town in short measure to keep from being hung by a
crowd of excited men who had hastily gathered. In some portions of the
county, the other side held the balance of power, and if any man spoke
too bitterly against the South he was speedily silenced. Several places
were dubbed " Secessia," so strong was the Southern sentiment. The
worst year was 1863. That was the darkest for the Union cause.
Many brave hearts despaired of a restoration of the Union. On the
contrary, the opposite element was bold, audacious and outspoken. The
enlistment of men was openly discouraged, and secret treasonable organi-
zations held nightly orgies and massed and drilled their forces prepara-
tory for what? Letters were written by citizens of the county to
boys in the field urging them to desert, and promising them secretion
and protection from arrest. Several of these letters were published in full
in the Republican, verbatim et literatim. In the early part of 1863, sev-
eral disloyal public meetings were held at the county seat, which did a
great deal to discourage enlistment, but the effect was soon counteracted
by several large Union meetings that were held soon afterward. As a
further means to encourage loyalty, there was organized in March, 1863,
by the Union citizens of Monroe and Brown Counties, the National Union
Association of Monroe and Brown Counties. The following were two
planks of its declaration of principles :
Forgetling all past poliiical difFerencea and placing the salvation of the Union above
all party and other predilections, we are for the maintenance of the Federal Government
against all its enemies at home and abroad.
We will sustain the Federal Government in all its measures for putting down the rebell-
ion and call for a vigorous prosecution of the war, until the glorious Union of our fathers
be firmly established all over our territory,
David D. Grifiin was elected President of the Association, and John
C Headly, Secretary. Late in March, as a train containing several hun-
dred rebel prisoners passed through the county seat at night on the way
North, the train was boarded at the depot by several disloyal citizens, who
informed the rebels that if they would break out they would be harbored
and fed, but their Southern brethren refused to "break." As stated else-
where, the news of the outbreak in Brown County in April, 1863, caused
much excitement in the county and led to the organization of a company
436 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
to be in readiness for an emergency. The disloyal elements rejoiced. In
June, the resistance to the conscript enrollment occurred, an account of
which is given elsewhere.
Early in July, 1863, came the news of the defeat of Gen. Lee at Get-
tysburg, which caused universal and continued rejoicing. It was then
demonstrated that the Army of the Potomac was stronger than the Army
of Northern Virginia. On the following day, Tuesday, July 7, came the
news of the surrender of Vicksburg to Gen. Grant, and the two great vic-
tories Avere too much joy to pass without public demonstration. " Lee is
whipped! " " Vicksburg has surrendered! " were the cries that rang
through the county. People felt instinctively that a brighter day had
been heralded. Hundreds of people assembled in Bloomington that night
to mingle rejoicings and jubilees. An enormous bonfire was lighted on
the street, hundreds of guns were brought forth, rockets were sent to the
sky, fire-crackers resounded, buildings were illuminated from garret to
cellar, and the wild populace shouted themselves hoarse but happy. The
Hon. G. A. Buskirk was called out and delivered a brilliant speech. F.
T. Butler succeeded him in a speech of extraordinary fire, power and
loyalty. It was full of the most brilliant and beautiful sallies of wit and
pathos, and was received with loud acclamations and thundering cheers.
The hot scorn and invective which he remorselessly poured upon the heads
of all traitors, bewildered the crowd with delight. Col. Charles, sick and
scarcely able to stand, had sufficient strength under the stimulating news
to deliver a rousing speech. The jubilee was continued far into the night.
The political campaign of 1863 was spirited and interesting. One
party came out for a cessation of hostilities ; the other for a renewal.
Public meetings, where eloquent speakers advocated the party policy, were
held everywhere. The county went Democratic by about 170 majority,
in a total vote of 2,050. In February, 1864, a Union mass meeting to
elect delegates to the Union State Convention at Indianapolis passed a
series of resolutions, two of which were as follows :
Resolved, That the re-nomination of Abraham Lincoln to a second term, and the exten-
sion of his constitutional sway as Chief Magistrate over the United States, the loyal as
well as the disloyal, will forever demonstrate the stability of the American Government
and the justice of the American people.
Resolved, That in view of the eminent services and patriotism of our distinguished
Executive, Gov. 0. P. Morton, the Union men of this county are in favor of his nomina-
tion to the position which he has filled with credit to himself and honor to the State.
In September (the 15th), 1864, the candidates for Congress, of the
two parties, were announced to speak at the court house, and a large crowd
of both sexes gathered to hear them. As Mr. Harrington, the Democratic
candidate, could not be present his time was filled by David Sheeks,Esq.,
of Bloomington. The speech of Mr. Hill, the Union candidate, was one
of great strength and eloquence. A Mr. Gunn, of Kentucky, described
the deplorable condition of family and private affairs in his State. The
National airs were sung by a select choir of ladies and gentlemen.
On Sunday, September 11, an affray occurred at Simpson's Chapel,
near Way port, over the wearing of butternut breastpins, whereby one or
more persons were shot and dangerously wounded by two or three soldiers
at home on a furlough.
On the evening of September 3, 1864, the news was received of the
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 437
capture of Atlanta, and the streets were lighted with bonfires, guns were
fired, and speeches were made on the street by Judge Buskirk, Dr. Sabin
and others. The entire evening was passed in noisy and happy demon-
stration. On the 21st, the news of Sheridan's victory at Opequon
Creek, Va., near Wincester, was received, and the rejoicing was repeated
with renewed vigor. All felt, now, that the rebellion was receiving its
death blows, and all were happy, or nearly all. On the 8th of October,
a soldiers' picnic was held at Bloomington, and one of the largest crowds
ever in town assembled to pay due respect to the "boys in blue," m;iny
of whom were at home on furlough or had been discharged. Long dele-
gations in wagons from all parts of the county came in with banners fly-
ing and drums beating. Patriotism ran high. " The procession was the
largest that was ever seen in town," said the Republican. The speakers
were Col. Burgess, of Indianapolis, and Judge Hughes. Both addresses
were very ornate, eloquent and patriotic. A dinner fit for the gods was
spread out on temporized tables in the court yard, and eaten by several
thousand persons. Toasts, loyal and amusing, were announced, and re-
sponded to by prominent visitors and townsmen. The wounded or sick
soldiers were the lions of the day. Select vocal music — political and
national airs — was furnished by select choirs. ''It was the most general
turn out of the citizens of the county that we have ever witnessed here,"
said the Republican. In the evening, a deserter named Sherrill was shot
and killed at the Orchard House while trying to escape from custody.
On the following Monday, Gov. Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, visited
Bloomington. and delivered a speech two hours in length on the state of
the war to a large assemblage.
THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS OF 1864.
The October and November campaigns in the county were fought with
all the strength of each party. Each felt that a continuance of the war
was to be decided by the contest, and no effort was omitted that promised
a concribution to success. Men of great prominence were secured from
abroad to voice the policy and sentiments of each party. The result of
the October election showed a Republican gain over 1863 of over one hun-
dred, and Gov. Morton ran far ahead of his ticket, receiving a majority of
four votes, which demonstrated the great popularity of the " War Gov-
ernor of Indiana." The result of this election was glorious news to those
in favor of continuing the war. The struggle was continued that there
might be no decrease in the vote of November. Maj. Popp, of the
Eighteenth Regiment, Hon. Henry S. Lane, Gen. Kimball, Col. Ander-
son, of the Twelfth Cavalry, Hon. M. R. Hull, of Wayne County, Hon.
P. C. Dunning and many others of equal eminence, addressed the
citizens of Monroe. The result of the election was a majority of only
eight votes for the Democratic electors, showing a gain of about forty
over the election of October, and a gain of about one hundred and sixty
over the election of 1863. This was most gratifying news for the Union
cause.
INCIDENTS.
During the war, as the New Albany Railroad was the principal
highway between Kentucky and a large section of country of which Chi-
438 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
cago was the center, large numbers of regiments were continually passing
back and forth. It was customary when it was known that a large body
of troops was to pass through Bloomington, especially wounded or sick
soldiers from hospitals or battle-fields South, to hastily prepare large quan-
tities of provisions of every description, and as soon as the train stopped,
board her and distribute the delicacies and substantials. This act was
also true of Ellettsville. On the '2 2d of December, 1861, the Second
Indiana Cavalry, which was organized at Indianapolis, marched through
town on horseback, and attracted a large crowd of observers. There were
1,200 of them, fully mounted and armed, and followed by a heavy supply
train of thirty-eight wagons. This was probably the largest body of
troops ever in the county seat atone time. They camped over night just
south of town, and were visited by large crowds.
THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND, AND GEN. LEE'S SURRENDER.
On Tuesday, April 4, 18o5, the news was received that Richmond
had been evacuated, and that the Army of Northern Virginia, under Gen.
Lee, shattered and depleted, was flying before the army of Gen. Grant,
This glorious news kindled a degree of universal joy that was unknown
in the county during the former four years of war. A large crowd gath-
ered on the court house square in Bloomington at night to publicly tes-
tify their unbounded gratification. Everything in the town that would
make noise or light was brought out. A bonfire was kept burning until
nearly midnight. Every man, woman and child seemed to be out on the
streets, and all was chaos. Volleys of musketry rang through the night.
Bands and glee clubs rendered patriotic music, that was appreciated as it
never had been before. Processions of men and boys with torch lights
marched gaily around, led by bands of martial music. Buildings were
illuminated with hundreds of candles ; children swarmed like pismires
disturbed. Eloquent speeches were delivered by Gov. Dunning, Judge
Butler and Rev. Bain. A few citizens seemed unhappy, and took no
part in the demonstration. They probably belonged to the Southern
Army of the North. On Friday evening following, came the news of the
surrender of Gen. Lee. The jubilee was taken up where it had been left
on Tuesday, and continued for hours with multiplied intensity. The even-
ing was, perhaps, the most brilliant ever witnessed by the county seat.
Old men, who had learned to love their country, and had constantly
prayed for success and peace and national honor, were overcome by the
glorious news, and acted like madmen. Tears of joy, which they could
not repress, and cared not to conceal, ran down their furrowed cheeks as
they clasped each other by the hand and thanked God for the national
preservation. " Glory enough for one day ! " exclaimed the Republican.
NEWS OF THE ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN.
One week later, while the people were yet rejoicing, the news came
that Lincoln had been assassinated at Ford's Theater. So horrible was
the sensation produced that people at first refused to believe it, and waited
anxiously for details. When the dreadful truth became confirmed on the
16th, the deepest gloom of horror and despair seized every heart. A
stagnation like paralysis fell upon all business pursuits. Men had no
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 439
heart to think of anything but the national calamity. Crape was instinc-
tively hung on dwellings and public buildings. On Sunday, memorial
services were held in the churches, in honor of the beloved dead. On
Monday, April 17, pursuant to call, a large crowd of sorrowing citizens
assembled at the court house, to give public expression to the sentiments
agonizing all ; to listen to eulogies of the life and nobility of the martyred
President, and to adopt resolutions of sorrow and hope. A large portrait
of the dead was hung before the audience and draped with national colors,
wreaths of evergreen and choice flowers, and the black crape of death.
Rev. William Turner was chosen Chairman, and John H. Louden, Sec-
retary. Dr. E. H. Sabin, Gov. P. C. Dunning, Rev. T. M. Hopkins,
William F. Browning, Esq., and Rev. S. T. Gillett. were appointed to
prepare suitable resolutions. While this was being done, Dr. Nutt, Pres-
ident of the State University, delivered a brief address of great pathos.
There was scarcely a dry eye when he finished speaking. The following
resolutions were presented and unanimously adopted :
Whereas, Abraham Lincoln, our President, has been assassinated — an event extra-
ordinary in a civilized age and nation and wholly at variance with the spirit and genius
of a free government, therefore
Resolved, That we meet to-day not as partisans but as an afflicted and grief-stricken
•people to express our sym|jathies, sentimeuis and sorrows.
Resolved, While this event we regard as a great national calamity and affliction and
as suddenly changing the hands that have been guiding the ship of State and tr msferring
to other minds cares and responsibilities of great magnitude, and which we deemed our
President amply competent to discharge, we must not forget that there is a " Divinity
that shapes our ends," a Providence, a God that reigns.
Resolved, That in the strongest terms we can use we condemn this atrocious act of
rebellion against justice, humanity and God, and regard it as prompted by the same
wicked spirit in which the rebellion originated, the conquering of which has cost the best
life-blood of the nation.
Resolved, That we recommend to the proper authorities to bring to strict and prompt
punishment the perpetrators of this crime and all who are connected with it.
Resolved, That we will faithfully observe such a day as may be designated by the
public authorities for the funeral obsequies of ou-- deceased Chief Magistrate by closing
business and resorting to our accustomed places of worship.
Resolved, That we express our heartfelt sympathy with the afflicted widow and
orphan children of our deceased President, and with our revered Secretary of State and
his two sons who have been attacked by a murderous assassin, praying most fervently
that the family of Mr. Lincoln may have consolation in this dark hour of their deep
affliction, and that the wounded Secretary may yet be preserved to render our afflicted
country his invaluable services for years to come.
Resolved, That we tender our hearty support to Andrew Johnson, as President of the
United States, and will withhold from him nothing that is necessary to briag to a speedy
termination the direful rebellion which has for so many years been raging in our land.
Eulogies of the dead were delivered by Gov. Dunning, Maj. Mulky
and Samuel H.Buskirk, and the meeting sadly adjourned. On Wednesday
following, in accordance with the recommendation of the Governor, all
business was suspended, buildings were draped in mourning, bells were
tolled, and services were held in all the churches. In the afternoon, all
the citizens, including the Masons and Odd Fellows in full regalia, held a
union memorial meeting in the college chapel. " We have never seen a
day set apart for such a purpose as this so duly observed by our citizens,"
said the Republican.
CLOSING SCENES OF THE REBELLION.
The people gradually recovered from the shock of Lincoln's death.
They joyfully saw the rebellion close, and made preparations to publicly
440 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
receive the returning soldiers. The news of the capture of Jeff
Davis, while endeavoring to escape in woman's attire, created much amuse-
ment, and all said with the Republican: " Hang him like Haman be-
tween Heaven and earth as being fit for neither." Thursday, June 1,
the day set apart by President Johnson as one of humiliation and prayer
on account of the assassination of Lincoln, was duly observed in Bloom-
ington and throughout the county. On the Fourth of July, 1865, a re-
ception and fine dinner were given the boys, many of whom had come
from the war. The venerable Gen. Jacob B. Lowe was President of the
Day ; Maj. Mulky, Marshal, assisted by Col. McCrea and Oapt. Cookerly.
Early in the morning of this sultry day, wagons and carriages loaded with
country iolk began to arrive through the dust. Many of the townships
sent organized processions, with martial music and banners, and all were
dressed in the light, airy garb of summer. About 10 o'clock, one grand
procession about a mile in length was formed on and near the public
square, and the march to the college campus was commenced in the fol-
lowing order: 1. The Bloomington Silver Band. 2. Ofiicers of the
Day, Orator, Reader, Chaplain and distinguished guests. 3. Soldiers
of the war of 1812. 4. Thirteen small girls dressed in white, with
badges, representing the thirteen original States. 5. Soldiers of the late
war for the defense of the Union and the suppression of the rebellion. 6.
The Goddess of Liberty, bearing the national flag, and thirty-six young
ladies, dressed in white, representing all the States of the Union. 7.
Citizens generally — men, women and children. The reception speech,
one of unusual fervor and eloquence, was delivered by Rev. S. T. Gillett,
and was responded to by Col. M. C. Hunter, of the Eighty-second Regi-
ment. The latter gave several graphic descriptions of experiences on the
battle-field, especially on that of bloody Chickamauga, where over one-half
of his own regiment fell, killed or wounded. These addresses were short,
and were followed by that of Col. W. C. L. Taylor, of the Twentieth Regi-
ment, Orator of the Day. It was a long speech of great power and feeling,
and moved scores in the audience to tears. Then came the dinner, and
what a feast for the brave boys ! Eight long tables were heaped with the
richest viands " Old Monroe " could furnish, and stood groaning under
the burden until relieved by the hungry multitude. Thousands ate of the
bounty of the citizens, but the soldiers were given the choicest of all and
were ''kings of the carnival." It was a grand day grandly spent.
RELIEF AND BOUNTY.
During the first few months of the war nothing was done by the citi-
zens, as a mass, in the way of relief, either for soldiers or their families.
While the first companies were yet in camp at the places of rendezvous,
they had been sent blankets, towels, clothing and luxuries to tempt the
appetite, but nothing farther had been done. As the cold month? ap-
proached, Gov. Morton suggested that each county should thoroughly
organize its relief or aid societies, and in response to this appeal the
ladies of Bloomington met at Dunn's Hall, on the 14th of October, to
form such a society. Mrs. Meginniss was elected President of the
society ; Louise Wylie, Secretary ; Mrs. Robert C. Foster, Treasurer ;
Mrs. Dr. Dodds, Mrs. David Batterton, Mrs. W. 0. Fee, Mrs. Paul
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 441
Slocum, Mrs. Leonard. Mrs. Hibben, Mrs. Jacob Young, Mrs. James
Gordon, Mrs. Press Harbison, Mrs. James Small, Mrs. Sweringen and
Miss Fullerton, Directresses. On the following Thursday, the society met
again, bringing in many contributions of money and supplies for field and
hospital. Two barrels of supplies were sent to the company of Capt.
Kelley, and large quantities to those of Capts. Lunderman, Charles and
McCalla. The value of the stores shipped at this time was not less than
$300. Early in November, a large quantity of supplies, principally for
the sick and wounded, was sent to the Monroe County boys with Lieut.
M. L. McCullough. As the cold weather came on, urgent appeals for
clothing and supplies of all kinds from the army were received and pub-
lished in the Republican. Every company from the county had one or
more correspondents for the home paper. The terrible effects of the rav-
ages of disease and the want of sufficient food and clothing and comfort-
able quarters were painted in a manner to wring the hearts of friends at
home, and renewed efforts were made to obtain money and supplies. A
large box of hospital stores was sent in December to the company of
Capt. Dains. and another large box was sent to Dr. McPheeters for the
use of the sick of the Thirty-third Regiment. On the 23d of January,
1862, the Secretary of the Ladies' Aid Society reported that up to that
time there had been sent two boxes of supplies to Capt. Kelley's company
in Virginia, two to Capt. Lunderman's company in Missouri, one to
Capt. Charles' company, one to Capt. McCalla's company in Kentucky,
one to Capt. Dains' company, one to the Thirty-third Regiment in Ken-
tucky, one box to Capt. Kop's company, four boxes and barrels to the
hospitals of Louisville, and considerable local assistance to sick soldiers.
The following articles were sent as above specified : 77 shirts, 68 pairs
drawers, 47 blankets, 17 coverlets, 17 comforts, 7 quilts, 50 towels, 20
sheets, 100 pillow slips, 31 pillows, 45 pairs of gloves and mittens, 165
pairs of socks, 49 cans of fruit, 11 sacks of dried fruit, 16 dozen eggs, 20
pounds of butter, 2 turkeys, 72 chickens, and a large quantity of hand-
kerchiefs, bandages, hospital stores, sugar, rice, corn-starch, tumblers,
spoons, soap, wine, etc. Besides these articles, there was on hand thirty-
two packages containing similar supplies, a large box of supplies just
ready to be shipped to Capt. McCalla's company, and five boxes and bar-
rels full of provisions for the Louisville hospitals. The Treasurer's cash
report up to this time was as follows :
KECEIPTS. EXPENDITURKS.
Donations %20 50 Express charges $20 85
Initiation fees 17 05 Flannel 19 10
Mr. Mitchell's collection... 8(0 Mittens 3 15
Shoes 1 50
Total $45 55
Debt for shirts $5 50 Totul $44 60
Agnes E. Foster. Treasurer.
During the winter and spring months of 1862, the aid society did
extensive and highly meritorious work in providing soldiers' families at
Bloomington and vicinity with flour, meat, potatoes, groceries, etc. This
was true of all portions of the county. An aid society at Ellettsville
did most excellent work, but, unfortunately, as the reports of the officers
were not published, the details cannot be recorded in these pages. Early
442 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
in May, 1862, the students of the Female Seminary collected the follow-
ing supplies and sent them to the hospitals of New Albany for the
wounded of the battle of Pittsburg Landing and for the sick : Twenty
cans of fruit, 2 cans concentrated chicken, 4 bottles of wine, 2 bottles of
catsup, 2 pounds of tea, 5 pounds of rice, 15 pounds of corn starch, 2
pounds of nutmegs, 2 bushels of dried fruit, 9 towels, 64 handkerchiefs, 2
pairs of drawers, 1 shirt, 1 sheet, 1 pair of pillow slips, 1,000 yards
bandages and 24 pounds of butter. About the same time the ladies of
Stanford sent to the same place a large box of similar supplies and received
a letter of thanks from the Secretary of the Commission of that city.
Supplies continued to be sent off at intervals during the warm months.
In September, several large boxes were shipped to the hospitals. In
October, about half a dozen big boxes and barrels of supplies were sent to
New Albany for the hospitals. A barrel of nice new apples was sent
there, and a letter from the Secretary described how eagerly the sick and
wounded boys devoured the mellow fruit. The new officers of the society,
elected in about September, were : Mrs. Hibben, President; Lizzie Mc-
Pheeters, Secretary.
A meeting of the citizens of Monroe County took place at the Court
House on Wednesday, December 24, 1862, pursuant to a call signed by
sundry citizens, to devise some plan for the relief of soldiers' families.
On motion, Mr. James Small was called to the chair, and L. Forbes
chosen Secretary.
P. L. D. Mitchell made a verbal report as a member of a committee
appointed at a former meeting. R. C. Foster offered the following
resolution :
Resolved, That the Township Trustee of each township, with four others, be appointed
a committee to inquire into the circuojstances of soldiers' families, and solicit subscrip-
tions for their benefit.
On motion of Dr. Nutt and others, the following were appointed :
Bean Blossum Township. — .James V. Buskirk, Thomas Willson, Ed Pritchetand Lemuel
Gentry.
Richland Township. — David Byers, Isam W. Sanders, James Campbell, Burton AcuflF.
Van Buren Township. — Alexander JeflFry, Benjamin F. Williams, W. C. Sadler and
Francis A. Eller.
Indian Creek Township. —It being stated that an organization already existed in this
township, the meeting declined to make any appointments, but requested that they meet
with and co-operate with us.
Clear Creek Township. — J. Ketcham, Jo. Urmey, Wilford Carter, Samuel B. Perry.
Perry Township. — Samuel Mathers, Milton McPhetridge, Rev. William Turner and
Matthew McPhetridge.
Blonmington Township. — Elias Abel, Milton Hight, Philip Crabbs, John Blair, MO«roe
Houston and John Stonger.
Pvlk Township. — John Todd, William A. Blackwell, Andrew Temple and Lewis Hays.
Salt Creek Township. — Isaac Chandler, John Knight, Robert Clark and John Elgor.
Benton Township. — Isaac S. Buskirk, James J. Alexander, Joseph C. Bates and
Jonathan Richardson.
Marion Township. — Pres. T. Buckner, John Hendrickson, Thomas Y. Rader and
James Woodall.
Washington Toivnship. — Col. Joseph Campbell, Charles G. Core, James S. Rawlings
and Frank 0. Brown.
This military committee organization existed in some form during the
remainder of the war, and at times did efficient service. On New Year's
Day, 1863, a cotilion party held at Tuley's Hall donated $47 to the aid
Bociatv for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers. About the 1st of
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 443
March, 1863, the Treasurer of the Aid Society, Agnes E. Foster, submit-
ted the following report since the organization of the society in 1861 :
RECEIPTS.
From subscriptions, fees and collections fl25 89
From the speech of Hon. J. A. Wright 30 30
From the speech of Hon. J. E. McDonald 13 00
From citizens' dress ball 47 00
From the speech of Col. Hawkins 14 40
Total $!230 59
EXPENDITURES.
Express charges $45 74
Flannel forshirts 19 10
Muslin forshirts 8 90
Mittens for cavalry 3 15
Shoes for cavalry 1 50
Washing for cavalry 75
Cash assistance 3 50
Flour and meal for soldiers' families 29 23
Shoes for soldiers' families 11 55
Groceries for soldiers' families 12 01
Clothing for soldiers' families 28 70
Meat for soldiery' families 10 51
Cash for soldiers' families 5 70
Total $180 34
Balance in the treasury 50 25
On the 26th of March, $58.35 net was realized at a concert and
turned over for the use of soldiers' families. Prof. E. Marquis conducted
the concert. Considerable was done during the summer of 1863, of
which no account was published. Early in September, James Small, of
the Christian Commission, reported the following receipts :
Second Presbyterian Church $12 50
Reformed Presbyterian, Prof. Wylie's 14 50
Reformed Presbyterian, Mr. Shaw's 14 50
First Presbyterian Church 7 76
From William Semple 25
From Miss Harbison 2 50
Total $52 00
During the winter months of 1863-64, the society realized several
hundred dollars by means of lectures, festivals, etc. It also sent away six
or seven big boxes and barrels of hospital supplies. Much assistance was
furnished soldiers' families. About the 1st of June, an enormous festival,
given in the University Chapel, netted the society about |200. This was
one of the most successful gatherings of the kind ever at the county seat.
The chapel was beautifully decorated with green sprigs and bright summer
flowers, and all came out in the fairy costumes of June. On the 26th of
this month, $328.40 was raised in a few minutes at the Methodist Church
for the Sanitary Commission after an eloquent address by Chaplain J. H.
Lozier, agent of the Commission. Early in August, $1,225 was contrib-
uted to the Sanitary Commission by the citizens of Bloomington and vicin-
ity. About this time the following soliciting committees were appointed
for the Indiana Sanitary Fair of October 2 to 8:
Bloomington— Mrs. C. P. Tuley, Mrs. R. C. Foster, Mrs. W. M. Tate, Mrs. John
28
444
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY,
Blair, Mrs. James Seward, Mr. Thos. B. McCune, Miss Emma McCrea, Miss Laura J.
Browning, Mrs. M. L. Snodgrass, Mrs. David Sheeks, R. C. Foster, James Small and C.
P. Tuley.
• Bloomington Township — Mrs. Archibald Fleenor, Mrs. George Tedrow, James M.,
Rogers, Henry C. Owens, Thomas Blair, Henry Colpits, William Johnson, Ira Browning
John Orchard, Francis McKinley, William A. Legg.
Perry Township — Samuel Mathers, Mrs. William N. Mathers, Lewis G Shryer,
Dugan Jones, Samuel H. Phillips, Matthew McPhetridge, Mrs. Clinton Carter, James
Gordon, P. G. Pauley, Maj. John Hight, Mrs. Ezra Pering, Samuel A. Smith.
Van Buren Township — Frank EUer, Miss Clarinda Bunger, Miss Mattie Leonard, '
William C. Sadler, Dudley C. Smith, Miss Sallie Sadler, Mrs. Addison Smith, Joseph
Cron, Joseph Bunger, .James B. Pauley, Elder James Blankenship.
Indian Creek Township — Ira I. Sillivan, Thomas Carter, Benjamin Adams.
Clear Creek Township— Wilford Carter, Capt. T. P. Graves, W. M. Crossfield, Adso-
lem Ketcham, J. D. Urmey.
Richland Township — Rev. W. H. Jackson, Jonathan Allen, Nicholas Mayfield, Mrs.
Luke Sanders, Andrew Reeves, Dr. J. M. Harris, Mrs. James Wooley, Lieut. Samuel A.
Harrah.
Bean Blossom Township — Josiah P. Burton, J. V. Buskirk, Thomas Wilson, George
Sluss, David Buskirk.
Washington Township — Capt. Thomas Gaskins, Capt. Samuel Denney, James S. Raw-
lins, William H. Buskirk, Mri William R. Carlton, Mrs. Joseph Turner.
Marion Township — Presley Buckner and lady, Thomas Y. Rader, John F. Johnson.
Benton Township — David Griffin, William Peterson, William Alexander, John Barnhill.
Salt Creek Township — Thomas G. Crabb, Elijah Barrett, John Lucas.
Polk Township — William Gray, Peter Norman, Rev. James Garrioon, ^Andrew
Temples.
The aid society had almost abandoned work during the warm months,
but in October, at the approach of cold weather, was re-organized. Sev-
eral boxes of supplies were soon sent to the hospitals in Kentucky. On
Thanksgiving Day, over $100 worth of provisions was distributed to sol-
diers' families in Bloomington, and doubtless other portions of the county
did as well correspondingly. Early in December, the County Board
appropriated $1,000, to be distributed to the townships, under the direc-
tion of the Trustees, for the use of soldiers' families. The distribution
was as follows :
Bean Blossom, $84.50; Washington, $73.50; Marion, $32.50;
Benton, $57 ; Bloomington, $206 ; Richland, $95 ; Van Buren, $73 ;
Perry, $111 ; Salt Creek, $48 ; Polk, $42 ; Clear Creek, $100 ; Indian
Creek, $77.50. These amounts were duly distributed. Oh the 5th of
January, 1865, a concert, under the supervision of Prof. Marquis, netted
the aid society $58.90. An amateur concert, under the management of
W. B. Seward, in February, netted the society $77.45. Various other
smaller amounts were received from similar sources. The following table
shows what was done by the county as relief and bounty during the war :
TOWNSHIPS.
Monroe County
Bean Blossom Township ,
Washington Township....
Marion Township
Van Buren Township
Salt Creek Township
Indian Creek Townsaip..
All the Townships
Bounty.
$97,300
15,625
1,500
1,000
2,550
2,000
13,000
Totals.
1132,975
$2,500
15.000
$17,500
Miscella-
neous.
$17,000
$17,000
Grand total $167,475
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 445
PENSION ROLL.
The following is the list of the pensioners of Monroe County, pre-
pared on the Ist of January, 1883, in pursuance of an enactment of the
United States Senate :
Cagee, Robert, leg $ 8 00
Gibbs, Theodore, hand 8 00
Lamkin, George W., shoulder 4 00
Manley, James F., arm 24 00
Jackson, Granville, two fingers 8 00
Webb, Jesse F , abdomen 4 00
Stephenson, George, thigh 12 00
Stepp, Francis M., shoulder 14 00
Smith Reuben, thumb 4 00
Skirvin, James M., thigh 2 00
Perry, Henry F., breast 15 QQ
Roddy, Joseph B., arm 8 50
Collins, Thomas N., knee 4 QQ
Alexander. Williamson M., heart disease 18 00
Ripley, John, heart disease 4 QQ
Burk, Daniel, diseased liver 6 00
Rasco, Robert, lost arm 18 00
Downing, Richard F., foot 4 00
Watson, William, diarrhoea 6 00
Nicholson, Jonathan, leg 6 00
Nichols, John, diseased eyes 4 00
Sumner, Benjamin, diseased eyes 18 00
Baker, Harry, thigh 16 00
Campbell, Samuel, thigh 2 00
Campbell, John, arm 16 00
Farmer, William M., shoulder 6 00
Haley, Michael, leg 8 00
Massey, Andrew T., thigh 3 00
Langley, John T., leg 18 00
Mercer, Thomas J., elbow 12 00
Keith, John L., hand and leg 8 00
Harbison, Joseph C, hand 8 00
McLaughlin, Daniel, foot 4 QQ
Boord, James M., side 4 00
Core, Charles G., diarrhoea 6 00
Chandler, Silas G., lungs 8 00
Reeves, George W., groin 4 25
Southern, William, lost eye 18 00
Weymer, Lewis, diarrhoea 12 00
Hawkins, Thomas E., leg 4 00
Kelley, Alexander, diseased eyes 4 00
Holland, Edward, diseased eyes 2 00
Getozendanner, William H., diarrhoea 4 QQ
McKenney, Lawson E., thigh 8 50
Ison, Henry, head 2 00
Eller, John T., head 4 00
Freeman, Joseph C, shoulder 4 00
Billings, William E., spine 4 00
Buskirk, William H., diarrhoea 7 50
Adams, William H. H., abdomen ^ 4 00
Adams, Wilson, disease of abdomen 4 OQ
Chandler, Joshua D., diarrhoea 12 00
Graham, Robertson, survivor, 1812 8 00
Richeson, George, survivor, 1812 8 00
Bode, Marie, survivor, 1812 8 00
Peterson, Mary, survivor, 1812 8 00
Alexander, John A., foot and ankle 2 00
Kelloy, Mary, widow 20 00
Keck, Nancy J., widow 8 00
Myers, Mary R., widow 8 00
446 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Tilly, Nancy, widow |8 00
Helms, Elizabeth, widow 18 00
Gates, Nancy, widow 12 00
Johnson, Susan, widow 10 00
Livingston, Martha, widow 8 00
Roddy, Mary A., widow 12 00
Baiky, Susann E., widow 17 00
Harris, Martha E., widow 8 00
Buskirk, Elizabeth, widow 20 00
Helms, Eliza C, mother 8 00
Voss, Lydia, mother 8 00
Ballerton, David, minorof 10 00
Bicknell, Henry H., minor of .... 10 00
Maxwell, Mary D., widow, 1812 8 00
Fox, Nancy, w'idow, 1812 8 00
Farmer, Elizabeth W., widow, 1812 8 00
Slocomb, Matilda, widow, 1812 8 00
Carter, Amelia E., widow, 1812 8 00
Cathcart, Mary, widow, 1812 8 00
Fulford, Jonathan H., thumb 2 00
Magenis, Thomas, thigh 6 00
Knight, Elijah, rheumatism 6 00
Hacker, Sarah A., widow 20 00
Spiers, Sarah, widow 8 00
Rice, Thomas E., — 2 00
Sater, Joseph, arm 8 00
Gaskins, Hosea, heart 12 00
Lyons, John H., arm 4 00
Woreland, George W., thigh 18 00
Jackson, William J., arm 8 00
Cooksey, Vincent H., arm 6 00
Chestnut, Thomas J., abdomen 6 00
Robertson, James T., diarrhoea 6 00
Gaskins, Thomas M., side, face 6 00
Leeks, George, leg 14 00
Eakin, Vanelia A., widow 16 00
Smith, Rosanna, widow 8 00
Burks, Susan P., mother 8 00
Marshall, Christiana, widow, 1812 8 00
Cracraft, John T., diarrhoea 6 00
Lewis, Joseph, back 4 00
Millen, Sophia, widow 8 00
Smith, Mary E., widow 8 00
Chambers, David, arm 18 00
Meadows, William M., thigh 6 00
Moore, Alvis, hip 2 00
Glares, Isaac C, disease of lungs 6 00
Parsons, Francis, survivor, 1812 8 00
McLaughlin, Ruth, widow -. 8 00
Lewis, Catharine widow 8 00
Walker, Cynthia, mother 8 00
East, Gency, mother 8 00
Wolf, Margaret, widow, 1812 8 00
Harrell, John C, leg 2 00
Crafton, Henry, leg 6 00
Deakard, William, foot 2 00
Howard, Ruth, widow 10 00
Keith, Hannah, widow 8 00
Livingston, Julia A., widow 8 00
Lucas, Elizabeth, widow 8 00
Carter, Clara, mother 8 00
Clark, Sarah, mother 8 00
Chandler, Andrew .J., lungs 8 O'J
Ross, James J., partially deaf 2 00
Cain, Melinda, widow 8 00
Gaston, James H.,arm 18 00
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 447
Bowers, Eli, disease of gums $4 00
Walker, Joseph, survivor. 1811i 8 00
Spencer, Mary E., widow 8 00
Abram, Lucinda, widow 8 00
Mead, Marcy C, widow 8 00
Gentry, Eliza A., widow 8 00
Gardner, .Julia A., mother 8 00
Smith, Elias, diarrhoea 4 00
Briscoe, Margaret J., widow 8 00
Spencer, James K., shoulder 4 00
Back, John H., stomach 4 00
Harris, .Joseph S., arm 4 00
Poling, Sarah, widow 8 00
Richardson, Milly, widow, 1812 8 00
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
FOURTEENTH REGIMENT, THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
Capt. James R. Kelley, died May 8, 1862, of wounds received at Win-
cliester ; Sergt. John C. Cox, died at Huttonville, Va., November 3, 1861 ;
Jesse A. Steele, killed at Antietam, September 17, 1862; Alexander S. Re-
tan, died April 14, 1862, of wounds received at Winchester; George Mc-
Ivery, died November, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam ; Thomas W.
Carlow, killed at Antietam, September, 1862 ; Andrew M. Arthur,
killed by accident, September, 1861 ; Elijah Barrett, died April, 1862,
of wounds received at Winchester ; Lewis Crump, died April, 1862,
of wounds received at Winchester ; James Degan, died November,
1862 ; Edward Duncan, died December, 1861 ; Andrew Harsh, killed at
Antietam, September, 1862 ; Richard Houston, killed at Antietam, Sep-
tember, 1862 ; James M. Hughes, killed in the Wilderness, May, 1864 ;
Joseph M. McCalla, died August, 1861 ; Joseph McDonald, veteran, killed
in affray near Stevensburg, Va.; William Miller, died April, 1862, of
wounds received at Winchester ; James H. Raper, died May, 1864, of
wounds received at Spottsylvania ; John Raper, died May, 1861 ; Stacey
F. Smith, killed at Antietam, September, 1862 ; William H. Smith, died
June, 1864, of wounds received at Spottsylvania; F. M. Wagoner, killed
at Cold Harbor ; W. S. Thomas, killed at Cold Harbor ; W. A. Steire,
died in hospital ; George W. Kelley, died of wounds received at
Antietam.
EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT, THREE YEARS* SERVICE.
Lieut. Col. William Stanley Charles, died of wounds November 1 0, 1864 ;
Sergt. Samuel W. Dodds, diedat St. Louis, Mo., November, 1861; Charles
H. Spencer, died at Helena, Ark., September, 1862 ; Sylvester Barnett, died
at Cassville, Mo., April, 1862 ; James Fox, killed by guerrillas, Syracuse,
Mo., December, 1861 ; William Martin, died at Cassville, Mo., 1862 ; John
E. Martin, died at Cassville, Mo., March, 1862; Michael Odenwald, died
at St. Louis, November, 1861; Thomas St. Clair, died at St. Louis,
November, 1862 ; Alvin Walker, died at St. Louis, November, 1861 ;
Arthur Walker, died at Otterville, December, 1861 ; Richard D. Wylie,
died at Otterville, Mo., October, 1861; John Carter, died at Warren,
Mo.; John T. West, died at New Albany.
448 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, THREE YEARS* SERVICE.
Lieut. Lewis W. Daily, died of wounds received at Cassville, Mo.;
Sergt. Benjamin T. Gardner, died December, 1863, of wounds received
in action ; William B. Miller, died December, 1863, of wounds received in
action ; Verdman Johnson, died April, 1862 ; of wounds received in action ;
Edward Graham, died at St. Louis, Mo., October, 1861 ; Hezekiah Brown,
died August, 1861 ; Copernicus H. Coffey, veteran, died June, 1864, of
wounds ; Christopher C. Coffey, flied at Farmington, Miss., July, 1862 ;
"William H. Cooper, died at Otterville, Mo., 1861 ; James M. Coffey, died
at Syracuse, Mo., December, 1861 ; Henry L. Duncan, died at Harrods-
burg, Ind., April, 1862 ; Joseph Elkins, died at Harrodsburg, Ind., April,
1862 ; Charles M. Goben, died at St. Louis, May, 1862 ; William G. Jen-
nings, died at Lynn Creek, Mo., February, 1862 ; Fleming Johnson, died
at Evansville, Ind., July, 1862 ; James H. Pettus, killed at Perryville,
Ky., October, 1862; Joseph S. Taylor, killed at Perryville, Ky., October,
1862 ; William Warman, died, August, 1862 ; William H. Williams, died
July, 1863 ; Elijah Lyons, killed at Rome, Ga., May, 1864 ; Joseph M.
Mayfield, died September, 1864, of wounds received at Jonesboro ; W. G.
Jennings, died at Trynne Creek, Mo.
THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT, THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
Sergt. James B. Fullbright, killed at Shiloh, April, 1862 ; Miller M.
Sutphin, died at Calhoun, Ky., February, 1862 ; John Baxter, died near
Elkton, Ala., July, 1862 ; Benjamin F. Taylor, died at Calhoun, Ky.,
December, 1861 ; James M. Eller, died at New x\lbany, July, 1862 ; Roily
Franklin, killed at Shiloh, April, ]862; Robert A. Harbison, died at
Calhoun, Ky., December, 1861 ; James V. Livingston, veteran, killed at
Kenesaw, June, "1864 ; James J. Livingston, died at New Albany, May.
1862 ; Willis L. Mathers, died at Calhoun, Ky., December, 1861 ; Jacob
Medows, killed at Stone River, December, 1862 ; Elisha Robertson, died
at Evansville, July, 1862 ; William H. Shafer, died at Corinth, May, 1862 :
Thomas Tull, died at Corinth, May, 1862 ; Benjamin H. Whisenand, died
at Calhoun, Ky., February, 1862 ; Jacob Wright, died at Bowling Green,
Ky., November, 1862 ; Samuel E. Wylie, died at Calhoun, Ky., Febru-
ary, 1862 ; William S. Butcher, died at Nashville, Tenn. ; Abraham Floyd,
died at Madison, Ind., April, 1865 ; William H. Fox, died at Indianapolis,
March, 1864 ; Bedford Havions, died at Atlanta, Ga. ; Alvin Howard,
killed at Nashville, December, 1864 ; John Keiih, died May, 1864, of
wounds received at Resaca; Alexander Lucas, died at Atlanta, August,
1864 ; Lewis W. Shields, died at Indianapolis, March, 1864; John W.
Smallwood, died at Huntsville, Ala., March, 1865 ; Jeremiah Vanderpool,
died at Nashville, August, 1864.
THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, THREE YEARS' SERVICE. .
First Lieut. Joseph H. Reeves, died March, 15, 1864 ; Francis D.
Mathew, veteran, killed on picket near Atlanta, August, 1861 ; John Ash-
brook, died at Danville Prison, Va., January, 1864 ; James W. Nichols,
died at Andersonville Prison, December, 1864 ; John W. Smith, died in
Andersonville Prison ; John M. Sharp, died at Chattahoochie River, Ga.,
July, 1864.
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 449
FIFTIETH REGIMENT, THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
Capt. Isaac S. Dains, died of disease at Little Rock, Ark. ; William
H. Coffey, died at Little Rock ; William Lee, died at Little Rock ; John
Thompson, died at Louisburg, Ark.
EIGHTY-SECOND REGIMENT, THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
Lieut. Col. Paul E. Siocum, died of wounds received in action March
3, 1864 ; Second Lieut. Samuel Guy, died of disease May 22, 1863;
William J. Craig, killed at Resaca May, 1864; Henry W. Bunger, died
at home December, 1862 ; James E. Bunger, died at home, August, 1864,
of wounds received at Resaca ; Adam A. Copenhaver, died of wounds
at Chattanooga February, 1864 ; Samuel Coan, died at Murfrees-
boro February, 1863 ; William Curry, died March, 1864, of wounds re-
ceived at Mission Ridge; James R. Dearman, killed at Chickamauga
September, 1863; George W. Dubois, died at Gallatin, Tenn.; George
W. Edwards, died at Murfreesboro February, 1863 ; John L. Gardner,
died at Nashville, Tenn., March, 1863; Robert P. Hanna, died at At-
lanta October, 1864; William Harbison, died at Louisville, Ky.; Dan-
iel C. Houston, died at Gallatin, Tenn., November, 1864 ; Joseph Lills,
died October, 1863, of wounds received at Chickamauga ; Abram May.
died at Nashville, Tenn., February, 1863 ; Clark McDermott, killed at
Chickamauga, September, 1863 ; William McDermott, died of wounds
received at Chickamauga ; Emmett Mitchell, died at Nashville, Tenn.,
February, 1863 ; John W. Strong, died at Winchester, Tenn., August
1863; Edward T. Sluss, died September, 1864, of wounds ; George W.
Whitaker, died at Bowling, Ky., June, 1863 ; James Russell, killed at
Chickamauga; John W. Temple, killed at Resaca; J. B. Hoover, died
at Louisville, Ky.; James M. Burris, died in Andersonville Prison ; George
Yund, died at Chickamauga.
NINETY-THIRD REGIMENT, THEEE YEARS' SERVICE.
David Meadows, died at Cahaba, Ala., September, 1864 ; Joseph
Hooshour, supposed to have died ; Isom Prince, died in Lawrence
County, Ind., November, 1862 ; Henry Southern, died at Walnut Hills,
Miss., July, 1863 ; Robert Alton, supposed to have been lost on Steamer
Sultana : David Miller, died at Mound City, 111., August, 1863 ; James
Meadows, died at Indianapolis, January, 1864.
TENTH CAVALRY (ONE HUNDRED AND TWBNTY-FIFTH), THREE YEARS'
SERVICE.
Capt. Isaac A. Buskirk, died of disease July 11, 1864; William F.
Alexander, died at Pulaski, Tenn., August, 1864 ; Horace L. Beatly,
died at Jacksonville Prison, Fla., May, 1865 ; William M. Berry, died
July, 1865 ; Richard J. Drake, died at Pulaski, Tenn., August, 1864 ;
Jonathan East, died at Louisville, Ky., April, 1865 ; Richard R. Mc-
Cune, died at Pulaski, Tenn., April, 1864 ; Thomas Peterson, died at
Nashville, Tenn., December, 1864 ; Samuel Parks, died at St. Louis,
Mo., January, 1865 ; John Quick, died at Columbus, Ind., April, 1864;
450 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Aaron J. Rutledge, died at Bloomington, Ind., April, ISG-t ; James H.
Waugh, died at Nashville, Tenn., of wounds received, December, 1864 ;
William Welch, died at Vicksburg, Miss., August, 1865 ; Ira Young,
died at Nashville, Tenn., November, 1864; Charles Amor, died at
Corinth, Miss.; Eli Fowler, died of disease at Ft. Gaines; John R.
Fielder, died of disease at Mobile, Ala.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, ONE YEAR's SERVICE.
Hugh C. Adams, died at Dalton, Ga., April, 1865 ; William Clark,
died at Nashville, Tenn., April, 1865; James M. Craig, died at Louis-
ville, Ky., February, 1865 ; George H. Collins, died May, 1865 ; John
M. Hubbard, died at Indianapolis, Ind., February, 1865 : Tilghman A.
Rogers, died at Dalton, Ga., March, 1865 ; John Stewart, died at Bain-
bridge, Ga , October, 1865; James M. Pauley, died at Dalton, Ga.,
April, 1865 ; James H. Smithville, died at Cuthbert, Ga., January,
1866 ; Jordan Wisely, died at Dalton, Ga., April, 1865.
MISCELLANEOUS.
James H. Knight (Fifty-ninth), died at Nashville, Tenn.; Capt. Fred
Butler (Twenty-first Battery), died at New Orleans ; William Barnes,
killed at Ashley Gap, Va.; Elvin Farmer, died at Memphis; Milton H.
Mobley (Second Cavalry), died at New Albany; Wren Allen (Second
Cavalry), died in Andersonville Prison ; Lee Stewart (Second Cavalry),
killed at Newman Station; Abraham (Second Cavalry) killed at Newman
Station ; Daniel Breakison (Second Cavalry), died at Cornith ; James
Thompson (Ninth Battery), killed at Shiloh ; Robert H. Gourley (Twen-
tieth Battery), died at New Maysville, Ind.; Capt. Peter Kop (Twenty-
seventh), killed at Antietam ; J. J. Howard, killed in the service ; William
Rice (Fourteenth), died in captivity ; Capt. Joseph Young (Ninety-seventh),
killed at Kenesaw ; James A. Butcher (Ninety-seventh), died of wounds at
home; James M. Hodges (Forty-third), died of disease at Helena, Ark.;
Hiram Reed (Ninety-seventh), died of disease at Memphis ; Alfred Bowers
(Ninety-seventh), killed at Kenesaw ; William H. Carmichael (Ninety-
seventh), died at Moscow, Tenn. ; James H. Sparks (Ninety-seventh),
died at Camp Sherman ; Enoch Alexander (Fifty-ninth), died in Ander-
sonville Prison ; John D. Alexander (Fifty -ninth), died at Chattanooga ;
JeflFerson Smith (Thirty-third), killed at Thompson's Station ; Lieut. Isaac
B. Buskirk (Twenty-seventh), killed at Chancellorsville ; Samuel Knight
(Thirty-third), killed by guerrillas at Resacca, Ga.; Joseph Richeson
(Twenty seventh), died at Williamsport, Md.; E. F. Jacobs (Fifty-fourth),
died in Field Hospital; Martin O'Comrel (Twenty-seventh), died in Field
Hospital ; Thomas Tull (Thirty-first), died at Corinth ; William Simpson,
died of disease at Nashville, Tenn.; A. B. Yates (Second), killed at Vicks-
burg ; Henry Sipes (Twenty-seventh), killed at Darnestown, Md.; Thomas
Todd (Twenty-seventh), died at Darnestown, Md.; E. M. Flatlook (Twenty-
seventh), died at Frederick, Md.; Reuben Hendrix, killed at Resaca ;
George Edwards (Twenty-seventh), killed at Resaca ; Thomas Pratt
(Twenty-seventh), killed at Atlanta; David Cook, died at Louisville, Ky.;
C. M. Bowen (Twenty-seventh), died at Washington City ; J. W. Litz
(Eighty-second), wounded and died at Chattanooga; John Thomas
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 451
(Twenty-seventh), killed at Atlanta, Ga.; John Trueblood (Thirty-first),
died at Pulaski, Tenn.
" No more shall the war cry sever,
Or the winding river be red ;
They banish our anger forever
When they laurel the gr.ives of our dead !
'■ Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting the Judgment Day ;
Love and tears for the- Blue,
Tears and love for the Gray. "
BLOOMINGTON.
EARLY RESIDENTS OF BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
THERE is abundant reason to believe that Bloomington Township was
settled as early as 1816, and there are some evidences which fix the
date of the first settlement in 1815 if not before. The power of the In-
dians was crushed at the battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, but all apprehen-
sion of danger from them did not die out for several years afterward. It
may be stated as the opinion of several of the oldest settlers in the coun-
ty that Monroe was settled as early as 1810 or 1811 by a few families of
professional pioneers. Much of this, however, must be regarded as tra-
ditional. In the absence of definite data, it may be presumed that Bloom-
ington Township received a few of these early settlers. It is certain that
several families arrived in 1815, and many more in 1816, and, as stated
above, there is strong evidence that permanent settlers reached the town-
ship as early as 1815. Of course, as late as 1816, the county of Monroe,
which as yet had no boundary or existence, was a wilderness filled with
all varieties of wild animals inhabiting this latitude, and was roamed over
by numerous bands of half subdued savages. In fact, all of the county
north of the old Indian boundary was yet the property of the Indians,
and remained so until the treaty of St. Mary's, Ohio, in October, 1818,
when it was ceded to the Government as part of the "New Purchase."
By the time of the first land sale of Bloomington Township in 1816,
there were a score or nearly so of families residing within its limits.
Among those who entered land in the township during the first four or
five years after the first land sale — in fact, all who entered land during
that period — are the following, with the sections of land and the years of
entry: David Rogers, Section 33, 1816; Joseph Taylor, Section 33,
1816 ; George Ritchey, Section 33, 1816; George Hedrick, Section 33,
1816'; John Ketchum, Section 6, 1816 ; Henry Wampler, Section 6,
1816 ; Adam Bower, Section 6, 1816; Thomas Smith, Section 7, 1816;
William Julian, Section 7, 1816; William J. Adair, Section 7, 1816;
George Parks, Section 8, 1816 ; John Kell, Section 17, 1816 ; James
Parks, Section 17, 1816 ; John Owens, Section 18, 1816 ; David Stout,
Section 19, 1816 ; Samuel Caldwell, Section 19, 1816; Roderick Raw-
lins, Section 20, 1816 ; Joseph Taylor, Section 20, 1816 ; James Parks,
Section 20, 1816 ; George Paul, Section 21, 1816 ; David Raymond,
452
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Section 21, 1816; Jacob Renderbach, Section 25, 1816 ; Ebenezer Dag-
gett, Section 27, 1816; James Borland, Section 27, 1816; Gideon
Frisbie, Section 28, 1816 ; John Lee, Section 28, 1816 ; William Mat-
lock, Section 28, 1816 ; Samuel Camphries, Section 28, 1816 ; Thomas
Graham, Section 29, 1816 ; James Parks, Section 29, 1816 ; Abraham
Appier, Section 29, 1816 ; Christopher Eslinger, Section 30, 1816 ,
Henry Wampler, Section 32. 1816 ; Henry Rogers, Section 34, 1816 ;
John Thompson, Section 34, 1816 ; "Wheeler Matlock, Section 34, 1816;
Samuel Scott, Section 34, 1816 ; William Jackson, Section 35, 1816 ;
John Jackson, Section 35, 1816 ; Thomas Heady, Section 36, 1816 ;
John Griffith, Section 15, 1817; James Matlock, Section 18, 1817;
James Wood, Section 19, 1817; John Buskirk, Section 25, 1817 ; Law-
rence Smoyer, Section 29, 1817 ; Samuel Rogers, Section 30, 1817 ;
James Wood, Section 30, 1817; Titan Kemble, Section 31, 1817; Si-
mon Chauvin, Section 31, 1817 ; Chesley D. Bailey, Section 32, 1817;
Robertson Graham, Section 32, 1817 : Granville Ward, Section 35,
1817; Nicholas Fletcher, Section 35, 1817: William Goodwin, Section
13, 1818; Thomas Barker, Section 19, 1818; Abraham Buskirk, Sec-
tion 24, 1818 ; Stephen P. Sealls, Section 26, 1818 ; 0. F. Barker,
Section 30, 1818 ; Ebenezer Dickey, Section 32, 1818 ; George Whis-
enand. Section 6, 1820 ; Thomas Heady, Section 24, 1821. These
were the only entries in the township previous to 1822.
THE FIRST RESIDENT OF BLOOMINGTON.
The first man to settle permanently upon the present site of the city
of Bloomington cannot be named with absolute certainty. Neither can
the time of this first settlement be given. The first entries of land were
as follows :
PURCHASERS.
George Ritchey ... .
George Hedrick
David Rogers
Joseph Taylor
Henry Wampler
Chesley Bailey.......
Robertson Graham.
Ebenezer Dickey...
Town-
ship.
160
160
1 ! 160
160
160
160
160
160
Sept. 26,
Sept. 26,
Sept. 26,
Sept. 26,
Sept. 27,
Feb. 5,
May 26,
Feb. 12,
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1817
1817
1818
N. E. i
N. W. i-
S. W. i
S. E. ^
N. E. I
S. W 1
S. E. 1
N. W. i
The lots were laid out on the southwest quarter of Section 33, and
the southeast (quarter of Section 32, which two quarters had been entered
by David Rogers and Robertson Graham, as shown by the above table.
It is probable that no man lived upon the town site until 1816, at which
time both Rogers and Graham built log houses. Some fix the date of the
erection of these houses as 1817. At all events, when the first lots were
laid out, in June, 1818, a crop of wheat was growing on the land that had
been purchased of Mr. Rogers. Whether it was the first or second crop
on the same land cannot be stated. David Rogers entered the south-
west quarter of Section 33, on which a portion of the town was laid out,
but Jonathan Rogers afterward obtained part interest in the tract, as his
name appears upon the deed which conveyed the land to the county.
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 453
PLATTING OF THE VILLAGE.
On the 10th of April, 1818, the first day of the first meeting of the
County Commissioners, the county seat was ordered laid oiF and was
named " Bloomington." The County Agent was ordered to oversee the
work. He was instructed to make the public square measure 276 feet,
and to lay out lots 66x132 feet, and streets 82| feet wide. The number
of lots to be laid out was left to the discretion of the agent. The first
public auction or sale of lots was fixed for the 22d of June, 1818, and the
agent was instructed to advertize the sale in the Western Sun, of Vin-
cennes ; the Louisville Correspondent ; the Argus of Western America ;
the Western Eagle, of Madison, and the Liberty Hall, of Cincinnati,
which so far as known was duly done. Jonathan Nichols was appointed
surveyor to lay out the town. The following entry appears upon the
record of the County Board: " On motion of Bartlett Woodward, Ordered,
that the agent of this county procure one barrel of whisky and have it at
the sale of town lots in Bloomington." When it is remembered that the
proceeds of this first sale amounted to the enormous sum of $14,826.85, it
will probably be concluded by the reader that the action of the board was
not misplaced — that is, on that day over sixty-five years ago. Of course
many speculators bought lots. The complete list of those who bought lots
at this sale is as follows: John Scott,. D. Thompson, Christian Eppinger,
John Keys, Arthur Harris, W. A. Beatty, W. P. Anderson, William
Lowe, Robinson Graham, David Sears, Floyd Cummings, Samuel Cole-
man, James Borland, George Hedrick, W. D. Hoof, David Rogers, James
Dunning, James Newman, Jonathan Rogers, Thomas Smith, B. Miller,
W. D. McCullough, Jacob B. Lowe, Wm. Curl, Henry Wampler, Coleman
Pruitt, Elias Goodwin, Abner Goodwin, Solomon Bowers, John Owens,
Samuel Scott, Sr., Nathan Julian, Isham Sumpter, Hezekiah Woodford.
Solomon Phillips, E. R. Maxwell, Benjamin Freeland, George Richey,
David Matlock, Lewis Noel, Samuel Haslett, James Denny, John Bus-
kirk, Zachariah Williams, Moses Williams, T. B. Clark, Eli Lee, Thomas
Lee, William Hardin, Nelson Moore, Ebenezer McDonald, J. W. Lee,
Aquilla Rogers, John Foster, Thomas Hadey, Granville Ward, James
Dickens, Stephen S. Bigger, Susannah Lee, Jonathan Nichols, Reuben
Fullen, Martha Brown, W. B. Brown, Joshua Howe and James Brown,
The above were the only buyers on the 22d and 23d of June, 1818, the
only two days of sale, but several of them bought several lots or even many
lots. As stated elsewhere, the total proceeds of this sale were $14,826.85.
The land upon which the new town was located had been secured from
Jonathan and David Rogers and Robert Graham by the locating Commis-
sioners. The Rogers Brothers were paid $1,200 for such land and Mr.
Graham $900 for 150 acres soon after the first sale of lots. When the
lots were laid out, there was growing upon a portion of them a crop of
wheat and corn, which the Rogers Brothers were permitted to harvest
without disturbance. At the first sale of lots, Jonathan Nichols was sur-
veyor. He laid out 208 lots and was paid 30 cents each. Benjamin
Parks, County Agent, was allowed $33.50 for whisky furnished at the
sale. The whisky was obtained of Whisenand. Robinson Graham was
chain carrier ; Aquilla Rogers, chain carrier ; John Owen, chain carrier.
Lewis Noel was the "crier" or auctioneer. James Parks was clerk of
«
454 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
the sale. Jonathan Rogers was " tapster" and dealt out the whisky to
the crowd of thirsty men, and was paid at the rate of $1 a day for
his services. It must be remembered that the cash receipts were far short
of the proceeds of the sale — probably about 15 per cent. The lots sold
very high, considering the unsettled condition of the county. A few sold
for over $200 each. The bidding was very spirited, but in the end the
county lost over 30 per cent of the purchase price.
OTHER BUYERS OF LOTS.
In November, 1818, at the public sale, the following men bought lots :
William Hoggatt, Thomas Bailey, John Storm, James Parsons, Samuel
Harryman, William Newton, James Gibbs, Pemberton Dickens, Anthony
Chambers, Jesse Wright, Robert Hamilton, Samuel Scott, David Kello,
Wesley Whitson, Haws Armstrong, William Cooley (colored), David Hol-
land, George Rodenbaugh, Solomon Green, Isaiah Buskirk, Roderick
Rawlins, Capt. Robert Hamilton, Jonathan Nichols, Amos Cox, David
Clements, Addison Smith, John Cutler, Benjamin Parks, Jesse C. Moore,
Aaron Wallace (colored), Tilghman Chance, Joseph Lebo, Joseph Peri-
shaw, George Groves, Nelson Moore, Washington Moore, Joseph Baugh,
Jesse Hughes, Josiah Buskirk, Michael Buskirk, Isaac Lebo, Chesley
Bailey, John Whisenand, Thomas Graham, John Ketchum and Nathaniel
Clark. The total amount of this sale was |12,274.75. The County
Board ordered that county orders should be received in payment for town
lots. In the spring of 1819, the County Treasurer reported the following
cash receipts from the County Agent from the sale of lots:
Received June '24, 1818 $810 50
Received July 7 1,315 05
Received September 5 820 90
Received November 9 6 00
Received November 10 38 00
Received November 17 46 10
Received December 3 228 85
Received February 6, 1819 244 07
Received March 12 401 22
Received April 24 109 65
Received May 11 46 00
Total $4,065 34
This was about the fashion that the money came into the treasury.
The cash receipts (from the sale of town lots only) from November, 1820, to
November, 1821, were |3,860.42. Of this amount, $3,207.10 was ex-
pended. In February, 1822, the agent reported in his possession notes
from the sale of lots to the amount of over $18,000. This fund was the
most extensive and useful of any in the county at its organization,
THE EARLY TOAVNSMEN.
Among the earliest residents of the town were Enos Blair, Jonathan
Rogers, David Rogers, Thomas Graham, Robert Graham, William Lowe,
John Scott, Arthur Harris, W. P. Anderson, David Sears, Christian Ep-
pinger, James Borland, James Dunning, James Newman, Thomas Smith,
B. Miller, W. D. McCullough, J. B. Lowe, William Carroll, John Owens,
Samuel Scott, Sr., Nathan Julian, Isham Sumpter, Hezekiah Woodford,
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 455
E. R. Maxwell, Benjamin Freeland, George Richey, David Matlock,
James Denny, John Buskirk, Zachariah Williams, Moses Williams, T. B.
Clark, William Hardin, Nelson Moore, Ebenezer McDonald, John W.
Lee, Aquilla Rogers, John Foster, Thomas Heady, James Dickens, Ste-
phen S. Bigger, Susannah Lee, Jonathan Nichols, Martha Brown, W. B.
Brown, Joshua 0. Howe, James Brown, William Hoggatt, James Parsons,
William Newton, James Gibbs, Pemberton Dickens, Jesse Wright, David
Kello, Wesley Whitson, Haws Armstrong, William Cooley (colored), David
Holland, George Rodenbaugh, Josiah Buskirk, Roderick Rawlins, Addi-
son Smith, David Clements, Rev. Aaron Wallace (colored), George Groves,
Washington Moore, Jesse Hughes, Isaac Lebo, Chesley Bailey, John
Whisenand, and others. It is possible that a few of the above did not re-
side in the town, and a few are known to have remained not over a
year or two.
At the time of the organization of the county, of course the popula-
tion was sufficient to warrant such organization. Much of this popula-
tion was near the center of the county, or on Township 9 north, Range 1
west, where it was known the county seat was likely to be located. As
soon as the State Commissioner had bought land for the county seat of
the Rogerses and Graham, the land in the vicinity of Bloomington rose
suddenly in value and was in great demand. The town was laid out, not
by the State Commission, but by the County Board, and while this was
being done under the direction of the County Agent, many citizens of
the county visited the spot. The streets running north and south, be-
ginning on the west were named as follows : Poplar, Cherry, Spring.
West, East, Walnut, Blue and Buck, and those running east and west,
beginning on the south, were Water, South, North and Washington.
Some changes have since been made in these names. On the days of the
first sale of lots, a large crowd of settlers of the county and speculators
gathered to look on and possibly participate, and certainly to drink of
the free whisky furnished by order of the County Board. Just why the
sales were so large and at such a high figure cannot be stated, unless it
was because it was known that Bloomington was destined to be a great
educational center. One thing is historical :
The settlement of the town was phenomenal. At the close of the
year 1818, not less than thirty families lived in the town in hastily built
log cabins, or rude frame houses, from the saw mill of old man Blair. A
log court house had been built in which the first school was being taught,
probably by Addison Smith ; stores had been started ; blacksmiths, carpen-
ters, tailors and saloon keepers had appeared ; hotels had been thrown
open for public entertainment, and an irregular mail route had been es-
tablished with Vincennes and probably with other points. The town had
a population of over one hundred and forty. The year 1819 saw this
nearly double, as in 1820 the population was nearly 300. The first store
was opened in June, 1818, by William Hardin, who sold whisky prin-
cipally, and about $150 worth of notions. He kept tavern at the same
time. The following year, George Whisenand opened a tavern, and of
course sold whisky and other liquors at the bar. About this time or soon
afterward, Joshua 0. Howe, Ale:xander Owens and Henry Batterton
established separate stores of much greater pretensions than that of
456 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Hardin, which scarcely deserved the name. The latter really kept
grocery, as liquor in those days was classed as "wet groceries," and
saloons, or the name, were unknown. The three men mentioned did not
begin at the same time, but somewhere from 1819 to 1822, the exact
date being unobtainable. Elias Abel says that when he came to Bloom-
ington in 1824, the population was over 500, and was possibly 600.
Others who came about the same time fix the population at about 400 in
1824. At all events, Bloomington at that time was the most prosperous
town in this portion of the State.
About 1820, Austin Seward began manufacturing wagons, and did a
general blacksmithing as did Benjamin Neal also. About the same time,
William Alexander built a tannery in the eastern part of town. Col.
Joseph Campbell started a tannery about a mile west of town. Day,
Lucas and Campbell had some interest in the early tanneries. One stood
where the railroad turn-table now is. Blair & Lowe owned an old horse
mill. David Thacker owned another. The grain was ground in a rude
manner, and was then bolted by hand, the owner of the grain doing the
turning. The toll was one-sixth. Thacker's mill supplied his small dis-
tillery with ground grain. Not more than a barrel of liquor was manu-
factured per day, however. A man named Garner conducted a saw mill
near the college, the motor being cattle or horses on a tread-wheel. Ellis
Stone started a carding mill as early as 1820. It was operated by a
tread- wheel. The building was of logs. He continued more than twenty
years, and at times did a large business. He pinned up the packages of
rolls with thorns gathered from the woods by boys whom he paid for the
service. Haws Armstrong was operating a fulling mill in 1824. He
had started it as early as 1820, and continued for a number of years to
supply his patrons. Mr. Armstrong manufactured a superior article of
gunpowder also. Samuel Dodds operated a tannery where the high
school building now stands. John and Samuel Orchard started a card-
ing machine about 1823, by means of a tread-wheel turned by oxen.
They also manufactured considerable linseed oil, as did one or two others
in the busy little town. Mr. Legg succeeded Thacker in the latter's
tread-mill. Mr. Seward manufactured axes, plows, wagons and difficult
work of the same character, and was so well patronized that he steadily
increased his business until at last he began manufacturing general
foundry work. E. C. Moberly kept tavern in 1823. Joshua H. Lucas
opened a good store in 1823, He was an eccentric character of but little
education, but of the highest natural ability. He was a fluent speaker,
and always carried his audience with him. In 1824, he ran for the Leg-
islature against William Alexander. The race was a close one, but Mr.
Lucas was victorious, and it is stated that his victory was mainly due to
his skill in telling stories and anecdotes of a quasi immoral character,
which captivated the rabble.
A. & J. Owens, Henry Batterton and J. 0. Howe still continued
their stores, steadily increasing the value and variety of the stock. All
kinds of goods then sold for twice or thrice as much as now. Calicoes
and prints were from 25 cents to 50 cents per yard, and other articles
similarly high, and what rendered the times harder was the lack of mar-
ket for farm productions. Wheat, corn, oats, etc., were worth from 20
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 457
cents to 40 cents per bushel, and it was dilEBcult to sell them at that.
Money was scarce — good money. Paper money was in existence and was
worth all prices below par. As the value of the bills constantly fluctu-
ated, they were really merchantable property as gold and silver were dur-
ing the last war. Silver money was scarce and gold scarcer. The
smaller denominations were almost unknown except as they were created
and used by mutual consent. A silver quarter was quartered or cut in
half, and the pieces called " sharp shins " passed current for 6^ cents or
12| cents. Money was so scarce, however, that merchants were forced to
barter their goods and were compelled to do a provision, pork and grain
business. Farmers could trade live or dressed hogs for goods, the demand
regulating the supply and price. They could also trade their grain in
the same manner. This forced the merchants into pork packing and grain
buying, and to the construction of flat-boats for the conveyance of their
products to the Southern markets. The towns along the larger streams
had the advantage in these particulars, and nearly all the heavy grain
and pork shipments were from such points. This accounts for the fact
that extensive business in this direction was not done at Bloomington.
BUSINESS MEN.
During the remainder of the decade of twenties, the merchants of
Bloomington were : Alexander & John Owens, Joshua 0. Howe, Henry
Batterton, A. F. Morrison, John Muir & Co., 1824 ; John Borland,
1826 ; G. M. Early, 1826 ; John Garner, 1827; George Henry & Co.,
1828; Andrew Todd, 1827 ; Evans & Barnes, 1827; Patterson Officer,
1828; George Hardesty, 1828, and possibly others. One of the most
noteworthy features of the town then was the liquor traffic. The most
prominent of the merchants kept it on their counters free for their pat-
rons, and a tavern or inn which did not keep it at the bar, was a rarity,
probably unknown in the early history of Bloomington. Among the
liquor sellers were some of the best citizens, morally and temperately.
During the decade of the twenties the following men sold liquor: Will-
iam Hardin, Clem Dickens, George Henry, John Borland, 1827 ; Not-
ley Baker, 1827; Robertson Graham, 1828; Isaac Brown, 1828;
Albert Literal, 1828 ; Jacob Kelley, 1829 ; W. D. McCullough, 1829 ;
John Owens, 1829; John M. Berry, 1829; and Barton Byers, 1829. A
man named Jordan manufactured liquor in Bloomington, though not on
an extensive scale. Mr. Thacker also distilled a very good article of
whisky, if the judgment of old settlers is to be relied upon. As such
old settlers were natives of Kentucky, no attempt will be made to con-
trovert their opinions. The tavern keepers during the twenties were
William Hardin, Dr. E. C. Moberly, William Nowland, A. F. Morrison.
John Sheets, George W. Hardin, Francis Taylor, Thomas Nesbitt and
Mary Stockwell, J. 0. Howe, Hannah Sheets, W. D. McCullough. The
Orchards kept the " Temperance House," where, it is said, liquor was
not "on tap." The early physicians were David H. Maxwell, W. C.
Foster, Roach and Jenkins.
ANECDOTES.
Bloomington was the rendezvous for the general muster of the county
militia once every year. In addition to that, there were company and
458 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
regiment musters, though the battalion or general muster was by far the
most universally attended. On these occasions, old Brig. Gen. J. B.
Lowe donned his uniform and turned-up continental hat, buckled on his
sword, and conducted the muster in person. On that day men were free,
that is, they were privileged from arrest, except for crime. They
could fight, run horses, drink all kinds of liquid hell, and rave through
the county seat at will on the public streets and grounds, and no one
could molest or make them afraid. The old muster or parade ground
was two or three or more blocks east of the public square, that portion of
the town being open common at that time. The muster was little better
than a farce, and was chiefly enjoyed for the sports invariably present.
Wrestling, jumping and shooting at a mark were among the popular sports.
At one of these gatherings, two men became involved in a question of
honor, and with true Kentucky spirit proposed to settle the matter with a
fist fight. One was an experienced fighter, the other was not, and both
were athletic, full of pluck and wind. Both stripped to the waist, and
the experienced man stepped into a door near by, where stood a barrel of
soft soap, which he quickly smeared over the upper half of his body and
resumed his position ready for the fight. The slight delay led friends to
intercede and the fight was compromised at this juncture, though the ex-
perienced man refused to withdraw unless his antagonist paid for the soap,
which cost a picayune, which was accordingly done. Many a savage and
protracted fight was witnessed on the public square. Election days were
similarly observed.
THE TOWN IN 1830-40.
In 1830, the population of Bloomington was not less than 700. At
that time the "Indiana College " had a large attendance, an excellent
corps of instructors and a superior curriculum. This institution, which
was built in 1823, was the pride of the town and the means of rapidly
and greatly increasing its population, enterprise and material wealth. The
town also boasted a flourishing newspaper, if such an issue can be said to
have been flourishing. The citizens had incorporated the village a number
of years before, and this was another source of joy and congratulation.
In addition to all this, there were numerous factories of leather, liquor,
domestic and farming implements, flour, tailor goods, oil, and numerous
stores, shops, offices, mechanics, artisans, tradesmen, educators, profes-
sional men and speculators. The incorporated town of Bloomington
was a prosperous place.
MERCHANTS, INDUSTRIES, ETC.
The merchants during the decade of the thirties were Alexander and
John Owen, Joshua 0. Howe, Evans & Barnes, Parks & Hester, Henry
Batterton, Patterson Officer, iSTotley Baker, George H. Johnson, John
Borland, Labertew & King, William S. Wright, Nichols & Roach, John
Bennett, Hardesty & Graham, J. & J. W. Carter, John M. Sluss, B. R.
Byers, John Campbell, Rogers, Blakely & Co., Hardesty & Robertson,
J. H. King & Co., F. T. Butler, John M. Berry, Asher Labertew, Sluss
& Hall, Tilford & Glass, John S. Barnes, John Fee, William Alexander,
Moore & Swarengin, and perhaps others. Among the liquor sellers were
Notley Baker, George & John Hardesty, James Cochran ; and among the
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 459
tavern keepers were Asher Labertew, Aquilla Rogers, Daniel Deckard,
S. P. Seall and others. During this period, the population of the town
increased to nearly 1,000, and enterprises of all kinds multiplied. The
county seminary had been built in 1835, and had been so changed that
females alone were admitted. In the State University, boys alone were
admitted. The students attending both institutions at any time were
about 200, and the influence exerted by the presence of such facilities for
education gave Bloomington a literary and social caste at that time prob-
ably possessed by no other town in the State. There were two newspa-
pers, each enjoying a fair circulation, and besides these there was issued
by Marcus L. Deal a semi-monthly periodical in the interests of the col-
lege. The town had three or four churches attended by large congrega-
tions, and served by ministers of great ability and repute. Indeed,
Bloomington was the center of the conference of most of the denomina-
tions, where the Presiding Elder or preacher resided, and where the re-
ligious interests of this portion of Indiana found their controlling head.
The merchants had enlarged their stocks of goods and had begun to pack
pork, though on a limited scale comparatively. The Sewards were doing
a big business in all kinds of iron work ; D. Batterton manufactured
iron ware and stove furniture ; Philip Murphy & Co.. manufactured hats
and caps, getting his wool from the surrounding country ; Notley Baker,
was the barber; J. McCullough was tanner and currier; S. P. Seall
was proprietor of the Globe Inn ; William Lowe was Postmaster ; Watts,
Dunning, Gorman, Denny, J. B. Lowe, J. A. Wright and others were
lawyers ; McCorkle, Hamill and Foster were the doctors ; Chipman &
Kirk made hats and caps ; T. J. Ryan manufactured saddles ; Day was
the painter ; John McCullough's tannery was an extensive establishment
for the time. The master tailors were Abram Funk, W. J. Flurry,
A. Labertew, S. T. Hardesty and H. Hardesty. They adopted a sched-
ule of prices for cutting and making. In 1837, the old " market house "
was erected, the County Board paying $200 if the town would pay as much
more, which was done. Here it was that the townspeople went to market
instead of to the groceries as at present. The old house was continued
until some time in the fifties. In 1838, an effort to secure a fire engine
failed, but the attempts directed attention to that want, and not many
years later the old Pioneer Fire Company was organized. This company
has endured until the present day. During this decade also a saxe-horn
band was organized, which furnished the town with public music until
about the time of the last war. These are only a few of the enterprises
of this decade.
THE TOWN IN 1840-50.
The merchants during the decade of forties were Peter Martineau,
Labertew & Ray, Johnson & Stout, Thomas McCalla, E. P. Farmer, J.
0. & J. M. Howe, A. & J. Owens, John Campbell, G. H. Johnson,
Deitch & Block, William Wylie & Co., Catharine Owens, H. W. Wood-
ward, J. McCorkle, Snyder & Isaacs, Andrew Helton, G. W. Moore, E.
E. & G. W. Sluss, S. P. Chipman, Coleman, Levy & Co., J. & W. 0.
Fee, Richard Hardesty, J. W. Carter, S. & J. Pennington, Y. B. & J.
W. Pullen, Alexander Sutherland and others. Among the grocers were
Richard Hardesty, Aquilla Rogers, Jacob Young, J. M. C. Hunter,
460 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Felix G. Hite and Rogers & Payne. It was during this period that the
temperance struggle was prosecuted with such relentless vigor that nearly
all the dealers were driven from the town mainly through the pressure of
public opinion. The leading business enterprises were the carding mill
of Thomas Hardesty ; Maj. Hite's steam grist mill and carding mill;
McCrum's grist mill, the various tanneries, wagon and iron shops, harness
and saddle manufactories, batteries, etc., etc. The town had been again
incorporated in 1847. The population had increased to about twelve
hundred.
THE TOWN IN 1850-60.
During the fifties, the merchants were Sutherland k Jones, Tarking-
ton & Abel, W. 0. Fee, H. D. Woodward, Andrew Helton, Jesse Cox &
Co., J. B. Mulky, J. 0. & J. M. Howe, Thomas McCalla, S. P. Chip-
man, William McCrum, G. H. Johnson, E. E. Sluss, Tuley & McCrea,
Samuel & Isaac Kahn, E. B. Pennington, James Millen, J. W. Davis &
Co., Helton & Dodds, Miller & Moffett, Asher Labertew, John Campbell,
Dunn & Co., Pennington & Tuley, J. B. Hobson & Co., Pleasant Wil-
liams, J. B. Mulky, drugs ; Carsaw & Andrews, monuments ; J. J.
Cherry & Co., furniture ; Tarkington & Aiken, Joseph Orr, drugs ;
Daniel Shrader, boots and shoes ; A. Helton & Sons, Benjamin McGee,
tailors ; Theodore Johnson, saddle factory ; George Heppert, butcher ;
Cox & Springer, drugs ; Woodward & Buchanan, drugs ; D. F. Tilford,
stoves, etc.; Slider & Tibbetts, merchandise ; Mason k Faris, drugs, and
a host of kindred establishments too numerous to mention. The first
bank was established during the fifties. The woolen factory of Mr.
Holtzman had become large and prosperous. The following was his ad-
vertisement in the county paper:
BLOOMINGTON FACTORY !
The undersigned wish to inform the citizens of Monroe and the adjoining counties,
that we have built a large addition to our Factory, and put up steam power ; we are now
ready to receive any quantity of wool to be carded into rolls or spun into yarn at the fol-
lowing prices : For carding white, 6^ cents per pound, or one-sixth of the wool. Mixed,
8J. For Carding and Spinning, 17 cents per pound, if not reeled; if reeled, 20 cents. All
wool should be well washed and picked. The following is the best mode for washing fine
wool : Fill a large kettle with water, bring to near a boiling heat, add salt to make it a
strong brine, put in some of the wool, not so much as to crowd the kettle, stir gently 3 or
4 minutes, take out the wool and rinse in clean water, do not empty the kettle, keep up
the heat, keep it filled with water, adding a little more salt. We will also continue the
manufacturing of double Coverlets and Carpetings, of a variety of Patterns. The work
will be done by experienced workmen. We do it promptly and must have prompt pay.
Bloomingtcn, Ind., May 3, 1858. A. Holtzman & Son.
The grist mill of Mr. Helton had also become a large concern, as will
be seen by his advertisement :
BLOOMINGTON MILLS ! !
We would announce to the citizens of the surrounding country, that these Mills are in
complete running order, and would respectfully solicit their patronage. We shall en-
deavor to do our " custom work " with the utmost dispatch. Having in our employ men
of experience and skill, and having the most approved machinery, we flatter ourselves
that we are able to give general satisfaction, both as to quality and quontity. We will
grind either for toll, or exchange flour for wheat. Terms: One-sixth toll. Exchange:
Thirty-eight pounds of flour for white wheat, and thirty-six for red wheat, and half
bushel of bran for each merchantabJe bushel of whent. Grists to be ground we would pre-
fer to be as much as 8 or 10 bushels. 50,000 bushels of wheat wanted ! The highest
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 461
market price paid for wheat and corn. Flour, meal and feed always on hand and for
sale. Extra family flour from selected white wheat, put up in half and quarter barrel
bags, and always warranted.
Bloomington, August 20, 1858. A. Helton & Co.
In 1855, Tarkington & Akin began to issue " shinplasters " of the
denominations of 50 cents and $1, which were received at first at
their face. J. M. Howe also issued a small quantity. Thig was done to
facilitate exchanges, great want being experienced for denominations
smaller than the banks or the Government afford. It is said that Tark-
ington & Akin issued several thousand dollars of these "shinplasters."
In a year or two, they began to depreciate in value, and then the fun com-
menced. In 1858, the following action was taken by the leading business
men, the proceedings being published in the Repuhliean, as shown here :
" Shinplasters." — We, the undersigned citizens of Bloomington, Ind., pledge our
word and honor that we will not take any " shinplaster" currency after the 1st day of
February, for more than ninety cents to the dollar ; and that we will not circulate any
more after this date — nor any other paper currency not regularly chartered acsordino- to
law. January 20, 1858.
William 0. Fee, M. L. McCullough,
Thomas Mullikin, Millen & Mofi'ett,
A. W. Campbell, A. Adams,
Kahn & Bro., Mason & Faris,
Howe & Co., P. Henoch,
W. D. Owen, A. S. Mercer,
0. L. Draper, E. E. Sluss,
Tuley & McCrea, Dunn & Co.,
Benjamin McGee, E. Johnson,
B. S. Gowgill, S. J. Wade,
J. S. Tibbets, J. 0. McCullough.
A. Helton & Co.,
The Bloomington mails at this time were sent and received as follows :
The Mails. — Arrivals at and Departures from the Bloomington P. 0. — From New Al-
bany (by railroad) arrives at 5:25 P. M., and departs north immediately.
From Michigan City (by railroad) arrives at 10:25 A. M. ; and departs south at
10:45 A. M.
From Columbus (by two-horse haak) arrives every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,
at 12 M. ; and departs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 10 A. M.
From Bloomfield (by hack when necessary) arrives every Tuesday and Saturday at
4 P. M. ; and departs every Monday and Friday at 8 A. M.
From Indianapolis, via Martinsville (by two-horse hack), arrives every Tuesday and
Friday at 12 M. ; and departs same days at 1 P. M.
From Point Commerce, via White Hall (horse-back), arrives every Thursday at 1 P.
M. ; and departs same day at 1:30 P. M.
The New Albany Railroad, which had been built through the county
early in this decade (fifties), had added materially to the growth and im-
portance of the county seat, and the county as well. It gave the town
the advantage of quick and cheap transportation. An account of the
construction of this road will be found elsewhere. In about 185(3, the
Seward & Chase Iron Foundry doubled its capacity, and began doing a
large business. Iron ware of all descriptions — stoves, plows, castings for
all kinds of machinery, frying pans, andirons, axes, etc., and a general
blacksmithing business. The following were the prices, in Bloomington,
of sundry articles August 27, 1858 :
462 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Bloomington Prices Current. — Corrected every Friday morning by Dunn & Co. :
Wheat, per bushel 55 to 65 cents.
Oats 30 cents.
Corn 35 to 40 cents.
Wheat flour, per 100 lbs $2 00.
Corn meal, per bushel 40 to 50 cents.
Potatoes, per bushel .JO to 75 cents.
Bacon, '^ lb 4 to 6^ cents.
Lard, 'fp Hi 7 to 8 cents.
Butter, "^ Hj 10 to 12 cents.
Eggs, "1^ dozen 5 cents.
Sugar, %( H) 11 to 12i cents.
CoflFee, "^ lb 14 to 20 cents.
MERCHANTS OF THE SIXTIES.
Among the merchants and business men during the decade of sixties
were Dunn & Co., J. M. Howe, W. 0. Fee, S. J. Wade, George Bollen-
bacher. J. S. Faris, Benjamin McGee, Milton Rogers, Mercer & Adams,
Seward & Sons, G. W. Batterton, A. Holtzman & Sons, J. H. Hay &
Co., E, Johnson & Co., Small & Riddle. Showers, Hendrix & Co., G.
H. Morley, D. Batterton, J. 0. & M. L. McCullogh, M. J. Smith, John
McCrea, C. P. Tuley, A. P. Helton, W. L. Bates, Turner & Sidway,
Cherry & McKinley, Chase & Co., Munson & Doughton, Stuart &
Manley, Kahn & Co., J. Misener, Carter & Pering, E. M. Burt, T. B.
McCune.
PRESENT BUSINESS MEN.
Dry goods— W. W. Wicks, Lane & Buskirk, McCalla & Co., L.
S. Fields & Co., S. K. Rhorer, Mefford & Sons. Groceries— D. T.
Raley & Co.. Robertson & Bro., J. B. Clark & Son, W. H. Meadows,
Lane & Buskirk, A. H. Wilson, J. VV. Robinson, Dunn & Co., Col-
lins & Karsell, J. W. Johnson, James M. Hunter, J. R. Anderson.
Hardware — Stuart & McPheeters, W. J. Allen. Ready Made Clothing
— Moses Kahn, Queen City Clothing Store, C. P. Turner, manager;
Benjamin McGee. Merchant tailors — Benjamin McGee, John W.
Davis, John Ehni. Books and stationery — E. P. Cole, James D. Faris,
Hiram Lindley, Lewis H. Anderson. Drugs — H. Lindley, J. D. Faris,
Peter Bowman. Agricultural implements — W. J. Allen, Stuart & Mc-
Pheeters, R. C. Smith. Wagons and carriages — James Ryan, Gilmore
Bros., W. J. Clark, W. J. Alexander, Hoover & Dobson. Jewelry — M.
J. Smith, Leveret Cochran, J. 0. Howe, Henry Turner. Boots and
shoes — W. T. Blair, George Bollenbacher, George Atkinson, W. W.
Wicks, L. S. Fields & Co., McCalla & Co., C. C. Mefford & Sons, S. K.
Rhorer. Milliners and dress-makers — Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Arnott, Mrs.
Gregory, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Snodgrass, Mrs. Atkins, Mrs. Harrold,
Misses Bullard & Cooper, Mrs. Tilley, Misses Faris. Restaurants —
Mrs. Lucky, Mrs. Rott, George Buckart. Hotels — National House, L.
M. Sanders, proprietor ; Orchard House. Walnut Street House. Livery
— N. B. Rogers, Worley & May. Flouring mills — Baldridge & Gour-
lev, Milton Height. Saw mills — Gamel Peterson, Joseph Alexander.
Woolen mills — Holtzman & Bro. Spoke factory — Waldron, Hill & Co.,
Bollenbacher & Sons. Bedstead factory — Showers Bros. Chair and
table factory — Showers, Dodds & Co. Tannery — John Waldron.
Planing mills — C. J. McCalla. Brick yard — J. H. Garrison. Lumber
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 463
yard — W. B. Hughes. Builders and contractors — Adams & Denton,
H. J. Nichols (architects also), M. D. Griffey & Co., W. C. Black, A.
Robinson. Stonework contractors — Byerly & Stevenson, James Voss.
Plastering contractors — H. H. & Benj. Voss, R. N. Denton. Furniture
— Baker & Neeld, Matthews & Turner. Barbers — W. T. Voss,
Ephraim Hughes, Benjamin Boss, William Proffet, Daniel Pinkston.
Butchers — Cron & Roseberry, J. M. Phillips & Co., Walker & Bro.,
Bult & McConnell. Foundry and machine shops — Seward Bros. Cigar
Manufactory — George Seiner. Stone quarries — Matthew Dillon, Moses
Dunn, John Baldoff.
THE FIRST INCORPORATION.
As early as the 5th of March, 1827, the citizens of Bloomington, pur-
suant to notice, met at the court house to ascertain at the polls whether
the county seat should become the incorporated town of Bloomington.
Ellis Stone was made President of the meeting, and Benjamin V. Peele
Secretary. On motion, it was decided to test the question viva voce^
which was done with the following result : For incorporation, 18 ; against
incorporation, 3 ; majority in favor of incorporation, 15. An election of
the necessary Trustees was ordered, and was held with the subjoined
result as shown by the returns of the board of election :
At an elecfion held in the town of Bloomington on the 8th of September, 1828, to
elect Trustees for the incorporation of the town, agreeably to the act of the General
Assembly, we hereby certify that the following persons were duly elected : Joshua 0.
Howe, William Alexander, Astier Labertew. Robinson Graham and Jimes Evans. Given
under our hands aad seals this 17th day of September, 1828.
Truly and duly done. Asher Labektew,
Jacob B. Lowe, Clerk. James Evans, '
Judges.
For some reason unobtainable, the municipal government was per-
mitted to die out, and was not again revived until late in the forties. The
proceedings of the Legislature were as follows :
the second incorporation.
Section 1. Be it enacted hy the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That such
part of the township of Bloomino;ton in the county of Monroe as is included within the
following limits and boundaries, that is to say, beginning at the northeast corner of Out-
lot No. 21, thence west to the northwest corner of Outlet No. 39, thence south to the
northwest corner of Outlot No. y8, thence west to the northwest corner of Outlot No. 41,
thence south to the southwest corner of fractional Lot No. 20, thence east to the northeast
corner of Outlot No. 35, thence south to the southwest corner of fractional Lot No. 9, thenci
east to the southeast corner of the university square, thence north to the southwest corner
of Outlot No. 72, thence east to the southeast corner of Outlot No. 75, thence to the north-
east corner of Outlot No. 21, the place of beginning, including all the inlots and outlots
of said town, be and ihe same is hereby erected into a town corporate which shall hence-
forth be known and designated by the name of the town of Bloomington, subject, how-
ever, to such repeal, alteration and regulation as the Legislature may from time to time
prescribe.
Section 2 of this enactment provided for the election of a Mayor, a
Recorder and five Trustees, who should constitute a body corporate with
perpetual succession, and to be known as the Common Council of Bloom-
ington. Section 3 provided for the annual election of town ofiicers.
Section 4 provided for the administration of justice within the corporate
limits. Section 5 provided for meetings of the Council, specified what
should constitute a quorum, and regulated the passage or adoption of town
464 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
ordinances. Subsequent sections regulated the municipal government.
This act was approved by the Governor January 13, 1845.
By an act approved January 16, 1849, the above act was amended so
as to regulate the working of streets, and another amendment approved
February 12, 1851, the corporate limits were changed as follows: " Said
town corporate shall include the southeast quarter of Section 32, in Town-
ship 9 north. Range 1 west, and the southwest quarter of Section 33,
Township 9 north, Range 1 west, and also the following: Beginning at
the southwest corner of Seminary Outlet No. 60, thence with and includ-
ing the street to the southeast corner of Seminary Outlot No. 76, thence
north with and including the street to the southeast corner of said quar-
ter section secondly above mentioned.
This act also provided that eleven Trustees should be elected instead
of five, and the name became "The Council of Bloomington." Several
changes were also made in the administration of justice.
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
In pursuance of the above act of January, 1845, the citizens of
Bloomington met in the court house (in March, 1847), and proceeded to
ballot for a Mayor, Recorder, Marshal, Treasurer and five Councilmen.
Upon counting the votes it appeared that John Lawrence was elected
Mayor ; Robert Acuff, Recorder ; A. Labertew, Treasurer ; D. B. Judah,
Marshal, and W. M. Smith. Samuel Kirk, J. M. Howe, John Graham
and Joseph G. McPheeters, Councilmen. The first meeting of the Town
Council was held on the 6th of March, 1847, in the Recorder's office.
The first act was to appoint a committee to draft such ordinances as they
deemed necessary to be presented to the full Council for adoption or re-
jection. Orders were then given for the necessary record books, and the
Council adjourned. At the second meeting, Samuel Moore was permitted
to occupy a portion of the street for his brick shed. David B. Judah
was appointed Street Supervisor or Commissioner. The Council then
proceeded to adopt sixteen ordinances for the municipal government. One
of the ordinances (which the writer thinks was a good one) was as
follows :
" 13th. No person shall be allowed to keep a dog within the limits
of the corporation. Any person violating this ordinance shall be fined
50 cents for each dog so kept, provided that no person shall be fined more
than once during the same year for the same dog."
It will be seen that the ordinance amounted to nothing more than an
annual tax of 50 cents on each dog. At the August meeting of the
Council, a petition signed by one hundred and three citizens was pre-
sented the Council praying that the above ordinance be repealed, and after
discussion, the prayer of the petitioners was granted. At the next meet-
ing, the Mayor tendered his resignation, which was laid upon the table
until the next day, and was then refused, and after some promises and
assurances His Honor withdrew the document, and the skies were bright
again. Samuel M. Orchard was granted permission to erect hay scales
on Market street. Considerable time was spent in amending the city
charter, which was then turned over to the Representative in the Legisla-
ture from the county, to be passed at the next session. In January,
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 465
1848, a tax of ten cents on each $100 worth of taxable property was levied
for town purposes. In February, 1848, the following was passed :
" Resolved, That Hon. William Berry is entitled to the thanks of this
Council for his promptness and energy in securing the passage of a new
charter in the State Senate, which was all that this board asked or desired
on his part, and that a copy of this resolution be handed to him." Just
what change was made in the charter cannot be stated. James S. Hes-
ter was appointed Town Attorney. Mr. Smith resigned his position as
Councilman, and Dr. R. C. Hamill was appointed his successor. The
town officers elected in 1848 were as follows : David H. Maxwell,
Mayor ; J. G. McPheeters, Recorder ; D. B. Judah, Marshal ; Asher
Labertew, Treasurer ; Joseph M. Howe, Elias Able, Henry Tanner, Will-
iam Owen and Alfred Mercer, Councilmen. Liquor license was fixed at
$25. In May and June, 1848, active work was done on the streets and
sidewalks.
In 185], an ordinance to tax retail liquor dealers with a town license
of $500 (additional to the county license), after long discussion and some
strong opposition, was adopted. This was the year of the visitation of
cholera, quite a number of the citizens dying. The Council purchased
200 bushels of fresh lime to be scattered through the town, and directed
that all saloons should be closed temporarily until the scourge was past.
It was during this year also the construction of the New Albany & Salem
Railroad was going on in the town. Changes were made in the streets
to admit the road. For several years after this expensive work was done
upon the streets, so much so that a strong sentiment in opposition to a
continuance of a municipal government was developed. This led, in Jan-
uary, 1858, to the opening of the polls to determine whether the corpo-
ration should be dissolved. One hundred and fifteen ballots had on them
the word " yes," and 101 had on the word " no," being a majority of
fourteen in favor of the dissolution. The municipal government was then
dissolved.
The following article appeared in the RepuUican of August, 1858
Corporation Meeting. — Pursuant to public notice, a meeting of the voters of the town
of Bloomington was held at the court house in said town, on Monday evening, the 2d of
August, 1858, for the purpose of disposing of the property, money and eflfects belonging
to the late corporation of said town, which corporation has been abolished by a vote of
the legal voters of the same.
The meeting was organized by calling Samuel H. Buskirk to the Chair, and appoint-
ing Milton McPhetridge, Secretary. The object of the meeting was then stated by the
Chair.
Robert C. Foster, President of the Board of Trustees of said town, submitted the
following statement of the property, money and effects of said corporation, and liabilities
of the same, viz.:
There is due said corporation as follows :
In Treasurer Sluss' bands $ 26 00
In Marshal Hight's hands (Citizens Bank) 133 00
In hands of Lemuel Gentry 830 54
Taxes unpaid for 1855 and 1856 1,679 50
Taxes unpaid for 1857 160 00
Due from James W. Throop for fines 4 00
Total $2,833 04
Robert C. Foster offered the following resolutions, viz.:
Resolved, That the corporation suit now pending in the Supreme Court of the State
466 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
of Indiana, be dismissed, the appellants paying all the costs that have accrued in the
Common Pleas Court, Circuit Court and Supreme Court.
Resolved, That the funds in the hands and now due from Lemuel Gentry, Treasurer
of Monroe County, and paid in on the laxep of 1855 and 1856, be distributed to each of
the persons who have paid the same, in proportion to the amount paid.
Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed by the President of this meeting to
make such distribution, and when so distributed issue certificates to the persons entitled
thereto; when
Dr. William C. Foster moved to strike out the first resolution and insert the following :
Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed to prosecute the suit in ihe Supreme
Court, and to collect the delinquent taxes of 1855 and 1856; which motion was not
adopted.
Whereupon a division of the question was demanded by Mr. McCuUough, and a vote
taken on the first resolution, which was adopted by the meeting
Dr. McPheeters moved to amend the second resolution, by providing that the money
in the hands of the Treasurer of Monroe County be applied as follows, viz.: " One-half
thereof to be applied for the purchasing of a bell for the court house, and the residue
donated to the Bloomington Band ; which amendment was on motion of P. L. D. Mitchell,
laid upon the table ; whereupon the original resolutions were adopted.
M. McPhetridge offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That we receive from Wallace Hight, late Marshal of said town, the notes
as money on the Citizens Bank of Gosport, which were received by him for taxes in good
faith, and when they were current here; which resolution was adopted.
On motion of Robert C. Foster,
Resolved, That James M. Howe be appointed to settle the suit as contemplated by the
first resolution passed by this meeting.
Resolved, That the tax-payers of 1857 who have not paid their taxes, be released
from the payment of the same ; which resolutions were adopted by the meeting.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the $133 of the Citizens Bank now in the hands of Wallace Hight, be
placed in the hands of the County Auditor for the purpose of aiding the County Board
to purchase a bell for the use of the court house; also, that all the books, seal, etc., of said
corporation be placed in the hands of said Auditor for the use of any future corporation
of said town.
On motion of William F. Browning, it was
Resolved, That the Bloomington Republican and Bloomington Presage be requested
to publish the proceedings of this meeting.
On motion the meeting adjourned with the thanks of the President for the good or-
der and decorum which had characterized the meeting.
M. McPflETRiDGE, Secretary. Samuel H. Buskirk, Chairman.
The following year (1859), the town was incorporated anew, not under
a special act of the Legislature but under the State law which thus pro-
vided. Since then the corporation has continued without interruption.
In October, 1866, an election was held to determine whether the
town of Bloomington should become the city of Bloomington, with the
following result : For incorporation, one hundred and seventy-eight ;
against incorporation, ninety-three. As there were five hundred and
thirteen voters in the town, and as a majority of the same had not voted
for the incorporation or at the late election at all, the question of incorpo-
rating the town as a city was for the time abandoned. In 1868, upon peti-
tion of the Town Council of Bloomington, the County Commissioners
conveyed to the Council and their successors in office the old county ceme-
tery within the town limits. For the year ending April 20, 1868, the
receipts of the town were $2,306,49, and the expenses $2,268.94. In
1870, the School Trustees of the town reported that they had purchased
ground for the erection thereon of a high school building, and asked the
Council to issue town bonds to the amount of $20,000 to defray the ex-
pense of erecting the contemplated building. Action on the matter was
postponed by the Council until May, 1871, when the amount of bonds asked
for were issued, as follows : Forty bonds of $100 each, payable one year
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 467
after date, with ten per cent interest ; sixty bonds of $100 each ; ten
bonds of $500 each, and five bonds of |1,000 each, the last due in eight
years with interest at ten per cent. A tax of 40 cents on each |100 val-
uation and a poll tax of $1 were assessed to meet this expense. The re-
ceipts for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1872, were $4,989.35, and the
expenses $4,960.04". In August, 1872, the School Trustees reported
that $20,000 was insufficient to cover the expense of finishing the school
building then in course of construction, and asked that an additional
$10,000 worth of town bonds might be sold. This was ordered done by
the Town Council, as follows: Fifteen bonds of $100 each, due in one
year, interest ten per cent ; forty-five bonds of $100 each ; four bonds of
$500 each ; two bonds of $1,000 each, the last due in twelve years, and
over two years, interest ten per cent. The same town tax as above
stated was ordered continued until the principal and interest of the bonds
were paid. In June, 1873, the School Trustees asked for the sale of
additional town bonds to the amount of $15,000, to be used in completing
the new school building. This was done as follows : Fifty bonds of $100
each; ten bonds of $500 each : five bonds of $1,000 each, all to be due within
twenty years and after five years, interest ten per cent. The tax to pay
the principal and interest of the bonds was increased to 50 cents on each
$100 valuation, with the poll tax at $1. At this time the entire corpo-
ration tax was as follows :
For corporation purposes 20 cents on each $100
For road purposes 5 cents on each $100
For general poll tax 25 cents on each poll
For male dogs $1 each
For female dogs $1 each
For school building 50 cents on each $100
For school building $1 each poll tax
Total tax 75 cents on each $100 valuation, and a poll tax of $1.25
In 1873, a large number of fire buckets, ladders, etc., were purchased.
In January, 1876, the School Trustees reported that the new school
house was completed, and that an indebtedness of $7,000 had been in-
curred in addition to the bond indebtedness of $15,000, in finishing the
building, and asked that $7,000 worth of new bonds might be issued to
meet such extra expense. The Town Board ordered the following bonds
issued : Twenty bonds of $100 each ; ten bonds of $500 each ; all to be
due within twenty years and after five years, interest ten per cent.
In July, 1876, the Council were petitioned to take action to have the
town incorporated as a city, the petition being signed by 217 citizens.
An election was held, and resulted as follows : For incorporation as a
city, 184 ; against such incorporation, 169. The first city officers were
C. W. Henderson, Mayor ; John Waldron, H. H. Voss, W. N. Showers,
A. T. Massey, Andrew Hoover and M. B. Dillon, Councilmen. The
first meeting of the City Council was held September 13, 1876. R. C.
Greeves was Clerk ; C. H. McPheeters, Treasurer ; and James Slocum,
Marshal. In a short time, all the old-time ordinances were revised, cor-
rected, rejected and adopted, and the new municipal machinery was set
in effective motion.
By April, 1877, the bonded indebtedness of the city was $39,700,
there having been paid $12,300. The City Council ordered new bonds,
bearing seven per cent interest, issued to the amount of $16,000, that
468 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
amount and $1,700 more being then due, for the purpose of refunding
the old bonds at a lower rate of interest ; 120 bonds of $100 each, and 8
bonds of $500 each, were ordered sold. A tax was ordered levied which
•would pay the interest on the bonds, and at the same time create a sink-
ing fund of not less than 5 cents on each $100 valuation, to be used in
reducing the principal of the bonded debt.
The receipts and expenses for the fiscal year ending May 1, 1877,
were: Receipts, $3,318.72; expenses, $3,316.25. School fund receipts,
$6,018.95 ; expenses, $5,987.05. The old Pioneer Fire Company No. 1
was re-organized at this time, and fully provided with the means of fight-
ing fire. In August, an increase of 15 cents on each $100 valuation was
levied for the school fund. C. F. Dodds became Mayor in 1878. In
January. 1879, twenty-nine street lamps were erected around the square
and along the principal streets, at a cost of about $75. In 1880, permis-
sion was granted to S. Solomon & Co., to erect gas works and lay down
pipes through the streets of Bloomington. In November, 1880, school-
house bonds to the amount of $32,000 were refunded with new bonds
bearing six per cent interest. In 1881, permission was granted the
Bloomington Electric Telephone Company to erect poles, and stretch
wires on the streets. In March, 1883, the City Council of New Albany
presented Bloomington with a fine fire engine, as a return for $500 sent
by the latter to the former a few months before during the great flood on
the Ohio. The city has at this writing (October, 1883) $1,000 invested
in the '' artesian well" now being bored on the public square. Ever
since the war, the Town or City Board has been constantly engaged in pro-
viding the county seat with good streets. The paving, macadamizing,
guttering, etc., have gone on until all the leading thoroughfares of the
city are water and mud proof, so to speak. Bloomington has without ex-
ception the cleanest and solidest streets of any city in the Statp. The
present city ofiicers are : C. F. Dodds, Mayor; R. C. Greeves, Clerk:
G. W. Reeves, Marshal ; H. H. Friedley, Attorney ; John Waldron. N.
U. Hill, J. W. Shoemaker, B. A. McGee, M. D. Griffey and 0. J.
Hoover, Councilmen.
Following is a table giving the " section of the bore " of the artesian
well at Bloomington : Depth of strata. Total Depth.
STRATA. Feet. Feet.
Surface 6 6
Limestone (grayish) 119 125
Shale (blue) 630 755
Shale (dark red) 20 775
Limestone (blue) 5 780
Shale (brown) 10 790
Slate (dark) 120 910
Limestone (grayish) 15 925
Limestone (brown) 240 1,165
Shaley limestone (blue) 15 1,180
Limestone (light) 130 1,310
Flint limestone 30 1,340
Limestone (light, latter part brown streaks) 170 1,510
Shale (blue) 40 1.650
Limestone (blue) 40 1,590
Shale (blue streaks line) 60 1,650
Shale (blue) 1,835
Limestone (light brown)
At 125 feet, struck crude coal oil, and inflammable gas at about 775 feet, at end of
" dark red shale."
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 469
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Cecilia Lodge, No. 166, Odd Fellows, was instituted by J. B. Ander-
son, G. M., on the 1st of August, 1853, the following being the charter
members : H. C. Smith, John W. Smith, L. M. Hays, C. H. Laird,
Daniel Shrader, C. R. Miner, John Warner, Theodore Johnson, Peter
Cleminson, and Thomas H. Sinex. The first officers were : Daniel
Shrader, N. G. ; Peter Cleminson, V. G. ; L. C. Stinson, Secretary ;
John Miken, Treasurer. This lodge has endured until the present, and
is in a highly prosperous condition, with a membership of nearly 150.
It has a fine lodge room on College avenue. Herndon Encampment, No.
56, was instituted at Grosport, in August, 1858, but in January, 1862,
was removed to Bloomington, where the following officers were installed :
Cyrus Nutt, C. P. ; C. P. Tuley, H. P. ; M. J. Smith, S. W. ; Daniel
Shrader, J. W. ; A. R. Yates, Treasurer. Arizona Tribe, No. 52, I. 0.
R. M., was organized in December, 1874, with the following charter
members: J. C. Orchard. J. F. Fee, Adam Geiger. D.W. Browning, T. H.
Sudbury, C. P. Tuley, J. B. Mulky, C. J. Axtell, W. W. Wicks, I. W.
Walker, D. J. Hodges, A. T. Massey, H. J. Nichols, A. W. Rose, J. D.
Walker, R. R. Strong, J. A. May, J. M. Mason, M. F. Arnold, H. A.
Holtzman, M. C. Fee, R. A. Rogers, J. M. May, C. S. Oookerly, F. M.
Bishop, George Findley, T. S. Lyons, Z. T. Coffin, A. Holtzman, C. A.
Mobley, R. H. Gentry, Lem. Whitsel, Charles Artz, Fred Fess and C. E.
Vos^. The first officers were : J. C. Orchard, Sachem ; J. F. Fee, S. S. ;
Adam Geiger, J. S. ; D. W. Browning, C. of R. : T. H. Sudbury, K. of
W.; C. P. Tuley, Prophet.
Bloomington Chapter, No. 70, F. & A. M., was organized in 1867.
The charter members were : Cyrus Nutt, Hiram Gilmore, G. W. Har-
din, J. J. Durand, J. J. Hight, Asher Labertew, George Sheeks, M. C.
Hunter, J. G. McPheeters, M. L. McCullough, J. B. Hamilton, Augustine
Holtzman, and J. T. Holtzman. The first officers were: J. J. Durand,
H. P. ; A. Holtzman, K. ; Cyrus Nutt, S. ; M. L. McCullough, C. of
H. ; S. E. Holtzman, P. S. ; J. T. Holtzman, R. A. C. ; J. G. Mc-
Pheeters, G. M. 3d V. ; George Sheeks, G. M. 2d V. ; L. Tannenbaum,
G. M. 1st v.; P. L. D. Mitchell, Treasurer; J. G. McPheeters, Jr.,
Secretary ; J. H. Thacker, Guard.
There are several other lodges in Bloomington — the Masons, Knights
of Honor, Knights of Pythias, etc., but the writer was unable to gain ac-
cess to the records, and hence must omit an account or them.
The first banking business was done in the fifties, by Tarkington &
Aikin, who issued at first only shinplasters : J. M. Howe did the same.
In about 1857, the Bloomington Bank was regularly organized, with a
capital of about $20,000 ; and soon bank bills were issued, signed by the
above men. Missouri and other State bonds were deposited with the
Auditor of State, but in 1860, these bonds so depreciated in value as to
cause the suspension of the home bank. Its paper was worth only about
30 cents on the dollar. Soon after this, a private bank was organized,
and continued until about 1870, when it was transformed into the First
National Bank of Bloomington, with capital stock of $50,000 — since in-
470 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
creased to $100,000. The cashier neglected to furnish the information
necessary for a further sketch.
The actual population of Bloomington in 1866 (August) was 2,118,
and in July, 1876, was 2,404. It is now about 3,200.
THE SCHOOLS OF BLOOMINGTON.
The first school in Bloomington was taught in the old log court house
during the winter of 1818-19, but the name of the teacher cannot be
given, although it was probably Addison Smith. The next summer a
log schoolhouse was built not far from where the old County Female
Seminary now stands. The growth of the town was so rapid, however,
that it was found necessary within two years to build another log school-
house, which was done in the eastern part. In 1822, or perhaps 1823,
a brick schoolhouse was erected, which, with the two log cabins and
other schools taught in private residences or elsewhere, supplied the town
with public schools for several years. In the thirties, forties and fifties,
other houses were built mainly for the accommodation of smaller scholars.
All these schools were principally supported by subscription, there being no
free schools as we now know them. Churches were often used, and the
upper stories of business blocks on the square were rented for a series of
years by educators, who transformed them into seats of learning. All
these schools were more for the use of small children who could not enter
the seminary or university. Prof. D. E. Hunter was prominently con-
nected with the town schools proper late in the fifties and during the
sixties. The teachers of the public schools were mostly ladies, who were
scattered throughout the town in buildings which could be rented or
leased for the purpose. No grading was done ; the scholars, large and
small, in any portion of the town, attended the school nearest their resi-
dence or the one where the teacher was liked best. Many of these schools
were of the highest excellence, being taught by the graduates of the uni-
versity or the seminaries, or had come from abroad to follow their
profession. In 1863, the subject of grading the schools was strongly
urged, the leader in the movement being Prof. Hunter. The first public
meeting of the citizens to consider the subject was held July 21, a large
number being present. Prof. Hunter explained the character of high or
graded schools. Other meetings were held and arrangements were com-
pleted to open the first graded school in Monroe County early in Sep-
tember. The Principal was Prof. Hunter ; assistants in the old Baptist
Church, Miss Mattie Cherry, Miss Lizzie Anderson and Miss Laura
Verbryke ; assistant in new building, Miss M. McCalla ; assistant in
Second Presbyterian Church, Miss Mary Anderson. The Principal held
forth in the "new building," which was none other than the old tannery
on the site of the present fine high school building. Milton Hight was
the Trustee, and announced that the school system was " free to all in
the corporation." It was found necessary to increase the school fund by
several hundred dollars, which amount was raised by subscription among
the citizens. At the end of three months, the Principal submitted the
following report :
Abstract from weekly reports for three months, ending November
27, 1863:
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY.
471
Pupils ticketed
Pupils withdrawn
Average daily attendance
Tardy marks charged to pupils..,
Tardy marks charged to parent«.
Cases of truancy
Corporal punishment
Parents visited by teacher
Parents visited the schools
Other visitors
Pupils promoted
Pupils not tardy
Pupils not absent
Pupils neither tardy nor absent..
13
79 64
7
50
7
27
2
10
50
111
5
48
106
30
5
1
36
15
10
381
29
272
384
358
23
20
129
Primary No. 2 was divided, and part of the pupils sent to Primary No. 3.
The following-named pupils have never been absent : Emma Balterton, Fransina E.
Green, Laura A. Mitchell, Samuel W. McCune, Caroline Ehm, Eugene Fee, Samuel
Curry, Amelia Sutter, Charles Tourner, Pauline Ehni, William Finn and William Har-
rington.
The following named pupils have never been either tardy or absent : Emma Batter-
ton, Fransina E. Green, Samuel W. McCune atd Caroline Ehni.
The great want is room. If our accommodations were suflBcient, the number of
pupils ticketed would soon reach 500.
The schools have been visited eighty-nine times. Twenty-nine of these visits were by
parents.
Out of six hundred and ninty-two cases of tardiness, three hundred and fifty-eight
(more than half), are charged to parents.
The daily attendance has never been less ttan two hundred and forty-nine. The
average is two hundred and seventy-two.
The following promotions have been made, viz : Ella Fellowes from intermediate de-
partment to grammar school, and Horace Mulky, Fannie Neal, Jane Thornton, Martha
Winfrey and Esther A. Smith, from primary department to intermediate.
The first session of five months will close .January 29, 1864.
D. EcKLET Hunter,
Superintendent B. 6. S.
Soon after the school started, another primary department was started
■with Mrs. S. S. Getzendanner, teacher. The old Center Schoolhouse,
as it was called, was used, also a frame building on Seventh street, be-
tween Lincoln and Grant streets. The old tannery was thoroughly fitted
up, and four departments were there established in 1864. This was
about the state of affairs until the present high school building, begun in
1871 and finished in 1875, was completed as detailed elsewhere, at a cost
of over $50,000. Among the high school Principals or Superintendents
have been D. E. Hunter, E. P. Cole, G. W. Lee, James M. Wilson, W.
R. Houghton and Miss M. H. McCalla. The public schools of Bloom-
ington are not surpassed by any in the State, and are far ahead of the
average in discipline, and effective, practical work. The school under the
management of Miss McCalla is spoken of in the highest terms, as a
model of the result of professional skill.
Report of the School Trustees of Bloomington for the year ending
July 1, 1881 :
472 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Number of school days 180
Number of male teachers 4
Number of female teachers 10
Male pupils enrolled between 6 and 21 years , 266
Female pupils enrolled between 6 and 21 years 260
Males in high school between 6 and 21 years 71
Females in high school between 6 and 21 years 81
Males in high school over 21 years 18
Females in high school over 21 years 2
Males in colored school between 6 and 21 years 30
Females in colored school between 6 and 21 years 24
Males in colored school over 21 years 2
Females in colored school over 21 years 1
Whole number of males enrolled 387
Whole number of females enrolled 368
Average daily attendance 380
Salary of grades 1, 2, 3, 4. 5 and 6 each $400
Salary of gra^e 7 $450
Salary of grade 8 $500
Salary of two colored teachers $-500
Salary of high school assistant *600
Salary of Superintendent $700
Salary of music teacher, 24 days $272
As will be seen from this, Bloomington has a well-attended and in-
teresting colored school.
THE MONROE COUNTY FEMALE SEMINARY.
The old County Seminary was established as soon as the county was,
though no building was erected until 1835. The funds from fines,
penalties, etc., had continued to accumulate until at the time of the erec-
tion of the house they amounted probably to nearly $2,000. The
structure was begun in 1833, and completed in 1835. Before this, how-
ever, aside from the Indiana College, now the University, Prof. Pering
had established in the town a Female Institute, which, from the afiability,
culture and general worth of the man, had grown into considerable
prominence. The popularity of this institute, the effective and satis-
factory character of its work, and the fact that the Indiana College ad-
mitted no females to its course of study, led the citizens of the town, in
order to obtain the best use of the seminary fund, and at the same time
secure the higher education of their daughters, to petition the Legis-
lature to have the County Seminary transformed into the County Female
Seminary, and accordingly, during the session of 1832-33, this was done.
This act was approved January 29, 1833, and the Monroe County Female
Seminary was established with the following incorporators : John Bor-
land, John Hight, William Alexander, James D. Robertson, Frederick
T. Butler, Austin Seward, Richard Hardesty, Ellis Stone and John
Graham.
The building was erected in 1835, was a brick structure 30x50 feet,
two stories high, containing two large halls and four smaller rooms. The
halls were the principal recitation rooms, and extra care was ordered
taken by the Trustees to have them well ventilated. The doors and
windows were ordered thrown open at hours of intermission, until the
entire volume of air had been renewed. Single desks were ordered to
take the place of longer desks, to prevent crowding and discomfort. The
first Principal, employed in 1835, was Cornelius Pering, A. M., a profes-
sional teacher, never having been engaged in any other pursuit, who about
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 47^
two years previous to his appointment had removed from London, En-
gland, to Indiana, and had opened in Bloomington, as already noticed, the
first female institute in the State. He had been educated at the Royal
Academy, London, and had become a member of the London Literary
and Scientific Institute. He was eminently qualified for the position,
which he filled with the highest credit to himself for thirteen years. His
assistant was Mrs. Hinkston, a lady of unusual mental and moral en-
dowments, who had herself been educated at the seminary. From the
summer of 1^<35 to September, 1842 — a period of seven years — nearly
four hundred young ladies ^m'sAec? the seminary course. The following
tabular statement shows the attendance:
Summer session, 1835 56 pupils.
Winter session, 1835-36 38 pupils.
Summer session, 1836 .-: 48 puiils.
Winter session, 1836-37 37 pupils.
Summer session. 1837 62 pupils.
Winter session, 1837-38 61 puidls.
Summer session, 1838 62 pupils.
Winter session, 1838-39 46 pupils.
Summer session, 1839 68 pupils.
Winter session, 1839-40 60 pupils.
Summer session. 1840 79 pupils.
Winter session. 1840-41 50 pupils.
Summer session, 1841 42 pupils.
Winter session, 1841-42 44 pupils.
Summer session, 1842 42 pupils.
Total 795 pupils.
The courses of instruction were divided into three departments —
primary, juniors and seniors — and the branches taught in the three de-
partments were as follows :
Primary. — Orthography, reading, writing, first lessons in arithmetic
and Parley's geography and history ; tuition, $5. Junior Class. —
Orthography, rhetorical reading and speaking, writing in various hands,
arithmetic in a manner calculated to insure practical utility, modern
geography and history, English grammar and composition ; tuition, $8.
Senior Class. — Ancient and modern geography and history, English
grammar completed, natural philosophy, chemistry, astronomy, geometry,
mental and moral philosophy, rhetorical composition, etc.; tuition, $10.
Extra Studies. — French, $8 ; music, with the use of piano, $10 ; draw-
ing and painting in water colors, $8 ; painting in crayon and oil, $10;
short-hand, $3. There were two sessions annually of five months each,
the summer session commencing the first Monday in May, and the second
the first Monday in November.
The seminary was conducted by Prof Pering with increasing popu-
larity and merit until about 1849, when Mrs. E. J. McFerson succeeded
hira. In July, 1855, the News Letter published the following regarding
her success :
Our readers will find a notice in another place of the Examination and Commence-
ment exercises of the Monroe County (Mrs. McFerson's) Female Seminary, to take place
next week. The name of Mrs. McFerson, the excellent Principal of this school, is a
praise in'our midst. By untiring efforts for seven or eight years she has made the
academy what it is, the pride and ornament of the place, and has won a higher and wider
reputation as an educator than any lady in Indiana. We hope there will be a large at-
tendance at the Examination and Commencement exercises.
474 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
The seminary had greatly increased in usefulness under the superin-
tendence of this lady — not that it was not excellent under Prof. Pering,
but the growth of the town, the presence of the railroad, and the advanced
views on educational questions, led the management of the institution into
innovations on obsolescent customs, and into theories and practices more
in accordance with the times. The school was the pride of the town, and
the lady was universally beloved for her rare elements of mind and heart.
In 1855, a change was made in the mode of support, as will be seen from
the following advertisement of the seminary :
Monroe County Female AcADEJir. — This institution will open its fall session on
Thursday, the "iOth of September, 1855, under the charge and superintendence of the
undersigned. She would state to the public that a change has been made in the manage-
ment of the iostitution. Under the present arrangement it is to be self-sustaining. She
has agreed to take charge of the school and furnish her own teachers, subject to the ap-
proval of the Board of Trustees, receiving as a compensation the tuition fees. She there-
fore asks a liberal patronage from the public, and requests prompt payment for her
services.
TUITION FEES.
Primary Department $3.00
Secondary 4.00
Preparatory , 5.00
Seminary proper 6.00
Music, with the use of the piano 10.00
A contingent fee of 50 cents will be added to the fall session for the purpose of fur-
nishing wood. E. J. McFerson, Principal.
Bloomington, September 14.
In 1857, Prof. E. P. Cole succeeded Mrs. McFerson as Principal of
the seminary.* The following was the announcement of the Trustees in
1858 :,
MONROE COUNTY FEMALE SEMINARY.
Located at Bloomington, Monroe County, Ind.,on the New Albany & Salem Railroad.
BOARD OF INSTRUCTORS :
E. p. Cole, Principal,
Miss Louisa M. Morgan,
Mrs. E. P. Cole, )■ Assistants.
Miss Margaret McCalla,
The next term of this institution will open on Monday, 13th of September next,
and continue thirteen weeks.
Boarding. — Good board can be had in private families at prices varying from $2.00
to $2.25 per week. Desirable facilities are afforded for ladies wishing to board themselves.
Arrangements will be made by which youn^ ladies can be boarded in private fam-
ilies, into which no male boarders will be received, and where a careful supervision of
health and the morals of the students will be exercised.
Ch'\rgf,s for Tuition. — Tuition in the Primary Department, $4 per term ; Inter-
mediate, $5.50 ; Academic, $6.50 to $8.50.
No charges for contingencies.
Music, $10 per term. Use of instrument for practice, $2 extra.
Drawing, painting, and fancy work in general will be taught at extra prices.
The entire expense of a student for one year need not exceed $130. This in-
cludes boarding, fuel, lights, washing, books and tuition in all the branches except
music, drawing, painting and fancy work.
Tuition and other charges must be met promptly within the first two weeks of
the term, at which time bills will be forwarded.
No allowance for lost time, except in case of protracted illness upon the part
of the student herself This position is taken, that all inducements to irregularity
may be removed. Irregular students receive but little benefit from their casual attend-
ance, and likewise occasion much trouble, both to the teacher and also to the class with
which they are associated. By order of the boird.
M. C. Hunter, Sec'y. Rev. William Turner, President.
Bloomington, Aug. 20, 1858.
* It will be observed that the advertisement speaks of the institution as an academy. It was,
really , the Monroe County Female Seminary, made so by the Legislature in 1832-33.
1
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 475
Prof. Cole continued at the head of this institution until 1863. At
that time the high school was founded, taking from the faithful old sem-
inary its usefulness — or much of it — though it still continued, under vari-
ous Principals — Rev. J. S. Reed being one — to hold forth educational
inducements. Its day, however, was soon over. The building is now
used as a dwelling.
THE MODEL SCHOOL.
A school which flourished for a few years, as a sort of preparatory de-
partment of the university, was the Model School, coaducted by Prof.
H. D. Riddile. The following was the advertisement :
The Model School. — The next session of the Model School of the Indiana Univer-
sity will commence on Thursday, April 30, 1857, which is the first day of the college
term.
TERMS :
Orthography, Reading and Penmanship ; $3.00
Primary Geography, Mental Arithmetic and History 3.50
Written Arithmetic, Geography with the use of maps and globes, and
English Grammar 4.00
Natural Philosophy, Algebra and Physiology 4.50
All tuition will be required in advance. No deduction in price will be made for ab-
sence, except in cases of protracted illness. We hope the patrons of this school will con-
tinue their patronage, as we have been at considerable expense in fitting up the school-
room with maps, &c., making it more interesting for our students.
H. D. Riddile,
Teacher.
THE BLOOMINGTON FEMALE COLLEGE.
The school law of 1852-53 provided for the sale of county seminaries,
and the transfer of the proceeds to the common school fund. It is
stated that the Methodists of Bloomington, who had talked for some time
of founding an academy or seminary of their denomination, purchased
the old seminary at auction ; but, becoming alarmed regarding the title
to the lots upon which the building stood, annulled the purchase before
the deed was signed. They immediately founded the Bloomington Female
College, however, their church being used for that purpose. Rev. T. H.
Sinex became the first President. The following was his advertisement
in 1855 :
Bloomington Female College and Academy. — The fall term of this institution will
-commence on the 20th of September, and continue thirteen weeks.
tuition.
In Primary Department, 1st Class, embracing Orthography, Reading
and Writing, per Term $3.00
In Primary Department, 2d Class, embracing the above and Mental
Arithmetic and Primary Geography 3.50
In Academic Department, 1st Class, embracing Geography, Arithmetic,
English Grammar, History and Analysis 4.50
In Academic Department, 2d Class, embracing the above with Natural
Philosophy 5.00
In Collegiate Department 6.00
Music, including use of Instrument to practice 8.00
Tuition bills payable in advance. Thomas H. Sinbx, President.
Sept. 8, 1855.
In 1856, immediately after the spring session. Rev. Sinex severed his
connection with the college, and was succeeded by Rev. M. M. Tooke.
In 1857, the courses of study, etc., were as follows:
30
476 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
FACULTY.
Rer. M. M. Tooke, A. M., President, Professor of Intellectual and Moral Science;
Samuel L. Bankley, A. B., Professor of Ancient Languages and Mathemetics; Mrs. L. P.
Tooke, M. P. L., Adjutant Principal Teacher of Modern Languages and Ornamental
Branches; Miss Sarah A. Purdy, M. P. L., Teacher of Natural Science, and Assistant
Teacher of English Branches ; Edmond Jaeger, Professor of Instrumental and Vocal Music.
COURSE OF STUDY.
Primary. — Orthography — spelling ; reading — first, second and third Indiana readers ;
and exercises in mental arithmetic.
Model School. — Orthography, reading, elementary grammar, mental arithmetic, pen-
manship, primary geography and history.
Academic. — United States History, elements of physiology, geography completed, com-
position— Parker's exercises, analytical grammar and arithmetic, continued.
COLLKOIATK DEPAKTMENT.
First Tear. — Analytical grammar completed, anatomy and physiology completed, com-
position continued, elementary algebra, ancient history, botany, modern history, elements
of the French and Latin languages and orthographical parsing.
Junior Year. — Algebra completed, natural philosophy, domestic economy, chemistry,
rhetoric, natural theology, geometry, logic — French and Latin, elective, with the ele-
ments of Greek, also elective.
Senior Year. — Geometry completed, evidences of Christianity, science of government,
plane and spherical trigonometry, German, elective, mental philosophy, geology, physical
geography, elective, moral philosophy, elements of criticism, astronomy, Latin and
Greek. Weekly exercises in composition, oratorical readings, etc., will accompany the
whole course.
EXPENSES.
Tuition in primary department, per term $3 50
Tuition in model school, per term 5 00
Tuition in academic, per term 6 50
Tuition in collegiate department, first year 8 00
Tuition in collegiate department, junior year 10 00
Tuition in collegiate department, senior year 11 00
For incidentals and janitor's fees — each term 50
Vocal music through the course, free of charge
EXTRAS.
Oil painting $12 00
Music on piano 10 00
Lessons on organ 8 00
Lessons on guitar 8 00
Use of instruments, each 2 00
Drawing, crayoning and painting, each 2 50
Monochromatics and tissue flowers, each 3 00
Pellis, floral work 5 00
Raised embroidery, in worsted and common 2 00
Spanish and Italian languages, each 6 00
Gymnastics, and ornamental penmanship and bookkeeping 5 00
Music on the piano, organ, etc., extra penmanship, bookkeeping, painting in oil and
water colors, may, with the consent of the faculty, be substituted for those studies desig-
nated in the course as elective.
A large college boarding house was kept on Sixth street, between
Walnut and Washington. In 1858, Rev. A. D. Lynch succeeded Rev.
Tooks as President of this college. He continued with satisfactory suc-
cess until about the breaking out of the last war, when the college was
permanently closed.
THE INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
An early act of Congress provided for the reservation of two town-
ships in each State to be devoted to school purposes, and in accordance
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 477
with this provision the General Assembly of Indiana passed an act, ap-
proved January 20, 1820, appointing a Board of Commissoners to locate
the two townships in Indiana, and appointed Trustees to superintend the
sale thereof, and the appropriation of the proceeds for the establishment
and maintenance of a State Seminary. In accordance with this act of
the Legislature, the Commissioners appointed selected the present town-
ship of Perry, Monroe County, as one of the two townships, and made ar-
rangements to erect the necessary buildings on the present site of the
State University. In 1822, the Trustees let out the building of two
seminary houses, one to be used as a dwelling for a teacher, and the other
for the State Seminary. William Snodgrass was to furnish shingles at
$4 per thousand; John Robinson to deliver brick at $4.75 per thousand;
John Wright, father of Gov. Joseph A. Wright, to do the stone work,
and lay the brick in good mortar, made of well sifted dirt and plenty of
good lime, at $4.25 per thousand. Edward and John Borland, Samuel
Hardesty and David Kello, engaged to do the carpenter work of the small
house, which was to be the size of W. D. McCullough's house, which he
had rented to Thomas Allen, of Kentucty, except to be four feet longer.
These buildings were both erected. On the 20th of November, 1824, the
Trustees elected Rev. Banard R. Hall, the first and only teacher of the
seminary, to open school as early as practicable in the following spring,
at a salary of |250 per year, with the promise of an additional sum if
the funds of the seminary would admit. The tuition fee of students was
fixed at $2.50 per session, and two sessiojhs were established for each
year. On the 15th of May, 1827, the board elected John H. Harney
teacher pro tempore of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy,
with a salary of $150 for the first session of five months, $40 to be paid
in advance. On the 2d of November following, upon the advice of the
Honorable Board of Visitors, he was elected permanent Professor at a
salary of $400 and $40 house rent, with the promise, if the initiation
fees of the students amounted to more than $100 per year, to divide the
overplus between the teachers to such amount as would not make their
salaries more than $6 00.
THE INDIANA COLLEGE.
At the session of the Legislature in 1827-28, an act was passed to
transform the State Seminary into the Indiana College, and Edward Bor-
land, Samuel Dodds, Leroy Mayfield, Jonathan Nichols, James Blair,
David H. Maxwell, William Banester and William Lowe, of Monroe
County, Seth M. Levenworth, of Crawford County, and William Dunn,
of Montgomery County, were appointed to make the alteration and estab-
lish the new institution in accordance with the provisions of the enact-
ment. On the 5th of May, 1828, the above named Board of Trustees
met in the seminary building at Bloomington, elected Dr. D. H. Max-
well President of the board ; Rev. P. M. Dorsey, Secretary ; and James
Borland, Treasurer, and on motion of Mr. Dunn, proceeded to the elec-
tion of the officers of the new " Indiana College." Rev. Andrew Wylie,
D. D., of Washington County, Pennsylvania, was unanimously chosen Presi-
dent of the college ; B. R. Hall, Professor of languages ; and John H.
Harney, Professor of mathematics and natural philosophy for one session,
at a salary of $400 per year, with the addition of $10 to Harney for
478 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
house rent. The following is a copy of an allowance made to Joseph A.
Wright, afterward Governor of Indiana :
May, 12, 1828.
Ordered, That Joseph A. Wright be allowed for ringing the college bell, making firea
in the college building during the last session of the State Seminary, $16.25 ; also for
lock, bell-rope and brooms $1.37^, and that the Treasurer of the late State Seminary pay
the same.
In the fall of 1828, President Andrew Wylie, having accepted the
position tendered him by the Trustees, arrived in Bloomington, and the
occasion was considered of much importance ; a torch-light procession and
public illumination was given in his honor. President Wylie's connec-
tion with the college proved very advantageous, not only to that institu-
tion, but to Bloomington and Monroe County. He was famed for his
learning all over the East and South, and soon students from distant
States came to Bloomington to place themselves under his instruction.
But the sudden and permanent popularity of President Wylie led to bitter
jealousy on the part of Profs. Hall and Harney, who no doubt envied
him his good fortune, and wished for the possession of his place and hon-
ors. The unpleasantness ceased with the permanent departure of Hall
and Harney, in 1832. The college flourished greatly under the man-
agement of President Wylie, and its influence was soon felt upon the com-
munity. People of culture and refinement came to reside in the town ;
churches grew strong, and shed their influence abroad, and the presence
of superior intellectual and moral culture gave a tone to Bloomington so-
ciety that had a marked eff'ect upon youth, and made the town justly
famous throughout the State.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
In 1838, an act was passed by the Legislature to establish a univer-
sity in the State, and John Law, of Knox County, Robert Dale Owen, of
Posey County, Richard W. Thompson, of Lawrence County, Samuel R.
Hosovuer, of Wayne County, P. C. Dunning, James Blair, Joshua 0.
Howe, Chesley D. Bailey, William Turner and Leroy Mayfield, of Mon-
roe County, were appointed Trustees to make the change from Indiana
College to Indiana University. The Board of Trustees met on the 24th
of May, 1838, elected Paris C. Dunning, President of the board, and
James D. Maxwell, Secretary, and made such changes as they deemed
necessary. A new building was erected of brick, and the course of study
was widened. Andrew Wylie, D. D., served as President until his death
in 1851, when, for two years, Theophilus A. Wylie, Daniel Reed and
Alfred Ryors acted as such. In 18oH, William M. Daily was appointed
President, serving as such until 1858, when, owing to serious trouble
which arose, he resigned. On All Fools' Day. 1851, the college build-
ing was destroyed by fire, which loss embarrassed the institution very
much, as not only were the recitation rooms gone, but a valuable library
of rare works was burned. This was no doubt the work of an incendiary.
The citizens immediately went to work to raise funds for a new building.
They received a meager sum from the State, and in 1859 completed the
present college building, on the old campus south of town. After the
resignation of President Daily, in 1858, T. A. Wylie acted as such for a
year, and John H. Lathrop for a year, or until 1860, when Cyrus Nutt
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 479
was appointed, the latter serving from 1860 to 1875. In the last-named
year, Lemuel Moss, D. D., LL. D., was chosen President, in which ca-
pacity he is still serving. A detailed history of this university cannot
be given in this volume ; neither can suitable or merited personal sketches
be written of the many eminent men who have been connected with it,
or who have gone as students from its halls to honored positions in almost
every State in the Union. It is appropriate, however, to say that the
institution has been the soul of Bloomington. A majority of the older
citizens are graduates or under-graduates, and their children and grand-
children are now treading in their footsteps.
The fine brick building, erected on the old campus late in the seventies
for the scientific department, was destroyed bv lightning in July, 1883.
The loss is said to have been $300,000. The library of 12,000 volumes,
the Owen collection of fossils, etc., and other valuable articles were de-
stroyed. In 1883, the Trustees of the University purchased a tract of
twenty acres in Dunn's Woods, fronting Fifth street, and made prepara-
tions to erect thereon two brick buildings, one for the main university ed-
ifice, and another for the scientific department. The estimated cost of
each building is about $60,000. The old building is to be used as a pre-
paratory department. The twenty acres cost $6,000. This is the sit-
uation at present (October 20, 1883).
THE CHUCHES OF BLOOMINGTON.
The Presbyterian Church of Bloomington was organized September
26, 1819, by Rev. Isaac Reed, the first members being Henry Kirkraan,
Mary Kerkum, David H. Maxwell, Mary D. Maxwell, John Ketchum,
Elizabeth Ketchum, Elizabeth Anderson, Elizabeth Lucas and Patsey
Baugh. The church was organized at the old log court house which
stood where the jail now does. The first three baptized were the children
of Dr. Maxwell — Martha Ann, James Darwin and Samuel Franklin.
The first regular minister was Rev. David C. Proctor, who assumed the
charge in 1822, preaching three-fourths of his time at Indianapolis, and
the remainder at Bloomington. In 1825, he was succeeded by Rev. B.
R. Hall, Principal of the State Seminary (now the University). Andrew
Wylie, D. D., supplied the church from 1830 to 1834. He was Presi-
dent of the Indiana College, into which the State Seminary had been
transformed in 1828. Rev. Ranson Hawley served from 1834 to 1841 ;
Rev. W. W. Martin, from 1843 to 1845 ; Rev. Alfred Ryors, from 1845
to 1847 ; Rev. Levi Hughes, from 1847 to 1851 ; Rev. Thomas Alex-
ander, from 1851 to 1853 ; Rev. F. H. Laird, from 1855 to 1856 ; Rev.
Lowman Hall, from 1856 to 1857 ; Rev. T. M. Hopkins, from 1858 to
1869 ; Rev. A. Y. Moore in 1869. The first church was erected in
1826, and the last, the present one, in 1859-63.
In June, 1852, the Second Presbyterian Church was organized with
a membership of eleven, eight of whom had been connected with the
other church. Rev. Bishop became stated supply of the church, and con-
tinued with it until 1867. Rev. Elisha Ballentine, after 1^^54, supplied
the pulpit during the absence of Rev. Bishop. Rev. Ballentine served
from 1867 to 1869 without assistance.
In April, 1870, the First and Second Churches were united under
480 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
the pastor?ite of Rev. A. Y. Moore, and were called the Walnut Street
Presbyterian Church. Thus the church remains at present with a mem-
bership of about 250. Since the organization of the church in 1819,
there have been received into its communion through the First, Second
and United organizations, 812 members. Twelve ministers of the Gospel
have gone forth from the church.
The United Presbyterian Church of Bloomington is composed of
three branches — the Associated Presbyterian (Seceder), the Associated
Reformed Presbyterian (Union), and the Reformed Presbyterian (N. L.
Covenanter), which were separately organized in l^SS, 1834 and 1838
respectively. The three branches remained apart until 1864, when the
Associate Reformed under Rev. William Turner and the Associate under
Rev. John Bryan came together and formed the United Presbyterian
congregation. In 1869, the Reformed congregation, under Rev. T. A.
Wylie, came into the union. The early accounts of the separate branches
are meager. The members were mostly from North Carolina, having left
there owing to their abhorrence to slavery. They were largely farmers and
were scattered outside of the county seat. At the time of union the mem-
bership was about 200. It is now nearly 250. Their church, in the
northern part of the city, was built early in the seventies. Rev. W. P.
McNary became pastor in 1870.
The Methodists organized their class at Bloomington in 1820, and
built their church about six years later. Among the early members were
Joshua 0. Howe and wife, Daniel Rawlins and wife, Benjamin Freeland
and wife, Samuel Hardesty and wife, Ebenezer Shepard and wife, Mrs.
Wright, Jonathan Legg and wife, Naomi Otwell and family, James H.
King and wife, Abraham Pauley and others. The Wrights did the
brick work on the old church. Elias Abel wheeled mortar. The build-
ing cost about $600. In the forties, it was sold to the Baptists, and in
the sixties to the Catholics, who yet own it. In about 1846, the Method-
ists erected a new church. Rev." Owen was pastor at the time. It was
the early custom in this church to have a door-keeper, and instead of a
bell a great tin horn called to the house of worship. Other members in
early years were the families of John S. Watts, Benjamin Neeld, J. D.
Robertson, C. G. Ballard, J. S. Jones, W. E. Waugh, Zimri Worley,
John Henry, G. W. Moore, J. W. Throop, C. P. Hester, B. F. Crary,
W. F. Browning, J. W. Davis, Wesley Robertson, and others. The
present church was built about 1873 and cost about |12,000.
The Christians, or Campbellites, organized a class not far from 1820,
and built a church late in the twenties. The families of Haws Arm-
strong, David Batterton, William Armstrong, Eli Lee, George Isominger,
Johnson McCullough, D. C. Smith, D. Eckles, J. W. Hardin, John P.
Rader, William A. Clark, Thomas N. Williams, D. F. Tilford, and
many others were members. They have had two houses since.
The Baptists started a small class at a little later period, the leading
members being the Fosters, the Stones, the Vanoys and others. They
built a brick church also, but were not as strong as the other three de-
nominations. In 1861, the following statistics of the four churches —
Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian and Baptist — were ordered prepared
by the Bloomington Ministerial Association ;
PERRY TOWNSHIP.
481
0. S. Presbyterian
N. S. Presbyterian
U. Presbyterian (Prof. Wylie's)
U. Presbyterian (Mr. Turner's).
Methodist ,
Baptist
Christian
350
225
300
500
500
250
409
200
150
100
250
300
200
105
88
60
225
230
40
175
25
36
30
100
50
75
70
35
126
130
40
100
Totals 2525 1200
916
280
Counting the number from the country attending the above churches,
as about equal to the statistics of Mr. Turner's church, we have in
Bloomington, church sittings, 2,025; attending church, 950; members,
690 ; prayer meetings, 7 ; attendance, 180 ; and in Sabbath school,
405. Taking the population of Bloomington as 2,200, and counting of
this number 600 for the children, we have as not usually attending church
640 ; not members of church, 900 ; children not in Sabbath school,
about 200. Surely, if these statistics approximate the truth, there is
much ground still to be occupied.
Other religious classes have been organized since then. The Cath-
olics have a small organization, and have a handsome brick church west
of the railroad, on Sixth street. The colored people have two small brick
churches in the city. Bloomington may be compared to Oberlin, Ohio,
in the number of its colored population, and in many other respects —
such as churches and schools. The city contains over 100 colored peo-
ple, many of whom are well educated and well mannered.
PERRY TOWNSHIP.
TIMBER, SOIL, ETC.
THERE is no better soil in the county than in some portions of Perry
Township. That fine, small stream, Clear Creek, has its source with-
in its limits ; and along many of the smaller branches are heavy deposits of
mingled silica and alluvium, which constitute the basis of the very best
soil for all the cereals, and for grass — especially timothy and clover, the
staple grasses of the Mississippi Valley. There is no better soil in the
State for wheat than in a few places in Perry Township ; but corn re-
quires more alluvium than the surface generally affords, though here and
there are fields which much resemble the black corn-fields of Illinois,
Iowa and Northern Missouri. Springs of good water abound. In the
eastern part, a few are slightly impregnated with sulphur. As the early
settlers did not have wells as we do now, they usually located where some
482 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
good spring promised an abundant supply of good water. Perry had
many of these springs.
THE SEMINARY TOWNSHIP. .
Township 8 north, Range 1 west, was one of two in the State of
Indiana, devoted by Legislative enactment to special school purposes.
The Indiana State University was then unknown, and its future place in
the social system of humanity was unthought of. In the year 1820, the
General Assembly of Indiana, in pursuance of an act of Congress, selected
two full Congressional townships — one in Gibson County, and the other
in Monroe County — to be used in founding and maintaining two State
Seminaries. The selection was made through the medium of commissions
appointed by the State Legislature, such officers being required to locate
the townships, and carry into effect other provisions specified. This was
done, Perry Township, or as it was only known then. Township 8 north,
Range 1 west, being the one selected in Monroe County. Trustees were
appointed to superintend the erection of the necessary seminary buildings
— two, one for the school, and the other for the Principal to occupy.
This work was done in 1822, four sections of land on the north side of
the township being reserved for the grounds, etc., of the seminary. The
sections thus reserved were all of No. 4, No. 5, the west half of No. 8,
the east half of No. 6, the west half of No. 9, and the east half of No. 8,
making in all four full sections. These sections were reserved from
sale, and squatters were not permitted to make improvements, such as
clearing the land, erecting buildings, planting crops, etc. It was
different, however, on the remainder of the township. The citizens
were, of course, aware that at some future day the lands of the township,
except perhaps the reserved sections, would be thrown into market and
sold in parcels to suit purchasers for the highest price that could be
obtained. None of the land was remote from the county seat, and much
of it was near, and, in addition, the rapid growth of Bloomington,
the location of a State Seminary there and the appearance of educa-
tors and citizens of unusual culture, caused the soil of Perry Township to
be greatly coveted, and early in the twenties its bounds were invaded by
an army of eager squatters, who, regardless of the fact that they had no
right there, went to work erecting buildings in which to live, cutting
down the forests to get fields for agriculture, constructing mills, etc., etc.,
as if the land were already their legal property. The years passed, but
still the lands remained unsold, though quite numerously occupied. The
squatters continuously clamored for the sale to be made, and at last, in
1827, the Legislature provided for the appraisement of the land and for
its appearance in market. This caused the squatters to become anxious.
Several of them had made quite extensive improvements in clearing and
building, and the sale meant that their claims should be subjected to the
competitive bids of speculators, prospective residents and themselves. The
speculators, for instance, could bid on a squatter's claim, and, if willing
to buy the improvements which the law of pre-emption required of him,
could run the farm above the price which the squatter himself was willing
or able to give, and could secure the home of the settler in spite of all
that he could do. Nothing serious, however, was done, though there was
some sharp competition for tracts of land of superior quality, or of favor-
PERRY TOWNSHIP. 483
able location. The appraisement of the land was made by James Bor-
land, in June, 1827.
The rating of the land was done in June, 1827, as will be seen from
the following certificate of Mr. Borland :
I hereby certify that the above is a plat of the Reserve 1 Township of seminary land
in Monroe County as rated by me agreeably to an act of the General Assembly of the
State of Indiana, approved January 25, 1827.
Given under my hand this 15th day of June, 1827.
James Borland, Commissioner.
The poorest land, class 3, could not be sold for less than the Govern-
ment price of $1.25 per acre, and might be sold for any amount above
that figure. A minimum price was also fixed for the first and second
classes. The sale began in October (the sections and parts of sections
marked reserved in the plat not being subject to sale), and during
the remainder of that year (1827) the following men became purchasers :
Alexander Kelley, Joseph Piercy, John Armstrong, and John Griffith
on Section 1; James G. Fleener, Granville Ward, Milton McPhetridge,
Isaac Rogers, Aquilla Rogers and Samuel Dunn on Section 2 ; Thomas
Smith on Section 3; George Henry, James Borland, Ellis Stone and
Hiram Paugh on Section 6 ; Emsley Wilson, Andrew Dodds, Abraham
Pauley, Richard Hunter and Alexander Murphy on Section 7 ; Samuel
Dodds, Richard Shipp and John Hight on Section 8 ; William Bilbo on
Section 9 ; Benjamin Rogers, David Batterton and Zachariah Williams
on Section 10 ; John Griffith and Jacob Isominger on Section 11 ; Gar-
rett Moore, John A. Wilson and Moses Williams on Section 12; Benj-
amin Rogers on Section 14 ; Josiah Baker and Abed Nego Walden on
Section 15 ; William Dunning, Levi Thatcher and Williams Knatts on
Section 16 ; Isaac Pauley, Daniel Davis, Thomas Carter and Absalom
Kennedy on Section 17 ; Isaac Pauley, Edward Borland and Samuel
Moore on Section 18; Simon Adamson on Section 19; Jacob Depue,
Evan Dallarhide, David Sears and John Mathers on Section 20 ; Robert
D. Alexander, William Davis, John W. Nicholson, William Taylor,
Michael Keith and David Findley on Section 21 ; John Boltinghouse,
William Patrick and William Taylor on Section 22 ; Solomon Butcher,
Banner Brummet and James Berryman on Section 27 ; William Taylor,
James Alexander, William Alverson, John Musser, Robert Sanderson,
James Brummet and Thomas Abbott on Section 28 ; William Alverson,
Carey James, David Sears, William Henry, James Parsons and Charles
Brookshire on Section 29 ; Samuel Rhorer, Solomon Green, John Smith
and Absalom Cooper on Section 30 ; John Smith on Section 31 ; Will-
iam Ross and Alexander Miller on Section 32 ; George Short and Moses
Grantham on Section 33 ; William Chandler on Section 34. These were
the only purchasers in 1827, and, of course, include all the squatters
who were very anxious to get a title to the land upon which they had
been living and had been for years saving money for that purpose. Sev-
eral residents of Bloomington and other portions of the county were
among the buyers. During the following year, 1828, the entries, though
quite numerous, were not half so many as in 1827. After the first rush,
the sale languished and fell back to its place with the remainder of the
county. The land was not subject to entry in the usual way at the land
offices. It was under the control of a special Commissioner who was em-
484 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
powered to negotiate the transfers. James Borland was for a period of
years this Commissioner.
ORGANIZATION.
Previous to 1830, the township remained attached to Bloomington
Township for election and judicial purposes, but at the latter date it was
given a separate organization and was named in honor of Commodore
Perry, the author of the famous message, " We have met the enemy and
they are ours," referring to his victory on Lake Erie. Elections were
ordered held at the house of Benjamin Kenton, for two Justices of the
Peace. Mr. Kenton was appointed Inspector ; Jesse Davis and George
A. Ritter, Overseers of the Poor ; Solomon Butcher and Finney Court-
ney, Fence Viewers. The first election was held on the 26th of May,
1830.
THE TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
The poll-tax payers of the township in 1841 were : Elias Abrams ;
Robert D.Alexander, who owned 158 acres on Section 21, and paid a tax
of $12.48 ; Samuel Borufi", on Sections 4, 22, 27, whose tax was
$16.48 ; Edward Borland, on Sections 17 and 18, paid $30.73 ; Solomon
Butcher, on Sections 22 and 27, paid $17.01 ; David Briggs, paid $2.05 ;
Alexander Blakely, on Section 28, paid $7.27 ; William Blakely, on
Sections 21 and 28, paid $14.34 ; John M. Bruster, paid $2.40 ; John
Berry, paid $6.67, on Section 14 ; John Blakely, paid $2.05. Other
poll-tax payers were Mansfield Bennett, John Ballenger, William Boruff,
Able Carter, Absalom Cooper, John Carlisle, William Crossfield, John
Cathcart, William Campbell, William Chandler, Thomas Carter, Andrew
Dillman, Joseph Davis, Ira Davar, James Dawden, Bailey East, Charles
Irvin, John Fullerton, Andrew Fullerton, David Finley, Enoch Green,
Solomon Green, Thomas Gorley, Samuel Gordon, Reuben Guy, John
Grimes, Noah Hammock, John Howard, Thomas Hemera, Sampson
Hemera, Tilghman Howard, Samuel Hall, Robert Hemphill, Andrew
Hemphill, John Hornbaker, Joshua Hoover, Joseph Hobson, Robert
Helms, Robert Hartness, William Harbison, John Hines, Daniel Isom-
inger, Michael Keith, Daniel Ketchum, Thomas Kelsey, Amos Lock,
Samuel Little, Isaac Laughhead, Solomon Lucas, David May, Ren
Mitchell, John Mitchell, I. P. Mathers, John Moffit, Samuel Mathers,
Milton McPhetridge, William McKissick, Joseph Mitchell, Matthew Mc-
Phetridge, John Moore, John Mathers, Benjamin Mathers, Ezra Bering,
Fleming Parish, David Perry, Samuel Patton, James Riley, Christopher
Rhorer, Samuel Rhorer, William Rush, Jacob Rhorer, James Sutphin, J.
P. Siscal, James Steel, John Small, William F. Siscal, Samuel Snoddy,
John Shields. David W. Shields, Lewis G. Shryer, Arthur Sutphin,
Stacey Smith, James Sylvester, William D. Snodgrass, James Sarvis,
Joel Thrasher, John Thompson, Gilmore Thompson, Jacob Tresler, John
Tate, David Wells, William Wylie, Edmund Waugh, Solomon Wagoner,
John Woodburn, Robert White and William White. The highest tax
payers were Edward Borland, $30.73 ; Hugh Campbell, $29.68 ; John
Ketchum, $29.96 ; John Moffit, $24.39 ; Thomas Carter, $18.33 ; Jesse
Dever, $17.90 ; Thomas Grimes, $15 ; Joshua Hoover, $16.85 ; Benja-
min Mathers, $15.10 ; Joseph Mitchell, $14.42 ; James Rogers, $15.95 ;
Samuel Patton, $13.90 ; John Smith, $22.55 ; Samuel Wylie, $21.50.
PERRY TOWNSHIP.
485
THE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.
The country schools of Perry have been as a rule superior to the
average in Monroe County. This is due, in a large measure, to the in-
telligence of the citizens, and to the presence of the State University in
the northern part. The question of education was brought directly to
their door and appealed to their better judgment. Country schools were
taught in the twenties — one in the vicinity of the Pauleys' and one in the
southwestern corner. Two houses were built in the thirties, and one or
two more in the forties. By 1854 or 1855, not less than five houses
were standing, in which school was taught regularly — one on Section 2,
another on Section 14, another on 20, another on 27 and another on 29.
If reports are correct, all were log houses. The patrons of the school on
Section 2 were the Heraphills, Currys, Harbisons, Smiths, Westbrooks
et al. The patrons of the school on Section 20 were the Snodgrasses, the
Perings, the Carters, the Mathers, the Rhorers, the Hoovers, the Finleys,
et al. The Nichols, Campbells, Dillmans, Rhorers, Moffits, Blakelys,
Rosses, Searses, etc., sent to the house on Section 29. The Moflfits, the
Adamses, the Fullertons, the Halls, the Butchers, the BorufFs, the Tates,
the Millers, the Lucases, the Siscos and others sent to the little house
on Section 27. The Rogerses, the Houstons, the Snoddys, the Hemp-
hills, the Ervins, the Servies, the Shieldses, the Moores, etc., sent to the
house on Section 14. Since the decade of the fifties the schools of Perry
have kept pace with the development of the township and the county.
There are now eight houses, and more of them are brick than in any
other township of the county. The following table shows the teachers of
1880-81, the number of the school district, the enumeration in each school
(not the enumeration in each district) and the kind of houses :
TEACHERS OF 1880-81.
Kate Phillips....
Emma Baxter ...
Morris Cain
John Holsapple.
John L. May ....
Ella Vourner....
Lida Pickel
Josie Woodward
Number
Number
of
of
District.
Pupila.
1
26
2
35
3
36
4
33
5
38
6
40
7
/ 43
8
48
Kind and Dimensions
of House.
Brick, 20x26 feet.
Brick, 20x26 feet.
Brick, 20x26 feet.
Brick, 22x28 feet.
Brick, 22x28 feet.
Brick, 24x30 feet.
CHURCHES.
The Bethesda congregation of Presbyterians east of Bloomington was
organized in the thirties, among the earliest members being the families
of James Faris, David Smith, Thomas Moore, John Gramble, Robert
Ewing, Thomas Smith, Martin Gamble, Samuel Curry and John A.
Russell. One acre of ground was purchased in Section 3, Township 8
north, Range 1 west. Another early class was composed of the families
of Hugh Campbell, Andrew Dillraan, Joshua Hoover and others. Mr.
Campbell donated land in Section 29, for the church, which was built
soon after 1855, and was called " Christian Union."
486 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP.
SURFACE FEATURES AND GEOLOGY.
THE chief natural characteristic of Bean Blossom Township is the
rough, precipitous and stony appearance of the country. Out-
croppings of fine stone are seen all along Bean Blossom Creek and in
remote portions of the township. The stream above mentioned enters the
township from the east side, about two miles from the southeast corner,
and takes a northerly course, emptying into White River, which forms a
portion of the northwestern boundary. No portion of Indiana furnishes
a more superior quality of limestone. The stone belongs to the Warsaw
division of the Lower St. Louis Group, and known by the local name of
American marble. It is light gray with bluish streaks, and is susceptible
of a high polish. Many thousands of tons of this and other varieties of
limestone, noticeably the kind so rich in the smaller species of fossils,
are quarried annually and shipped to all portions of this and neighboring
States. Within the last six or eight years, the facilities for quarrying
stone have been wonderfully improved, so that now blocks of enormous
size and great value are lifted out, sawed by steam into any shape and
size, and loaded with the greatest ease on cars for transportation. The
•'American marble" is used extensively for local monuments, affording a
cheap, durable and beautiful means of marking the last resting-place of
the dead. The geological section at Big Creek Quarry, about one mile
west of Stinesville, where the best marble is obtained, is as follows :
The Lower St. Louis Group of the AVarsaw Division of limestone, light
gray, clouded with bluish gray streaks, pleasing to the eye and sus-
ceptible of a high polish. It is excellently suited for interior
decorations and monumental work generally, as may be seen at
Stinesville. This is a valuable bed of limestone and quite acces-
sible 4 feet.
Lower St. Louis Group of the Warsaw Division of limestone, coarse
grained, light, blue color, containing the following fossils : Nautilus,
Collectus, Bellerophon, Subleeuus, Euomphalus planispira, E. spur-
groneusis, Terebratula bovideus, T. forniosa, T. sub cuneata, Rhyckon-
ella mutata and R. grosoenari 2 feet.
Limestone of the same group, light gray color, soft and easily worked,
hardens on exposure, and is entirely without fossils 6 feet.
Limestone, same group, dark gray in color, very hard and containing
numerous small fossils, highly silicified 8 feet.
Total 20 feet.
The section at the quarry half a mile west of Stinesville, is as follows :
Chert and argillaceous layers 8 feet.
Limestone (Warsaw Division of the Lower St. Louis Group), light
gray, fine grained, easily worked, without fossils, bleaches white
and hardens on exposure. This stone is regularly bedded and
accessible 15 feet.
Limestone, same group, dark gray, coarse grained and containing fos-
sils silicified 6 feet.
Total 29 feet.
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP. 487
The section at the quarry adjoining the east on the north, is as follows :
Ferruginous clay, chert and argillaceous layers 8 feet.
Limestone (Warsaw Division of the St. Louis Group), dark gray, coarse
grained, hard, water-worn, containing numerous fossils in a silici-
fied condition 4 feet.
Limestone, same group, light gray, fine-grained, free of fossils and with-
out partings or seams 30 feet.
Limestone, same group, dark gray, with numerous small (Spurgeon
Hill) fossils 6 feet.
Total 48 feet.
The formation on Section 31, is as follows :
Arenaceous soil 4 feet.
Chestin sandstone, irregularly bedded, without fossils 40 feet.
Argillaceous and cherty layers, containing Zaphreatis spinulora, Athy-
ris triuncle a. A. lamelosa, spines and plates of Archxcidaris sp. ;
Springopora multaitenuata, Lithostrotwn mammillare and fragments
of L. proliferum 10 feet.
Limestone, upper St. Louis Group, light gray, hard, siliceous and reg-
ularly bedded ., 40 feet.
Total 94 feet.
These tables illustrate the wealth of the township in first-class lime-
stone. And the beauty of the fact lies in the ease with which the stone is
worked.
THE SETTLEMENT.
The early settlement is so remote that it is difficult to get at with any
degree of reliability. The entries of land were early, but many of the
heaviest purchasers were speculators who did not expect to reside in the
township, but afterward, from time to time, sold to those who located per-
manently. John Fullen bought all of Section 4, as soon as the land was
thrown into market in 1816. Nathaniel Gilbert, who became a resident
soon afterward, bought a tract in 1816, on Section 15. He was one of
the first settlers in the township, if not the first. John McCormick, a
speculator, bought tracts on several sections, in 1816, and during a few
of the succeeding years. Hugh Barnes, another very early resident of the
township, bought on Section 20, in 1816, and Abner Evans, who is said
by several old settlers to have been the first permanent settler of Bean
Blossom Township, located during the same year on Section 21. He
built a saw-mill on Jack's Defeat Creek, at a very early day — probably
as early as 1819, which was operated by him for a number of years.
Archibald Wood, who did not live in the township, bought several tracts
quite early — several in 1816. Jonathan Gilbert bought not only on
Section 15, in 1816, but on Section 22 as well. He was a prominent
citizen in early years. C. & F. Bullett and Fetters & Hughs, speculators,
bought several tracts at an early day. Julius Woodward bought on Sec-
tion -32, as early as 1816, and William Millikan on Section 34 during
the same year. Millikan built a saw mill early, which he operated a
series of years. Traces of the old dam are yet visible, a memento of the
early times. William Kelso bought on Section 34 in 1816, and soon
afterward became a resident. John Bigger bought on Section 35, the
same year, but whether he became a resident cannot be stated. Jonathan
Lindley who did become a resident, secured a piece of land on Section 35
in 1816. Phineas Stevens became a land-holder on the same section the
488 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
following year. Samuel Jennings also bought on Section 36 in 1816.
These were the only entries of 1816. In 1817, Robert Blair bought
land on Section 15 ; F. V. Hall, on Section 17; James Bailey, on Sec-
tion 23; "William Puett, bought on Section 25; Moses Slaughter, on the
same section ; Nathaniel Clark, on Section 26, and John Kays, on Sec-
tion 36. In 1818, the entries were as follows : Isaac V. Buskirk, on
Section 5; William Ray, on Section 26. John Burton purchased a
piece of land on Section 9 in 1819, He became one of the most promi-
nent and influential citizens of the township. He founded the town of
Mt. Tabor, established the first grist and saw mill there, and was actively
engaged in the early history of the village. More of this will be found
further on in this chapter. There does not seem to have been a single
tract purchased in the township in 1820. In 1821, the following en-
tries were made: William Burton on Section 2 ; Francis Evans on the
same section ; Anthony Reese on Section 18 ; John Moore on Section 30.
Reuben Loving bought on Section 2 in 1824 ; Simon Lindley on the same
section the same year. John Lemon bought on Section 3 the same year.
John Burton secured an additional tract on Section 11, in 1824, and
William Burton increased his farm by a purchase on Section 2, in 1822.
Charles Devore settled on Section 17 in 182-3. L. L, Waldron bought a
tract on Section 19 in 1825, and has since been a resident of the town-
ship. William Puett bought on Section 19 in 1827, and John Summit
on the same section in 1828. Nicholas Whisenand and Solomon
Teague bought on Sections 20 and 21, respectively, in 1827, and Henry
Ritzel on Section 21 in 1826. Alexander Wilson bought on Section 27
the latter year. W. 0. Stansberry purchased a tract on Section 29 in
1824, and George Sharp and Armstead Puett on Section 30 the same
year. In 1823, Henry Hopewell bought on Section 33, and in 1826
Martin Wampler on Section 36. David Bight bought on Section 32
in 1829 ; Joseph Wampler on Section 30, in 1826 ; Gilbert Lytton on
Section 28, in 1828 ; Samuel Hartsock, who is said by some to have been
the first settler in the township, on Section 16, in 1830. John L. Ash-
baugh, another very early settler and prominent man, on Section 16, in
1831 ; John Blain on Section 16 in 1830; Henry Wallace on Section 9, in
1829; Richard Shirley on Section 6, in 1829; Peter Abel on Section 3,
in 1826 ; Benjamin Utterback on Section 2, in 1829; Andrew Robinson
on Section 1, in 1826, and John Barton on the same section in 1828.
These were the only entries prior to 1830. The names of all the early
residents, however, have not been given.
ANECDOTES.
Old Daniel McHolland, who settled in the vicinity of Ketchum's
Mills, in Clear Creek Township, in the year 1815, and who was probably
the first white man to bring his wife and family to the county of Monroe,
became a resident of Bean Blossom Township at an early day. He was
a jovial old fiddler of exceptional backwoods skill, and officiated in the
capacity of orchestra at many an early dance in the township. His
musical proclivity was too preponderant for financial success. He owned
no land and was content with enough to eat and wear so long as his fiddle
could be played upon. He passed away with the old times. At the
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP. 48^
early settlement of the township, bears were quite numerous and several
were killed. Thomas Allen killed several, and was a famous hunter of
deer. A man named Wrightsill killed a bear in 1829 or 1830 south-
east of Stinesville. He was hunting in the woods with his dogs and suc-
ceeded in treeing the bear in a large sycamore. He was a good shot,
and brought it down at the first fire. The ground was so soft under the
tree that the falling animal made a deep indentation which remained there
for a year or more. The marks of the bear's claws on the bark of the
tree could be seen there for several years. Thomas Wilson was another
skillful bear hunter. At an early day, he went up to the vicinity of
Baker Township, Morgan County, where he encamped in the hollow
trunk of an enormous sycamore tree which was yet standing, and re-
mained there for a week or more, traversing the surrounding country for
bears. He killed four or five, it is said, some under rather thrilling cir-
cumstances, besides numerous deer. David Bllett killed bears in Bean
Blossom Township, it is said. Coleman Puett shot one near the south-
east corner of the township during the twenties. Jerry Devore crippled
one west of Stinesville in later years, but the animal succeeded in elud-
ing all pursuit. Old man McHolland was an experienced trapper and
deer hunter. He killed many of the latter animals in the township.
The hides were worth from 25 cents to $1 each, and were largely
used for " breeches " by the earliest settlers. When the weather was
fair, they were good enough, but in rainy or foul weather they took
water like a blanket, and when dried were stiif enough to stand alone.
Then it was laughable to see the old settlers draw them on. The " sad-
dles " of the deer were worth about the same as the hides. The venison
was dry and required lard in which to be cooked before being palatable.
The old settlers much preferred fat and lean pork, combined, to any other
meat that they could get. The Baileys and the Turners and others were
skillful deer hunters. It is said that one of the Baileys once had a fight
with a wounded deer, and had the clothing nearly all torn from his body,
besides receiving numerous bruises from the sharp hoofs and antlers
before he vanquished the enraged animal.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
Ephraim Abel, John Ashbaugh, John Allen, John Adams, William
Abel, Elisha Allen, Jacob Ashbaugh, Peter Abel, Joseph Ashbaugh,
William Brady, J. V. Buskirk, John Blain, Frederick Burris, Jeremiah
Briscoe, John Burton, H. W. Burton, Henry Berry, Jesse Burton, B. R.
Byers, Solomon Berry, Zachariah Catteran, Andrew Cosner, Valentine
Cline, John S. Constable, John Childers, Joseph Campbell, G. W. Cham-
bers, J. M. Campbell, John Cooter, Israel Clutter, Luther Coffee, Elisha
Chambers, John Cox, Robert Camden, Jacob Duncan, Henry Devore,
John Davis, Squire Ellett, D. W. EUett, Tanner, Moses Fare, P. S.
Tanner, W. F. Farley, James Gentry, Lemuel Gentry, Henry Gross,
Joseph Houston, Benjamin Houston, Lawson Hewett, P. Houston, Lewis
W. Hayes, James Hughes, Felix G. Hite, Nelson Johnson, Samuel
Jemison, Joshua Jones, Joseph James, John Johnson, Jacob Keizer,
James Lewis, William Langwell, Abraham Lemmons, S. Landy, Law-
rence Lytton, Bartlett Laman, Joel Lytton, James Lee, Charles May, G.
490 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
S. Mayfield, John Moore, John McHenry, Harrison Moore, William
Neice, Calvin Percival, Benjamin Putnam, William Puett, Hines Paul,
Jesse Runnells, W. B. Robertson, John Rocket, A. Shelburn, Willis
Smith, Noah Stine, Daniel Summit, Henry Stine, John South, David
Stephens, Christopher Shover, Johnson Stites, Andrew Stine, Peter
Stine, Henry H. Stine, Paul Stine, Eusepheus Stine, Daniel Stine, David
Shook, Hubbard Sharp, John Summit, Richard Shirley, L. Shirley,
James Turner, Brinkley Turner, Henry Wilson, James W. Warren, Eli
Warren, Austin Ward, Thomas Wilson* Lewis Waldron, Gideon Walker,
Joseph Wampler, Hezekiah Wampler, Hugh Warren, Martin Wampler,
Emanuel Yates, Thomas Vint, Robert Vint and Lewis Zink. The high-
est tax payers were the following: John Ashbaugh, $8.10; John Allen,
$22.40; Peter Able, $13.27; William Brady, $10.30; James V. Bus-
kirk, $18 ; Fred Burris, $8.51 ; Isaac Buskirk, $15.95 ; John S. Barnes,
$20.07; Henry Burton, $12.06 ; George Bowman, $8.36 ; Jesse Bur-
ton, $14.15; B. R. Byers, $16.90 ; F. T. Butler, $8.80; John Burton,
$17.98; Lawrence Cooter, $11.40: Reuben CoiFee, $16.50; Elisha
Chambers, $7.55; John Davis, $19.10; Squire Ellett, $7.27; Moses
Fare, $26.14; P. S. Tanner, $13.07 ; Peter Goss, $8.12 ; William Hite,
$14.79; F. G. Hite, $7.22; Lavina James, $7.70; Lawrence Lytton,
$8.65; Bartlett Laman, $7.27; John Moore, $11.40 ; John McHenry,
$10.30; William Neice, $8.65; William Puett, $14.70; Jessie Run-
nells, $11.67; John Rocket, $10.85; Arynotte Shelburn, $7.96; Daniel
Summit, $7.70; Christian Summit, $10.82; Christopher Shover, $7.41;
Johnson Stites, $13.70; Henry Stine, $23.65; Hubbard Sharp, $13.05;
John Summit, $9.53 ; Richard Shirley, $8.10; Thomas Wilson, $25.15 ;
Lewis Waldron, $14.15; Gideon Walker, $16.61; Joseph Wampler,
$10.75; Hezekiah Wampler, $34.36 ; Martin Wampler, $9.10 ; Joshua
Vint, $11. The total number of polls was 148 ; acres of land, 13,617 ;
value of goods and improvements, $101,605 ; value of lots and improve-
ments, $2,883 ; aggregate value of taxable property, $49,515 ; total
amount of taxables, $154,003; State tax, $727.32; county tax, $343.97;
total tax, $1,071.29.
MT. TABOR.
The most important feature of Bean Blossom Township in early years
was the village of Mt. Tabor. There was a time in the history of this
village when it was the leading commercial center of Monroe County, as
far as grain and live stock were concerned. The town was the important
place before any town was there, if that is not an ambiguous statement.
As early as 1820, John Burton erected a saw mill there on a dam which
he constructed, and about the same time, or perhaps a little later, he also
began grinding corn and wheat, though the bolting of the latter was done
by hand. These continued to operate with a wide and useful patronage
for several years before any other buildings were erected. It is said that
about 1825, James Turner and Jefferson Wampler established blacksmith
shops there, though probably not at the same time. William Ellett
opened the first salesroom there as early as 1828, in the shape of what
later generations would demoninate "a saloon." He sold whisky and
other kinds of liquor, and within a year began to sell from a small stock
of groceries. He remained but a few years.
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP. 491
In April, 1828, the village was properly laid out and recorded at the
county seat. W. D. McCullough was the surveyor. Sixty-six lots were
laid out on the north side of the creek, and the old plat shows the bridge,
the saw-mill and the grist-mill.
In 1829, James Gilbert began selling liquor there, as did Andrew
Warapler. It is likely that these men were not there at the same time.
The first store of any consequence was opened by Parks & Hite in 1829,
or perhaps 1830, and during the latter year Hezekiah k David Wampler
opened a combinsd liquor establishment and grocery. Saloons at that
day were called groceries, and usually comprised groceries as we know
them and liquors which were classed as '• wet groceries." The name
saloon was never applied to such houses. About this time William Ellett
also sold a small amount of merchandise. In 1831, Ellett & Kirkham
were engaged in the grocery business together. In 1832, Hezekiah
Wampler brought on a stock of general merchandise, which he continued
to increase as the years passed, until he had the largest stock, it is said,
in the village. John S. Barnes started a store in 1834, and Gideon
Walker a grocery the same year. Parks & Hite were yet in business with
a large stock and an increasing trade. The Wamplers were similarly
situated. John Bennett began to sell goods in 1835. J. K. Hemp-
hill was also in business in the town about this time. After this
came Wampler, Shelburn & Dunning, in 1836 ; Ellett & Barnes,
1837; William Hite, 1839; James Whitesill, 1841; Felix G. Hite,
1841; A. W. Hill, 1843; W. J. Sparks, 1845; Sparks & Davis,
1847 (the Wamplers, Sparks, Whitesill. Hill, et al., were yet in
business) ; George L. and Milton Brown, 1848 ; William Houston, 1848 ;
John C. Mays, 1849 ; Parks & Egbert, 1849 ; Sparks & Davis, 1849,
and others later and on, until about the time of the last war, when Levi
Kean kept store, the last one in the village. William Chambers was an
early wheelwright. The Posey Brothers made quite a number of hats
from lambs' wool, which were bought in the surrounding country.
In about 1828 or 1829, Samuel Hartsock bought the old Burton saw
mill and grist mill, and rebuilt both on a much larger and better scale.
He also greatly improved the old dam, until an excellent water-power
was obtained. Within a year or two, he sold out to Parks, Shelburn &
Hite, and in 1831 Gideon Walker bought a half interest. Other changes
were afterward made. The old grist mill had a very large local trade,
and in addition shipped by boat to the Southern markets large quantities
of good flour. In the thirties, and during about all of the forties, large
quantities of produce were sent South by Nathan Hill, Parks & Egbert,
Wampler & Co., W, J, Sparks and others. As high as 5,000 hogs were
slaughtered there in one season, and shipped down the river. In the
spring of the year, White River rose so high that back water on Bean
Blossom Creek rose in the town of Mt. Tabor to a suflScient depth to
float boats. It is said that when a freshet would occur, a flat-boat would
be constructed hurriedly, loaded with pork, flour, corn and wheat, and
sent down the stream. There was but little, if any, current in the creek,
so that the boats were poled down to the river current, after which the
hand labor was over until the destination was reached. As high as fif-
teen boat loads were sent from Mt. Tabor in one season ; and the season,
31
492 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
be it remembered, was only during the flood of the springs. Dr. W. S.
Walker said he went nine times to New Orleans with flat-boats, and
Matthias Berry went thirteen times. Late in the forties, it is said, Mr.
Hill introduced steam into his pork packing house, to scald the slaugh-
tered swine and operate the machinery for hoisting. The trade of Mt.
Tabor extended far beyond Bloomington. It is said that Hezekiah
Wampler shipped the first boat load of pork, grain and provisions down
the river about 1836. Noah Stine owned and conducted a large cooper
shop, where scores of barrels were made for the pork packers and the
grist mill. Mr. Turner was an experienced gunsmith, and had a big
shop. Mr. Chambers manufactured all kinds of spinning wheels and
reels. Amsden, Hatterbaugh & Coffin manufactured wheat fans for a
few years, beginning about 1836. They employed as high as twenty-five
men, and kept four peddlers, with wagons, on the road all the time ; this
was a very large and important business. David Wampler conducted an
extensive tannery. The well-known Judge Eckles was married in Mt.
Tabor. Of course the citizens gave him an old-fashioned charivari. A
number of tin pans and bells were fastened to the machinery in the old
saw mill ; the water was then turned on, and the Judge to be was chari-
varied by machinery. The Judge will furnish further details upon re-
quest. The village was at its best from 1 835 to 1852, and probably did
the largest business early in the forties. Its highest population was about
350. William Hite was the first Postmaster. Nathan Hill and F. G.
Hite succeeded him. Among the earliest residents were John Burton,
Samuel Hartsock, William Hite, F. G. Hite, Hezekiah Wampler, David
Wampler, John Cox, David Keizer, Widow Godsey, William Ellett. A
man named Moody conducted a tailor shop there in about 1832 ; Edward
Ellett succeeded him, and G. W. Boyd succeeded Ellett. There has
been nothing on the site of the old village for several years, except the
old mills and a residence or two. The busy business houses, the thronged
streets and the buildings have disappeared. In looking at the site of the
old village, one is reminded of the lines of Goldsmith :
'* Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn,
Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn.
Amidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen,
And desolation saddens all thy green."
STINESVILLE.
This village owes its origin to the New Albany Railroad. It was laid
out by Eusebius Stine, owner, and John J. Poynter, surveyor, in 1855,
on the southeast quarter of Section 17, and consisted of 114 lots, 15 of
which were on the west side of the railroad. The village began to grow
slowly, but received quite an impetus when the Virginia Company began
quarrying American marble west on Big Creek. Samuel Briscoe prob-
ably started the first store. John Mc Henry & Son came with goods
within a few years. James Williams sold goods for a short time. Mr.
Matheny was probably next, and James Shell next. Thomas Riggs was
in soon afterward. C. C. Dunn came in a few years ago and is there
now. David Miller opened a store four or five years ago, and is yet in
business. The first hotel was opened by William Easton, who has re-
mained with it since. Dr. Mullinix was probably the first physician. Drs.
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP. 493
Allen and Greer are practicing at present. John McHenry was the
first Postmaster. James Greer is the present agent of Brother Jonathan.
The owner of the town was probably the first blacksmith. John Easton
was the first shoe-maker. Frank Ashbaugh has been the shoe-maker for
about twenty years. Eusebius Stine built the first saw mill at the vil-
lage. He also built a small grist mill. These buildings were erected
long before the town started into being. Among the early residents of
Stinesville were Eusebius Stine, after whom the village was named, Sam-
uel Brisco, Thomas Wilson, Charles Miller, Frank Ashbaugh, Mr. Math-
eny, Jackson Hite, William Easton, George Pugh and their families, and
others. The great feature of the village during the past five or six
years is the limestone interest. Two or three companies from
Terre Haute, and one or two from other cities, are quarrying and sawing
and shipping large quantities of excellent limestone.
The first school, it is said, was taught in the Putnam neighborhood,
about the year 1828, by a Mr. Taylor. The house was a residence of
logs, that had been vacated, and was then used for several years for
school purposes. A school was started about the same time in the north-
ern part near the Buskirks. By 183G, there were four established schools
in the township — one east of Mount Tabor, one west of Mount Tabor,
one a mile and a half south of Stinesville, and the fourth about three
miles southeast of Stinesville. Of course the four houses were of logs.
In 1846, the number of districts had been increased to five or six. In
1856, schoolhouses were standing on Sections 2, 12, just south of
Mount Tabor, 7, two houses on Section 29, and 23. Since that day, the
schools have been greatly improved. Mount Tabor had no schoolhouse
but sent to the country houses. The building about a quarter of a mile
south was the principal one, and this was at first used also by the chil-
dren of Stinesville. Twelve or fifteen years ago, a schoolhouse was built
in the latter town. About five years ago, the building was burned and
another, which is yet used, was erected the same year. Three famous
teachers during the decade of thirties were Eusebius, Euraneus and
Ambrose Hinkle, brothers, sons of a wealthy slave-holder of Tennessee,
and young men of fine manners, finished education and among the most
perfect disciplinarians ever in charge of schools in the township. Euse-
bius, the elder, was a Lutheran minister, and often preached in German
to members of his church who could not understand English very well.
The morning sermon was in German, and the evening sermon in En-
glish. The brothers were single men, though the elder married one of
the fair daughters of the township. These brothers were in such demand
to take charge of the schools that comparatively large amounts were
raised by subscription in addition to the stinted amount furnished by the
school fund, to pay them for their services. They introduced grammar.
United States History and algebra into their schools, and created an
interest in improved and advanced education that had a marked benefi-
cial efi"ect upon all the surrounding schools. Clinton C. Owens was
another early teacher of pronounced success. He was finely educated
and his discipline was the pride of the district where he taught. At no
494
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
time since has the township had better schools than under Owens and Hin-
kles. The township schools in 1880-81, with the teachers, etc., were
as follows:
TEACHERS IN 1880-81.
Eva Hall
Emma Kocke
Lizzie Owens
William Hoadlcy
Hosea Gaskins...
Sarah Williams..
James Morgan
S. D. Coon
Jane Stealey
Number of
School
District
Enrollment.
1
38
'I
23
3
48
4
38
•5
35
6
40
7
60
8
40
9
24
Kind and Size of
Schoolhouses.
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame.
18x22 feet.
18x22 feet.
22x28 feet.
22x30 feet.
20x24 feet.
20x24 feet.
22x30 feet.
20x22 feet.
20x26 feet.
CHURCHES.
A class of Methodists was organized at the Putman Schoolhouse
about 1832, and continued to meet there for worship for many years.
Among the earliest members were the families of Henry Putnam,
James Houston, Stephen Lundy, Joseph Houston, David W. Elliott,
Peter Abel, Joshua Jones, B. B. Rogers and Barnard Arnold and
others. A church was finally erected in the northern part of the town-
ship early in the fifties. The old Baptist Church called " Jack's Defeat "
was organized about the year 1840, among the earliest members being
the Davores, the Lyttons, the Wilsons and others. Their church, called
Mt. Carrael, was erected late in the forties or early in the fifties. After
Stinesville started up, the old log church was abandoned, and the Bap-
tists, Methodists, Christians, and Lutherans living in the vicinity united
means and built a " box " church in the village, which was used con-
tinuously until the present, when a new house is being erected (1883-84)
by the Baptists. The Methodists will retain the old church. The new
church will cost about $800 when finished. The Lutherans organized
a class about 1845 or earlier, and soon built a church south of Stines-
ville. Among the leading families belonging were the Stines, the Sum-
mits and other. Henry Stine, Sr., was for many years the Elder. Other
churches have been established in later years.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
THE EARTH STRUCTURE.
THIS section of the county possesses many interesting features, not only
from its natural attractions, but from the fact that it was settled at a
very early day and grew to worth and prominence while other portions
were yet comparatively uninhabited. Of course the township has the
usual characteristics of exterior and interior that belong to Monroe County
as a whole. There are the argillaceous bluffs, with their soil of semi-
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 495
Sterility ; there are the lower lands, where the agriculturist usually reaps
his best, if not only, valuable return ; there are the timber tracts, which have
been largely denuded of their best woods ; and there is that broken, cut-up
appearance so common to the southern part of the Hoosier State. The
lower lands are usually of a rich combined soil of sand, lime, clay and
alluvium, the latter often predominating and affording a mellow, fertile
tract of the greatest value, and one greatly sought after by those who un-
derstand the requirements of good crops. An abundance of excellent
limestone is found near the surface, and is being worked by numerous
companies. The section at the quarry, one and a half miles north of
Ellettsville, is as follows :
Feet.
Clayey soil 4
Limestone ( Warsaw Division Lower St Louis Group) dark gray, shaly
and siliciouSjContaininii; the following fossilo: Nautilus collectus,
Bellerophon sublpeois, Orthocerai Sp., Pieurotomaria wortheni.
Terebratula furmosa, T. tergida, Pentremiti.H conoideus aud F.
varsonviensis 8
Limestone, same group, light giay, fine-grained Ooliiic, containing
fossils of tlie Spurgeon Hill varieties 2
Limestone, same group, light gray. Oolitic, free from fossils, with a
vein of iSlylolites (called '-toe-nails" by quarrymen) running
through it horizontally 16
Limestone, same group, dark blue. Oolitic, remarkably free fiom
fossils, and susceptible of a good polish 8
Total 48
At the Matthews Quarry, one mile north of Ellettsville, the section is
as follows :
Feet.
Ferruginou.^ cUy soil 5
Limestone (Warsaw Division St. Louis Group), light gray, Oolitic,
coarse-grained and fossiliferous G
Limestone, same group, light gray, tine-grained, regularly bedded
Oolitic, without fossils 16
Total 27
In Sharp's Quarry, near there, the section is as follows :
Feet.
Ferruginous clay soil 5
Limestone, same group, rough, shaly and usuch water worn, Oolitic,
with many fossils of the Spurgeon Hill species 10
Limestone, same group, light gray, fine grained. Oolitic, without
fossils r 20
Total 35
The section two and a half miles west of Ellettsville, on Section 8, is
as follows :
Feet.
Arenaceous soil 4
Chester sandstone, unfos-iliferous 30
Argillaceous and cherty layers, containing water-worn fossils in a
fragmentary condition 10
Limestone (Upper St. Louis Group), light gray, hard and silicious,
resembling the lithographic limestoue of Harrison County. ... 40
Total 84
The State Geologist says : " The Oolitic limestones of Monroe County,
by reason of accessibility and other valuable considerations, are of vast
496 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
importance to the material prosperity and progress of the State of Indi-
ana." He gives the general geological section of the county as follows :
Feet.
Chester eandstone and iron ore deposits 65
Upper St. Louis limestone and cherty layers 35
Lower St. LouIh limt stone, Warsaw Division 45
Keokuk limestone, buft" colored 7
Keokuk limestone, light or bluish gray 23
Knob sandstone 70
Knob shale, blue and buflF colored 130
Total 875
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
A very large portion of this township, comparatively, was entered in
1816, as soon as the land was thrown into market, and this circumstance
reveals the fact that not only was the first settlement before that time, but
it was very rapid when thus begun. In 1816, the following entries of
land were made at the land office at Vincennes : John Ketchum, on
Section 1; Jonathan Lindley, Roderick Rawlins, Joseph Evans and Asa
Osborn, on Sections 2 and 3 ; Lewis Noel, on Section 4 ; .Jonathan Gil-
bert, on Section 8 ; George Cutler and George Sharp, on Section 9 ;
James Parks, on Section 10, also James Wright on the same; Archibald
Wood and James Goodwin, on Section 11; Samuel Caldwell, on Section
13 ; John Bigger, James Parks and Samuel Elliot, on Section 14 ; Am-
brose Carlton, on Seccion 15 ; Archibald Wood and Samuel Caldwell, on
Section 17 ; Jacob Cutler and William Bradford, on Section 18 ; Joseph
Harris, on 21 ; John Simons, on 22 ; Ambrose Carlton and Asa Coltrin,
on Section 23 ; Chris. Eslinger and John Gordon, on Section 24 ; John
McCormick, on 26 ; Jonathan Lindley and John Simons, on 27 ; Solo-
mon Bower, on 28, also on the same section Joseph Kennedy, William
Thornton and Abel Bigelow ; David Johnson, on 29 ; John Fullen and
William Baker, on 30; John Perishasv, on 31; David Sears and Daniel
Zincks, on 32; Abel Bigelow, William Oliver and Edward Archer, on
33 ; Thomas Hodges and Joseph Taylor, on 34 ; Samuel Rogers and
Benjamin Johnson, on 35 ; Fred Smoyers and David S. Chambers, on
36. In 1817, the following entries were made : Henry Kirkham, on
Section 1 ; Henry Wampler, on the same ; Coleman Puett, on 4, William
Latherlin on the same ; Joseph Reeves, on 9 ; Henry Wampler and
Samuel Hazlett, on 25 ; Eli Lee, on 26 ; Samuel Rogers, on 35.
Jonathan Gilbert bought on Section 5 in 1818 ; John Armstrong, on
Section 1 in 1819 ; T. R. Harley, on Section 6 in 1820; Joseph Ken-
nedy, on Section 28 in 1824; Joel A. Dyer, on Section 7 in 1828.
These were nearly all the entries previous to 1830. After the rush of
1816, the sales were few for many years.
It is difficult to state who was the first permanent settler in this town-
ship. Several tracts were purchased in 1816, as will be seen from the
above, but so far as can be learned only one family came out that fall to
reside in the township during the winter. In about October, 1816, Will-
iam Edmundson, without owning the land, located within a short distance
of EUettsville, erecting there a small, round-log cabin, in which he domi-
ciled his family. He did not enter his land — the northwest quarter of
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 497
Section 9 — but after a number of years bought it of the man who did
enter it — probably George Cutler. During the winter of 1816-17, Mr.
Edmundson cleared about five acres for the coming year's crop. No
other family is now known to have lived in the township during this
winter. However, James and George Parks, George Sharp, Coleman
Puett, Lewis Noel and two or three other heads of families erected rude
log cabins on their respective farms late in the fall of 1816, or during the
winter of 1816-17, and the men lived in the same (" bached ") all win-
ter, clearing in the meantime land for the crop of 1817. Early the next
spring the families of these men arrived and became residents in the log
cabins. Among those who came in 1817 were the families of the
Parkses, George Sharp, Lewis Noel, Coleman and Joseph Puett, William
Milligan, Jonathan Gilbert, Joseph Reeves, Samuel Ellett and probably
half a dozen others. Johnston Sharp, yet living, says this was the first
settlement of the township. James Parks, Sr., then about thirty-six
years old, was the leading man of the settlement. He lived to the re-
markable age of one hundred and one years and over, dying but a few
months ago. The following, written by him in hia ninety-seventh year,
will be read with interest :
" I was born in Wilkes County, N. C, near the Yadkin River, Septem-
ber 26, 1781. My grandfather, John Parks, moved from Virginia to this
place before the Revolutionary war, but how long before I do not know.
My grandfather was of Irish descent, and my grandmother of Dutch.
They raised to be men and women fourteen children ; seven boys and
seven girls.
" My father, George, was raised and married in the same settlement.
My mother's maiden name was Milly Davis. They had six children; all
lived to have families except one. I lived in that neighborhood until I
was fifteen years old, when my father, with his family, moved to Burke
County, N. C. I lived with my father until I was about twenty-five
years of age, when I married Nancy Moore on the 30th of November,
1806. We settled and lived in Burke County for several years. We had
ten children, all of whom lived to be men and women except two. Nancy,
my wife, died June 26, 1828, and I married Frances Kendrick August
27, 1830. By her I had one son, James.
" Now, for some of the incidents of my early life. Commence ninety
years ago, just after the close of the Revolutionary war. I remember
grandfather had a roan horse. He went for his horse one morning, to
find that he had been stolen. Great lamentions followed, but a few
mornings afterward the old horse stood at the gate well-rigged out with
new saddle and bridle — all complete.
" When grandfather's property was sold, after his death, a family of
his slaves were exposed to sale, which, by his will, were not to be sold out
of the family. That was humane in those days. Father bought a boy
named Moses, and he and I were raised together. The people of those
days were thrown upon their own resources. No labor-saving machinery.
All came out of the ground — both eating and wearing. The men would
raise cotton and flax ; the women would card, spin and weave clothing
for themselves and children. They had dresses of difl"erent
colors and stripes. They got their colors from indigo of their.
498 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
own raising, copperas and various kinds of blossoms. The first calico
dress I ever saw father bought for my sister, then about sixteen years old.
He gave a three-year-old steer for six yards, which completed the dress.
I suppose if the ladies nowadays were confined to six yards for a dress,
tliey would think it rather tight.
" Education was quite limited. Our schoolhouse was made of round
logs, with a dirt floor. Split logs with legs put in served for sears. Large
cracks were left to admit the light. Our books consisted of, first, a primer,
then Dike's spelling book, then Dilworth's, then Webster's first edition,
completed one list of spelling books. Our first reader was called a
Psalter, some old English concern, then the Testament and Bible. These
completed our reading books. No grammar, geography nor history was
in use that I ever heard of till my education was completed. I learned
to cipher as far as the rule of three, and some in fractions ; could write a
tolerable hand, and was considered a fair scholar for those days. Our
schoolhouse was also used for a church. When young people walked to
meeting together, the girls would tie their shoes and stockings in their
handkerchief, and carry them on their arm until within sight of the
church, when they would put them on, and so march up in style. (We
boys were spared that trouble, from the fact we had none). The girls'
dress in winter was of woolen goods called linsey; in summer, cotton stripe.
Boys' dress for winter was buckskin breeches and shoes — no boots. The
custom was for almost every farmer to tan his own leather, and make shoes
for himself and family. Our diet was hog and hominy for breakfast,
v^egetables for dinner, and a hearth full of roasted sweet potatoes for sup
per. Sugar and coiFee for only special occasions. Fruit abundant.
Peach brandy and honey tolerably plenty ; whisky scarce. There were
very few drunkards. No doctors or lawyers. I never saw either, that I
know of, until I was fifteen years old.
" Soon after the war of 1812, when things had somewhat settled, my
father and family with enough others to make a right smart colony, con-
cluded to emigrate to some new country.
" The Territory of Indiana was the place chosen, and we landed in
Lawrence County, on the East Fork of White River, October, 1815. The
land was not yet'in market, but was surveyed ofi" ready to be sold. We
chose our lots, and settled on them, built our cabins, and cleared a con-
siderable amount of land. As the sale was to come off the next season
at Jeff'ersonville, a dozen or more of us went down. The land was to be
sold to the highest bidder. When the sale took place, a man by the name
of Bulslitt, had a longer pole than ours, and ' knocked the persimmons,'
sweeping the entire settlement. Not the first man saved his land or im-
provements. So we marched home, feeling as if we had lost a friend. I
had about eight acres cleared, surrounded by a good fence. The part of
the territory where we now live did not come into market until the next
season, so we concluded to make another trial. So we moved and again
selected our lots.* The next sale took place at Vincennes in October,
1816. By this time we became somewhat acquainted with fever and
ague. I was the only one able to attend the sale, and I took the chills
while there. I purchased for nearly the entire colony — about a dozen
* This Belection was in the present Richland Township, near EUettsyille, as described above.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 49&
lots in all. After the sale, we went that winter and built cabins on our
lots, and cleared some ground. I got in about six acres of fine corn, which
was our sole dependence for the year. But lo ! in October there came a
frost, which bit the last ear (so with the whole settlement] ! Then we
were in a fix ! We had no mills to grind our corn, so we were compelled
to pound it into meal. There was one hand mill in the settlement. But
the corn was so soft it would neither beat nor grind, until it was kiln-
dried. I made a scaffold up in the chimney and dried mine ; then I liad
my choice, to go a mile to the hand mill, or to pound it. Many a time I
have worked hard all day, and at night taken one-half bushel of corn to
the hand mill and ground it.
" I had myself, wife and five children to feed. That would be thought
pretty hard these times. Nevertheless, we never suffered from hunger.
I was considered a good shot. In a few hours I could bring in venison
or turkey. We also had plenty of milk and butter. So we passed
through the season safely. When we first moved here, Delaware^ and
Pottawatomie Indians were plentiful. They were quite friendly, and would
often come with their squaws and papooses to stay all night with us.
They had a trading house within a half mile of where I now live. In
early days we had grand times at log rollings. When we got our ground
ready for rolling, we would invite our neighbors to the frolic. Choosing
our captains, they would in turn choose their hands, and at it we would
go. If ever you saw logs come together, it was about that time. Before
we commenced work we had to take a little of the ' critter ! ' It is not
worth while to say we did not feel what we drank, for that was what we
drank it for ! We had none who might be called drunkards, but such a
gathering nowadays might all be counted as drunkards. Such was the
custom of the country at that time. Oh, what a thing custom is when
rightly considered, whether good or bad.
" The year after we moved to the Territory, delegates were elected for
the purpose of forming a State constitution. Counties were then laid off
and established. Before Monroe County was organized, an election was
ordered to choose three Commissioners, a Clerk and a Sheriff. B. Wood-
ward, Michael Buskirk and myself were elected Commissioners. We
proceeded to organize the county. We purchased a half section of land,
where the court house now stands. We laid off the public square, and
had a court house and jail built thereon. Lots were surveyed and
sold, bringing a considerable revenue. We were now ready to hold
court, and the county machinery ready for action. It now became
necessary to have a School Commissioner. I offered my services and was
elected.
" In order to put the school in operation, it became my duty to sell all
the sixteenth sections to the highest bidder. By this means, a large fund
was raised, and the school placed upon a firm basis (I have to make long
strides on account of my records being burned up). In the year 1832, I
offered for the Legislature (Lower House), and was elected. I served ray
time at ^2 per day, and boarded myself. Finding that there was not
much money in such warfare, and perhaps less credit, I would not offer
any more. Some years afterward, I was again elected School Commis-
sioner for the county. At the expiration of my term of office, I retired
from public life. (I never was beaten for any office I offered for.)
500 - HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
" The first President I ever voted for was Thomas Jefferson for his sec-
ond term of oflBce. I have been a straightforward Democrat ever since
— voted for all the candidates for oflSce except Greeley. I thought the
Democrats got off the track there, and I would not follow them. I have
lived on the farm where I now live sixty-two years. I have been the
ancestor of eleven children, fifty-six grandchildren, eighty great-grand-
children, and five great-great-grandchildren, thus being, at this time, the
representative of five generations.
" I joined the Baptist Church in North Carolina about the year of
1807. I was one of the charter members of Old Vernal Church, the
first congregation organized in this county, Monroe, and was Deacon of
the church for quite a number of years.
" I have endeavored to live peaceably with all men, and to live in
accordance with the will of my heavenly Master, to the best of my knowl-
edge. I have fought the good fight, have almost run my race, and am
now patiently waiting for the good Lord to call me home, where there is
a heavenly mansion prepared for me not made with hands, eternal in the
hea.vens. James Parks."
INCIDENTS.
George Sharp, the father of Jonathan Sharp, was probably the most
experienced bear hunter ever a resident of Monroe County. He had
lived before coming to the county in a wild section of the South, and
during a surveying expedition of considerable magnitude, had been one
of four or five scouts and hunters who supplied all the wild meat required
by the members of the expedition. He averaged a bear a day for months,
besides scores of buffaloes, deer, turkeys, etc. He killed hundreds of
bears in his time, and had many narrow escapes from death, but his
incredible strength, coolness, skill, and knowledge of the animals, always
brought him through wi4;hout serious injury. He went armed with a
huge butcher knife, the blade of which was one foot in length, and car-
ried a rifle with ball heavy enough to bring down the largest game. His
son, Johnston Sharp, yet has his knife, which is truly a formidable weapon,
and is greatly prized as a keepsake. It was used in killing one of the
few bears taken in Richland Township. In about 1819, during the early
winter, and just after a light fall of snow, some man in the settlement, in
going through the woods, saw a large and curiously shaped track, and
could not account for the same. Old man Sharp was called on to decide,
and pronounced it the track of a large bear. The trail was immediately
followed and led to a large hollow sycamore which stood a short distance
north of Ellettsville. All the men of the settlement gathered around to
participate in the killing, but were prohibited from using guns for fear,
in the excitement, of shooting some person. The tree was cut down.
While this was being done. Mr. Sharp, the only one experienced in the
habits of bears, was plied with all manner of questions, such as " Which
way will it run ? " " Where shall I stand ? " etc., and answered all in a
manner to keep his neighbors on the " ragged edge," and make them feel
their decided inferiority on questions of bear-hunting. The huge tree
came down with a crash, split open, and, to the astonishment of all,
revealed three bears — one large one and two cubs three-fourths grown.
The dogs to the number of about a dozen immediately set upon the bears,
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 501
which, severely stunned by the fall, could at first offer only partial resist-
ance, and were readily dispatched with clubs and cautious rifle shots before
they had recovered their usual strength. One of the cubs caught a dog
owned by Mr. Sharp, and was crushing the life out of it, when the irate
owner, armed with the big butcher knife above mentioned, ran up and
reaching over the bear, struck it to the heart from the opposite side.
The yelping canine was instantly released and in a few moments the bear
was dead. Several present could not understand why Mr. Sharp had
reached over the bear and struck it from the opposite side from which he
was standing. He explained that bears when struck with a knife always
snapped at and struck with their paws at the immediate object hurting —
in this case the knife — regardless of who or whai; was on the other side,
and he cited them to the fact that the bear when struck had bitten sav-
agely at the knife, striking also with its paws, and had he been on that
side would, no doubt, have suffered injury. He had been in too many
hand-to-hand (so to speak) conflicts with these animals not to know how
to use the knife. The three bears were taken and dressed, and parceled
out among the settlers, all of whom enjoyed eating a large piece of juicy
bearsteak, which, it is said, tastes much like pork, and can be fried in its
own fat. Several other bears were killed in the township very early, an
account of which cannot be given. Wolves were very troublesome, and
were caught with steel traps. Panthers were occasionally found. A
small dog, belonging to Mr. Milligan, treed a large one early one evening
and kept it there all night, strange as it may seem. Early the next
morning, Mr. Milligan, who had heard the continued barking, went out
with his rifle and shot the panther dead from its perch in the tree. It
was a very large specimen of its species, measuring, it is said, nearly
twelve feet from tip to tip.
One morning, very early, James Parks, Sr., was aroused from sleep be-
fore the usual time by a strange noise on the door step, and getting up as
quietly as possible, he walked to the window, which commanded a view
of the door step, and looked out and saw with astonishment and some
alarm a large black bear lying there asleep. The settler got his rifle,
and taking cautious aim at a vital place of the animal, pulled the trigger.
The sharp report was followed by the death growls of bruin, and in a few
moments all was still; the bear was dead. The family ate bear steak for
breakfast. The Mayfield boys — Nicholas and Elzy — in going from
school, saw a dark object cross the path a short distance in front of them,
and at first supposed it to be a raven. Going farther on, they were
alarmed to see a large bear ; and taking to their heels, made for home at
the top of their speed, and there told what they had seen. A party of
men started out, but did not succeed in coming up to his bearship.
William Poe owned a hand mill as early as 1822 or 1823, which sup-
plied the neighbors with cracked corn. The meal from this mill and
from the old Parks Mill was coarse, and was at first sifted until all the
finer had been separated out, when the remainder was used for half-hom-
iny. John Fullen operated a horse mill later, and also made a limited
quantity of whisky from a small copper still. The Mayfields, in Rich-
land, and Allison, in Van Buren, took the earliest stand against the
consumption of ardent spirits, and did much to stop their use at log roll-
502 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
ings. Jack Storm, one time in a freshet, endeavored to cross the principal
creek in Richland Township, but after getting a severe wetting, and
failing ingloriously in getting across, he was forced to give up. From
this circumstance the creek is said to have taken its name — "Jack's
Defeat." William Rawlins and Mary Sharp were married in 1818 ;
this was the first in the township. David P. Edmundson was born in the
township during the summer of 1817, his birth being the first ; Lucinda
Puett was the second.
The settlement of the township was quite slow after the rush was
over, and only took place as the country gradually grew from its back-
woods condition. In 1841, the tax-payers were as follows :
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
James Armstrong, Alexander Armstrong, E. W. Archer, James At-
kins, David Acuff, Jonathan Archer, James Alsup, John Acuif, John
Bennett, Earlham Bratney, James Bratney, Jr., Nathan Bray, David
Byers, Micajah Bray, James W. Cofi'ey, Thomas Copeland, Joseph Camp-
bell, John Campbell, Samuel Campbell, William Campbell, Hiram
Coffey, Elisha Carter, Thomas R. Coffey, William Claman, John Carder,
Larkin Coffey, Albert Coffey, Aliham' Coffey, Riloy Coffey, Achilles
Coffey, Mat. Clay, William Clay. Cornelius Clay, Peter Coon, Lewis
Coffey, W. P. Chipman, Elijah Dunning, Robert Delap, D. D. Duskins,
James S. Dowell, J. A. Dyer, William Dyer, Hiram Dyer, H. N. Dyer,
William Edmundson, D. R. Edmundson, G. W. Edmundson, Martin
Ellett, James Everman, E. P. Farmer, John Fullen, Jr., Lawrence Free-
man, James Freeman, Micajah Freeman, Robert C. Graham, W. H. H.
Gilbert, William Greenwood, Hiram Gilbert, William Grimes, James
Goodnight, David Grimes, Harvey Houston, Samuel Harbinson, James
Hall, Beveridge Hall, Andrew Harshboyer, John Hileman, Washing-
ton Houston, John Henry, Solomon Hickman, John Horsford, Carey
Houston, Henry Hopewell, E. S. Harrell, Jonathan Isenhaw, George A.
Isenhaw, John S. Johnson, Archibald Kerby, James Melicote, Jacob
Mefford, William Moffitt, William Mayfield, Charles Moore, John D.
Mayfield, Nicholas Mayfield, John Manis, James Manis, L. H. Moreland,
Leroy Mayfield, William Nesbit, David Nesbit, Curtis Parks, Anderson
Pinkston, Coleman Puett, Jeremiah Poe, James Parks, Jesse Reman,
James P. Raney, James Robertson, William Robertson. John Robertson,
Mathew Robertson, Ellas Renana, Joseph Reeves, John T. Reeves, Will-
iam Shannon, Gabriel Stine, William Shannon, James Stearns, Samuel
Straney, Jolinston Sharp, John Sanders. Joseph Sanders, Luke W. San-
ders, Isom Sanders, J. B. Shreeve, John C. Smith, William Stagsdall,
Jacob Summit, Joseph Summit, Simpson Sharp, Reuben Shipley, Reu-
ben Tompkins, William Thompson, Jacob B. Yany, Pleasant York,
Charles Wier, Maxwell Wilson, Zimri Worley, Hiram Worley, George
Whisenand, David Whisenand, Hiram Wampler, Andrew Wampler, Jacob
Wampler, Wesley Whitson, Jefterson Wampler. Archibald Wilson, Sam-
uel Wier, John "T. Wilson, Perry Woodall, William Williams, Godfrey
Williams, John Whisenand and"^ David Whitesell. The heaviest tax-
payers were Jonathan Archer, $12.50; John Bennett, $18; James
Brantney, Sr., $11.44; Nathan Bray, $14.59 ; David Byers, $14.02;
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 503
Reuben Coffey, $11 ; James Coffey. $11 ; Lewis Coffey, $14.15; Martin
Ellett, $10.30; Estate of Samuel Ellett, $24.36; E. P. Farmer, $13.11;
Rachael Foster, $11.77 ; Samuel Harbinson, $37.80 ; Francis Hall,
$15.57; Archibald Kerby, $11.40; Leroy Mayfield, $18.70; David
Nesbit, $25.86; Curtis Parks, $11.50; Meredith' Parks, $10.12; James
Parks, $10.34; Joseph Reeves, $11; James Stearns, $14.42; Samuel
Straney, $18 ; John Sanders, $36.70 ; William Shreeve, $15.95 ; Jacob
Warapler, $10.01 ; John Wier, $22.82; Samuel Wier, $12.57. There
■was a total of 165 polls ; acres of land, 18.801| ; value of land and im-
provement, $133,938 ; value of lots, $2,985 ; "personal property, $42,-
591; total value of taxables, $179,514; State tax, $839.34; county
tax, $391.13; total tax, $1,230.47.
RICHLAND, OR ELLETSVILLE.
This town did not have as early an origin as several others in the
county. Edward Ellett kept tavern there for several years before it was
considered a village. He also conducted a blacksmith shop that was well
patronized. He started a small, old-fashioned, up-and-down saw mill
early, and it is said that he later put in one apartment of the same build-
ing a set of rude stones, and for a number of years ground corn, and
probably wheat. The first grist mill in this neighborhood, and probably
one of the very first, if not the first in the county, was the rude hand mill
of George Parks, which was brought to the township in 1817. It was
patronized by all the neighbors until the Mt. Tabor grist mill was built
by old man Burton, in about 1820. This old hand mill of George Parks'
is yet in existence — in the possession of Johnson Sharp, who operates it
on Old Settlers' Day, for the inspection of the curious and the gratification
of the early settlers. Old man Kirkham, in the northeastern corner of
the township, started a horse mill about 1820, which was quite well pat-
ronized for several years. In the month of February, 1837, Reuben
Tompkins employed John Sedwick, County Surveyor, and laid out four-
teen lots on Section 9, and named the village thus founded Richland.
During the same year, an effort was made to secure a post ofiice there,
the name, Richland, being selected ; but as there was another post office
in the State of that name, it was changed to Ellettsville, in honor of
Edward Ellett. In the spring of 1838, Alonzo Beraan laid out an addi-
tion of seventeen lots, and at this time the name of the village became
Ellettsville, the same as the post office. Mr. Beman at this time opened
the first store, his stock consisting of a general assortment, worth about
$1,000. Within a short time he was joined by F. T. Butler, who
became his partner, and who was then in business at Mt. Tabor, packing
pork and manufacturing hats to a considerable extent. In 1839, Jeffer-
son Wampler opened a liquor store in the little village ; and about the
same time, or perhaps late in 1838, Ellett & Barnes started a good store
of general merchandise.
In 1840, there were then two stores, one liquor shop, one blacksmith
shop, one grist mill, one saw mill, a post office and about five families.
James Whitesell started a store in 1841, continuing until about 1845.
Johnson Stites sold liquor in 1840 ; Isaac Wampler sold liquor in 1841,
A Mr. Manville was in business about 1846. H. R. Seall opened a good
504 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
general store in about 1848, and continued nine or ten years. S. B. &
0. A. Harris started with about $1,000 worth of goods in 1848, and in
one form or another have continued until the present, if their sons who
succeeded them are included. Emanuel F. Faulkner opened a store in
about 184y. Parks & Coffey started soon afterward, as did also John H.
Reeves, Harris k Dean, Dow ell k Moore. The McCallas. of Blooming-
ton, had a branch store in Ellettsville. Dowxll k Stearns were in business
in the fifties ; G. B. Moore the same, and is yet in business, having ac-
cumulated a fortune. R. W. Akin k Co. opened with a general store in
1856. J. M; Campbell started up about the beginning of the war, and
F. E. Worley began during the war. W. H. Jackson opened a store
about the close of the war, and still continues to make a living over the
counter. Parks k Puett were in business early in the village. The
Perry Brothers came to the village twenty or twenty-five years ago, and
have amassed comfortable fortunes. They are now engaged extensively
in the stone business. Among the business ventures at the village have
been the saw mill of Sanders k Knighton, many years ago; Houston's
steam saw mill, started in the fifties, and transferred to Perry & Sed-
wick, was afterward burned. Late in the fifties, David Allen built and
equipped a grist mill at a total cost of about $13,000. It was an excellent
mill. After a few years, it was sold to Jesse Draper, and ten or twelve
years later to W. H. Jackson, upon whose hands it burned down last
winter (1882-83). S. B. Harris built a grist mill about 1870, at a cost
of $9,000, and after four or five years added a set of machinery for card-
ing wool. Both are yet in operation. The woolen factory cost $3,000.
It is said that John Whisenand carded wool at the village as early as
1842, his motor being the tread-wheel. It ceased running about 1850.
Early in the fifties, Gilbert May started a good cabinet shop. Shook &
Faulkner began manufacturing carriages about eight years ago, and are
still engaged in the same pursuit. F. E. Worley opened a private bank
in the village about twelve years ago, with a capital of from $40,000 to
$60,000. He still continues doing a general banking business, and has
the confidence of the community. He owns one of the finest residences
in Monroe County. George Fletcher started a planing mill five or six
years ago. He is an extensive contractor and builder. About five years
ago, a German from Indianapolis erected a spoke factory, which is now
owned by Sedwick k Grant, and is not in operation. William Walls is
now conducting a good wagon shop. Judson Sanders started a steam
saw mill in 1883. These are the more important business industries. In
1850, the population of the village was about 60; in 1860, about 250;
in 1870, about 450; in 1880, 585, and in 1883 about 625.
INCORPORATION.
In 1866, the project of incorporating the village was talked of, but
met stubborn opposition from the moneyed element. In June, 1866, a
petition was presented to the County Board praying that the village
might hold an election, and that in the event of a majority of votes in
favor of incorporation, the village might be declared the incorporated
town of Elletsville. The plan proposed comprised two hundred and two
acres, and the petition was signed by the following residents : W. H.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 505
Jackson, James W. Coffey, Charles G. May, Thomas Manpin, Nehemiah
Sumner, Noel Edwards, W. J. Jackson, Elisha Allen, W. C. R. Mc-
Neeley, Henry E. Akin, William Galloway, Samuel Galloway, Joseph
B. Gray, Samuel Given, James S Whitesill, R. J. Mills, G. W. Fletcher,.
R. C. Harris, W. H. Corneling, E. E. Moberly, H. M. Shook, G. K.
Berry, E. H. Wood, F. M. Falkner, N. E. Miller, John Cook, H. R.
Seall, J. G. Smith, John Dearmon, H. F. Perry, Theodore Sedwick, H.
A. Edwards. J. H. Shook, A. Albertson, James S. Sharo, T. J. Sharp,
J. V. Rawlins, R. L. Rawlins, S. F. Edwards, E. E. McNeeley, G. W.
Houston, A. W. Gray, G. V. Lane, John Stevenson, Lafayette Truett,
W. G. Jamison, W. P. Davis, Josbrook, J. E. Sedwick, S. B.
Harris, J. L. Nesbit, H. S. Hughes, Allen Mills, T. J. Costin, J. M.
Harris and Daniel Manpin. The population of the village by the census
taken at this time was 388. The County Board ordered an election held,
which was done the 16th day of June, 1866, a majority of votes being
polled for the incorportion. In September, 1866, the County Board de-
clared Ellettsville to be duly incorporated. Officers were elected, but
within a year or two the interest died out and remained dormant so that
elections were abandoned for several years, when the municipal govern-
ment was revived and has continued to work until the present. The
present officers are G. W. Houston, William Miller and Steven-
son, Trustees ; James Robinson, Treasurer ; John Edmundson, Clerk ;
Robert Fletcher, Marshal.
PRESENT BUSINESS INDUSTRIES.
General merchandise — G. B. Moore, John Matthews & Son, Harris
Bros. Drugs — Hughes & Whitted, J. F. Harris. Hardware — W. C.
Draper, W. T. Harris. Groceries — Perry Bros., F. M. Stevenson, 0.
F. Moore, James Parks, Jr., H. H. Constable, J. T. Rubertson, W. H.
Jackson. Boots and shoes — Perry Bros., J. T. Robinson. Milliners —
Mrs. C. Pressley, Miss Dora Hughes. Grist mill — S. B. Harris. Card-
ing mill — S. B. Harris. Saw mill — Judson Sanders. Planing mill —
George W. Fletcher. Barber — J. A. May. Blacksmiths — Shook &
Falkner, Harry Copenhaver. Notions — T. B. Harris. Newspaper,
Monroe County Citizen — W. B. Harris. Harness shop — C. B. Shey.
Hotels — Mrs. Whitesell, Richard McNeeley. Saloon — J. W. Smith.
Carriage factory — Shook & Falkner. Bank — F. E. Worley. Graded
school, five teachers ; Principal, Mr. Farrabee. Ellettsville has had
several newspaper enterprises, an account of which will be found else-
where in this volume.
SCHOOLS
The first school in the township was taught during the winter of
1822-23, in a log cabin which stood about where the residence of William
Draper now stands. The building was of round logs, had a huge fire-
place that could be induced to take in logs six feet long and two feet or
more in diameter, and had a log left out on the south side about breast
high over which greased paper was fastened to serve the purpose of win-
dows. William Rawlins, son of Roderick Rawlins, the first County
Treasurer, was the, first teacher. The term was three months long, and
the children of James Parks, Benjamin Parks, Lewis Noel, Coleman
506
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Puett, Samuel Ellett, Joseph Puett, Joseph Reeves, George Sharp,
George Parks, William Milligan, two miles away, and William Edmund-
son, went to young Mr. Rawlins to learn how to read, write and cipher.
This house was used for school purposes about five years, and was then
displaced by a hewed-log structure erected near the cemetery, and used
until the township was divided into districts in the forties. Late in the
thirties. Porter Edmundson erected a building which he used for a school-
house for a number of years, himself doing the teaching. This was
wholly a private school supported by subscription, or tuition, and was a
good one for that early day. Another early school was the one taught in
the southern part of the township in a log cabin on the Benjamin Reeves
farm in the winter of 1823-24, William Matlock owned the farm then,
and his son, Jeiferson Matlock, was the teacher. He had as high as
twenty scholars, and taught such a good school that it was continued
every winter after that in the same neighborhood. In 1836, there were
four schoolhouses in the township, besides two or three private schools. By
1846, the number had increased to seven, and in 1856 to eight, and by
this time several frame houses could be seen where erst the log house
with greased paper windows, puncheon floors, doors, seats and desks were
to be seen. The following was the condition of schools and houses
in 1880-81 :
TEACHEKS OF 1880-81.
Number
of
District.
Actual
Enrollment.
7
20
6
48
4
28
5
44
3
24
2
36
1
21
Kind and Size of Houaea.
Mary Moberly
H. M. Edmundson.
J. E. Edmundson ...
Nellie Wingfield .....
J. W. Bray
J. V Foster
M. E. Dickson
Frame
Frame
Frume
Frame
Frame
Brick,
Brick,
22x28 feet.
24x30 feet.
, 20x24 feet.
, 24x26 feet.
, 22x28 feet.
34x36 feet.
22x26 feet.
Various schoolhouses were used in Ellettsville prior to about 1855, at
which time a large frame house with two rooms was erected, and used
until the present brick structure was constructed about twelve years ago.
Maj. H. F. Perry was one of the first teachers in the old frame house.
The present two-storied brick cost about $7,000, was built by the town-
ship, and is occupied by five teachers, who cannot properly instruct all
the town children, and a small brick building near it is also used.
CHURCHES.
The old Vernal Baptist Church was one of the very first, if not the first,
organized in Monroe Connty. Meetings were held during the winter of
1817-18, but probably no organization was effected until several years later.
Among the first members were the families of James Parks, Benjamin
Parks, George Parks, Lewis Noel, Leroy May field, John Sanders, the
Coffeys, Mr. Shreeves, the Martins, Frank Hall, and others. A rude
log church was built in the Sanders neighborhood, in about 1826, and
•was used until about 1838, when a frame church, built further north and
within about three-fourths of a mile of Ellettsville, took its place. The
old log house was so open that in cold weather meetings were held in the
residences of the members — principally in that of James Parks, who
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 507
for many years was Deacon of the church and its most prominent
member. Rev. James Chambers was the first minister, but within two
or three years he was succeeded by Rev. Leroy Mayfield, who was
pastor over thirty years. The Bethany Baptist was organized quite early,
some of the early members being the families of John Wilburn, William
Sparks, Abe May, Henry Flood, William H. Treadway and Henry
Sanders. Another famous early church was the Cumberland Presby-
terian, of Richland Township. Citizens of Bloomington of this faith
often went out to attend this church. It was organized before 1830, and
among the members were the Sharps, Constables, Figgs, Johnsons, Halls,
Clays. The church was built on Section 4, and was known as the Pleas-
ant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Thomas J. Sharp furnished
the land on Section 4. Another early class was the Christian Church,
organized in the thirties, among the early members being the families of
Pleasant York, Andrew Reeves, James Everman, Wesley Acuff, James
Hall, J. H. Houston, and others. The Church was called North Liberty
Church of Christ. The old Methodist Church in Richland was organized
in the twenties. It was called Wesley Chapel, and among the early mem-
bers were the Kerbys, the Smiths, the Hopewells, the Sedwicks, the
Reeveses, the Knightons, the Stinesons, the Moots, the Sharps, and others.
Others were organized early and later. The Presbyterians, Methodists,
Christians and Baptists, remnants of the old organizations, have churches
in Ellettsville and in the township.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
INTRODUCTION.
THIS subdivision of Monroe is one of the most productive in the
county. There is perhaps more good soil for the producer than
any other portion of equal extent. This became known at a very early
day, and led to rapid settlement and growth. Many of the best citizens
came here and made it their abiding place, and those valuable adjuncts
of civilization — education and religion — took here in early years a deeper
root than in any other place in the county, except Bloomington. Insti-
tutions were established here which had for their object the widest dif-
fusion of knowledge, and the establishment of the highest and purest sys-
tem of morality. And the country was suited for such institutions. The
lands were rich, fertile and promised that plenty which always brings
prosperity and peace. Many of the earliest residents were descendants
of the chivalrous stock of the South, possessing culture and refinement fit
to adorn any society, and an appreciation of the advantages of social, in-
tellectual and moral improvement which promised enduring benefits to
the fabric of society. Here let the natural resources of the township be
set forth.
THE TIMBER, SOIL, STONE, ETC.
The surface is less rolling than many other portions of the county,
but is well drained, as well as well watered. Several small streams take
32
508 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
their source here, which accounts for the numerous springs of good hard
water, and for the productiveness of the surface soil which has not been
denuded of its rich alluvial properties. The township originally con-
tained heavy bodies of the best black and white walnut, hard and soft
maple, some half dozen varieties of oak, chestnut, elm, beech, sycamore,
white and yellow poplar, ash, cherry, gum, sassafras, dogwood, spicewood,
etc. Much of this — all the better grades — has been cut away. An im-
portant natural feature is the big cave in the northwestern part. Its
real depth is unknown, as it is probable that all the ramifications have
never been explored. It is safe to say that the numerous branches, cuts,
and turns aggregate one mile in extent. Within, the air is warm and
salubrious, and the revelation of geologic formations repays the student
for his dark visit. Valuable fossils, geodes containing crystals of dog-
tooth spar of great beauty, stalactites and stalagmites of great size,
masses of limestone and shale, highly colored with iron and magnesium,
and sandstone with variegated colors and numerous partings may be seen
in the walk through "Puett's Cave." It is quite a resort for pleasure-seek-
ers. Picnic parties from Bloomington come out to view the wonder, and
students of geology come to view and study the mysteries of that science.
Once upon a time, a party of students came here in the morning, tied
their horses in the grove near by, entered the cave, but came not forth
even when darkness set in. A resident near the cave saw the horses,
and suspecting that all was not right, lighted a torch and entered the dark
chamber, and after walking some distance found the students who for
hours had been endeavoring to get out without avail huddled together,
frightened, bewildered, lost, and reconciled to pass the night without food
or sleep in the cave. Their joy and thanks were profuse when they at
last stood outside. The following is the geologic formation on Section 4 :
Feet.
Loamy soil, reddish color 4
Chester sandstone, bowlders and irregular masses of ferruginous
sandstone 40
Argillaceous layers, containing irregular masses of chert, clay,
stones and fragments of fossils 10
Limestone (Upper St. Louis Group), light gray and shaly 16
Limestone, same group, light gray, very hard and silicious, irreg-
ularly bedded and unfossiliferous 30
Total 100
LAND ENTRIES, SETTLEMENTS, ETC.
The following purchases were made in Van Buren Township in 1816 :
Arthur Patterson, Section 1; Jacob Cutler, David Matlock, Daniel
Sears, James Parks, James Matlock, on Section 2; John Cutler, on 4;
Archibald Wood, 320 acres on Section 10; John Allen and George
Matlock, on 11; George Matlock, 12; Jonathan Rains, on 13; also, on
the same section, John Carr and John W. Lee ; John Allen, James Bor-
land and John Carr, on Section 14; Archibald Wood, Michael Wood and
David Matlock, on 15; John Collins and Joseph Berry, on 21; William
Wilson and William Newcomb (320 acres) on Section 22 ; John Harvey
(320 acres), Jonathan Nichols and Arthur Patterson, on Section 24; Sol-
omon Green and Archibald Wood, on Section 25 ; Levin Lawrence on
26 ; Adam Darling on 27; Joseph Berry, Adam Bowen and John Bris-
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 509
coe on 28; Jesse Tarkington, Arthur Patterson and John Sadler on 31;
Arthur Patterson and Joseph Berry on 32; Joseph Berry on 83; John
Storm on 34 ; Thomas McCrang on 35 ; Josiah Jackson, John Johnson
and Joseph Richardson on Section 36. The following tracts were bought
in 1817 : David Matlock on Section 2; Francis Charlice on 11; James
Matlock on 12; Eli Lee on 14 ; William Newcomb on 15; Pierre Cha-
curn on 22 ; Solomon Phillips on 23 ; Joseph Gerrard and James Par-
sons on 26; Adam Kern and Isaac Rogers on 27; John Berry on 33;
Joseph Berry on 34. No other entries were made until 1823, as follows:
Austin S. Reeves on 9; and Littleton West on 21; Vincent Lindsey bought
on Section 1 in 1824; Eli P. Farmer, on Section 2 the same year; John
Mahala on Section 10 the same year ; John M. Berry on Section 29 ;
Lemuel Lyons on Section 1 in 1825; George Moss on 5 in 1829;
Thomas Snoddy on 6 in 1826; John Watson on 8 in 1828; Robert Rice
on 9 in 1828; Henry Sanders on 10 in 1827; William Deskins on 10
in 1828; George Milam on 12 in 1827; Isaac Rogers on 21 in 1825;
Joseph Berry on 21 in 1825; Gaspard Koons on 26 in 1825; William
Morris on 29 in 1829, and on 33 also ; John H. Bunger and Orion
Crocker on 33 in 1829. The above were all the entries of land prior to
1830. The name of the first actual resident in the township cannot be
stated, but was doubtless one of the above-mentioned men. Several are
known to have come with their families in 1816, but if any came before,
such fact cannot now be stated with certainty, though there are strong
presumptions that in 1815 the township contained white families.
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
The old Hamilton Grist Mill was erected by Robert Hamilton early in
the twenties, and of course was operated by water-power secured in the
usual manner by means of a dam. It was an extremely rude affair at
first, but owing to necessity received a liberal patronage. Orion Crocker
was the miller. A man named Hamill bought the mill probably about
1834, and operated it with some improvements until soon after 1840,
when it passed to John Shirly, who practically rebuilt and refitted the
structure and the dam, and very materially improved the quality and
quantity of flour produced. He introduced an improved method of re-
grinding the shorts that increased the yield of flour to the bushel, and
also improved the quality. This useful old mill continued to run until a
comparatively few years ago, when it was abandoned. About the year
1830, James F. Leonard erected a grist mill about three hundred yards
from the Hamilton Mill on the same stream. His dam was rude and
often broke, and after a few years he introduced steam and used the two
motors, steam and water, to operate his mill. The mill did good work
from the start, and under different hands and greatly improved in build-
ing and equipments, is yet running. It has always been a good mill.
Saw mills were early operated in connection with these mills. Among
the earliest residents of Van Buren Township were the families of James
Gentry, Absalom Baker, Robert B. Givens, Andrew Gray, George
Grubb, Samuel Grabeal, Solomon Green (one of the very first ; came in
when the Indians were as thick as wild turkeys), Seth Goodwin (very
early), William Gray (very early), Andrew Gray, Lewis Harman, Jasper
510 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Koons, Felix Landers, Matthew Legg, Benjamin Neeld, William Neeld
(very early, with the Indians), the Prices, Hiram Pauley, Solomon Phil-
lips, Rebecca Rawlins, the Renshaws, Benjamin Rice, Robert Rice, Wil-
liam Rice, John Saddler, Henry Sanders, L. G. Shryer, James G.
Sparks, Noble Stockwell, James Shipman, John Shipman, Thomas
Snoddy, John Tarkington, W^. C. Tarkington, Sylvan us Tarkington,
Samuel Turner, Reuben Ward, Luke Ward. Booker Wit and many others
mentioned above as entering land. The Berrys were early and prom-
inent.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
George Allcorn, Joseph Abrams, Wyatt Adkins, Jacob Bunger, Jr.,
Joseph Bunger, Henry Brock, Absalom Baker, John Bunger, David
Bunger, Philip Bunger, Jacob Baker, Maiden Baker, William Berry, G.
D. Berry, William Burkis, Peter Bowen, Winston Burch, Street Cox,
Harbin Cole, Barton W. Cole, H. Campbell, Richard Crane, Joseph
Cole, Samuel Cooper, John G. Campbell, Orion Crocker, Samuel Cline,
John Dinsmore, Burdit Dawson, H. Davis, James Davis, E. N. Elliott,
George Eller, John Eller, Henry Eller, Henry Fritz, Thomas Fullerton,
James Fritz, John Fritz, Jr., Wesley Fritz, James Gentry, John Griff-
iths, Alfred Griffiths, J. P. Givens, John Goodnight, Robert B. Givens,
Andrew Gray, William Gray, Solomon Green, Thomas Gwinn, Lewis
Harmon, Joseph Hazelwood, Allen Hite, Moses Hall, David Hall, Adam
Hunter, William Koons, Conrad Koons, J. F. Leonard, Matthew Legg,
Samuel Linden, John P. May, Adam Nutler, Benj. Neeld, John Oram,
William Porch, Levy Price, John H. Porch, Aaron Pindle, William Rose-
berry, J. D. Reeves, Robert Rice, Thomas Renshaw, William Rice, John
Stout, Joseph Sanders, D. C. Smith, Noble Stockwell, John Shipman,
Samuel Sloan, Jacob Summit, Joseph Small, Helen Smith, John Small,
William Smith, John Tarkington, John R. Truit, Reuben Ward, William
Whisman, Luke Ward, Booker Wit, John Willborn and Joel Woodall.
Those who paid the highest tax were: Noble Stockwell, $15.80; L. G.
Shryer, $14.85; D. C. Smith, $15.21 ; John Stout, $13.05; Solomon
Philips, $13.20; Benjamin Neeld, $20.69; Conrad Koons, $26.80;
Moses Hall, $19.92; Seth Goodwin, $23.21; Solomon Green, Sr.,
$13.20 ; Henry Fritz, $19.37 ; estate of John Eller, deceased, $13.75 ;
George Eller, $15.25; Barton W. Cole, $14.15; David Bunger, $14.15;
William Berry, $16.35. The total number of polls was 134 ; number
of acres, 14,297 ; value of land $98,890 ; value of town lots, $300 ;
personal property, $28,706; total taxables, $127,796; State tax,
$610.74; county tax, $291.14; total tax, $901.88.
STANFORD.
This little village was laid out by Jesse Tarkington late in the thirties,
and soon afterward a store was established there by James Crane, who
conducted his establishment for several years. This store was started
about 1839. It is said that Kemble, Klein & Co. also established a store
in the village about the year 1842. In about 1845, Zachariah Catron
opened a store in the village, and from that on, for several years, kept a
general stock, worth about $2,000. Sylvester Dory started up about the
same time. In 1848, Nicholas Dillinger and Victor Dory formed a part-
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 511
nership, and began a general mercantile business, under the firm name of
Dillinger & Dory. Sylvester Dory and Zachariah Catron were yet in
business. The following year (1849) Odell & Walker began business with
a stock estimated to have been worth $5,000. In 1850, Elmore Walker
established a store. Dudley <fe Adams engaged in the same pursuit in
1852, and Street Cox & Sons about the same time. There were at this
period about four general stores in the village, two or three blacksmiths,
a saw mill, etc. etc., and a population of about 150. The town has kept
about this size until the present, A. J. Ritchey, F. M. Holder & Co.
have general stores at present. Carmichael & Fields were in with goods
before, as were Young & Smith, Baker Bros, and Sparks Brothers. Drs.
Cook and Gaston have drugs, Joseph Green is the blacksmith, James
Gaston is Postmaster. The little village has a tri-weekly mail from
Bloomington. The population is about 200.
TOWNSHIP MORALS.
In general, the citizens of Van Buren Township have been a very
well-behaved people. A large portion, since the earliest settlement, has
been connected with the various religious classes ; and the other portion —
the non-professors, or unbelievers — has been sober and moral. A class
of the Church of Christ was early organized — about 1830 — and for a time
met for worship at the house of Joseph Berry, who was one of the leading
members. Robert Hamilton, Joseph Berry, John Porch, John Good-
night, Dudley C. Smith, John Givens, John Bunger and their families,
were members. This class was made up from Van Buren and Indian
Creek Townships. A log church was built quite early — about 1834 —
and was used for many years. The Methodists established a class in the
southwestern part early in the thirties, the leading early members being
Lewis Harman, David Carpenter, Dennison Whaley, E. W. Tarkington,
Maiden Baker, Jacob Baker, William Higgins, Lewis L. Allen, Jesse
Tarkington, Samuel Day, George G. Walker and their families. Lewis
Dale was the pastor in 1850. This class has endured until the present,
and early built a church at Stanford, which is yet used. Early in the
forties, the United Baptists organized a class in the vicinity of Stanford,
among the earliest members being the families of John Griffith, Jesse
Goss, James Steele, Henry Flood, William Sparks, Abe May, W. H.
Treadway — the latter four also belonging to the Baptist Church in Rich-
land Township. This class grew, thrived, and built a church about
1850. The old Union Meeting-house, on Section 36, also had a large
membership in the four townships — Van Buren, Perry, Clear Creek and
Indian Creek. The old Baptist Church in the southern part of
Richland Township, drew a strong membership from the limits of
Van Buren. The citizens in the northeastern part joined the churches
at Bloomington. The educational and religious community at the village
of Harmony, northeast of Stanford, was the earliest union of religious
sentiment in the county. Members of any orthodox denomination were
eligible to membership. Later years have seen the organization of other
religious classes, and the increased membership and prosperity of the old,
until no portion of the county is better supplied with moral advantages.
512 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
The first school was taught in about the year 1824, at what afterward
became the village of Harmony, the teacher being, so it is stated,
Jonathan Nichols. The house was a vacated log cabin that had been
erected for a dwelling, and was temporarily fixed up for school purposes.
It is not certain where the next was started unless it was at the village of
Harmony, where two or three terms of excellent school were conducted
under the supervision of the Blue Spring Community. A school was
started in the southeastern part about 1828, one of the Berrys, it is said,
being the first teacher. A schoolhouse that was erected in the southern
part of Richland Township was attended by the children of Van Buren,
in the northern part, but soon after 1830 a log schoolhouse was con-
structed on Section 4 or 9, which answered the purpose for several years.
Some state that the first school in the township was taught near
what is now Stanford, one of the Tarkingtons being the first teacher. In
1836, there were four school districts and schoolhouses. In 1847, there
were eight school districts in the township, and during the winter of
1846-47, six schools were taught. The enumeration in the districts at this
time was as follows : No. 1, 73; No. 2, 94; No. 3, 64; No. 4,47; No. 5,
72 ; No. 6. 19 ; No. 7, 66 ; No. 8, 48. School was not taught during the
winter in Districts No. 5 and 6. The average daily attendance was as
follows: No. 1,43; No. 2, 15 ; No. 3, 17; No. 4, 16 ; No. 7, 14 ;
No. 8, 13. Six months school was taught in District No. 3 ; two months
in No. 7, and three months in the others. The teachers were paid for
the term, exclusive of a small amount of tuition or subscription, as fol-
lows : No. 1, .^30 ; No. 2, $25 ; No. 3, $75 ; No. 4, $45 ; No. 7, $36;
No. 8, $45. The School Trustees at this time were Conrad Koons, John
H. Porch and James P. Givens. In 1849 (March), there were eight
school districts, as above given, with the following enumeration : No. 1,
38 males and 48 females ; No. 2, 26 males and 24 females ; No. 3, 36
males and 12 females; No. 4, 30 males and 23 females; No. 5, 34
males and 42 females ; No. 6, 45 males and 31 females ; No. 7, 24
males and 25 females ; No. 8, 28 males and 28 females. Total enumera-
tion, males 261, females 233 ; grand total, 494. The schools at this
time were not surpassed by any other country portion of the county.
When the new school law came into effect in 1853, and one Trustee took
the place of three, and new funds were created for the common schools,
within a few years many of the districts built new hjuses — not of logs,
but of the best native lumber. Great improvements were made during
the fifties in school methods and systems. During the sixties, still greater
improvements were made, and now the school system of the township,
the county and the State, is not only the pride of the residents, but the
admired object of neighboring States. The following table explains
itself:
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
513
TEACHERS OF 1880-81.
Number
Number of
of
Pupils
District.
Enrolled.
1
35
2
55
3
44
4
48
4
24
5
49
6
61
7
34
Hattie Munson
William Neill
Ellsworth Williams.,
John W. French ....
A. C. Richey
John D. Morgan
J. W. D. Butcher..,
F. P. Torrence
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
22x30 feet.
22x36 feet.
22x30 feet.
24x28 feet.
24x28 feet.
20x28 feet.
22x28 feet.
22x28 feet.
From the table it will be seen that Stanford (District No. 4) has two
schools. The old frame house at Stanford, built late in the forties, was
succeeded by a better frame building, with two rooms, some eight or ten
years ago. Now there are two teachers, as indicated in the table.
THE BLUE SPllING COMMUNITY.
From 1820 to 1860, there arose throughout the United States a ten-
dency to unite means and influence in the formation of what was called a
"Community," for the purpose of increasing the sources of a better sys-
tem of education and morals than was afforded by the denominational and
educational organizations of that day. Many families would place their
property in charge of a committee empowered to manage the common
interests and benefits, and would farm together, live together, eat
together, work together in all things, being governed by a constitution
and by-laws. Men as eminent as Horace Greeley, Charles Fourier and
the Owens, of Posey County, Ind., were connected with organizations of
the kind, and used their best endeavors to render the system successful,
popular and universal throughout the country. One institution of this
kind sprang up in Monroe County, in 1826, and was called the Blue
Spring Community.
The members gathered at what soon was called Harmony, placed their
property in common, erected dwellings, laid out a public common or
square, started one or more stores, opened an excellent school in a log
schoolhouse just erected, and soon were in as flourishing a condition as
could be expected in the backwoods. It was a very new country then,
let it be remembered, to establish and maintain such an institution where
the purity of intention and performance was made the sole condition of
membership. Neighbors laughed at the pretensions of the communists
and scornfully predicted the speedy or ultimate dissolution of the com-
munity. But the members, with noble intentions, went resolutely at
work, determined, if possible, to make the attempt a success. Things
went on quite smoothly the first year, or until cold weather came on,
when many left, going back to their former cabins. Some conflict had
occurred, some misunderstandings from human imperfections, and when
the spring of 1827 arrived, all attempts to continue the community was
voluntarily abandoned, to the sincere regret of some of the purest- minded
citizens ever residents of Monroe County.
514 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
INDIAN CREEK TOWNSHIP.
GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE.
THIS subdivision 6f Monroe County lies in the extreme southwestern
corner, and is one of the richest tracts of land to be found within a
radius of many miles. There is more loam in the soil than is usually
found in the townships of the county, and this, combined with the fact that
the township as a whole is not scrolling, renders it a more desirable place
of residence for farming. The township is drained by the branches of
Clear Creek and Indian Creek. This is one of the few localities of the
county where the celebrated Chester sandstone appears at the surface,
and consists of light gray and bright red laminated stone, highly ferru-
ginous and usually irregularly bedded. The iron deposit on Sections 6
and 7 — unusually rich and heavy, but hardly rich enough to work,
belongs to the group of Chester sandstone. There are fine displays of
this sandstone at Buena Vista and elsewhere. The principal stone of the
township lies next underneath the sandstone and belongs to the Upper
St. Louis Group of limestone. The formation of strata on Section 7 is
as follows :
feet.
Pale red loamy soil 6
Chester sandstone, containing stigmaria ficoides, and calamites canne
formis, weather worn 20
Argillaceous and cherty layers 10
Limestone (Upper St. Louis Group) light gray, hard, silicious, and
irregularly bedded, containing zaphrentis spinulo'sa Athyristrin-
uclua, Pellerophon sablaevis and Syringopora multattennafa 30
Total 66
This table illustrates the stone wealth of the township. Sandstone
and limestone are both found in abundance. The iron deposits are rich,
and furnish all wells and springs with tonic for the blood. The soil is
rich and the timber is less stripped of its finer grades by vandals than
other portions of the county contiguous to railroads. In short, Indian
Creek is one of the best townships of the county.
GOVERNMENT LAND ENTRIES.
The following entries of land were made in the year 1816 : William
Bigger, Richard Beem and John Kutch on Section 1 ; Isaac Withers on
Section 3 ; John M. Sadler on Section 6 ; Archibald Wood on the same
section ; John Storm on Section 12 ; William King and John Storm on
Section 13 ; Henry Speed on Section 19 ; John Storm and Elzy Wood-
ward on 20 ; Archibald Wood on 30. In 1817 the following entries
were made : Moses Olds on Section 1 ; William Crum, James Wright
and William Leahy on 2 ; Benjamin Freeland on 5 ; Benjamin Freeland
450 acres on Section 7 ; John White, Isaiah Wright and James Wright
on Section 11 ; James Wright, James Mitchell and Jacob Beals on 12,
INDIAN CREEK TOWNSHIP. 515
and the latter also on 24 ; William Wyman on 25 ; James Wright on 26 ;
Thomas Wilson, Alexander Clark each 160 acres on Section 33 ; Zach-
ariah Dicks 160 acres on 34 ; William Wright and James Smith on 35.
John Burch bought a tract on Section 5 on the 11th of November, 1819.
Peter Sansiford bought on Section 18 in 1823. Lemuel and Joel Sex-
son bought on Sections 19 and 20 in 1827 and 1828. Joseph Arthur
bought on 21 in 1818, and Richard Wright on 23 the same year. Sol-
omon Morgan bought 160 acres on Section 24 in 1829. Caleb Lowder
bought 80 acres on Section 27 in 1819. Jonathan Howell on 28 in
1818 ; Alexander Clark on 34 in 1818 ; William Jones on 34 in 1825.
This comprises all the entries prior to 1830.
THE FIRST FAMILIES,
Among the early settlers of the township were the Dicks, the Lambs,
the Crums, the Burch es, the Morgans, the Walkers, the Wrights, the
Mays, the Joneses, the Easts, the Clarks, the Adamses, the Carpenters, the
Tatums, the Oliphants, the Carmichaels, the Brosfields, the Penningtons,
the Phillips, the Teagues, the Graves, the Smiths, the Gwinns, the Tread-
ways, the Turners, and many others. It is probable that Lamb was the first
permanent settler, though the Walkers were in early and also the Easts,
the Wrights, the Burches and others whose names have escaped the recol-
lection of the old settlers. The first settlers were scattered over the
township in rude log cabins surrounded by small open tracts of cultivated
land which were inclosed by rail fences made by the settlers. Neighbors
lived miles apart, but intercourse was begun and kept up.
MILLING ENTERPRISES.
Owing to the fact that Indian Creek Township had no streams of suf-
ficient size, there were no early mills or other industries operated by
water-power in early years. Two or three hand mills and horse mills
were operated in several neighborhoods at times, but no mills of wide
popularity and patronage were built within the limits of the township,
unless the old mill in the southwestern part can be considered as such.
The old Hamilton Mill in Van Buren Township and the Ketchum Mill in
the northwest corner of Clear Creek Township, were the sources whence
were obtained the supplies of flour and meal. These were the earliest
mills which supplied Indian Creek Township. Two or three other mills
• were built on Clear Creek, and south in Greene County nn Indian Creek,
at a later date, which received some of the later patronage, though the
Ketchum's mill and the Hamilton's mill were the stand-bys, even until a
comparatively recent date. A saw mill was started in the southern part
at a very early day, and it is said that the first whisky shop in the
county was opened in this township.
THE VIRGINIA IRON WORKS. •
The most notable industry ever in the township was the iron furnace
established in about 1839, in the northwestern part, by Randolph Ross,
a Virginian, who had been engaged in the same business in his native
State, and was familiar with the details of iron manufacture. In about
the year above mentioned, he erected the necessary buildings on the north-
516 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
east quarter of Section 7, employed a few experienced men, whom he
brought from Virginia, and began mining from the side of the hill there,
crude iron ore contained about twenty per cent of good iron. His tax in
1841 was $52.25, more than that of any other man in the county. His
tax in 1842 was $100.49, more than any other man's. He owned 156
acres, the land being valued at $468, and the improvements at $6,360,
and his personal property was worth $1,600, making his total taxables
worth $8,428. The father and his son, Randolph Ross, Jr., under the
name Randolph Ross & Son's Virginia Iron Works, within a year after
starting had in their employ about twenty men engaged in mining
the ore from the hill, carting it to the furnace, where it was melted and
the iron run off into bars to be shipped by wagon to Louisville or Vin-
cennes. The company was incorporated under the laws of the State with
a capital, if necessary, of $20,000, and was to continue for a period of
ten years with power to renew the continuance an additional ten years, at
the option of the incorporators. If any others had an interest in the
works such fact is not now known. It is stated by some that a portion of
the capital was furnished by several Eastern parties, who were members
of the incorporation. The facts cannot be stated. Besides manufactur-
ing pig or bar iron for shipment, the company began the general manu-
facture for the local trade of all kinds of cast-iron ware needed in the
new country, such as kettles, spiders, andirons, pots and machinery cast-
ings as rude hoes, and a few mold-boards for plows. The most of the
iron was thus manufactured into articles for farm and domestic use.
After running successfully for about five years, the company became in-
volved in some manner, and was forced to suspend operations. The en-
terprise had been highly successful, but the incorporators were forced to
suspend by reason of having lost heavily in speculations elsewhere, and
not by reason of the failure of the iron furnace in Indian Creek Township.
POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
George Adams, Levin Adams, John Burch, Henry Burch, Charles
Burch, Achilles Burch, William Brasfield, James Brasfield, Andrew Bras-
field, William Burch, Joel Burch, Jackson Burton, David Carpenter,
John M. Crum, William Cannan, Charles Cambs, John Crain, James
Carmichael, William Caw, Martin Cambs, Peter Carmichael, G. Cander,
John Carter, Thomas Carr, Jacob Carpenter, Thomas Carter, Zachariah
Dicks, Abel Edwards, William East, Thomas P. East, Benjamin Evans,
John Evans, Jesse East, Isom Edington, John Fassette, Spencer GriflSn,
James Gillam, Richard Griffin, John Gardner, William Graves, Hugh
Hill, Hiram Hazle, R. Johnson, John Johnson, William Jones, Sanford
Jones, Lewis Jones, Alfred Jones, Elijah Hinkman, Daniel Hinkman,
James Kirk, John Kirk, Alexander Lamb, Thomas Lincycomb, Elijah
Morgan, William May, John Mathers, Solomon Morgan, Absalom Mor-
gan, Abraham May, John May, Perminter Morgan, Peter Minks, Jack-
son McGee, Jacob Myers, Henry Minks, Solomon May, James McLaclan.
Thomas Oliphant, Allen Price, John Pedigo, Joseph Pennington, Allen
Parkham, William Ray, Henry Sipes, Thomas Shipman, Benjamin San-
ders, Thomas Sanders, William Stephenson, Benjamin Sullivan, Ashbury
Sears, Michael Teague, Jacob Teague, Samuel Turner, William Treadway,
INDIAN CREEK TOWNSHIP. 517
Elijah Tarkington, E. W. Tarkington, Abraham Young, Peter Wright,
Silas Woodward, John White, Elijah Wright, Thomas Walker, Andrew
Walls, William Weaver, Sr., Isaac Weaver, James Wooter, David Wright,
Elmore Walker, Joseph Walker and Jacob Zikes. The total number of
polls was 174 ; acres of land, 10,39-4; value of lands and improvements,
$52,307 ; other taxables, $27,117 ; State tax, $448.01 ; county tax,
$250.08; total tax, $698.09. The heaviest tax-payers were: George
Adams, $10.52; Charles Burch, $7.58 ; Isaac Brown, $11.95 ; Byrd
Cambs, $7.58; Richard Carmichael, $8.25; Zachariah Dicks, $7.60;
John Evans, $17.72; Spencer Griffin, $5.18; James Gillam, $7.25 ; Hugh
Hill, $5.35; William Jones, $11.40; Lewis Jones, $7.70; Alexander
Lamb, $9.65; Elijah Morgan, $6.19; Solomon Morgan, $8.87; Absalom
Morgan, $9.20; Abraham May, $7.70 ; Jacob Myers, $6.12; Solomon
May, $7 ; Randolph Ross, Sr. (iron works), $52.25. His land, the north-
east quarter of Section 7 was valued at $6,000, and his improvements at
$3,800. He owned 156 acres. Nicholas Shipman, $8.10 ; John Sadler,
$8.29: John White, $7; James Wright, $11.55; William Weaver, $7.15;
David Wright, $8.10; Joseph Walker, $5.63.
SCHOOLS.
It is said that the first school in the township was taught near the
cabin of Elmore Walker, in about the year 1824, but it is quite certain
that another was taught not far from the same time in the Burch neigh-
borhood, and probably one in the Dicks neighborhood. Each of these
schools was taught in a log cabin; two of them, at least, in cabins that
had been erected for residences, and had been vacated by the builders, who
had left the township or neighborhood. After this early date, sessions
were usually held in the three localities named during the winter months,
first in one house and then in another, shifting the location to suit the
majority of children. The Burches were among the early teachers, and
the younger members of the Walker family also instructed the pioneer
children. In the year 1836, there were three log schoolhouses, and one
or two neighborhoods where school was taught semi-occasionally, as the
wants of the children demanded. In 1846, the number of schoolhouses
had been increased to five; in 1856, there were eight, and possibly nine.
The eight country houses were located on Sections 2, 8, 9, 14, 20, 26, 28
and 30. All were log houses except two. The families that attended the
house on Section 2 were the Morgans, Wrights, Gwinns, Koons, Turners,
Treadways, Perry s, Ballingers, Thrashers, et al.; Section 8, the Burches,
Sadlers, Carpenters, Adamses, et al.; Section 14, the Walkers, Whites,
Carmichaels, Chipmans, Mays, Kirks, et al.; Section 20, the children of
Buena Vista, the Lambs, Carmichaels, Carters, Carvers, Phillips, Tatums,
Gordons, Mays, et al.; Section 26, the Stevensons, Lowes, Joneses, Easts,
Sares, Hazels, Teagues, Smiths, Couders, Gilhams, Wrights, Millers,
Morgans, et ah; Section 28, the Waterfords, Graveses, Dicks, Joneses,
Teagues, Stones, Easts and Nances ; Section 30, the Simpsons, Oliphants,
Hardens, Graveses, Pedigos, Brasfields, Penningtons, et al. At this time
the schools were in comparatively good shape. The following table is the
later condition of the schools :
518
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
TEACHERS OF 1880-81.
Number
of
District.
Actual
Enumeration
Kind and Size of House..
John B. Hazel
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
49
28
37
45
48
38
38
40
40
Prnmp 90Tr94 fppf
Michael Buskirk
Frame, 20x24 feet.
Frnmp 99t98 fppt
Miss Lou Bennett ". .
J, W. Carter
John F. Woodward
W. C. Burch
Speed Rainbolt
Frame, 20x26 feet.
Frame, 20x26 feet.
Frame, 18x20 feet.
W. S. Wells
Scott Rainbolt
VILLAGES.
Two or three small villages have flourished in this township. In
March, 1849, Jesse W, East, proprietor, assisted by Henry Farmer, sur-
veyor, laid out ten lots on the south part of the east half of the northwest
quarter of Section 20, and named the village thus started Buena Vista, a
name then peculiarly fresh and distinct in the minds of all Hoosiers.
About the same time, Mr. East started the first store, and soon a black-
smith and a few families located there. Since then there have usually
been a store, a blacksmith and about a dozen families at the village.
John Evans sold goods there, as did Henry Oliphant, Woodward & Clay
and others. The present merchants are King & Woodward. Another
early town, now deserted, was Palestine, founded by Alexander Suther-
land, during the thirties. He was the first storekeeper there, and con-
tinued several years, going then to Harrodsburg. Thomas Shipman
probably succeeded him as the merchant. One of the Koons also sold
goods there. Kirkville is a recent village named in honor of the Kirk
femily. Lane & Carmichael started the store, but sold out to Mr. Kirk,
who yet continues.
CHURCHES.
The first religious class organized in this township was the Methodist
Church, founded in the Walker neighborhood, about 1825. For several
years, meetings were held at the houses of Thomas Hill, Elmore Walker,
and elsewhere in the same portion of the township. Among the earliest
members were the families of Thomas Hill, Elmore Walker, David Wells,
George Oxsheer, Michael Teague, Burrell Reeves, Joseph S. Walker,
Pleasant O'Brien, Rev. Isaac McElroy, Farris Howard, Rev. Lewis Dale
and others. This was called Mt. Salem Church, and was famous in early
years for the number of its revivals and the amount of good done in the
neighborhood. As the years passed it gradually split up, several of the
prominent members joining the Methodist Class at Stanford, and several
others the class at Harrodsburg, though a few of the old members still
remained faithful to the parent organization, which continued to meet in
the residences and schoolhouses in the vicinity where it was first founded.
The legitimate descendant of the old class is still in existence.
The old Hebron Baptist Church, organized in the southern part of the
township during the forties, was another class that produced marked ef-
fect upon the morals of the younger generations. The Oliphants, Abel
Edwards and family, and Joseph Pennington and family were early mem-
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 519
bers. This class met for many years in schoolhouses and residences,
and is still in existence under different hearts and hands. Later religious
organizations have sprung up, but none have produced more extended and
lasting benefit than the two old ones mentioned above.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
GEOLOGICAL FORMATION.
THIS township is one of the best in the county for agricultural pur-
poses. It has an abundance of low land, as it lies principally in the
forks of Clear Creek and Salt Creek, the two principal streams of the
southern half of the county. Between the forks the land is gently un-
dulating as a general rule, and the surface soil contains an abundance of
food for almost all farm productions. Along the two streams are rather
precipitous bluffs, which, back some distance, gradually blend with the
general undulating surface of the country. Immediately adjoining the
streams are narrow valleys very rich and productive. The geological
formation is revealed in many places — at quarries and along the New
Albany Railroad principally. In places where the storms have washed
away the surface soil, hundreds of geodes, comprising crystalline and
butryoidal, are found. The railroad track at Harrodsburg is 509 feet
above the level of the sea, and at Smithville is 710 feet. This shows a
railroad grade of 201 feet between those two places, distant about four
miles and a half. The altitude at Bloomington is 745, and northwest of
Bloomington at the highest point of the grade is 883 feet. The track at
EUettsville is 685 feet above the sea. In the vicinity of Smithville,
covering about a section of land, the Keokuk limestone makes its appear-
ance at the surface. A little distance west, extending a little east of
north, is the general overlying edge of the Keokuk group, lapping upon
the knobstone. A short distance further west is the St. Louis limestone.
On Section 2, about a mile northeast of Smithville, the geological forma-
tion is as follows :
Argillaceous layers 12 feet.
Keokuk limestone, dark blue, with partings 12 feet.
Keokuk limestone, light gray, without fossils, save in a fragmentary
condition 4 feet.
Keokuk limestone, buff colored, with seams of chert and geodes 8 feet.
Knob sandstone irregularly bedded 30 feet.
Knob shale 70 feet.
Total 136 feet.
The argillaceous layers contained crystalline and butryoidal geodes,
many of great size and beauty, and the following fossils: Spirifer
tenuistriatus, S. Keokuki, S. fastigatus, S. psendolineatus, Zophrentis
Daili, Z. cornucopia, Productus punctatus, P. cora, P. altonensis,
Actinocrinus lowei, A. legun cuius, A. pernodosus, plates of A. hum-
boldti and fragments of Agaricocrinus tuberosus, stems and plates of
520 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Platycrinus, also stems of Scophoicrinus and good specimens of Geodo
crinus indeanensis. The geological formation on Section 10 (Fee's
farm) is as follows :
Argillaceous and cherty layers 10 feet.
Limestone (Warsaw Division of the Lower St. Louis Group) 25 feet.
Limestone, Keokuk, light gray, with partings 15 feet.
Total 50 feet.
A strip along the western side of the township is thus covered with
the Warsaw Division of the Lower St. Louis limestone. In the last
table above the cherty layers contain the following fossils : Lithostratim
mammillare, L. proliferum, Dichocrinus simplex, J), constrictus, plates of
Platy crinus saffordi, Pentremitis conoidens, P. koninokiana, plates of P.
obligatus, plates of P. varsouviensis, Spirifer lateralis, S. setigerus, S.
rostellatus, Orthis dubia, Athyris hirsuta, A. lemellosa, A. trinuclea, A.
royisii, Productus altonensis, P. punctatus, Rhynchonella mutata, R.
grosvenori, R. subcuneata, R. recunula, R. macra, Terebratula boyidens,
T. turigida, T. formosa, Sphenophoterium cuneata, Syringopora ram-
ulora, S. multattanuata and Eumetria verneuilliana. The geoglogical
formation at Harrodsburg is as follows :
Ferruginous clay soil, suitable for bricks 4 feet.
Chert and earthy layers 6 feet.
Limestone (Warsaw Division Lower St. Louis Group) 15 feet.
Limestone (Keokuk), dark blue 10 feet.
Limestone (Keokuk), light gray 12 feet.
Knobstone Group 120 feet.
Total 167 feet.
The formation at the Harrodsburg depot, east side, is as follows :
Argillaceous and cherty layers 6 feet.
Limestone (W^arsaw Division), with partings 17 feet.
Limestone (Keokuk), dark and light blue 38 feet.
Limestone (Keokuk), light gray, containing Spirifer Keokuk, S.
fastigatus and Actinocrinus lagunculus 6 feet.
Limestone (Keokuk), buff-colored with bands of chert and geodes, the
cavities of which are lined with beautiful crystals of quartz and
calcareous spar. This stratum contains plates and stems of cri-
noids ; also fragments of shells, too imperfect, however, for accu-
rate identification 8 feet.
Knobstone Group 60 feet.
Total 135 fee .
At the quarry one-half mile south of Fairfax, the formation is as
follows :
Bluish clay soil 6 feet.
Knob sandstone, with partings 16 feet.
Knob shale 6 feet.
Total 28 feet.
Entering the township from the east, it will be seen from the above
tables that the first stone found would be the Knob sandstone ; then a
trifle west of the center the Keokuk limestone would be found lapping
upon the Knob sandstone, and a short distance further west the Warsaw
Division of the Lower St. Louis limestone would be found lapping upon
the Keokuk limestone. This gives the township both sandstone and
limestone of the first quality at the surface.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 521
THE FIRST LAND HOLDERS.
The following entries of land were made in Clear Creek Township in
the year 1816 : Henry Burkhart, Thomas Grimes, William Anderson
and Bartlett Woodward on Section 3 ; Adam Darling on Section 4 ;
Robert Fields on Section 5 ; William Bigger and Routt & Brenton on 6;
Fetters & Hughes on 7 ; Bartlett Woodward 160 acres on Section 10 ;
George Paul, Thomas Grimes and John Musser on 15 ; Michael Bus-
kirk on 17; John Vanderoot and Fetters & Hughes on 19, also Michael
Harvey on the same section ; Jacob Mumma and Jonathan Lindley on
20 ; George Paul on 21 ; John Durham and William Chambers on 28 ;
Samuel Caldwell, Jonathan Lindley 320 acres, and George Paul 160
acres on 29 ; John White all of Section 30 ; Jonathan Lindley and
Fetters & Hughes on 31 ; William Carl on 32 ; William Craig on 33.
The following entries were made in 1817 ; Solomon Lucas on Section
2 ; Thomas Hancock, James Cully on 5 ; John Scott on 9 ; Bartlett
Woodward 160 acres on 10; Silas Woodward on 11 ; Jacob Beals on 18;
Joseph Strean 320 acres on 20 ; William Chambers on 21 and 28 ;
Samuel Allen and John Farley on 32; Conrad Hanson on 33. In 1818
the following intries were made : James Mitchell on Section 5 ; John
Storm on 8 ; George Buskirk and Thomas Grimes on 10 ; William
Waymore and John Storm on 17 ; Thomas Duffield on 18 ; Samuel
Smith on 19 ; John Smith on 32 ; William Shields on 33 ; Elias Bruner
on 34. Andrew McKean bought on Section 22 in 1819 ; Michael
Myers on 2 in 1825 ; John H. Anderson on 4 in 1824, and again in
1827 ; David Scott on 8 in 1828 ; John Deckard on 11 in 1824 ; George
Kimberlin on 14 in 1828 ; Edmund Phillips on 18 in 1824 ; Anthony
Chambers and William Chambers on 21 in 1829; George Paul on 21
in 1829; Michael Deckard on 22 in 1824; John Scott on 26 in lf<19;
George Reddick on 28 in 1821 ; Elijah Elliott on 32 in 1827, and
William Lemon on 33 in 1829. These were all the entries prior to 1830.
Many settlers came in and bought of other settlers. Many others owned
no land for ten or twenty years, and several lived in the township several
years, owning no land, and leaving finally for some other locality.
THE FIRST SETTLER OF MONROE COUNTY.
The first settler in this township and in Monroe County, accord-
ing to old Col. Ketchum, who settle in the northwest corner of Clear
Creek Township in 1817, was David McHolland. This man whose wife
is either now living or was a few years ago, at a very advanced age, came
to the township for permanent residence when the State was yet a Terri-
tory, or in 1815. Col. Ketchum. who came in two years later, and was
well acquainted with Mr. McHolland, often stated that the latter was, no
doubt, the first settler in Monroe County. Of course the Territory now
comprising the county, had previously been invaded by white hunters
and trappers, but, so far as known, no white family, including wife and
children, became actual residents until Mr. McHolland arrived. He was
a famous hunter and supported his family mainly with his rifle. He
killed numerous bears in various portions of the county, often under cir-
cumstances of great personal peril. His wife always boasted of having
baked the first corn pone in Monroe County, and was, no doubt, justified
522 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
by facts in doing so. The McHollands cultivated an acre or two of
ground, upon which they squatted, and after a few years went to the
northwestern part of the county, where they continued to reside many
years. The name of the second settler in this township cannot be in-
dicated. Bartlett Woodward came to the township in 1816, and entered
considerable land upon which he erected a rude log cabin for his family,
which either came out the same fall or the next spring. Several families
were residing in the township at this time. Mr. Woodward became a
prominent citizen, and was elected one of the first County Commissioners
of the county in 1818. Col. Ketchum built a grist mill on Clear Creek
as early as 1818, which for many years was famous in all the surrounding
country. Green's mill was another one ; Chambers and Shirley each
owned early water mills. The Taylors probably sent the first flat-boat
loaded with pork, grain, etc., down either Clear or Salt Creeks from
Monroe County. They built their own boats, and knew how to manage
them on their way to Southern markets. The Chambers brothers
also sent early boats of pork and grain down the creeks. Col.
Ketchum was about as early in shipping pork, grain, flour, etc., as any
one in the township or county. He also shipped lumber. Later, Elias
Bruner shipped cherry and other finer varieties of lumber down the
creeks. These were some of the early enterprises in Clear Creek Town-
ship.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1841,*
George Anderson, Section 18 ; Wesley Anderson, John Baugh, Henry
Baugh, 32; Joseph Baugh, 14; Augustus Bowles, David Butcher, 17; Elias
Bruner. 34 ; Samuel Baugh, Henry Burkey, Alexander Buchanan, 21 ;
Perry Bowles, John Cully, William Cook, Anthony Chambers, 21, 22, 27;
David Chambers, Jr., Jacob Cannon, Oziah Chambers, Hezekiah Cham-
bers, Henry Deckard, 12 ; Jesse Deckard, 36 ; Jacob Etter, David Etter,
Rufus Finley, John Fitzpatrick, Matthew Flory, 18; John Gen, 15 ; James
Galloway, 7 ; William Harvey, Basil Hill, 16 ; John Horton, Francis
Haines, William Haines, 27 ; _Nelson Holmes, 20 ; Ferris Haward, 7 ;
Charles Johnson, John G. Johnson, 31 ; Stanford Jacobs, George Kim-
berlin,7; Daniel Kimberlin, Joseph Kimberlin, Henry Kimberlin, Daniel
Ketchum, 8 ; Hezekiah Kinser, 7 ; Leonard Litz, Jacob Leonard, William
Leonard, William Lehman, 33 ; Henry Lehman, 33 ; John Lehman, 31 ;
Thomas Lucas, Jr., Davis Meek, 9 and 16; John Merser, 15; Christian
Miller, 22; Henry Merser, James Manis, Sidney Meadows, Frederick
Merser, Joseph Miller, David Miller, 29 ; Thomas Owsley, Samuel Pen-
nington, Andrew Pickel, 29 ; Gabriel Bagsdale, Jonas Rhorer, 20 ; W. W.
Roady, G. W. Reddick, Enoch Smallwood, John Shaw, L. 0. Shugart,
29 ; Nicholas Shipman, Thomas Scott, 9 ; John Scott, Peter Sutphin,
Elijah Scarborough, R. Sawes, 10 ; James Scarborough, Milton Stuart,
William Stuart, Joseph Stilson, Joseph Strain, 20 ; William Smith, 19; W.
D. Shields. David Tresler, 14 ; George Thrasher, 16 ; Samuel Taylor,
John Taylor, 33 ; Robert Taylor, 28 ; William Tilford, Solomon Wooden,
17 ; George Whisenand, John Whisenand, Riley Wilson, Nicholas Whis-
enand, 25 ; Jesse Wright, 14 ; Silas Woodward, 11 ; James Woodward, An-
drew Whisenand, 1. The total number of polls was 104 ; total acres of
* The figures indicate the sections upon which the men lived.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 523
land, 9,530J; value of lands and improvements, $66,560; value of lots,
$5,438 ; other taxable property, $25,454 ; aggregate value of taxables,
^97,452 ; State tax, $467.61 ; county tax, $226.98 ; total tax, $694.59.
The highest tax payers were as follows : Daniel Butcher, $9.75 ; Alex-
ander Buchanan, $21.30; Anthony Chambers, $13.18 ; William Cham-
bers, Sr. (non-resident), $29.15 ; David Chambers, Sr. (non-resident),
110.72; Christian Deckard, $9.35; John Fitzpatrick, $19.10; Hezekiah
Kinser, $12.50 ; John Kutch, $15.18; William Lehman, $11.40; John
A. M. Lehman, $12.50; Davis Meek, $13.60; Andrew Roady, $13.66;
Elijah Scarborough, $8.90; George Thrasher, $8.65; John Taylor,
$16.90; Solomon Wooden, $8.74; Nicholas Whisenand, $9.75; Silaa
Woodward, $8.65.
VILLAGES.
The village of Harrodsburg, now third in population and importance
in the county, was laid out by Alexander Buchanan, proprietor, and John
Sedwick, surveyor, in December, 1836, on the northeast corner of the
fouthwest quarter of Section 29, Township 7 north, Range 1 west.
Twenty-four lots were laid out, and the village was named Newgene. In
May, 1837, Levi Sugart laid out an addition of three lots, and at this
time, for some reason unknown, the name of the village was "changed to
Harrodsburg. It is said that the first store was started by Berkey &
Isominger, who took out a license in 1836. Jacob Corman took out a
liquor license in 1839, paying therefor $25. Tilford & Glass early
established a store in the village. It is said that A. & P. Carmichael,
who were in the mercantile business at Stanford, were also in Harrods-
burg. Mr. Berkey bought a lot conditionally in the town before it was
laid out. The early families of the village were those of Henry Berkey,
Joseph Cranshaw, Job Horton, Samuel Baugh, Richard Empson, Alexan-
der Buchanan, the Widow Cully and others. This was about the condi-
tion in 1844, at which time no store had been in the town for a year or
two. In 1844, S. W. & J. D. Urmey opened a store of general merchan-
dise, worth about $450, and the following year Paris Vestal also estab-
lished a store. James Beatley was the first resident physician ; he was
also a pedagogue of considerable repute. Baugh & Empson were tanners.
Rufus Finley erected a tannery about forty rods down the little
creek at the village.* Vestal continued about two years, then sold to
Moore & Baugh. Greason was Vestal's partner for a short time, as was
also McCrea. In 1848, Vestal and Sutherland were partners, but after
a short time each continued separate. James W. Carter was in business
about 1849. Sutherland & Graham were together for a short time about
1850. The Urmeys still continued, with increasing business. Odell &
Walker were in business about this time. Sutherland k Baugh were
partners for a short time, closing in July, 1853. In April, 1852, Alex-
ander Sutherland and Dugan Jones formed a partnership for the general
business of merchandising, packing pork, buying and shipping grain and
provisions and buying and selling real estate. Sutherland furnished
$4,000 capital and Jones $2,000, and two-thirds the profits and losses
* The old settlers state that this stream took its name from Ro-si-neah, an old chief of the Delawares,
■who, when the first settlement was made, was encamped in a large hollow sycamore tree on the bank of tbe
stream, remaining there for some time. In speaking the name, accent the last syllable.
33
524 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
were assumed by the senior partner. Henry Baugh was alone in business
about this time ; also W. N. Anderson, Among the business men after-
ward were Carter & Dunn, Mr, Waldrip, Julius Sues, Harmon &
Buchanan, East & Deckard, Judy & Kinser, Oliphant & Pearson, Oliphant
& Girton, Carmichael & Urmey, Oliphant & Woodward, Woolery & Wolf,
Wolf & Son, Perdue & Wolf, Urmey & McFadden, Perdue & Woolery,
Stevenson & Perdue, Woolery, Stevenson & Carmichael, H. C, Small-
wood, Deckard, Anderson, Stevenson, J. W. Sears, Brown & Fields,
Litzman, Deckard & Chambers, Kinser & Smallwood, W. Kinser,
Granger's store. Strain & Woodward and perhaps others. Sutherland &
Jones, beginning in 1853, did a large business in packing pork and ship-
ping the same and grain down the creeks to the markets of the South.
They sent out from eight to twelve boats each year and employed during the
busy seasons forty or fifty men. The aggregate business per annum was
little less than $100,000. This gave the appearance of great thrift to
the little town, and induced many to locate there who otherwise would
have passed on. Urmey & Isominger shipped grain by boat during the
forties. The Urmey brothers did the same. Sutherland k Jones lost
considerable money on pork, and were gradually forced from business
though they paid their debts, Carmichael & Urmey in 18 il, began a big
business in packing pork. The first year they packed 1,800 hogs. The
business was increased so that forty men were employed, and as high as
3,500 hogs were slaughtered and packed in one season. Considerable
wheat, corn and flour was bought and shipped also. The railroad had
been completed in 1853, and this afforded a much better way of reaching
market than by water. These men continued the business until 1877,
when they failed, by reason of heavy losses, and compromised honorably
with their creditors.
Among the leading industries which have flourished in the village
was the distillery built and operated by Brown & Deckard, about 1865.
Two stills were used, and the capacity of the distillery, was about twenty
gallons daily. Chambers & Strain were afterward the owners. it
operated until a short time ago. J. M. Anderson conducted an extensive
cabinet factory, beginning early in the fifties. Stipp & Strain built the
present grist mill in about 1866, at a cost of about $8,000. It afterward
passed to Woolery, Stevenson & Co., and finally to John Stevenson, who
yet owns and operates it, A large domestic patronage is enjoyed, and a
limited merchant work done. Oliphant, Woodward & Carmichael built
the woolen factory during or just at the close of the war — about 1864.
The building and machinery cost $18,500. All the necessary help was
employed, and the factory began to turn out considerable quantities of
yarns, flannels, jeans and cassimeres ; but the enterprise was started at
the wrong time, and did not come up to the hopes of its builders. Vari-
ous changes were made in the ownership, and at last the business was
abandoned about three years ago. The village has a present population
of about 260,
Fairfax was started at an early date, but has always been a village of
modest pretensions as regards size. So far as can be learned, N. Whise-
nand and R, Wilson opened a liquor establishment there in about 1835,
and continued on for several years, adding a small stock of goods in about
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 525
1837, and afterward increasing the business. Scarborough & Wilson
opened a store there in 1838, and did a good business for several years.
Helton & Houston began merchandising about 1840. The old Helton
grist mill was built early, and considrable flour was sent by boat down
the creek. Helton packed considerable pork, which was shipped away
by boat. He continued there, doing a large business in his store and
mills and factories, until the fifties, when he removed to Bloomington.
A large amount of furniture was manufactured there during the forties
and fifties. In about 1847, L. Q. Hoggatt became Mr. Helton's partner.
The Redfields succeeded Helton. Since then, the village has been small
and uneventful.
Smithville was started when the New Albany Railroad was es-
tablished, in 1852-53. It was laid out in November, 1851, by Mans-
field Bennett and George Smith, owners, on Section 3. Thirty-eight
lots were laid out on both sides of the railroad. Mr. Smith prob-
ably opened the first store. He was soon joined by a blacksmith and a
few families. Davis & Humphries were also there about the same time,
with a good store. The business was lively while work on the railroad
continued. It is probable that the stores were started before the town
was laid out, to accommodate the wants of the workmen. P. & J. Hol-
land were also early at the village with a stock of goods. One or two
stores have been in the village, usually one at a time, ever since. About
fifteen families comprise the population.
SCHOOLS.
It is said that the first school in the township was taught near the old
Woodward homestead about 1822. This was a short distance south of
the present Smithville. The school was held in a vacated log cabin that
had been occupied for a short time by some family. Another early school
was taught near Fairfax, and still another in the Rogers neighborhood.
The Chambers were the founders of a school about 1830. In 1836, there
were three schoolhouses in the township, and one or two old residences
which were used for that purpose. In about 1840, the old log schoolhouse
at Harrodsburg was erected, which was used for school and church pur-
poses until about 1851. School was taught at Fairfax as early as 1838.
In 1846, the township consisted of four school districts, two schools being
held in District No. 2. During the winter of 1846-47, school was not
taught in Nos. 1 or 3. The enrollment in District 2 was 53 and in Dis-
trict 4 was 25. The length of each term was three months. Twenty-two
children attended in No. 4, and 34 in No. 2. All these houses were of
logs. In 1856, there were schoolhouses at Harrodsburg, Smithville, Fair-
fax, and on Sections 8, 11 and 29. The only frame house was at Har-
rodsburg. The old log schoolhouse at this village had been burned down
about 1851, at which time a small one-story frame was erected to take its
place. Early teachers in this frame house were Jonas May, Maj.
Grimes, Luther De Motte, William Brown, Elzy Woodward et al. Dr.
James Beatley taught in the old log house as early as 1844. He was a
better teacher than physician. The small frame house was used until war
time, when the present two-storied frame building was erected at a cost of
about $1,000 ; three teachers are now employed in the Harrodsburg
626
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
schools. William Neill is the present Principal. The township schools
were greatly improved during the fifties and more so during the sixties
and the seventies. The following is for the schools of -1880-81 :
TBACHEES OF 1880-81.
E. L. Adams
0. S. Foster
Emsley Houston....!.
Smallwood and Lee
W. S. Wells
E. Bennett.
F. R. Hamilton
Nannie Gorman
Lizzie Adams
Number
Actual
of
Euumeration.
Districts.
1
63
2
45
3
40
4
50
5
40
6
28
7
8
9 •
24
25
32
Kind and Size of Houies.
Frame,
Frame,
Frame,
Frame.
Frame,
Frame,
Frame.
Frame,
Frame,
20x26 feet.
20x30 feet.
20x24 feet.
20x26 feet.
20x26 feet.
18x24 feet.
18x18 feet.
CHURCHES.
An early Baptist class was organized in the Nichols neighborhood
about the year 1828. Among the first members were the families of
John Nichols, W. F. Siscoe, William Chandler, William Smith, Henry
Landers, Henry Fritz, Alfred Coffey and others. Early meetings were
held at the house of John Nichols. Another early class was the one in
the McCrea neighborhood, among the members being the families of John
McCrea, Jacob Zike, James Jenkins, Rufus Rough, Andrew Pickle et al.
JIhe Church of Christ was organized at Harrodsburg late in the thirties.
Henry Burkey, W. S. Holmes, Andrew Holmes, Jacob Graybell, R. R.
Richardson, Hiram Butcher, Francis Holmes, James Wright and John
Kitchum, and their families being members. W. C. Walker, Joshua
Moore, James Smith and Robert M. Parks, and their families, were early
Baptists at Harrodsburg. The Methodists Church at Smithville was
organized in the fifties. The families of Joseph Davis, James Woodward,
Perry Gater, Farris Howard, Daniel Ketchum, being early members.
Rev. E. P. F. Wells was pastor in 1855. The Cumberland Presbyte-
rians formed a class at Harrodsburg in the fifties, meetings being held at
the schoolhouse. R. M. Strain, James Woodward, William Chambers,
and others and their families were members. Rev. E. Hall was pastor
in 1857. The Christian Church at Smithville had for early members
James Fox, Matthew Floyd, John Hines and others. Among the Meth-
odists there were Perry Gather, Daniel Ketchum, H. Barrett and others.
William Leonard belonged to the Christian Reformed, as did H.
Burkey, John Hornbaker et al. A Union Church was built. Other
classes have been formed in the township since.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 527
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
DESCRIPTION.
THIS civil division of Monroe County was given a separate existence
in the year 1829, and was named for the father of our common
country. It is a full Congressional township of thirty-six sections, and
coincides with Township 10 north, Range 1 west, of the Second Principal
Meridian, and is one of the four townships of the county that are crossed
by the old Indian boundary. This boundary was established at the treaty
of Fort Wayne, September 30, 1809, between the Indians and Gen. Har-
rison. At this date, all of Washington Township, and indeed all of
Monroe County south of the boundary, was obtained from the natives.
The northern part of the township belonged to what became the New
Purchase, and was ceded by the Indians to the Government at the treaty
of St. Mary's, Ohio, October 3, 1818. Of course that portion of the
township north of the boundary, or in the new purchase, was not subject
to entry until after the Indians' title had been extinguished, and until the
land had been surveyed by Thomas Brown during the summer of 1819.
It was offered for sale in 1821. That part of the township south of the
boundary was surveyed by William Harris and Arthur Henrie in 1812,
and was subject to entry in 1816.
THE SOIL, TIMBER, ETC.
The variety and quality of timber in Washington Township will compare
favorably with other portions of the county. Among the more noticeable
varieties are white and black walnut, red, black, white and chestnut oaks,
sugar tree, white and yellow poplar, chestnut, cherry, hickory, elm, beech,
sassafras, sycamore, dogwood, gum tree, etc. The surface rocks of the town-
ship belong to the knob-stone and Keokuk groups. There are traces in the
township of the action of glaciers, but only traces. A section of the geolog-
ical deposits about half a mile northwest of Wayport is as follows:
Feet.
Cherty and earthy layers 12
Lower St. Louis limertone 15
Keokuk limestone, light gray, containing, with stems and pla'es of
crinoids, Auloporagiyas, Zaphrentis aalii^Z.cornvcppia, Actinoc-
rinus^ ramul.osus and basal plates of A. lowi 8
Keokuk limestone, butF colored 12
Knob sandstone, with partings 30
Knob shale, with Hemipronitis cremstriatus, Spirifer carteri. Chon-
drites coUetti and Vermiform fucoidex 40
Total 117
The section at Hindostan is as follows :
* Feet.
Earthy layers, containing geodes 6
Keokuk limestone, dark gray 20
Keokuk limestone, light gray 10
528 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Keokuk limestone, buff, fossiliferous 10
Clay, buff colored, with geodes and stems and plates of crinoids... 6
Keokuk limestone, buff colored 10
Knob sandstone 20
Knob shale, containing Chondrites colleti and Vermiform fucoides... 60
Total 142
On Bryant's Creek, on Section 2, the deposits are as follows :
Feet.
Surface soil, creamy colored 6
Keokuk limestone, dark blue 8
Keokuk limestone, light gray 10
Keokuk limestone, buff, with bands of chert and geodes 6
Knob sandstone, with partings 20
Knob shale, containing Vermiform fucoides, Hemipronitig creniatriatug,
and casts of Spirifer carteri 80
Total 130
On Section 23, the deposits are as follows :
Feet
Earthy layers 12
Knob sandstones, irregularly bedded 40
Knob shale, containing the following geodized fos'sils: Spirifer
carteri, S. neglectus, Hemipronitis crenistriat.us ; also geodes con-
taining chalcedony, butrioidal geodes and mammillated geodes
remarkable for their size and beauty 80
Total 132
Mr. I. W. Corr, of Hindostan has many beautiful specimens of fossils,
taken from the deposits near his residence, among them being several
large geodized crinoids showing all the plates with silica filling the inter-
stices between the plates; one fine Aetinocrinus loweii, A. gowdi, Pleu-
rotoneoria Sp, (?) and Philipsia hufo. He also has Aetinocrinus
humboldti, A. raumlorus, A. equalis, A. bitwbinatus, Granatocrinus
granulosus^ Gr.ficus, identical with those of the Burlington (Iowa) group.
He has, also, Pentremites hurlingtonensis, Spirifer carteri, S. pseudo-
lineatus, S. neglectus, S. keokiik, S. fastigatus, Pleurotomaria shumardi,
plates of Archoeocidaris wortheni, Aviculopectum winchelli, Oonularia
suh-carhonaria, Prima sub-spatulata, Platyceras equilatera, P. infundi-
bulum, Phillipsia bufo, Produetus punctatus and P. altonensis.
LAND BUYERS.
On the 12th of September, 1817, while Monroe County was yet unor-
ganized, and while it was yet a part of Orange County, James Bennington,
at the land office in Vincennes, purchased the northwest quarter of the
southwest quarter, and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of
Section 30, Township 10 north. Range 1 west of the Second Principal
Meridian. This was the first purchase of land within the present limits
of Washington Township. The second tract or tracts were bought by
John Patterson on the 11th of August, 1823 — the northwest quarter of
the southeast quarter, and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter
of Section 31. The third entry was made by Hugh Corr on Section 14,
on the 30th of January, 182-4. Jehu Buckner bought on Section 12 in
1826, and Andrew Smith on Section 6 the same year. The entry of
Mr. Corr was the first of the township in the New Purchase. Samuel
Gaskins bought eighty acres on Section 28 in 1827, and Lee Brown
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 529
bought a similar tract on the same section the following year. William
and J. Millikan bought eighty acres on Section 80 in 1828. In October,
1829, John Turner bought eighty acres on Section 33, and the same
year Wylie Burns bought a tract on Section 13, and Richard Colier on
Section 3. Isaac Gillaspy, in 1830, secured eighty acres on Section 34.
In 1831, Robert Walters and Jehu Buckner bought tracts on Section 28,
and John Weaver on Section 5. During the following year, land on Sec-
tion 3 was bought by Thomas J. Nance, on Section 12 by John Bales,
on Section 29 by James Mulky, on Section 32 by Allen Sims, on Sec-
tion 33 by John Turner, and on the same section by A, B. Anderson.
In 1833, Groalson Steppe bought on Section 2, John Weaver and Andrew
Smith on Section 5, Job Johnson on Section 14, John Neal on Section
17, John Bales on Section 19, William McNeely on Section 29, Henry
Putnam on Section 31. Jehu Buckner bought on Section 3 in 1834 ;
John Neal on Section 17 same year ; Thomas Gillaspy on Section 21
same year ; James Gaskins on Section 28 same year ; David Paddock on
Section 28 same year ; Lee Brown on Section 32 same year ; Isaac Gil-
laspy on Section 33 same year ; Andrew S. Tate on Section 33 same
year; Benjamin Marshall on Section 34 same year. In 1835, entries
were made by Job Johnson on Section 14 ; William Gaskins, Section 29 ;
Daniel Ray, same section ; Emsley Wood, Section 31 ; Allen Sims, Sec-
tion 31 ; Daniel Ray, Section 33. The entries of 1836 were numerous
and as follows : Jeremiah Colier, Levi Colier, William Tate and William
Carlton on Section 16, Richard Colier on Section 17, Solomon Langwell
on Section 18, Benoni Denny and William Carlton on Section 19,
Alexander W. Leland, 240 acres on Section 19, Stephen Gaskins on
Section 29, William Scott, William McNeely and William Carlton also
on Section 29 ; Alexander W. Leland, nearly all of Section 30 in July,
1836, Emsley Wood and Jacob Millikan on Section 31, A. W. Leland
and A. M. Poe on Section 32, also Emsley Wood, Fielding W. Poe and
William Carlton on the latter section, Solomon Langwell and A. B.
Anderson on Section 33. William Scott bought on Section 16 in 1837,
Washington Smith on Section 33 the same year, and David Browning on
Section 34 the same year. In 1838, Caleb Colier, bought on the school
section, Benjamin Ridge on Section 31, and Isaac Gillaspy and William
Scott on Section 34. Thomas Gillaspy bought on Section 16 in 1839.
The above were the only entries in the township prior to 1840, and
among the list of purchasers were some of the earliest settlers and after-
ward the most prominent and respected men. The settlement in the
forties and during the fifties was rapid, nearly all the Government land
being taken up.
TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
A. B. Anderson was on Section 23, his tax was $4.72. Lee Brown
lived on Section 28, and paid $4.70 tax. Henry Buston lived on Sec-
tion 21, his tax being $3.12. Hawkins Bales was on Section 17, his
tax was $6.85, including a delinquency of $3.41. James Bales owned
Sections 17 and 18, his tax was $15.57. Rachael Bales owned about
200 acres and paid a tax of $11.63. Charles Buck paid poll tax.
Bartlett Barton paid a poll tax. James H. Baker owned $200 worth of
personal property. John Bales paid poll tax. Levi Colier resided on
530 HISTORY OF MONROE "COUNTY.
Section 15 ; Jeremiah Colier on Section 17 ; Micajah Colier on Section
18 and Stephen Colier on Sections 4 and 5. Their taxes were $2.70,
$4.94, $1.42 and $4.10 respectively.
THE CHURCHES
Late in the decade of thirties, probably about 1838, a class of Meth-
odists was organized near the central part of the township, the families of
Samuel Gaskins, William Gaskins, Bartlett H. Baston, Jesse Gaston and
William McNeeley belonging. The church was erected late in the forties,
on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 21. The land
was donated to the church by Mary Ann Gaskins, and comprised one-half of
an acre on the quarter above mentioned. In 1848, the Trustees were
William McNeeley, Samuel Gaskins, Jesse Gaskins, Bartlett P. Barton
and William Gaskins, who at that time were making arrangements to
build their church. This religious class is yet in existence, and has done
much good in the township. In the forties, the old Mt. Pleasant Chris-
tian, Church was organized.in the township, a few of the earliest members
being George M. Peery, John Cooter, Alfred Houston, Solomon Lang-
well, Josiah Goodwin, Benjamin Houston and their families. In 1849
or 1850, Abraham Lemon sold one acre to the Trustees of this church —
Peery, Cooter, Houston, Langwell and Goodwin — from his land on Sec-
tion 6, in the northwest corner of the township. About this time the
church was erected. This society is also yet it existence, and is prosper-
ous. Late in the forties the old Separate Baptist Church, in the vicinity
of Hindostan, was organized. Meetings were at first held at the resi-
dences of Stephen Havions and John Goodman. The families of Ste-
phen Havions, John Goodman, John McCoy, William McCoy were
prominently connected in the origin of the society. In 1853, Stephen
Bales sold to the Trustees of this church one acre of land on Section 13,
to be used as a site for the church. The class styled itself the Union
Church of Separate 13aptists. These were the early religious classes of
the township, but not the only ones, as one or two were organized in
schoolhouses. Late years have seen the organization of several others.
EDUCATION.
Schools were taught during the thirties in the Colier, the Bales and
the Langwell neighborhoods. They were very imperfect in every respect
except want of comfort and facilities for learning. The schools were
taught in the rudest log houses, and were poorly attended, probably by
the children of two or three of the nearest families. It was then the cus-
tom, as more than one resident of the township can testify from experi-
ence, to go to school winter and summer barefoot ; that seems unreason-
able but it was done, and how ? The barefooted child, to begin with,
had gone thus so long that his feet were hardened and calloused to resist
the cold, by several extra layers of epidermis, which necessity compelled
Nature to provide. He could stand a degree of cold which would appar-
ently chill him to the bone, and could walk for some .time in snow and
frost without suffering more than he could bear with reasonable fortitude.
When he had to do extra duty in the snow and cold, however, he would
take a small piece of a board, say a foot wide and two feet long, which
BENTON TOWNSHIP. 531
had been seasoned and partially scorched at the fire, and after heating it
until it was on the point of burning, he would start on the run toward
the schoolhouse with the hot board in his hand, and when his feet became
too cold to bear any longer, he would place the board upon the ground
and stand upon it until the numbness and cold had been partly overcome,
when he would again take his "stove" in his hand and make another
dash for the schoolhouse and repeat the process until the building had
been reached. This was actually done in Washington Township. Some-
times a flat, light piece of rock was substituted for the board, and was
much better as it retained heat longer. Three schoolhouses were built
in the township in the forties, and two more early in the fifties, and the
five stood on Sections 6, 12, 15, 18, 26 and 33. Since then the schools
have increased in number and usefulness until they are among the best in
the county.
TEACHERS OF :
V. D. Polly
Emma Misner
V. W. Branam
V. 0. Ferguson
Jessie Weir
Rose A. Cookerly
E. V. Ferguson
Francis E. Robinson.
Number
of
Attendance.
Kind and Size
District.
of Houses.
1
33
Frame, 29x22 feet.
2
30
Frame, 24x28 feet.
3
27
Frame, 24x28 feet.
4
85
Frame, 20x26 feet.
5
29
Frame, 22x26 feet.
6
38
Frame, 24x28 feet.
7
36
Frame, 22x28 feet
8
55
Frame. 20x26 feet.
WAYPORT AND HINDOSTAN.
Two villages have been founded in Washington Township : The first,
Wayport, was laid out on Sections 28 and 33, in April, 1851, by Isaac
Gillaspy, Thomas Gillaspy and G. W. Smith, proprietors, and James
Washburn, surveyor. Sixteen lots were laid out. One store, a black-
smith shop, a post office, etc., sum up the history of the town. Hindo-
Btan was laid out in June, 1853, on the northeast quarter of the northeast
quarter of Section 14, by Charles G. Corr, proprietor, and James Wood-
burn, surveyor. Twelve lots were laid out on the Martinsville &
Bloomington State Road, and just north of the Columbus & Gosport
State Road. One store, a few shops and offices also sums up the impor-
tance of this little hamlet.
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
THE SOIL, TIMBER, GEOLOGY, ETC.
THIS township was named in honor of Thomas H. Benton, of Missouri,
one of the ablest men the country has ever produced. It was or-
ganized in 1838, a full account of which may be seen elsewhere in this
volume. It comprises all of Congressional Township 9 north. Range 1
east, except the eastern tier of sections, which was attached to Brown
County many years ago, and in addition includes all of Township 10
north, Range 1 east, lying south of Bean Blossom Creek. The Town-
532 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
ship is generally rough, with precipitous bluffs here and there, and is cut
by numerous ravines, where small streams find their beds. There is too
much clay in the soil to bring the best results to the agriculturist. This
is true even of the lower lands, which contain much material washed down
from higher altitudes. In some places, however, the soil is rich and
deep, and furnishes excellent crops of all the cereals. As a whole the
township is superior as a grazing location. The heavy forests, deep de-
clivities and numerous bluffs afford abundant protection to domestic
animals from the blasts of winter. The geology of the township is much
similar to the balance of the county. The section of formation at Union-
ville is as follows :
Earthy layers containing geodes and the following fossils : Zophrentia Feet.
dalii, Z. cornucopia, and plates and stems of crinoids 8
Keokuk limestone ; bluish gray containing a few internal casts of
Spirifer neglectus, S. faftigatus, and Zaphrentus dalii 6
Keokuk limestone, light gray 4
Keokuk limestone, buff colored 6
Total 24
On Section 8 is the following formation: Earthy layers containing
geodes and irregular masses of chert 6
Keokuk limestone, bluish gray with partings 10
Total 16
The following fossils may be found in this formation, though not in a
good state of preservation: Forbeseocrinus multi-brachiatus, JDichocrinug
sculptus, Actinocrinus ramulosus, plates of A. humboldti, and A. lowei.
The following may also be found here : Platycirus equilateralis, Produc-
tus puneiatus, P. cora, Spirifer tenunstriatus, S. fastigatus, and *S'.
neglectus. On Stephen's Creek, geodes with crystals of dog-tooth and
calcareous spar may be found. Occasionally large geodized crinoids of
the species Actinocrinus humboldti, A. lowei Hemi proniles crenistria-
tu8, Spini ferearteri, S. tenuistriatus, and some fine pentagonal Greo-
doomuis indianensis occur. The township has an abundance of good stone.
Traces of the more valuable minerals, such as gold, copper, etc., have
been found in the township.
THE WHITE SETTLEMENT.
The first entry of land in Benton Township was made by Elisha Pol-
lard on Section 34 (the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and
the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter), on the 27th of September,
1822. The second was on Section 18 (the northwest quarter of the
southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter, in
December, 1823, by Henry Kimble. The third was on Section 8 in Janu-
ary, 1824, by Robert Young. David Barrow entered the next on Section 5
in 1880. William Florer bought on Section 8 in 1832; George Richardson
on Section 21 the same year; and George Skevin on 31 the same year. In
1833, the following entries were made : Isaac W. Young on 6 ; Abram
Young on 8 ; Isaac Cox on 18. In 1834, Edward Jackson on 8; Jacob
Calor on 9 ; William Richardson on 9 ; David Chitwood on 10 ; Isaac
Cox on 18 ; Henry Kimble on 18 and 19. Sampson Hensley bought on
19 in 1835. In 1836, the following entries were made : William Florer
on Section 3 ; Mary Crawford on 3 ; Jacob Young on 3 ; Rufus Ward on
BENTON TOWNSHIP. 533^
4 ; Charles Bates on 6 ; David Young and Isaac W. Young on 8 ; Joab
Mershon, James Alexander, Hugh McClung and Pleasant Robinson on
9 ; David Chitwood on 10 ; Joshua Richardson and Adam Stevens on
15 ; Pleasant Robinson, Jacob Mosier and Isaac W. Young on 16 (the
school section) ; Joab Cox on 17 ; Sampson Hensley on 19 ; Abraham
Ealy on 20 ; Jacob Mosier on 27 ; William Cox on 28 ; Michael Bus-
kirk on 30; John M. Sluss on 31 ; William Cox on 33; Lewis Rains
and Jacob Romans on 34. In 1837, the following entries were made :
John W. Riddle on Section 6 ; Nancy Rains on H ; Joab Cox on 7 ;
Thomas Gardner on 9 ; William Richardson on 9 ; Abraham Young and
Joshua Richardson on 16 ; James Rader and Jacob Mefford on 19 ; Adam
Stephens on 22 ; John B. Cox and Adam Stephens on 28 ; Abraham
Ealy on 29 ; Thomas R. Stephenson on 31 ; T. R. Stevenson and Mar-
tin Gamble on 32 ; Finney Courtney on 33. In 1838, the following
were the entries : Hugh McClung on Section 9 ; Nathan Hensley on 22;
Lewis Mosier on 27 ; Jacob Romans on 34. The following were the en-
tries in 1839 : Edward Jackson on Section 6 ; Samuel C. Harbison on
15 ; Adam Stephens on 15 ; G. H. Johnson and Isaac W. Young on 18;
Nathan Hensley on 21 and 22; George Richardson on 21; William
Kerr on 31 ; Joseph Horton on 32 ; Thomas Kelley and James Thomp-
son on 33. These were the only entries of land prior to 1840. It is
said that the Youngs were the first settlers in the township. The Coxes
were in early. The principal early settlement was nea r the center of the
township where the families of Richardsons, Chitwoods,'Stevenses, Youngs,
Robinsons, Alexanders and others resided. The settlement and im-
provement were very slow. Large bodies of the land were not entered
from the Government until as late as the decade of fifties.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
James Allen, Abraham Allen, William Alexander, James J. Alex-
ander, David Banan, Joseph C. Bates, Joab Brummet, Isaac Bolting-
house, Christopher Blessey, William Carr, John B. Cox, William Cox,
David Chitwood, Isaac Cox, Griffith Davidson, J. J. Fulford, William
Fry, Nicholas Fleener, Martin Gamble, James Graham, Madison Graham,
Sampson Hensley, Edward Jackson, Hugh McClung, James Payton, B.
F. Rogers. William Richardson, Joshua Richardson, George Richardson,
Pleasant Robertson, Jonathan Richardson, Thomas Stephenson, Jordan
Stephens, Adam Stephens, David Young, Jr., Abraham Young, Silas
Young. The highest tax was paid by the following men : Abraham
Allen, $4.93; William Alexander, $7; J. J. Alexander, $7; David
Banan, $7 ; David Chitwood, $4.98 ; the Youngs estate, $9.90 ; Samp-
son Hensley, $7.77 ; Edward Jackson, $7.82 ; Hugh McClung, $6.40 ;
David Young, Jr., $5.79; Abraham Young, $5.90. The total value of
township lands with improvements was $18,605, and as the township then
included Marion, those figures, of course, included the latter. The total
tax for the two townships was $299.74. The county tax was $109.18 ;
the State tax, $190.56 ; total amount of taxables was $32,519 for both
townships.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Benton Township was taught near the residence of
534
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Hugh McClung about the year 1838. The second was in the southern
part, and the third near what is now Unionville. The first school above
named was attended by the children of the Coxes, Richardsons, Robin-
sons, Youngs, Hosiers, McClungs, Alexanders and others, and was a
famous school, considering the sparsely settled condition of the township.
In 1846, there were two school districts in the township. No. 1 had an
enumeration of 114, but during the winter of 1846-47, the average daily
attendance was only twenty-five. No. 2 enumerated ninety-four, and
the same winter had an average daily attendance of only twenty-four.
The term in No. 1 was three months, and in No. 2 five months. In No. 1
the teacher was paid ^10 per month, and in No. 2 $7.41|. At this
time Jacob Mosier, David Chitwood and Hugh McClung were Township
Trustees. In 1856, there were in the township five log schoolhouses on
Sections 8, 10, 28, 30 and 33. The following families sent to the
house on Section 8 — Youngs, Petersons, Williamses, Coxes, Richardsons,
McCoys et al. On Section 10 — the Chitwoods, Wests, Robinsons,
Fleeners, Brocks, Watsons, Hoggs, McCoys, Robins, Alexanders, Ste-
venses et al. Section 28 — Davidsons, Griffins, Hashes, Coxes, Chitwoods,
Courtneys, Campbells, Baltinghouses, Mosiers, Ashers, Colemans et al.
Section 30 — the Walches, Buskirks, Fares, Skirvins, Gallions, Coxes,^
Gambles, Hortons, Kimbles et al. Section 33 — the Pauleys, Taylors,
Hendricksons, Jacksons, Barrowses, Coleburns, Iloustons et al.
TEACHERS OF 1880-81.
David Barrow
Kittie May
William Parks....
Florence Miller..,
Sarah Anderson .
Spurgeon Barrow
William Barnhill.
W. H. East
Number
of
District.
Kind and Size of Houses.
Frame, 20x22 feet.
Frame, 22x26 feet.
Frame, 22x28 feet.
Frame, 20x22 feet.
Frame, 22x24 feet.
Frame, 22x28 feet.
Frame, 22x26 feet.
Frame, 20x22 feet.
RELIGIOUS CLASSES.
As early as 1834, and very likely several years before, a Baptist class
was formed near the residence of Lewis Stevens. The class was styled
" Little Union." It was noted in early years for its activity. Lewis
Stevens, James Brummet, David Barrow, William McCoy, John Cott
and their families were the earliest members. The first meetings were
held at the house of James Brummet. Thomas Rader, William Richard-
son and their families and many others also belonged early. The Church
of Christ, on Young's Ridge, was formed during the forties. James J.
Alexander, James Alexander, Joseph Rader, Daniel Thomas, Samuel
Smith and their families were prominent and early members. In 1851,
Lot 24, in Unionville, was purchased of Henry F. Garlick, for $12, and
preparations were immediately made to build the church. Joseph Davis
was the carpenter, and finished the building — a frame structure — in about
July, 1851. Another early class was the Fryes' Church, the leading
members being the families of T. Y. Rader, B. S. Robins, George W.
Frye, John C. Frye, William Gladden and others. Rev. Robert Har-
mon was pastor in about 1857.
BENTON TOWNSHIP. 535
UNIONVILLE.
This is the only village in Benton township. It is likely that J. J.
Alexander was the first merchant ; at any rate he opened a store of gen-
eral merchandise, worth about $900, in the year 1886, and soon had a
flourishing trade. He continued in the business many years. Late in the
forties, James Carter engaged in business in the village, continuing for
several years. About the same time C. C. Fleener also opened a general
store. In about 1852, F. R. Miller engaged in the mercantile pursuit.
Thus the business went on, usually one or two mercantile establishments
present. A blacksmith shop, a post office, a carpenter or two, a dozen
families, a doggery, etc., make up the sum and substance of Unionville.
THE cox TRAGEDY.
One of the most startling occurrences ever within the limits of Benton
Township was the butchering of a family of John B. Cox, in September
1861. The neighbors found, one forenoon, that an awful crime had been
committed. Those earliest on the premises found Mr. Cox unconscious on
his porch from the loss of blood, with several severe cuts and bruises about
his head and neck. Within the house a ghastly scene was presented : Mrs.
Cox lay dead upon the bed, with her throat cut from ear to ear. Upon an-
other bed near lay a girl about ten years old, with her throat horribly
mangled, though she was still breathing and alive, though unconscious.
On the floor near this bed was a younger girl, dead, with her head half
severed from her body. The trundle-bed held two children, a smaller girl
severely cut about the neck, though not mortally, and alive, though par-
tially unconscious, and also a boy, not a member of the family, about ten
years old, severely cut, though alive, but helpless from the loss of blood.
He was. considerably scratched and bruised, and seemed to have struggled
desperately with his assailant, as the bedding was torn and scattered. The
youngest child, a mere baby, was found unhurt. An enormous crowd
gathered within the space of a few hours to view the horrible sight. Mr.
Cox had some trouble with several of his neighbors, who were immediately
arrested and taken to Bloomington for safe-keeping. The dead and
wounded were conveyed to the residence of William Cox, near by. Mr.
Cox, as soon as conscious, was questioned and stated that several men at-
tacked the family during the previous night, knocked him senseless, after
which he knew nothing until the next morning, when by shouts he aroused
his neighbors. The men charged with the crime were tried and acquitted.
Several from the first had insisted that Mr. Cox, the head of the family,
had himself committed the deed in a moment of insanity, with which he
was at times afflicted. This case terminated with this view.
536 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP.
THE SALT WORKS.
THE creek by the above name took its designation from the numerous
salt springs along its course. These were discovered at an early-
day from the great resort made of them by deer which came to drink.
They became famous deer-licks, where, as long as those animals were
found in the county in any abundance, they could be killed by the
hunters, and were so killed. Some of the salty localities gave evidence of
such strength that it was resolved to evaporate the water, and thus begin
the business of manufacturing salt. If it is remembered that at that
time salt was a scarce and costly article in the woods, made so by the
great distance where it was prepared and barreled, and by the great cost
of transportation, the value of an excellent well will be readily under-
stood. It is not necessary to inform old settlers of the commercial value
of good salt works within from one to fifteen miles of their doors. As
early as 1822 or 1823, Henry Wampler, Thomas Literal and several
others bored down on Section 12, Township 8 north, Range 1 east, and
found an adundance of excellent brine. They erected "shanties," pro-
cured several large iron kettles, and began the work. They received a wide
patronage from the start and increased their capacity by the addition of
more kettles and men to do the work. The works were conducted for a
period of years, and it is said that more than 800 bushels of excellent
salt were manufactured in one year. Exact figures cannot be given. The
travel to the works became so great at the start, even, that the owners
and others petitioned the County Board in 1823 to construct a road from
the county seat to the works, which was accordingly done. In after years
other wells were sunk in the township, one being near the iron bridge,
across Salt Creek. This early manufacture of salt was before the settle-
ment of the township. In 1825, the township received a separate exist-
ence, and was named, from the works which rendered the locality famous,
and from the creek which coursed its way from north to south across its
surface.
NATURAL FEATURES,
There is much good soil in the township, though scattered and in
small tracts. The lower lands and the slopes are the best for agriculture.
Hillsides are found rich and usually pay for cultivation. The tendency
is to seed the higher lands down or permit them to retain their natural
covering of timber, while the lower tracts are annually cultivated and
made to sustain a population of moderate density. Good springs of hard
water abound. In the western part are a series of sulphur springs, which
possess no little merit for sanitary or medicinal purposes. It is probable,
however, that they would not pay to be fitted up for the reception and
care of invalids. Salt Creek is the main artery for the conveyance of
the waters which sustain the vegetation of the township. Small branches
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. 537
extend outward from it at angles like the limbs and twigs of a tree. An
abundance of good stone can be obtained by a reasonable amount of labor.
Lime is manufactured to some extent, and brick and tile can be had at
several locations.
LAND ENTRIES.
On the 9th of September, 1817, Moses Williams bought 160 acres on
Section 7, and this was the Srst purchase in Salt Creek Township,
Lowe and Lee bought 120 acres on Section 10, in 1818. On the 2d of
August, 1820, Elisha Pollard entered two quarters on Section 18, and
during the same year Moses Williams entered another tract on Section
22, and John Huff on the same section. Williams also bought on Sec-
tion 12, in 1821 and 1824. The following year Henry Wampler bought
two tracts, one on Section 23, and the other on Section 27. John Huff
also this year purchased a piece on the latter section, and Elisha Pollard
on Section 6. James Matlock secured the next tract on Section 27, in
1822. John W. Lee bought on Section 11, in 1824, and J. 0. Howe on
Section 12, in 1826. J. 0. Howe, Sr., bought 80 acres on Section 2, in
1824, and John Barnes on Section 10, in 1828. These were the only
entries before the decade of thirties. Alexander Owens bought on Sec-
tion 10, in 1832. In 1832, William Boruff entered a piece on Section
31, and Jacob Stephens on Section 2 the following year. John Stephens
bought a piece the latter year on Section 3. The following entries were
made in 1836 : Samuel Smith on Section 3 ; Finney Courtney on Sec-
tion 4 ; Henderson Myers on Section 4 ; Ambrose Miller, Aquilla Rogers
and William Martin on Section 6 ; John McKissock on Section 7 ; An-
drew Harshberger on Section 8; J. 0. Howe on Section 11; Edward
Walker and John Huff on Section 15 ; Jonathan Huntington on Section
17; George Johnson on Section 18; Thomas Ferguson on Section 19;
Archibald Wilson on Section 21 ; Reuben Clark on Section 27 ; Samuel
McCalla and George Johnson on Section 28 ; Thomas Ferguson and
William Taylor on Section 30, the latter buying 125 acres ; Michael
Wampler and David Killough on Section 31 ; James Wakefield on Sec-
tion 32, and Archibald Wilson, Daniel Butcher and Aaron M. Wilson on
Section 34. The following entries were made in 1837 : W. W. Dun-
can on Section 4 ; W. D. Maxwell, Section 4 ; Garret Moore, Section 7 ;
Isaac Bolinghouse, Section 9 ; Edward Walker, Section 15 ; Alexander
Miller, same ; John Cherry, same ; John Armstrong, same ; Michael
Wampler, Section 31 ; James Wakefield,' Section 31. In 1838, the follow-
lowing entries were made: Charles M. Cunningham, Section 6 ; Samuel
Curry, Section 7 ; Daniel McCaughan, Daniel Kilpatrick and James
Gordon, Section 8 ; John Barnes, Section 10 ; Hamilton Gray, Section 21.
In 1839, the following were the entries: Lankston Brummet, Section 4 ;
Alexander Kerr, Section 6 ; Samuel Latimer, Section 8 ; Jonathan Hunt-
ington, Section 9 ; William Cabot, Section 17 ; George Johnson, Section
28 ; David Johnson, Section 28 ; John Campbell, Section 31 ; John
Lucas, Section 33, and the same on Section 34. The above were the
only entries of land in Salt Creek Township previous to the year 1840.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
Gabriel Anes owned land on Section 3, but was delinquent. Lankston
538 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Brummet lived on Section 4, and paid a tax of $B.02 on $230 worth of
personal property and $150 worth of real estate. James Chandler, who
owned no land, paid a poll tax. James Fleener lived on Section 18, but
was delinquent. George Johnson also lived on Section 18 ; his tax was
$2.44. John Hansan, William Helton and Samuel Harbison paid poll
tax. John Lucas and Samuel Latimore were assessed poll tax. James
Smith lived on Section ^7, John Stephenson Section 3, and Samuel Smith
on Section 3. Their tax was $2.90, $3.60 and $3.26, respectively.
Jonathan Sherrill owned 80 acres on Section 31, and was taxed $2.30.
Michael Wampler and J. W. Wakefield were residents, but were delin-
quent. Bartlett Woodward owned 80 acres on Section 34, and was taxed
$3.18. This old settler was one of the first County Commissioners.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
No schools were taught in Salt Creek Township until late in the
thirties, at which time two started into being about the same time — one
near the Boles farm or the Butcher farm, in the southern part, and the
other a little north of the center. Both were log houses, and were used
only temporarily for school purposes. In 1843, there were two school-
houses, and a portion of the school section (No. 16) had been sold to in-
crease the funds to pay the teachers and to keep up the houses. By 1846,
two hundred and twenty acres had been sold for $505, but only $126.25
had been realized in cash. In 1856, there were three good schoolhouses
and two temporary concerns. One of the good houses stood on Section
15, another on Section 19, and the third on Section 34. The schools,
then, at best, were very inferior. Later years have brought a great im-
provement, but serious errors have crept in that should be corrected.
Pupils have become parrots, not thinking, reasoning beings. The sys-
tem of public school education requires summary correction and revision.
Enormous sums are annually expended on the public schools, hand-
some buildings are erected, and the system is the pride of every citizen.
But in a measure the system is a failure. The public schools are the
womb of the intellectual life of this nation, and an immense responsibility
devolves upon our educators. Their first duty is to teach the children to
think ; do they ? Mere memorizing is only a mental gymnastic. If the
literal form is forgotten, the idea vanishes and the learner is left hopelessly
ignorant. The teachers should strictly forbid the pupil to repeat, parrot-
like, the words of the book, and insist that the ideas gained therefrom be
clothed in different language. Let our education be practical, is the cry.
By all means; but it does not go far enough. "Readin', writin' and
cipherin' " are not knowledge, but simply its instruments.
The boy who leaves the public schools knowing no more than that —
and even geography and a little history — is as barren as to his ideas, is as
completely shut out of the intellectual world as though he had never
made an attempt to enter it. The great majority of pupils leave school
at the age of fifteen. Their chief literary condiments are the flashy story
papers and works of fiction belonging to the diseased, sensational type.
If they have ever heard of Shakspeare, Addison, Tennyson, Longfellow
and the host of great literati, they are not indebted to the public schools
for the information. To be sure, there is a school reader ; but the read-
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. 539
ing hour is devoted almost entirely to the intonation of the voice, and not
in elucidating the sense of the matter. Let the memory be exercised, by
all means, not in memorizing text-books, but in gleaning from the death-
less productions of the past and the great works of to-day. We repeat
that to teach a child to think is the object of school education.
In a year the pupil will acquire a host of choice, pregnant sayings, that
are couched in language so pure and elegant that they cannot but re act upon
and unconsciously shape his own. This is eminently practical, and, even
it were not, it is not all of life to hoard the almighty dollar. If the
teachers can, by short conversations and quotations from standard authors,
succeed in interesting their pupils and thereby send them to the works
themselves, they will confer an incalculable boon upon those who are
sacredly put in their charge and do much in solving a vital question.
Only then will the evil of trashy literature be forever laid at rest. A
child cannot be forced into solid reading. He must be tempted to it. The
taste comes slowly, but when once acquired is a mine of wealth, exhaust-
less through life, and what is more, is the road to happiness and content.
That school or college which seeks the natural bent of the child places
him under the refining influences of the best writers, and which shapes his
thoughts according to the best thinkers of the world has succeeded ; but
that school or college which sends a pupil from its doors with his mental
tastes undeveloped, and his vocation undiscovered (this too frequently hap-
pens in the largest universities of the land), has failed and failed lamenta-
bly. It will not do to say that the acquisition of these tastes must be left
to high schools. Comparatively few of the school children go there.
School life is the smallest part of an education, and the duty of the educa-
tors is to put the pupil on the right road, which he will afterward pursue
for himself.
What is so practical as science ? The rudiments of physical geography,
chemistry, physics, geology and botany are now published by leading
scientists, and in a form so lucid that a child often can understand them.
And yet if a man asked the question in the public schools of this town-
ship, " On what principle is it that water is drawn from the bottom of the
well by a pump?" probably out of a hundred who have used the pump-
handle one could answer the question. Concerning the most elementary
principles of science the body of "practical " men are densely ignorant.
Also another branch of study — one of transcendent importance — is com-
pletely neglected. It is political economy. By our Constitution univer-
sal suffrage prevails, and the schoolboy of to-day is the voter of to-morrow.
Politics is the theme of the boy as well as the man. Yet glaring com-
mercial and financial fallacies gain currency in politics, which a child with
a knowledge of the fundamental principles of the science could refute. A
half hour every other day in the public schools devoted to the study of
Prof. Jevou's primer, Mrs. Fawcett's excellent little work or any other
good book, would be a splendid assurance of safe legislation for the future.
In these respects, then, our public schools can be improved. Ideas should
be gotten from text-books and not words. -The study of science, political
economy and our Constitution should be introduced, and could be without
increased expenditure. They are greatly needed and eminently practical.
We do not attach much importance to the protest against impracticability.
540
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
If one thing more than another characterizes an American, it is the desire
to secure to his children the advantages denied to himself. A great many
things go to make up an education, and we do not believe that we are get-
ting our money's worth to-day.
TEACHERS OF 1880-81.
Aggie Anderson.,
Betta Bodkin
Jennie Snodgrass
Aggie Anderson .
Eliza Strain
Alice Rogers
C. W. Smith
Number
of
Bistrict.
Kind and Size of House.
Frame, 22x26 feet.
Frame, 20x26 feet.
Frame.
Log,
Log,
18x20 feet.
18x18 feet.
CHURCHES.
In 1851, a class of the Christian Church was organized in Salt Creek
Township. The first meetings were held at the residence of Elizabeth
Wampler. In 1854, arrangements were made to build a church on
Moore's Creek, the funds being raised by subscription. Among the early
members were the families of Mrs. Wampler, William Baxter, William
Shields, John Lucas, Troylus Mize and others. The membership at the
time the building was erected was about thirty. This was the leading
religious society of the township in early years. Several others started
into life in schoolhouses, but were short lived. Later years have seen the
erection of other churches.
FRIENDSHIP.
In the month of September, 1857, James G. Fleener, with the as-
sistance of the County Surveyor, laid off eighteen lots on Section 21,
Township 8 north. Range 1 east, and named the village thus begun
Friendship, a very pretty and sociable cognomen. But Friendship was
fated to die on paper, as it made no friends who cared to remain with it
through the storms and sunshines of this busy world. It surrendered to
the inevitable in a few short months.
POLK TOWNSHIP.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME.
THIS civil division of the county of Monroe, as will be seen more
fully in another chapter of this volume, was organized soon after the
termination of the administration of President James K. Polk, and in his
honor was given the name it now bears. Some portions of the township
are extremely rough, with soil of unfortunate sterility ; but other portions
are mildly rolling, have numerous natural springs of excellent water, and
a surface soil that is practically inexhaustible. Owing to the worthlessness
of a few tracts, they were not entered from the Government until within
POLK TOWNSHIP. 541
the last ten or fifteen years. The soil was poor and too precipitous to be
easily cultivated, and even such timber as grew upon it was comparatively
worthless, consisting mainly of small, soft growths and numerous thickets
of heavy underbrush. In other portions, however, and usually upon the
better lands, grew a rich and varied native forestry of walnut, beech,
ash, whitewood, oak and other woods, of equal worth. Scattered through-
out the length and breadth of the township along the valleys and in the
lower localities was the rich land which attracted the first settlers.
THE EARLY LAND-BUYERS.
The first tract of land entered in Congressional Township 7 north,
Range 1 east, was on Section 4. On the 10th of December, 1821, a
dozen and more years before the general settlement of the township,
Elijah Elliott bought ninety and a fraction acres, but did not erect build-
ings of any kind nor attempt to reside on the land he had bought. The
next entries and the first permanent ones were by men who became the
most prominent the township has produced and whose children and grand-
children continue to sustain the honor of the family name. In the year
1823, five years after the organization of the county, when what is now
Polk Township was an uninhabited wildwood, except, perhaps, by some
temporary family of trappers or hunters, the old settler, George Todd,
bought a tract of eighty acres on Section 26, and made preparations to
erect thereon rude log buildings for his family and others for his cattle
and horses. With the help of his brothers and a man or two who went
out with him, the necessary buildings were soon erected and the family
immured in their new home. The woods around were full of deer, and
occasionally a bear would be seen near the cabin. Three years afterward
Mr. Todd bought eighty acres more on the same section, and also eighty
acres on Section 23. This gave him a good farm — more in fact than he
could use to advantage. In 1831, Andrew Todd bought eighty acres on
Section 15, and John Todd eighty acres on Section 14. The second
settler, and a man who was to play a conspicuous part in the subsequent
history of the^ township, Thomas Fleetwood, came to the township in
1826, and bought eighty acres of land on Section 36, near that of Mr.
Todd. In 1833, he bought forty acres more on the same section. In
1829, Isaac Fleetwood bought eighty acres on Section 35, and in 1834,
bought forty acres on Section 26. Solomon Fleetwood bought on Section
26 in 1837, and Joseph Fleetwood on Section 36 in 1839. Joseph
Stipp became the owner of eighty acres on Section 20 in 1832, and four
years later entered forty acres on Section 19. William Moss entered a
piece in 1834 and another in 1836 on Section 7, and Alexander Newton
secured forty acres on Section 23. A piece on Section 10 was bought by
William B. Todd in 1837, and another on the same section by David Haw-
kins in 1839. Robert Hicks selected a tract on Section 36 in 1834,
William R. Coombs in 1836, and Benjamin Browning in 1837. Isaac
Norman bought on Section 35 in 1836, and Moses Martin in 1839. An
eighty-acre tract on Section 32 went to Green C. Mize in 1837, Sidney
S. Meadows and Q. N. Cain purchased on Section 31 in 1836, and Will-
iam Henry on the same in 1838. In 1836, both Natty Gougle and
Thomas Chambers entered small pieces on Section 30^ William Todd
542 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
bought on Section 26 in 1837 and James Todd on the same in 1839.
William Newton also entered land on this section — one piece in 1836 and
another in 1837, and Samuel Axom did the same in 1839. William
Henry, Jr., and Elizabeth Chambers became the owners of tracts on Sec-
tion 18 in 1837 and 1838, respectively. John Hanson bought on
Section 17 in 1837, and Jesse Davar the same year, and 1839 on Sec-
tions 5 and 4. Aaron M. Johnson obtained eighty acres in 1836 on
Section 3, and Benjamin H. Halleck forty acres the same year on the
same section. Nelson Robertson secured forty acres in 1837 on Section
2. All these tracts of land were in Township 7 north, Range 1 east, but
this does not comprise all of the present Polk Township. Twelve sections
were detached from Brown County by an act of the Legislature and made
a part of Polk Township and Monroe County. The only entries on these
twelve sections before 1840 were as follows : Jonathan Faulks and
Joshua Repper on Section 31 in 1829, and Charles Sipes on Section 29
in 1836. These twelve sections are a part of Congressional Township 7
north. Range 2 east of the Second Principal Meridian. All the land
entered in the township previous to 1840 has now been given.
RESIDENTS OF 1842.
The township was sparsely settled only at this date, Benjamin Brown-
ing lived in the southern part, was taxed for 54 acres, which with im-
provements were listed at $218, and was assessed $3.16. Reuben Clark
lived on section 10; he paid a tax of $6.15 on $436 worth of real and
personal property. Q. N. Cain resided in the township, but seems to
have owned no land ; his personal property was $10. Joseph Cracraft
owned no land ; and paid tax on $40 of personal property. John Cherry
also resided in the township, as did also David Cherry. William Colder
paid on $100 of personal property. Wiley Davar lived on Section 15,
and was assessed $3.2£. Thomas Fleetwood, who lived down on Section 36,
was assessed a tax of $8.54; he had $1,400 worth of personal property
and his total taxables were $2,138; his land amounted to 194 acres, a
portion being on Section 35. William Hunter owned 175 acres on Section
31, and paid a tax of $6.50. Joseph Miller lived on Section 17, and
paid $2.84. William Mize lived also on Section 17; his tax was $1.46.
Peter Norman owned 240 acres on Sections 26 and 35; his personal prop-
erty was $800 and total taxables $1,660; his tax was $8.14. The fol-
lowing entry appears upon the tax duplicate : " Mr. Norman thinks he
is taxed too much and ought to be released." Isaac Norman paid a poll-
tax. Nelson Robertson lived on Section 2, and D. A. Rogers on Section
4. John Sipes owned a cottage on Section 20. Joshua Stepp owned 120
acres on Sections 19 and 20, and paid a tax of $3.84. James Stepp paid
a poll tax. John, Thomas and James Todd were assessed each a poll
tax ; but George, Henry and William, although their names appear on the
duplicate, seem to have been delinquent. Henry was assessed a poll tax,
but seems not to have paid it when due. John Todd paid a tax of $7.40;
Thomas Todd $10.87; and James Todd $4.70 ; but $6.83 of the tax of
Thomas was delinquencies settled. About a half a dozen more men were
then living in the township, but their names cannot be given for certainty.
Some twenty or thirty families arrived during the remainder of the dec-
POLK TOWNSHIP. 543
ade of forties, but the real settlement in its fullness did not commence
until the fifties, at which time most of the land was purchased and occu-
pied. The township was organized in 1849.
THE COUNTERFEITERS.
During the decades of the forties and fifties — late in the forties and
the greater portion of the fifties — bands of counterfeiters, horse-thieves,
burglars, etc., overran the greater portion of Indiana, and Monroe County
did not escape the pestilence. Within its limits were partially uninhabited
tracts of rough country, where ravines, morasses and impenetrable thick-
ets furnished an excellent retreat for the light-fingered gentry to ply their
unlawful depredations. In some localities of the State, neighbor could
place no dependence on neighbor, for the inducements to pass counter-
feit money were so strong, owing to the poverty of the masses and the
great advantages of a few hundred dollars, that men of previous good
character were persuaded to connect themselves with manufacturers of
counterfeit bills or bogus coin in order to reap a harvest for a short time,
after which they expected to resume their places of honor and good stand-
ing untouched by the stigma of crime or misdemeanor. The southeast-
ern portion of Monroe County early showed evidences of illegal transac-
tions of this character. Several of the residents of Polk Township were
suspected of complicity, but nothing definite was learned until late in the
fifties. Before this, however, counterfeit bills on the various State banks
and bogus coin of fair appearance, color and weight made their appear-
ance in the county at the mercantile establishments, and steps were taken
to ferret out the rascals. But the system in vogue among the malefactors
for a number of years completely or nearly so bewildered the local authori-
ties, and but little headway was made in ending the "reign of crime."
It is likely that no unlawful money was manufactured in Monroe County,
Passers of counterfeit money, however, were quite numerous. This soon led
to the organization of companies of regulators — men of honesty in Polk
Township and vicinity — who resolved to end the career of the lawbreakers
if careful watch and persistent effort would do so, and in this they sus-
ceeded.
The plan or mode of regulation became quite popular, and was re-
garded as an effective and satisfactory way of settling with the law-
breakers. It led, however, to grave abuses. In more than one section of
the county, a number of men who entertained a grudge against a neigh-
bor would assemble at his residence at night, thoroughly disguised, and
would then proceed to give him a terrible whipping. A man named
Bingham, living in the county, was thus treated, and so severe was the
punishment that his body was a mass of bruised and blackened flesh, from
which he died in a few days. The man was no doubt an honest citizen.
Another, named Vansickle, was terribly whipped, and after a few months
died from the eflFects at what became Vansickle's mills, in the southern
part of Morgan County.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
The first school was taught in the vicinity of the Todds, early in the
forties, but the name of the teacher cannot be given. The house was of
544
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
logs, and had been built for a dwelling, but the family had vacated it,
after which it was transformed into a seat of learning. Schools did not
generally start up until the decade of fifties. In 1856, there were but
four schoolhouses in the township, both of logs. There are now six or
eight. Mr. Todd donated the land on Section 26 for a schoolhouse, and
William Hunter the land on Section 31, Range 2 east; the latter includ-
ed a fine spring of running water. Early in the fifties the Methodist
Church, called Chapel Hill, was organized, and soon afterward the build-
ing was erected. Among the early members were the families of A. J.
Temple, John T. Cracraft, David Miller, Jackson Cracraft and Felix
Miller and others. Charles Bruner was an early pastor. Another
early church was the one called Pleasant Valley of the Methodists. John
Allen, Thomas Allen, Eldridge Prince, William Edds and others were
members. Another early class was the Methodist Church, called Salem
Chapel, some of the early members being the families of Peter Norman,
William Hunter, Benjamin Browning, Lucien D. , John F.
Walker, L. Q. Hoggatt, William H. Cornelius.
TEACHERS OF 1880-81.
Number
of
District.
Attendance.
Kind and Size of Houses.
Alfred Mitchell
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
48
36
50
34
44
40
24
20-
40
Frame, tbird class.
Lizzie Todd
Frame, poor.
Frame, fourth class.
Alfred Helton
R. C. Todd
Frame, 20x24 feet.
Frame, 20x24 feet.
Frame, 20x24 feet.
Frame, 16x20 feet.
Log, poor.
Log, poor.
Andrew Parks
THE FIRST ELECTIONS.
When the township was created in 1849, elections were ordered held
at the house of John Todd, or " at Todd's Big Springs." These springs
were fine ones and had induced Mr. Todd to locate in their vicinity.
Elections were held at Mr. Todd's for several years. The old blacksmith
shop there was probably used. Wylie Davar and Samuel Axam were the
first Fence Viewers, Peter Norman the first Inspector of Elections and
Wylie Davar the first Constable. The school section was not sold until
the fifties.
CHAPEL HILL.
In the month of October, 1856, David Miller and John Smith, own-
ers, employed the County Surveyor to lay oflF twenty-seven lots on the
northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 31, Township 7
north, Range 1 east, iind named the village thus started on paper Chapel
Hill. Their hopes of having a thriving town spring up there, however,
were doomed to disappointment. A start was made, but the infant was
too weak to survive any great length of time, and so died without hope of
resurrection.
MARION TOWNSHIP. 545
MARION TOWNSHIP.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION.
THIS township was not] created until the forties, but remained a part
of Benton during much of the early history of the county after the
latter township was formed and organized. It is the smallest civil divi-
sion of the county, but contains some of the best and most prominent
citizens. Some of the finest and best cultivated farms are here, and the
schools and churches will compare favorably with any other portion of
the county. The township is generally rolling, the uplands being largely
of clay, while along the streams and in several natural depressions a fine
alluvial soil, mingled with more or less of sand, returns to the farmer
abundant harvests for his labor. The timber is one of the township's best
sources of wealth, and is usually allowed to stand on the poorer soil,
and is taken from the better soil to give room for the husbandman. There
are several fine springs, which furnish water as cold as ice and as pure
and clear as crystal.
GEOLOGY.
The formation on Section 4 is as follows :
Ferruginous clay soil 6 feet.
Limestone (Keokuk), dark blue 7 feet.
Clay parting, bluish gray 1 feet.
Limestone (Keokuk), light gray 5 feet.
Total 19 feet.
One-fourth of a mile southwest of Monroe's mill, on Hacker's Creek,
the bed and banks are thickly strewn with granite bowlders. Some
beautiful specimens of sienite, greenstone, quartzite and flesh-colored
feldspar also abound. One mile east of Monroe's mill, the knobstone is
1 00 feet thick. On Honey Creek, black sand (magnetic iron ore), similar to
the gold-bearing sand of Bear Creek, Brown County, may be seen. Granite
bowlders strew the ground. Beautiful geodes and fine fossils are found.
Black sand containing gold traces is also found in Wolf Creek, which has
its head in Brown County.
THE SETTLEMENT.
Marion Township was not settled generally until long after the organiza-
tion of the county, but this was not due to any natural unattractiveness.
It probably arose from the fact that the township was far removed from the
county seat, from the larger water-courses where settlements then congre-
gated, and from the highways uniting the leading commercial centers of
the early times. This was no fault of the township. It lay there with
its broad, rich acres, inviting the agriculturist to homes of plenty and
comfort. And at last he came. Like all portions of this part of Indiana,
it is difficult to give with any degree of certainty the name of the first
settler, and it is still more difficult to give the time of settlement. Many
546 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
early settlers lived on their lands a number of years before they had been
purchased, simply enjoying a squatter's rights. Many others lived on
lands which they cultivated for a half dozen or more years, and did not
finally buy, as they were simply occupied temporarily, owing to the pov-
erty of the pioneer or to his intention to locate elsewhere. But at last
the settler came, and came to stay. The first tract of land purchased in
the township was on Section 6. It was entered on the 30th of July,
1823, by Osborn k Brown, merchants, who did not locate for resi-
dence in the township at all. They sold the land to others. The
second entry was on Section 18, in 1827, by Jehu Buckner, who was no
doubt the first permanent settler. He entered a tract on Section 7 at
the same time. He built a log cabin, in which his family resided for
many years. Of course he saw hard times, but not as much so as did
those early settlers who had no mills nor stores nor markets nearer than
twenty or thirty miles, and no teams but half-starved oxen. The Buck-
ners grew up with the township, saw the lands yield to the efibrts of
themselves and their neighbors, saw prosperous homes dot the expanse
where they had once seen impenetrable forests, and saw their possessions
increase and widen out as the years passed. Shad Martin entered a
tract (the third) on Section 18 in September, 1829. James Stepp came
to the township in 1832, and purchased two tracts on Section 2. His
family and relatives have since resided in the township. They have been
among the most enterprising and respected of the citizens. A. H. Ful-
ford purchased a tract on Section 4, in the year 1832. Members of this
family have since resided in the township. James and Wylie Poynter
bought land on Section 4 in 1833. Their families also became promi-
nent and influential. During the same year — the year of the great
meteoric shower, one of the most memorable in the history of the world
— Adam Wall bought a fine piece of land on Section 21. His family and
that of Conrad Wall were prominent in early times. In 1834 the Hen-
dricksons — as good citizens as old Monroe or young Marion has — came
to the township for permanent residence. They bought land on Sections
15, 21, 22, 14, and perhaps others. There were three of them — Thomas
J., Joshua and Ezekiel — who established homes in the woods of Marion.
By the way, the township was named for that hero of the Revolution,
Francis Marion, of whom it was said by the poet :
"The British soldier trembles
When Marion's name is told."
The old settler, Reuben Stepp, bought land on Section 21 in 1835,
and became a prominent resident of the township He also bought a
small tract on Section 6 in 1836. William Stewart bought on Section 2
in 1837, and Henry Hicks on the same section the same year.
George Downey obtained a tract on the same section in 1836, and
bought more on Section 3 the following year. John M. Thomas and
Spencer McDaniel secured farms on Section 4 in 1837. Valentine
Hacker and G. Percifield bought in 1836 on Section 6, and Thomas M.
Graham in 1837 on Section 8 ; David Warapler and Savoy Stepps se-
cured tracts on Section 9 in 1837 ; and William McMillen and Joseph
Baugh on Section 14 in the same year. William McCay bought on Sec-
tion 19 during the same year. Michael Fleener bought on Section 35 at
MARION TOWNSHIP.
547
an early day. His relatives and himself became prominent in Marion
and Benton Townships. John J. Graham became the owner of a piece of
land on Section 3 in 1838, and George M. Fry on Section 2 in 1839 ;
William Woodall bought on Section 36 in 1839! These were all the en-
tries of land prior to 1840. The decade of the foi-ties saw but little in-
crease comparatively in the number of permanent and substantial resi-
dents. During the fifties, however, nearly all of the land in the town-
ship was bought by men who were, or who became, actual residents of the
township. In 1841, the following well-known men resided in the town-
ship, and may be called the pioneers of Marion ; Jehu Buckner, who
owned land on Sections 6, 7, and 10, and who paid a State and county
tax of $13.22, the highest in the township ; Thomas Bates, on Section
15; Absalom Fulford, on Section 4; John Goodwin, on Section 18 ; J.
J. and Samuel Graham, on Section 7 ; Abraham Goodsey, on Section 10;
Ezekiel Hendrickson, on Sections 22 and 27 ; Thomas Hendrickson, on
Section 17; Valentine Hacker, on Section 6, who paid a tax of $9.88 ;
Reuben Stepp on Sections 21 and 27; Conrad and Adam Wall, on Section
21, and David Wampler on Section 9.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
Schools did not start up until late in the forties, and even then infe-
rior and few. The first houses were of logs, rudely built, and were unin-
viting places until cold weather came, and the huge fire-places were filled
with roaring logs and the dark room with a glow of ruddy light. A good
school was started in the Hendrickson neighborhood early in the fifties,
and for a time was the only well-conducted institution of learning in the
township. Soon afterward, however, another was established in the north-
ern part, in the Stepp neighborhood, and was well attended, the teachers
usually being citizens of the neighborhood. Late in the fifties, a school
was conducted for a few years in the northeastern corner, and about the
same time in the southeastern, near the creek. Four or five good schools
are now conducted in the township. The early residents of the southern
part were forced to go to Unionville to get the advantages of religious in-
struction. A congregation of the Church of Christ was established there
during the forties, and drew a portion of its membership from Marion.
The residents of the western and southwestern parts went to the " Separ-
ate Baptist Church " on Section 13, Washington Township, and also to
the Methodist Church in the southern part of the same township. When
Reuben Stepp deeded a small piece of land to the Township Trustees to be
used for school purposes, a proviso was inserted that the building should
be used by any religious denomination when not occupied for educational
purposes. This land was on Section 9. Ezekiel Hendrickson deeded the
school lot in his neighborhood for school purposes, the land being on Sec-
tion 22. Both lots were transferred in April 1854, and were the first.
TEACHERS OF 1880-^1.
Number
of
District.
Attend-
ance.
Kind and size of Houses.
Sallie Rus8
1
2
3
4
44
24
36
40
Frame, 18x22 feet.
W. H. Lee
Frame, 20x26 feet.
Kate Height
Frame, 22x28 feet.
Thomas Cain
Frame 22x20 feet.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY.
ELIAS ABEL, one of the oldest living settlers of Monroe County,
was born in Wythe County, Va., June 7, 1800. He was the eldest of
three children born to Lewis and Hannah (Davis) Abel, and was reared
in a log cabin. His opportunities for gaining an education were lim-
ited altogether to about six months spent in a log schoolhouse with
nothing but the bare ground for a floor, and greased paper windows.
His father dying about the year 1820, he took care of his mother, who was
an invalid, and by working at days' work for four years he was enabled
to save enough to immigrate to Indiana. After twenty- one days of
weary travel, on the 26th day of August, 1824, he reached the residence
of his brother-in-law, Luke Ward, in Monroe County. Having nothing
to begin on, he worked by the day, until April 28, 1828, when he was
married to Hannah Ottwell, daughter of Naomi Ottwell, a resident of
Monroe County. After his marriage, he farmed in Monroe County until
December, 1841, when he removed to Bloomington, to enter upon his
duties as County Treasurer, to which office he had been elected in the
preceding August. He tilled this office successfully and with credit to
himself for thirteen years. He then served as Deputy County Treasurer
until October, 1856, when he was elected to represent Monroe County in
the State Legislature, and served during the winter of 1856-57. After
the expiration of his term in office he again served as Deputy Treasurer
until 1862, at which time he retired from active business life. His wife
died in March, 1864. October 3, 1870, he was married to Cerelda Wor-
ley. daughter of Isaac Worley, one of the earliest settlers in Monroe
County. Mr. Abel began on nothing, and has been the recipient of no
legacies or bequests. He is the architect of his own fortune, and by his
industry and energy has acquired a competency. He is at present en-
joying good health, and is still considered one of the " old wheelhorses"
of the Democratic party in Monroe County.
BENJAMIN F. ADAMS, a native of Monroe County, Ind., was
born in Indian Creek Township January 2, 1827. He is the eldest son
born to George and Mary (Freeland) Adams, natives of Kentucky, who
located in Indian Creek Township in 1818. There the father died
July, 1853, and the mother in November, 1871. When about nineteen
years of age, our subject began teaching school, ixnd continued about two
years. For some time following, he assisted his father on the farm, and
when twenty-three years of age he formed a partnership with William
550 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Dudley in the general merchandise business at Stanford, Van Buren Town-
ship, Monroe County, continuing three years. At the death of his
father he purchased the intej-ests of the other heirs in the old homestead
farm, and engaged in fai'ming until September, 1872, at which time he
removed to Bloomington for the purpose of educating his children.
Here he embarked in the administrator's business, and at present is the
assignee and administrator of many estates. On the 8th day of May,
1853, he was married to Harriett J. Baker, daughter of Absalom Baker,
an early settler in Monroe County. His wife dying February 14, 1865,
he was married December 8, 1880, to Elizabeth (Betty) Evans, of Mason
County, Ky. He was a charter member of Stanford Lodge, No. 173, A,
F. & A. M. , and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He served some time as Councilman, and is at present a member of the
City Board of School Trustees.
CAPT. W. M. ALEXANDER was born in Bloomington, Monroe Co.,
Ind., on December 19, 1836. His parents, John H. and Margaret J.
(Clark) Alexander, were natives of Kentucky. They came to Mom'oe in
an early day, and located in Bloomington, where the father engaged in
farming, and ran a mammoth tannery. In July, 1855, his death oc-
cui'red, the wife having been dead for some time. Capt. Alexander was
the youngest in a family of four children, and was reared in his native
place until after his mother's death, when he began work by assisting the
farmers in his immediate vicinity, and woi'king at odd jobs. When
twenty years of age, he began herding cattle, which he did both in Iowa
and Minnesota for two years. Returning to Bloomington, he learned the
blacksmith's trade with Seaward & Sons. In the spring of 1861, he
enlisted in Company H, Eighteenth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt.
Charles, and served for about four and a half years, taking part at Pea
Ridge, Black Water, Cotton Plant, Magnolia Hills (after which battle he
was promoted to Second Lieutenant), Champion Hills, Black River, siege
of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss. , Mustang Island, Tex. , Ft. Esperanza. and
then came home on fm-lough. August 1, 1863, he was sent to the army
of Virginia, and took part in the battles at Richmond, Winchester,
Fisher Hill and Cedar Creek, after which he was promoted to First
Lieutenant, and soon after, for meritorious conduct, to Captain. No-
vember, 1865, he received an honorable discharge at Darien, Ga., and,
returning to Bloomington, followed his trade for a number of years.
He then opened a meat market, and one year later was appointed Deputy
Sheriff, which position he held until the fall of 1876, when he was
elected Sheriff, and two years later was re-elected by quite a large majority.
He then farmed until 1882, when he was elected County Auditor, which
position he at present occupies and tills with great credit to himself and
benefit to the county. ]\Ii\ Alexander is a stanch Republican and a mem-
ber of the Christian Church, as is also his wife. He was married Sep-
tember 19, 1868, to Jennie Burch, a native of Monroe County, by whom
there was one child, which died December, 1880. His wife died one
year and three months after marriage, and he was next married to Mrs.
Jennie Hoover, daughter of Capt. John Sluss, of Monroe County, on Janu-
ary 7, 1883. Mr. Alexander is a member of the K. of P., Franklin
Lodge, No. 22. He is highly esteemed by all who know him, both as a
citizen and as an official.
WILLIAM J. ALLEN, only son of John W. and Fannie J. (Clark)
Allen, was born September 8, 1836, in Putnam County, Ind. He was
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 551
reared on a farm in Perry Township, Monroe County, IncI, whither he
came with his parents when but three months old. In September, 1850,
he entered the State University, and remained until the death of his
father September 8, 1852. In April, 1853, he came to Bloomington
with his mother, and entered the employ of W. O. Fee, a dry goods mer-
chant, with whom he remained for nearly a year. March 13, 1854, he
went to California, where he mined until the spring of 1857, when he
returned to Bloomington. Removing thence to Iowa, he remained a
short time. In September, 1857, he was married to Harriet L. Swearin-
gen, daughter of Charles and Harriet Swearingen, residents of Monroe
County, They had three children — John C, Fannie C. and Joseph H.
His wife died on November 8, 1865, and in July following he was mar-
ried to Eliza J. Allen, daughter of Robert N. and Elizabeth Allen, of
Greencastle, Ind. They have six children — Robert N., Eliza L.,
Mary M., William D., Eva O. and Arthur G. He farmed after his first
marriage until the war broke out in 1862, and then enlisted in Comj^any
A, Fifty-fourth Indiana Light Artillery, serving for three years, taking
part in the battles at Atlanta, Jonesboro and Nashville, and on July 5,
1865, received an honorable discharge. Returning to Bloomington, he
he was engaged in the stove and tinware business with M. E. Benegar,
afterward with Samuel Osborn, until 1870, when he purchased the whole
stock, and at present does a lucrative business in stoves, tin and hard-
ware, also agricultural implements, and all kinds of building material.
Mr. Allen is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and polit-
ically he is a Republican.
DR. A. J. AXTELL, one of the leading physicians in Bloomington,
Monroe Co., Ind., was born October 18, 1827, in Washington County,
Penn., where he was reared until nine years of age. He then went to
Knox County, Ohio, with his parents, Thomas and Mary (Weir) Axtell,
natives of Pennsylvania, entered the Martinsburg College, attended two
years, and afterward taught school for some time. In 1847, he began to
study medicine with Drs, Connors & Welsh, in Noble County, Ohio, con-
tinuing for three years. In 1850, he entered the regular practice of his
profession there, and four years later removed to Greene County, Ind. , re-
maining there for nearly twenty years. In 1873, he came to Blooming-
ton, where he has since been successfully engaged. In August, 1863, he
was elected Captain of Company A, Ninety-seventh Indiana VoluDteers,
organized at Terre Haute, and sent to Memphis, Tenn., where, on ac-
count of ill health, he was compelled to resign. He has served two years
as Coroner of Monroe County. On November 7, 1850, he was married to
Susan M. Gilkerson, daughter of Thomas C. and Sarah Gilkerson, of No-
ble County, Ohio. They have had nine children, seven of whom are liv-
ing— Charles J., William F., Mattie, Henry O., Mary B., Harry A. and
an infant. Dr. Axtell is Secretary of a Masonic Lodge, is a Republican,
and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
HARVEY BAKER was born in Washington Township, Morgan Co.,
Ind., April 11, 1840. His parents, John C. and Elizabeth (McDaniel)
Baker, natives of Kentucky, were married in Morgan County, and settled
on a farm in Washington Township, where they lived until 1843, when
the mother died. The father then married Mrs. McKinney, and removed
to a farm in Jefferson Township, whence, in 1852, he went to Baker Town-
ship, where he died in December, 1866. The subject of this sketch was the
eldest son and child, and was reared in Morgan County, where he was
552 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
educated in the district schools. August HO, 1861, he enlisted in Com-
pany H, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. James E. Burton,
and served for more than two years. He took part in the engagements
at Wild Cat, Ky., and Cumberland Gap, and at the battle of Thompson's
Station, Tenn. ; on March 5, 1863, was wounded in the right leg; was capt-
ured and placed in prison in Columbia, Tenn., from whence he escaped
August 6, 1863, and on account of disability he was mustered out of serv-
ice September 11. On December 24, 1866, he was married to Martha
Holler, daughter of Jacob B. Lafaver, Methodist preacher. They had
three children, two of whom are living — Newton D. and Jacob O. He
engaged in farming in Baker Township until in 1872, when he removed
to a farm in Monroe County, remaining for seven years. He then re-
moved to Bloomington, and was appointed Tax Collector, which position
he tilled for three years. In March, 1883, he was appointed Deputy
Sheriff, and is at present in the discharge of his duties. He is a member
of the I. O. O. F. , Paragon Lodge, No. 406. He is a member of the
Christian Church, his wife of the Methodist Church. Politically, he is a
Republican.
WILLIAM B. BAKER, born October 22. 1834, in Van Buren Town-
ship, Monroe Co., Ind. , is the second son and the sixth child of Absalom
and Harriet (Gentry) Baker. He was reared in his native township,
where he acquired the rudiments of a good education in the district
schools. When twenty years of age, he purchased a farm of eighty acres
in the same township, continuing for about eight years. In September,
1865, he Sold his farm, and removing to Stanford he opened a general
merchandise store, under the firm name of Baker Bros., which was con-
tinued until in 1872, when they sold out, one year later I'e-purchasing the
same stock. In July, 1881, he moved to Bloomington. He has been
County Commissioner for three years, which position he tills with credit.
August 6, 1883, he formed a partnership with C. S. Neeld in the furni-
ture business, and they are at present doing a lucrative business under
the tirm name of Baker & Neeld. He served as Postmaster at Stanford
for several years, and as Township Assessor for two years. He was mar-
ried October 5, 1857, to Harriet R. Denny, daughter of James H. Denny,
a citizen of Warrick County, Ind. By this union there were four chil-
dren, three of whom are living — Florence G. , Mary H. and Thomas A.
His wife died November 10, 1865, and he was next married, on Septem-
ber 27, 1866, to Miss Hannah Yoho, daughter of Samuel Yoho, at present
a citizen of Indian Creek Township, this county. By this union there
has been one child — Birdie O. Mrs. Baker is a member of the Baptist
Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and a very prominent and in-
fluential member of that party.
JOHN BLAIR, farmer, was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., on July
15, 1819. James Blair, his father, was born in South Carolina October
25, 1789, and on October 3, 1811, married Jane (Neill) Smith, who was
born in South Carolina in 1780. They came to Monroe County, and here
he farmed until his death, March 26, 1849. Mrs. Blair died Api-il 5,
1854. They had six children. John Blair's paternal grandfather was
a soldier of the Revolution. John was fairly educated, and since 1825
has resided on the same farm. On October 28, 1843, Mr. Blair married
Hannah, daughter of Robert and Martha (Small) Fullerton. She was
born May 17, 1819. In 1837, her father died, and her mother in 1872.
They were of Irish lineage. Mr, Blair has six children — Martha J.
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 553
(Owens), Euphemia (Crabb), James N., Emma (Strong), William S. and
Addie L. Mr. and Mrs. Blair belong to the United Presbyterian Church,
and are respected by all who know them. Mr. Blair was at one time a
Whig, but now votes with the Republicans.
W. T. BLAIR, born May 1, 1855, in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind.,
is the third son and sixth child born to John and Hannah (Fullerton)
Blair, natives of Tennessee and Ireland respectively. The parents came
to Monroe County in May, 1825, and located on a farm in Bloomington
Township, where they at present reside. The subject of this sketch ob-
tained the rudiments of a good English education in the district schools.
In Septembei', 1876, he entered the State University at Bloomington,
whence he graduated in June, 1880. After he had completed his educa-
tion, he entered the employ of W. J. Allen, a hardware merchant, with
whom he remained for three years. On March 31, 1883, he purchased the
stock of boots and shoes owned by C. R. Perdue, and is at present doing
a lucrative business. He was married October 5, 1882, to Miss Julia A.
Waldron, daughter of John and Ann Waldron, old and respected pioneers
of Monroe County. They have one child, William J., born July 9, 1883.
They are members of the United Presbyterian Church. Politically, he
is a Republican,
PETER BOLENBACHER, farmer, was born in Germany May 4,
1814, and is the son of Peter and Margaret (Fairrence) Bolenbacher, natives
of Germany. They came to America in 1832, located first in Maryland,
and about 1850 came to Monroe County, where they died, at the ages re-
spectively of eighty-nine and seventy- eight years. Peter Bolenbacher
came to Maryland with his parents, and there learned the trade of stone-
mason and bricklayer, which business he followed for a number of years
in that State, and resumed it again after he came to Monroe County.
After some years, he was obliged to retire from active business. He then
settled on eighty acres of land, which he purchased near Bloomington.
He is a member of the Christian Church, a member of the Masonic fra-
ternity, and liberal in politics. Mr. Bolenbacher is strictly temperate in
all his habits. In 1855, he married Rebecca Whisnand, who was born
in 1815, and is a member of the Methodist Church.
GEORGE BOLLENBACHER was born in Bavaria, Germany, June
17, 1825. He is the third son in a family of six children born to Peter
and Margai-et (Fairrence) Bollenbacher. In 1832, he came with his
parents to America, and located in Maryland. In the public schools of
his native village, and the schools of his neighborhood in Maryland, he
obtained the rudiments of a good English education. When thirteen
years of age, he began learning shoe-making with J. B. Sherer, in Fred-
ericktown, Md., and remained with him seven years. In April, 1846, he
came to Bloomington, Ind., and soon after opened a shoe shop. In 1859,
he built a tannery, which at that time was one of the most extensive bus-
iness interests in Bloomington. In 1874, he quit shoe-making, and pur-
chased a one- third interest with J. H. Ryors and George P. Bollenbacher
in their spoke factory. In 1881, J. H. Ryors sold his interest to them,
and the business is in a flourishing condition under the firm name of
Bollenbacher & Sons, manufacturers of wagon and carriage spokes and
dealers in hardwood lumber. They have branch factories at Gosport and
Guthrie, Ind., and employ about eighty men. They have a capital of
about $60,000 invested, and their factories have a capacity of about
13,000 spokes per day. Mr. B. is also the proprietor of a large shoe
554 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
store in Bloomington. In 1848, he was married to Margaret Shawver,
daughter of Christopher Shawver, one of the earliest settlers in Moaroe
County. The issue of this marriage has been thirteen children, twelve
yet living — Lizzie, George W., Mary, Kate, Julia, Martin C, William P.,
Caroline, Sallie, Samuel N. , Jacob I. and Fannie. He is a member of
the Bloomington Lodge, A. , F. & A. M., and of the Lutheran Church.
Politically, he is a Democrat.
JOHN E. BORLAND was born in Perry Township, Monroe Co.,
Ind., on August 7, 1834. His parents, Edward and Margaret (Caldwell)
Borland, natives of Washington County, Penn.. immigrated to Indiana
in 1819, and settled in Bloomington. where the father followed the
carpenter's trade for about five years, and then entered a farm of 320
acres in Peny Township. February 8, 1865, he died. The mother's
death occurred in August, 1877. The subject of this sketch was the third
son and sixth child in a family of ten children, and was reared in his
native county, where he received a good education. When eighteen years
of age, he entered the State University, at Bloomington, remaining a
portion of each of four years. In 1856, he began farming for himself in
Perry Township, and by perseverance and industry has secured a com-
petence. September 4, 1872, he married Emma L. McClellan, daughter
of Alexander McClellan, an early settler, and a prominent citizen of
Bloomington. His wife is an active worker in the Presbyterian Church.
He was for two years Trustee of Perry Township, and for six years Road
Supervisor of Perry Township.
S. WALTER BRADFUTE is second son in family, and was born
May 18, 1862, near Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, where he lived until twelve
years of age, and was there educated. His parents were John and Maggie
J. (Collins) Bradfute, the former dying in 1864. When fourteen years
of age, he started the Bloomington Telephone, in partnership with Frank
G. Arnott, and six months later purchased his partner's half interest, and
has continued to run it up to the present writing, having enlarged from
the size of note paper to that of six-column quarto. He attended the
high school in Bloomington, as far as Senior class, the last four years of
which time he was conducting his paper. Since fifteen years of age, he
has corresponded for the Cincinnati Commercial- Gazette, and is at present
also representing the Indianapolis Journal, St. Louis Democrat, Chicago
Tribune, the Inter Ocean, Indianapolis Times and the Louisville Com-
mercial, in Monroe County. He is a member of the United Presbyterian
Chui'ch, and is corresponding member of the Phi Delta Theta. Politic-
ally, he is a Republican. He was married, November 1, 1883, to Flora
Wallingford, daughter of Samuel Wallingford.
REV. JEFFERSON E. BRANT was born in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio, February 27, 1837, and is the second child born to Seth and
Rachel (Jackson) Brant, natives of West Virginia. In 1853, he came
to Owen County, Ind., and for two years afterward assisted his father
to clear the wilderness. He then earned enough money to enter Asbury
University, at Greencastle, whence he graduated in 1860, having two
years previously preached his first sermon. In 1860, he was appointed
by the Indiana Conference to a mission in Clay County, for one year,
afterward serving for about ten months near Terre Haute. In August,
1861, he enlisted in Company E, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteers, and
was commissioned Captain one year later. He took part in several im-
portant encounters, among which were Resaca, Kingston, Marietta,
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 555
Dallas Woods, etc., and was in command of the regiment when Atlanta
was captured. On September 1, 1864, he was, for meritorious conduct,
promoted to Major, afterward participating in the engagements at Ben-
tonville. Goldsboro and Averysboio, and at Savannah was commissioned
Lieutenant Colonel, January 1, 1865. Five months later, he was mustered
out of service, immediately re-entering the conference and ministry. He
has been actively engaged since, and at present has in charge the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church at Bloom ington, where he has been located since
September, 1882. On August 8, 1858, he was married to Mary A. Mc-
Allister, daughter of Dr. McAllister, of Owen County. By this union
there are nine children, four of whom are living — Anna, Emma, Claude
and Arthur. Rev. J. E. Brant is a member of the A., F. & A. M., the I.
O. O. F. and of the G. A. R. Politically, he is a Republican.
DR. G. W. BRYAN, second son of John and Mary (McCormick)
Bryan, was born October 1, 1825, in Beaver County, Penn., where he
lived until fifteen years of age. His educational facilities were very poor,
but by perseverance and studiousness he acquired a good English educa-
tion. He commenced the tailor's trade with a half-brother, who died
two years later. He then went to Clinton, Allegheny County, and com-
pleted the trade with George T. Hice, remaining three years. He then
worked as journeyman for about one year in Pennsylvania and Ohio;
then came to Indiana, and opened a shop in Carroll County, continuing
about two years. Returning to Beaver County, Penn., he attended an
academy at Hookstown for about three years; then taught school and
studied medicine with Dr. R. A. Moon, for two years. In 1850 and 1851,
he attended a course of lectures, at Cleveland, in the Western Reserve
Medical College, and entered the regular practice in Fayette, Allegheny-
Co., Penn,, where he remained for two years, at which he took a second
course of lectures at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1853 and 1854; then went to
Knoxville, Jefiferson Co. , Ohio, and formed a partnership with Dr. Ham-
ilton, in the regular practice, continuing with him for one year. Coming
thence to Bloomington in 1855, he entered practice here, and is at pres-
ent doing a good business, and is considered one of lier best practitioners.
In December, 1862, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Sixty-
seventh Indiana Volunteers, which position he was compelled to resign
on account of ill health. On October 15, 1849, he was married to Miss
Alice Calhoun, daughter of Joseph Calhoun, of Beaver County, Penn. They
have had seven children, three of whom are living — Florence, Mary and
Minnie. Dr. Bryan is a member of the United Presbyterian Church,
and he is politically a Republican.
JOHN B. BUSKIRK, a native of Kentucky, was born September
5, 1815, in Shelby County. He is eldest son of Abram and Mary A.
(Boswell) Buskirk, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively.
They came to Indiana in 1817, and lived in New Albany until 1820,
when they came to Monroe County and settled on a farm near Blooming-
ton. The father was a stone-mason, and, removing to Bloomington in
1831, followed his trade for a number o£ years. He was Associate Judge
of the Bloomington courts for some time. He served as Postmaster for
four years, and was Justice of the Peace for several years. He died in
October, 1853. The mother died in 1850. The subject was reared at
home until seventeen years of age, when he began learning the cabinet-
maker's trade with William McCollough. In 1833, he went to New Al-
bany, and worked at his trade for two years, when he returned to Bloom-
35
566 ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
ington for some time. Removing thence to Bedford, he remained for
nearly twenty years; he then went to Orange County, where he engaged
in the general merchandise business for eighteen years, the greater part
of which time he acted as Postmaster. Removing thence to Paola, Ind.,
he edited the Paola Neics. In 1878, he returned to Bloomington,
where he at present resides, sixty-nine years of age. On January 2,
1840, he was married to Maria H. Ritter, daughter of John Ritter, a
citizen of Kentucky. They have had six children, five of whom are
living — Thomas B., John W., Caroline L., Margaret B. and George A.
Mr. Buskirk is a member of the A., F. & A. M. and of the I. O. O. F.
He is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Church.
GEORGE A. BUSKIRK (deceased) was born August 10, 1829, in
Monroe County, Ind. He was the son of Abram and Mary A. Buskirk,
who came to Bloomington in 1831. Having finished his education
in the public schools of Bloomington, while yet a lad he was taken into
the ofiice of David Browning, Clerk of Monroe County Circuit Court.
He had entered the Preparatory Department of the State University, and
had just completed the Freshman year, when the Mexican war broke out.
He enlisted in First Indiana Regiment, at La Fayette, but was soon after-
ward transferred to the Third Indiana, under Col. James H. Lane, and
served till the close of the war, being a participant in the battle of
Buena Vista. On his return to Bloomington, he served in the ofiSce of
Jesse Brandon (editor of a Democratic paper), for two years, thus acquir-
ing a practical knowledge of the details of the printing business. In
1848, he began the study of law with Samuel H. Buskirk, soon after
which he entered the Law Department of the State University, graduat-
ing in 1850. He was soon after elected Justice of the Peace, serving for
several years. In 1856, he was elected Judge of the Court for the dis-
trict embracing Morgan, Monroe and Brown Counties, and re-elected in
1860. the counties of Shelby and Johnson having been added. In 1867,.
he was selected by the Legislature as Agent of State, and assumed the
control of the funds set aside by the State for the payment of the State
debt, managing the trust with skill and fidelity. In 1868, he was elected
Representative of Monroe County in the Lower House of General As-
sembly, and at the regular session in 1869 he was elected Speaker, presid-
ing with signal ability over the deliberations of that body. In 1871, he
organized the First National Bank of Bloomington, and was chosen
President by the Board of Directors. During the last three or four
years of his life, he withdrew from public afifairs, devoting himself en-
tirely to private interests. He was married, August 5, 1854, to Martha
Hardesty, daughter of Samuel and Susanna Hardesty, early pioneers of
Bloomington. His death, which occurred July 21, 1874, caused by a
severe stroke of apoplexy, was greatly mourned by the citizens of Bloom-
ington. He was an active member of the Masonic fraternity and" of
the Knights of Pythias. His valuable services during the war were so
appreciated by Gov. Morton that he was appointed Colonel of the Indi-
ana Legion.
JOHN W. BUSKIRK, second son and third child of John B. and
Maria H. (Ritter) Buskirk, natives of Kentucky, was born on November
20, 1845, in Bedford, Lawrence Co., Ind. His pai-ents at present reside
in Bloomington, and are spoken of elsewhere in this work. The sub-
ject of this sketch was reared in his native county until eight years of
age, when he went with his parents to Orange County, and lived until
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 557
1859. He then entered the State University at Bloomington, remaining
for two years. He enlisted in Company G, Forty- ninth Indiana Volun-
teers, UQder Col. John W. Ray. He served until Jane, 1863, and took
part in the engagements at Chickasav? Bluflfs and Arkansas Post. He then
received an honorable discharge on account of disability, and in the fall
of that year he again entered college, remaining for two years, and then
went to North America, where he began the study of law with the Hon.
James L. Collins. He continued for two years, then formed a partner-
ship and practiced for one year. He then removed to Paola, and became
• partner of his brother, continuing until the spring of 1869, when he
moved to Bloomington, remaining there for two years with his uncle.
He then went into partnership with Lester L. Norton, and two years
later became the partner of H. C. Duncan, which firm is at present doing a
good, lucrative practice, and it is considered one of Monroe County^s
best law firms. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney for District 8
(Orange, Du Bois, Crawford, Perry and Spencer), which position he re-
signed on coming to Bloomington. In 1869, he was mari'ied to Ella A.
Broadwell, daughter of Jonathan P. Broadwell, a prominent citizen of
Tippecanoe County, Ind. They had three children, one of whom is liv-
ing— Ella A. His wife died April 30, 1878. Mr. Buskirk is a member
of the I. O. O. F., and of the Democratic State Central Committee.
H. C. Duncan was born January 16, 1845, in Lawrence County, Ind.
His parents, William and Mary (Malott) Duncan, were natives of Jef-
ferson County, Ky. , where they were married in 1824, and two years
later moved to Lawrence County, Ind., where the father died March 1,
1875; the mother still resides in Lawrence County. The subject of this
sketch is the youngest of eight children, and was reared in his native
county, where he obtained the rudiments of a good English education.
Januai-y 1, 1864, he entered the State University, and after remaining
for about three months he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth
Indiana Volunteers, under Col. John W. Foster, and was mustered out
about October 1, 1864. He re- entered college, whence he graduated in
June, 1868. He then began reading law with Moses F. Dann, of Bed-
ford. In 1869, he was appointed Enrolling Clerk in the Indiana Legis
lature. In 1872, he formed a partnership with Mr. Dunn in the regular
practice of law. Two years later, he came to Bloomington, and went into
partnership with John W. Buskirk. In 1880, he was elected Prosecuting
Attorney for the district comprising Monroe, Lawrence, Orange and Mar-
tin Counties. He served for two years In December, 1872, he was
married to Sadie Cummings, daughter of Dr. Cummings, of Blooming-
ton. They had three children, two of whom are living — Frank and
Mary A. Mr. Duncan is politically a Republican. He is a Mason and
a member of the Christian Church.
J. CLINTON CARTER (deceased) was born in Monroe County, Ind.,
February 14, 1834. He was fifth son of Thomas and Fannie (Carter)
Carter. He was reared in his native county, where he was educated in
the district schools, afterward attending the State University in Bloom-
ington for some time. He then began farming in Perry Township, near
his home, on eighty acres, which, by industry, hard labor and energy,
he increased to 160 acres. He was a great sheep and general stock
raiser, and during the last years of his life traded considerably in stock,
beside attending to other business afi'airs. He was married on February
9, 1860, to Miss Lou Cron, daughter of Isaiah and Lucretia Cron,
558 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
respected citizens of Bloomington. To crown the happiness of hia
wedded life, three children were born to him. He was a prominent and
highly-respected citizen of his township, and was honored by being made
the Trustee of the same, holding with great credit this office for several
years, and although not identified with any religious denomination, his
life was full of the true spirit of Christianity. In his own household,
not even the healing influences of time avail to assuage the pain of sep-
aration in the heart of the devoted wife and loving children, of whom
but one is now living — Oliver C. He was identified with the Republican
party, and was as greatly missed from among the ranks of that party as
in the community in which he lived. His death occurred June 22, 1866,
at his residence.
ISAAC CLAMAN was born in Richland Township, Monroe Co., Ind.,
March 31, 1842. His parents, William and Rebecca (Whisnand)
Claman, natives of West Virginia, came to Indiana in 1837 and 1829
respectively, were married in Bloomington Township, and settled on a
farm in Richland Township, where they remained until the father's
death. The mother still resides in Monroe County. Isaac is the second
son and third child in a family of seven children, and was reared in
Richland Township, where he obtained a good education in the district
schools. When twenty years of age, he entered the State University at
Bloomington, remaining for two years. After this for some time, he
farmed during the summer, and taught school in the winter. He after-
ward gave up school teaching, and farmed exclusively until August,
1883, when he came to Bloomington. In October, 1882, he was elected
Treasurer of Monroe on the Republican ticket, and has since been en-
gaged in the duties of his office. On June 1, 1869, he was married to
Roletta C. Franklin, daughter of Isaac Franklin, a citizen of Missouri.
By this union, there are four children — Eugene B., William R., Jennie
B. and Harvey E. Mr. Claman was Assessor of Richland Township for
about six years, and he and wife are identified with the Christian Church,
and are among its most active workers.
J. B. CLARK, eldest son of Richard and Martha (Neal) Clark,
natives of Kentucky, was born June 26, 1840, in Salem, Ind. , where
he was reared. He was educated in the graded schools of Salem, and,
when nineteen years of age, entered the employ of James H, Neal &Co.,
general merchandise mei'chants of that place, remaining with them for
two years and a half. He was next engaged for a short time in Wash-
ington, Ind., in the photograph business. Removing thence to Bedford,
he continued in the same business until August 4, 1862, when he enlisted
in Company B, Sixty-sixth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. J. N. Rod-
man. He served for nearly three years, and took part in the following
engagements: Richmond, Big Shanty, Tunnel Hill, siege of Atlanta
and Jonesboro, and went clear through with Sherman to the sea. In
July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge and came to Blooming-
ton, immediately entering the grocery business, in which he continued
for three years quite successfully. He then formed a partnership with
John C. Orchard, and cuntinued in the business for five years. In De-
cember, 1875, he became partner of W. W. Wicks in the dry goods
business, and three years later purchased the whole stock, which he car-
ried alone for about eighteen months. He then sold out, and went to
farming for two or three years near Bloomington. On March 12, ]883,
he purchased a stock of groceries, and at present is doing a lucrative
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 559
business. He was married, July 7, 1861, to Eliza Sfcuart, daughter of
William Stuart. They have six children — William, Laura, Minnie.
Lida, Josephine and George. Mr. Clark is a member of the I. O. O. F.
and of the A., F. & A. M. ; he and wife are members of the Methodist
Church, and politically he is a Democrat.
EUFUS COATNEY was born August ^0, 1827, in Bloomington Town-
ship, Monroe County, Ind. He is a third son and fourth child of Finney
and Mahala (Rogers) Coatney, and was reared in Monroe County, where
he obtained a good education in the district schools. When sixteen years
of age, he began farming in Salt Creek Township, on a farm of forty
acres, which he entered from the Government, and sold, purchaaing a
farm of eighty acres, which he lived on for one year. On September 1,
1849, he was married to Mary J. Smith, daughter of Samuel and Martha
Smith, respected pioneers of Monroe County. By this union there were
two children, one of which is living — Sarah Ellen, wife of C. H. Showers,
of Bloomington. After his marriage, he coutinaed farming on his eighty-
acre farm, for four years, after which he sold it and rented for one year.
He then purchased a farm in Perry Township, Monroe County, to which
he added 220 acres, and at present owns 300 acres of fine farm land,
highly cultivated. He also owns considerable town property, having
lived in Bloomington for three years, and is at present a prominent citi-
zen of that place. He served one year as Supervisor of Perry Township.
He is a member of the Christian Church, and politically he is a Repub-
lican.
JOHN H. COLE, a native of Kentucky, was born in Bourbon County
September 24, 1860. He is the second child and only son born to Moses
and Sarah E. (Neal) Cole, and was reared in Van Buren Township, Mon-
roe County, Ind., where he obtained the rudiments of a good English
education in the district schools. When sixteen years of age, he began
farming in. Van Buren Township, and two years later, his uncle left him
a beautiful and well-improved farm of 615 acres, where he continued to
live until January 1, 1884, when he came to Bloomington. He here
formed a partnership in the livery business with John F. May, which
brisiness is now in a flourishing condition, under the firm name of May
& Cole. He still has the management of his farm, which he has in a
state of excellent cultivation. He is quite a stock-trader, and is success-
ful in all business undertakings. Politically, he is a Democrat, and an in-
fluential member of that party. He is ever ready to assist in any public
enterprise, and is highly esteemed.
CHARLES G. CORR was born in Bloomington Township, Monroe
County, Ind., October 25, 1822. His parents, Hugh and Jane (Good-
win) Corr, natives of Ireland, came to Monroe County in 1820, and settled
on a farm in Bloomington Township, removing then to Washington Town-
ship. They lived there until the father's death, which occurred July 16,
3880. The mother at present resides with the subject in Bloomington,
at the advanced age of ninety-three years. Charles Corr is sixth in a
family of ten children, and waH reared in Washington Township, Monroe
County, where he was educated, and after his father's death attended to
the farm until June, 1847, when he enlisted in Company G, Fourth In-
diana Volunteers, in the Mexican war. serving for one year. He took
part in the engagements at Guamantli and Lisco. On July 3, 1848, he
received an honorable discharge, and returned home. In 1850, he began
to teach school, and continued for some time; then began farming on the
560 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES;
old home farm in Washington Township. In 1878, he removed to Bloom-
ington, to educate his children. He owns 720 acres of fine land, and over-
sees his farm, while residing in town. On February 14, 1852, he was
married to Mary J. Canine, a daughter of Cornelius Canine, a citizen of
Crawfordsville, Ind. They have nine children — Isaac, Edwin, Henry W. .
an infant, John C, Cornelius, Ella, Mary and Lillie M. Mr. Corr is a
member of the Christian Church, and politically is a Democrat.
DR. J, F. DODDS, second son and child in a family of eleven chil-
dren, born November 1, 1807, was reared in Lincoln County, Ky. His
parents, Samuel and Rachel (Rheinhart) Dodds, natives of Virginia and
Kentucky respectively, came to Bloomington, Monroe County, Ind., in
1819, where our subject was educated in the district schools. "When
twenty years of age, he entered the State University there, from which
he graduated in 1834. He taught for several years in the University,
and for one year in Cumberland College, Kentucky. In 1839, he began
reading medicine, and soon after entered the Louisville Medical College.
August, 1840, he entered into a partnership with Dr. Mitchell, and be-
gan the regular practice in Cory don, Ind., where he remained for five
years, constantly busy, in a lucrative practice. He has been an Elder in
the Presbyterian Church for several years. From 1862 to 1882, he was
Examining Surgeon in the Pension Department. On December 12, 1838,
he was married to Mary A. AV^iley, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Wiley, first
President of the State University. They have eight children. Politi-
cally, he is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
CLELLAND F. DODDS was born September 27, 1826, in Monroe
County, Ind. His parents, Samuel and Rachel (Rheinhart) Dodds, na-
tives of Kentucky, came to Monroe County in 1819, and lived on the old
homestead one mile south of Bloomington, where the father died in Sep-
tember, 1834. The mother died in November, 1851. The subject of this
sketch is the sixth son and youngest child in family. He was reared at
home, where he received a good common school education. When twenty-
one years of age, he removed to Bloomington, and formed a partnership
with A. Helton in the dry goods business, continuing about two years.
In 1857, he began farming on the old farm, where he remained for ten
years. In 1869, he opened an insurance and real estate office in con-
nection with farming implements. He is still in the insurance business,
for the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, and also the Phoenix of
Brooklyn. In 1805, he was elected County Commissioner, serving for
three years. He served for two years as Trustee of Perry Township, On
March 20, 1878, he was elected Mayor, to fill the unexpired term of C.
W. Henderson (first Mayor of Bloomington), and re-elected in 1879, also
in 1881, and again in 1883, which office he at present holds, faithful in
the discharge of its duties. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. He was
married July 31, 1851, to Mary E. Orchard, of Monroe County. They
have twelve children — Mary C. , Samuel C. , Henry A. , Ella B. , Andrew
J., William J., Claudius M., Cora L., Cornelius F., Carrie C, Mattie M.
and Flora. Politically, he is a Republican, and he and wife are membei's
of the Presbyterian Church.
S. C. DODDS was born January 28, 1854, in Bloomington, Monroe
Co., Ind. His parents are Clelland and Mary E. (Orchai'd) Dodds, also
natives of Indiana. He was reared in Bloomington, was educated in the
State University, graduated in June, 1875, and then entered the employ
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 561
of Newell Sanders, a book dealer, with whom he remained for one year.
On December 4, 1876, he purchased the stock of books and ran it for
nearly four years. He was in the lumber business for one year, and then
formed a partnership with Showers Bros, and Henry Henley, in the man-
ufacture of chairs, under the firm name of Showers, Dodds & Co., on
October 27, 1881, and one year later Capt. Henry Henley sold out, and
they continued as Showers & Dodds until March 15, 1883, when one-
third interest was purchased by J. B. Waldron. The firm name now is
Dodds, Waldron & Co. The weekly manufacture of chairs averaf^es sixty-
five dozen, and of center tables (which addition was made on September
1, 1883) is 1,000. They have in their employ sixty-five persons, their
pay-roll being from $250 to $300 per week. Mr. Dodds was married, on
October 17, 1878, to Miss Nellie Winters, daughter of George Winters,
a respected citizen of Columbia, Ky. He is a member of the Presby-
terian Church, and is politically a Republican, a good citizen, and highly
respected in his community.
J. C. DOLAN, one of the most energetic business men of Blooming-
ton, was born near Montreal, Canada, December 8, 1845. He was the
third son in a family of five children born to John and Mary (Ryan) Do-
lan. He was reared in Canada until about five years of age, when his
parents removed to Indiana and located on a farm in Miami County. In
the district schools of that county our subject began his education, and in
the fall of 1867 he entered upon a commercial course in the college of
Notre Dame, completing it in the spring of 1869. In 1870, he went to
Atchison, Kan., remaining there two years as clerk in a wholesale grocery
house. Returning thence to Crawfordsville, Ind., he engaged in the
lumber and stave business, continuing till 1876, at which time he em-
barked in the stave and tie business in Bloomington. In October, 1883,
he was appointed manager for the American Hoop Dressing Company's
factory, located at Bloomington, which employs fifty-five men and has a
capacity of 15,000 hoops per day. Mr. D. is a firm Catholic, and polit-
icallv is a Detaiocrat.
HON. JOHN R. EAST was born May 17, 1845, in Indian Creek
Township, Monroe Co., Ind. He is the third son and fourth child of
William and Eveline HVall) East. His father came to Monroe County
in 1828, and settled in Indian Creek Township. The subject of this
sketch received the rudiments of a common English education there, and
began teaching school when seventeen years of age. In February, 1864,
he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt.
Graves, serving for one year and a half. He took part in the battles at
Altoona and Sheppard's Landing, and marched with Sherman to the sea.
On July 17, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, having been pro-
moted to the position of Sergeant of his company. He then returned to
his home and to teaching. In March. 1869, he came to Bloomington,
entered the law office of Judge S. H. Buskirk, and continued until the
following fall, when he entered the Law Department of the State Uni-
versity, from which he graduated in February, 1870. He then formed a
partnership with James H. Rogers (deceased) in the regular practice,
continuing for about nine months, when he assumed the duties of County
Clerk, to which office he had been elected in the October before. This
office he filled successfully for four years, and then resumed the practice
of law, and had for his diiferent partners Hon. C. W. Henderson (de-
ceased) and Col. W. C. L. Taylor, now of La Fayette. In October, 1878,
562 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of the Tenth Judicial District,
and served one year, remaining in the practice alone until 1882, when he
formed a partnership with his brother, William H. East, and the firm
name is East & East. On March 22, 1866, he was married to Miss Ma-
tilda J. Binkley, daughter of Christian and Rosanna Binkley, respected
residents of Monroe County. They have had six children — George J.
(deceased), Rufus H., Mattie A., William C, John R. (deceased) and
Eva I. Mr. East is a member of the K. of P. and of the G. A. R. He
has passed all the chairs in the I. O. O. F. He is a member of the
Methodist Church, and politically is a Democrat.
WILLIAM H. EAST, a native of Monroe County, Ind., was born
June 12, 1852, in Indian Creek Township. His parents, William and
Eveline (Wall) East, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee. Our
subject is the youngest son and child in a family of seven children, and
was reared on the old home farm in Indian Creek Township. He received
a good education, and at the age of eighteen he entered the printing
office of Thomas Purcell, and after staying with him for a year he found
the occupation distasteful, and he then commenced teaching school. He
followed this until 1874, when he became Deputy County Clerk, in which
position he served until the expiration of one term of office. He then
began teaching school in the winter and reading law in the summer, for
three years. For the next two years, he farmed, two miles east of Bloom-
ington. He then taught school for a year, wnen he formed a partnership
with his brother, J. R. East, in the practice of law, and at present they
are doing a thriving business, under the firm name of East & East. In
1877, he married Mary A. Conder, a daughter of E. W. Conder, a citizen
of Indian Creek Township. They have two children — Ida M. and Will-
iam E. Mr. East is a member of the K. of P., and also of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church.
J. S. FARIS, third son and eighth child of James and Margaret (Mc-
Dill) Faris, natives of South Carolina, was born February 11, 1826,
in Preble County, Ohio. His parents moved to Ohio in 1806, where they
resided until 1838, when they came to Indiana, locating on a farm in
Monroe County, near Bloomington. The father died June 17, 1852; the
mother, November 8, 1838. The subject of this sketch was reared and
educated in Monroe County; entered the State University when eighteen
years of age; remained for a year and a half, and then, on account of ill
health, retired from study for awhile. He went again in 1849 and 1850;
afterward took charge of the old home farm for some time, and then
came to Bloomington. He formed a partnership with Mr. Mason in the
drug business, continued for one year, and then was in business for him-
self until 1862. He was then prescription clerk in Bloomington for four
years, and was in partnership with J. W. Shoemaker for a number of
years; finally, in September, 1883, he opened a drug store under the firm
name of Faris & Co. , which he is now running with great success. On
October 6. 1853, he was married to Eliza J. Hartin, daughter of Patrick
and Nancy Hartin, respected residents of Gibson County, Ind. By this
union there were nine children, eight of whom are living — Lottie E.,
Lillian, Albert V., Eugene M., Ida L., Minnie A., Melville and Elmer.
Mr. Faris is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church.
JAMES B. FARIS, farmer, was born in Monroe County, Ind., on
June 5, 1828. He has been a resident of the county all his life, occupy-
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 568
ing the farm on which his father settled in 1827. He has been twice
married. His first wife was Sarah Irvin, to whom he was married on
September 11, 1855. She was a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Smith)
Irvin, was born on February 8, 1834, and died on July 9, 1875. Three
children were born to them, viz.: James E., Charles C. and Edward C.
On December 13, 1877, he married Mary C. McCaughan, daughter of
Charles and Nancy (Faris) McCaughan. She was born on October 16,
1847. They have one child living — Earnest. Mr. Faris is one of the
substantial citizens of Monroe County, contributes liberally to charitable
movements, and is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Kev. James Faris, first pastor of the Bethesda Reformed Presbyterian
Church of Bloomington, and father of our subject, was born in South
Carolina in May, 1791, receiving his early education at Columbia (S. C.)
College. At the age of sixteen he joined the church, and began teaching
school; also commenced to prepare for the ministry. Having accumu-
lated $2,000 within a few years, he came to Bloomington, Ind., and pur-
chased 160 acres of unimproved land, which he eventually improved. In
1827, he was ordained in an old frame church, the first church of the Cov-
enanters in Illinois, he having gone there on horseback, accompanied by
his wife. From the installation at Bloomington dates the beginning of his
pastoral work. After a long and useful life, he died "on May 20, 1855. On
April 29, 1823, he married Nancy Smith, born in South Carolina November
2, 1800. She died August 20, 1881. To them were born ten children,
eight of whom are now living, four of them being ministers of the Gos-
pel, located in dififerent States.
E. H. FEE was born in Bloomington Township, Monroe County. Ind.,
June 18, 1832, and is the youngest of the children of William and Eliz-
abeth (Orr) Fee. The former was born in Ireland March 3, 1785, and
was a son of Rebert Fee, whose family came to South Carolina in 1790,
and in 1830 to this county. Robert died in 1841, aged ninety-one y^ars.
William was married, January 2, 1810, to Elizabeth F. Orr, born March
19, 1790; she died October 24, 1881, and her husband January 24, 1876
They were both in the communion of the Presbyterian Church, and
highly esteemed. When the Fee family came to Monroe County, they
settled on the Graham farm, which was entered in 1817 by Mr. Graham,
and which is timbered and well watered. E. H. Fee, our subject, has
lived in the house' in which he was born all his life. His brother, James
P., who was born March 12, 1829, is now residing with him on the old
home farm. During the years from 1854 to 1876, he was mining in Cal-
iforna. The second steam saw-mill, built in 1835 on the Fee farm, was
erected by a Mr. Sleeper, and owned by William Fee and William Mil-
ieu. In 1843, they added a grist mill to the saw mill, and operated it
until 1851. Mr. Fee is a Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
HENRY J. FELTUS was born August 13, 1845, in New York City.
He is the youngest of four sons born to Lambert and Sarah (Colton) Fel-
tus, and was reared in New York until about nine years of age, when he
was sent to his father, who was then in Cincinnati, Ohio, where in the
public and high schools he was educated. In January, 1864, he enlisted
in Company C, Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, under Capt. Strieker. He
served for three years, and took part in the engagements at Mobile, Nash-
ville and Franklin, Tenn., and also in the "Grierson raid'' through the
South, being eighty-two days in the saddle, and in the captui-e of Mont-
564 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIB:
gomery, Ala., during the most of which time he acted as Serjeant Major.
After the battle at Montgomery, he was commissioned Adjutant, and on
November 18, 1865, he received an honorable discharge. He went to
Madison, Ind., purchased a drug store, and remained there for three
years, removing thence to Terre Haute. After a short time he went to
Greencastle, where he started a weekly newspaper, the Greencastle
Star, which he conducted successfully until in 1875, when he sold out
and came to Bloomington, where, in October, he started the Bloomington
Courier, which at present is the only Democratic paper in Monroe County,
and is in a flourishing condition. In 1880, Mr. Feltus was elected
Councilman of the Third Ward, and was the first Democrat ever elected
to the Council in Bloomington. He is, and has been for three terms, a
member of the Monroe County Democratic Central Committee. In
1879, he was commissioned, by the Governor, as Captain of the "Monroe
Guards," Indiana State Militia. On February 14, 1873, he was united
in marriage to Miss Ella Baird, daughter of A. A. Baird, a citizen of
Terre Haute, Ind. By this union there are four children. Mr. Feltus
is Sachem of the I. O. R. M., Adjutant of the G. A. R. and is an active
member of the Episcopal Church. He takes an active though unselfish
interest in all political affairs, laboring earnestly for the success of his
party, and has the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has been
associated.
ROBERT C. FOSTER was born August 8, 1831, in Philadelphia,
Penn. He is the eldest in a family of five children born to Nathaniel
C. and Sarah C.(Cavanaugh) Foster, natives of New Jersey. Robert was
reared by his uncle, in Monroe County. He had received a common
English education in the public schools of Philadelphia, and on coming
to Indiana, entered the State University at Bloomington, Monroe County,
in 1844, where he graduated six years later. In the fall of 1850, he
went to Philadelphia, and studied law for two years; then returned to
Indiana, where he was at once elected Deputy Auditor under William
Tarkington, and served until October, 1855, when he was elected Auditor
of Monroe County; in 1859, he was re-elected. In 1863, he went into
the dry goods business, remaining for three years, and was then elected
County Clerk. After serving for four years, he practiced law for some
time. He was elected Cashier of Bloomington First National Bank
shortly after its organization, and served until the spring of 1880, since
which time he has continued in the practice of his profession. In April,
1883, he was appointed Deputy Auditor and is at present in the discharge
of his duties. He served as Secretary of the Indiana State University
for twenty-five years. In 1876, he was elected to the Legislature from
Monroe County, and served for one year. He was City School Trustee
for about eight years. Mr. Foster is highly respected as a citizen. He
is an eminent practitioner, and efficient as an officer a man of true worth
and merit. He was married, in 1855, to Agnes E. McC all a, daughter of
Samuel McCalla, a pioneer of Monroe County. He and wife are members
of the Presbyterian Church, and politically he is a Republican.
HARMON H. FRIEDLEY is the second son and fourth child in a
family of twelve children born to Jacob and Lydia A. (Evans) Friedley.
He was born September 18, 1850, in Harrison County, Ind., and was
reared and educated there. When eighteen years of age, he began teach-
ing school in Floyd County, continuing for seven years in various places
in Indiana. In 1869, he entered the Central Academy at Muncie, Ind,,
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 565
remaining for two years, and in 1872 he entered the State University at
Bloomington, Ind., continuing for three years. He then purchased the
Laurence Gazette at Bedford, which he ran more than a year, increasing
its circulation from 250 to 1,000 subscribers. In Bedford he also en-
tered the law office of the Hon. George W. Friedley, as a student. In
March, 1879, he came back to Bloomington and became junior partner in
the law firm of Friedley, Pearson & Friedley. He is at present in regu-
lar practice and is very successful. He has been Local Attorney for the
L.,N. A. & C. E. R. since his return to Bloomington, and in May, 1881,
was elected City Attorney, and re-elected in 1883- He is attorney of the
Building Association, also for the Citizens' Loan Fvmd & Saving Asso-
ciation of Bloomington, He was married, June 22, 1881, to Sibyl
Hinds, daughter of Jesse and Joanna Hinds, prominent citizens of
Bloomington. Mr. Friedley is a member of the I. O. O. F., and member
of Chapter and Council of the A., F. & A. M. He is an active member
of the Methodist Church, and is politically a Republican.
RICHARD A. FULK, fourth son and sixth child of Adam and Eliza-
beth (Carmichael) Fulk, natives of North Carolina, was born August 11,
1831, in Indian Creek Township, Monroe County, Ind. His parents
were married in 18.19, and lived in North Carolina until 1828. They
then came to Indian Creek Township, remaining until 1832. They then
went to Greene County and settlea on a farm in Center Township, whex'e
the mother died in 1834. The father then remained there until 1847,
and afterward removed to Jasper County, Mo. , locating on a farm, where
he died in September, 1851. The subject of this sketch was reared in
Greene and Monroe Counties until 1847, when he went with his father
to Missouri. By his own persistent efforts and a little assistance in the
subscription schools, he obtained the rudiments of a good English edu-
cation. In 1850, he returned to Monroe County and farmed in Indian
Creek Township for two years. He then began learning the carpenter's
trade in Harrodsburg, and followed it until 1870, when he was elected
Sheriff of Monroe County and served for two years. At the expiration
of his term of office, he entered the Law Department of the State Univer-
sity at Bloomington, whence he graduated in March, 1873, and at once
entered the regular practice of his profession. In 1879, he went into
office as Auditor of Monroe County, and served for four years. He then
re-entered the regular practice of law, and is at present so engaged. In
1868, he was elected Real Estate Appraiser, and served for two yeai's.
He also served as Justice of the Peace for some time. On January 23,
1855, he was married to Mary Helton, a daughter of John Helton, a
pioneer of Lawrence County, Ind. They had six children, three of
whom are living — Homer L., Lulie B. and William L. Mr. Fulk is a
member of the I. O. O. F., Cecelia Lodge, No. 166, and of the Iv. uf H.
He is also a member of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a Dem-
ocrat and a prominent member of that party.
WILLIAM A. GABE, editor and publisher of the Republican Prog-
ress at Bloomington, was born in Bedford, Penn. , January 3, 1835,
and the following year was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he was
educated. His journalistic life began with the publication of the Bed-
ford (Ind.) Independent, which he managed for two years. May 7, 1867,
he issued the first number of the Republican Progress, having purchased
the office of the Bloomington Republican from Whitaker & Walker.
During the seventeen years of the existence of the Progress, it has been
566 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
steadily growing in circulation and influence, and is now one of the
best newspapers published in Southern Indiana.
ROBERT GILMORE was born January 7, 1840, in Cincinnati,
Ohio, and is the eldest child of James and Elicia (McLain) Gilmore,
natives of Ireland. His parents were married in Cincinnati in 1839,
where, for twenty-one years, the father followed weaving as a trade.
Removing to Monroe County, Ind., he farmed until his death, which oc-
curred in September. 1879. His widow at present resides in Elooming-
ton. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native
place. When eighteen years of age, he begran learning the blacksmith's
trade with William Taylor, and remained with him for about four years.
In September, 1862, he enlisted in Bard's cavalry, and after three
months' service, he began working at his trade, by order of Legislature.
In 1867, he came to Monroe Covinty and farmed for some time in Salt
Creek Township, afterward removing to Bloomington, where he pur-
chased a blacksmith shop, which he ran for two years. In 1878, he was
elected as County Recorder on the Democratic ticket, which office he
creditably filled for four years. He then opened an insurance office,
which he is now engaged in, and also in the real estate business. In
1870, he was married to Jennnette A. Ramsey, a daughter of James
Ramsay, a citizen of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Gilmore is Vice
Dictator of the K. of H. , Golden Star Lodge, No. 2066 ; also a member
of the Methodist Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.
JOHN GRAHAM was born November 22, 1844, in Bloomington,
Monroe Co., Ind, His parents, John and Isabella P. (Everett) Graham,
were born in Scotland and Tennessee respectively. They were married
at Kingsport. Tenn. , in 1820, and six years later removed to a farm in
Perry Township, this county. Soon after the father removed to Bloom-
ington and followed his trade of carpenter until in 1866. He at present
resides there at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Isabella
Graham died in 1874. The subject of this sketch is the third son and
sixth child, and was reared in Bloomington, where he was educated in
the private schools there. He then entered the State University at
Bloomington, whence he gi'aduated from the law department. In 1870,
he was elected Librarian of the Supreme Court at Indianapolis, and af-
ter serving faithfully for two years, he returned to Bloomington, where
he soon after entered the regular practice of his profession. In Novem -
ber, 1882, he was elected Representative of the district comprising Mon-
roe and Brown Counties. He is now extensively engaged in real estate
and in the insurance business, and also engaged in the practice of his
profession. Mr. Graham is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and is
highly respected as a citizen.
ROBERT C. GREEVES. a native of Bloomington, Ind. , was born
January 26, 1842. He is the eldest son of John J. and Mahala (Carter)
Greeves, natives of Maryland and Vix-ginia respectively. His parents
were married November 2, 1841, in Bloomington, and located there, the
father following the carpenter's trade until 1867. He then began
merchandising, which he continued until 1883. He at present re-
sides in Bloomington, sixty-seven years of age; the mother is six-
ty-five years of age. The subject of this sketch was reared in
Bloomington until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Bloom-
field, Ind., and formed a partnership with C. P. Taley in the dry
goods business, which they carried on successfully for two and a half
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 567
years, at which time he entered the office or Dr. J. G. McPheeters, of
BlooraingtoB, and began the study of medicine. After remaining with
him for three years (during which time he took a course of lectures at
Ann Arbor, Mich.), he entered the Medical Department of the State Uni-
versity of New York, from whence he graduated in March, 1871, re-
turning thence to Bloomington. On account of ill health he was obliged
to give up the practice of his profession, and soon after he bought an
interest in the grocery business with his father. He continued in this
business until January, 1883, when he sold his interest and was elected
City Clerk. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and also of the I. O.
O. F. He was married, October 23, 1872, to Anna J. Eveleigh, daughter
of Joseph Eveleigh, of Bloomtield. They had one child — Edward E. (de-
ceased). Mr. Greeves is a member of the Methodist Church, and politi-
cally is a Republican.
JOHN L. GRIFFITH (deceased) was born in Shelby County, Ky.,
on November 2, 1810, and was a son of John and Deborah (Lewis)
Griffith. John, the father, a native of Wales, came to Jackson County,
Ind., in 1817, and in 1819 to Monroe County, where he built one of the
first combined grist and saw mils in the county, on what is known as
Griffith Creek. The lumber for the first frame building of Bloomington
wa,B sawed at this mill. He was an honest and industrious citizen, a
friend to the poor, and a consistent member of the Baptist Church. He
died in 1865. Our subject came to Monroe County in 1819. On March
7, 1833, he married Hetty K. Wampler, a native of Wythe County, Va.,
and born July 18, 1811. Her father, Joseph Wampler, was a native of
Germany, born in 1774. His wife, Esther Kenser, was born in 1783.
They came to Monroe County in 1822, the father dying in 1846, the
mother in 1833. In 1838, our subject moved to the farm of 320 acres,
where his widow now resides. He improved this farm, and lived on it
until his death, which occurred in 1872. He was an industrious farmer,
a kind and devoted father, and a loving husband. His widow, who sur-
vives him, is a highly esteemed lady, and a useful family physician in
the locality where she lives. Twelve children were born to them, viz. :
Deborah L. (Gray), Esther (Cox), Melinda C. (Cox, deceased), Tillman
H. (deceased), Mary E. (Gray), Theresa A. (Cox), Lucinda J., Louis C,
Lucretia E. (deceased), Margaret A. (deceased) and two dying in infancy-.
MAJ. SILAS GRIMES was born November 25, 1839, in Clear
Creek Township, Monroe County, Ind., and is the youngest of thirteen
children born to James and Nancy (Woodward) Grimes. His parents
were natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively; came to Indiana in
1815, and located in Washington County, and in the following year re-
moved to Monroe County. His father entered a farm of 160 acres in
Clear Creek Township, where he lived until his death, which occurred
November 23, 1853. His mother still resides in Bloomington, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty-nine years. The subject of this sketch was reared
in his native township, where he received a good education, and in April,
1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers, under
Capt. James Kelly, in the three months' service. In August of the same
year, he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-first Indiana Infantry, under
Capt. Henry L. McCalla, in the three years' service. He took part in
the following engagements: Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the siege of Corinth,
Perryville, Atlanta campaign, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Resaca, Frank-
lin and Nashville. In July, 1865, he was sent to Texas, and stationed
568 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
at Victoria on post guard duty, where he remained until January of the
following year. He then returned to Monroe County and engaged in
farming on the homestead. In 1880, he was elected Sheriff of the
county on the Kepublican ticket. Two years later, he was re-elected,
and is at present in the faithful discharge of his duties. On March 12,
1868, he was married to Susan Gaither, daughter of Perry Gaither, a
citizen of Monroe County. They had eight childi'en, seven of whom are
living — Marion L., Perry T., John M., Mary E., Nancy E., Irvin L. and
Silas T. Mr. Grimes is a member of the A. , F. & A. M., and he and his
wife are members of the M. P. Church.
WILLIAM N. HALL, a native of Monroe County, Ind., was born
March 20, 1853, four miles north of Bloomington. His parents, Bain-
bridge and Elizabeth C. (Houston) Hall, natives of Monroe County, Ind.,
after their marriage located on a farm in Richland Township, remaining
for thirty-four years. His mother died January 29, 1875, and his father
at present resides in Bloomington. William is the second son and child
in a family of five children. He was reared and received a good educa-
tion in his native county. At the age of eighteen years, he entered the
graded schools in Ellettsville, where he remained for about two years.
In 1873, he was appointed Deputy Postmaster there, and after serving
for a short time entered the employ of Smith & McDonald, harness-
makers of Newark, Greene County, continuing one year. In the fall of
1874, he returned to the farm in Monroe County, and five years later he
was again appointed to his former position of Deputy Postmaster at
Ellettsville, serving for more than two years. He was afterward elected
by the Republican party Recorder of Monroe County, and is at present
actively engaged in the discharge of his official duties. He is a member
of the I. O. R. M., Arizona Tribe, No. 52. On July 17, 1874, he was
precipitated from a grade on the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Rail-
road, at Evansville, dislocating his right hip, which incapacitated him for
manual labor. He is a noble principled man, esteemed as a citizen, and
efficient as an officer.
JOSEPH HALL is the third son and child in a family of five chil-
dren, and was born February 11, 1855, in Richland Township, Monroe
County, Ind. His parents, Bainbridge and Elizabeth C. (Houston) Hall,
were born in Monroe County. Joseph was reared in Richland Town-
ship until he attained his majority, receiving meanwhile a good education
in the district schools. In 1876, he entered the employ of a farmer in
Bloomington Township, and remained with him for two years, when he
was engaged to work for another farmer. He then went to Montgomery,
Ind. , where he stayed for two years, returning thence to the old home
farm. About two years later, he rented a farm of 187 acres of good land
in Bean Blossom Township, Monroe County, and engaged in agricultural
pursuits for more than two years. He was appointed Deputy Recorder
(to his brother, William N. Kail) of Monroe County, and is at present in
the faithful discharge of the duties devolving upon him. Mr. Hall is
a member of the I. O. R. M., Arizona Tribe, No. 52. He is a Repub-
lican, a liberal citizen, and highly esteemed by all who know him.
DR. JOHN E. HARRIS, ninth son of A. W- R. and Mary J. D.
(Johnson) Harris, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively, was
born January 1, 1847, in Louisville, Ky. His parents were married in
Louisville, where the father came in 1819. For a number of yeai's, he
was book-keeper for Lithee & Wallace. In 1856, he was elected City
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 569
Assessor of Louisville, serving until 1873. His death occurred August
13, 1880. The mother died in 1849. Dr. Harris was reared and edu-
cated in Louisville. In 1863, he entered the laboratory of Prof. Thomas
E. Jenkins, remaining one year. He clerked in a drug store until 1865,
when he formed a partnership with his brother in that business, and two
years later he sold out, soon afterward opening a store of his own.
Meanwhile he had been studying medicine, and in October, 1868, grad-
uated from the University Dispensary, and school of practical medicine
and surgery. He then entered practice there, afterward attending the
University Medical College of Louisville, from which he graduated Feb-
ruary 27, 1870. He practiced in Louisville until October 12, 1876, when
he removed to Bloomington, where he has worked his practice up. On
April 24, 1866, he was married to Alice C. Lawes, daughter of Joseph
and Jane Lawes, citizens of Louisville. They have three children —
Ella, John G. and Charles E. Dr. Karris is a member of the K. of H.,
and of the K. of P. He is also a member of the Methodist Church, and
in politics is a Kepublican.
B. HEADLEY was born in Eandolph County, Va., February 14,
1822, and is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Wilson) Headley, natives of
Pennsylvania and Virginia. Isaac was a millwright and farmer. About
1836, he went to Noble County, Ohio, there farmed for a time, and then
came to Brown County, Ind. , and died there at the age of eighty years.
B. remained on the farm, going to school until his twentieth year. He
then learned the shoe-maker's trade, and also worked some at black-
smithing. During the war, he served in the One Hundred and Sixty-first
Ohio Infantry; took part in a skirmish at Stony Gap, Va., and was hon-
orably discharged. In 1866, Mr. Headley came to Monroe County, Ind.,
and settled on a farm two and one-half miles east of Bloomington, and
which consisted of 226 acres, earned by himself. In about 1842, Mr.
Headley married Eunice Morse, of Washington County. They have had
nine children — James M., Isaac W., Hilary D., Marcellus J., Hamlin S.,
Mary, Charley E., Hattie V. and Benjamin T. Isaac and James served
in the Union army in the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Headley are Method-
ists, and he is a Republican politically.
MICHAEL W. HELTON (deceased) was born May 24, 1829, in Law-
rence County, Ind,, and was the eldest son of Andrew and Hannah
(Woolery) Helton. He was reared in his native county until eighteen
years of age, and there received the rudiments of an education, remov-
ing thence to Bloomington, where he entered the State University. A
few years later his parents moved to Bloomington, remaining until their
deaths, which occurred — the father's on April 5, 1874; the mother's
April 29, 1870. He was for some time engaged in the dry goods busi-
ness in Bloomington. He built the Bloomington City Mills, which he
ran for some time; then opened a title abstract and real estate office; at
the same time he was in the insurance business, which he continued to
carry on until his death, which occurred January 18, 1873, at his resi-
dence in Bloomington, aged forty-three years seven months and twenty-
four days. H« had served as Trustee of the State University for many
years. He was married, January 29, 1868, by Prof. Ballentine, to Mrs.
T. L. Carter, in Bloomington, daughter of Isaiah W. and Lucretia
Cron, respected citizens of Bloomington. They had two children — ■
Lewis C. and A. K. He is one of the most active workers in the Px-es-
byterian Church, and was well known and respected by the entire com-
570 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
miinity. Though he was much afflicted, yet he was never known to
murmur at his afflictions, and was active and industrious up to the last
two days of his life, it being part of his religion to be always employed
in doing good. He sought the comfort of others more than his own.
He made a profession of religion in the Second Presbyterian Church of
Bloomington, and was an earnest, faithful follower of Christ.
MA J. HENRY HENLEY, a native of Orange County, Ind., was born
October 25, 1826. His parents, Joseph and Sarah (Lindley) Henley,
natives of North Carolina, were married January 11, 1826, in Orange
County, and settled on a farm there, where the father died in July, 1848;
the mother died September 23, 1872. The father was a cabinet-maker,
and lived for many years near Paoli. The subject of this sketch is the
eldest in family, and was reared at home until twenty years of age, where
he attended school, and received a good education. He then entered
Earlham College at Richmond, Ind., and remained there for one year.
When his father died, he left him in charge of the farm and a saw and
grist mill, which he ran for ten years, when he went to Shoals, Ind.,
formed a partnership with Z. W. Coffin and W. Chenoweth, and con-
tinued until 1871, August 14, 1862, he was appointed Captain of Com-
pany A, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers, and served for two and a half
years. He was then commissioned Major at Louisville November 17,
1864, and resigned one month later. He took part in the following en-
gagements: Munfordville (in which the company was captured and paroled,
re-entering in about fifty days), Hoover's Gap, Tenn., Peach Tree, Chick-
amauga. Mission Ridge, Shelbyville and Farmington, Tenn. ; Kenesaw
Mountain, Marietta, Flat Rock and Selma, Ala. In 1871, he came from
Shoals to Bloomington to educate his children, and in the fall of 1872
he was elected County Surveyor, which position he tilled for four years.
After the expiration of his term of office, he engaged in civil engineering
and patent rights, and is at present so engaged. In 1873, he purchased
the mill at Gosport, and ran it about five years. On May 11, 1852, he
was married to Lydia M. Patton, daughter of Alexander and Fannie Pat-
ton, residents of Orange County. They have three children — Laura,
Joseph and George W. Mr. Henley is a member of the A. F. & A. M.,
is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
J. E. HENLEY, eldest son and second child in a family of three
children, was born April 21, 1856, in Orange County, Ind. His parents,
Henry and Lydia M. (Patton) Henley, were natives of Indiana and North
Carolina respectively. The subject of this sketch was reared and edu-
cated in his native place until fifteen years of age, when he came to
Bloomington with his parents. In July, 1875, he graduated from the
State University with high honors. In the following fall, he took the
chair of Greek in Smith's Grove College, Ky., which he filled for one
year. He then was elected City Superinteodent of the public schools of
Shoals, Ind., serving for two years. In the spring of 1879, he was elected
City Clerk of Bloomington, and served for two years, during which time
he studied law, aud in 1880 he entered the regular practice here. He
formed a partnership with William P. Rogers, and is now successfully
engaged as a practitioner. In November, 1882, he was elected Prose-
cuting Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, comprising Monroe, Law-
rence, Orange and Martin Counties, and is serving at the present writing.
August 8, 1883, he was married to Ida M. Howe, daughter of Joseph
Howe, a resident of Washington Territory. Mr. Henley is a member of
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 571
the K. of P., and also of the Methodist Church. He is a Republican, -
and is highly respected as a citizen, and his legal advice is greatly sought
after.
WALLACE HIGHT, farmer, was born in Bloomington, Monroe Co.,
Ind., May 28, 1832, and is the fourth child born to John and Elizabeth
Hight. John Hight was a native of Kentucky, and after his marriage
came to Bloomington in 1818. He was a saddler by trade; finally built a
a tavern, and in 1836 a grist and woolen mill. He built the first flat-
boat that went to Salt Creek. He died in 1878, much respected, and his
wife preceded him in about 1868. Wallace was reared on a farm, and
at the age of twenty learned the tanner's trade, in which he continued
until the war broke out, when he had made and mounted a six-pounder
bronzed cannon at his own expense, and on going to Indianapolis
received a commission of Second Lieutenant in the Ninth Indiana Bat-
tery. Lieut. Hight took part in a number of hard- fought battles, and
when his time expired, in 1864, he went out as a sutler until the close of
the war. Since his return, he has engaged in farming. His farm con-
sists of 155 acres. In 1880, he was census enumerator for this town-
ship, and was also .the one who circulated the first petition for building
pikes in the county. He has also aided in petitioning for other improve-
ments. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Republican.
On February 26, 1852, Mr. Hight married Emily Hook, who was born in
Indiana on September 22, 1832. Mrs. Hight was a daughter of Thomas
and Jane (Dye) Hook, natives of Kentucky, who settled in Indiana in
1829. Mr. and Mrs. Hight have three children — Annie J., Mary J. and
Wallace. They have also given a home to James Krohn, an orphan.
NATHANIEL U. HILL, one of the most prominent and successful
citizens of Bloomington, was born in Clay County, Ind. , June 21, 1852.
He was the fourth son of six children born to Abel S. and Almira
(Usher) Hill, and was reared in Brazil, Ind., where he received a good
education in the public schools. When sixteen years of age, he entered
the academy at Ladoga, Ind., where he remained two years. In 1870,
he came to Bloomington, remaining one term in the freshman class of
the State University, after which he spent one year in " Harvard College "
at Kokomo, Ind. In the spring of 1872, he again entered the State Uni-
versity, where he graduated with honors in June, 1875, and during the
same year, took a junior law course, graduating in June, 1876. He im-
mediately thereafter began the regular practice of law at Brazil, con-
tinuing until July, 1878, at which time, he entered the employ of Bryson
& Hill, hardware merchants of Brazil. He remained in their employ
until December 31, 1879, when he was married to Miss Anna M. Buskirk,
daughter of George A. Buskirk. To crown the happiness of this union,
there have been born two children — Nathaniel U. and Philip K. After
his marriage, he was prevailed upon to come to Bloomington and take
charge of the settlement of the estate of his father-in-law (deceased),
which was at that time very much complicated, through litigation and
bad management. He was at once elected a Director of the First Na-
tion Bank, the controlling interest of which was owned by the estate. In
January, 1881, he was elected Vice President of the bank, and at present
is in the discharge of his duties as such. He successfully settled up the
estate, and taking the bank in its weakened condition, occasioned by the
" panic," the stock having depleted until only worth in market 85 cents
on the dollar, he, by untiring energy and industry, succeeded in bringing
36
572 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
it to its present thrifty and substantial condition. The stock is now
worth $1.25, and the bank has accumulated a surplus fund of 120,000,
its capital stock being $120,000. He is a prominent member of the Ma-
sonic fraternit}^ and a stanch Republican.
CLINTON M. HOUSTON, farmer, was born in Bourbon County, Ky.,
on September 29, 1828, and is the son of Samuel and Morning (Adams)
Houston, who were natives of Kentucky, and farmers by occupation, which
they followed in their native State until their death. The paternal
grandparents of our subject were natives of North Carolina. They came
to Monroe County in 1828. Here they both died — the grandfather at
ninety-two, the grandmother at eighty-five years of age. The maternal
grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Our subject's father died in
1838. Mr. Houston is a self-made man. He received a common school
education, and resided on a farm in Kentucky until 1840, when he came
to Monroe County with his mother. She afterward went to Illinois,
where she lived until her death. In 1852, Mr. H. was married to Eliza-
beth, daughter of Emsley and Elizabeth (Worley) Wood. Mrs. H. was
born July 5, 1833, on the farm on which she now resides. Her father
was born in Floyd County, Ind., December 16, 1800, Her mother was
born in Highland County, Ohio, on September 30, 1805. They came to
Bloomington among the first settlers. In 1828, he entered the farm now
owned by Mr. Houston. He was considered one of the practical farmers
of Monroe County, and owned at his death a large tract of unimproved
land. He died on June 7, 1844. His wife died on November 8, 1864.
Our subject and wife are the parents of nine children — Nathaniel C,
Richard W. (deceased), Charles D., Emma E., Emsley C, Samuel F.,
Luella, Eva and Maggie dying in infancy. Mr. Houston and wife, are
members of the Christian Church.
JOSEPH M. HOWE, one of the oldest pioneers of Moni'oe County
now living, was born in Nicholas County, Ky. , June 20, 1805. He is
the seventh son in a family of eleven children born to Samuel and Eliza-
beth (Showel) Howe, natives of Maryland. He was reared in Kentucky
until nineteen years of age, when he came to Bloomington, Monroe
County, and entered the employ of his brother, Joshua O. Howe, a mer-
chant of that village. He remained with him for ten years, at which
time he purchased an interest in the business, continuing for about four
years, when he sold his interest. In 1842, he opened a general merchan-
dise store, continuing about five years. He then erected a building on
the site of the one he now occupies, which was completely destroyed by
fire in August, 1873. After the destruction of this building, he erected
the present edifice, and taking his son, Alfred R., into partnership,
opened an immense dry goods store, under the firm name of J. M. Howe
& Son, dealers in dry goods, notions, boots and shoes, hats, caps, etc.
Mr. Howe is recognized as one of the most prominent and successful citi-
zens of Bloomington, and for forty-five years served as Treasurer of the
Board of Trustees of the State University. He has also, for forty years,
been Treasurer of the Monroe County Bible Society, and for about thirty
years an active and efficient member of the Presbyterian Church. In
olden times, he was a Whig, and at present is a stanch Republican. In
1845, he was married to Sophia W. Walker, daughter of Judge George
Walker, of Athens County, Ohio. By' this union there have been born
to them three children, only one of whom is now living — Albert R., who
married, April 10, 1878, Mary Frazee, daughter of Dr. L. J. Frazee, of
Louisville.
BLOOVIINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 578
WILLIAM J. JOHNSTON, farmer, was born in South Carolina
February 10, 1822, and is the son of Peter and Isabella (Wood) John-
ston, natives of Scotland. Peter was born in 1795, and his wife in 1800.
They were married in Scotland, and in 1820 came to South Carolina,
and in November, 1845, moved to Monroe County, Ind., and settled on
part of the farm now owned by our subject. They were highly respected
citizens, and belonged to the United Presbyterian Church. The father
died on January 28, 1874, and the mother on November 26, 1878. Will-
iam J. has lived in this county since 1845, and is a very successful
farmer, owning 165 acres of land with good improvements. August 17,
1848, he married Elizabeth, who was born in South Carolina, April 26,
1823, and is a daughter of John and Margaret (Kenedy) White. Mr.
White was born in South Carolina in 1779, and died there January 10,
1839. His wife was a native of Ireland; was born in 1783 and died in
St. Clair County, 111., September 7, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are
parents of four children — Maggie B., born July 22, 1855, now Mrs. Har-
vey A. Kirk; Cassie J., born November 9, 1857, now Mrs. C. A. Junkin;
M. Alice, born October 20, 1860; and Ida S. W., born May 13, 1863.
The family belong to the United Presbyterian Church, and are highly
respected.
DAVID STARR JORDAN, Professor of Natural Sciences in Indi-
ana University, graduated from Cornell University in 1872, with the de-
gree of Master of Science, and from Indiana University in 1875 with the
degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1877, Butler University conferred up-
on him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Previous to going to college,
his life was spent on a farm at Gainesville, N. Y. , where he was born
(January 19, 1851), and was little different from that of other farmer
boys except that he took a livelier interest in the things around him and
early learned to know every tish, fowl and flower within his range. He
made his own way through college by teaching winter school while on
the farm, by being table waiter in a hotel while a freshman, general
factotum and floor-sweeper while a sophomore, and by being awarded in
a competitive examination the privilege of representing his county at
Cornell. During the last two years of his college course, he served as
instructor in botany. He gained his impulse to do original scientific
work from being a student under Prof. Hart, then in the chair of
Geology in Coi'nell. After graduation, he was elected to the chair of
Natural Science in Lombard University, Galesburg, III. After teaching
there one year, and a year at Appleton, Wis., he came to Indiana
in 1875. After teaching natural history one year in the Indian-
apolis High School, he was called to fill the chair of Natural History in
Butler University, which place he held until elected to his present posi-
tion in 1879. During the summer of 1873, he attended the " Harvard
Summer School " at Penikese, where he availed himself of special in-
struction under Prof. Louis Agassiz, who was quick to recognize in
him a growing naturalist, and so recalled him to serve as teacher of bot-
any at Penikese and Cumberland Gap in the summer schools held there
in 1874 and 1875. After Prof. Agassiz's death, these summer schools
were discontinued. Then began, under Prof. Jordan's direction, the
well known "Summer Tramps" for scientific exploration, those of 1876,
1877 and 1878 being confined to interesting sections of the United
States; those of 1879, 1881 and 1883 extending through the principal
coiintries of Europe. In 1880, as special agent of the United Slates
574 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Census Bureau, he made a thorough investigation of the marine indus-
tries of the Pacific coast; and as naturalist associate of the United States
Fish Commission and the United States National Museum, made a full
collection and an exhaustive study of the fish fauna of the same region.
At various times, in the same capacity, he has made valuable collections
on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in the West Indies, as well as from
the fresh waters of the United States. The results of these investigations
have taken permanent shape in a " Synopsis of the Fishes of North
America" (an octavo volume of 1,100 pages prepared by Jordan and Gil-
bert) pviblished by the United States in 1882; and in upward of 200
technical papers and memoirs, chiefly on ichthyology. His " Manual of
Vertebrates" (500 pages, 12mo), first published in 1876, and now in the
third edition, includes much original scientific work aside from that on
fishes, and is the first, and only systematic key to the study of vertebrates,
and is regarded as the best text book yet produced on the subject, being
used as such in Michigan University, Cornell University, and many other
universities and colleges. In recognition of these acquisitions to
knowledge, and as a testimonial of the value of his services to science,
he was awarded one of the three gold medals given to Americans by the
London Fisheries Exposition in 1883, for excellence in original scientific
work.— W. W. S.
MOSES KAHN, the only son of Adolph and Gertrude Kahn, was
born in Frauenburg, France, October 12, 1850. He was reared in his
native town, and at twelve years of age entered the public schools in the
city of Metz, remaining about four years. In July, 1866, he came to
Bloomington, Monroe County, entered the State University, and contin-
ued one year. He then entered the employ of Isaac Kahn (his uncle), a
well-known clothing merchant of Bloomington, with whom he remained
two years; theo entered the employ of Levi Tannenbaum, a clothing
merchant, remaining for eight years. In August, 1875, he formed a
partnership with Solomon Tannenbaum in the clothing business, contin-
uing successfully until March, 1883, when their store was completely
destroyed by fire. Mr. Kahn, being a live business man, in less than a
week resumed business, and at present has an extensive and lucrative
trade, and carries a mammoth stock of clothing, gents' furnishing goods,
hats, caps, etc. October 30, 1878, he was married to Miss Celia Hirsch,
daughter of Felix and Emma Hirsch, citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio. To
crown the happiness of their married life, there have been three children
born to them— Gertrude, Felix and Edgar. He is an active member in the
order of theK. of P., and at present fills the chair of Past Sachem of the
I. O. R. M., and is Treasurer of the K. of H.
JAMES KELLY, eldest son and fourth child of John and Catharine
(Finnegan) Kelly, was born in 1844, in Sligo, Sligo County, Ireland. He
was reared in his native place, where he was educated on a farm and in
the neighborhood. When fifteen years of age, he came to the United
States, and when he landed at Castle Garden, New York City, he had but
12 cents, and remained there until his sister in Cincinnati, Ohio, sent
him money enough to bring him there. He then went to Greenville,
Miss., and was pressed into service in the confederate army. In May,
1861, he enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Arkansas Volunteers, and
served for about eighteen months. He took part in the following engage-
ments: Belmont, Mo., Corinth, Miss., Richmond, Ky. (in which battle he was
shot in the left side, and was in the hospital for three months), and
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 575
Chattanooga, after which engagement he deserted, and came to Bloom -
ington. He then began learning the currier's trade in a tannery of John
Waldron. where he was engaged for eighteen years. In December, 1883,
he opened the saloon, where he is at present engaged, doing a lucra-
tive business. On October 17, 1807, he was married to Miss Mary
Mahoney, a daughter of Timothy Mahoney, a citizen of Ladoga, Ind.
They have five children — Annie, John, Joseph, James and Katie. Mr.
Kelly is a Republican, and a prominent member of the Catholic Church.
DANIEL KIRKWOOD. "When I die I want to go where Prof.
Kirkwood goes," was the simple eulogy of one of his admirers. What-
ever may be said of this sentiment, (certain it is that during fifty years
as a teacher, he has gained from his students such universal love and ad-
miration as few men enjoy; and while, as a mathematician, he has made
many valuable contributions to science, as a genial, temperate, and gen-
uine man, he has solved the problem of gracefully growing old. Daniel
Kirkwood is of Scotch-Irish descent, his grandfather coming from Ire-
land in 1771, and settling in Delaware. His parents, John and Agnes
(Hope) Kirkwood, were both born in this country. Prof. Kirkwood was
born in Harford County, Md., September 27, 1814. His early life was
spent on the farm, his first attendance at school being in his native
county. Having little taste for farming, he entered the York County
Academy at York, Penn. , in 1834. He was elected first assistant and
mathematical instructor of this institution in 1838. W^hile here he
trained many students in mathematics, one of whom, Samuel R. Frank-
lin, was lately chosen Superintendent of the Observatory at Washington.
Prof. Kirkwood resigned his position in 1843, to accept the Principalship
of the Lancaster High School, Penn., and a few years later he became
Principal of the Pottsville Academy. In 1845, he was married to Miss
Sarah A. McNair, of Newtown, Bucks County, Penn. He was Pro-
fessor of Mathematics in Delaware College from 1851 to 1856, the last
two years of this period being its Presideiit. In the latter year, he ac-
cepted the chair of Mathematics in the Indiana University. He filled
the same position in Washington and Jefferson College, Penn, in 1866
and 1867, when he was recalled to his former place in Indiana. He re-
ceived the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 1850, from Washington
College, Penn., and Doctor of Laws in 1852, from the University of
Pennsylvania. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical
Society in 1851, and of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science in 1853. He has been a frequent contributor to scientific
journals and other papers. He is the author of a well-known work on
"Comets and Meteors," as well as an earlier book on " Meteoric As-
tronomy." Prof. Kirkwood was first introduced to the scientific world
by the publication, in 1849, of his analogy between the periods of the
rotations of the primary planets. The law announced by him, now known
as Kirkwood' 8 Law, was received with much interest, and was generally
regarded as an important discovery supporting the nebular hypothesis.
The law pertains to the revolution of the planets on their axes. Its
exact and formal expression is not inserted here, as Prof. Kirkwood is
understood to be engaged in its revision. When about fifty asteroids
were known in the solar system. Prof. Kirkwood conceived the notion
that in those spaces -vhere simple commensurability with Jupiter occurs,
there must be gaps in the asteroid zone. It was then, however, only a
theory, as the number of asteroids sufficient for its verification were not
576 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
known. Yet, on its first announcement it met with favor, and Mr. Proc-
tor, tlie eminent astronomer, accepting Prof. Kirkwood's notion, wrote in
1870: "We may assume that when many more asteroids have been dis-
covered, the law * * * will appear more distinctly." The number
of asteroids known were then sufficient only to indicate the law, now the
number discovered and orbits computed, having reached 235, Prof. Kirk-
wood has shown that these gaps actually exist and assigned a physical
cause for them. He originally published his discoveries concerning
these chasms in the Proceedings of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science in 1866. Circumstances, however, which need not
here be stated, induced Prof. Kirkwood to give a resume of his discus-
sions in the proceedings of the American Philosophical Society for 1883.
From this paper the following is taken: " In those parts of the zone of
minor planets, where a simple relation of commensurability would obtain
between the period of an asteroid and that of Jupiter, the original plan-
etary matter was liable to great perturbations. The result of such dis-
turbance by the powerful mass of Jupiter was the necessary formation of
gaps in the asteroid zone." Prof. Kirkwood was the first to show that
the divisions of Saturn's rings are due to the same cause as the gaps in
the zone of asteroids. The treatise of Dr. Meyer, of Geneva, on Sat-
urn's rings, published last year, and leading to the same or a similar re-
sult, is a gratifying confirmation of Prof. Kirkwood's discovery. — J. S.,
Indiana University.
HIEAM LINDLEY, born November 27, 1827, in Orange County,
Ind., is the fourth son and seventh child in a family of nine born to
"William and Michael (Hallowell) Lindley, natives of North Carolina and
South Carolina i'espectively. He was reared on a farm near Paoli, where
he received the rudiments of a good English education in a Quaker
school. In 1849, he purchased a water-power saw mill, which he ran for
about" three years. He then followed carpentering and farming in
Orange County until 1857, when he removed to Paoli, and purchased a
drug store. In 1869, he sold out, and for several years was engaged in
various mercantile pursuits in Orange County. Removing thence to
Bloomington, Monroe County, he formed a partnership in the drug bus-
iness with M. F. Arnold, soon after which he purchased the other half
interest, and at present enjoys a lucrative trade, having a stock of drugs,
medicines, paints, oils, varnishes, stationery and wall paper, etc. He served
four years as Assistant United States Assessor^ and in 1874 he was Gov-
ernment Storekeeper at McCoy's Distillery on Stamper's Creek, Orange
County. June 23, 1859, he was married to Laura White, daughter of
Dr. C. White, of Paoli. They had seven children — Frank, Edmund,
AValter, George, Mary, Ernest and Anna L. His wife died on April 12,
1878. November 27, 1879, he married Elizabeth Trueblood, daughter
of William and Margaret Trueblood, residents of Orange County. They
have one child, an infant. Mr. Lindley is a Republican, and he and
wife are members of the Quaker Church.
JOHN H. LOUDEN was born November 24, 1837, in Juniata Coun-
ty, Penn. His parents. James and Jane (Thompson) Louden, were na-
tives of Ireland, and oE Scotch-Irish extraction. They were reared in
Londonderry County, where, in 1829, they were man-ied, coming to
this country four years later. They were in Pennsylvania for one year,
and then came to Indiana, locating in Fayette County, near Conners-
ville, where the father at present resides, the mother having died in 1846.
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 577
The father is an Elder in the Eeformed Presbyterian Church, and has
done much toward maintaining its principles. John, the eldest son and
child, was reared on the farm, in the winter attending the district school
until eighteen years of age, when he entered Dunlapsville Academy. He
remained for two years, when he came to Bloomington, Monroe County,
and entered the State University. In 1861 and 1862, he taught school
in Vienna, Rush County, during the winters, and in the summer of 1862
began reading law with Judge Read, of Connersville; he also assisted
during the same summer in raising a company of volunteers for the
Fifth Indiana Cavalry. He went to Indianapolis with them later on,
but, being taken sick, was obliged to return to his home. In March,
1863, he married Lizzie C. Hemphill, daughter of James Hemphill.
They have two sons and one daughter. In July, after his marriage, he
took his wife to Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., with the intention of
completing his studies. He had for some time charge of the Repub-
lican, the only newspaper at that time published in Bloomington. In
the meantime, he commenced reading law with Judge Hughes. In 1863-
64, he was in the Law .Department of the State University, and graduated
in the spring of 1864. Immediately being admitted to the bar, he began
the regular practice in Bloomington. He has been in partnership with Capt.
John M. McCoy, now of Dallas, Texas, with Frank Wilson and the Hon. M.
F. Dunn, and in February, 1876, he entered into a partnership with R. W.
Miers, which tirm still continues. He has never been a candidate for
office, but devotes himself with the utmost zeal to his profession, and is
one of Indiana's most eminent practitioners.
BENJAMIN McGEE, one o f the oldest and most successful business
men of Bloomington, was born in Spencer County, Ky., in 1819. He
was the second son in a family of four children born to William and
Charity (Riggs) McGee. When seven years of age, he was brought by
his parents to Spencer, Owen Co., Ind., and while still a boy began
learning the tailoring trade with his step-father, with whom he remained
until he was sixteen years of age, at which time he engaged in the tailor-
ing business in Spencer for himself, continuing successfully for several
years. He then formed a partnership with R. G. Overstreet in the mer-
chant tailoring and clothing business. In 1851, he came to Bloomington
for his health, and was prevailed upon by his friends to locate here. He
opened a tailor shop, and in 1852 formed a partnership with John W.
Davis in the clothing business, running in connection with it a merchant
tailoring department. Four years later, he purchased his partner's in-
terest, and for twenty-eight years has conducted the business alone, and
has at present an immense clothing establishment. His reputation as a
successful cutter is known far and near, and he has a large foreign trade,
sending suits to Washington, D. C, Eureka Springs, Ark., and many
other cities. He married Verlinda Buskirk, daughter of Abram Buskirk,
one of the earliest pioneers of Monroe County. By this union there have
been born to them five children — Charles E., Florence, Ben A., Edward
L. and ThomasE. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
B. A. McGEE was born July 26, 1851, in Bloomington, Monroe Co.,
Ind. His parents are Benjamin and Verlinda V. (Buskirk) McGee,
natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. Our subject is the second
sou and third child in family, and was reared in Bloomington, where he
was educated. When sixteen years of age, he entered the State Univer-
578 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
sitv, remaining two years. He then entered the Bryant & Stratton Com-
mercial College, at Louisville, whence he graduated in August, 1869.
He then went into his father's clothing store and remained until Febru-
ary, 1874, at w^hich time he entered the office of Dr. W. F. Allison,
dentist, of Bloomington, and began learning dentistry. October 1, 1874,
he entered the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, at Cincinnati, where he
stayed till the spring of 1875, going thence to Louisville. He studied
dentistry with Dr. J. F. Canine, and in September he went to Rockport,
Ind., and entered the regular practice there. Two years later, he came
to Bloomington, and in December, 1877, opened a dental office, which he
at present has, and is doing a lucrative business. In May, 1883, he was
elected to the Council; and is at present holding that position. In Sep-
tember, 1872, he married Alice Norman, daughter of Joseph and Susan
Norman, residents of Lawrence County, Ind. They have three children
— Van Norman, Proctor R. and Alice B. Mr. McGee is a member of
the K. of H. , and of I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the Methodist
Church. Politically, he is a Republican.
J. M. McGEE, a native of Ohio, was born in Caldwell. Noble
County, on January 2, 1850. His parents, Andrew and Sarah (Smith)
McGee, were born in Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively- They were
married in 1844, in Ohio, and settled on a farm in Noble County, where
they lived until the death of the father, which occurred October 3 1, 1859.
The mother still lives on the old homestead. The subject of this sketch
is the second son and third child in a family of seven children, and was
reared in his native county, where he lived until 1861. He then went
to live with his uncle for three years, after which he began working in
the oil regions, in which he continued for one year. He then entered
Sharon College, at Sharon, Ohio, remaining for two years. In the fall
of 1868, he came to Indiana, and engaged for nine months in the saw
mill business. After leaving the saw mill, he began teaching school in
Brown County, afterward teaching in Brownville. Neb., for eighteen
months, and returning to Brown County in 1871. He was engaged in
the drug biisiness for some time in Nashville, and in June, 1873, he was
elected County Superintendent of Brown County Schools. In 1875, he
was re elected, and two years later came to Bloomington, Monroe County,
and engaged in the drug business again. In June, 1879, he was elected
County School Superintendent, re-elected in 1881, and again in 1883, at
present being engaged in the faithful discharge of his duties. October
12, 1873, he married Eliza Taylor, of Morgan County. She died in
April, 1875, and two years later he married N. E. Buskirk, daughter of
William H. Buskirk, the oldest living settler in Monroe County. They
have two children, Max and Frank. Mr. McGee is a member of the A. ,
F. & A. M., and of the K. of H. He is an active member of the Meth-
odist Church, and politically is a Demof^rat.
REV. WILLIAM POLLOCK McNARY was born in Washington
County, Penn., the 16th day of September, 1839. His father's name was
William Hill McNary, and his mother's maiden name Margaret Murray;
the daughter of George Murray, of the Murray Hill farm, two miles east
of Cannonsburg. Our subject's ancestry were Scotch-Irish on both
sides of the house. His great-great-grandfather, James McNary, who
was the head of the largest family of McNarys in this country, was bora
in Scotland about the year 1711. The family came to this country
about the year 1760, and settled in York County, Penn. He had a wife,
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 579
a daughter and four sons. Three of these sons moved to Washington
County, Penn. John McNary, the grandfather of our svibject, who was
the eldest son of John, of York County, brought the family to the new
farm in Washington County, after his father's death, and it is still in the
possession of his son James. William Hill McNary, the father of our
subject, was born on the farm mentioned above, on the 26th day of No-
vember, 1805. He was an Abolitionist, until that party merged
into the Republican party. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Conven-
tion in 1856, at which the Republican party of Pennsylvania was organ-
ized, and was a stanch Republican until his death. Rev. W. P. McNary,
the subject of this sketch, is the third son now living. He spent his
boyhood on the old farm and received his common school education in a
little brick schoolhouse on the home premises. In 1856, he went to an
academy at Wilkinsburg, Penn., to prepare for college, and in 1858 en-
tered the sophomore class in Jefferson College at Cannonsburg, Penn.,
where he graduated in the class of 1861. In April, 1861, on the tirsr
call for 75,000 troops, he enlisted for the war. His company not getting
into camp in time for the first call, he enlisted for three years in Com-
pany D, Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps as a private,
from which he was promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant. On ac-
count of bravery on the battle-field, he was promoted by Gov. A. G. Cur-
tin, of Pennsylvania, ^to the position of Adjutant of the One Hundred and
Twenty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. This was a nine
months' regiment, and its time expired March 2, 1863. He was scarcely
home when there was a call for troops for 100 days, to be mustered into
United States service for the protection of Pennsylvania against threat-
ened invasion. He raised a company, of which he was made Captain,
and on the forming of a regiment he was commissioned Lieutenant
Colonel of the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Militia for United States service.
In this capacity he went out in the campaign against Col. John Morgan,
and was present at the capture of Morgan's forces. He spent the winter
of 1863-64, at the theological seminary. During the spring vacation,
there was another call for troops for 100 days, and his old Colonel, J. B.
Clark, having raised a regiment, offered him his old position of Adjutant
of the One Hundred and Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in
that capacity he served another 100 days in the summer of 1864. In the
Tenth Pennsylvania Reserved Corps, he participated in the battles of
Drainsville, Maysville, Cold Harbor or Gainsmills, (^hickahominy, Mal-
vern Hill and Antietam. In tlie One Hundred and Twenty-third Regi-
ment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the battles of Fredericksburg and
Chancellorville. Returning to the seminary in the fall of 1864, he
finished his course in March, 1866, and after a short itinerancy became
pastor of the United Presbyterian congregation of Leavenworth, Kan.,
where he remained until the fall of 1869. In August, 1870, he became
pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, Ind., in which
capacity he has continued until the present time. In June, 1880, with-
out his knowledge or consent, he was elected Trustee of the public
schools of the city of Bloomington, which position he held for three
years. On the 17th of June, 1880, he was nominated by the Republican
State Convention an Elector for the Eighth Congressional District of
Indiana. During the campaign of that year, he made twenty -two speeches
for Garfield and Arthur, speaking in eight counties of the State. He
met with the Electoral College on December 1, 1880, and voted for
580 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Garfield and Arthur. On the 27th of September, 1866, he married
Elizabeth Graham, of Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co., Penn., daughter of
James Graham, deceased. Mrs. McNary's mother's maiden name was
Eliza Macfarlane. She still lives on the old homestead in Allegheny
County, Penn. In December, 1883, Mr. McNary and Rev. A. H. Har-
shaw formed a partnership for the purpose of publishing a religious
weekly paper at St. Louis, Mo., to be called the Midland, in which he is
now engaged in connection with the pastorate of the church at Bloom-
ington.
■ DR. J. G. McPHEETERS, a native of Kentucky, was born in
Fayette County January 21, 1811. He is the eldest son of six children
born to Charles and Martha (Glass) McPheeters, natives of Virginia.
In 1829, he entered Centre College, at Danville, Ky., and one year later
came to Madison, Ind., entered a classical school there, and remained
until the spring of 1831, when he came to Bloomington, and entered the
State University, from which he graduated in 1834. During the follow-
ing year, he taught in the preparatory department of this institution,
then for some time taught a subscription school at Madison, Ind. Early
in 1836, he returned to Kentucky, and for two years engaged in farming
on the old home farm. In 1838, he began the study of medicine with
Dr. Lloyd Warfield, of Lexington, Ky. ; after one year returned to
Bloomington, Ind., and resumed his studies with Dr. D. H. Maxwell,
Late in 1839, he returned to Lexington, Ky., and entered the Transyl-
vania Medical College, graduating with honors soon after. In the spring
of 1840, he began the regular practice of medicine at Morgantown, Mor-
gan Co., Ind. The next year he came to Bloomington, and formed a
partnership with Dr. J. D. Maxwell, which lasted until January, 1850.
In August, 1861, he entered the army as Surgeon of the Fourteenth In-
diana Volunteers, and served over three years. Having been kept so
constantly in charge of hospitals in various parts of the South, his
health became impaired, and on September 16, 1864, he received an
honorable discharge for disability, returning at once to Bloomington,
where he resumed the practice of his profession. In June, 1836, he was
married to Miss Clara M. Dunn, daughter of Samuel Dunn, a pioneer of
Monroe County. Hh is a prominent member of the Royal Arch Masons,
of the Presbyterian Church, and an old-time Republican.
J. G. McPHEETERS, Jr., was born on August 26, 1839, in Morgan
County, Ind. He is the eldest son and second child of Joseph G. and
Clara (Dunn) McPheeters, natives of Kentucky. The subject of this
sketch was reared at home in Bloomington, where he acquired the rudi-
ments of a good English education in the gi-aded schools of Blooming-
ton. When seventeen years of age, he entered the State University,
where be remained for five years, but was compelled to quit on account
of ill health. In April, 1863, he was appointed Mail Agent on the L.,
N. A.'&C. R. R., running between La Fayette, Ind., and Louisville, Ky.,
continuing for two years. On the 22d day of April, 1875, he was com-
missioned Postmaster of Bloomington, and is at present so engaged,
faithful in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him. On January
15, 1873, he was married, in Terre Haute, by Rev. E. Frank Howe, to
Miss Amelia B. Collum, a daughter of Orson Barber, a well-known pio-
neer lawyer of Terre Haute. Mr. McPheeters served as Chairman of the
Republican Central Committee, and has also served as Secretary for
eighteen years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Cecelia Lodge, No.
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 581
166; also of the A., F. & A. M., Monroe Lodge, No. 22, and of the Pres-
byterian Church; his wife is a member of the Episcopal Church. Polit-
ically, he is a Republican.
CHARLES H. McPHEETERS was born March 25, 1846, in Blooming-
ton, Monroe County, Ind., and is the youngest child of Dr. J. G. and
Clara M. (Dunn) McPheeters. He was reared in Bloomington, where he
was educated in the public schools. When fourteen years of age, he
entered the employ of a hardware merchant, with whom he remained for
thii'teen years, during which time he worked with him for sixteen months
in Bloomfield, Greene County, Ind. In January, 1871, he became part-
ner of William Stuart in the hardware business, which firm continued
until October, 1883, when Mr. Stuart sold his interest to J. W. Shoemaker,
and the business is now being carried on under the firm name of Mc-
Pheeters & Shoemaker. In 1871, he was appointed Town Treasurer, to
fill the unexpired term of James Manley, and in 1872 was elected to the
same office. He was re-elected in 1873, and held the office for seven
years. On November 5, 1868, he was united by marriage to Cleopatra
Stuart, daughter of William Stuart. They have two children— Grace
and Mary. Mr. McPheeters is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in pol-
itics is a Republican. He and wife are active workers in the Methodist
Church.
JAMES F. MANLEY was born October 8, 1840, in Salem, Washing-
ton County, Ind. He is the eldest son and second child of John and
Arminda (Tannehill) Manley, natives of England and North Carolina
respectively. He was reared in his native place, where he was educated,
and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company D, Thirty-eighth Indiana
Volunteers, under Capt. James B. Glover. He served nearly two years,
and took part in the lights at Perry vi lie and Stone River, in which
last engagement he received a gunshot wound in the left arm, necessi-
tating its amputation; he then received an honorable discharge. On
June 25, 1863, he married Cornelia J. Stuart, daughter of William Stu-
art, a respected citizen of Bloomington. One month later, he formed a
partnership with William Stuart in the hardware business, continuing
until February, 1871. In 1868, he was elected Town Treasurer, and
served for three years faithfully. October, 1870, he was elected County
Auditor on the Republican ticket, and took his office in November, 1871.
He was re-elected in 1874, and served until November, 1879. He has
also served as Deputy County Treasurer for two years, and has now
retired from business. His wife is an active member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. They have two childi'en — Ida M. and John.
JOHN MARTIN, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 31, 1836, is
the sixth son and eighth child in a, family of twelve children. His
parents, Henry and Sarah (Souders) Martin, were natives of Pennsylvania
and New Jersey respectively. His father was for a number of years a
pork packer in Cincinnati, and for fifteen a grocer of that place. He
died there on April 3, 1872. His mother died in June, 1861. The sub-
ject of this sketch was reared in his native place, where he was educated,
and when twenty-one years of age he went to Kansas, remaining for
three years. Returning to Cincinnati, he entered the employ of his uncle,
John Savage, a prominent pork packer, with whom he remained for four
years. He then formed a partnership with his brother James in the
tanning business, in which he continued for some time, when he sold out
his interest, and became agent for a sewing machine company, afterward
582 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
engaging in the manufacture of lubricators. In 1871, he moved to Mar-
tinsville, where he remained for ten years in the timber business, after
which he was with Robert Gilmore, the Recorder of Monroe County,
remaining until the expiration of the term of office. He is now assisting
the present Recorder of Monroe County. On May 18, 1872, he was mar-
ried to Lizzie J. Gilmore, daughter of James and Alicia Gilmore, prom-
inent citizens of Monroe County. They have two children — Ella S. and
Robert. He is an active member of the Republican party, and is highly
respected by all who know him.
DR. .JAMES D. MAXWELL, Sr., eldest son and third child of
David H. and Mary (Dunn) Maxwell, was born May 19, 1815, near Han-
over, Jefferson County, Ind. His parents were natives of Kentucky, and
came to Indiana in^l809, locating in what is now Jefferson County, where
they remained for ten years. Removing then to Monroe County, they
settled on the lot now occupied by the "National House," the father
being the first physician ever in Bloomington. He served as Postmaster
for eight years, and died May 24, 1854. His widow died March 18,
1880, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. David H. Maxwell
was a member of the First Constitutional Convention at Corydon, Ind.,
in 1816 and drew up the constituticm. He was also Surgeon in Capt.
Dann's Company in 1812. The subject of this sketch came with his
parents to Monroe County, and eight years later entered the seminary at
Bloomington, where he graduated in the fall of 18H3, afterward teaching
for two years in a preparatory department in the college. He then went
to Clinton, Miss., and taught for one year, when, returning to Bloom-
ington, he studied medicine with his father for two years, during which
time he attended a course of lectures at Transylvania Medical College,
at Lexington, Ky. Returning thence, he entered into regular practice
with his father in Bloomington, and about one year later formed a part-
nership with Dr. J. G. McPheeters, continuing for about nine years, when
he dissolved the partnership and has since been in practice alone. He
has been Secretary and Trustee of the college for the past thirty years.
On July 6, 1843, he was married to Louisa J. Howe, daughter of Joshua
O. Howe, a pioneer of Monroe County. They have ten children — Emma
M., Mary E., Howard, Allison. James D., D. H., Anna, Louisa A., Fannie
B. and Juliette. Dr. Maxwell is a member of the Presbyterian Church,
and politically he is a Republican.
JOHN F. MAY, a native of Monroe County, Ind. , was born in Perry
Township February 16, 1828. His parents, David and Sarah (May)
May, were married in Monroe County in April, 1826, and located on a
farm in Perry Township, where they at present reside. The father is
eighty years of age, and the mother eighty four. They were among the
earliest settlers in the county. John was the eldest son and child in a
family of six children, and was reared in his native place, where he was
educated in the subscription schools. He afterward entered the State
University at Bloomington, after which he taught school in Perry and Van
Buren Townships. On October 5, 1852, he was married to Elizabeth
Campbell, daughter of John and Jennie Campbell, pioneers of Monroe
County. After his marriage, he settled on a farm in Perry Township, where
he remained for five years. He then sold it and purchased a fann of one
hundred and sixty acres, where he farmed for ten years. He was then
in Perry Township for some time, where he finally purchased one hun-
dred and seventy-five acres of land, which be at present owns. His
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 583
first wife died on September 24, 1864, and two years later he was mar-
ried in Bloomington, 111., to Carolina Force, daughter of Peter Weed, a
citizen of Bloomington. In 1875, he removed to Bloomington, Ind.,
and followed farming and trading for four years, when he purchased an
interest in the livery business with J. C. Worley, and continued until
January 1, 1884, when J. C. Worley sold his interest to John H. Cole,
and the business is now under the firm name of May & Cole. Mr. May
and wife are members of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a Re-
publican, and a prominent member in the party, and highly esteemed in
his community.
ROBERT W. MIERS, eldest son and second child of Thomas S.
.and Mahala (Braden) Miers, natives of Indiana, was born January 27,
1848, in Decatur County, Ind. His father farmed until 1880, when he
removed to Greensburg, where he and his wife at present reside. The
subject of this sketch was reared on the old home farm, and received a
good education in the district schools. When sixteen years of age, he
began teaching in Decatur County. During the three succeeding winters,
he attended school at Hartsville, Ind., and in September, 1868, entered
the State University, whence he graduated in 1871. One year later, he
graduated from the law department, and in the fall following, was
admitted to the regular practice at Bloomington. In the spring of 1874,
he became partner of Judge Echols, and one year later was elected Pros-
ecuting Attorney, on the Democratic ticket, and re-elected in 1878. He
was elected to the Legislature soon after, and subsequently began the
practice of his profession. He is now in partnership with J. H. Louden,
and has a lucrative practice. On May 9, 1872, he married Miss Belle
Ryors, daughter of Dr. Ryors, ex-President of the State University.
They have two children. Bertha and Daniel K. Mr. Miers is a stanch
member of the Republican party, and is a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
ELI K. MILLEN, a native of Monroe County, Ind., was born Feb-
ruary 26, 1837, two miles north of Bloomington. His parents, James
and Hannah (Millen) Millen, natives of South Carolina, came to Monroe
County in 1834, and located on a farm near Bloomington where the
father continued until 1838; afterward moving to Bloomiagton, but
still managing his farm until 1854, when he purchased a general mer-
chandise stock. He continued in this business for sixteen years; then
sold out and at present resides in Bloomington. The subject of this
sketch is the youngest of three children, and was reared in Bloomington.
When twelve years of age, he entered preparatory department of the State
University, and four years later he entered the law department, from
which he graduated in the spring of 1858. In the following fall, he was
elected Prosecuting Attorney, for the district comprising Monroe, Morgan
and Brown Counties, in which capacity he served for two years, after
which he began the regular practice of law, and at present is success-
fully engaged in the same. Mr. Millen is considered one of the best
posted attorneys in Bloomington, and often acts as Special Judge of
Monroe County, He is a member of the K. of P., Fraaklin Lodge, No.
22, and has tilled all the chairs in this lodge. He is an active politician
in the Democratic party, and is highly respected by all who know him.
C. B. MITCHELL, youngest son of John and Phoebe (Dye) Mitchell,
natives of Indiana, was born December 16, 1858, in Lawrence County,
Ind. He was reared in his native county, where his education began,
584 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
until his tenth year, when he came with his mother to Bloomington, and
attended the public schools here. In 1874, he entered the employ of
C. P. Tuley, a dry goods merchant, with whom he remained for three
years, at which time he was employed by Clark & Wicks for three years.
Late in the fall of 1879, ho purchased one-third interest in the general
merchandise business, with "VV. W. Wicks and R. M. Gamble, and con-
tinued with them in a large dry goods and grocery store for three years.
In January, 1882, Mr. Gamble sold his interest to the other partners of
the firm leaving Wicks & Mitchell. On January 1, 1883, Mr. Mitchell
sold his interest to W, Wicks, and entered the employ of McCord &
Aydelott, wholesale hatters of Louisville, as traveling salesman, of which
he has since made quite a success. He is a good, young business man,
moral and upright. On July 4, 1883, he was united by marriage to Miss
Anna Couk, a native of New Albany, Ind. Mr. Mitchell is a member of
the I. O. O. F., and is politically a Democrat.
JAMES F. MORGAN was born in Harrodsburg, Monroe Co., Ind.,
March 17^ 1855. His parents, John W. and Mary A. (Gentry) Morgan,
are also natives of Monroe County. They were married in Monroe County
on February 29, 1849, and located on a farm in Indian Creek Township,
where they at present reside. The grandparents of our subject settled in
Indian Creek Township in 1818, and at present live on the same farm of
120 acres which they entered sixty-two years ago, aged respectively
eighty- five and seventy- eight years. The subject of this sketch was the
eldest son and second child in a family of nine children, and was reared
on the old home farm until sixteen years of age. He obtained the rudi-
ments of a good education in the district schools; he also attended the
schools at Harrodsburg for one year. He then taught school to make
money to enable him to enter the State University, which he did in Sep-
tember, 1874, remained for one term, and then resumed teaching. In
1877, he entered the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso, Ind., whence
he graduated in the Teachers' Department in June, 1878. In the fall
following, he was elected Principal of the Stinesville (Ind.) Schools,
and resigned during his second term to accept a better one in the Rock-
ville (Ind.) Schools. In June, 1881, he entered the law office of Buskirk
& Duncan, of Bloomington, and in July following was appointed Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney of Monroe County by Judge Mavity (whose term
expired in October, 1881), and was re-appointed by H. C. Duncan, his
successor, and served until October 1, 1883. After the expiration of this
term of office, he entered the regular practice of law, and has since been
so engaged, and is also extensively engaged in real estate. He is also
representing several of the most prominent insurance companies in the
world. Politically, he is a Democrat. He was married November 13,
1883, to Carrie B. Hamilton, daughter of Henry B. and Margaret J. Ham-
ilton, residents of Salem, Ind. He and wife are prominent members of
society. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and his wife of the
Christian Church.
MAJ. JAMES B. MULKY, a native of Indiana, was born on October
4, 1827, in Crawford County. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Wy-
man) Mulky, natives of Kentucky, were married in 1815, and located on
a farm in Crawford County, Ind., reroaining until 1834, when they re-
moved to a farm in Washington Township, Moni'oe County. The father's
death occurred in September, 1851; the mother died in June, 1867.
James B. Mulky is the second son and fifth child in the family. He was
BLOOMI^GTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 585
reared in Monroe County, where he attended subscription schools, and
when he was sixteen years of age he went to a school near Milltown,
Ind. (to learn English grammar), where he remained for five months. In
May, 1844, he began teaching subscription schools in Owen County, con-
tinuing for nine months. In the January following, he entered the State
University and remained until October, when he went to Georgetown,
Ind. , and taught school for some time. He then enlisted in Company A,
Second Regiment, Spencer Grays, of New Albany, for the Mexican war,
and served one year. In July, 1847, he received his discharge and re-
turned home, where he began teaching again in Monroe County, and
three months later he went to Spencer and taught in the old County Sem-
inary for six months. He went thence to Iowa in May, 1848, and en-
tered 160 acres of land, near Knoxville, Marion County; returning thence
to Spencer, he toot charge of his father's farm. In 1852, he came to
Bloomington and entered the drug business, then farmed a while; after-
ward, returning to Bloomington, he entered the Law Department in the
State University, whence he graduated. He then formed a partnership
with the Hon, James Hughes, in the regular practice, and one year later.
Mr. Hughes being appointed Judge of the Court of Claims at Washing-
ton City, he formed a partnership with Prof. John Young, with whom he
continued for one year. In July, 1861, he was commissioned Colonel of the
Indiana Legion, and in May, 1862, he was appointed Major in the Fifty-
fifth Indiana Volunteers. In February, 1865, he was appointed Provost
Marshal of Third Indiana District and served for ten months. He then
retm-ned to Bloomington, entered the regular practice, and is at present
so engaged, doing a lucrative business, and is considered one of Monroe
County's best practitioners. On May 31, 1853, he was married to Mary
J. Coffey, of Monroe County. They have had six children, three of whom
are living — Horace B., James O. and Frank L. Maj. Mulky is a mem-
ber of the A., F. & A. M., and is politically a Republican, but was orig-
inally a Whig, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
JAMES OSMAN MULKY is a native of Indiana, born September
15, 1859, in Bloomington, Monroe County. His parents are Maj. James
B. and Mary J. (Coffey) Mulky. He is the second son and fourth child
in a family of six children, and was reared in Bloomington. He attended
school until September, 1877, when he entered the State University,
whence he graduated June 4, 1881. He afterward entered the employ
of different dry goods merchants in the city, as clerk, with Wicks & Co.
and L. Fields & Co. On September 10, 1883, he was appointed Assist-
ant Postmaster, and is at present so engaged. He has been for some
time a member of the K. of P. and in politics he is a Republican. He
is a rising^ young man, and is quite efficient as a public officer.
H. J. NICHOLS is the fourth son of John and Sarah (Miner) Nichols,
natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. He was born November
17, 1824, in Shelby County, Ky., and when two years of age came with
his parents to Monroe County, Ind. They settled in Perry Township,
where by energy and industry they made for themselves a home, and the
subject acquired the rudiments of a good English education. When
twenty-one years of age, he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and in
a short time had contracted to build in connection with his farming. In
February, 1854, he came to Bloomington, where he built many of the
best residences, besides the city schoolhouse. He is at present engaged
at his trade, of which he has made quite a success, being considered one
586 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of Monroe County's ablest carpenttsrs. October 26, 1848, he was married
to Rebecca Rogers, daughter of James Rogers, a citizen of Monroe
County. They had six children — Harriet, Victoria, John, James, Morton
and an infant. His wife died on October 15, 1868, and six month3 later
he married Catharine Bray, by whom there was one child, Claude (de-
ceased). His second wife died on August 12, 1882. On January 3,
1883, he married Jennie McPhetridge. He is a member of the I. O. O.
F. and of the I. O. R. M. Politically, he is a Republican. Himself and
wife are members of the Christian Church, and are active workers in its
support.
SAMUEL M. ORCHARD, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., was born
August 11, 1802. He is the second son and fourth child in a family of
eleven children, and was reared and educated in his native place, until
he was sixteen years of age. His parents, Isaac and Margery (Mitchell)
Oi'chard, came to Washington County, Ind. , in 1819, and purchased a farm
of 160 acres, where they remained until their deaths. The subject of
this sketch and his brother John then came to Bloomington and started
a wool carding machine on the lot where the " Orchard House " now
stands, which they ran from 1823 to 1836, when they sold out. Mean-
while, in 1826, they started in the manufacture of linseed oil, of which
they made quite a success. Ten years later, they started a stage line
from Indianapolis to Leavenworth, and one from New Orleans to Louis-
ville. They also had a blacksmith shop in Bloomington. They built
the old " Temperance Hotel " on College avenue. In 1837, the subject
began butchering, and in connection with his many other enterprises
continued about twelve years. The two brothers then built the " Orchard
House," which the subject purchased in 1855: he has since been its
proprietor, but the hotel is at present managed by his son, I. S. Orchard.
Mr. Orchard owns sixty acres of good farm land and considerable city
property. He was married in 1830 to Martha C. McPheeters, daughter
of James McPheeters, of VVashington County. They have had nine
children, six of whom are living — Elizabeth, John, Emily, Baynard R.,
James and Samuel. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and
politically is a Republican. He is one of Monroe County's oldest set-
tlers and pioneers, and assisted greatly in the building-up of Bloomington,
his present residence.
C. R. PERDUE, second son of William and Lydia (Jaring) Perdue,
natives of Indiana, was born May 25, 1837, in Washington County, Ind.,
where he was reared and educated until sixteen years of age. He en-
tered the Asbury University at Greencastle, remaining for one year. He
then went to New Albany, where his parents had removed a short time
previously, and entered the public schools, in which he continued for two
years. The following year, he was clerk on the steamer William Baird,
on the Oh!o River, and then taught school in Washington County for
some time. In the years 1859-60-61-62, he farmed in Harrison Count)^
Ind., afterward being engaged for some time in the dry goods business
at Fredericksburg, Ind., which he sold out in 1865, and went to Harrods-
burg, Monroe County, where he remained in the dry goods business for six
years; then engaged in the boot and shoe business there. On March 16,
1883, his building being destroyed by lire, he came to Bloomington, and
three months later formed a partnership with L. S. Fields in the dry
goods business, which is at present in a flourishing condition. Mr. Per-
due was married, July 4, 1858, to Letitia Qarriott, daughter of John B.
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 58*
Garriott, of Washington County, Ind. They had five children. His
wife died December 25, 1862, and he was married in June, 1865, to
Emma King, daughter of William King, of Monroe County. They have
six children — Elmer E., Mary I., Cora R., Noble A., and two infants.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of the K. of H., and of the Meth-
odist Church. Politically, he is a Republican.
MAJ. HENRY F. PERRY was born January 10, 1834, in South
Thomaston, Me. He is second in a family of four children born to Joab
and Maria (Butler) Perry, natives of Maine, and was reared in his native
home until twelve years of age. When quite young, our subject lost his
father; his mother then moved to Salem. There he continued studies
already begun, and closed them at Bucksport. He afterward taught
school for one year, and was appointed Deputy Postmaster at Rockland,
Me., serving for three years with great credit to himself. He then acted
as collector for the water company there. In October, 1855, he Avent
to Ohio, and taught for some time in Henry County. In the fall of 1856,
he entered the Medical Department at Ann Arbor, Mich., and one year
later came to Monroe County, Ind., taught the Ellettsville school, and
afterward engaged in the saw mill and lumber trade there. He was
route agent on the D. & M. R. R. for more than one year, when he en-
listed in Company G, Thirty -eighth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. G.
K. Perry; served for two and a half years, and took part in the following
engagements: Perryville (after which he was promoted to Second Lieu-
tenant), Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Resaca, Lost Mount-
ain, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro — where he was shot
through the breast, and lay on the field all night. He finally recovered
sufficiently to be removed to Ellettsville. He had, previous to this, in
June, 1868, been promoted to First Lieutenant, and one month later, to
Captain. While lying in the hospital, he received a commission as
Major, for meritorious conduct, and in February, 1865, he was discharged
on account of disability. One year later, he opened a stone quarry near
Ellettsville, now known as " Perry Bros.' Steam Stone Works," which
partnership was formed in 1868. He served four years as Auditor of the
county. He is a member of the A. , F. & A. M. , Ellettsville Lodge, No.
245. He was married on June 13, 1871, to M. Louise Pennig, a daugh-
ter of Ezra and Mariah Pennig, respected citizens of Bloomington. They
have four children — Adelaide F., Alberta M., Oscar and Orvil. His wife
is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Major Perry is politically a
Repiiblican, and quite influential.
REV. ALLEN B. PHILPUTT, born in Bedford County, Tenn., on May
6, 1856, is the second son of Barton and Elizabeth (Bearden) Philputt,
natives of Tennessee. He was reared and educated in Tennessee until
twelve years of age, when he came with his parents to Indiana, and set-
tled in Washington County. In 1872, he was converted, and taken into
the church at Campbellsburg, Ind., and three years later he was ordained
a minister of the Christian Church. In 1876, he entered the State Uni-
versity, graduating four years later. In 1878, he was appointed pastor
of the Christian Church in Bloomington, and is at present in the faith-
ful discharge of his duties. In 1882, he was elected a member of the
School Board at Bloomington, and still has that position, also serving as
President of the Indiana Christian Sunday School Association. On Sep-
tember 23, 1880, he was married to Anna Maxwell, daughter of Dr.
588 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
James D. Maxwell, of Bloomingtoii. They have one child, Louise E.,
born in June, 1881. He is a Republican, politically.
JEREMIAH F. PITTMAN, second son and sixth child of Harrison
and Jane (Sands) Pittman, natives of Indiana, was born March 12, 1842,
in Orange County, Ind. The father died in 1879. The mother died in
1849. The subject of this sketch was reared in Orange County, where
he received a common education, and, when fourteen years of age went
to school in Leavenworth, Crawford County, Ind., for one year, return-
ing thence to Orange County, where he then entered the high schools at
Paoli. In the fall of 1861, he began teaching school, but resigned his
position, and enlisted in November, 1861, in Company F, Fiftieth Indi-
ana Volunteers, under Col. Dunham. Serving for more than three years,
he took part in the following engagements: Munfordville, Parker's
Cross Roads, Little Rock, Saline River and Camden. He was mustered
out of service on January 5, 1865, and, returning home, he was elected
County Recorder in the following fall. He served for three years, mean-
while reading law, and at the end of that time he resigned his position
to enter the regular practice in Bloomington, Monroe County. During
the winter of 1867-68, he attended law school at Bloomington, whence
he graduated in June, 1868. Four years later, he was appointed Prose-
cuting Attorney of the Tenth District, and served one year. He is at
present engaged in practice with Maj. Mulky. In 1881, he was appointed
Commissioner of the Monroe County Circuit Court, and is at present
occupying that position. October 15, 1868, he was married to Miss
Sarah E. Williamson, daughter of Judge A. J. Simpson, of Orange
County. They have had three children, two of whom are living — Jose-
IDhine E. and Richard H. Mr. Pittman is a member of the K, of P.,
and he is Dictator in the K. of H. In politics he is a Democrat. His
wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
BENJAMIN ROGERS (deceased) was born near Maysville, Ivy.,
October 24, 1795, and was the son of Henry and Sarah (Jenkins) Rogers,
natives of Pennsylvania and of English and Welsh extraction. In about
I8i6, they came to Monroe County from Jackson County, Ind., and
resided here until their death. Benjamin married, in Jackson County,
Ind., March 4, 1819, Elizabeth, daughter of Ephraim and Mary E. (Red-
mond) Arnold, natives of Maryland. Mrs. Rogers was born in Louis-
ville, Ky. , December 9, 1798. Mr. Rogers came to Monroe County in
February, 1825, and settled on a farm in Bloomington Township. He
was very industrious, and much respected in the community of which he
was an honored member. He departed this life March 12, 1870, his wife
having preceded him on February 6, 1865. To Mr. Pogers' marriage
were born nine children — Mary E., Maria L., Ephraim H. (deceased),
Frances M. (deceased), Nancy A. (deceased), Sarah, Benjamin F. (de-
ceased), William A., and one died in infancy unnamed.
WILLIAM A. ROGERS was born in Bloomington Township, Mon-
roe County, Ind., June 19, 1843, and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth
(Arnold) Rogers. Until he was twenty-four years of age, he lived on the
home farm, when he moved to Perry Township, where he lived for a
number of years, but, having a desire to live near the place of his birth,
he returned to Bloomington Township, and pux'chased seventy-five acres
of land adjoining the old homestead, where he has since resided. Besides
this farm in Bloomington Township, he owns 203 acres in Perry. March
14, 1867, he married Eliza, daughter of Alexander and Jane (Hemphill)
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 589
Hemy. Mr. Henry was a native of Ireland, born February 15, 1804,
and came to this county in 1835, and in 1841, he married, his wife being
Mrs. McCaw, who was born in South Carolina April 3, 1807, and came
to this county in 1833. She now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Rogers,
her husband having died December 4, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are
the parents of four children — Henry A., Ray R., B. Frank and Levi
(deceased). Mrs. R. is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
Politically, Mr. R. is a Democrat.
WILLIAM K. ROGERS, farmer, was born in Jackson County, Ind.,
October 30, 1820. His father, James Rogers, was born near Philadel-
phia, Penn., in 1789. He was a farmer, and came to Indiana before the
war of 1812, settling in Clarke County. Mr. Rogers was a soldier of
that war. While he and a Mr. Beaublossom were in pursuit of some In-
dian horse-thieves, they came to a creek, which they named Beanblossom,
which name it now bears. His wife. Susana Kindle, was born in Butler
County, Ohio, in 1796, and died in 1871, her husband having " gone be-
fore " in 1864, both in the communion of the Christian Church. Will-
iam K married, at his majority, Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth
(Butcher) Boruff, Tennesseans, and members of the Christian Church.
They died in this county. Sarah (Boruff) Rogers was born on August
25, 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are parents of eleven children— Henry
B. (deceased), Mary E. (Day), Susana (Griffin), James L., Jennie E.
(Myers), Mrs. William Patton (deceased), Samuel B., William P., John
A. (deceased), George S. (deceased), and Nannie A. He and wife belong
to the Christian Church, and he is a Republican in politics.
WILLIAM P. ROGERS was born March 3, 1857, in Brown Coiinty,
Ind. He is the fourth son and eighth child of William K. and Sarah
(Boruff) Rogers, both natives of Monroe and Jackson Counties, Ind., re-
spectively. They were married in December, 1841, in Monroe County,
by the Rev. James Mathes, and located on a farm, where they remained
for five years. They then removed to Brown County, and farmed until
1875, returning thence to Monroe County, where they have since resided.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Washington Township, Brown
County, where he attended school until sixteen years of age, Avhen he en-
tered the high school in Bloomington, Monroe County, remaining two
years. During 1875-76, he taught school in Browu County, being com-
pelled to make his own way. In September, 1876, he entered the State
University, remaining three years, and then began reading law with Bus-
kirk & Duncan. In Septemljer, 1879, he formed a partnership with E.
E. Sadler, in the regular practice, and continued for about one year in
Bloomington, after which he remained alone until the fall of 1881, when
he went into partnership with J. E. Henley. They have a lucrative
practice. Mr. Rogers was married in Bloomington, on Mqrch 30, 1883,
to E. Belle Clark, daughter of William A. Clark, a prominent and re-
spected citizen of Monroe County. They have one child — Ethel B. In
1881, Mr. Rogers was elected City Treasurer, and was re-elected in 1883,
and is in the faithful discharge of the duties of this office. Both he and
his wife are prominent members of the Christian Church.
JAMES M. ROGERS, farmer, was born in Bloomington, Monroe
County, Ind., May 2, 1822, and is the son of David and Catharine (W^ill-
iams) Rogers, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland. They came from
Ohio to Jackson County, Ind., on account of Indians, and there lived in
a fort for some time. In 1816, Mr. David Rogers came to a farm on the
590 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
site of which Bloomington now stands, and with Jonathan Rogers en-
tered land. David Rogers died in this county, a member of the Chris-
tian Chui-ch. James M. Rogers has been a farmer in this county all his
life. At the age of twenty-six, he began life for himself, and in 1848
married Rebecca Pullen, who was born in 1822, and died on May 22,
1870. She had five children, all living — Edward M., Annie F., Lillie
C, Addie W. and Richard L. Mr. Rogers has filled the office of Justice
of the Peace, and a number of minor offices, and is a much respected cit-
izen, and a Republican.
I. MILTON ROGERS was born in Perry Township, Monroe County,
on September 1, 1830. He is the eighth child born to Aquilla and Rebecca
(Rogers) Rogers, natives of Virginia. His parents came to Monroe Coun-
ty, Ind., in 1818, and located on a farm in Peny Township, where they
lived for twenty-four years, when the father was elected Probate Judge,
and served until 1848, residing in Bloomington. He then returned to
his fai'm, where in August, 1849. he died. The subject of this sketch
was reared on the old home farm until twelve years of age. Then he
came to Bloomington with his parents and completed his education,
which he had begun in the country schools. When seventeen years of
age, he went to Gosport and was employed by W. A. Montgomery, a
tailor, with whom he remained for thirteen months. He then clerked
for five years for another merchant there. He afterward served for two
years as book-keeper for William Alexander, and then went to Minnesota,
remaining for three and a half years. Returning thence to Blooming-
ton, he was engaged as clerk in a dry goods store for some time. He
was in a grocery for one year, and was then appointed Deputy Post-*
master and served for three years. In 1869, he was appointed Deputy
Treasui'er of Monroe County, serving three years. He was then elected
Treasurer of Monroe County, on the Republican ticket, and in 1873 was
re-elected. After the expiration of this te2-m of office, he was again ap-
pointed Deputy Treasurer, and served for four years. In 1878, he again
embarked in the grocery business, continuing for one year. In Septem-
ber, 1883, he was appointed Deputy Treasurer under Isaac Claman, and
is at present so engaged. He is also engaged in farming 190 acres of
Monroe County's best land. On October 11, 1853, he was married to
Emily Smith, a daughter of John C. Smith, a citizen of Clark County,
They have had nine children. Mr. Rogers has been a member of the
Christian Church for thirty-three years and is a prominent and influen-
tial citizen.
N. B. ROGERS, born in Salt Creek Township, Monroe County, Ind.,
on April 23, 1842, is the eldest son and child of Aquilla and Mary E.
(Rogers) Rogers, and was reared in his native township until five years
of age, when his parents removed to a farm in Perry Township, where
for three years he attended the district schools of the neighborhood. He
then entered the Preparatory Department of the State University, contin-
uing for about six years. On September 23, 1861, he enlisted in Com-
pany G, Second Indiana Cavalry. He served for thi-ee years and took
part in the following engagements: Shiloh, Perry ville, Chickamauga,
Gallatin; and at Hartsville, Tenn., he was captured but soon after paroled,
and in about six weeks was exchanged, joining his company again. He
then took active part in the battle of Mossy Creek, Kenesaw, Peach Tree
Creek and Cartersville. and on October 7. 1864, he received an honorable
discharge. Returning to Monroe County, he acted as Deputy Sheriff
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 691
for two years. He then removed to Lncas County, Iowa, and farmed
until 1874, when he again came to Bloomington, and engaged in the fur-
niture business, continuing for one year. He was in the grocery busi-
ness for two years, and in March, 1877, pui'chased the livery stable which
he at present successfully runs. He was married, December 25, 186G,
to Esther E. Henry, a daughter of Alexander Henry, of Monroe County.
They have one child — Lelia E. His wife died on March 23, 1877. Mr.
Rogers is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and of the G. A. R. , and is a
Democrat.
LEONIDAS D. ROGERS is a native of Indiana, born May 21, 1858,
in Perry Township, Monroe County, and was reared on the old home
farm. He is the fourth son and eighth child in a family of nine chil-
dren born to Aquilla and Mary E. (Rogers) Rogers. He was educated
in the district schools until fourteen years of age, when he entered the
State University at Bloomington, graduating thence six years later with
honors. On July 1, 1879, he entered the Eastman Business College at
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he graduated on December 10, 1879. He
has taught four terms of school in Brown and Monroe Counties. On
January 1, 1883, he became agent for the Home Fire Insurance Com-
pany of New York, Standard of London, National of Hartford, and the
Old New York Life. He is quite successful in the business, and is one
of Bloomington's most enterprising young men. He is a member of the
L O. R. M., Arizona Tribe, No. 56; Secretary of the A., F. & A. M. ; Sec-
retary of the I. O. O. F., and is also D D. G. M. of Herndon Encamp-
ment, I. O. O. F. Politically, he is a Democrat.
JAMES RYAN, born in Greene County, Ind., January 1, 1847, is
the third son of David and Mary (Payton) Ryan. He came to Monroe
County with his parents when but one year of age; here he grew up to
manhood, and although opportunities for education were very poor, by
energy and industry he acquired a good, practical business education,
and is a successful financier. When twelve years of age, he began learn-
ing the blacksmith trade, and served an apprenticeship of over two years,
at which time he went to Indianapolis and worked at his trade for more
than a year. Returning to Bloomington, he was in the employ of the
L., N. A. & C. R. R., working in various capacities for more than three
years; then, resuming his trade, followed it in Bloomington for four
years. He then opened a blacksmith shop, which he worked in for some
time; sold out; built on College avenue; sold out again, and finally re-
purchased and resumed business for three years. In 1876, he became
partner of William A. Clark, and one year later went to Gi'eencastle, do-
ing job work for a short time. Returning to Bloomington, he was a
partner in the firm of Ryan & De Yault for one year, and in August,
1881, purchased the half interest, and now does a good business in gen-
eral blacksmithing and manufacturing wagons, buggies and phaetons.
He is industrious, energetic, and a liberal citizen, highly respected in
his community.
J. H. RYORS, third son and fourth child in a family of five children
born to Alfred and Louisa (Walker) Ryors, was born March 10, 1849, in
Athens County, Ohio. He was reared in Athens County u.nti] seven
years oE age, moving thence to Kentucky, and later on coming to Mon-
roe County, Ind., with his mother, his father having died in Kentucky.
In 1864, he entered the State University, remaining for four years; then
entered the employ of Joseph Howe, a dry goods -merchant, with whom
592 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
he continued for two years. He tlieu worked as dry goods clerk in Lo-
gansport for eighteen months. Returning thence to Bloomington, he
again was with Joseph Howe until 1874, wheo he forrued a partnership
with Eugene Turner in the manufacture of spokes, hubs and wagon
stock. In 1875, G. W. Bollenbacher purchased a third interest, and it
was continued for six months under the firm name of Ryors, Turner & Co.
In 1875. George Bollenbacher purchased Mr. Turner's interest, and six
years later, he sold to Bollenbacher, Mi-. Ryors organizing the firm of J.
H. Ryors & Co., manufacturers of hubs, spokes and wagon stocks, which
firm is in a flourishing condition, doing a lucrative business; averaging
per year 2,444,000 spokes and 94,000 hubs. They have in their employ
constantly seventy- five good workmen. Mr. Ryors is a Democrat, and
has been a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity for some years. He
was married on May 13, 1874, to Miss Emma Bx-own, daughter of Will-
iam Brown, a citizen of Logansport, Ind. They have three children — Ida
B. , Warren B. and Graham. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, and among its most active workers. He is a liberal citizen, and
is highly respected in the community.
JOHN SANDERS (deceased), father of L. M. Sanders (the worthy
proprietor of the "National House "Bloomington Ind.), was born
October 11, 1792, near Charleston, S. C, and was of English extraction.
His father was a soldier in the war of 1776, and was captured by the Tories,
while out hunting supplies. He, with several comrades, were given
choice between allegiance to the King and being shot. Choosing the lat-
ter, they were confined in prison, and he with a comrade escaped, while
the sentinel slept at night. The subject of this sketch was one of a fam-
ily of thirteen children, and when quite small removed with his parents
to Virginia, where he grew to manhood. In 1810, he was married to
Nancy Briscoe, of East Tennessee, and shortly afterward they moved to
Knox County Ky. , where he engaged in farming until 1814; at which
time he came to Indiana, locating in Orange County. A few years later
they went to Bartholomew County, and in the spring of 1822, came to Mon-
roe County, locating in Richland Township, on 240 acres of forest land,
where he erected a rade log cabin, with no assistance but that of his wife
They struggled on year after year, until they had finally cleared 640 acres
of good land and added all necessary improvements. Mr. Sanders was
a Whig and had filled some of the minor offices. He and wife were
members of the Baptist Church. He died in 1847, in the fifty- fifth year
of his life. His wife died in 1876, when seventy-four years of age.
FRANCIS L. SARE was born May 13, 1851, in Monroe County,
Ind. He is the sixth son and tenth child of Lucian B. and Jane (Car-
michael) Sare, natives of Indiana and North Carolina, respectively. They
were married in Monroe County, and settled on a farm in Indian Creek
Township, where they at present reside. The subject of this sketch was
reared on the old home farm, where he obtained the rudiments of a good
English education in the district schools. When twenty years of age he
began to teach school, in Clear Creek Township. He continued for
about three years, teaching in the" winters and trading in stock during
the summer. He then engaged in the lumber and mill business in. Greene
County, and he has since operated in Greene, Lawrence and Monroe
Counties. He is at present successfully engaged as proprietor of two
flourishing saw mills, one in Monroe and the other in Brown County.
Mr. Sare is a prominent and an active member of the Democratic party.
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 593
He is a liberal citizen, ever ready and willing to assist in any public un-
dertaking. He is quite successful as a business man, and respected by
all who know him.
F. M. SHAEP, born in Ellettsville, Monroe County, March 20, 1851,
is eldest son of George ^Y. and Agnes (Ashbrook) Sharp, and was reared
in his native place, and educated in the public schools there, obtaining
the knowledge of all the branches necessary to a business man. When
fourteen years of age, he went West, and remained for five years, work-
ing at various things, and then returned to Ellettsville, working for six
years in the stone quarries of that place. Going thence to Indianapolis,
he entered the employ of Graney Bros, as bar-tender, continuing for
more than four years. He went thence to Vincennes, and tended
bar in the ''La Plant House" for ten months; then to Bloomington,
and entered the employ of John E. Taylor, a grocer, with whom he re-
mained for one year, and then went to Ellettsville, where, opening a
saloon of his own, he continued until September, 1883. Coming to
Bloomington, he opened his present saloon, a neat, tasty, cozy place,
where he enjoys a lucrative business. He was married, October 17, 1875,
to Miss Lida Whaley, a native of Ellettsville. To crown the happiness
of their wedded life, three children have been born to them — Minnie,
Earl and an iafant. Mr. Sharp is a prominent member of the Republi-
can party. His wife is an active member of the Presbyterian church.
CAPT. J. W. SHOEMAKER was born on September 22, 1841, at
La Porte, Ind. His parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Keith) Shoemaker,
natives of New York and Ohio, respectively, farmed in La Porte County
for about twenty years ; the father died there January 6, 1856 ; the
mother is still living there, sixty-three years of age. Capt. Shoemaker
is the second son, and was reared on the old home farm in La Porte
County, where he was educated. On July 27, 1861, he enlisted in Com-
pany E, Twenty- ninth Indiana Volunteers, and sei'ved for four years and
seven months. He took part in the engagements at Pittsburg Landing,
Price's Hill, Mo., Grand Gulf and the Wolf River campaign. In March,
1865, he was transferred into Gen. Hancock's corps, and sent to
Washington, D. C, remaining until July, when he was put in charge of
the "post'' at Madison, Ind., remaining for four months. Thence he
was sent to Indianapolis, and in March, 1866, received an honorable
discharge. One month later he entered the State University, at Bloom-
ington, where he continued for two years, after which he was in partner-
ship with J. J. Durand for three years, and then purchased the entire
business, which he ran for one year. He then had another partner for
about four years, and was by himself for quite a while. His store was
finally destroyed by fire, after which he became partner in a hardware
store, and is so engaged at present, under the firm name of McPheeters
& Shoemaker. On October 13, 1869, he was married to Edora Stuart,
daughter of William Stuart, a citizen of Bloomington. They have four
children — Frank, Frederick, Lynn and Helen. In May, 1883, he was
elected to the City Council, and still has that position. Mr. Shoemaker
is politically a Democrat. He is a member of the K. of P. and of the
I. O. O. F. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THE SHOWERS BROTHERS, bedstead manufacturers. James D.
Showers is the eldest of seven children born to Charles C. and Elizabeth
(Hull) Showers, natives of Pennsylvania. He was born in Adams County,
led., on the 11th day of July, 1841, and when fifteen years of age came
594 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
to Bloomington with his parents. When but eleven years old, he began
learning the cabinet and turning trade, with his father, and upon their
removal to Bloomington, he continued in his father's shop until Novem-
ber 17, 1869. At this time he formed a partnership with his brother,
William N. Showers, and purchased the business of Showers & Hen-
dricks. April 29, 1878, Charles H., the youngest brother, was admitted
to the firm, and in February of the following year they made a specialty
of the manufacture of bedsteads. On the Slst day of January, 1866,
he was married to Miss Belle Allen, daughter of Thomas Allen, a re-
spected citizen of Gi'eenville, Ohio. To crown the happiness of this
union there have been born three children. Martha E. (died August
28, 1882), Charles T. and Maud A. Mr. S. is at present Past High
Priest of the I. O. O. F. Lodge of Bloomington. He is an active
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a stanch Republican.
WILLIAM N. SHOWERS, a native of Ohio, was born in Knox
County May 28, 1846. He is the second son and fourth child born to
Charles C. and Elizabeth (Hull) Showers. He was brought by his par-
ents to Bloomington when but ten years of age, immediately entering
the public schools, where he obtained the rudiments of a good English
education. When about sixteen years of age, he began learning the
cabinet and turning trade with the firm of Showers & Hendricks. He
remained in their employ until November 17, 1869, at which time he
with his elder brother James purchased the business of Showers & Hen-
dricks, and continued in the general manufacture of furniture and job-
bing work until February, 1879, when they began making a specialty of
the manufacture of bedsteads. December 30, 1867, he was married to
Lida J. Hanlin, by whom there was born to him one child, Jennie. His
wife dying February 22, 1868, he was next married, October 14, 1869,
to Hannah L. Hendricks, daughter of J. H. Hendricks, of Putnam
County. Two bright children have been born to bless this union —
Nellie G. and Edward W. He has filled all the chairs in the Blooming-
ton Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is at present serving as Past Grand in the
subordinate lodge, and Past High Priest in the Encampment. Has also
been Councilman for eight years, and is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
CHARLES H. SHOWERS, son of Charles C. and Elizabeth (Hull)
Showers, was born in Bloomington, Ind., October 12, 1860. When
eighteen years of age, he purchased a one third interest in the cabinet
shops, with his brothers. On the 15th day of October, 1880, he was
married to Miss Maud Coatney, the only daughter of Rufus Coatney, a
prominent citizen of Bloomington. The issue of this union has been
two interesting children — Earl H. and Beryl M. The present firm was
engaged in the general manufacture of furniture until in February, 1879,
when having completed extensive additions to their factory they em-
barked in the special manufacture of bedsteads. For a time their busi-
ness was conducted on a small scale, but it gradually increased until at
pi'esent it has a capital invested of over $100,000, and employs 110 men.
It has a capacity for making 1,350 bedsteads per week, and during the
past year (1883) sold 36,450 different classes of bedsteads, at a cost of
about $125,000. It is undoubtedly the most extensive manufacturing
enterprise in Bloomington, and the Showers Brothers deserve a great-
deal of credit for the success they have achieved.
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 595
CAPT. JOHN M. SLUSS (deceased) was born in Winchester, Ky. ,
November 28, 1807, and was the son of Adam and Mary (Spielman)
Slnss, natives respectively of Maryland and Virginia, and of German ex-
traction. ■ At the age of seventeen, entered an apprenticeship at tailoring
for three years; then worked one year as a journeyman. In 1829, he
came tc Bloomington and opened a shop, which he operated until con-
finement told upon his health, when he began trading in stock, which he
continued until 1846, when he raised a company for the Mexican war,
and was elected Captain. During his fifteen months' service, he con-
tracted the illness which resulted in his death, February 25, 1879. In
politics, he was a Whig, and was twice elected SheriQ of Monroe County,^
and once to the State Legislature. On the dissolution of the Whig party,
he became a Democrat, was elected Justice of the Peace, and served until
hia retirement to his farm adjoining Bloomington, on which he died, aged
seventy-one. He was married, iMay 8, 1828, to Miss Eliza Hunter, a
native of Kentucky and born August 27, 1808. To this union were born
two sons and seven daughters, of whom the sons and five daughters, are
still living. His widow is a member of the Christian Church, of which
Capt. Sluss was also a member, as well as a member of the Masonic
fraternity.
WILLIAM STUART was born January 10, 1816, in Washington
County, Ind., and is the son of William and Ann (Donley) Stuart, natives
of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, respectively. The father died in
Posey County, Ind., in 1845. The mother died July 5. 1865. The
subject of this sketch is the second son and fifth child. There were very
few advantages for an education, but by energy and industry, he acquired
a knowledge of the English language, which has assisted him greatly in
business affairs. He learned the trade of manufacturing fai'ming imple-
ments, and in 1838 opened a shop in his native county, where he was
successfully engaged for three years. He then went to Salem, Ind., and
continued to work at his trade until 1848, when his health failed, and
he was not able to work for five years. He traveled around the country,
selling goods from a wagon, for two years after he got well, and then
went into the general merchandise business in Clear Spring, Jackson
County, Ind. , for some time. He sold out, and went into business in
Washington County; afterward in Salem, in the hardware business. In
the Pall of 1864, he came to Bloomington, and was in the hardware busi-
ness here until the fall of 1883. since which time he has retired. On
April 15, 1841, he was married to Melinda E. Holstine, daughter of
George Holstine, a citizen of Tennessee. They have had six children —
Clem E., Pamelia J., Helen, Cleopatra, Amanda E., Isaac W. (deceased).
Mr. Stuart is a member of the Methodist Church, and politically he is a
Republican.
WILLIAM M. TATE was born in South Carolina March 29, 1818,
and is the third son and fifth child of William and Margaret (Fee) Tate,
natives of Ireland. They came to Monroe County, Ind., in 1830, and
settled near Bloomington, where the father died on October 9, 1850. The
mother died in August, 1857. The subject of this sketch came to Monroe *
County with his parents, and remained on the farm until 1848, when he
began farming in Bloomington Township. In 1856, he entered the em-
ploy of a merchant, with whom he remained for three years, when he was
disabled by sickness for one year. He again clerked until 1861, when he
was appointed Postmaster, and served until May 15, 1865. One year
59(^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
later, he was employed by merchants of Bloomington, and stayed with
them for two years. He was with another firm for about five years. In
May, 1872, he went into the grocery business, and three years later en-
tered the employ of W. O. Fee, a general merchandise merchant, con-
tinuing with him one year and a half, and then began the meat market
business with Joseph S. Payne. In 1878, he was elected Justice of the
Peace, and was re-elected in 1882. He is also in the insui'ance business,
and represents the PhcBnix and Hartford Fire Insurance Companies. He
is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and is identified with the Methodist
Church. Politically, he is a Kepublican. October 4, 1849, he married
Elizabeth Bronning, daughter of William and Susan Bronning. They
had one child — Martha J. (deceased). His wife dying August 2, 1874,
he was married one year later to Hattie Payne, daughter of Thomas and
Mary Payne, of Bloomington.
DR. HENRY P. TOURNER (deceased) was born at Waterford, Ire-
land, January 1, 1811. His mother and father dying in his infancy,
he was placed under the care of an uncle, who gave him every educa-
tional advantage. When twenty -three years of age, he went to Quebec,
Canada, for one year, then to Chicago, and thence South. In 1840, he
prepared himself for the practice of medicine, which profession he fol-
lowed in Northei'n Mississippi, Western Tennessee, Memphis, Nashville,
Hopkinsville, Ky. , and Bloomington, Ind., to which last place he came in
1858, and entered the regular practice and continued until his death,
which occurred October 10, 1881. As a citizen, he always commanded
the respect and confidence of the community. He was always charitable,
and many poor and needy re(!eived of his beneficence. As a physician,
he was faithful, skillful and successful. For twenty-three years, he was
an office bearer in the Church of _ Christ, and an active and respected
member of the Masonic fraternity. In 1851, he was married, near Mem-
phis, Tenn.. to Frances A. Morgan, by whom there were eleven children,
eight of whom are still living. Henry is at present a prominent jeweler
of Bloomington, and is enjoying a lucrative business. Charles is the pro-
prietor of one of the largest clothing stores, and does an extensive busi-
ness in gents' furnishing goods. They are both good, moral young men,
highly esteemed in the community.
DR. JOHN P. TOURNER is the second son of Dr. Henry P., and
Frances A. (Morgan) Tourner. He was born March 25, 1854, in Hop-
kinsville, Ky., and was reared in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., where
he was educated. In 1873. he began the study of medicine with his
father, and two years later he entered the Eclectic Medical College at
Cincinnati, remaining one year. He then returned to Bloomington, and
forming a pai'tnership with his father in the regular practice, he con-
tinued until October 10, 1881, when his father died. He continued to
practice, taking his father's place, and at present is busily engaged in
the many duties of his profession, having a lucrative practice. On May
1, 1876, he married Miss Amanda Buskirk, daughter of William H.
Buskirk, a pioneer and respected citizen of Monroe County. Dr. Tourner
is a Democrat, and is very liberal in all public undertakings, and socially
is highly esteemed. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
ELDER WILLIAM B. F. TREAT, a native of Indiana, was born in
Adams Township, Morgan Co., Ind., September 25, 1835. He is eldest
in a family of six children born to James W. and Sallie (Mathes)
Treat, natives of Kentucky, and among the earliest pioneers of Owen
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 597
County and Morgan County. The subject of this sketch was reared in
Morgan County, and there received a good education. When eighteen
years of age, he went with his parents to Yellville, Ark., where, by con-
stant study and perseverance, he acquired a knowledge of the higher
classics. In 1856, he entered the office of Dr. Carlisle, and began the
study of medicine, continuing for two years, during which time he
preached through the surrounding country. He was ordained a minister
of the Christian Church in 1858, and preached in Arkansas for six years;
then returned to Indiana. He preached at Bruceville, Knox County, for
three years then for some time at Mt. Carmel, 111. He came to Bloom -
iijgton in 1870. and was minister in the Christian Church for five years.
He was elected on the Republican ticket to the Senate of Indiana, from
the district comprising Monroe and Lawrence Counties, and served for
four years. He has since been engaged in his ministerial duties and has
attained great distinction as an orator and debater. On May 10, 1855, he
married Miss Rebecca J. Wood, daughter of Abram Wood, a citizen of
Marion County, Ark. They have nine children. Elder Treat is a mem-
ber of the A., F. & A. M. ; politically he is a Republican, and he and
wife are members of the Christian Chui-ch.
JOHN WALDRON was born in Drogheda, Ireland, in June, 1827.
He is the eldest in a family of three children born to John and Mary
(Hughes) Waldron. He acquired the rudiments of a good common school
education, and while yet a boy learned the tanner's trade with his father,
and being left an orphan he came to America in 1847, and worked at his
trade in Newark, N. J., until 1848; going thence to St. Louis, Mo., he
worked at tanning until March, 1856, at which time he removed to
Bloomington. Soon after his arrival, he purchased the old Judy Tan-
nery, to which he has since made a number of additions and otherwise
extensively improved it. The tannei'y is at present one of the largest
in Bloomington, and employs a large number of men. On September 4,
1853, he was married to Miss Ann Bonecum, daughter of John Bone-
cum, of St. Louis. He is a prominent member of the Catholic Church,
and a stanch Republican. He has for twenty years served as an efficient
member of the Town Council, and also for three years creditably served
as County Commissioner. In 1871, at the organization of the First
National Bank of Bloomington, he was elected a director, and upon the
death of George W. Buskirk in 1874, he was elected President, which
office he at present fills.
JOHN B. WALDRON, a native of Indiana, was born in Blooming-
ton, Monroe County, April 2, 1856. He was the eldest son of eleven
children born to John and Ann (Bonecum) Waldron, natives of Ireland
and Missouri respectively. He was reared in Bloomington, where he re-
ceived a good education in the public schools. When eighteen years of
age, he took charge of the books in his father's tannery, where he re-
mained for about seven years, at which time he accepted a position as
book-keeper in the First National Bank, retaining it for two years. On
March 15, 1883, he formed a partnership with S. C. Dodds and Showers
Bros, in the manufacture of chairs, to which, on September 1, 1883, they
added the manufacture of center tables, and have facilities for making
sixty -five dozen chairs and one thousand center tables per week. They
have in their employ about sixty five persons and pay from $250 to §300
per week for this assistance. Mr. Waldron is identified with the Cath-
olic Church, and is a faithful member and an active worker in its main-
598 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
tenance. He is politically a Republican, and quite influential in his
party. He is liberal as a citizen, highly respected in the community, in-
dustrious, energetic and ever ready to assist in any commendable public
undertaking.
GEOKGE W. WALKER, a native of Indiana, was born September
]3, 1844, in Lawrence County. He is the third son of John F. and Sarah
(Green) Walker, natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. He was
reared in Polk Township, Monroe County, and acquired a good common
school education. When ten years of age, he came to Bloomington with
his parents, and here entered the public schools, through which he passed
with great credit. About 1856, he commenced learning the printer's
trade, continuing to work at it until 1861. He was assigned the posi-
tion of Deputy Postmaster under William M. Tate, and has since been
seen at his post, faithfully discharging the duties devolving upon him.
Mr. Waiker is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is identified with the
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is an active as well as an in-
fluential member. Politically, he is a Republican, a stanch worker and
highly esteemed by the citizens.
DR. ROBERT M. WEIR was born in Richland Township, Monroe
County, Ind., in July, 1841. His parents, Charles S. and Elizabeth
(Strong) Weir, natives of South Carolina, and of Ii-ish extraction, came
to Indiana in 1832, locating on a farm in Richland Township, where they
now live. Our subject is the eldest in the family, and was educated in
his native township. In 1857, he entered theStateUniversity at Bloom-
ington, graduating thence in June, 1863. In the fall of that same year,
he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. D. Maxwell, and continued
for about eight months, when he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred
and Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Rutledge, in the one
hundred days' service, and on September 5 received an honorable dis-
charge. In the fall of 1864, he entered the University of Michigan, in
the Medical Department, and graduated in March, 1866. Two months
later, he entered the regular practice at White Hall, Owen County, Ind.,
and continued there until Mai'ch, 1876; going thence to Paxton, 111., he
remained for about one year and a half, when he returned to Blooming-
ton, Ind., where he is at present engaged in practice. He has been Sec-
retary of the County Board of Health since its oi'ganization. October
16. 1866, he was married to Harriet A. Turner, daughter of the Rev.
William Turner, of Monroe County. They have had six children, five
of whom are living — Charles T., Julia E.,Mary E., Mattie E. and Anna.
Dr. Weir is a member of the United Presbyterian Chm'ch, and politically
he is a Republican.
LEONARD WHETSELL was born in Wythe County, Va., March
24, 183'J, aad is the second son and sixth child of Peter and Elizabeth
W^hetsell. When four years of age, he came to Indiana with his par-
ents, and located in New Albany, where they remained for two years,
coming thence, in 1838, to Monroe County. They settled on a farm near
Bloomington, where they remained for about two years, then went to
Bloomington in 1840. His parents were only in moderate circumstances,
and he, being compelled to work, only obtained a very limited education.
On coming to Bloomington, his father engaged in farming and the har-
ness business, which he followed until his death, which occurred October
6, 1841; his widow died November 21, 1875. After the death of his
father, they returned to the farm, and subject farmed for several years,
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. 599
removing thence to Ellettsville, where he lived for some time, coming
thence to Bloomington. He entered the employ of Orchard & McPhee-
ters. as stage driver, continuing in this capacity for several years. He
then purchased a two-wheeled dray, from which has sprung the present
flourishing transfer line owned by him. He was Bloomington's first
drayman, and his success is evidence of what may be accomplished by un-
faltering energy and industry. On June 8, 1856, he was married to Miss
Eebecca J. Hughes, daughter of David Hughes, a respected citizen of
Monroe County. To crown the happiness of their wedded life, they
have had born to them five children — George, Edward, Elizabeth, Leonard
L. (who was born in Bloomington, Ind., May 18, 1863), and Charles B.
In April, 1883, he entered the employ of J. H. Eyors & Co., spokes,
hubs and wagon stock manufacturers of Bloomington, and he is at pres-
ent so engaged. Mr. Whetsell is a member of the I. O. R. M., and is
identified with the Methodist Church. Politically, he is a Republican.
EDWARD WHETSELL, second son in a family of five children
born to Leonard and Rebecca J. (Hughes) Whetsell, was born October
26, 1858, in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind. He was educated in the
public schools of Bloomington, obtaining a very good common school
education. When about sixteen years of age, he began running a dray
for W. B. Hughes, which he continued to do for about four years, when
he tired of the business, and worked aL various things for some length of
time, being always industrious. I'or some time past he has been in the
employ of William T. Blair, the popular boot and shoe merchant of
Bloomington. On October 7, 1878, he was united by marriage to Miss
Letitia Perdue, daughter of C. R. Perdue, one of Bloomington'? most
prominent citizens and merchants. This union has been blest with one
child — Edward Leon, born February 28, 1880. Mr. Whetsell and wife
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in good standing.
Politically, he is a Republican, and is highly esteemed in that party.
W. W. WICKS, born in New Albany, Ind. July 14, 1843, is the
only son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Tuley) Wicks, and was reared in
New Albany, where he was educated in the public schools. W^hen sixteen
years of age, he entered the emjDloy of his uncle, J. L. Wicks, a retail
grocer of New Albany, where he continued until he enlisted in the three
months' service; in January, 1862, he came to Bloomington, entered the
employ of a merchant here, with whom he remained for two years. Jan-
uary 2, 1864, he enlisted in the Twentieth Indiana Artillery, and took
part in the battles at Atlanta, Jonesboro and Nashville, and on June 28,
1865, by reason of the closing of the war, he received an honorable dis-
charge, and again came to Bloomington. Re-entering the employ of
Mr. Tuley, he remained until September 10, 1868, when he was married
to Sarah McPhetridge, daughter of Milton McPhetridge, pioneers of
Monroe County. They have two children — Blanch and Grace. After his
marriage he lived for one year in Pana, 111. , removing thence to Bloom-
ington, and resuming his former position with Tuley & Co., which he
retained until 1874, when he purchased a furniture store, shortly after-
ward selling out, however, and forming a partnership with J. B. Clark, in
the dry goods business, continuing for three years, and then retired from
active business for seven months, on account of ill health. He next
formed a partnership with R. M. Gamble and C. B. Mitchell, in general
merchandise store, the former going out in January, 1882, the latter
selling his stock to our subject January 1, 1883, and at present the busi-
600 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
ness is now under the tirm name of W. W. Wicks. He is a member of
the I. O. O. F. and of the I. O. R. M. He is identified with the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church and is a Democrat.
JONATHAN O. WHISNAND, farmer, was born in Clarke County,
Ind., August 26, .1816, and is the son of George and Mary (Owen) Whis-
nand, the former was born in Washington County, Va. , December 27. 1780,
and the latter in Tazewell County, Tenn. , on June 26, 1790. George
was a hatter by trade, and moved to Ohio in 1811, where he worked at
the trade two years, when, in 1813, he moved to Indiana, the State being
then a Territory, and resumed his trade at Charlestown, Clarke County. In
1819, he came to where Bloomington now stands, where he again resumed
his occupation. In 1821, he entered eighty acres of land, and followed
farming in connection with his trade. In 1838, he built a woolen mill
at Ellettsville, which was taken charge of by his son Jonathan until
1844. He died in 1863, his wife in 1852. He was a member of the
Baptist Church, she of the Methodist. Jonathan, our subject, is a
farmer, and now owns a fine farm of 230 acres, which he has secured by
hard labor and untiring industry. In 1852, he married Rebecca A.,
daughter of Benjamin and Henrietta Ridge, who were old and prominent
settlers of this county. To our subject and his wife was born one son —
Benjamin R. Mr. Whisnand is a member of Ellettsville Lodge, No. 245,
A., F. & A. M., and in politics is a Republican.
JOHN D. WHISNAND was born in Washington County, Va , Sep-
tember 22, 1822, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Isley) Whisnand. The
former was born about 1800, in Washington County, Va. ; went thence to
Sullivan (Jounty, Tenn., and in 1829 came to Monroe County. He was
a farmer, and entered land which is now known as the John Buzzard
farm, and resided there until his death in 1858. He was teaming in an
early day, from Bloomington to Louisville, and sold wheat for 37| cents
per bushel, and bacon for 1^ cents per pound. John D. was i-eared on
the old farm until his twenty-fifth year; then with $100 he started in life
alone. He purchased eighty acres of land, for which he paid $800, and
after paying for this, added fifty acres, which cost $1,000. His farm is
in a fine condition, and he enjoys the comfort and convenience of a tine
residence, added to which are outbuildings, all of which is the fi'uit of
his honest toil. In 1846, Mr. Whisnand was joined in matrimony to
Susan O., a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Reuben and Nancy
(Bailey) Shipley, who were early settlei's of Monroe County. To this
marriage have been born six children — Mrs. Bradley, James L., Louisa
(deceased), Mrs. Bode, Sarah and Cynthia. Mr. Whisnand is a Repub-
lican.
WILLIAM E. WHISNAND was born in AVashington County, Va. , May
26, 1807, and is the son of Jacob and Rebecca Whisnand. the former a
native of Pennsylvania, who served as a spy during the Revolution.
William E. came to Monroe County in 1830, and settled near Blooming-
ton, where he followed farming and wagon-making until 1848. He then
purchased his present farm, consisting of 115 acres, for which he paid
$1,100, and since that has followed farming. In 1828, he married Eliz-
abeth, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of Henry and Annie (Hick-
man) Wolf. She died in 1871, the mother of eleven children — John C,
Franklin, Mrs. Ridge, Emanuel (who was a soldier of the war of the re-
bellion). Mrs. Elizabeth Ridge. Mrs. Minet, Sarah J. (Riddle), Thomas
(who served in the war of the rebellion), Mrs. Mayfield, Laura C. (Parks),
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY. tOl
and Elihu (deceased). January 5, 1876, be married for his second wife,
Mary, a daughter of Cornelius and Rebecca (Coleman) Ridge. Mrs.
Whisnand's father was a Kentuckian, and a soldier of the war of 1812.
Mr. Whisnand is an old and highly respected citizen of the county; is
a member of the Christian Church, and in politics is a Republican.
FRANK R. WOOLLEY was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 28,
1853, and is the second son in a family of eight children born to John C.
and Margaret Y. (Getzendauner) Woolley, natives of Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania respectively. His parents came to Monroe County soon after his
birth. He was reared on a farm near Bloomington, and in the district
schools received the rudiments of an education. When about eighteen
years of age, he began learning the carpenter's trade with H. J. Nichols,
of Bloomington, and later on with his uncle, William H. Neeld. In
1874, he entered the employ of D. W. Fish & Co., grocers of Blooming-
ton, and soon afterward took charge of his father's interest in the firm of
Fields & Woolley, grocers. In 1878, he formed a partnership with his
father in the grocery business, under the firm name of Woolley & Son,
continuing about three years. In the spring of 1882, he was elected by
the Republican party as Ti'ustee of Bloomington Township, and is at
present faithfully in the discharge of the duties of that office. He is at
present Noble Grand of the Bloomington Lodge, I. O. O. F., and an ac-
tive member of the Methodist Church.
ZIMRY WORLEY, eldest child of Henry and Nancy (Pansy) Wor-
ley, was born August 23, 1803, in North Carolina, where he lived until
two years of age. His parents then brought him to Highland County,
Ohio, where they lived until 1819, removing thence to Monroe County,
Ind., and settling in Bloomington. Shortly after their arrival here, his
step-father died, and being the eldest son, upon him devolved the duty
of supporting the family. He rented a small farm near Bloomington,
and remained there for two years, removing tbence to a farm known now
as the old McKinley place, which he leased and farmed until April 13,
1826, when he was manned to Sallie Legg, daughter of Jonathan Legg,
an early pioneer of Bloomington. After his marriage, he worked at
various things, such as necessarily fall to the lot of early settlers, for
several years. He then purchased a farm of sixty acres, where he lived
for sixteen years; then, selling his farm, he moved to Bloomington, and
built what is now the National House, which he conducted for seventeen
years. He traded it for other town property, and retired from active
labor, at present residing in Bloomington, hale, hearty, and eighty-one
years or age, the oldest living settler in the city. He has been the re-
cipient of no gratuities, and it is only to his energy and industry that he
has obtained a competency of this world's goods, and is now comfortably
resting during his declining years. He has been a stanch member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church for more than fifty- four years, and was an
old-time Whig. His wife was born near Shelbyville, Ky., on December
11, 1805. Her parents moved to Bloomington in October, 1824, where
they resided for about twenty-six years, removing thence to Illinois,
where they died, the father at the advanced age of ninety- eight years,
the mother at ninety years of age. Mr. Worley has eight children —
George Henry, Jane, Margaret, Elsberry, Eli F., Harvey, James C. and
an infant.
JAMES C. WORLEY, native of Indiana, was born November 6,
1838, in Richland Township, Monroe County. He is the youngest son
602 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of eight children born to Zimry and Sallie (Legg) \Vorley, natives of
South Carolina and Kentucky respectively. He was reared in his native
township until eight years of age, when he came to Bloomington with
his parents, where he received a good English education in the public
schools, and in 1852 he entered the State University, continuing for two
years and a half. In February, 1862, he was married to Sarah McCol-
lough, daughter of Johnson and Eebecca McCollough, early settlers of
Monroe County. After his marriage, he embarked in the livery business
here, and continued until 3865, when he sold out, and the same year went
into the same business again, continuing until March, 1877, when he
sold oat and went into the grocery business, continuing one year, when
he again embarked in the livery business. In 1879, John T. May pur-
chased one-half interest, and the business was continued under the firm
name of Worley & May until January 1, 1884, when he sold to John H.
Cole, and has since been engaged in buying, selling and trading in
horses. He has three children — Edith, Alice and an infant child. Mr.
Worley is a Republican, and is quite prominent with his party.
C. R. WORRALL is a native of Iowa, born May 24, 1855, in Marion.
He is the eldest child in a family of five children born to I. D. and
Nancy A. (Thompson) Worrall, natives of Indiana and Ohio respectively.
His parents were married in 1854, in Marion, luwa, where for sixteen
years the father followed merchandising, and then moved to Greencastle,
Ind. He kept a hotel there until 1874, when he came to Bloomington,
where he at present resides, engaged in the harness business. The sub-
ject of this sketch was reared in his native town, where he was educated
in the public schools, and in 1871 he entered the Asbury University at
Greencastle, remaining for three years. He then entered the Law De-
partment of the State University at Bloomington, from which he gradu-
ated in June, 1876. Two years later, he began the regular practice of
his profession in Bloomington, remaining there but one year, when he
removed to Ogdeu, Iowa, and practiced there for three years, during
which time he served as City Attorney, and as City Recorder for one
year. In the fall of 1881, he returned to Bloomington, and taught
school for a year. He then resumed his practice, in which he has since
continued very successfully. On July 3, 1883, he was married to Emma
Walker, daughter of Dr. 'W. S. Walker, a pioneer of Monroe County,
Ind. Besides practicing his profession, he is in the real estate business,
and also in the insurance business. He is politically a Democrat, and a
very prominent member of that party.
PERRY TOWNSHIP.
DAVID ADAMS, farmer, was born in Chester County, S. C, Octo-
ber 4, 1821, son of John and Mary (Simpson) Adams. In a family of
nine children, Mr. Adams is the second, and is of Irish descent. The
parents of Mr. Adams were also born in South Carolina. His paternal
grandfather was Capt. Samuel Adams, a native of Ireland, who came to
America prior to the Revolutionary war. He served seven years in that
struggle. When the subject of this sketch was about fourteen years old,
PERRY TOWNSHIP. 603
he, with his parents, removed from South Carolina to Franklin County,
111., and there remained a short time; then came to Monroe County,
Ind. , and settled near where Mr. Adams now resides. In this county
his parents died — -the father January 4, 1853, and the mother April 4,
1879, His father was one of the pioneer men of Monroe County.
When Mr. Adams was about twenty years of a^e, he began the scenes of
life for himself. He was married, in 1850, to Miss Indiana McQueen, a
native of Bartholomew County, Ind. To this marriage has been born
seven children — William (deceased), and an infant that died unnamed,
Mary (deceased), Sallie, Emma, George and Laura. In 1851, Mr. Adams
settled where he now lives. Here he has 139 acres of good land. He
has a good barn, 36x46, built in 1883. Mr. Adams has been successful in
life. He is a Democrat, and cast bis first vote for Van Buren before he
was of age. Mr. Adams is one of the early men of Monroe County, and
is one of the leading citizens of Perry Township. The family is well
known and greatly respected.
WILLIAM BLACKLEY, pioneer, was born in Mason County, Ky. ,
February 12, 1814, and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (^McFall)
Blackley. He is one of eight children, and is of Irish extraction. The
paternal grandfather of Mr. Blackley was Robert Blackley, a native of Ire-
land. The parents of our subject were born in Virginia; in early life,
they removed to Mason County, Ky., and there remained until October.
1835, when they came to Monroe County, Ind., where his mother died in
1844, and his father in 1846; his parents were among the early comers
to the county, and were prominent pioneers. The marriage of our sub-
ject took place in 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Hall, a native of Kentucky.
Children, have been born to this union as follows: Martha A., William
O., Horace M., Sarah F., Thomas S., Leeona E., and two infants that
died unnamed. The year 1835 dates the settlement of Mr. Blackley at
his present place of residence. His house, which is one of the best in
the county, was erected in 1876 at a cost of $7,000. Mr. Blackley is one
of the most extensive land owners in Perry Township, besides having
land in Missouri. Politically, Mr. Blackley is a Republican, but was
formerly a Whig. Our subject did not have the privileges of education,
though he now possesses good practical knowledge. The Blackley family
is connected with the Christian Church, and is highly respected.
W. C. BORLA.ND, one of the frontier men of Monroe County, was
born in the county's capital December 18, 1820, and is a son of Edward
and Margaret (Caldwell) Borland. The subject of this sketch is the sec-
ond in a family of eight children, and is of Irish-Welsh lineage. The
parents of Mr. Borland were natives of Washington County, Penn. His
paternal grandfather was William Borland, a native of Ireland, who
came to America prior to the war between America and England. The Bor-
land family was known in the territory that now composes Monroe County
as early as 1816, though the father of our subject did not come until
1818. The father of Mr. Borland was, by occupation, a carpenter, and
did the carpenter work on the first court house of the county; he died in
this county in 1869. The mother of Mr. Borland died in 1879. The
year 1846 dates the marriage of our subject to Miss Christian Shryer, a
native of Cumberland, Md. To this household were born seven children,
as follows: Gertrude M., Lewis S., William M., Edward, Maria (de-
ceased), James and Minnie. In 1846, Mr. Borland settled where he now
resides. He has 320 acres of well-improved land, and is one of the suc-
38
604 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
cessful men of Monroe County. B'or many years he dealt in cattle and
is known as one of the pioneer stock men of Perry Township. Politi-
cally, he is a Eepublican.
THOMAS N. FARIS is a native of Monroe County, was born in
Bloomington Township September 28, 1835; is a son of James and Nan-
cy (Smith) Faris; is the fifth in a family of nine children, and came of
Scotch-Irish origin. When in his twentieth year, he began life for him-
self. His occupation has been that of a farmer, and as such he has been
quite successful. He has 133 acres of well- improved land, a part of
which is a portion of what was the old Faris homestead. The marriage
of Mr. Faris occurred in 1861 to Miss Nancy Ervin, a native of Monroe
County, lud., and who is a most amiable woman. Mr. and Mrs. Faris
are prominent members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. He takes
no part in politics, because God is not recognized in the Constitution of
the United States. He is one of the pioneers of Monroe County, and
for forty-three years has lived where he now resides. In 1873, Mr.
Faris began giving some attention to potato growing, which he has made
a specialty. Mr. and Mrs. Faris are among the leading citizens of the
county.
ROBERTSON GRAHAM, one of the frontier men of Monroe Coun-
ty, is a native of Kentucky, was born November 7, 1795, and is the son
of Thomas and Jane (Cloyd) Graham. This venerable man is the eldest
in a family of seven children, and came of Irish blood. The father of
Mr. Graham was born in North Carolina, and his mother was of Penn-
sylvania birth. As early as 1814, the Graham family came to the terri-
tory that now composes Monroe County, where it made settlement. Mr.
Graham is one of the few surviving men who bravely fought at the bat-
tle of New Orleans. After this battle, Mr. Graham came again to this
county, walking all the way from New Orleans. His marriage took place
in August, 1821, to Miss Phebe Moberly. To this union were born seven
children. The death of Mrs. Graham occurred in 1847. Mr. Graham
was next married, in 1849, to iNlrs. Sabina Horner. To this marriage
have been born two children. Politically, Mr. Graham is a member of
the National party. He has been a resident of the county almost three-
quarters of a century, and has long been one of our representative men.
By occupation, Mr. Graham has been a farmer, and was very successful.
In 1818, he entered the land on which the northwestern part of Bloom-
ington is located. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Graham took an act-
ive part in the Revolutionary war.
JOSEPH D. HANDY, ex-County Commissioner, is a native of Frank-
lin County, Va., was born March 35, 1815, and is a son of John and
Gracie (Grimmett) Handy. He is the youngest ir, a family of eight chil-
dren, and is of English origin. The parents of Mr. Handy were born in
Franklin County, Va., and there died. His paternal grandfather was
John Handy, a native of England. When Joseph D. was about two
years of age his father died. At nine years of age, he went to live with
a man by the name of Ashlin, a tobacco grower and manufacturer. In
February, 1833, he came to Monroe County, Ind. For several years, he
worked on a farm by the month. He is known as one of the pioneer
pedagogues of Monroe County. He taught his first term of school two
miles west of the present site of Ellettsville in 1841, and for quite a num-
ber of years he taught the village school at the above-mentioned place.
In all, he taught school about fourteen years. In 1864, he settled where
PERRY TOWNSHIP. 605
he now resides. His land is a part of that entered by Jesse Uavor, well
known in the pioneer days of Monroe County. Mr. Handy's marriage
took place April 15, 1846, to Miss Eliza A. Hall, a native of Kentucky.
To them have been born three children — John, Joseph and Laura, of
whom the last named survives her brothers. Mr. Handy is a thorough
Republican, and has served as Township Trustee for a number of years.
In .1876, he was elected County Commissioner, and was re-elected in
1880.
THOMAS KILLPATRICK, farmer, was born in County Antrim, Ire-
land, November 26, 1831; is a son of David and Jane (Pursel) Kill-
patrick, and is the eldest in a family of eight children, and is of Irisli
lineage. The parents of Mr. Killpatrick were also born in Ireland, and
there his mother died in 1831. In May, 1837, his father, after a voyage
of nine weeks and three days, with his family, landed at Philadelphia,
and then came immediately to Preble County, Ohio; remained until the
spring of 1838, then came to Monroe County, Ind., and settled in Perry
Township. Here the father of Mr. Killpatrick remained until I8b'2,
when he removed to Des Moines County, Iowa, where he died in August,
1869. In August, 1859, Mr. Killpatrick came again to Monroe County
from Iowa, where he had removed with the family. He enlisted in
August, 1863, in Company E, One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana
Volunteers. He was honorably discharged February 25, 1 861, at Indian-
apolis. After this, he went again to Iowa, and remained until 1866,
when he returned to this county. He was married, February 19, 1861, to
Miss Nancy J. Jameson, a native of this county. They had one child —
James M. Mrs. Killpatrick died in April, 1862, and her son in July fol-
lowing. In 1868, Mr. Killpatrick married Mrs. Isabella Blair, formerly
Marshall. To this union have been born five children — Susan E., Robert
A., Minnie J., Ada B. and Anna L. In 1868, Mr. Killpatrick settled
where he now lives. Here he has 180 acres of well-improved land, and
has been successful as a farmer. He is a Republican, and was an Aboli-
tionist.
C. G. McCALLA, cabinet-maker, and proprietor of the Bloomington
Planing Mills, was born in Chester District, S. C, December 5, 1829; is
the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Thompson) McCalla; is the fourth in a
family of twelve children, and is of Scotch -Irish lineage. The parents
of Mr. McCalla were also natives of South Carolina. When the subject
of this sketch was about six years of age, his parents came to Mon-
roe County, where the mother died about 1874, and the father in 1881.
When Mr. McCalla was eighteen years of age, he began serving a three-
years' apprentice at cabinet- making; then for two years he worked as
journeyman. In 1854, he formed a partnership with George W. Batter-
ton, the man under whom Mr. McCalla learned his trade. This partner-
ship lasted four and a half years, and then Mr. McCalla sold his interest
to his partner, and for one year worked at house- joining. In April, 1861,
he enlisted in Company K, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers. He re-
enlisted in the Twenty-second Indiana as a musician for three years. He
was in the service one year, and then the Government mustered out all
the regimental bands. Mr. McCalla came home, and woi'ked a short time
for his father, after which he enlisted in the Twenty-first Indiana Heavy
Artillery for three years, or during the war. He was in three important
engagements. In 1866, he was honorably discharged at Baton Rogue,
La. Mr. McCalla was the third man to enlist in Monroe County. After
606 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
the war, he resumed his trade at house- joining, and continued until 1873;
then purchased a one-half interest in the Bloomington Planing Mills, and
two years later he became sole proprietor. He is a Republican, and is a
member of the United Presbyterian Church.
ROBERT MARSHALL, farmer, was born in Monroe County, Ind.,
in 1842; is the son of Thomas and Eliza (Gracia) Marshall; is the third
in a family of four children, and is of Scotch-Irish origin. His parents
were burn in Ireland. They came to this county in 1836, settled in Ben-
ton T(jwnship, and came to Perry Township about 1844. Here his
parents died in 1869. Robert Marshall began life for himself at seven-
teen years of age, by farming, which he continued until 1878, and then
led a general life of travel for four years. In 1861, he settled where
he now resides. He was married, September 11, 1873, to Miss Kee
McKissack, of Monroe County, daughter of William and Sarah McKis-
sack. To this union were born two children, viz. : WilliaoQ C. and Alma
P. (deceased). Mrs. Marshall died April 9, 1878. She was a member of
the United Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Marshall is a
Nationalist, but cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln. Mr. Marshall
has a well-improved farm of 160 acres, and as a farmer has been very
successful. He has a brother who served four years in the late war.
Miss Sue Marshall, a sister of Mr. Marshall, has charge of his house.
P, B. MARTIN, general merchant, was born in Washington County,
Ind., November 11, 1844; is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Goss) Mar-
tin; is the youngest in a family of ten children, and is of German descent.
The father of Mr. Martin was born in Kentucky, and his mother in
Pennsylvania. They came from Kentucky to Indiana in 1821, and set-
tled in Washington County, where they resided until their deaths; the
father died in February, 1863, and the mother in 1846. The early life of
Mr. Martin was that of a farmer, and at the early age of seventeen years
he began doing for himself. He enlisted in January, 1864, in Company
A, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers, and was at the battle of Selma. In
August, 1865, he was honorably discharged. In 1869, Mr. Martin came
to Clear Creek Station, Monroe County, and began general merchandising.
This business he still continues, and has invested about $2,500. He lost
by lire, in 1875, his whole stock of goods and business building, valued
in all at $6,000. He was married, in 1873, to Miss Lydia Blankenship,
a native of Owen County, Ind. They have two children — Maud E. and
James B. H. Mr. Martin is a Republican. In 1872, he was appointed
Postmaster at Clear Creek, and is also express agent. Mr. and Mrs.
Martin are members of the Christian Church. He is the principal busi-
ness man at the station, and one of the leading citizens of Perry
Township.
THOiMAS N. MATHERS, one of the early-day men of Monroe
County, was born in Nicholas County, Ky., February 28, 1821; he is a
son of James and Susana (Nesbit) Mathers, and is the fifth of a family
of ten children. The parents of our subject were natives of Bourbon
County, Ky. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Mathers was a native of
Ireland. In early childhood he became an orphan, lived the life of a
bound- boy, and came to America prior to the Revolutionary war, in
which he took an active part. His death occurred in Monroe County,
Ind. The parents of Mr. Mathers also died in this county. Before our
subject had gained his majority, he began doing for himself. His mar-
riage took place in 1841, to Miss Mary E. Mathers, an own cousin. Mrs.
PERRY TOWNSHIP. 607
Mathers was also of Kentucky birth, one of the pioneer women of Monroe
County, and a most amiable Christian lady. Her death occurred Decem
ber 28, 1880. To the above-mentioned union were born nine children,
The year 1841 dates the settlement of Mr. Mathers where he now resides,
He has a valuable and well-improved farm, and is in comfortable circum
stances. By the " sweat of his brow " he has accomplished what he has
and his success is due to his own energy and economy. Politically, Mr
Mathers is a Republican, but, prior to 1861, he was a Jackson Democrat
He was elected Assessor of Perry Township in 1879, and served one
term, and by appointment served one year. For forty-five years he has
been a consistent member of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM J. MOORE was born in Bloomington, Ind. , January 30,
1821, and is the only son in a family of two children, born to John and
Ann (Henry) Moore. The parents of Mr. Moore were born in Ireland,
and emigrated to America in 1816, and for two years they lived near
Pittsburgh, Penn., and then came to Monroe County and settled in the town
of Bloomington. Here they lived until their death. His father died in
1825, and his mother in 1846. Mr. Moore remained at home and worked
for his mother until twenty-one years of age. He then labored for
months, at IQ^ cents per day. His marriage took place in 1844
to Hannah INIcCaughan, a native of Ireland. They have had four chil-
dren— John A., Ann H. (deceased), Mary J. and Susan E. In 1845, Mr.
Moore removed from Bloomington to Benton Township, and there re-
mained six years; then removed to Perry Township, west of Bloomington;
there remained twelve years ; then removed to what was known as the
Westbrook homestead, and there remained until 1875, when he settled on
the farm he now owns. He is a Republican, and he and wife are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM NORMAN, farmer and dairyman, was born in Polk
Township, Monroe Co., Ind., May 5, 1844; is a son of Peter and Nancy
(Hayes) Norman; is the third in a family of twelve children, and is of
Scotch-Irish origin. The father of Mr. Norman was born in North Car-
olina, and his mother is of Indiana birth. The father came to Monroe
County about 3834, and settled in Polk Township, where he died in
1876. The subject of our sketch was married in May. 1863, to Miss
Susan J. Shields, a native of Lawrence County, Ind. They have four
children, viz., Cyrus M., Lizzie. Nannie and Peter. Mr. Norman en-
listed, in 1864, in Company C, Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers. He
was honorably discharged in Slay, 1865. Mr. Norman removed from
Polk Township to where he now lives, in Perry Township. He has a
well- improved farm in Polk Township of 200 acres. He came to Perry
Township to have better educational advantages for his children. He is
a Republican. In 1883, he began the dairy business, and at present he
has fourteen cows, and the business has been very successful. Mr. and
Mrs. Norman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
P. G. PAULEY, farmer, was born in Van Buren Township, Monroe
Co., Ind., June 1, 1826; is the son of Isaac and Sarah (Paugh) Pauley;
is one of nine children, and is of German lineage. The parents of Mr.
Pauley were born in Nicholas County, Ky., and in 1818 came to this
county and settled in Richland Township, but subsequently removed to
Vau Buren Township, and here the father of Mr. Pauley died in 1832,
and his mother in 1877, at eighty-seven years of age. When our subject was
■ seventeen years of age, he began the realities of life for himself, and for two
608 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
years worked on a farm by the day and then by the month, and at twenty-
one he is found clerking in the dry goods store of Helton & Dodds,
where he remained four years, and then purchased a farm and began
farming. His marriage occurred October 6, 1858, to Miss Sarah J. Hel-
ton, a native of Lawrence County, Ind. To this union were born chil-
dren as follows : Helton, Lew W., Ralph and Winfield Scott. About
1859, Mr. Pauley settled where he now resides. He has 200 acres of
splendidly improved land. Politically, he is a Republican, though in
local matters he supports the men who, in his judgment, are the best
fitted for office. He is a thorough temperance man, and has been a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-two years. He served
as chorister in that church fourteen years. Although passing down the
western declivity of time, his years bear lightly upon him. For many
years he was acquainted and associated with one of the early-day men of
Monroe County. This personage was none other than the well-known
L. G. Shryer, who was born in Cumberland, Md., in 1799, and who
came to Monroe County in 1825, and the next year erected a steam mill,
which was the first mill of the kind in the county. For many years he
was one of the most active business men in the county. His death oc-
curred in 1883. Mr. Shryer was the father of six children, and John,
one of them, is a prominent man, in good circumstances, and resides near
Mr. Pauley's.
ELDER L N. PORCH was born in Lincoln County, Ky., September 5,
1832; is the son of John H. and Margaret Porch; is the eldest in a family
of eight children, and is of Scotch-English extraction'. His father was
born in Virginia in 1802, and his mother is a native of Kentucky, born
in 1808. His paternal grandfather was also born in Virginia, and died
in Montgomery County, Ind., at almost one hundred and four years of
age. The father of Elder Porch died near Pilot Point, Texas. The sub-
ject of this sketch is a graduate of Butler University, having quitted
that institution with the highest honors of his class. His early life was
divided between attending and teaching school. After his graduation
he assumed the principalship of the Rushville (Indiana) Schools. After
closing his labors at school teaching, he began preaching in the Chris-
tian Church, which has been his leading life occupation. For many
years he has been interested in eternal salvation for human souls, and
has preached extensively in Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee, and his
labors are known in Ohio, Illinois and Texas. He now resides near
Bloomington, Ind. His marriage occuiTed in 1868, to Miss Sarah,
daughter of Judge Hinchman, of Rush County, Ind. Children have
been born to this union as follows: Maggie, Lois, Quinta, Anne, Ed-
ward and Yale C. Politically, Elder Porch is a National.
HENRY CLAY RHORER, farmer, is a native of Jessamine County,
Ky. ; was born September 7, 1828; is the son of Jacob and Mary
(Hoover) Rhorer, is the fifth in a family of eight children, and is of
German descent. The father of Mr. Rhorer was born near Hagerstown,
Md., in 1796, and his mother was of Kentucky birth. In infancy, his
father was brought by his parents to Jessamine County, Ky., here he
died in 1872. His mother died in the same county in 1850. At twen-
ty-one years of age, Mr. Rohrer began the scenes of life for himself.
His marriage took place November 5, 1854, to Miss Mattie A. Hoover.
Mrs. Rhorer is also a native of Jessamine County, Ky. , and was born
December 14, 1832. To this union have been born one daughter and bwo
PERRY TOWNSHIP. 609
sons, viz., Mary B., Alvin K. and Jerome E. In 1855, Mr. Rhorer came
to Monroe County, Ind., and settled where he now lives at Pine Valley-
Home. Here he owns a well-improved farm. Politically. Mr. Rhorer
is a Republican; his first Presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay. In
1872, Mr. Rhorer was elected Assessor of Perry Township. The father
of Mr. Rhorer was a minister of the old Christian Church, and, though
a Southern gentleman, was always of an anti-slavery spirit. Mr. Rhorer
has a fair common school education, and has been very successful in life.
AQUILLA. W. ROGERS, ex-Sheriif and farmer, is the eighth son in
a family of thirteen children of Jonathan and Mary (Rand) Rogers, and
is of English-Irish extraction. His birth occurred October 16, 1819, in
Bloomington Township, Monroe County, Ind. The father of Mr. Rog-
ers was born in Pennsylvania, and his moiher was of Kentucky birth.
In extreme early life his father migrated to Ohio, where he was mar-
ried, and there remained until just prior to the war of 1812, when he
and wife came to the territory that now composes Jackson County, Ind.,
and there remained until 1817, when the family came to Monroe County.
The father cleared the land on which the court house now stands. His
death occurred May 15, 1834, in Washington County, Ind. At twenty
years of age, Aquilla W. Rogers undertook the labors af life for himself.
His marriage took place April 2, 1840, to Miss Mary E. Rogers, an own
cousin. To this union have been born seven children, viz., Napoleon B.,
Mary L. , Elizabeth, Benjamin A., Harriet E. , Leonidas D. C. and Exi-
lona S. After the marriage of Mr. Rogers, he made settlement on Salt
Creek, in Salt Creek Township, where he remained eight years, and then
removed to Perry Township. In 1868, he made settlement near where
he now lives. He has a splendidly improved farm of 144 acres. Polit-
ically, this old pioneer is a thorough Democrat, and has always advo-
cated the interests of that party. In 1862, he was elected Sheriff of
Monroe County, and was re-elected in 1864, and discharged the trust
imposed in him to the satisfaction of his coustituents. For more than
a half century Mr. Rogers has been a resident of Monroe County, and
now resides in a splendid residence near his birthplace. He has al-
ways possessed a spirit of public enterprise, and was the lirst advocate of
what is known as the Rogers Pike. He is a leading citizen and an hon-
orable man.
HENRY ROGERS (deceased) was born May 9, 1814. He was the
son of Jonathan and Mary (Rand) Rogers, and his birth occurred in
Clarke County, Ind. At two years of age, he was removed by his
parents to this county. In early life, he learned the tanner's trade,
though he did not follow that occupation many years. The marriage of
our subject took place January 12, 1837, to Miss Jano Ward, a native of
Wythe County, Va., daughter of Granville and Anna Ward, also
natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Monroe County in 1816. The
under-named children were bora to the Rogers- Ward union: Mary A.,
Francis M., Malinda J. (deceased). Willis A. G. (deceased), Thomas J.
and Harriet E. In politics, Mr. Rogers was an uncompromising Democrat.
He served as Justice of the Peace for some time. His death occuiTed
August 21, 1876. Mrs. Rogers was born December 27, 1814, and came
to Monroe County in 1816. She has a distinct remembrance of the Indians,
wolves and deer, and is one of the true pioneer women of Monroe County.
She is a member of the Christian Church, and an earnest Christian lady.
Mrs. Rogers now resides with her son-in-law, Mr. George P. Campbell,
bio BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
who was born in Perry Township, Monroe County, Ind., October 2,
1852, son of Hugh B. and Susan G. (Patton) Campbell. He is of Scotch-
Irish lineage, He has attended school at the Bloom ington College, and
Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College at Indianapolis, and has more
than an ordinary education. In 1876, he engaged in general merchan-
dising, in partnership with P. B. Martin, at Clear Creek, Ind., which
he continued about two years, and then began farming. His marriage
took place October 19, 1880, to Miss Harriet E. Eogers, also a native of
Monroe County, daughter of Harry and Jane Rogers. Mr. Campbell
has 155 acres of good land. He is a Republican, and a member of the
Knights of Pythias. In 1874, he represented the Bloomington Lodge in
the Grand Lodge at Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are inembers
of the Christian Church. He is one of the leading young men of Perry
Township, and an honorable citizen.
GEORGE STIPP, farmer, was born in Lawrence County, Ind.,
November 16, 1824, is the son of John and Maria (Mauk) Stipp. Mr.
Stipp is the fourth in a family of nine children, and is of German de-
scent. The father of our subject was born in Kentucky, and his mother
in Virginia. About 1817, his father removed from Kentucky to Law-
rence County, Ind., where he lived until 1856, when he came to Mon-
roe County, where he died in 1857. Mr. Stipp was married, in 1848,
to Miss Mary A. McPhadden, a native of South Carolina. To this union
have been born four children^ — William N., Alice E., Edward and Sarah
E. In 1848, Mr. Stipp came to Monroe County, and settled in Clear
Creek Township, and there remained until 1873, when he removed to
where he now lives. Here he has 283 acres of splendidly improved
land. He has a good residence, erected in 1876, at a cost of $2,000"
Politically, Mr. Stipp is a Republican, but was formerly a Democrat, and
cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk. Mr. and Mrs. Stipp
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an honorable
man, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
REV. WILLIAM D. TURNER (deceased) was one of the pio-
neer clergyman of Monroe County. He was born in Pendleton Dis-
trict, S. C, August 25, 1806, of Irish parents, who at an early day
emigrated to America and settled on a farm in South Carolina. They
were of the stanch old Presbyterian stock, whose religion had been tried
in the fires of persecution and came through them without a falter in the
Christian faith. It was in such a family, whose religion is alike true and
strong, and under its happy and restraining influences, the subject of
this memoir passed his earlier days. Soon the fruit began to appear, and
a desire sprang up and grew within him to serve his Creator and Re-
deemer. To qualify himself for the work, he eagerly embraced the ad-
vantages of the common school, and at the age of nineteen years he began
a classical course at an academy in Tennessee, where he i-emained three
years and then entered the Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio. From,
this institution he graduated in 1831. He then became a student of
theology and entered a theological seminary at Allegheny, Penn., and
after completing the course there he was licensed to preach the Gospel by
the First Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church at Xenia, Ohio.
During the college course of Rev. Turner, he taught school during vaca-
tions. In 1834, he married Miss Julia Ann Woodard, a native of War-
ren County, Ohio, daughter of Lewis and Eliza Woodard. This union
was blessed with thirteen children, and the following with their mother
PERRY TOWNSHIP 611
yet survive: Martha E., Harriet A., Laura L., Clara M. , Ella A. and
Anna A. After Rev. Turner was licensed to preach, he did much and
faithful service in various churches in Ohio and Indiana, and in the fall
of 1835 he received and accepted a call to the pastorate of the Blooming-
ton Associated Reformed Church, and here on the 16th of June, 1836, he
was ordained and installed in the pastorate of that congregation, and a
relation formed which remained unbroken for thirty-three years. Here
was the great work of his life, and this congregation is the memorial and
proof of the extent and solidity of that work. It was his first and only
charge. He found it few in number, weak and struggling; he left it
strong and influential. With Rev. Turner it was the same as with the
majority of the early day ministers of the old Hoosier commonwealth; he
was compelled to supplement his income by some secular industry, and
he chose the farm, garden and nursery business, and at these he proved
himself a complete master; still the ministry was his work. He allowed
no secondary enterprise to interfere with his religious work. Rev. Tur-
ner's physical constitution was robust, and the general health of his life
good, but in 1858 he was attacked by sevex-e ophthalmic disease, causing
great suffering, and disqualifying him for his work for three years. He
gained no relief from home treatment and sought a specialist at Cincin-
nati, Ohio, obtaining relief, but only partial i-ecovery. He continued to
preach until 1869, when the infirmities of old age had so grown on him
that he could no longer minister to so large a congregation and his resig-
nation was accepted, but even after this he continued to aid in the church
when occasion demanded. Rev. Turner continued to superintend his sec-
ular interests with his usual skill for fourteen years, adding to his former
industries bee culture. On Sabbath, August 5, 1883, he was in his ac-
customed place in church and taught a class in Sabbath school, and on
the following day, while at the ofiice of Dr. Weir, his son-in-law, in
Bloomington, he died, and by his death Monroe County lost one of its
best and most influential men, the church one of its most brilliant lights,
the family a devoted husband and kind father. He was a Republican, a
zealous anti-slavery advocate, and was highly esteemed and much lauded
wherever known. His children were liberally educated. One of tne daugh-
ters married Hon. Franklin Landers, of Indianapolis; one. Dr. Weir, of
Bloomington; one is the wife of Rev. Foster, of Cincinnati. The widow
of Rev. Turner still resides on the old homestead near Bloomington.
Mrs. Turner has reached the alloted threescore and ten. The home
farm is now successfully superintended by Miss Clara M. Turner, a mosb
amiable lady.
WILLIAM WEIMER was born June 10, 1825, in Indiana County,
Penn. ; Ihe is the son of Adam and Nancy (Shanks) Weimer, and is of
Scotch-Irish extraction. His parents were also born in Pennsylvania.
His paternal grandfather was Andrew Weimer, a native of the German
Empire, and, in company with two brothers, came to America when a
young man and made settlement in Pennsylvania, where his death occurred.
When the subject of this biography was about ten years of age, he re-
moved with his parents from his native State to what is now Noble
County, Ohio, where he was married in 1850 to Miss Margaret J. McCon-
nell, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio. To this union children were
born as here undernamed: George, Mathew L. (deceased), Mary J.,
William E., Helen Morton and Eliza. Mrs. Weimer died in Blooming-
ton, Ind., in March, 1876. Mr. Weimer was married the next year to Miss
61 2 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
Sarah A. Kelly, one of the pioneer ladies of Monroe County. In 1857,
our subject came to Monroe County and purchased what is known as the
Abram Pauley farm. Mr. Weimer now owns 235 acres of good land, and
as a farmer he is successful. Formerly, our subject was an Abolitionist,
then became a Republican and is now a Nationalist. He is a member
of the I. O. O. F., Bloomington Lodge, No. 166. Mi-, and Mrs.
Weimer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are among
the prominent people of Perry Township. In 1873, the family removed
to its present place of residence.
REDICK M. WYLIE, ex-County Commissioner, is a native of
Bloomington, Monroe County,Ind., was born May 22, 1831; is the son of
Prof. Andrew and Margaret (Ritchie) Wylie; is the tenth in a family of
twelve children, and is of Scotch-Irish lineage. The father of Mr.
Wylie, was born in Pennsylvania in 1789, and his mother was of the
same nativity, born in 1791. When quite a young man, his father was
elected President of Jeflerson College in Washington County in his native
State. In 1829, the Wylie family emigrated to Monroe County and
made settlement in Bloomington. The father of Mr. Wylie was the first
President of what was then Bloomington College. At the time of his
death, which occurred in November, 1851, he was president of the Indi-
ana State University. The Wylie Family was first known in Ireland.
The early life of the subject of this sketch was spent in attending school
and serving his father. In 1847, he entered the Indiana State University,
and graduated from that institution in 1851. On the account of the death
of his father about this time, Mr. Wylie assumed control of the home
and assisted in educating a younger brother and sister. His marriage
took place in 1870 to Miss Madaline A. Thompson, a native of Mt,
Vernon, 111. To this union have been four children — Jane T., Red-
ick A, Francis B. and Madaline E. In 1861, Mr. Wylie settled where
he now resides. He has 440 acres of well-improved land. Politically,
Mr. Wylie is a Republican. He was elected County Commissioner of
Monroe County in 1874, and served one term. Mr. Wylie is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Wylie is a member of the Episco-
pal Church. He is one of the pioneer men of Monroe County and one of
its leading citizens. As a farmer, he has been successful. He also has a
half interest in the McCalla store in Bloomington.
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM BENNIE was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne. England, on
December 17, 1849, and is the first of six children born to Thomas and
Mary (Biggse) Bennie, who were borp in the North of England. Our
subject was reared in New Castle, and worked in the coal mines of
England. He immigrated to the United States in the year 1870, landing
in New York City, and immediately went to Greencastle, Ind., and
worked as a stone cutter. In August, 1870, he came to Ellettsville,
Monroe County, and has remained here ever since, working at his trade of
stone-cutter. He owns forty acres of good land, under a high state of
cultivation, with a comfortable house and good orchard. He accumu-
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP. 613
lated his property through his own exertions and industry. His educa-
tion is limited, as, while in his native England, he only acquired the
rudiments. He is the only member of his family resident of this country.
On October zJ7, 1871, he was married to Wilmina Schultze, a native of
Prussia, but a resident of Monroe County. Six children have been born
to them, viz., Thomas William, (>harles, Mary Jane, Emery, Albert Gr.
and Gusta. He is a member of A., F. & A. M., No. 245, Ellettsville. In
politics, he is an active Democrat.
MATHIAS BERRY, farmer, was born April 22, 1820, in Lincoln
County, N. C, and is the second of eleven children born to John and
Charity (Rader) Berry, natives of North Carolina, and of German descent.
Mathias was reared on a farm, and received a passable education, attend-
ing school when not employed about the farm. In 1833, he came with
his parents to this township, where his father entered land. On Decem-
ber 26, 1850, Mr. Berry was married to Mary E., of Putnam f^ounty,
Ind., and a daughter of Stephen and Nancy (Parish) Bell, natives of
Tennessee and Kentucky respectively. By this union Mr. Berry had
born to him ten children — Margaret O. (now Mrs. J. K. Smith), James
W. (deceased), John Stephen (deceased), William Alex (deceased),
Nancy Charity (deceased), Hamilton L., Melissa E., Louisa J., Emma
Ann and Richard R. (deceased). Mr. Berry owns eighty acres of land,
well cultivated, stocked and improved by a comfortable residence, barn,
etc., and also a tine orchard. He is the possessor of a line stone quarry,
containing marble which may be polished to an extent almost equal to
that of New England marble. This is used for monumental purposes,
and is shipped to various parts of the country. That which is softest is
used for building purposes, and it is of the best quality found in the
State. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He has been Constable of his township for three terms, and is a Demo-
crat. He enjoys good health, and it is to be hoped will enjoy many more
years of usefulness. For ten years he followed flat-boating from Gos-
port to New Orleans.
DAVID P. BURTON, a farmer and stock-raiser of this county, was
born December 28, 1848, in Baker Township, Morgan County, Ind. , and
is the first of two children born to J. E. and Cynthia A. (Buskirk) Bur-
ton, natives of this township and of German lineage. David P, was
reared on a farm, and received a fair ediication at the public schools,
also attending the graded school and the university at Bloomington, each
two years. On December 14, 1870, Mr. Burton married Mattie C, a
native of Morgan County, and a daughter of Patterson B. and Mariah
A. (Sparks) McCoy. The couple have two children — Fred W. and
Charles Mc. Mr. Burton owns 160 acres of land in a good state of
cultivation, stocked abundantly, and which has a fi;ie residence, barn
and outbuildings, besides a young orchard. Mr. Burton started in life
with $500, and what he possesses besides has been accumulated by his
persevering industry. He and wife belong to the M. P. Church. He
has always given to benevolent and charitable enterprises with a liberal
hand. In 1882, Mr. Burton was elected County Commissioner. In po-
litical fields he has always been under the Republican colors. He was
one of the first to settle in Bean Blossom Township.
JOSEPH L. BUSKIRK, a farmer and stock-raiser, was born Feb-
ruary 6, 1860, in Bean Blossom Township, and is a son of Isaac and
Nancy (McCoy) Buskirk, natives of this township and of Martinsville,
614 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Morgan County, Ind., and of Scotch-Irish descent respectively. Joseph
L. attended school when not employed about his father's farm, and also
attended the Preparatory Department at Bloomington University. On
April 14, 1881, Mr. Buskirk married Laura Walker, of Monroe County,
and daughter of Dr. Ware S. and Eliza (Hite) Walker, natives of Ken-
tucky and of(,Scotch origin. By this marriage there is ore child — Chloe.
Mr. Buskirk possesses 130 acres of land, cultivated and embellished with
a good residence and outbuildings and with the addition of a good
orchard. This place was inherited from his father's estate. Our sub-
ject has had excellent success since starting for himself. In politics,
Mr. Buskirk is an active young Republican.
WILLIAM A. CLINE, stock-raiser and farmer of this county, was
born May 10, 1840, in this township, having been the first of three chil-
dren of Valentine and Catherine (Summit) Cline, natives of North Caro-
lina and Indiana respectively, and of German-English and German de-
scent. William A. was reared on a farm, and received some instruction
at the schools of the neighborhood. Mr. Cline married Nancy Jane,
daughter of Levi and Mary Jane (Shilburn) Kean, natives of Kentucky,
and of English lineage. By this union there were three children — Mary,
Catharine (McHenry), Miuter V. and William Henry. The parents be-
long to the Baptist Church. Mr. Cline owns ninety-three acres of land,
cultivated, and ornamented with a good residence and outbuildings, and
a flourishing young orchard. He is a good farmer, and by his persever-
ance has accomplished a great deal in the way of ascending the ladder
of success in life. He is a Democrat, and in the way of charity is not
backward in doing his duty.
VALENTINE CLINE, an old settler of Monroe County, who is en-
terprising in his business of farming and stock-raising, was born about
1812. in Lincoln County, N. C. , anjd is the second of ten children born to
Philip and Elizabeth (Abbenatha) Cline, natives of North Carolina, and
of German and English descent respectively. Valentine was reared on a
farm, and attended school but one month in his life. In about 1829 or
1830, he came to Indiana, locating lirst at Chambersville, Owen County,
where he lived about four years. He then removed to the river bottom,
stayed a short time, when he returned to his first place of residence. Mr.
Cline remained here four years, and during this time married, on March
18, 1839, Catherine, daughter of Christian and Betsey (Master) Summit,
of Monroe County. He then went near EUettsville; remained two years;
then near his present residence; then to Owen County, for two years, and
finally came to the place on which he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Cline
have three children — William Alexander, Rufus Oliver and Anna Catha-
rine (Taylor). Mr. Cline owns 146 acres of land, under good cultivation,
with a good residence, barn and outbuildings. After his children's
marriage, he presented them with 213 acres of land. Mr. Cline began
his life's journey by working for $8 per month, but by his unceasing in-
dustry has been able to earn this fine home farm. His wife and children
belong to the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat, and from his strength
and activity, it is hoped he will long be with a community who greatly
honor and respect him. He has reared two of his grandchildren —
Amanda and William Wilson.
PETER (JOWDEN, one of Monroe County's old settlers, and an enter-
prising farmer, was born in Wythe County, Va. , on April 7, 1820, and is
the fifth of the eleven children born to James and Barbara (Etter) Cowden,
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP. 615
Tirginians, of Irish and German descent respectively. Peter was brought
up on a farm, attending common schools in winter, when not engaged in
farm labor. When he had attained the age of eighteen, being ambitious,
he began to farm independently. In about the year 1833, Mr. James
Oowden and his son came to Indiana, settling in Bean Blossom Town-
ship. Here he lived one year; then returned to Virginia and lived in that
State for six years. In 1840, he again came to this county, where he
remained about nine years. In 1849, Mr. Cowden went to Illinois, locat-
ing in McLean County, and farming for three years. Then he came
again to Monroe County, first worked by the month, and then farmed for
himself. On April 4, 1856, Mr. Cowden married Susan, daughter of Ed-
ward and Susan (Ridge) Raney, Kentuckians, of Irish and Swedish origin.
To this marriage were given four children, of whom two are living — Jennie
Florence and Benton Howard. Mr. Cowden possesses 170 acres of land,
which he has labored perseveringly to raise to its present improved state.
This farm is finished with a convenient residence, and a roomy barn and
out- buildings. His wife and daughter are members of the Christian
Church. He is a Democrat. From his hard work and energy, Mr. Cow-
den well deserves to enjoy peacefully, on his fine place, his declining
years.
JAMES S. GENTRY, an old settler, as well as an enterprising farmer
and stock-raiser of this county, was born on January 9, 1813, in Kentucky,
and is the second of three children given to Elijah and Elizabeth (Ware)
Gentry, natives of Tennessee and Virginia, and of English and Scotch
origin, respectively. James S. was reared on a farm, attended school in
Indiana about eleven months, and so learned to read and cipher. His
parents brought him into Indiana in 1816, and settled in Harrison
County. About 1817, his father died, and his mother moved, first to
Lost River, Orange County, in 1822, and then to Morgan County, and,
about 1838 or 1839, James S. entered eighty acres of land, where he
now lives, and to which he has added, until the number of acres amounts
to 253, all cultivated, with residence, out-buildings and orchard. On
February 8, 1838, Mr. Gentry married .Eliza, daughter of Joseph
and Mary (Graham) Campbell, of Monroe County. Her parents came
here in 1818, and her mother drew a silver medal for being the oldest
settler represented at the the old settlers' meeting, August 9, 1883. By
this union, Mr. Gentry had the following children: William C, Lemuel
K. (deceased), Norman J., Mary J. (Cosner), Joseph P., James M.., David
D. and Thornas H, Two of Mr. Gentry's sons, William C. and Lemuel
K., were in the late war. Mr. Gentry was a member, formerly, of the
I. O. O. F. and of the Grange. He and wife are members of the M. P.
Church, and are very benevolent in disposition. He sei'ved on the Board
of Trustees five years, and in 1859, was elected, when the law was changed,
and served until 1873. In the spring of 1878, he was again elected for
a term of two years. He is a Democrat. In forty years, Mr. Gentry has
not lost three days of time on account of illness. He lives in a house, a
part of the lumber in the building of which was made by his hands in
1837, being sawed out with a whip-saw, and he has worked with a whip-
saw for a month at a time, for 50 cents per day, thinking this large pay.
In using this saw, two men could saw 400 feet of lumber per day. Mr.
Gentry built rafts at Mt. Tabor at an early day, and labored thus, until
the construction of the New Albany Railroad, at which time rafting
616 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIB:
R. M. GREER, M. D., was born October 3, 1851, in Troup County,
Ga., and is the seventh of eleven children, nine now living, born to
Young and Eliza Victoria (Darnell) Greer, natives of Virginia and of
Scotch-Irish and French extraction. R. M. was reared on a farm, and
his advantages for an education were small, as he was in the South dur-
ing the war, and little attention was paid there to learning. He went to
school soon after the war was over, at Davisville, Calhoun Co., Ala., also
attending Carrollton College for about nine months. He afterward spent
gome time at Louisville Medical College, and two terms at the Louisville
University. In the year 1870, our subject moved with his parents into
Calhoun County, Ala., where the family remained two years. R. M.
Greer went to Fayette, Chambers Co., Ala., in the year 1870, thence to
Monroe County, Ind. , about 1872, settling in Stinesville, where he was
employed in stone quarries about three years, after which he began the
study of medicine with Dr. Smith, of Gosport, Owen Co., Ind. He fin-
ished his course in the College of Medicine, practiced there, at Gosport,
for one year, and then located in Stinesville, where he has met with
excellent success in his profession. In 1883, Dr. Greer opened a drug
store in the village. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and during his school days was associated with Charles Hill, son of
Senator Hill, of Georgia.
WILLIAM HEDRICK, one of Monroe County's leading farmers
and stock-raisers, was born on February 4, 1832, and is the second of
eleven children of Conrad and Mary A. (White) Hedrick, natives of
North Carolina, and of German and English descent respectively. Will-
iam was reared on a farm, and attended common schools in the winter,
when not engaged in the duties incident to farm life. He was married
on February 9, 1861, to Brunette P. Ground, a native of Monroe County,
and daughter of Henry Ground. They have had born to them seven
children, six boys and one girl, viz., James W. , Samuel E., Florence I.,
William A., Elijah E., Charles E. and Henry G. Mr. Hedrick is the
owner of 250 acres of land in a good state of cultivation, well-stocked,
and embellished with a tine residence, barn and out-buildings, and an
orchard of choice fruit. He commenced life with nothing, but has been
very successful in his accumulations, and is the possessor of as fine a
home as any in his township. He is entirely free from indebtedness, and
takes great interest in the education of his children. He is esteemed in
his community as an honorable and upright citizen. Politically, he is
an active Democrat.
WILLIAM HOADLEY, Jr., was born in Yorkshire, England. Janu-
ary 27, 1825, and is the fourth of five children born to William and
Elizabeth (Hopwood) Hoadley. William, Jr., came to the United States
in 1842, and in 1846 the family returned to England and settled in
Leeds. They carried back with them a planing-mill and machinery for
making buckets, about the first of the kind ever introduced into En-
gland. Owing to the hostility felt there against American improvements,
their enterprise did not succeed, and in 1848, William and his brother
John returned to the United States. After their return, buckets were
introduced and fortunes made by many out of them. Mr. Hoadley lived
in New Albany, and was employed in the steamboat shops until 1855,
when he moved to Mt. Tabor, Monroe Co., Ind. Here, in company with
his brother, he purchased a flour mill, and also a saw mill, which Mr.
William Hoadley still owns, and manufactures as good flour as any in
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP. 617
the country. In 1876, he and his brother divided the property, John
taking the saw mill and he retaining the grist, and in 1878, William
purchased his brother's mill, and is now sole proprietor. On August 27,
1856, he married Phebe, a native of this county and a daughter of Heu-
ben and Margaret (Buck) Staley, of German descent. By this union
there were seven children — William, Edwin, Margaret A. (Gross), Cyrus,
Sylvester, Claudius and Thomas (deceased). Mr. Hoadley was well edu-
cated, attending private, and also East Witton School in England. His
son William has taught five years in the township, and is well thought
of. Mr. Hoadley was formerly a Republican, but is now a Democrat.
In life he has always been " lucky," as the saying is.
JOHN W. HOUSTON, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, was
born October 18, 1848, in this township, and is the youngest of the eight
children of Joseph and Lucinda (Putnam) Houston, natives of Kentucky,
and of English descent. JohnW. was reared upon a farm, and educated
during the winter months, when farm work was dull. On December 21,
1871, Mr. Houston married Martha, daughter of John and Eliza (Johnson)
Gilman, natives of Kentucky, and of German and English descent. By
this marriage there were six children — Amanda, Lewis W., Cassandra
M., Florence Ida, Walter T. and Purnel J. Mr. Houston owns ninety-
nine acres of land, well cultivated, with a comfortable frame dwelling,
barn and out-buildings, supplemented by a thrifty orchard. Mrs. Hous-
ton belongs to the Christian Church. Mr. Houston's parents came to
Monroe County in 1834, and settled on the farm where he now lives, and
which his father had improved. Lucinda Putnam and her parents came
to Monroe County from Kentucky in 1823. Mr. Joseph Putnam bought
the farm which our subject now owns, in about the year 1822. Thus
Mr. Houston's grandparents were among the earliest settlers in the coun-
ty. He is a Democrat.
ALFRED LAYMON, farmer, was born December 26, 1846, in Shelby
County, Ind., and is the seventh of twelve children, born to Alfred and
Elizabeth (Randolph) Laymon, natives of Ohio. The father was of Ger-
man descent, and the mother of the Virginian family of Randolphs, her
great-grandmother being an Indian. Alfred was reared on a farm, and
was taught at the public schools what time he was not otherwise engaged.
On February 20, 1865, Mr. Laymon enlisted in Company G, Thirty-
third Indiana Infantry, Col. Burton commanding, and joined the regi-
ment at Raleigh, N. C. He participated at the grand review at Wash-
ington, D. C, and was discharged there on June 20, while in hospital.
Mr. Laymon owns 130 acres of land, cultivated, and which has a good
house and out-buildings. He started with absolutely nothing, but
his perseverance has worked wonders. He owns nineteen acres of
land in Owen County, which was given him by Mr. Laymon, Sx\ On
November 21, 1867, Mr. Laymon married Tracy C, daughter of Joseph
and Elizabeth (Parks) Wampler, natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Lay-
men's parents are the oldest settlers of this county, having located here
about 1817, near Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. Laymon have three chil-
dren— Rosa Etta, Joseph E. and Ollie E. He is a Democrat.
WILLIAM C. LITTEN, an old settler and leading farmer and
stock-raiser of Monroe County, was born in Bean Blossom Township
January 30, 1828, and is the oldest of the nine children born to Gilbert
and Lavina (Summitt) Litten, natives of North Carolina and of English
and German descent. Gilbert descends from Lord Lytton. He came
618 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-
to this country in 1827, entered land, and settled in the place of Will-
iam's birth, being one of the first settlers in the township. Our sub-
ject was reared on a farm, and was poorly educated. He first attended
school at the house of Mrs. Philips, by whom the children were instructed.
The principal things William C. learned were to read and cipher. In
1840, the family went into Washington Township, Owen County, our sub-
ject accompanying them. They purchased 320 acres of land, which were
sold in 1853, for $6,000, when they came to Bean Blossom Township,
purchased 515 acres of land, where the father lived until his death in
June, 1862, at the age of fifty-six, and where William C. Litten now
lives. Mr. Litten was married on April 17, 1855, to Elizabeth, a native
of this county, and a daughter of Lewis L. and Verlinda (Parks) Wal-
den, natives of Kentucky and "North Carolina respectively, and of En-
glisb lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Litten have four children — Andrew J., Ella
Florence (Miller), Eosa Bell and Louis P. Mr. Litten is the
possessor of 245 acres of land, improved, stocked and well provided with
buildings, with a fine old orchard, and also a young one. He is also
supplied with all the necessary agricultural implements of the latest
make. He has labored well for the property which he possesses, and
given eech of his children fifty-five and sixty-seven acres. Mr. Litten
began to make a clearing in the woods twice for himself and father each,
and he has assisted materially in clearing up and developing the county.
He is very charitable in disposition and is a Democrat. They belong to
the Baptist Chm'ch. Mr. Litten has an iron constitution, has always
enjoyed good health, and bids fair to live a number of years in a com-
munity where he is a respected and valued citizen.
W. H. McHENRY is the oldest of thirteen children of John and
Rebecca A. (Wilson) McHemy, the former of whom was born in the fort
at Vincennes, Ind., during the Indian war of 1812. The grandfather,
John McHenry, was engaged in the war of 1812, and participated in the
battle of Tippecanoe. He went to Vincennes in the year 1811, and thence
to Owen County immediately after peace was declared, and entered 160
acres of land, which he improved. Our subject was born on April 19,
1838, near Stinesville, Monroe County. He was reared on a farm, and
attended the common schools when not engaged on the farm. At Frank-
lin, Johnson County, he attended a Baptist college about eleven months,
after which he taught school several terms. On May 3, 1858, he was
married to Matilda, daughter of C. C. Wilson, of Monroe County. Mr.
Wilson was of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. McHenry had born to
them four children, two living, viz., John C. and Notra B. Our subject
followed farming until he was twenty years of age, when he engaged in
the saw milling business, which he followed four years in Illinois. He
then went into the stone business, which he has followed more or less ever
since. He was engaged in the mercantile business for seven or eight
years after his marriage, in Stinesville; was Postmaster of Stinesville five
years. In politics, he is a stanch Republican.
WILLIAM M. MAY, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of this
county, was born November 13, 1844, in Bloomington Township, this
county, and is the second of ten children born to William R. and Eliza
(Threslur) May, natives of Virginia, and of German descent. William
M. was reared on a farm, and attended school part of the time. In No-
vember, 1864, he enlisted in Company G, Forty- third Indiana Infantry,
under Capt. Moss. He was located at Indianapolis on guard duty for a
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP, 619
time. June 14, 1865, he was discharged, and returned to farming, living
with his father until his marriage. On November 29, 1866, Mr. May-
was wedded to Eliza A., daughter of William R. and Tabitha (Everman)
Coffey. She was born January 23, 1851, in Monroe County. By this
union there were five children— William R., Rosa Ethel, Frank N., Mamie
Elsie and Walter E. Mrs. May's parents were among the earliest settlers
of the county. Mr. May is the possessor of 206 acres of land in a good
state of cultivation, well stocked, and ornamented with a good residence,
barn and out-buildings, and a fine orchard. With a start of $2,300 from
his wife, he has established his farm and home, worth about $6,000. Mr.
May formerly belonged to the Sons of Temperance. They belong to the
Christian Church, and are liberal in all charitable movements. He is a
Republican
ANDREW W. REEVES, one of the county's pioneers and enterpris-
ing farmers and stock-raisers, was born on April 30, 1808, in Fleming
County, Ky. , and is the third of ten children born to Joseph and Susanna
(Woods) Reeves, natives of Vii'ginia and South Carolina respectively.
Our subject came to Indiana with his parents in 1818, and settled in
Richland Township, Monroe County, where the father entered 160 acres
of land, which he improved. This farm is in the southwest part of
Ellettsville. Our subject was reared on the farm, his limited education
having been acquired at the subscription schools of that day. On March
22, 1832, he was married to Sallie Ann McDonald, a native of Mason
County, Ky. , and daughter of William and Ruth (McFadden) McDonald.
Five children have been born to them, viz. : Elizabeth A. (deceased),
William McD., Joseph H. (died in the army), John A., Mattie E. (Deem).
Mr. Reeves was four years a Trustee of Richland Township; was also a
School Trustee of Ellettsville. He was elected Sheriff of Monroe County
for two consecutive tetms — from 1856 to 1860. In the autumn of 1872,
he was elected a Representative to the Legislature from his county, at-
tending the regular session during Gov. Hendricks' administration, and
a special session during Gov. Baker's. He also held the office of Justice
of the Peace while a resident of Owen, of which county he was formerly
a resident twenty-one years. He owns 360 acres of good land, well im-
proved; 120 acres of this land lie in Richland Township. About two
years ago, he lost by fire a fine property in Ellettsville, since which time
he has resided on his farm in Bean Blossom Township. He and his wife
have beeu members of the Christian Church for over forty years, and are
liberal givers to charitable enterprises. In politics, he is an active and
uncompromising Republican. In his community, he is much respected
and highly esteemed as an upright citizen.
WILLIAM RIDGE, one of Monroe County's pioneers and enterpris-
ing farmers and stock-raisers, was born on January 8, 1821, in Martin
County, Ind., and is the third of eight children born to Benjamin and
Henrietta (Staten) Ridge, natives of Maryland and Kentucky respect-
ively. Our subject was reared to a farmer's life, and his limited educa-
tion was acquired from a subscription school which he attended in the
winter when not engaged on the farm. He came to Monroe County
about the year 1824, with his parents, and settled in Indian Creek Town-
ship, remaining here about six years ; thence to Richland Township;
thence to Bloomington Township, where his parents resided until their
death. On January 27, 1856, our subject was married to Margaret
Whisnand, a native of Monroe County, and daughter of William and
620 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Elizabeth (Wolf) Whisnand, natives of Virginia and Tennessee respect-
ively. They have had born to them two children, viz,: Laura A. (Akin),
Elizabeth Ella. He has taken great interest in giving his children a
first class education. They attended the high school at Blootnington,
Elizabeth graduating from that institution, and is now a successful
teacher in the schools of the county. Mr. Eidge is the owner of 280
acres of good land, well improved and stocked, and occupies an elegant
residence. It may be said of Mr. Ridge that he is " the architect of his
own fortune." He has given his married daughter about $7,000. In pol-
itics Mr. Ridge is one of the active Republicans of the township. His
wife is a consistent member of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM STALE Y, farmer and stock-raiser of this county, was
born April 10, 1837, in Virginia, and is the sixth of seven children born
to Reuben aod Margaret (Buck) Staley, natives of Virginia and of Ger-
man ancestry. William was reared on a farm, and attended subscription
schools when not farming. In 1837 he was brought into Monroe County
by his parents, who located in Bean Blossom Township, and in 1840, they
went to Mt. Tabor, where William has resided ever since. In July, 1862,
he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-seventh Indiana Infantry. He took
part in the battle of Munfordville, Ky., where he was captured, paroled
and sent to Indianapolis. He was exchanged in ninety days, and, be-
coming disabled, was discharged from the service December 27, 1862.
Mr. Staley returned home and engaged in farming and the lumber busi-
ness, and the latter he has followed more or less since 1868, farming at
the same time. He owns 200 acres of land well cultivated. He started
with nothing, having purchased a horse on time, and since has been very
successful. On January 19, 1872, Mr. Staley married Emily J., of Mon-
roe County, a daughter of Dr. S. H. and Margaret (Brown) Flood, and
of Scotch-Irish descent. Three children have resulted from this mar-
riage— Sanford, Oliver F. (deceased) and Margaret I. Mr. Staley be-
longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was appointed Justice of
the Peace two terms, and, in 1880, resigned and accepted the position of
Census Enumerator for his township. He is a Republican, and at pres-
ent one of the Central Committee of the county.
REV. GEORGE W. TERRY, a prominent citizen, was born Decem-
ber 6, 1825, in Richmond, Va., and is the fourth of eight children born
to Thomas and Elizabeth Terry, natives of Hanover and Greenbrier
Counties, Va., and of French-Saxon and Irish -French -Saxon descent,
George W. was reared on a farm in Greenbrier County, and when fif-
teen years old he went with his parents to Muhlenburg County, Ky. »
and there they engaged in farming until the father's death. George W.
attended school when not employed upon the farm, and on December 21,
1847, was married to Nancy A., daughter of John and Minerva (Weir)
Shelton, of that county. By this union there were nine children — Ruth
Ann (Mosier), Melissa Jane (Jackson), William A., George T., John C,
Charles (deceased), Ida May, Edward F. and Robert C. Mr. Terry fol-
lowed the trade of silversmith after his marriage until 1862, in the
meantime studying for the ministry nights. He enlisted September,
1862, in Company B, Ninety-seventh Indiana Infantry, and was soon ap-
pointed Chaplain. He was with the regiment in all its engaj^ements, ex-
cept when in hospital, and took part in the following battles: Jackson,
Miss., second Missionary Ridge, Tenn., Resaca, Dalton, Little Kenesaw
Mountain, Big Kenesaw Mountain, Decatur, Ga., Atlanta, second Atlanta,.
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP. 621
Griswoldville, Ga., Savannah, Ga., and Bentonville, N. C. From ex-
posure, Mr. Terry became subject to rheumatism, and was confined at
hospital at Memphis one week, and two weeks at the field hospital in
Marietta. But he preferred to be with his comrades, and so followed
his regiment on crutches, or with a cane, from January, 1863, to the
close of the war. In 1864, Mr. Terry came home on leave of absence,
and 80 far recovered as to be able to leave his crutches and use a cane.
He then returned to his regiment, to which he was greatly attached. He
took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C, and on June 15,
1865, was discharged, and returned to his family on the farm he now oc-
cupies. He came to Indiana in 1857, and settled at New Albany, where
he staid two years, engaged at his trade. He then Aventto Gosport, Owen
Co.. Ind. ; worked at his trade, and preached every Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. Terry lived there until 1862, when he joined the army, and his fam-
ily moved to near Stinesville, where his wife purchased a farm of seven-
ty-seven acres, on which they now reside. In 1866, he attended a theo-
logical institute at Chicago for two months, one month at Clayton, Hen-
dricks County, and one month at Terre Haute, Ind. He also studied with
several theological professors. Since leaving the army. Rev. Mr. Terry
has been engaged wholly in his ministerial duties in the Baptist com-
munion. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a Democrat.
His grandfather was in the war of the Revolution, and at the siege of
Yorktown received a wound which resulted in his death. His father,
Thomas Terry, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and participated in the
battle of Craney Island, Va. Mr. Tei'ry volunteered his services during
the Mexican war, but peace was declared before he went into the fiold.
He has served his association as Moderator of Township Association for
fourteen years, and in twenty years has preached 5,300 sermons.
DAVID VAN BUSKIRK. farmer and stock-raiser, was born upon the
farm he now occupies November 23. 1826, and is the eldest of ten chil-
dren born to James and Mariah (Campbell) Van Buskirk, natives of Ohio
and Tennessee, and of German and Scotch-Irish descent respectively.
David was reared on a farm, was fairly educated, and on March 16, 1849,
married Lucy Ann, daughter of Isaac and Patience (Still well) Buskirk, of
German lineage. Mr. Van Buskirk, by this marriage had six children
born to him — D. C, J. I., Cinthy (Ridge), John, Thomas and Gety.
He lost his wife March 16, 1866. He was next married, May 26, 1867,
to Mrs. Martha Able, of Monroe County, and daughter of Madison and
Sarah (Wilborn) Stephenson. They had born to them two children —
Michel (deceased) and Mariah Ann. Mrs. Van B. died February 22,
1873, and our subject took for his third wife, October 26, 1874, Mary
Able, sister of the second wife. He enlisted in July, 1861, in Company
F, Twenty seventh Indiana Infantry, under Capt. Peter Clapp and Col.
Silas Colgrove. He was engaged first in the first battle of Winchester,
where he was taken prisoner, being confined for about three months.
He was finally sent to Annapolis, Md., exchanged, and next took part in the
battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, besides numerous skirmishes.
He went out as Second Lieutenant, but his Cayjtain was killed during
his imprisonment, and he received an appointment as First Lieutenant,
and after the battle of Antietam was made Captain. In the fall of 1862,
his command was transferred to Gen. Thomas' division, and on April 26,
1864, he resigned on account of disability and returned to farming. In
1866-68, he was elected County Treasurer of Monroe County, on the Re-
622 , BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
publican ticket, but was defeated in a struggle for State Treasurer in
1876. He has not since made any attempt to secure office. Mr. Van
Buskirk owns 450 acres of land on White River bottom, highly cultivated,
well stocked, and which has the addition of a fine residence, outbuildings
and orchard, and is one of our oldest settlers, having always lived here.
He has provided handsomely for all his children, and has taken great
interest in their education, having given them all courses at college.
He enjoyed good health until he left the army, since which time he has
been affected with rheumatism. Mr. Van Buskirk is the largest and tall-
est man in the county, and one of the largest in the State. He weighs
390 pounds, and stands six feet ten inches in his stockings. He is a
Republican, and is very benevolent. Mr. Van B.'s grandfather, Isaac Van
Buskirk, was a soldier of the Revolution, and his uncle, John Van Bus-
kirk, served in the war of 1812, having been wounded at the battle of
Tippecanoe. Isaac, son of John Van Buskirk, served in the Mexican
war, and in the late rebellion. He was killed at the battle of Chancel-
lors ville, at the time being a Lieutenant. The wives of the above men-
tioned soldiers are all sleeping peacefully in the family graveyard on
David Van Buskirk's place. This burying-ground is located on a hill
east of the house, and from the spot you may command a view of the en-
tire country.
LEWIS W. WALDEN was born in Bean Blossom Township, Monroe
County, on November 27, 1830, is one of the oldest living native-born citi-
zens in the township, and is the fifth of ten children born to Lewis L.
and Virlincha (Pttrks) Walden, the father a native of Kentucky, the
mother of North Carolina. Our subject was reared on a farm, his early
advantages of an education having been very poor. He was married, in
August, 1853, to Eliza Ann Owens, of Lawrence County, Ind., daughter
of John Owens. One child has been born to them — Ruth R. (now Hed-
rick). Mrs. Walden died on January 12, i860, and he was next married,
in 1861, to Frances Reynolds, of Monroe County, Ind. Six children
have been born to this union — Charles W. (deceased), Samuel B., Anna
E., Jesse E., Daisy E. and Lewis E. For five years our subject lived in
Owen County, engaged in farming and bricklaying, returning to Monroe
County in January, 1880, and working his father's farm for two years.
He then purchased of his father ninety-one acres, moved on it, and
lived there eight years. He then exchanged this property for a flour
mill at Stinesville, ran the mill about five years, then lost the property
as a result of going security foi' other parties, and other debts. He then
purchased forty acres of land west of Stinesville, and opened up a stone
quarry, now known as and operated by the Terre Haute Stone Company.
This he afterward sold, and purchased eighty acres of land where he
now lives, on which he has an excellent marble quarry. He ships marble
to all parts of the country. The quarry also yields the softer stones of
good quality. He has had good success in whatever he has undertaken
in life, and his property is the result of indefatigable industry and rigid
economy. Mr. Walden is a much respected citizen in the community in
which he resides. He is politically a stanch Democrat, and has held the
office of Justice of the Peace, once by appointment, and one term by
election. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was a member
of the Grange in its day. He and his wife are both members of the
Baptist Church.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 623
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
JAMES A. BAKER, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Clarke
County, Ind., August 20, 1824, and is the eldest of the family of nine
children of Jesse and Sarah (Kobertson) Baker, natives respectively of
South Carolina and Virginia. Jesse Baker was orphaned when seven
years old, and went to live with an uncle, with whom, in 1815, he came
to and settled in Clarke County, there married, farmed on leased land
until 1831, when he purchased land, and remained thereon until 1848,
at which time he purchased a saw and grist mill near Utica, managed the
same until 1854, and afterward farmed until his death in 1876, aged
seventy-eight years, his wife having preceded him in 1866. He was a
Democrat, and a member of the Christian Church. James A. Baker
worked for his father and attended school, but obtained the major part
of his education by after-study. In 1846, he enlisted in Company I,
Third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry; recruited for the war against
Mexico, in which he served one year, and took part at Buena Vista. After
returning, he engaged in milling with his father, and in 1854 pur-
chased land, farmed until 1857, after which he bought land near Utica, and
August, 1865, located at his present home, comprising 225 acres of good
grass and farm land. Mr. Baker is a hard-working man, and for thirty
years combined his trade of carpentering with farming and stock dealing.
January 28, 1851, he married Margaret A. Littell, with an issue of six
children — Jesse T. , Reuben A. (deceased), Sarah A., Charles E., Mary
Luella and William F. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of
the Church of Christ.
CHARLES A. BUNGER, farmer, is the son of Jacob and Mary
(Camper) Bunger, both natives of Virginia, and respectively of German
and English extraction. Jacob Bunger removed with his family to
this county in an early day, and located in Van Buren Township,
where he now lives, having been farmer, stage-driver and miller. He
has been the father of eight children, four of whom are living —
Charles, Sarah, Matilda and Willie. Charles was born in Greenbrier
County, W. Va., September 20, 1845, and was reared to the vocation of a
farmer. In early manhood, he was his father's only support, and was
industrious and energetic. February 23, 1870, he married Miss Eliza-
beth B. , daughter of AVilliam Kirby, a pioneer of this township. Shortly
after his marriage, Mr. Bunger moved to where he now lives, which is
an improved farm of 102 acres, on which he has built good buildings
and made other improvements toward a commodious home. Mr. Bunger
is a Republican, a Patron of Hu.sbandry, and he and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
G. W. BURKS is the eldest son of Floyd and Helen (Thompson)
Burks, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Indiana, and respect-
ively of Irish-English and German descent. Floyd Burks was a house-
carpenter and farmer, who came to this county in early manhood, mar-
ried and reared a family of ten children. The larger portion of his life
was spent in Greene County, and he there redeemed from nature's wilds
624 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
a home and farm, in doing which he experienced the trials of a pioneer.
He was a notorious hunter, a Republican and a member of the Church
of Christ. He died June 10. 1878, aged sixty-three years. G. W. Burks
was born November 16, 1836, and was reared a farmer, and from the
common schools obtained a fair education. October 18, 1855, he mar-
ried Miss Matilda H. Mayfield, of this county, a union cemented by the
birth of seven children, live of whom are living — Lauretta, Joseph W.,
Ulyssus L., Walter W. and Isaac R. Mr. Burks, soon after this event,
commenced farming on the home place, and in 1857 located where he
now is — a farm of much value and with many improvements, containing
an area of fifty-seven acres. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
and a Republican in politics. Mr. Burks is a member of the Christian
and Mrs. Burks of the Baptist Church.
HON. DAVID BYERS, retired farmer, is a son of David and Eliza-
beth Byers, natives of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. David Byers.
Sr. , located in Mason County, Ky.. having come down the Ohio River on
a flat-boat about 1783. He married Miss Rachel Nesbit, and was father
of five children. After her death in 1803, he married Mrs. Elizabeth
(Ray) Turner, with an issue of three sons, and died in 1817, aged fifty-
nine years. He was a superior man, both in mind and body. After his
decease, Mrs. Byers came with her family to this county in 1827, and some
time lived, and finally died, with our subject, in 1852, aged eighty-three
years. David Byers, Jr., was born June 20, 1806, in Nicholas County,
Ky. , where he was trained to farming; he was studious and ambitious,
and became a teacher after coming to this county, and as such a pioneer.
In 1835, he located where he now resides, and created a home and farm
from the wilds of nature. January 30, 1831, he married Miss Rachel
Sanders, and to this union were bestowed nine children, only two of whom
survived — Lafayette and Thomas, Jr.; Mrs. Byers died June 21, L874.
Mr. Byers' second son, James K. P., was a soldier of the Fiftieth Indi-
ana Regiment, and died in 1867. Mr. Byers was a Democrat until the
Kansas troubles, when he became a Republican. He was Representative
to the Legislature in 1840-41, and in 1844-45, having led the "Semi-
nary" and "State University Re-organization " bills. He served as
Justice of the Peace eight years, and as County Commissioner from
1830 to 1840 — the only one living that served under the old law. Since
1842, he has been an active worker in the Church of Christ.
Lafayette Byers was boi'n in this township January, 30, 1839,
was reared a farmer and attended the common schools. He taught one
term of school, and then embraced farming, now owning 146 acres,
which he exchanged for 100 in Boone County, on which he located in
1880. October, 1869, he married Elvira L. McCoy, and he has six
children, five living — Mary, John, Orange, Carl and Wilford. Mr. B.
is a Republican, and he and wife belong to the Church of Christ.
Thomas J. Byers was born where he now lives November 7,
1848, a son of the above. He was reared a farmer and acted as a teacher
for years, in this State, Illinois and Iowa, but he has of late given atten-
tion to farming. February 14, 1875, he married Sarah A. Stanger, with
an issue of four children, three living — Norah F., George H. and
Homer C. He and wife belong to the Christian Church.
JOHN D. COFFEY, retired farmer, is a son of James and Hannah
(Alloway) Cofi'ey, natives of North Carolina, and respectively of Irish
and English extraction. John D. was also born in North Carolina July
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 625
8, 1821, whence, when he was eleven years old, his parents removed
to this county and pui'chased a timbered tract near Ellettsville, in the
clearing of which our subject took a full part, and remained with his
parents until he was twenty-three years old, when he married his first
wife, Mary A. Whisnand, and who died in 1846, leaving one son — James
W. His second marriage took place December, 1848, the bride being
Miss Mary A. Mayfield, who died May 2, 1873, leaving two sons — Will-
iam R. and Anderson T. His third marriage was with Miss Mary J.
Ridge, who died May 18, 1883. After his first marriage he leased twelve
acres, and after his second marriage he purchased a small farm, where
he resided until 1855, and two years later located near Ellettsville, im-
proved land and lived until 1869, at which time he purchased part of his
father's farm. In addition to a good farm, he has some village property,
and has a comfortable living. Mr. Coffey is a member of the Masonic
order and of the Baptist Church.
JOHN S. CONSTABLE, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Burke
County, N. C. , June 1, 1815, and is the eldest son of Peter and Susanna
(Hilman) Constable, both natives of North Carolina, and respectively of
Scotch-Irish and German descent. Both grandfathers of our subject
were Revolutionary soldiers. His father, Peter Constable, was a soldier
of the war of 1812. He was a farmer, and in 1827 was killed by light-
ning while at work. In 1832, the family emigrated to Indiana, settled
near Ellettsville and rented a farm, in the government of which John S.
Constable took active part and remained at home until he was twenty-
two, when he began to work for himself, making rails at 50 cents per
day. February 7, 1836, he married to Miss Margaret James, of this
county, born March 1, 1819. Six children were the result of this mar-
riage— Mary, Sarah, James (of the Thirty-eighth Regiment, who died of
fever in Louisville, February, 1863), William H , Margaret and Carrie
Bell. In 1838, Mr. Constable commenced farming on rented land, and
on shares until 1868, when he was able to purchase 110 acres, of which
seventy acres are under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Constable are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church.
W. C. DRAPER, hardware and furniture dealer, was born May 16,
1850, and is a sou of Jesse and Eliza (Conduitt) Draper, natives respect-
ively of North Carolina and Kentucky, and of English and French descent.
He attended school regularly during boyhood, and graduated in the
classical course when seventeen years old — the youngest alumnus of the
State University. He located at Martinsville, and studied law for one
year, which he abandoned afterward, and visited California, where he
worked as a carpentei-. On his return, he associated himself with the
"National Temperance Alliance" at Indianapolis, and after the death
of his father — May 28, 1872 — came home to look up his father's estate,
and then engaged in the lumber trade for a time. November 21, 1873,
he married Miss Mary, daughter of L. W. Sanders, a union which has
been cemented by four children — Clarence, Admilla, Beulah and Blaine.
In January, 1882, he engaged in his present business, in which he has
been very successful. Mr. Draper is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a
licensed local minister of the Baptist denomination, of which his wife is
a member. He is an influential and respected citizen.
GEORGE W. FAULKNER is a son of Emanuel F. and Rebecca
(Coffey) Faulkner, natives respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee.
He was born in this county May 23, 1832, whither his parents removed
626 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
in 1824. Being left motherless in childhood, and having'to labor with
his father, he received but scant instruction in learning, and when of age
worked as an engineer. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company G,
Thirty- eighth Indiana Volunteers, which formed a part of the Cumber-
land division, and was promoted by steps until he became Captain of
said company in 1865, and left the service July 25 of that year, after
participating in the great battles of the campaign. On coming to his
home, he found employment in erecting various mills, and is an expert
in matters of machinery. September 15, 1858, he married Miss Anna,
daughter of Martin and Mary (Kice) Cornman, by which union they were
favored with one son — Edward E. Mr. Faulkner is an uncompromising
Republican, a member of the honorable order of Freemasonry, and an
esteemed citizen. Mrs. Faulkner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
JAMES W. FIGG, farmer, is a native of Shelby County, Ky., was
born March 19, 1835, and is one of the twelve in family born to Thomas
and Rebecca Figg, natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia, and of
German and English extraction. James Figg was reared a farmer's boy,
and received some education from the subscription schools. At the age
of sixteen, he removed with his parents to EUettsville, and when of age
began farming in the neighborhood, and in February, 1864, located where
he now resides, his farm containing 180 acres — a valuable property and
comfortable home. December 23, 1861, he married Mrs. Naomi (Will-
iams) Reynolds. Six children succeeded to this union — Mary I., Lilla B.,
Ella J., Jennie M., Sarah and Norah. Mr. Figg is a liberal Democrat
and a public-spirited citizen. He has made his own way unaided to com-
fort and independence, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist
Church.
GEORGE W. FLETCHER is a son of William and Mary (Dean)
Fletcher, natives of Maryland and of English descent, who early moved
to Owen County, and, in 1854. to Decatur County, 111., where Mrs.
Fletcher died, whereupon Mr. Fletcher returned to Owen County, and
died in 1868, aged seventy-three years, a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. Our subject was born in Ripley County, Ind. , January 8,
1834, was reared a farmer, and assisted his father until he was seven-
teen, at which period he began working for himself by splitting rails.
In 1854, he commenced as a carpenter, and since he moved to EUettsville,
in 1859, has been engaged in contracting and building. In 1872, he
built a planing mill, which he has since operated successfully. In 1861,
he enlisted in the militia during the Morgan raid. January 2, 1855, he
married Miss Melvina Knapp, who died in 1875, leaving two sons — Ed-
win and Otis L. He wedded his second wife, Miss Lizzie Stimson, No-
vember 20, 1876. Mr. Fletcher is an Odd Fellow, and he and wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Robert T. Stimson (deceased) was born November 29, 1828, and
was reared in North Carolina, whither his parents moved after his
birth. October 2, 1844, he married Nancy C. Johnson, and one week
thereafter, they left for Indiana, located in Owen County, and there re-
mained Tintil 1853, when they settled near EUettsville, and engaged in
farming; they subsequently moved into the town, whore Mr. Stimson
died February 11, 1882, aged fifty-nine years. He was a worthy cit-
izen, a Republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
left two daughters — Sarah E. and Lizzie. Mrs. Stimson is yet living.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 627
THOMAS N. FOSTER, stock- raiser and farmer, is the second son of
James and Rachel (Nesbit) Foster, natives of Kentucky, the former of
Irish, the latter of Scotch extraction. Grandfather Nesbit, after the Rev-
olutionary vear, came down the Ohio to Maysville, on a flat-boat, and
settled about thirty miles inland. James Foster was a farmer, who in
1835 located on Clear Creek, and in 1838 came to this towcship, where
his son Thomas now resides. He was afterward killed instantly while
at work; his wife survived him until 1870, and made her home with our
subject. Thomas N. Foster was born in Nicholas County, Ky., April
29, 1820, and was there reared until he was fifteen years old, when he
came with his parents to this county, and here has continued to reside.
After his father's decease, he took charge of the farm, and made a home
for his mother. He afterward purchased the home farm, which he lias
continuously improved and cultivated. It comprises 172 acres, contains
good house, good barns, and is profitably stocked. January 29, 1843, he
married Miss Elizabeth Oram of this county. Four children graced this
union — Mary L., Florence R., John T. and Dowe B. Mi\ Foster is a
liberal-spirited man, an esteemed citizen, and, as well as Mrs. Foster, a
member of the Christian Church.
C. O. FREEMAN, stock-raiser and farmer, was born January 15,
1829, and is the eldest living child of James and Margaret (Collier) Free-
man, natives of North Carolina, the former of English, the latter of En-
glish and German extraction. James Freeman emigrated to Owen County,
Ind., in 1834. and from the native soil made a farm and a home. One
year preceding his death, which occurred in 1871, at the age of sixty-
seven, he went to reside with a daughter. Mrs. Freeman died September,
1879, aged seventy-two years. Mr. Freeman was a Democrat, and he and
wife raised nine out of twelve children. Our subject was only five years
of age when his parents moved to Owen County, at which place he passed
his boyhood, and acquired the business of farming from his father. He
had some advantages of education, and remained within the parental
walls until he was a legal man, after which time he rented land and be-
gan to do for himself. He afterward moved to Owen County, then to
this county again, and purchased his present home in 1870, now com-
prising upward of 200 acres, well improved, stocked, and constituting
one of the township's best farms, the fruit wholly of his thrift and man-
agement. August 25, 1850, he married Miss Rachel H., daughter of
John Thompson, and a native of this county. To this union have been
bestowed seven children, of which number four are living — John M. ,
James F., Cyrus J. and Mary A. Mr. Freeman is a liberal, conscientious
man, politically a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Cum-
berland Presbyterian Church.
JAMES COLEMAN FREEMAN, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native
of North Carolina, was born July 26. 1830, and is the third of the fam-
ily of James and Margaret Freeman, who moved to Owen County, Ind.,
whence our subject, after a few years, removed to Monroe County, and
worked at farming, when but ten years of age. November 4, 1848, he
married Miss Sailie Acuff, a native of Tennessee, and to this union were
bestowed nine children, of which number five are living — Louisa A.,
Joseph M., Martha E., Rebecca D. and Rosaline. Mr. Freeman com-
menced life in earnest by renting land, which he continued to cultivate
for three years, when he purchased a small farm, and afterward sold the
same, with a gain of $150. He then removed to Owen County, and pur-
628 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
chased 900 acres, lived five years thereon, and exchanged this for a por-
tion of his present home, now aggregating 255 acres, all well improved,
and having much under good cultivation. Mr. Freeman is identified
with the Democratic party, and he and wife are worthy members of the
Baptist Church.
BENJAMIN HALL is a native of Richland Township, Monroe Co. ,
Ind.; was born October 1, 1826; is the son of F. V. and Polly (Noel) Hall;
in a family of twelve children he is the seventh, and is of Irish German
origin. The father of our subject was born in Kentucky, and his mother
was of Virginia birth. His paternal grandfather was Francis Hall, a
native of Scotland, who came to America prior to the Revolution. About
the year 1820, his father came to Monroe County, and settled in Richland
Township, where he died in 1854. Mr. Hall remained at home and
worked for his father on the farm until his twenty-eighth year. In 1854,
Mr. Hall was married to Miss Nancy Cox, a native of Owen County, Ind.
By this lady he became the father of six children— Martha E., ADie A.,
Biddy P., Aurilla P., Morton M. and Edith E. Mrs. Hall died August
24, 1883, a consistent member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr.
Hall settled on his farm in Richland Township in 1855. In the fall of
1882, he removed to Bloomington to educate his childi-en. Politically,
he is a Republican, and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. He
is an honorable man, and a highly respected citizen. By occupation, his
life has been that of a farmer, and in which he has been successful. He
has a well-improved farm in Richland Township.
JESSE T. HAMILTON, farmer, is a native of Nicholas County,
Ky., was born September 8, 1811, the eldest son of James P. and Mar-
garet (Turner) Hamilton, natives respectively of Indiana and Ohio.
James P. Hamilton came to Kentucky with his parents when seventeen
years old, where he married, and farmed until 1837, when he removed to
Decatur County, Ind., and closed his life in 1844, aged fifty-four, and
his wife hers in 1855, aged sixty-three years. James T. Hamilton was
given charge of the home farm when twelve years old, and remained in
that position until his twenty- second year, when he began milling in
Bourbon County, Ky., and superintended also a small farm. Later, he
purchased a mill property near Lexington, which he managed for eighteen
years. In 1864, becoming complicated in war troubles, he was compelled
to leave Kentucky, and some time afterward purchased a flouring mill in
Decatur County, Ind.; this he subsequently exchanged for a farm in
Rush County, Ind., and three years later sold this with the purpose of
removing to Southwest Missouri, but instead located on land in Shelby,
and then in Boone County, until 1880, and thereafter exchanged the lat-
ter farm for 146 acres, where he now lives. Mr. Hamilton has been twice
married — first, March 29, 1835, to Miss Nancy Turner, of Kentucky, who
died October 25, 1858, leaving three sons — J. Alexander, Robert A. and
James W. ; second, August 18, 1859, with Miss Martha Neal, of Ken-
tucky; five children were born to this union — David M., James W., Frank
B., Hulcea J. and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Chm'ch.
DR. JAMES M. HARRIS is a native of Jessamine County,
Ky. , was born October 19, 1819, aod is the eldest of the seven
children of Thomas and Elizabeth (McCarley) Harris, natives re-
spectively of Virginia and North Carolina. Thomas Harris, in 1831,
located near Smithville, and afterward near Spencer, where our sub-
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 629
ject passed his boyhood on the farm and in ^oing to school. When
twenty years of age, he entered the office of Dr. S. P. Langdon, of
Gosport; remained there two years dojng some practice, and soon after
located at Ellettsville, where he was the only physician, and where ho
built up a large business in his way. In 1865, he established a drug
trade, which he continued several years before retiring to his farm, em-
bracing 200 acres — a good property and commodious home. March 2,
1843, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of William and Polly Fletcher,
and born Aiigust 6, 1823. Twelve children graced this union, six of
whom are living — William T., John J., S. Emmet, James F., Hester A.
and Lou Jessie. Dr. Harris is a Freemason, a Republican, a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, an efficient Sunday school worker and
temperance advocate. He has also held the office of Township Trustee
for six successive years. In 1850, he established the first hotel in El-
lettsville, and continued the same for two years. Dr. Harris is a public-
spirited and worthy citizen. Mrs. Harris adheres to the Presbyterian
Church.
W. T. HARRIS, hardware merchant, was born January 13, 1847,
and is a son of Dr. J. M. Harris. His boyhood days were passed at
school and on the farm. At the age of twenty years, he engaged in the
tin shop, buying an interest with Mr. Edwards, to whom he afterward
became successor, and which business he continued four years. In No-
vember, 1871, he purchased a stock of mixed hardware from F. E.
Worley, and afterward added stoves and the like. By tact for brade and
attention to business, he has constantly increased his stock and taken the
patronage of the town. July 29, 1870, he married Miss Martha, daughter
of Robert Acuff, and born August 26, 1856. Mr. Acuff was a pioneer of
the county. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Harris has been favored by the
birth of two children — Harry G. and Beulah. Mr. Harris, politically, is
a Republican, and Mrs. Harris is a member of the religious denomination
known as Christians.
SAMUEL B. HARRIS is a native of Kentucky, was born June 16,
1823, and is the third of the seven children of Thomas Harris. Our sub-
ject was brought to Owen County, Ind. , by his parents when seven years
of age, whom he assisted on their farm until he became sixteen, when he
went under apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade for three years, after
which he started a shop on his father's farm, and later traveled as a
journeyman, and taught six terms of school. By these means, he saved
sufficient to purchase a farm, and afterward engaged in business in El-
letsville for seventeen years, and then erected a woolen mill. About
1864, he moved to Coles County, 111., where he built a saw and grist
mill, and later returned to his old home and engaged in milling success-
fully. September 10, 1S46, he married Miss Endemile Chambers, a
union favored with six children, of whom four survive — Mary E., John
R., William B. and Perry Oliver. Mr. Harris is a consistent Free-
mason, a Republican, and in religion a Universalist. He was instrumen-
tal in establishing the first newspaper in the town, and which he passed
to his son, who is now editor thereof. Mr. Harris is a prominent and
esteemed citizen, and was for three years Postmaster at Ellettsville.
JOHN R. HARRIS, dealer in dry goods, notions, gents' furnishing
goods, etc., was born May 18, 1847, in this county, and is the eldest son
of Samuel B. Harris. After attending school, he began clerking for his
father when twelve years old, and assisted in the mill; and in Coles
630 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
County, 111., engaged with him in the milling business. On return-
ing to this locality, he had charge of his father's mill until 1879, and
when this was sold he came to Ellettsville, and engaged in mercantile
trade with his brother, Perry O. , under the firm name of Harris &
Brother. In 1883, said firm was dissolved, and John R. became sole pro-
pi'ietor of the business. August 29, 1882, he married Miss Phebe,
daughter of John Matthews, recently deceased, she having b«en born
July 18, 1856. John R. Harris is one of the most successful and promis-
ing business men of his years to be found. In politics, he is a Repub-
lican, aud an esteemed citizen and a worthy gentleman. Mrs. Harris is
a member of the Baptist Church.
RICE C. HARRIS, M. D., is the youngest of the six children of
Thomas and Elizabeth (McCarley) Harris. He was born in Owen County,
Ind. , November 15, 1834, and remained at home until he was fifteen
years old, when the family moved to Ellettsville, and he attended school
for two years, and taught in 1851. In 1852, under his brother. Dr. J.
M. Harris, he commenced to study medicine, and then taught for a
period of years. March 5, 1858, he married Miss Rebecca Wood, of
this county, who died October, 1854, and April 14, 1857, he wedded Miss
Mary J. Knighton, by which marriage they had nine children, five of
whom are living — Thomas B., Rebecca W., William W., Oliver K. and
Lizzie A. Dr. Harris attended lectures at Ann Arbor University In
1856-57, afterward engaged in practice with his brother one year, then
moved to Coles County, 111. ; there practiced four years, and removed
to this town, where he has remained in successful pursuit of his pro-
fession, both in surgery and medicine. Dr. Harris has of late years
given attention to his farms, and is beside the owner of several dwell-
ings and business houses. He is a Republican, and has served as Post-
master for sixteen years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and
Mrs. Harris is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
W. B. HARRIS, editor-in-chief of the Monroe County Citizen, is the
son of S. B. and Endemile (Chambers) Harris, natives respectively of
Kentucky and Indiana. He was born March 6, 1856, in Ellettsville, Ind.,
where he passed his boyhood in going to school and working on a farm.
In 1872, he entered the Ellettsville Republican ofiice, as a type-setter, for
eighteen months, and then became editor for one year. Soon after this,
he went to Indianapolis, and assisted in the ofiice of the Herald. In
1875, he returned to Ellettsville, managed the Sun, and afterward pub-
lished the Given County People, which he disposed of in 1881, and re-
tired to a farm for a year, when he purchased the Ellettsville News, and
changed the name to the Monroe County Citizen, a popular and eflicient
journal, of Republican shade in politics. March 9. 1876, he married
Miss Allie, daughter of Hiram Branton, and born November 30, 1856.
This union gave issue to four children — Carl B., Edmund B., Kate H.
and Henry B. Mr. Harris is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Mrs. Har-
ris of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
REV, W. H. JACKSON is a native of Brown County, Ohio, was born
December 29, 1815, and is the eldest child of Bernard and Elizabeth
(Wisner) Jackson, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Mary-
land. Bernard Jackson was a carpenter and cabinet-maker, and moved
from Virginia to Brown County, Ohio, shortly after the war of 1812, at
that time the only mechanic in his section, and commanded the trade.
He became owner of 670 acres, which made him well to do in his declin-
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 631
ing days. Until he was forty-three he was an Deist, but becoming
converted from Bible reading, he lived thereafter a Christian life. He
was a Democrat, and father of seventeen children. Rev. W. H. Jackson
was reared to the farming business, but obtained considerable education,
and mainly from his own exertions in study. He remained at home \intil
of age, and being a natural mechanic, took to building carriages and
wagons, which business he abandoned for the ministry in 1848, although
he had begun preaching in 1844. He was ordained by the Methodist
Episcopal Conference in 1849, assigned to North Madison, and after
various charges, was made Chaplain of the Fiftieth Indiana Regiment in
1861. In 1863, he was detailed as Post Chaplain in Kentucky, and later
at La Grange, preaching tive sermons each Sabbath. In 1868, he returned
and opened a drug store, then a dry goods store, and with which he has
operated a saw mill. Later he purchased a flouring mill in EUettsville,
which was destroyed by lire in 1883, causing $10,000 loss. November
24, 1837, he married Miss Jane Goldsborough, to which union were born
ten children, five living — Sophronia E., Sarah, Wesleyanna J., William
Jerome and James W. Mr. Jackson was a Democrat, but is now a Re-
publican. He still preaches actively. He was a Notary Public for
sixteen years, was admitted to the bar, and is an Odd Fellow, a temper-
ance man, and belongs to the G. A. R.
DAVID S. JOHNSON, farmer, is a son of David and Polly (Whited)
Johnson, both natives of North Carolina, and of German and Irish ex-
traction respectively. He was born February 23, 1829, the fourth of
ten children, in Bartholomew County, Ind., his parents soon after moving
to Lawrence County, where he was reared to the business of farming, and
plainly educated. He remained at home until of mature age, when he
began farming on rented land. September 2, 1852, he married Miss
Emily, daughter of John and Nancy Dunlevy. After marriage, Mr.
Johnson moved to his father's farm, near Bedford, which he purchased in
i860, and where he lived for some time in a pioneer cabin. Thus he
acquired a home, and in 1869 sold the same and located at EUettsville,
and purchased sixty acres west of the town, which he improved, cultivated,
and where he founded a good orchard. Mr. Johnson was an early- comer
to this region, when Indians and game were more numerous than settlers.
He is a Republican, and gave his first vote for Gen. Fremont. He is, a
member of the Odd Fellow fraternity, and he and his consort are honored
members of the Methodist Episcopal (Church.
JOEL BENJAMIN KIRBY, farmer, was born in the house in which
he now lives May 16, 1849, and is the second of the family of nine
born to William and M.A. Kirby, now of VanBuren Township. Joel was
bred to the profession of farming, and when fifteen years old moved with
his parents to Van Buren Township, where he grew to maturity and had
common school advantages. When twenty four years old, he purchased
an interest in a grist mill, managed the same two years, ihen returned to
farming, and purchased eighty acres, thus owning 117 acres. In
1881, he sold this land and bought that once used by his grandfather,
and at this time possesses 140 acres, 120 of which are improved. Octo-
ber 6, 1875, he married Miss Matilda H., daughter of John and Margaret
Dinsmore, and born January 4, 1850. This union has resulted ia four
children— Margaret D., Sarah D., Elizabeth V. and Theophilus W. Mr.
Kirby is a member of the venerable Masonic order, and is a Patron of
Husbandry. He is a Republican in politics, and a greatly esteemed citi-
zen. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
632 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
J. P. KNIGHTEN, retired farmer, is a native of Bloomington, was
born December 18, 1819, and is the youngest of three children composing
the family of J. W. and Nancy Knighten, who moved from North Caro-
lina to this county in 1816. Our subject was the first white child born in
this section. He was orphaned when thirteen years old; then began to
work for himself, and after a period devoted himself to acquiring some
education and learning the trade of a plasterer, at which he worked for
seven years; then he came to EUettsville and purchased a saw-mill and
woolen factory, operating these for five years. March 8, 1846, he mar-
ried Miss Mary C, daughter of William and Hannah G. Puett. In 1849,
he purchased eighty acres, and soon after 104 acres more, removing to his
present location in 1850. He now cultivates 160 acres — all the fruits of
his industry and care — a good home and valuable property. He has been
a life-long Eepublican, and he and wife belong to the Methodist Episco-
pal Church.
JOHNSON F. McELROY, farmer, was born May 30, 1820, his parents
being David and Martha McElroy, both natives of North Carolina and of
Scotch-Irish extraction. The paternal grandfather. Our subject was a
soldier of the Revolution. Our subject was early left fatherless,
with but small advantage for getting an education. When thirteen
years old, his mother came by team to this State and settled near EUetts-
ville, where he rented some land, being the only family support and hav-
ing to labor for 25 cents per day. After four years he purchased
forty acres for $100, which he paid after some years. He erected a cabin
for the family, and his mother spun the texture for their clothes and
kept the house; she died July, 1864, aged seventy- foui' years. April 12,
1853, he married Miss Elizabeth Hinkle, born April 21, 1833, to which
union two children were born- — Ira J. and Emma C. Mr. McElroy has
lived on his homestead more than forty-six years, during which he has
seen many changes and acquired good property. He is politically
a Republican, a most exemplary man and citizen, and he and wife are
members of the Christian Church.
G. W. McHENRY is a son of John and Rebecca A. (Wilson) Me-
Henry, natives respectively of Knox and Monroe Counties, Ind. The
paternal grandparents of our subject were settlers in Knox County previ-
ous to the war of 1812, of which Mr. McHenry was a soldier. JohnMc-
Henry was reared in Owen County, was a farmer, and made a good home
for his family; he also followed boating to New Orleans for a long time.
He died May 4, 1875, followed by his wife in 1880, both members of the
Baptist Church. G. W. McHenry is the second of thirteen children, was
born in Bean Blossom Township February 12, 1841, and was bred by
his father to farming, with whom he remained until he was twenty-two
years old. February 22, 1863, he married Miss Izora Moore, who died
January 12, 1870, leaving three children — William T., Oscar W. and
Minnie I.. After marriage, Mr. McHenry farmed on rented land for two
years, when he engaged as clerk for a time, and afterward farmed again.
October 13, 1872, he wedded his second wife, Miss Lucy M. Cox, whose
father was a pioneer of Owen County. Mr. McHenry is a man of good
business capacity, a worthy citizen, a Democrat politically and an
upright gentleman. He and wife are connected with the Baptist Church.
ELIJAH H. MARSHALL, stock-raiser and farmer, is a son of Will-
iam G. and Christiana (Strawn) Marshall, natives of ^ Pennsylvania, the
former of Greene, and the latter of Fayette County, and respectively
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 63S
of Scotch and German extraction. William G. Marshall moved to Eis-
ing Sun, Ind., in 1818, and three years later to Lawrenceburg, where
he worked at his trade of carpenter, and afterward settled on land for
farming purposes. In 1865, he came to this county, where he died
August 7, 1882, aged eighty-two years. He was a pensioned soldier of
the war of 1812, and with Gen. Hull. He was a Republican and a
Universalist. His wife survives and resides with our subject at eighty-
six years of age; she is a^^uaker. Elijah H. Marshall was born in Dear-
born County, Ind., November 8, 1835, and after some preliminary edu-
cation entered Moore's Hill College, with much advantage. On
reaching his majority he began teaching in this county; continued for
four years, and then engaged at farming, which he followed until 1861,
when he enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Regimental Band. During his
service, he contracted measles, since which his health has been impaired.
After his discharge, he engaged in farming, and has so continued until
the present time, being interested in raising good horses and cattle. Mr.
Marshall is a fine musician, and has taught music for a number of years.
He has been thrice married; first, March, 1860, he wedded Miss Rebecca
J. Allen, who died July 8, 1864, leaving two children — Harland E. and
Ethel (now deceased). He next wedded, April 23, 1865, Miss Matilda
J. Sanders, who died February 27, 1872, leaving five children — Zada,
Eber, Dessie, Luke W. and Sibert. November 15, 1874, he married his
present wife, Miss Nancy Whitesell. Mr. Marshall is a member of the
Baptist, and Mrs. Marshall of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
NATHAN R. MATSON is a native of Cumberland County, Penn.,
was born April 5, 1840, and is a son of Peter and Mary Matson, natives
of Pennsylvania, and respectively of English and Scotch descent. After
going to school at intervals until he was sixteen, Nathan began his ap-
prenticeship to the trade of a tanner, which trade he finished in Phila-
delphia in 1859. He then came West, and worked as a tanner at Bloom-
ington until 1861, when he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-eighth Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and, hav-
ing served his term, re-enlisted as a veteran in the same company. After
various promotions he became Second Lieutenant. He participated in
the greatest battles of that campaign, and afterward suffered from
rheumatism and weakness of vision, which incapacitated him from fol-
lowing' his trade, and he was elected by the Republicans Township Trus-
tee for four years. October 2, 1865, he married Miss Ann Matthews,
which union gave being to four children — John E., Mary A., James H,
and George W. Mrs. Matson died July 6, 1875. Mr. Matson is a mem-
ber of the Masonic fraternity, of the G. A. R., and of the Baptist
Church; he is also highly extolled as a citizen.
JOHN MATTHEWS deceased (late of the firm of Matthews & Son,
now P. T. , William N. and Frederick Matthews), was born October 10, 1806,
in County Sussex, England; was apprenticed in London to the stone and
marble work, and assisted at building some of the Parliament houses,
etc. Here he married his wife, Miss Mary A. Drake; they had tweJve
children, seven of whom are living — Peter T., William N., Jane, James
L., Susan, Phebe and Frederick. In 1849, the Matthews family left for
America, were delayed on the voyage by a mutiny, and finally landed at
New Orleans, where Mr. M. was offered inducements to remain; but he
moved to Cincinnati, thence to Louisville, and thence to this State, in
Jefferson County, and opened a quarry for Dean Bros. In 1855, he
634 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
came to this county and opened a quarry for himself, which he managed
until his death. A specimen of this stone took first premium at the Cen-
tennial. He was a Union Democrat and a highly esteemed citizen. He
died May 27, 1883, aged seventy-seven, a member of the Baptist Church;
his wife is yet living, aged sixty-seven years.
Fbancis D. Matthews (the second son) was a veteran soldier of
the recent war, a member of Company G, Thirty-eighth Indiana Volun-
teer Infantry, and was shot before Atlanta.
Peter T. Matthews was born in London July 8, 1840, In
1861, he enlisted as a drummer in the Nineteenth Regimental Band.
Most of this band were captured at the battle of Bull Run, but Peter
escaped and served until the war was closed. After returning, he en-
gaged with his father in the quarrying business, and September, 1867,
he married Miss Sarah E., daughter of Robert T. Stimson, which union
gave them four children — Effie, Albert, John and Charles. Mr. Mat-
thews is a member of the Masons and the G. A. R.
William N. Matthews vv^as born in England November 1,
1844. When the war broke out, he was anxious to join the army, and,
being refused permission by his father, set out on foot to Indianapolis,
where he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment
Indiana Volunteer Infantry; joined Burnside's division, participated in
several battles and did skirmish duty, and served in the Quartermaster's
Department until the war ended. After his return, he, too, engaged in
assisting his father. November 8, 1869, he married Miss Adeline H.
Johnson, by which union were born four children — Francis E., Cora E.
and Irvin and Mabel (twins). Mr. Matthews is a Freemason, and he
adn wife belong to the Baptist Church.
Fredeeick Matthews was born at Stinesville, Ind., March 25,
1859. WheD hn became a man he became a partner with his brothers,
and January 23, 1879, married Miss Nettie B. Moore; they have one
daughter^Bertha A. Mr. Matthews is a Democrat.
JOHN A. MAY, barber, is the eighth of the twelve children of John
P. and Susan (Whalen) May, the former a native of Virginia. John P.
May was a farmer, who moved with his family to Washington County,
Ind., in 1831; engaged in butchering for six years; then removed to Van
Buren Township; there carried on a distillery, and finally located on a
fai'm, where he closed his life October 30, 1862. He was a worthy citi-
zen, a Republican, and a member of the Christian Church. Five of his
sons were in the Union army at one time, and all returned when the war
was ended. John A. May was born in Van Buren Township March 18,
1843, and brought up a farmer. W^hen seventeen years old, he enlisted
in Company I, Fifty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a
musician, going out September, 1861, and being discharged November,
1863, having seen hard and varied service. After returning, he engaged
in lumbering, and then purchased a barber's outfit, such trade having
been acquired while on duty as a soldier. He has been very successful
and has a good trade. May 28, 1876, he married Susan E. Vannoy, a
union which produced three children — Cora D. , Freddie C. (deceased)
and Minnie A. Mr. May is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Red Man.
He is a rigid Republican and a liberal citizen. Mr. and Mrs. May are
members of the Christian Church.
CHARLES MOORE, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Woodford
County, Ky., April 10, 1814, and is a son of Charles and Nancy (James)
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 635
Moore, natives of Virginia, and of English extraction, who moved to
Kentucky, where Mr. Moore died, and whence Mrs. Moore returned to
Virginia, and there married Joseph Copenhaver, after which they re-
moved to this county, in 1832, where Mrs. Copenhaver died in 1835.
Our subject was reared to industry, and began to make his own way
when seventeen years old by clearing and chopping. June 3, 1835, he
married Miss Elizabeth Copenhaver, a union honored by eighteen chil-
dren, of which number are living — Tillman H., Taylor S., William,
James M., Charles L., Clara L., Lizzie and Carrie. After marriage, Mr.
Moore farmed on rented land, and afterward procured eighty acres of
his own, which he improved. He was diligent, economical, and made
sure headway, adding to his possession until he owned 600 acres, which
he sold in 1852, and purchased his present place of 240 acres, now
one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Moore is one of the most
substantial farmers and citizens of these parts, and is in politics an
active Republican. He and wife are members in honor of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
GEORGE B. MOORE, merchant, is a native of this county, was
born March ], 1821, and is the third child of John and Jane (Dowell)
Moore, both natives of North Carolina. John Moore was a farmer and
wagon-maker. He moved hither in 1820; soon after went back to the
East, but came again to this State, made a home for his family and fin-
ished his course of life. His wife is yet living, aged eighty-eight years,
on the homestead settled by her husband fifty-five years ago; she is, as
Mr. Moore was, a member of the Baptist Church. George B. Moore
was reared a farmer, and received but twelve months' schooling. When
eighteen years of age he began working for himself as a farmer, but
after about three years became a clerk at Mount Tabor, and in 1850
commenced mercantile business at Spencer, from which point he removed
to Santa F6, where he continued in success for eight years. He then
sold his property and removed his stock to Ellettsville, where he now
continues with a stock of $5,000, a substantial and successful merchant.
Mr. Moore has been twice married— first, he wedded Mary Stefifey, who
died in 1865, leaving three out of five children — George B., Elvira J.
and Oscar Franklin; he wedded, second, in 1867, Mrs. Nancy J. Steel,
formerly of Owen County. Mr. Moore has dealt much in grain, pork,
wool, etc., and is, in all, worth probably $40,000. He is a Democrat,
and, with his wife, a member of the Baptist Church.
GEORGE MORELAND, life and fire insurance agent, was born
in this township January 27, 1847, and is the third son of L. H. and
Margaret (Billings) Moreland, natives respectively of North Carolina
and Tennessee. L. H. Moreland, moved to Greene County, this State,
about 1828, where his father had entered land, and which he assisted to
improve and cultivate. Having a fair education, he became a teacher,
and followed that vocation for twenty years, in alternation with farming.
In 1861, he moved to Owen County, and thence to Greene County again,
where he finished his course April 28, 1877. His wife is yet living at
Worthington, lud. George W. was reared a farmer, with a fair educa-
tion. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Eighty -second In-
diana Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was placed in the Cumber-
land division, and engaged at Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga,
Mission Ridge and Buzzard's Roost, where Mr. Moreland received seven
wounds, fractm-ing the left femur and bones of the leg, after which he
636 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
crawled one-quarter of a mile; his injuries were pronounced mortal, but
he recovered, by good nursing from a New York lady, and after some
time in the hospitals he was discharged, April, 1865. In ^ 866, he com-
menced teaching vocal music, in which he continued until 1878, and
which he subsequently abandoned for his present business. October 10,
1867, he married Miss Mary A. Johnson, born August 25, 1850, a union
which gave being to five children — Minnie D., Addie L., Bertha C,
Myrtie M. aud Sankie (deceased). Mr. Moreland is an esteemed citizen,
and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
CAPT. G. K. PERRY is a native of Rockland, Me., was born
December 26, 1831, and is the eldest of four children. The great-grand-
father of our subject, Job Perry, was a native of Marshtield, Mass., and
died in 1789; he was the father of ten children. The grandfather of our
subject, also Job Perry, was born in 1762, married Polly Jordan, and
died December 19, 1841. The parents of our subject were Job and Mar-
garet (Butler) Perry, who married November 14, 1830. Mr. Perry was
lost on the Florida coast, while going to New York; Mrs. Perry died May
26, 1882, in Rockland, Me. These parents were members of the Baptist
Church. Capt. Perry was left fatherless when seven years old, and went
to an academy at Salem, Mass., for two years. After hearing of the Cal-
ifornia gold excitement, he begged to go, but was refused, unless willing to
return within five years. June, 1850, he embarked, in a company with twelve
comrades, the ticket costing $250. After reaching Panama, he was
offered and refused $1,000 for his ticket. He reached California safely,
and soon departed for Sacramento, and in El Dorado County worked ten
days with pickax and pan, without encouragment, after which he worked
on a dam to turn the river, which labor was destroyed by the autumn
rains. When the company was dissolved, each member was allotted
twenty feet square, and the Captain's was a rich one. In 1855, he re-
turned, and in 1858 came West to engage in farming, reaching Elletts-
ville November 26, and engaged in rafting to Detroit. When volunteers
were called for during the late war, he raised a company and was elected
Captain, but took only First Lieutenant, September, 1861, of Company
G, Thirty-eight Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In 1862, he was made Cap-
tain, and resigned in 1 863. He participated at Stone River and in other
engagements of the Army of the Cumberland. After returning, he en-
gaged in mercantile business at Ellettsville until 1867, and afterward
with his brother in quarrying and monumental work, they now giving em-
ployment to nearly seventy -five men; they have also a flourishing grocery
business. June 5, 1865, he married Julia D. Healy, who died October 24,
1874, leaving two daughters — Mabel and Grace. He next married Hen-
rietta C. Hasslock, to which union were four boys — Gilbert K., Herman
H., Eugene H. R., and Frederic E. Mr. Perry is an influential Repub-
lican, and has been Township Trustee for three terms. He is a member
of the Masonic fraternity and of the G. A. R.
JOHN K. PHIPPS, dealer in grocries, hardware and notions, is a
native of North Carolina, was born October 29, 1841, and is a son of Eze-
ziel H., and Clarissa (Russel) Phipps, natives respectively of Virginia
and South Carolina, and both uf English descent, who in 1856 moved to
Georgia, where John K., passed his boyhood in attending school, and at
farm work. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate cause, was capt-
ured in 1865, and taken to Point Lookout for some months, then took
the oath of allegiance and was discharged, having served at Bull Run,
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 637
Malvern ^ Hill, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Gettysburg, Petersburg and
Weldon, where he received a flesh wound in the thigh, was placed some
time in the hospital and joined his regiment at Five Forks. After the
war, he engaged in farming until 1868, removed hither in 1869, and
worked with Matthews & Son for fourteen years. September, 1872, he
married Miss Nancy Jamison, of this township, with an issue of two
children — Mattie B., and William J. In 1883, he purchased the stock
of goods of Mr. Moore, for ^1,000, which he has increased by energy and
tact to a commanding and attractive one. Mr. Phipps is a member of
the Masonic order, and a Democrat in politics; he and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
AUSTIN B. REEVES, farmer and stock-raiser, is a son of Benjamin
and Nancy Reeves, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Ken-
tucky. Austin S. Reeves, grandfather of our subject, was a Revolution-
ary soldier, and Benjamin Reeves was a hero of the war of 1812. In
1820, he came to this county, passing down the Ohio in a flat-boat he had
built. As a result of his industry, he acquired 160 acres, and made a
good home from the virgin land. He was a Whig, and died February,
1846, aged sixty-six; his wife passed away seven years previous, aged
fifty- four years. They were the parents of nine daughters and two sons.
Austin B. Reeves was born in Van Buren Township August 27, 1829, and
the eldest son of the family. He was brought up to industry and to
farming. When seventeen years old, was left an orphan, and became an
apprentice to blacksmithing; served nearly four years, and received only
board and clothes. Later, he purchased the homestead farm, and devoted
his time to agriculture. In 1882, he sold this farm and purchased his
present home. August 5, 1854, he marrried Arabelle I. Pauley, of this
county, and to this union seven children came to bless it, six of whom^are
living— Garrison P., Flora B., Mary H., John Mc, B. Colfax and Austin
M. Mr. Reeves is a liberal and worthy citizen, a Republican, and a
member of the Patrons of Husbandry. Mrs. Reeves is a member of the
Mettiodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN A. REEVES, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Owen
County, Ind., February 27, 1839, and is the fourth of the family of Andy
W. and Sallie A. (McDonald) Reeves, both of whom came to this State
in childhood. John A. was reared and grew to manhood as a farmer.
September 20, 1860, he married Miss Ava Allen, only daughter of Elisha
and Mary E. Allen, and born June 9, 1841. To this union were bestowed
five children — John E. (deceased), Mary E., Sallie A., Olive G. and Will-
iam C. After marriage, Mr. Reeves entered the store of his father-in-
law, and in 1861 enlisted in Company G, Thirty-eighth Regiment Indi-
ana Volunteers, going out as Third Sergeant, from which he 'rose by
merit to be First Lieutenant, but owing to failing health he resigned his
commission in April, 1863; he saw hard service in the battle of Perry-
ville. On returning, he went into business with his father-in-law at
Ellettsville, and on the death of his partner, December, 1868, succeeded
to the business, which he continued until August, 1875, when he sold,
removed to Bloomington, and took charge of the County Treasurer's
ofi&ce, to which he was elected by the Republicans. At the expiration of
his second term, he retired to his farm of 160 acres, besides thirty-two
acres near by in timber; this place is also well improved and cultivated.
Mrs. Reeves belongs to the Christian Church.
LEVI RIDGE, pioneer and representative farmer, is a native of In-
638 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
dian Creek Township, was born June 19, 1819, and is the eldest son of the
family of Benjamin and Henrietta (Staton) Eidge, both natives of Ken-
tucky, and of English extraction. Levi Eidge passed his boyhood on the
farm, attending school for a short time, at periods also chopping wood
and doing general farm work, which course he continued until he was
twenty-five. March 12, 1845, he married Miss Elizabeth Dunning,
of this county, to which union were born seven children — Harriet J.,
Amanda H.. Susan A., James B., Thomas F., William E. (deceased) and
America I. The mother of these children diod January 6, 1875, aged
fifty-two years. Mr. Eidge began farming on forty acres purchased from
his father, which he improved, and on which he built a cabin. In 1871,
he sold his place and purchased his present home and farm, containing
190 acres. Mr. Eidge has also forty acres near by, on which is a good
brick house and frame barn, both of these being the fruit of his toil and
saving, having once labored at making rails for 25 cents per hundred.
He was once a AVhig, but of later years has voted with the Eepublicans.
Mr. Eidge is a worthy and esteemed citizen.
JAMES T. EOBEETSON, grocer, was born April 19, 1842—
near Bloomington, and is a son of James A. and Mary A. (Hardesty)
Eobertson, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Maryland.
After attending the common schools, James F. went to the State Univer-
sity for a year, and in January, 1864, enlisted in Company K, Twenty-
first Heavy Artillery, which was assigned to the Army of the Gulf, under
Gen. Banks, and participated in the Eed Eiver expedition and in the
siege of Fort Morgan; he was discharged May 19, 1865, from disability;
he afterward became clerk in a dry goods house, and in 1866, engaged
in his present business, with a small stock of goods, in which he has suc-
ceeded in obtaining a leading trade. March, 1868, he married Miss
Eachel, a daughter of William Prather, which union has resulted in the
birth of five children — Otho Schuyler, Mary Maud, James William, Lau-
ren W. and Kittle B. Mr. Eobertson is a radical Eepublican, and a
member of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. E. ; he is also an influential and
esteemed citizen. Mrs. Eobertson is a member of the Christian Church.
ELI EUMPLE, farmer and stock-raiser, is a son of Jacob and Mary
Eumple, was born January 1, 1828, in Burk County, N. C, and was
brought to this county by his parents in 1830. He was reared as a farm-
er, and received but little education, but having been taught the use of
tools, he commenced as a carpenter, at which he worked as a journeyman
for two years, and as a contractor for six years. June 17, 1856, he mar-
ried Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Priscilla Howard. Seven
children, five of whom are living, were followers of this marriage — Lura
Arbel, Lurinda, Ardilla, Dayton M., George E. and Sarah T. After
marriage, he located on a small farm in Clay Township on which he re-
mained until 1860, when he sold and purchased his present farm of nine-
ty-five acres, and afterward some land adjoining, now having a home and
farm comprising 280 acres, 240 of which are under good cultivation,
and all the result of his own care and toil. Mr. Eumple is a public -
spirited and esteemed citizen, and a Democrat in politics.
THOMAS J. SHAEP, farmer, was born September 8, 1817, in Sul-
livan County, Ind., and is a son of George and Sallie (Johnston) Sharp,
natives of Virginia and of German descent, who early moved to Ken-
tucky, and thence to Knox County, this Territory, in 1814. George
Sharp was a farmer and surveyor, and in 1817, purchased 320 acres, and
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 639
became oue of the earliest settlers. He was a public-spirited citizen, and
died at the age of sixty-three, his wife at fhe age of seventy-eight years.
Thomas J. Sharp has continued to reside on the homestead. When his
father died, he was thirteen years old, and he then became manager of
the farm. October 15, 1840, he married Miss Sallie, a daughter of
George and Catherine Parks, to which union succeeded six children, five
of whom are living — George P., James C, Sarah C, Amelia A. and Mary
M. Mr. Sharp, by industry and frugality, has acquired 219 acres, now
improved and valuable, and has also assisted each of his children. In
early life he was a Whig, but became afterward a Republican. He has
served as guardian and administrator for several estates, having given
bonds of $80,000. Mr. Sharp is an old-fashioned gentleman, and retains
many relics of the olden time, among them the first corn-cracker operat-
ed here, the same having been brought hither by his father. Mr. and
Mrs. Sharp are members of the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN H. SHOOK, wagon and carriage manufacturer, was born in
Bean Blossom Township, September 20, 1880, and is the youngest son
of George H. and Elizabeth (Heilman) Shook, both natives of North
Carolina, and of German extraction. George H. Shook removed to this
county from North Carolina in 1827. He was a pioneer, and experienced
the trials of those heroes; he was father of sixteen children. Tn 1857,
he moved to Elletsville, and lived in retirement until his death. May,
1861, aged seventy-two years, a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and a Democrat. Mrs. Shook died in 1863, aged seventy-two
years. John H. was reared to farming, attending school in the usual sea-
sons. When he was of age, he became an apprentice to a blacksmith,
served two years, and later worked as a journeyman and traveled con-
siderably in the State until 1857, when he came to this county, estab-
lished his business, and has since manufactured wagons and the like.
October 8, 1864, he married Miss Catherine, daughter of Willis and
Elizabeth Smith, which union was blessed with three children — Beatrice,
Nora Magdalena (deceased) and Ida Isabel. During the war he worked
mostly at gunsmithing, and also invented a revolving rifle, reaching 400
yards. He has besides acquired some proficiency at painting wagons,
landscapes and portraits. He is an active Republican and business man.
He and wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
LORENZO DOW STANGER, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of
Bloomington Township, this county, was born September 18, 1835, and
is the oldest son of John and Ann (Thomas) Stanger, natives of Virginia,
and respectively of German and English extraction. Lorenzo Dow Stan-
ger was reared on a farm in his native township, where he attended the
schools of the day until he was eighteen years of age. When he was
twenty years old, his father gave him a horse, with which to make a begin-
ning in life; he afterward hired for $13 per month; then went into Mc-
Lean County, 111., and so continued until he was twenty-four years old,
when he farmed on shares with Mr. Owen. November 1, 1860, he mar-
ried Thursa A. Houston, of this county, and to them were given four
children — James H., Gilbert E., David Sherman and Ada Montana. Soon
after marriage, Mr. Stanger moved to his father-in-law's, and farmed
about five years, then went into McLean County, where he owned forty
acres, sold the same in 1869, and purchased eighty acres, which he has
improved and stocked, and now occupies as his home. Mr. Stanger is a
worthy citizen, a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Christian
Church.
640 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
FRANCIS M. STEPHENSON, Postmaster and dealer in groceries,
queensware, glass and notions, was born in Owen County, Ind., January
15, 1844, and is the youngest of the five children of Madison and Sarah
(Wilborn) Stephenson, natives of Virginia, who were early comers to
Owen County. After some schooling and regular training to the life of
a farmer, Francis enlisted in August, 1862, in Company B, Sixty-seventh
Regiment Indiana Volunteers, assigned to the Army of the Gulf, and
participated in the engagements of Munfordville, Ai'kansas Post, Vicks-
bui-g, Jackson, Mobile and the Red River expedition. He was taken
prisoner, parolled, and joined his regiment at Baton Rouge, and was dis-
charged July 19, 1865, having been once wounded in the neck. Sep-
tember 1, 1867, he married Miss Jennie, daughter of Thomas and Mary
Gillespy, a union favored by five children — Lena Colfax, David T.,
Frank C., Arthur T. and Francis M. In 1870, Mr. Stephenson located
in the grocery trade at Freedom, Owen County, and after four years
removed to Ellettsville, and has continued in the same line. Mr.
Stephenson is a stanch Republican, and was commissioned Postmaster in
May, 1879, in which he has given much satisfaction. He is a member
of the Masonic order, of the G. A. R., and, with his wife, belongs to the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
S. P. THOMPSON, stock-raiser and farmer, is the only son of John
T. and Sallie (Grimes) Thompson, natives respectively of North Carolina
and Kentucky, and of Irish and German extraction, and was born in
Crawford County, III, July 16, 1822. His father, John T. Thompson,
moved in early life from North Carolina to Kentucky, and was a minister
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He moved to Knox County, Ind.,
in 1814, and afterward, in 1818, to Illinois, where he engaged in farm-
ing, about 1824. He bold this land. removed to this county and purchased
eighty acres, where he died in 1850, aged seventy-two years; his wife
died 1875, aged eighty-five years. S. P. Thompson, was reared on a
farm and received but spare education; indeed, he acquired his knowl-
edge after reaching manhood, at which time he engaged in threshing,
and split rails when not engaged with his machine. May 26, 1850, he
married Miss Louisa A., daughter of James and Margaret Freeman.
Previous to his father's decease, Mr. Thompson purchased the homestead,
which he sold in 1853, and purchased a part of his present property,
which aggregates 400 acres, but he has sold all bat 160, which he culti-
vates and on which he raises some stock. In 1871. he lost his dwelling
by fire, and in 1880, rebuilt an improved and enlarged one. He is a
member of the Masonic order, a good citizen, and he and wife are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
^Y. B. WALDEN, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in this county,
January 3, 1831, and assisted his father in making a home from the wilder-
ness, as well as forming himself such habits of industry and frugality
as were of value to him in after life. Re attended school during his
boyhood, and when of age became a pioneer of Owen County on sixty
acres of timber land entered by his father. To this he added sixty
acres, which he improved, and built thereon a frame house; he split rails
for his neighbors, 250 being a day's work, and received 40 cents per 100.
October 12, 1849, he married Miss Philena, daughter of Melas Cline.
which union gave being to foui- children, all of whom died in infancy.
In the spring of 1860, he sold his place and removed to this township,
where he purchased 160 acres, forty of which were cleared. This land
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 641
he improved, and added thereto until he now owns 207 acres, with a
pleasant home and congenial surroundings. Mr. Walden is independent
in. politics. In 1883, he was elected Road Superintendent, which, after
six months,he resigned; he has also been Representative of the State and
National Grange,
STANFIELD WHARTON, retired farmer, is a native of Orange
County, Va. , was born August 15, 1809, and is the eldest son of a family
of eight born to Joseph and Sarah (Age) Wharton, both natives of Vir-
ginia, who moved to Lincoln County, Ky., where Stanfield was born and
reared to the profession of farmer. He received but a limited education,
and remained in the service of his parents until his majority, when he
worked for himself as a farm hand, and saved $200. January 9, 1834,
he married Miss Ann E. Berry, who died October 21, 1853, having borne
six sons and three daughters, of whom are living — Joseph B. , Green
Lawrence and Burton T. Mr. Wharton married for his second wife,
January 19, 1854, Miss Parthenia J. Cooper, and to this union succeeded
ten children, eight of whom are living James W., Mary M., Amanda M.,
Lorena Esther, Fernando D., Luella E., Silas M. and Isaac E. After his
marriage, Mr. Wharton farmed on rented land for about six years, then
cleared some land, following which he purchased a farm, and succeeded
in getting several farms in this State and in Iowa, but returned there-
from after two years, and lived in Owen County. In 1869, he moved to
his present home, then as a deseri, and now iDlossoming as a rose, con-
taining 160 acres, well improved and cultivated, and one of the best
farms in the town&hip — a result due to himself alone. Mr. Wharton cast
his first vote for Gen. Jackson. He is a much respected citizen.
WILLIAM L. WHITTED, M. D., is a son of Zachariah and Rebecca
(Allen) Whitted, natives of North Carolina, but who grew to maturity in
this State, and married about 1835. Zachariah Whitted was a farmer, at
which and at flat-boat building he labored many years. He reared seven
children by his first, and five by his second wife, who yet lives and occu-
pies the home farm. Mr. Whitted was formerly a Whig, but became a
Republican, and an ardent admirer of Mr. Lincoln, whom he survived two
days. He was six feet two and a half inches high, a member of the
Masonic order, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for fifteen
years Trustee of his township. He was fifty-three years old at his death.
William L. Whitted was born August 24, 1842, near Bedford, Ind., was
reared a farmer, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company B, Eighteenth
Indiana Regiment. In 1863, he was made Sergeant, and after becoming
a veteran in 1864 wa=i commissioned Second Lieutenant, and afterward
chosen Captain, which commission he did not receive, but served as Ser-
geant Major until the end of the war. He was slightly wounded at
Magnolia Hill, and served at Pea Ridge, Champion Hill, Black River,
siege of Vicksburg, and other engagements. He was discharged Septem-
ber 22, 1865, and married, November 28, Miss Susanna, daughter of Rev.
James Fish, a union followed by three children — Frank, Gertrude and
Mary Estella. Soon after marriage, Mr. Whitted began the study of
medicine under Dr. Samuel A. Raridon, attended lectures at the Ohio
Medical College, and located at Tunnelton. In 1869, he came to this
county, and has done a good business in EUettsvilie. In 1877-78, he
attended lectures at and graduated from the Miami Medical College, and
in 1881 began the drug business with Mr. Hughes. Dr. Whitted is a
Republican, and has held some minor offices. He is a member of the
642 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Masons and the G. A. R. He and his wife belong to the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
F. E. WORLEY, banker and farmer, was born in this township
June 3, 1838, the only child of Hiram and Margaret (Legg) Worley.
Hiram Worley came with his mother to this county in 1828. He was a
shrewd, careful and industrious man, gave attention to farming and rais-
ing stock, and finally became wealthy and influential. He was a Repub-
lican politically, religious without creed, and benevolent without osten-
tation. Our subject was reared to farming, and after a preliminary ed-
ucation, attended the State University at Bloomington. In 1858, he en-
gaged in mercantile business at Ellettsville, in company with William
Buchanan, and after one year Mr. Worley became sole owner of the
business, which he continued twelve years, realizing therefrom $30,000.
In 1873, after having closed his father's estate, he commenced the bank-
ing business, which he is still operating, as well as dealing in stock, such
as fine horses, short- horn and Jersey cattle, (Cashmere sheep, fowls and
carp fish. He has one of the best dwellings in the county, surrounded
by a fence of stone, the material taken from one of his quarries. Mr.
Worley is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a Republican in politics,
and an Episcopalian in religion. May 20, 1875, he married Miss Laura
Davis, of Nashville, Tenn.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
G. L. BRANDON, a farmer and stock-raiser, was born November 12,
1839, in McDonough County, 111., and is the third of ten children, eight
now living, born to Richard and Magdalena (Favorit) Brandon, natives
of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish and German descent re-
spectively. G. L. Brandon was reared on a farm, and was sent to school
part of the time. When he was six years old, his parents moved into
Hancock County, 111., and he lived there until his thirty-third year. On
April 28, 1870, Mr. Brandon married Narcissa Smith, in Iowa. She was
a native of this county and a daughter of Dudley C. and Isabel (Porch)
Smith, natives of Vermont and North Carolina. Mrs. Smith came here
from Lincoln County, Ky., in 1833, and is still living, aged seventy-
three years. Dudley C. Smith was born on December 22, 1796; came
first to Ohio, then to this county about J 819; remained near Blooming-
ton ten years, and finally settled in this township. His father was a
Revolutionary soldier, having participated in the battle of Bunker Hill.
G. L. Brandon had born to him, by her, three children, two living —
Fred Raymond and Rodney Howe. Mr. Brandon is a Presbyterian, and
his wife belongs to the Christian Church. Our subject, in March, 1865,
enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois (Mounted)
Infantry, and was discharged in September, 1865, at Springfield. He is
a Republican.
WILLIAM F. BUNGER, farmer and stock-raiser and trader, was
born July 17, 1836, in this township, and is the youngest of nine children
born to Philip and Susanna (Neff; Bunger, natives of Virginia and Ken-
tucky, and of German descent. William F. was reared on a farm, and
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 643
attended the public schools. Philip Bunger was an old settler here, and
his son lived with him until his marriage. On December 18, 1866, he
wedded Harriet N. Neeld, of this county, and daughter of Benjamin
and Elizabeth (Reeves) Neeld, Kentuckiansof English and Irish descent.
Mr. Neeld settled in Bloomington about 1818. Mrs. Neeld settled in
this county in 1817, near Ellettsville. She had poor advantages for an
education, and says that at that time her people were only able to buy
one barrel of flour in two years. They used hand mills to grind corn
for about two years, and then the horse mill was introduced. She is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bunger formerly
belonged to the Grange. He and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He owns 202 acres of land in a high state of cultivation,
stocked and ornamented with a fine frame residence, besides the addition
of out-buildings and orchard, it being one of the finest homes in the
township. Mr. Bunger is an upright citizen, and votes the Republican
ticket.
IRA CARTER, teacher, was born in Monroe County, Ind. , March 18,
1865, and is a son of J. F, and Susan (Silivan) Carter, the former a
native of Garrard County, Ky. , the latter of Monroe County, Ind. They
are both of English descent. J. F. Carter received a good common
school education in Indiana, to which State he came in early youth, and
remained with his parents until 1863, when he was married. Eight
children bless this union, all of whom are yet living. He and wife are
devoted members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He owns a farm
in Van Buren Township, where he now resides. Ira Carter, the eldest of
three sons, besides receiving a good common schooling, has attended
different Normal Schools held at Bloomington and elsewhere. During the
summer he is engaged on his father's farm and in winter is employed in
teaching. Mr. Carter is a young man of fine ability and bids fair to be
one of the leading young men of the county,
SAMUEL DINSMORE, farmer and stock-raiser, was born February
8, 1834, in Ireland, and is the eldest of eight children born to John and
Margaret (Small) Dinsmore, natives of Ireland, and of Scotch-Irish de-
scent. Samuel was reared on a farm, and attended school when not other-
wise employed, and in this way received sufl&cient education to enable
him to teach. He taught three months. His parents came to the United
States in 1838, and moved to the West, settling in Van Buren Township,
about one mile north of where our subject now resides. They came by
way of Pittsburgh by water to Louisville, where a wagon landed them in
Monroe County in seven days. John Dinsmore purchased 160 acres of
land and improved it. Samuel remained with his father until his mar-
riage, on October 10, 1859, to Magdalene Hutsinpiller, of Monroe County,
and a teacher. She is the daughter of Jacob A. and Susanna (Bunger)
Hutsinpiller, Pennsylvanians of German descent. Miss Hutsinpiller was
educated at Bloomington, and taught in Indiana about three years, and
in Illinois about one year. Mr. Dinsmore had born to him five children
— John A., William J. (deceased), Margaret Lenore, Julia Frances and
Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Dinsmore and wife also took a boy, George Krohn,
from the Orphans' Home in Cincinnati, and are raising him as one of
their own children. Mr. Dinsmore owns 200 acres of land, well cultivated,
and ornamented with a substantial residence, besides a barn and out-
buildings. He received eighty acres from his father at his marriage.
Our subject is breeding short-horn cattle and Berkshire hogs, and has
644 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
followed this occupation fox' ten years. Mr. Dinsmore has belonged to
the Patrons of Husbandry since 1873, and has held nearly every office in
the lodge, being at present Lecturer. He and wife are Presbyterians, and
he has held the office of Dii'pctor of his district for some time. He is an
esteemed citizen, and a Kepublican overflowing with energy.
JOSEPH S. DINSMORE, a leading and enterprising farmer and
stock-raiser of this county, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, January
1, 1836, and is the second of the eight children, four now living, born to
John and Margaret (Small) Dinsmore, natives of Ireland, and of Scotch-
Irish descent. Joseph S. was reared upon a farm, and attended the
common schools and a university for six months. Mr. Dinsmore enlisted
in August, 1862, in Company F, Eighty- second Indiana Infantry, and
was engaged in the following battles: Perryville, Ky. ; Stone River,
Tenn ; Chickamauga, Resaca, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree
Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Bentonville, besides numerous skir-
mishes and in Sherman's "march to the sea." Mr. Dinsmore was in the
grand review at Washington, and was discharged at Indianapolis in July,
1865. Mr. Dinsmore was then engaged in the furniture business at
Bloomington for about five years, finally failed, and then engaged in the
spoke and handle business. This he followed for a year and a half, was
then biu'ned out, and returned to farming. He has continued in this
occupation ever since. Mr. Dinsmore was married on October 6, 1868,
to Mary A. Henderson, of Salem, Ind., and a daughter of John Grant
and Martha T. (Young) Henderson, natives oE Kentucky and North Caro-
lina, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. Dinsmore taught school about
five years before her marriage. They have had born to them three chil-
dren— Leon Wade, Wylie Henderson and Joseph Paul. The parents are
Presbyterians, and Mr. Dinsmore is a Republiean. John Dinsmore, an
old settler and enterprising farmer of this county, was born in County
Antrim, Ireland, on October 6, 1810, and is the youngest and only living
one of the fourteen children born to Samuel and Mary (Brystar) Dins-
more. John Dinsmore came with his mother to this country in 1838, and
settled in this township. He was reared in Ireland, and there received a
good education. On June 10, 1832, he married Margaret Small, of County
Antrim, Ireland, and a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Dinsmore) Small,
of Scotch ancestry. Mr. Dinsmore had born to him by this marriage
eight children, three of whom — Samuel, Joseph S. and Mary (deceased)
— were born in Ireland, and the other five — William J., Andrew (de-
ceased), Jane (deceased), Theophilus (deceased) and Matilda (Kirby) — in
America. When Mr. Dinsmore came to this county, he bought 120 acres
of land, mostly timber. He improved this land, and then exchanged it
for 240 acres, upon which he now lives. This place has a fine residence,
barn and out-buildings, with the addition of a healthy orchard. By in-
dustry and application, Mr. Dinsmore has accomplished this success, and
now peacefully enjoys his hard-earned possessions, seeing his children
around him, each well established in life by his care. He has given each
of them from $2,000 to $3,000 in money. Mrs. Dinsmore died at seventy -
five years of age, on October 6, 1882, having passed away suddenly while
about her household duties. She was a Presbyterian, and Mr. Dinsmore
is of the same creed. They were liberal givers in charity, and had cele-
brated their golden wedding only a few months before her death. Mr.
Dinsmore uses neither tobacco nor whisky. His children are Presby-
terians, and two sons served in the late war, returning without an injury.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 645
Mr. Dinsmore is just recovering from an injury, but as a general thing
has good health. He is a Republican, and an upright and honorable
citizen, highly respected by his many friends and acquaintances.
DR. JAMES DODD was born May 20, 1832, in Lawrence County,
Ind., and is the fifth of the seven children born to George and Mary
(Pearson) Dodd. He lived on the home fa -m until 1855, when he com-
menced the study of medicine with Denson &Rairden, of Bedford, Penn.
In 1856 and 1857, he attended his tirst course of lectures in Miami Med-
ical College. In July, 1857, he located in Harrodsburg, this county,
and in the winter of 1858-59 graduated from the Ohio Medical College.
He married Catherine A. Carmichael, of Monroe County, daughter of
Peter and Lydia (Zague) Carmichael, natives of North Carolina. To this
union have been born eleven children, of whom eight are living — Cran-
ston H, James M., Mary E., Charlotte, George P., Walter P., Thomas
C. and Evaline C. In 1870, Dr. Dodd exchanged his town property for
the eighty acres on which he now resides, combining farming with the
practice of medicine. He is also the owner of eighty well-improved
acres in Indian Creek Township. In November, 1862, the Doctor was
appointed Surgeon to the Sixty- seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers;
was at Vicksburg and Arkansas Post; became disabled, and at the end
of six months was compelled to resign. He is a leading Republican, and
cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln. Mrs. Dodd's mother is still
living, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
HENRY ELLER, one of the old settlers of Monroe County, was born
June 9, 1817, in Virginia, and is the fifth of ten children born to John
and Susan (^Smith) Eller, natives of Virginia, and of German and Eri-
glish descent respectively. Our subject was reared on a farm, and he
had only the advantages of the common schools taught in the country
when it was an unbroken wilderness. He came with his parents to this
county in 1831, when he was about fourteen years old. They settled on
the section where our subject now resides. His father first purchased 320
acres, added to and improved until he owned 520 acres, located about five
miles west of Bloomington. When he came here he was elected Justice
of the Peace, which office he held for many years. For two terms he was
elected Probate Judge of Monroe County, and held that position at the
time of his death in August, 1840. Our subject was married, in Septem-
ber, 1837, to Velinda, daughter of Thomas and Barbara Bailey, natives
of Virginia. Three children were born to them — Elizabeth J. (Stimp-
son), John Thomas and George Henry (deceased). His wife dying in
1844, he was next married, on June 29, 1845, to Elizabeth W. Shreve,
of Monroe County, and daughter of William D. Shreve. To this union
eight children were born, viz. : James W., Harriet A. (Ammerman),
Melinda M. (Kirby), Susan V. (Mayfield), Frances M. (Johnston), Mary,
Laura (Ward), J. B. M. and Charles D. Mr. Eller enlisfpd in the three
months' service on June 9, 1862, and did guard duty at Indianapolis. In
May, 1864, he re enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-third
Indiana Infantry. His regiment was on guard duty at Bridgeport, Ala.
He was discharged in September, same year. While in the three months'
service he was Sergeant of his company. During his last service he was
also Sergeant. While in the service, Mi\ Eller lost his health, and has
not been able to do a hard day's work since. He owns ninety-five acres
of good land, well cultivated, and having all the modern ijuprovements.
He is one of the leading stock-breeders in this county, having been en-
646 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
gaged in it for forty-nine years. For two terms Mr. EUer has been
elected County Commissioner, and for several terms has been Township
Assessor. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Politically, he is an active, stanch Republican.
THOMAS FULLERTON was born in West Tennessee, February 25,
1817, and is the fourth of eight children born to Thomas and Nancy
(Woody) Fullerton, natives respectively of South Carolina and Virginia.
He came to this county with his parents in 1820, and has here grown up
a farmer. The parents were both born in 1785, and died in 1865. Mr.
Fullerton has always resided on the 160 acres on which he was reared.
He was married, March 26, 1846, to Maria Bunger, daughter of Philip
and Susanna (Neff) Bunger, and a native of Kentucky. To this union
there have been born eleven children, of whom nine are living — William
M., Alfred W., Joseph R., Louisa J., R. Henry, Edwin L., Thomas P.,
M. L. and Libbie M. At the age of twenty-tive, Mr. Fullerton was
elected Justice of the Peace of his township and served five years; he
owns 100 acres of land in a fine state of cultivation, with fine residence
and outbuildings. In polities, he is a Republican.
J. H. GASTON, M. D., was born on August 8. 1844, in Greene County,
Ind., and is the seventh of eleven children, ten now living, born to
James M. and Mary P. (Bryan) Gaston, natives of Tennessee and South
Carolina, respectively. J. H. Gaston was reared on a farm, and attended
the public school, also the academy at Bloomfield one year, and one term
at Asbury University. He taught school for two terms. In August,
1862, Mr. Gaston enlisted in Company A, Ninety-seventh Indiana In-
fantry, and took part in the following battles: Jackson, Miss., Mission
Ridge, Resaca, Dalton and Kenesaw Mountain. At the latter place he
received a wound which broke a bone in his arm, and disabled him for
further service. He was discharged in May, 1865, at Madison, Ind. He
returned to his home, receiving a pension since the date of his discharge.
Mr. Gaston studied medicine with Dr. Bailey of Stanford, and attended
a course at Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, receiving his diploma
in 1872. He then began practicing in Stanford and has lived there ever
since. Dr. Gaston has met with fair success, and keeps himself well
posted upon the subject of medicine, by attending lectures. The Doctor
married, on July 21, 1872, Martha Counet, a native of Monroe County and
a daughter of Nelson and Emily (Rose) Counet, natives of Pennsylvania
and Ohio, and of English and German descent. By this union there are
five children — Grace F., Audley, Otis T., Edith V. and Mary. Dr. Gas-
ton owns fifteen acres of land with a good residence, barn, out buildiugs
and a good orchard. In the fall of 1882, he was elected Coroner of his
county. Mrs. Gaston is a Congregationalist. The Doctor is a live
Republican.
DAVID La RUE, one of the oldest settlers of Monroe County, Ind.,
was born on September 24, 1807, and is the youngest of four children
born to Peter and Catharine (McKissic) La Rue, natives of Virginia. The
mother died when our subject was but three years old. After this he
worked around and about by the day until he was thirteen years of age,
when he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade and served his time.
In 1828, he went to Meigs County, Ohio, remained one year; thence to
Cincinnati, where he was a carpenter on a steamboat for three years;
thence to Livingston County. Ky., and remained one year with his father,
or until the latter's death, at the age of eighty-seven years. Then in May,
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 647
1832, lie came to Bloomington, Ind. On December 27, 1832, be was
married to Nancy, daughter of Jessie and Sallie Cole, and a native of
Kentucky. Seven children have been born to them, only two of whom,
Sarah and Jesse, are now living. After his marriage, Mr. La Rue moved
on eighty acres of land located near Stanford, where he lived two years,
after which he traded that farm for eighty acres in Greene County,
where he lived thirty-two years. He at the end of this time had accumu-
lated 220 acres, all well improved and under good cultivation. In 1866,
he sold this farm for |6,000, and jDurchased for $5,000 the one on which
he now resides. Mrs. La Rue died in 1850, when, on March 14, 1851, he
married Minerva Cole, of Greene County, and daughter of John and
Sarah Cole. Two children, both deceased, were born to this union. This
wife died in 1855. He next married, on September 10, 1859, Eliza Dan-
iel, of Greene County, daughter of Joseph Daniel. Mr. La Rue lost this
wife through a divorce court, when, for his fourth wife, he married, on
April 24, 1863, Mrs. Elizabeth Breakison, also of Greene County. This
couple have had five children, three of whom are living. His wife had
four children by her former husband. His first wife was a member of
the Campbellite, his second wife of the Baptist, his third of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, of which his present wife is also a member, and of
which Mr. La Rue is also a member. Our subject was Township Treas-
urer in his township in Greene County for seven years; was Deputy
Sheriff of that county two years; was elected Constable in this township,
but refused to qualify. His father was a soldier of the Revolution, hav-
ing engaged in thirteen battles, such as Bunker Hill, Fredericktown,
Trenton, etc. The father was reared in the same neighborhood with Gen.
Washington. Our subject has been a member of the Masonic fraternity
since 1852, at Stanford, and is now a member of Monroe Lodge, No. 22,
Bloomington. On account of an impediment in his speech, he never at-
tended school but two months in his life. His first wife taught him how
to read. Mr. La Rue is a self-made man, and has always been wonder-
fully successful in his business ventures. Two of his sons served in the
army during the late war. By the community in which he resides he is
highly respected.
MATTHEW McCONNEL, a wide awake young- farmer of Mom-oe
County, was born on October 21, 1854, in Guernsey County, Ohio, and is
a son of Matthew and Margaret (Stephenson) McConnel, natives of Ohio
and Maryland, and of Irish and Scotch-English descent. Matthew, our
subject, was reared on a farm, and attended the public schools to some
extent. He came to Indiana with his parents in the spring of 1857.
They settled where the family now lives, and where his father purchased
225 acres of land about two miles west of Bloomington. Our subject
married, February 26, 1882, Margaret L. Constable, of Ellettsville, and
daughter of John S. and Margaret (James) Constable, natives of South
Carolina and Virginia. The couple have one child, Lora A. Mr. Mc-
Connel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and his wife is a
Presbyterian. He has a fourth interest in 275 acres of land, left by his
father, and which is improved with residence, bai'n, out-buildings and
orchard. He is independent in politics. Charles W. Curry was born
September 18, 1854, in Monroe County, and is the fifth of ten childi-en
born to William H. and Eliza A. (Swearingen) Curry. Charles W. was
reared on a farm, and attended the public schools. On October 24, 1878,
Mr. Curry married Sarah A. , a daughter of Matthew and Margaret (Ste-
648 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
phenson) McConnel, and sister of our subject. The couple are parents of
two children — Bert E. and Homer L. — and are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
JONAS R. MAY, an old settler and leading farmer and stock- raiser,
was born January 25, 1834, in Perry Township, Monroe County, Ind.,
and is the fourth of six children (five now living) born to David and
Sarah (May) May, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, and of Ger-
man descent. David May and his wife were among the first settlers in
the county. He has always been a farmer, and, consequently, Jonas B,.
was reared to that vocation, attending school when not employed about
the farm, and, in 1854, took a course of six months at a university, and
afterward was employed in teaching school for three years. He was
salesman in a store at Harrodsburg, this county, for two years. January
12, 1860, Mr. May married Mary J. Wiseley, a native of this county,
and a daughter of Jesse and Margaret ("Woodward) Wiseley, Virginians,
of German and Irish-German descent respectively. By this marriage
there are three children — Clara B., Luther D. and Omar M. Mr. May
possesses 274 acres of land, well cultivated and embellished with a fine
brick residence, barn and outbuildings. The place is well supplied
with a fine orchard, and with all necessary agricultural implements. For
a start in life, Mr. May received about $2,000 from his father, and by
industry has accumulated until he possesses as comfortable a home as any
in the township. In 1872, Mr. May was elected Trustee of his township,
held the office one term, was again elected in 1876, and held the office
four years. He was a third time elected in 1882, and is now holding
that position. He is very active in the interests of his township, and
alive to those of the Republican party.
GEORGE W. MOORE was born July 8, 1806, in Scott County, Ky.,
and is the fourteenth of fifteen children (fourteen of whom lived to rear
families) born to Robert and Margaret (Mercer) Moore, natives of Ire-
land. The father was a farmer. Our subject grew to manhood on a
farm, his educational advantages being very poor. At the age of
eighteen, he commenced the struggles of life on his own responsibility.
For three years he drove a stage-coach team, and carried the United
States mail. He drove the first four horse stage team ever driven from
Lexington to Nashville, Tenn. He was agent for the United States mail line
for four years, after which he engaged in farming, continuing five years.
In the autumn of 1834, he came to Monroe County, and settled in
Bloomington Township. He farmed for three years, then sold out, and
moved to Bloomington, where he embarked in the dry goods and grocery
trade, following this business twenty -five years, after which he disposed
of his business and purchased the farm of 250 acres of land on which
he now resides. To this he has added twenty-five acres, which addition
makes him the owner of 275 acres, all in a high state of cultivation, and
having all the modern improvements. Mr. Moore was married, August
81, 1831, to Elizabeth Mouser, of Kentucky, and daughter of Frederic
Mouser. Four children were born to them, three of whom, John S.,
Ann A. (Fletcher) and Louisa (Otwell), are living. In Washington Ter-
ritory Mr. Moore made a purchase of 157 acres of timber for $300,
which he subsequently sold for $1,300. On his farm he has a saltpeter
cave, which has been explored three-fourths of a mile. Mr. M. and wife
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has been a
member of the Masonic fraternity since 1831. In politics he is a Re-
publican.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 649
DANIEL PAFFOED, an old settlex- and a most enterprising farmer
and stock-raiser of Monroe County, was born in the summer of IS 14, in
North Carolina, and is the only child of his parents, who were natives of
Scotland. Daniel was reared on a farm and, being an orphan, had
very poor opportunities for obtaining an education. He was enabled,
however, by paying his own way, to learn to read and write a little. Our
subject came to Indiana in 1822, in company with a family named Mel-
vin. They settled in Lawrence County, and Daniel Pafford remained
with them until he was seventeen years old, and then began working at
$1 per week, and at one time for |S per month. On August 13, 1835,
Mr. Pafiford married Hannah McBride, of Lawrence County, and a daugh-
ter of John and Mary (Woodruff) McBride, respectively of English and
Irish descent. They have had ten children, seven living — Gideon, Mary
(Balanger), Elizabeth (Mayo), Frank, Solomon, Janet (Gentry) and John.
The mother died, a Baptist, in 1863. In 1865, Mr. Pafford married
Sarah Roy, of Lawrence County, and a daughter of Thomas and Polly
Roy. This lady died in 1880, and in July, 1882, ^Ir. Pafford took for
his third wife Eliza Stone, of Monroe County, and a daughter of William
and Evaline (Hight) Roseberry. Mrs. Pafford is a member of the Chris-
tian Church. Mr. Pafford is a Baptist, and owns 265 acres of land, with
a good residence, barn and outbuildings, besides an orchard. He is a
solid Democrat, and first voted for Van Buren.
GEORGE NEWTON PUETT, farmer and pioneer, was born on De-
cember 11, 1827, on the farm now occupied by Andi-ew Reeves, in Bean
Blossom Township, this county, and is the youngest son and the fifth of
the eight children born to William and Hannah (Parks) Puett, natives of
North Carolina, and of French-English and English extraction. William
Puett came to this county in 1816, and cleared the first land upon which
Spencer, Owen County, now stands, for Samuel Dunn, and also helped
carry the first brick ever made in Bloomington. He was very poor and
worked in various capacities, finally entering 160 acres of land, in 1817
or 1818, improved it and built the brick house now occupied by Andrew
Reeves, then being considered a very fine dwelling. This was built in
1830. He was married about the time his land was entered. He be-
longed to the Old Regular Baptist Church for about thirty years, and then
joined the Missionary Baptist, in which church he preached for twenty
years. Hh was opposed to slavery, and intemperance, was a great reader,
and always supported the Whig and Republican parties, and died on
July 3, 1877, in his eightieth year. Our subject's mother was a teacher
and composer of. music, and he has a book which was prepared by her in
1812, and in her native State she was considered a fine singer. George New-
ton, our subject, was reared on a farm, and received a poor education. On
February 24, 1848, Mr. Puett married Emily Hyneman, of Elletts-
ville, and a daughter of John W. and Nancy (Drunon) Hyneman, Ken-
tuckians, of Irish descent. By this union there were three children —
Rob N., John W., living at Colfax, 111., and Charles W., killed by a
horse. Mrs. Puett died June 23, 1867, a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Mr. Puett next married, on July 5, 1868, Mary A.
Du Bois, a native of Brown County, and daughter of Levi B. and Martha
M. (Green) Du Bois, natives of New York and of Ohio. By this union
there were three children — William D., Mattie E. and George M. (de-
ceased). Mr. Puett and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
After his first marriasre Mr. Puett farmed on the old homestead in Bean
650 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Blossom Township, for four years; then went to McLean County, 111.,
entered 160 acres of land, and remained there five years. He then went
back to the old farm, in Bean Blossom Township, for twelve years, and
then to Illinois, bought back the old farm, and lived there six years. In
February, 1874, Mr. Puett returned to Bean Blossom Township; thence
to Ellettsville, and finally to this county, four miles west of Bloomington.
Mr. Puett owns 160 acres, all cultivated. He received forty acres from
his father, which he sold for $250. A legacy of $600, received after his
father's death, was all the help he had. Mr. Puett began preaching in
the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1856; was ordained Deacon October
2, 1864, and Elder September 12, 1880, by Bishop Foss. Mr. Puett has
taught singing for about twenty-five years of his life. W. W. Puett,
subject's elder brother, has been a member of the old Indiana Conference
for thirty years. Our subject belongs to the I. O. O. F. and to the
Grange, being Chaplain of the order. He was first a Whig, then a Re-
publican and finally a Greenbacker. In 1876, he was candidate for
Representative on the Greenback ticket. He is much respected and
prized as a valuable citizen of the county.
HAltRIS A. RICHEY was born January 4, 1863, in Noble County,
Ohio, and is the eldest of the two children of Thomas J. and Mary E.
(Elliott) Richey, natives of Ohio and of Irish origin. Harris A. was
reared on a farm, and was instructed to a certain degree in the public
schools. He also took a year's course at Mitchell, Ind. Mr. Richey has
taught two terms. He remained at home until his fifteenth year, then
farmed, attending school part of the time. Mr. Richey spent one year
in Kansas, then clerked, and finally attended school at Valparaiso, where
he left in 1881. He then came to Stanford, bought an interest in a store
there in April, 188B, and in August bought out his partner's interest,
and now is sole manager and proprietor. On November 25, 1883, Mr.
Richey mai-ried Ella S. Brown, of Monroe County, and a daughter of
William J, and Mary E. (Rice) Brown, natives of Green and Monroe
Counties. Mrs. Richey is a Missionary Baptist. Her husband is an act-
ive Republican, and is a rising young man of this county.
WILLIAM J. SEMPLE was born in Ireland, February 17, 1820, and
is the third of eight children born to William and Esther (Hemphill)
Semple, natives of Ireland. William J. was reared on a farm, and
received but thirteen months of schooling. In 1847, he came to this
country, landed at New York City, and after working on a farm for four
years, in 1852 he came to Monroe County, Ind., settling in this town-
ship. Mr. Semple purchased 217 acres of land, improved it, and occu-
pied it for seventeen years. He then sold out and was in Kansas three
months, expecting to settle there, but finally returned and bought the
farm which he now owns. It consists of 240 acres, which Mr. Semple
has improved, and upon which he has a good residence, barn, and out-
buildings, supplemented by an orchard. Mr. Semple's second marriage
took place in October, 1870, to Sarah Hemphill, of St. Clair CouQty, 111.
She was born in Ireland, and was a daughter of John and Mary (Reed)
Hemphill, natives of Ireland. Mr. Semple owns sixty acres in Greene
County. He was first married on May 28, 1863, to Eliza, daughter of
Benjamin and Amelia (Campbell) Baxter, all natives of Ireland. He
and his present wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church,
and he votes the Republican ticket.
ADDISON C. SMITH, an old settler and wide-awake citizen of tlie
county, was born on March 11, 1827, in Bloomington, being one of the
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 651
first children born there. He is the oldest of three children born to
Dudley C. and Elizabeth (Berry) Smith, natives of Vermont and North
Carolina, and of English and German descent respectively. Addison
C. was reared upon a farm, and was seat some of the time to the public
schools. He lived with his parents uatil he was eighteen years old, when
he commenced learning the carpenter trade, following it for one year.
He enlisted in the Mexican war, Juae, 1847, in Company A, Third In-
diana Volunteers, serving under Capt. John Sliiss and Col. James H.
Lane, and took part in the battle of Buena Vista. He was honorably
discharged in July, 1848, at New Orleans. Mr. Smith returned home,
and worked at his trade for two years. He then married Sarah Hardeaty,
of Bloomington, Ind., and a daughter of George and Martha A. (Blair)
Hardesty, Virginians, of English ancestry. By this marriage there
were six children, of whom five are living — Donald H., Alice (Shirley),
Egbert, Thurston and Rodney. In 1852, they went to Missouri, settling
near St. Joseph. Mr. Smith entered forty and purchased forty acres.
He remained here six years, and then returned to this county and town-
ship, where he has been living ever since. Mr. Smith owns 118 acres of
land, which is cultivated, improved and embellished with a good resi-
dence and outbuildings, besides a fine young orchard. He and -family
are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Smith takes great interest in
education, and has given all his children the best of opportunities. He
is a Republican, and has been four terms Assessor of his township, and
was appointed one year by the Councy Board. Mr. Smith is a liberal
giver in charity.
DUDLEY F. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, ' was born in the
vicinity of his present home, in Van Buren Township, on March 17,
1839. He was the third of five children of parents Dudley C. and Isa-
belle (Porch) Smith, natives of Vermont and North Carolina, and of En-
glish origin. Dudley C. Smith was thrice married He first married
Maria Humphrey, who bore him one child — Olivia (Givens). He was
next married to Elizabeth Berry, of English birth. Her brother founded
an institution called " Harmony, " where everything was in common.
To this marriage were born two children (both living). The family came
to Monroe County in 1820, settling near Bloomington, and there re-
mained for five years. They then came to this township and purchased
100 acres of land, partly improved. They were among the first to settle
here, and Mr. Smith died here at the age of eighty-four, possessing 600
acres of land, and $10,000 in money. He distributed this among his
children, and died a member of the Christian Church, in which he had
been an Elder for about forty years. The grandmother of Dudley F.
Smith was a sister of Salmon P. Chase, of national fame. Dudle7 F.
attended common schools, and also the State University. His father had
taught for fifteen years, and our subject has also followed that vocation
to some degree. Mr. Smith married, December 23, 1863, Sarah Blank-
enship, a native of Decatur County, Ind. She is a daughter of James
and Dolly (Stark) Blankenship, of English ancestry. To them were
given four children, three now living — Winona, Ulysses Howe and Paul.
Mr. Smith owns 120 acres, besides an interest in 560 acres in his father's
estate. The family are members of the Christian Church. He belonged
to the Grange, and is now a Republican.
THOMAS W. SPARKS, an enterprising merchant of Stanford, Mon-
roe County, was born on March 3, 1852, in this county, and is the first
652 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of five children born to Henry and Sally J. (Holder) Sparks, the former
coming to Indiana about the year 1842, and settling in Greene County,
where eighty acres of land were entered by our subject's grandfather,
who was a soldier in the war of 1812. Our subject was reared on a
farm, and received a common school education. At eighteen years of
age, he attended a high school, finished the freshman year at the Uni-
versity at Bloomington, after which he taught four terms. His marriage
was to Lou Emma, the daughter of Elah and Elvira (Givens) Butcher, of
Monroe County. Six children have been born to them — Clara (deceased),
Ivy, Earl, Fannie Pearl, Zelletha Jane and Oscar. Mr. Sparks owns
fifty acres of good land in this township, well improved with a good res-
idence, barn and outbuildings. He also owns a half interest in the
store and building at Stanford. With the exception of 1500, he has
accumulated his fortune by his own industry. In politics, he is a
Democrat.
WILLIAM STONE, one of the pioneers and enterprising farmers of
this township, was born on December 16, 1820, and is the fifth of nine
children, six of whom are living, born to Ellis and Margaret (Denny)
Stone, Virginians, of English lineage. Ellis Stone came to Monroe
County in the fall of 1819, and purchased the farm upon which our sub-
ject now lives, paying $6 per acre for 160 acres. He was very industri-
ous, and owned finally 400 acres, dying in his eightieth year. He ran a
carding mill in an early day; often walked about six miles to hear a dis-
course on Sunday. He was a Whig, then a Kepublican. He moved the
carding mill to Bloomington, where our subject lived for thirteen years.
When his father lived in town, he, with two of his daughters, went to
their farm every spring, and made 700 and 800 pounds of maple sugar,
and carried the sap in pails, and the sugar to the town through timber
infested with wolves. William, our subject was educated at Blooming-
ton, and also attended the University three terms. Mr. Stone owns 210
acres of land, well cultivated, stocked, and embellished with a good
brick residence, which was built by his father in 1840. He also owns
good town property. He is a Republican in politics. Mr. Stone says,
in early days, they did not settle difficulties with a law suit, but the par-
ties fought to settle them. On one occasion, a man married a young
daughter of one of our old settlers, and soon the parents learned that
their son-in-law had another wife in Tennessee, and the girl's brother
was commissioned to thresh the son-in-law. The old lady took an active
interest in the duel. The man was whipped, and his wife left him. The
punishment was witnessed by all the neighbors, their seconds having
been selected by the respective parties from their friends.
I. J. WHISENNAND, an old settler and enterprising farmer of
Monroe County, was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., on February 18,
1829, and is the seventh of thirteen children born to Isaac and Mary
Ann (Isley) Whisennand, natives of Virginia, and of German descent.
Isaac Whisennand came to Monroe County in 1830, and brought our
subject with him. He entered 132 acres of land, improved it, and lived
there till his death. Isaac Whisennand was a member of the Board of
Trustees in an early day. Our subject was reared on this farm, and was
sent to the common schools. On September 19, 1850, he married Mary
Matilda Farmer, of Monroe County, and a daughter of Eli P. and Eliza-
beth Farmer, natives of Virginia and Indiana, and of Welsh and Ger-
man origin. Eli P. Farmer was an itinerant Methodist Episcopal min-
INDIAN CREEK TOWNSHIP. 653
ister. By this union Mr. Whissennand had born to him four children,
two living — Albert W. and Carrie (Rock). The mother died in July,
1863, and on February 11, 1864, our subject was married to Sabina
Clark, of Gibson County, Ind., and a daughter of William B. and Mary
(Wigens) Clark, natives of North Carolioa and Kentucky, and of Irish
and German descent. William B. Clark was ])orn in 1798, and came to
Gibson County in 1805, where he lived the rest of his life, and was one ^j.,
of the old settlers of the county, Mr. Whissenuand had five children by V
his last marriage — Samuel, Lillie P., Rosetta, Mary E. and Martha Ann.
He and wife belong to the Church of God. Mr. Whisennand bought
the farm of eighty acres which he now occupies shortly after his first
marriage. It is now in a good state of cultivation, with a fine house,
barn, etc. He gives liberally to all charities. For President, he cast his
first vote for Pierce. In 1860, he voted for Lincoln, but in 1876 he com-
menced voting with the Greenback party, and has been ever since an
active worker in that party.
INDIAN CREEK TOWNSHIP.
ELI BOWERS was born in this county May 21, 1841, and is the
eldest of the three children of Peter and Sarah (May) Bowers. During
youth, he received the rudiments of an education from the ordinary
schools of the district. Septembers, 1861, he enlisted in Company F,
Forty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteers; served three years and ten
months; re-enlisted January, 1864, served until June, 1865, and partic-
ipated in the following engagements: New Madrid, Island No. 10, Fort
Pillow, Memphis, Fort Pemberton, Helena, Little Rock, Elkin's Ford
and Mark Hill, where he was captured, taken to Texas for ten months
and then exchanged. After his return, he applied himself to tilling
mother earth, and occasionally working as a carpenter. December 28,
1866, he married Nancy J., daughter of William M. and Nancy Roy,
natives of Kentucky, and this union was graced by the birth of five
children — Emma A., Paulina E., Charles M., G. Peter and Wilson. Mr.
Bowers is a practical farmer and owns a good farm and home of seventy-
five acres. He is politically a Republican.
HENRY BURCH was born in Stokes County, N. C, July 24, 1813,
and is the seventh of the nine children of John and Judith (Suthern)
Burch. In 1819, he was brought to this neighborhood with his parents,
where he has continuously made his home. He lived with his parents
until April 9, 1840, when he married Rebecca L. Gentry, a union which
gave being to fourteen children — Sabra Ann,Damaris (deceased), Thomas
B., Gilbert L., Almira J. (deceased), Francis R., infant (deceased), Den-
nis N., Mary E., Henry J., Luther M. (deceased), Sarah H., Ira A. and
Nancy M. Mr. Burch has a good farm of 252 acres. He is a Democrat,
and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Gilbert L.
Burch was born September 14, 1845; was reared in this township, where
he obtained a fair school education and grew to man's estate. December
10, 1865, he wedded Nancy Ferguson, to which union three children
have been bestowed — Ida G. , Henderson R. and Orrin E. In about
654 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES;
five years after his marriage, he moved on to a farm near Buena Vista,
where he remained for three years. He has divided his time between
carpentering and farming. In 1882, he was elected Township Clerk for
four years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Baptist
Church, and is, politically, a Democrat.
WILLIAM F. CORMA.N is a native of this county, was born May
29, 1837, and is the youngest of the six children born to Jacob and Mary
Corman, both natives of Kentucky. William was reared in Clear Creek
Township, this county, where he was educated in the common schools.
November 16, 1863, he married Lydia J., daughter of Elijah J. and
Matilda Morgan, old settlers of this county. By this union they had
born to them six children — Flora A., James W. (deceased), Frank V.,
Nannie L., Myrtie and Ellis E. Mr. Corman has followed blacksmithing
nearly the whole of his life, with the management of a fa^m in the
meantime, which embraces eighty acres of very excellent and well-im-
proved land. He is a reputable citizen and worthy gentlemen, and in
political faith a Democrat.
PLEASANT FOSSETT is a native of Rowan County, N. C, and is
the eldest of the seven children born to John and Elizabeth (Moss)
Fossett. Our subject was born July 13, 1820, and was brought hither by
his parents soon after his birth, where he has continued to reside. When
a boy, he attended the subscription schools of bis neighborhood. October
27, 1842, he married Mary Ann Crum, the youngest child of John and
Sarah Crum. By this union have been born six children. Mr. Fossett
resides on an improved farm of 800 acres. He is a highly honored citi-
zen, a practical and successful farmer, in political choice a Democrat,
and cast his first vote for James K. Polk; he has been for twelve years a
member of the Knights of Pythias. In 1848, he was elected to the office
and served for five years as Justice of the Peace, and he has also served
as Township Trustee.
PICKNEY G. MOORE, farmer, is a native of Lawrence County,
Ind.. was born July 2, 1841, and is the seventh of the eight childi-en
of John and Rachel (Lemmon) Moore, natives of North Carolina. Pick-
ney i'esided on the home farm until December 25, 1861, at which event-
ful date he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volun-
teers, and was in some small skirmishes while en route to Island No. 10,
and was in regular battle at Corinth. Miss.; Boonville, Shiloh, Holly
Springs, Vicksburg, Champion Hill, Buzzard's Roost, Missionary Ridge
and Gen. Sherman's march. He was discharged July 17, 1865, as Ser-
geant. August 6, 1865, he married Miss Elizabeth Bennett, and to them
were bestowed a family of nine children, five of whom were named Mary
Jane, Ellsworth, Louisa E., Commodore Perry and Edward N. After his
marriage, Mr. Moore moved to a farm in this county, where he lived for
one year, afterward removing to Sullivan County for seven years; thence
to Illinois for four years, and finally returned hither, where he owns a
farm of forty acres. Mrs. Moore left this world July 16, 1882. Mr.
Moore is a Democrat, and a worthy and respected citizen.
ELIJAH J. MORGrAN is a native of this township, where he now
resides. He was born August 8, 1818, and attended school but a short
time during his youth. January 5, 1837, he married Matilda Goodwine,
a native of Monroe County, by which union were born four children —
William S., Nancy M., Lydia J. and Lucinda D. May 26, 1846, he en-
listed at Ketch um's Mill for one year's service in the Mexican war, and
INDIAN CREEK TOWNSHIP. 655
was present at the battle of Buena Vista. After returning, he engaged in
farming, which has been his life-long occupation, on the farm purchased
by his parents, Elijah and Mary (Crum) Morgan, in 1817. This farm
comprises 160 acres. Mr. Morgan is one of the oldest residents of this
township; he is a member of Lodge 173, A., F. & A. M. In 1867, he
was elected Justice of the Peace, and served two terms of four years
each; was re-elected in 1880, but resigned after serving eighteen months.
Mrs. Morgan died October 28, 1883. Mr. Morgan is a Democrat by
political preference.
JOEL H. MORGAN is a native of this township, who first saw the
light September 12, 1836, and is the fifth of the eight in the family of
Absalom and Elizabeth (May) Morgan. Absalom Morgan came to this
township in 1817, where our subject has passed his days in the capacity
of a farmer. September 9, 1867, he married Emma May, by which
union they had bestowed on them three children — Ira I., Laura E. and
Walter E. ; Mrs. Morgan died June, 1872, and December 28, 1875, Mr.
Morgan was united in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth East. To this mar-
riage was born one child — Minnie E. Mr. Morgan is the ownt^r of 206
acres of good land, now his home. January, 1865, he enlisted in Com-
pany I, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Volunteers; occupied his
time in guard duty for a term of one year. Mr. Morgan is a practical
farmer, a good citizen, and a member of the Odd Fellow and Knights
of Pythias brotherhoods.
WILLIAM A. SAKE first saw the light in this county April 9, 1861,
being the only son of Martin and Susan Sare. The father of William
A. Sare died when be was a boy, and he was thereafter reared by his
grandfather, William Bowen, with whom he remained until he wa?* nine-
teen years old. December 31, 1879, he married Miss Serena Jones,
the third child of Catherine Jones, and by this union they were made
happy in the birth of three children — Sesta, Walter B. and Myrtle I.
After marriage, Mr. Sare lived for about one year, and then moved to his
present home, a farm embracing 100 acres of very excellent and well-
cultivated land. Mr. Sare has been a reasonably prosperous gentleman;
he is by political election a Democrat, and a worthy, honored and prom-
ising citizen.
JOHNG. J. SMITH is a native of West Virginia, was born July 24,
1814, and is the seventh child of Anthony and Achsah Smith, natives of
New Jersey, who moved to Pennsylvania, and thence to West Virginia.
John received a good subscription school education, and in 1850 moved
to Noble County, Ohio. In 1 876, he removed to this township, where he
purchased 321 acres, all of which are well improved. October 13, 1836,
he married Isabel B., daughter of Caleb and Margaret Tarelton. Twelve
children have honored this union — Louisa M. , Achsah C, Irwin T.,
Mary E., Harriet E., Sarah C, John I., Susan A. and Nancy A. (twins,
deceased), Emily H., Charles G. and Ida B. He and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Smith was a magistrate in
Noble County, Ohio, for six years; he is a Republican.
Charles G. Smith was born in Noble (3ouQty, Ohio, March 4, 1859,
the eleventh of the twelve children of John G. J. and Isabel B. Smith.
He was reared in Ohio, and there obtained a good education. February
13, 1879, he married Paulina Sullivan, a native of this township, the
fruits of which union were three children — Gertrude, Beulah and Ira.
After his marriage, Mr. Smith lived with his father until January, 1884,
656 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
when he moved to his mother iu-law's farm, and has since given atten-
tion to agriculture and stock-raising. He and wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Smith has now a farm of ninety-six
acres; he is a Republican.
IRWIN T. SMITH, farmer, is a native of West Virginia, came into
the world December 21, 1841, and is the third child of a family of twelve
born to John G. J. and Isabel B. (Tarelton) Smith. Irwin T. Smith re-
ceived the rudiments of a necessary education from the general schools of
his neighborhood. While in Noble County, Ohio, he enlisted in Com-
pany H, One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, and
had the glory of participating in the following engagements: Piedmont,
Lynchburg, Ced,ar Creek, Richmond, the charge on Fort Gregg, and the
pursuit of Gen. Lee, and was discharged with honor in December, 1865. '
March 4, 1868, he was united in wedlock with Miss Aleensa, a daughter
of A. C. and Elizabeth Lawrence, from which alliance descended a fam-
ily of five children — Philip Sheridan, Hattie J., Doris, Myra and John
L. Mr. Smith has been during his whole life a farmer, who came to this
township in 1875, and purchased a well-improved, cultivated, productive
farm, covering ninety acres. He is a highly respected citizen, a Repub-
lican in political faith, and, with his consort, an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
JACOB TAGUE, farmer and stock-dealer, is a native of Stokes Coun-
ty, N. C, was born January 22, 1818, and is the third child and only
son of Michael and Catherine (Holder) Tague, who moved to this town-
ship from North Carolina in 1829. Jacob received his education from
the schools of this township, where he grew to nian's estate. May 14,
1840, he married Iiouisa Jane, eldest child of James and Marzilla King,
and to this union were born nine children — Mahala A. (deceased),
Martha J. (deceased), Catherine, Lydia Jane. Margaret O. (deceased),
George M., James M., Jacob W. and William L. Mrs. Tague died Au-
gust 15, 1862, and January 29, 1863, Mr. Tague wedded a second spouse,
the eldest child of William and Christian FowJer, and a native of
Maryland, by which marriage was born to them one child. Mr. Tague
resides on a good farm of 958 acres, which is part of his father's home-
stead. He has in addition to farming, giyen much attention to the rais-
ing and shipping of stock. Mr. Tague is a Democrat and a highly re-
spected citizen.
GEORGE M. TAGUE is a native of this State, was born March 6,
1847, and was reared in this township, where he received the rudiments
of a good English education. He lived with his parents until 1867, at
which time he moved to Missouri and followed farming for eighteen
months. December 25, 1867, he married Espy F., daughter of Alvis and
L. Jane Moore, natives of Lawrence County, Ind. From this union has
succeeded one child — Jacob E. After marriage, he moved to-Kansas and
there engaged in farming for about two years, thereafter returning to this
township, where he purchased land and lived thereon four years; he then
sold this, after which he followed teaming successfully for a time, and is
now engaged in farming. In 1878, he was elected Constable or this
township, as which he served for two years. Mr. Tague is a son of
Jacob and Louisa J. Tague.
WILLIAM E. TxiRKINGTON, farmer, is a native of this county.
He was born December 9, 1833, and is the second son of the nine chil-
dren which made up the family of Elsberry W. and Lucinda (Legg)
INDIAN CREEK TOWNSHIP. 657
Tarkington; the former a native of Tennessee, the latter of Kentucky.
William E. Tarkington obtained the rudiments of a good English educa-
tion from the district schools of his boyhood. He was in the volunteer
service during the late war for about two weeks. April 9, 1860, he married
Miss Mary M., daughter of John and Mary Thrasher, the fruits of which
alliance were four children — Martha J., Ella T., Nettie E. and William.
Mr. Tarkington makes his home on a farm of 141 acres which is in good
cultivation and has many improvements, and where he has resided con-
tinuously since 1859. Mr. Tarkington is a Democrat, and he and wife
are members of the M. E. Church.
GILBERT THOMPSON is a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and
was born June 7, 1813, and attended subscription school in his native
county. In August, 1833, he married Agnes Guiery, likewise a native
of Ireland. By this union were born seven children— Edward, Mar-
garet, James (deceased), Joseph, Jane, Martha (deceased), and Gilbert
Albert. Mr. Thompson was owner of ten acres in Ireland, on which
he lived for several years after his marriage, and which he sold after-
ward and opened a provision store in Carrick Fergus, Ireland; this he
disposed of at a later period, and worked in a ship yard until 1854,
when he emigrated to the United States, rented a farm near Blooming-
ton, Ind., for three years, and thereafter purchased his present farm,
which includes 103 acres of well improved and highly productive land.
Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members
of the United Presbyterian Church.
ELMORE F. WALKER is a native of this township, and was born
November 10, 1842, and is the youngest of the eleven children of Elmore
and Henrietta (Burch) Walker. Our subject was reared in this township,
where he obtained the rudiments of a good education, which he completed
at the high school at New Albany. December 25, 1861, he enlisted, at
Gosport, Ind., in Company I, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, in which
he served three years and seven months, and took part at New Madrid
(where he was wounded, afterward rejoining his regiment at Corinth,
Miss.), Holly Springs. Memphis, Jackson, Champion Hills, Yicksburg,
Chattanooga and the Atlanta campaign. November 1, 1868, he married
Lucinda Keck, from which anion sprang seven children — Jesse L., Or-
pha H., Jewett, Mary A., Bayard, Alva and Emma. Mr. Walker has
fought the battle of life for himself since he was ten years of age. After
his marriage, he purchased land in this township, and lived thereon seven
years, then moved to Lawrence County, but soon returned to this locality,
and has since resided here — on a farm containing sixty valuable acres.
Mr. Walker is a Republican, and he and wife are active members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN T. WOODWARD, merchant, is a native of Greene County,
Ind., was born April 5, 1860, and is the fifth of the twelve children of
John T. and Lucinda A. Woodward. Our subject was reared in this
township, and received a fair education from the primary schools, which
was completed at the Bloomington High School, and by one year at Val-
paraiso. He has been a teacher for the past four years in this township,
and he has also a half interest with W. H. King in a general store at
Buena Vista. December 24, 1880, he married Summie H., daughter of
Jerry and Ann Black, through which union descended one child — Roy
H. Mr. Woodward is a prominent and worthy citizen, an enterprising
and liberal business man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church
658 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
by religious preference, a member of the Kepublican party by political
preference, and one of the trusted and promising young men of this
township.
DAVID WEIGHT was born near Utica, Ind., November 16, 1806,
and is the third of the family of James and Elizabeth (Sears) Wright,
who moved to this State in 1816; located in the timber, which they
cleared, and thereby made a home. September 14, 1829, he married
Caroline M., daughter of John and Elizabeth Kutch, by which union
were produced thirteen children — John, James, Alfred, Levi, Jane, Eliz-
abeth, Euin, Jacob, Nancy, Clarinda, David D. and two infants, de-
ceased. After marriage, Mr. Weight lived with his father about a year,
when he bought land and lived thereon for six years, afterward purchas-
ing his present home and farm, comprising seventy acres of excellent
and well improved land, on which he has since resided. Mrs. Wright
died January, 1881, and January, 1882, Mr. Wright married a second
wife; they are members of the Christian Church.
Alfred Weight was born in this township February 11, 1833, and is
the third son of David and Caroline Wright. He received the rudiments
of a good education; and March 7, 1850, married Eliza Rebecca Boyd.
After his marriage, he lived with his father for some years, when he
moved to Illinois, remained a few months, returned, and at the division
of his father's land received forty-one acres. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are
leading members of the Christian Church, of which Mr. Wright is an Elder;
they are parents of eleven children — William E. (deceased), John W.,
Minerva J., Laura A., Mary C. (deceased), Jefferson M., Alfred Perry»
Isaac S., David Grant, James M. and Eliza A. F.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
ALEXANDER S. BAKER, minister of the M. P. Church, was born
February 12, 1827, on the western shore of Maryland, and is a son of
Maiden and Eliza (Culenbaugh) Baker. Maiden Baker was born Sep-
tember 22, 1802, and was about thirty years old when he moved to this
State and settled on Indian Creek. He raised the first tobacco raised in
the county, and labored as an ordained local preacher. Alexander S.
Baker was married November 11, 1852, to Sarah A. Johnston, who died
July 11, 1865, leaving six children. August 16, 1866, he wedded Mrs.
Nancy E. Hagan, a native of Rush Countj, to which union were born
three children— Elma, Hugh and Henry. Mr. Baker obtained his educa-
tion principally by the firelight at home, continuing his studies long after
he was married. Mr. Baker is a member of the Masonic fraternity of
the degree of Royal Arch; he is also a radical temperance worker, and
an esteemed citizen, and an honorable conscientious gentleman.
ALBERT F. BENNETT, merchant at Smithville, was born July 22,
1848, in Clarke County, Ind., and is a son of Granville M. and Parmelia
J. (Jacob) Bennett. Granville M. Bennett was a physician; moved from
Clarke to Monroe County, and settled on a farm one mile from Smith-
ville, practicing medicine until his decease — April 27, 1854. His widow
afterward married Eli Wray, later moved to Jackson County, and died
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 659
September 30, 1877. Albert F. Bennett received only such education as
the county schools afforded, but by home study acquired a fair educar
tion, so as to enable him to teach, which he did from 1874 to 1877, in
and around Smithville. In 1877, he purchased the store of Dr J. N.
Warring, and has since conducted the business, carrying a large stock of
general merchandise. May 19, 1879, he married Miss Isabel Gaither, a
lady he had known since childhood, and an estimable member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. This union was cemented by the birth of
one child — John M., a bright and promising boy. Mr. Bennett has made
his way to success by his unaided exertions aod inherent energy. In
politics, he is a Republican, and is a public-spirited, liberal gentleman.
HIRAM BUTCHER, pioneer of Monroe County, was brought to this
section by his parents, when two years old, and has been the pet of
Indian friends and the playfellow of Indian children. He was born in
Johnson County, Tenn., September 5, 1816. His father, Solomon
Butcher, was also a native of Tennessee, a farmer and carpenter, who
married Catherine Stevens, and they, with two children, moved to this
region by wagon, purchased 160 acres, and made a good home and valu-
able farm. These parents had born to them eleven children. Hiram
is the eldest of this family, and when a youth received but six months'
schooling, educating himself by the light of the fire, since which time
he has pursued such studies as have made up for his early disadvantages.
When twenty-two years old he married Amelia Beasley, of Lawrence
County, Ind., and thereafter began life for himself by purchasing a
mill, and afterward gaining and improving 300 acres. After bartering
for and occupying various lands, Mr. Butcher purchased the Fairfax-
property for $9,750. He was not exempt from reverses, but now has a
good farm of 140 acres. He is a Republican, was fur six jears Justice
of the Peace, and made the law a study, as also the Bible. He and wife
are, and have been for forty-five years, members of the Christian Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Butcher have three girls and two boys, all of whom are
married.
WILFORD CARTER, merchant at Smithville, was born February
15, 1823, in Jackson County, Ind., and is the third son of Benjamin and
Nancy (Reynolds) Carter. Benjamin Carter was a native of Patrick
County, Va., and in 1815 moved to Indiana. He was a father of rina
children, the eldest son being the first man to settle at Seymour, Ind.,
where he is now a merchant. Wilford Carter began life for himself
when twenty years old, his father having died in limited circumstances,
and by his integrity saved the farm and paid all claims. In 1848,.
with $100 and some credit, be commenced business in Dudleytown with
James Stephens, which continued eighteen months, when he purchased
the old homestead and engaged in farming. Soon after, he founded
another store, in company with Mr, Stephens, at Tampico, and laid
out a town on his land. In 1854, he purchased a half-interest la
another business, and in 1857 commenced the enterprise he is now pur-
suing. He also owns 160 acres near Smithville. In 1849, he married
Sarah Powell, who died March 15, 1870, leaving three children. August
21, 1870, he wedded Mrs. Martha McCormick, by which marriage they
have two children— Mary M. and Ralph. Mr. Carter has been for four
terms Justice of the Peace, and has united in marriage many couples.
He is a Republican, a temperance worker, and he and wife belong to th&
Methodist Church.
660 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
GEORGE GAJTHER, farmer, Smithville, was born on the parental
homestead, where he now resides, September 22, 1855, and is one of the
family of Perry and Betsy Ann (Ketcham) Gaither, the former a native
of Kentucky, born in 1809. These parents married in this State, and
settled where Ketcham's mill now stands. Mr. Gaither was owner of
200 acres. He was for several years Township Trustee, a Republican
politically, and died in 1876. Mrs. Gaither died in 1878. They had
twelve children, and were members of the M. E. Church. George, our
subject, married, in the autumn of 1878, Miss Mary Deckaral, a native
of Smithville, to which union have been born two children — Emma, and
an infant daughter (deceased). Mr. Gaither has a good home and farm
comprising llb^ acres, all of which is cultivated. He is a radical tem-
perance reformer, a Republican, and he and wife are communicants of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOSEPH HA.RROLL, farmer, is a native of Virginia, was born
March 7, 1826, and is a son of James and Mary (Thrasher) Harroll,
natives of Virginia, also parents of seven girls and seven boys. James
Harroll moved to Monroe County, Ind., about 1830, and settled near
Bloomington, there being then perhaps three houses. He lived for
eighteen years on rented ground, after which time he purchased 160
acres near Smithville, and died in 1864, his wife preceding him by two
years. Joseph Harroll worked for his father until manhood, and after-
ward at making rails for 37 cents per hundred; at railroad work for $1
per day, and later, as section boss for eight years. With $1,100, he par-
chased 80 acres, on which he commenced farming. Soon after, he pur-
chased, at times, various amounts of land, which he sold. He now has
110 acres, all in cultivation, with house, barns, orchard, fencing, etc.
In 1861, he married Jane Holland, with a result of one child — Arthusa
J. This mother died, and Mr. Harroll married, in 1865, Jane Adams,
who gave being to four children — John, Samuel, Willie and Tabitha.
Mr. Harroll is a Republican, a temperance worker, and a member of the
Christian Church.
SAMUEL R. HUMSTON, physician, is a native of Lawrence County,
Ind., was born October 19, 1846, and is a son of William JNI. and Lavi-
nia E. (Glover) Humston, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of
Indiana. The grandfather of our subject, Edward Humston, came from
Scotland; he was a millwright, moved to this section at an early day and
built several mills. Samuel R. Humston had a good common school edu-
cation, and when twenty-two years old, began teaching in Lawrence
County, and soon after commenced to read medicine under Dr. S. A. Rari-
den. of Bedford, and to study Latin; still later, he attended lectures at
Ann Arbor, Mich., and afterward began practice in Lawrence County,
then at Heltonville, and since 1872 has done a leading business here.
December 6, 1877, he married Miss Sallie R. Rariden, daughter of his
former preceptor, to which union were born two children, both deceased.
Dr. Humston and wife are members of the Methodist Church for twenty
years. He is Republican in political choice, and furnished the following
statement: Distance traveled in active practice, 12,380 miles; number of
visits, 2,692.
DANIEL KETCHAM (deceased) was born near Shelby vi lie, Ky., in
1806. His father, Col. John Ketcham moved to this State with his fam-
ily when the same was a Territory, and settled near Brownstown, whence
he removed to Jackson County, and in 1818 to Monroe County, and
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 661
soon after to the farm on Clear Creek, now the home of his youngest
son. In 1836. our subject married Mary Worley, by which union they
had four children — Eliza A., John H. , Francis William and Lizzie. In
J 852, Daniel Ketcham moved with his family to Smith ville, where he
lived during his remainder of life. Mr. Ketcham was an affectionate
husband, a kind ])arent, and an upright citizen. For thirty-five years, he
was an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he
held several, offices of trust Religion sustained him at all times, and
most particularly in his closing hours. When asked if willing to depart
and if his trust was in Jesus, he answered affirmatively. He left this
world September 28, 1877, in perfect peace. September 13, 1862, Miss
Eliza A., eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ketcham, departed this life, a
lovely and promising woman, whose loss is a lifelong lament. Mrs.
Ketcham lives with her daughter, Lizzie Ketcham, and her grandchild,
Minnie, on the homestead. Miss Lizzie is a gracious and amiable young
lady, universally regarded with admiration and love.
WILLIAM LEONARD, farmer and stock-dealer, was born Febru-
ary 13, 1817, in Paoli, Orange County, Ind., and is the eldest son of
Henry and Martha (Rains) Leonard, the former a native of North Caro-
lina, who came to Indiana in 1816. The grandfather of our subject was
of Irish descent. Henry Leonard tirst located in Orange County, where
he remained two years, then went to Lawrence County for three years,
whence he came to Monroe County and settled in what is now Clear
Creek Township, and built a log house; the place consisted of eighty
acres of timber. After a period of about twelve years, he moved near
Bloomington, and remained. William Leonard was reared with his par-
ents; his early education was sparse, having attended school only in the
worst winter weather; but he studied by night, and thus acquired con-
siderable education unaided. He worked by day at clearing, plowing
and the like, and also split rails for 37 cents a hundred, and paid a debt
of his father's for $100 at $7 per month. When twenty-two years old, he
became a teacher, at which, in conjunction with farming, he employed
his time during the year for two years, and also attended school at Har-
rodsburg; then returned to teaching, and taught in the Woodard School -
house seven consecutive winter terms. Januaiy 5, 1843, he married Lu-
cinda Grimes, whose father was one of the first settlers and the first
grand-juryman of the township. After mai'riage, Mr. Leonard moved to
Perry Township, where he taught a six months' term in the free schools.
For this he received $90, sold a colt for $10, and entered therewith
eighty acres of land. After the school term, he moved to the farm on
which he now lives, of 108 acres, making in all, as land owned by him,
252 acres. He has erected a large dwelling, good barns, and has the
same cteared and in good cultivation, as well as stocked with excellent
cattle. Mr. Leonard was once a Whig, but is now a Republican, and
was Township Trustee at a time when each township had such an officer,
and was afterward Township Clerk for two terms. He is an upright
man, an esteemed citizen, a member of the Christian Church, of which he
has been an Elder twenty years, and is now Sabbath School Superintend-
ent. Mrs. Leonard died August 1, 1873, after which he married Mrs.
Nancy Boruff, with one son — Samuel D. ; she is also a member of the
Christian Church. Mr. Leonard has been father of thirteen children, of
whom six sons and three daughters are living — John H. , a physician of
Elkinsville; James T., a farmer; Alfred M. , served during the war, and
662 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
died after his return; William I., now in Texas; David M., died^in in-
fancy; Silas M., now in Portland, Oregon; Lewis O., a graduate of
Bloomington University; Homer, now attending Bloomington University;
Martha J., now Mrs. W. J. Taylor, of New Albany, Ind. ; Nannie E.,
now Mrs. J. C. Miller; Lida, a music teacher in Portland, Oreg.
L. T. LOWDER, M. D., was born near Springville, Lawrence Co.,
Ind., May 6, 1846, is the son of Lynden and Mary H. (Short) Lowder,
and is of English-Irish origin. The father of Mv. Lowder was born in
Boone County, Ind., in 1816, and came t^o Lawrence County the year
following. His mother was born in Greene County in 1819. His paternal
grandfather was Ralph Lowder, a native of North Carolina His great-
grandfather was JoLn Lowder, a native of England. Dr. Lowder
received a good literary education, having spent two years in Blooming-
ton University. In 1870, he came to Harrodsburg and began the study
of medicine in the office of Dr. Beard. After attending two full courses
at the Indiana State Medical College, he graduated in February, 1873.
He then came to Harrodsburg, and here has since been in successful
practice. He was married, in 1873, to Miss Alice A. Stipp, a native of
Harrodsburg, and a daughter of George Stipp, one of the prominent and
successful farmers of the county. To this union have been born children
as follows: Daisy E., Rosa M., Mary C, Lindsey C. Lillie E. and
George. Politically, Dr. Lowder is a Republican. In 1864, he enlisted
in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty- sixth Indiana Volunteers. He
was honorably discharged the same year. He is a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity and the order of Knights of Pythias.
CHESLEY D. McLAHLAN, M. D., is a native of Lawrence County,
Ind., born October 29, 1847, son of Oliver and Sarah (Davis) McLahlan,
and comes of Scotch-Irish origin. The father of Dr. McLahlan was an
Ohioan and his mother is of North Carolina birth. The early life of
Dr. McLahlan was spent in attending the district school and in his
father's service. He afterward attended school at Bedford, Ind., where
he obtained a fair common school education. He enlisted in Company
B, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Volunteers, and served until the
close of the war. He was honorably discharged in 1865 at Indianapolis.
In 1867, he came to Harrodsburg and began the study of medicine in
the office of Dr. Beard, a very prominent physician. After attending
lectures at Chicago Rush Medical College, he graduated in 1871. Since
his graduation, he has been in active practice of his profession at Har-
rodsburg, and has been very successful. The marriage of Dr. McLahlan
occurred in 1871, to Miss Lizzie More, a native of Iowa. To this union
has been born one child — Eva. Dr. McLahlan is a Republican, and for
many years has been an earnest supporter of that party. Through his
own energy he has made a success of life, and he has been the ardhiteet
of his own fortune.
SIMEON PEDIGO, manufacturer and dealer in furniture, was born
in Lawrence County, Ind., October 21, 1849, is the son of E. H and
Elizabeth E. (Nance) Pedigo; is the eldest in a family of three children^
and is of English Scotch lineage. At the age of seventeen years, he be-
gan the issues of life for himself. For a number of years, he taught school
in the winter and performed farm labor in the summer. The marriage
of Mr. Pedigo occurred Jane 15, 1876, to Miss IVIollie B. Anderson, a na-
tive of Monroe County. To this union have been born three children,
as follows: Clarence E., Annie E. and Verner Ross. In 1876, Mr. Ped-
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 663
igo came to Harrodsburg and formed a partnership in the furniture and
undertaking business with J. M. Anderson. This partnership continued
until January, 1884. He is now engaged in manufacturing Pedigo's
Perfection Washing Machine, under the firm name of S. & W. S. Pedigo.
manufacturers of the only genuine washing machine of the coming times.
This machine is sold only upon guarantee that it will do all that its
contractors claim for it, and, unless such is the case, your money will
be refunded. Address S. & W. S. Pedigo, Harrodsburg, Ind., and
they will give you particulars and references. They are gentlemen of
honor and responsibility.
WILLIAM. S. PEDIGO, furniture dealer, and junior member of the firm
of S. & W. S. Pedigo, was born in Perry Township, Lawrence County,
Ind., April 5, 1845, and is a son of John D. and Jane (Garten) Pedigo.
In a family of ten children, William is the eldest, and is of Scotch-En-
glish origin. His father was born in Barren County, Ky., and when
twelve years of age came to Lawrence County, Ind. In 1861, the sub-
ject of our sketch enlisted in Company F, Forty-third Indiana Volun-
teers, and was honorably discharged in 1862, on account of general dis-
ability. In 1863, he engaged in the milling business in Lawrence
County, and that continued eighteen years; he then engaged in farming,
and in 1884 he came to Harrodsburg and engaged in his present occupa-
tion. He was married in 1866 to Miss Maggie A. Lowder. To them
have been born five children — Isalene, Nora J., Oma S., Blanche and
Ella. He is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln.
He has 320 acres of well-improved land. He is a man of enterprising
spirit, and an honorable citizen.
WILLIAM W. ROSS, merchant at Smithville, was born July 22,
1830, in Clear Creek Township, Ind., and is the youngest «on of William
W. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Ross, the former a native of Maryland, who
settled in this State i-n 1813, and two years after, moved to Perry Town-
ship, Monroe County, where he entered land, owning at his decease 320
acres; he died in 1875, aged one hundred and seventeen years. He emi-
grated to this section in a cart, there being but nine families in the
county. His experiences in the earliest days were wonderful and varied,
such as battles with wolves and hunting for game, he having killed five
deer in one day, and many bears and wolves at various times. He was a
renowned marksman, and a man of endurance and principle. Mrs. Ross
died in 1853. They were parents of four children. Our subject married,
April 17, 1857, Elizabeth Bux'nes, with an issue of four children, all de-
ceased. Mrs. Ross having died, he married, August 5, 1875, Ellen E.
Pane, of Perry Township, and by her became the parent of three chil-
dren, all living. Mr. Ross is a Republican, and a liberal, benevolent
gentleman. He has a clock one hundred and fifty years old, and a good
timekeeper, which was brought by him from North Carolina.
JOHN D. SIMPSON, M. D., was born in Owen County, Ky., April
23, 1846, is the son of W. G. and Ann (Du Vail) Simpson, and is of En-
glish ancestry. His parents are of Kentucky nativity. His paternal
grandfather was James Simpson, a Virginian by birth. He died in Owen
County, Ky., in 1868. The literary education of Dr. Simpson is far be-
yond the average, the major part of which he gained at Eminence Col-
lege, Kentucky. In 1864, he went to Louisville, Ky. , and for one year
clerked in a wholesale commission house. In that city, in 1866. he
began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. A. Brady, a lead-
664 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
ing physician. In 1868, he graduated at the University of Louis-
ville. This same year he came to Heltonsville, Lawrence County,
Ind., and began practice. In 1869, he went to Bellevuo Hospital,
New York, from which he graduated in 1870, and then went to
Bedford, Lawrence County, and resumed practice. In 1880, Dr. Simp-
son came to Harrodsburg and continued practice, and engaged in the
drug business. The marriage of Dr. Simpson took place in 1869, to Miss
Mattie Mitchell, of Bedford, Ind., daughter of Jesse A. Mitchell. They
have one child— James. Dr. Simpson is a stanch Democrat and a Mason.
THEODORE THASHER, groceries and general stock, Smith vi lie,
was born in Monroe County, Ind.. December 14, 1835, and is a son of
George and Matilda (Hiues) Thrasher, both natives of Virginia, and of
German descent. George Thrasher, a farmer, came to this section about
1830, where he purchased land and farmed until his death. He was the
parent of nine children, seven of whom are living. Our subject passed
his early days at farm work and in attending school, and when twenty-
two he left home, worked by the day for about seven years, and then came
to Smithville, where, from bis earnings, he was enabled to begin business,
which he has successfully carried on; he is also Postmaster, and is an es-
teemed citizen. May 24. 1871, he married Julia A. Floyd, of Smith-
ville, who died October 22, 1883, aged thirty-four years, the mother of
five children. Rev. Hugh Stackhouse, pastor of Mrs. Thrasher, said of
her: " She was endowed with a mild, cheerful disposition, her life be-
ing marked by many Christian graces, and crowned, at its close, by the
triumph of Christian faith. About a week before her death, she talked
to her family and friends of her departure as calmly as though going
away for a short visit, asking her husband to open the Bible at 2d Cor-
inthians. Chap, v.; she read the first verse, and remarked, 'Yes; that's
it.' The next day she called her pastor, that she might hear him pray
once more. Truly it can be said of her that the -world was the better
for her having lived in it, and her influence for goodwill live after her."
Mr. Thrasher is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
JONATHAN TRtSLER, section master at Smithville, was born in
Jessamine County, Ky., in 1830, his parents being John and Sarah
(Waggameier) Trisler; the former a native of Germany, the latter of
Kentucky. John Trisler was a farmer; and when Jonathan was ten
years of age, moved to Monroe County, this State, and settled about two
miles from Smithville. He and wife were parents of seven children.
They are both deceased — he died in 1881, she about 1859. Jonathan
was twenty -one when he began supporting himself by working on a rail-
road, and then farmed for four years, since which time he has devoted
his whole time to railroad work, having been a foreman for thirteen
years, and has, by his labor, acquired a good and valuable property. Mr.
Trisler is married, his wife being Eliza Silvester; they are parents of
five living children. Mr, Trisler is a Democrat, and a liberal, enlight-
ened citizen. Mrs. Trisler is a conscientious member of the Christian
Church.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 665
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
THOMAS J. BROWN is the eldest child of George W. and Susanna
(Wright) Brown, a native of Kentucky, and was born November 18, 1837.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown were respectively of Irish and German extraction,
and both natives of Kentucky. After living on a farm until 1842, they
moved from the State of their nativity to this State and township, and
here entered ^land for a home. In 1865, they removed to where the for-
mer yet lives, his wife having died some years before. Thomas J. Brown
attended the township schools and remained at home, having almost the
entire support of the family, until his twenty-third year, his father hav-
ing long been unable to labor. In 1859, he married Mrs. Cynthia A.
McNeely, a native of Kentucky, after which event he moved to the farm
owned by his wife, where they still reside, and to which he has added
200 acres, making an aggregate of 440 acres, one of the best farms in
the township. In connection with agriculture, Mr. Brown has had a
country store for about two years. Mr. Brown is a life- long Democrat,
a worthy citizen, and, with his wife, a member of the Christian Church.
FRANCIS M. CARROLL is a native of this county, was born June
15, 1840, and is one of the six children of Lewis and Betsy (Smith) Car-
roll, the former of Irish, the latter of German descent. Lewis Carroll
was a native of Virginia, where he grew to manhood, and afterward
moved to Bloomington, this county, and followed his trade of carpenter
and millwright for several years before engaging in farming on the land
now owned by our subject. He was for years an ordained minister of
the Methodist Protestant Church, and died in March, 1864. Francis M.
Carroll acquired a practical education at the county schools. Two years
after his father's decease his mother died. July 20, 1801, he enlisted
in Company H, Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he
served until February, 1862, having participated at Pea Ridge, Ark.,
Paw-Paw, Mo., and in other engagements. March 11, 1866, he married
Martha Campbell, a native of Marion County, Ind., to which union suc-
ceeded five children — Arthur J., Schuyler C, Mary F., Frank R. and
Daisy. After his marriage, he purchased his father's farm of 120 acres,
on which he now resides, and being one of the finest of the township.
Mr. Carroll is a stanch Republican and a representative citizen.
W. H. CREAGER is a native of Bloomington, Ind., was born Oc-
tober 14, 1844, and is one of the nine children of John and Mary
(Payne) Creager; the former a native of this county, the latter of North
Carolina. John Creager was a blacksmith and worked as such until
about 1856, when he moved to this township, and remained until death,
March 4, i860. W. H. Creager received his education from the common
schools. I[e was fifteen years old when his father died, and then became
the head of the household. In 1863, he taught his first school term in
Benton Township, from which time until the present he has taught dur-
ing the winter sessions. July 14, 1870, he married Miss Lucinda, daugh-
ter of Philip and Elizabeth Smith. Three children were born to tJais
union, of which two are living — Henry V., born April 7, 1871, and Mag-
666 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
gie B., born March 1, 1875. Mr. Creager has from time to time pur-
chased the interests of the heirs of his father's farm, which consists of
100 acres of improved land, on which he has made his residence. Dur-
ing 1870-71, he leased this farm and lived successively in Johnson and
Morgan Counties. Mr. Creager was for four years Township Trustee,
and still holds said office. He is a Democrat and a representative cit-
izen, Mr. and Mrs. Creager are members of the Baptist Church.
ELIJAH A. KNIGHT is a native of Marion County Ind. , was born
March 2, 1839, and is one of the eight children of Elijah and Nancy
(Northern) Knight; the former a native of Kentucky, and born about
1800 After marriage, he moved to Morgan County, Ind. , where he lived
until 1838 or 1839, and then became one of the contractors, building the
Wabash & Erie Canal, after completing which contract he settled in
Boone County, and died in 1845. Elijah A. Knight obtained his educa-
tion in the primitive schools of the time, and afterward studied at home
by the firelight. His father died when he was six years old, and he re-
mained with his mother until his majority, and then purchased the farm
of 110 acres, most of which he has retained. In August, 1861, he en-
listed in Company H, Thirty- third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which
he served eleven months; then returned, and in September, 1864, entered
an unassigned company of the Thirty- third Indiana Regiment, and served
therein until the end of the war. February 22, 1871, he married Sarah
E. Matlock, a native of this county, and to this union have been bestowed
five children — four being yet alive — Anna E., Elijah E., John P. and
Clarence F. Mr, Knight is a Democrat, has held several civil offices,
and is one of the most prominent men of his township.
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM L. ADAMS, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Gar-
rard County, Ky., was born December 31, 1830, and is the eldest child of
Wilson and Rachel (Taylor; Adams, both natives of Kentucky. The ma-
ternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Taylor, was a first cousin to
Gen. Zach Taylor, and a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The pa-
ternal grandfather, Wilson Adams, was a soldier of the war of 1812; the
father of our subject was a farmer by profession, a Whig in politics, and
a Cumberland Presbyterian in religion. He died in 1832, his widow af-
terward moving to this county, where she married Henry^ Patton. She
became a widow a second time, and died in 1883, aged seventy-three
years, a member of sixty years' standing in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. William L. Adams removed to Ellettsville with his step- father,
where he attended school and grew to manhood, and when nineteen years
old began life for himself on rented land. December 29, 1850, he mar-
ried Elizabeth Cannon, of this county. After this event, he located in Van
Buren Township for two years, then removed to Macomb, 111., then re-
turned to this county, and afterward purchased a threshing machine,
which he operated until he abandoned the same for auctioneering, which
he has followed for twenty-five years. Mr. Adams served as Constable
for some years under Capt. Sluss. In 1879, he occupied his present
BENTON TOWNSHIP. 667
farm of 161 acres. July 5, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, One Hun-
dred and Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which
formed a part of the Ninth Corps of the Army of the Cumberland; he was
honorably discharged, and is a member of the G. A. E. Mr. and Mrs.
Adams are parents of seven children— John W., Sarah J., Laura A. (do-
ceased), Amanda E., Maggie R., Delia E. and Morton G.
WILLIAM B. ALEXANDER, retired farmer, was born in Fayette
County, Ky., September 3, 1806, and is the eldest of the nine children
of James and Sarah (Mashon) Alexander, natives respectively of Virginia
and Kentucky, and of Irish and Scotch descent. James Alexander
moved to this county in 1825, and located near Bloomington, where he
purchased and improved 160 acres. Their privations were those of other
pioneers, but they grew in popularity and in means. Mr. Alexander
was a Democrat, served two terms as County Commissioner and was
Justice of the Peace for many years. He died in 1852, aged sixty-four
years, and his wife afterward, aged seventy-five years. They were mem-
bers of the Baptist Church. William B. Alexander received a fair
education in Kentueky, where, after having removed hither, he married,
September 25, 1825, Miss Elizabeth Irvin. After marriage, he returned
to this county and managed his father's farm. In 1830, he entered land
and began stock dealing in conjunction with farming, and continued so
to do for eleven years; then purchased and sold several farms, and finally,
in 1864, located where he now resides, on 160 acres, with improvements.
Mr. Alexander has been a hard-working yet successful man. He gave
his tirst Presidential vote for Gen. Jackson, but has of late years been a
Republican and has filled some minor county offices. Mrs. Alexander
died November 15, 1869, having been the mother of ten children — Will-
iam F. , Sarah J. , Mary, Nancy, Martha, Irvin, John, Alvira, and two
infants, deceased. The three sons were Union soldiers — William F. died
at Nashville, Irvin in Libby Prison and John in Missouri — all filling
soldier graves. Mr. Alexander's present wife was Mrs. Baker; they are
members of the Christian Church.
T. H. BARNHILL, dealer in merchandise, is a native of Carroll
County, Ohio, was born February 14, 1838, and is the eldest of the six
children of John and Jane (McNelley) Barnhill, natives respectively of
Ohio and Pennsylvania, and of German -Irish and Irish descent. Our
subject was sent to school in boyhood and reared to husbandry as a bus-
iness. When he had reached his eighteenth year, his parents moved to
this county, where he attained his majority, and afterward labored by the
day for three years, receiving but 50 cents per day. March 7, 1860, he
married Miss Mary C. Alexander, of this township, born INEay, 1842, a
union which gave being to six children — Florence J., Charles A., Olie,
Eddie, John and Edna. Shortly after marriage, Mr. Barnhill moved to
Unionville, where he has since made his home. He now owns and occu-
pies the old Alexander farm, which comprises 358 acres with good build-
ings and varied improvements, thus constituting a valuable home and
property. In 1877, he engaged in merchandising, and was commissioned
Postmaster in 1879. He is a prominent Republican, and has been Town-
ship Trustee two terms.
DR. DAVID W. BARROW is a native of this township, was born
November 4, 1853, and is the eldest son of James M. and Martha A.
(Vannoy) Barrow, both natives of this county, and respectively of En-
glish and German descfjnt. The paternal grandfather of our subject,
668 BIOGRAPHICAL SPCETCHES :
David Barrow, came to this section when it was a pristine wild, and, be-
ing a farmer, located in this township, where he served as Justice of the
Peace and County Commissioner seventeen years. He had a farm of
240 acres, was a Democrat, a Baptist and the father of eight children.
He died in 1880, aged seventy-nine. James M. Barrow was reared a
farmer, received some education, and at the age of forty years became a
minister of the Baptist denomination, uniting such service with the man-
agement of his farm. He has been father of three sons and four daugh-
ters, five of whom are living. He is a Freemasoa and a Democrat.
David W. Barrow attended the home schools at intervals until twenty
years of age, when he entered college at Bloomington for one year;
then taught two years, returned to college and selected the classical
course. After leaving the institution, he entered the office of Dr. Mc-
Pheeters, and read medicine, in all nearly two years, after which he at-
tended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, and in 1881
began a practice, which he has succeeded in enlarging, with honor and
satisfaction. Dr. Barrow is a member of the Baptist Church, a Demo
crat, and also a member of the K of P. In 1882, he was chosen Town-
ship Trustee.
SAMUEL L. KEEK, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in County
Antrim, Ireland, April 15, 1832, the eldest of the nine children of John
and Nancy (Logan) Kerr, both natives of Ireland, and of Scotch' and
Irish descent respectively. John Kerr was by trade a weaver, who in
1839 emigrated to this country with his family and located in Bloom-
ington Township, this county, whence he removed to this township and
purchased land, and at last, by labor and care, acquired 200 acres as a
home, on which he died in 1864, seventy-three years of age, preceded
by his wife five days.. They were members of the Presbyterian Church.
Samuel L. Kerr was about eight years old when he reached America.
Much farm labor devolved on him in youth, and he continued with^his
father until of age, when he comnxenced working by the month, and af-
ter eight years was enabled to purchase 220 acres, on which he has made
his home; having improved said land by erecting a house, supplying
stock, and by various other appurtenances, the whole now comprising
280 acres, 100 in pasture, and seventy of fine bottom land. December
5, 1861, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Jonathan and Catharine
Hinkle, and to their union have been given eight children — James B.,
John J., Samuel M., Charles A., Nannie Y. C, Ella May, Maggie E.
(deceased), and Mary A. Mr. Kerr is a Republican, a worthy citizen,
and he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM H. ]SERR, stock-raiser and farmer, was born June 6,
1847. His father was William Kerr, a native of Ireland, who, about
1824, emigrated to America, settled in this county, and entered the land
on which our subject now resides, and where Mr. Kerr, Sr., passed his
later life, and succeeded in making a good home of sixty acres, well im-
proved. He died in 1855, aged sixty years, leaving a wife and two chil-
dren, who managed the farm. He was a Reformed Presbyterian, as is
his wife, who is yet living, aged sixty-five years; the only daughter died in
1872. William H. Kerr remained at home until he wan seventeen, when he
enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, for twelve months' service, which was passed in the
Southern States in doing skirmish duty. He was honorably discharged,
and in 1867, purchased eighty acres of his present home, which now com-
BENTON TOWNSHIP. 669
prises one hundred and forty acres, containing some stock and many im-
provements. December 24, 1872, lie married Miss Elizabeth Mulliken,
a native of Johnson County, by which union they were favored with four
children — Maud B., Connie J., Cora B. and Laura M. Mr. Kerr en-
gaged in agriculture near Franklin until 1879, when he returned to his
former site and home. He is a Republican, and he and his wife are
worthy members of the Christian Church.
SAMUEL GETTY, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Ireland
and the youngest child of Samuel and Nancy (Kerr) Getty, both natives of
Ireland, and both Protestants. Samuel Getty, Sr., was a tiller of the
soil, who ended his life, as did his wife, in the country of his birth.
Their eldest son emigrated to this country about 1840, and farmed until
his decease. Our subject obtained an ordinary education and was reared
as a farmer. In 1851, married Miss Rose Cubitt, a native of Ireland.
In 1852, they emigrated to America by way of New Orleans, and reached
this section after a travel of eleven weeks. Mr. Getty having but $200,
he worked at farming for one year, and soon after purchased a portion of
his present home, which now comprises 280 acres, 100 of which are bot-
tom lands of great fruitfulness; he has also twenty acres in Perry Town-
ship— all the result of his thrift and economy. He is one of the largest
fari^ers in this township, and gives his undivided attention to his farm
and raising stock. Mr. and Mrs. Getty have been parents of eleven chil
dren, of which number the following are living: Nancy, Elizabeth, John
C. and Ida Ellen. Both are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM PETERSON, farmer and stock-raiser, is the eldest son of
Thomas and Mary (Custer) Peterson, natives i*espectively of Ohio and
Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Vir-
ginian, who located in Ohio when a wilderness, and reared five sons and
three daughters. Thomas Peterson was reared a farmer in Jefferson
C*unty, Ohio, but came to this township in 1854, where he jjurchaspid
forty acres, and farmed until January, 1864, when he became a soldier of
the Tenth Cavalry. During this service, he was attacked by sickness, and
while on his way home he died, being buried at Louisville. He left a
wife, who survives him, and seven children. He was a Republican, and
a Baptist. William Peterson was born in Jefferson County, August 12,
1830; was reared to farming, and remained at home until he was twenty-
seven years of age. After working on the home fai-m until he was eighteen
years old, he learned the carpentering, at which he worked in summer,
and taught school in the winter. He taught his last term in 1863.
June, 1859, he married Sarah E. Rader, who died^in 1866, leaving four
children — IraD., Phinny H., Cordelia A. and Thomas W. April 29,
1877, he wedded Miss Margaret A. Reimer, by which marriage they had
two children — Carey J. and Mary C. February, 1865, Mr. Peterson was
detailed as carpenter at Camp Carrington. This was '■ his only soldier
service. He was discharged May 8, 1865. In 1859, he located on the
farm, which embraces 540 acres, one-half of which is improved, with
good stock, etc. In 1876, he was elected County Commissioner, as which
he gave great satisfaction. He is Commander of Alexander Post, and a
member of the Baptist Church.
T. J. PETERSON, proprietor of the spoke factory at Unionville, was
born in Jefferson County, Ohio, September 7, 1846, and is one of the
family of Thomas and Mary Peterson. When he was nine years old, his
parents moved to this county, which has since been his home. When
670 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
fifteen years old, being of large stature, he enlisted, in the fall of 1861,
in Company H, Fiftieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, assigned to the
Western division, their hardest engagement being at the siege of Mobile.
During his service, he suffered from measles: afterward, in 1863, at Lit-
tle Rock, he became a veteran, and September 27, 1865, was discharged
as Sergeant. He then took charge of the home farm for two years, and
later, worked on a railroad, and as sawyer for several firms, and for sev-
eral years. November 6, 1873, he married Miss Alice A. Sluss, of this
township, which union gave being to four children, of which number two
survive — Edna M. and Daisy Irene. In the autumn of 1882, he pur-
chased the spoke factory he is now operating, in which he has $2,000 in-
vested. Mr. Peterson is an ardent Republican, and a public- spirited citi-
zen. Mrs. Peterson is a member of the Christian Church.
DAVID A. YOUNG, farmer and stock-raiser, is a son of Abraham
and Susan (Whisennand) Young, natives of Kentucky and Virginia re-
spectively, and of German extraction. The paternal grandfather of our
subject, David Young, moved to this county from Kentucky in the
earliest days, and settled and made a home here. He was the parent of
four sons and three daughters. Abraham Young began life poor, but,
by industry and care, made a good home and farm of 120 acres. He was
a member of the Christian Church, and died February 14, 1850, aged
forty-three, leaving a wife, who still survives, aged seventy-six, and six
children. David A. Young was born in this township, March 7, 1829,
the eldest of the family. After workiiig on the home farm until his
twentieth year, he began life for himself by farming on rented land.
July 27, 1848,' he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh and Nancy
McClung, who were among the first settlers in this township. This union
was honored with twelve children, of which number ten yet are living —
Nancy J., Amanda, John, Mary E., Sarah C, Saretha A., James A., Cora
Bell, Isaac N. and David Omar. Mr. Young continued to labor for house
and land for years, and in 1858 purchased his father's farm of 112 acres,
where he has since resided, devoting himself to stock-raising as well
as agriculture. Mr. Young is a highly esteemed citizen, and he and
wife are members of the Christian Church.
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP.
JAMES O. BAXTER, farmer, was born in this township, March 24,
1835, and is a son of William and Mary (Lee) Baxter; the former a
native of Tennessee, the latter of Kentucky. William Baxter moved
when very young to this county and received a fair education. He was
a farmer by occupation, which he followed until his death, January 1,
1858. Mrs. Baxter was a life long communicant of the Separate Baptist
Church, and departed from earth August 24, 1872. James O. Baxter,
our subject, received a quite limited education in youth, and remained
with his parents until September 5, 1861, when he became a soldier in
Company G, Thirty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and con-
tinued in the service until January 6, 1866, during which period he was
promoted to be Sergeant. After his discharge, he returned to his parents,
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. 671
with whom he remained until December 16, 1866, at which time he mar-
ried Amanda Ellen Smith, a native of this county, and to them live chil-
dren have been granted, of which number one son and two daughters,
remain. Mr. Baxter is a strong pleader for temperance, and in political
leaning a Democrat. He is one of the principal land owners and citi-
zens of the township, and, with his wife, a devoted member of the Chris
tian Church.
JAMES D. BUTCHER is a native of Coles County, 111., was born
March 19, 1861, and is a son of Jacob and America D. (Finley) Butcher,
natives of Indiana and of English descent. Jacob Butcher received a
limited education, and when sixteen years old departed for California,
but, meeting with reverses, roamed through many States and Territories,
and finally returned to his native commonwealth and married in 1856.
He then moved to Texas for two years; thence removing to Illinois, where
he remained four years, and thereafter returned to this county. Mr.
Butcher has been a life-long farmer. James D. Butcher received a good
school education in this county's schools, and for the past two years has
been teaching in the public schools, having previously assisted his father
on the home farm. He is politically a Greenbacker, a respected citizen
and one of the most promising young men of his county and township.
In religious inclination, he is, like his parents, an adherent of the Seventh-
Day Advent Church.
HIRAM M. HELTENBURG is a native of Wythe County, Va. , and
was brought into the world August '27, 1815. He was not fortunate
enough to receive any education in youth, and at the age of twenty years
emigrated with his mother and step- father to this State and county, where
he remained with them until April 26, 1846, at which time he married
Nancy Sowder, of this county, since which time he has lived exclusively
in Monroe and Lawrence Counties. Mr. Heltenburg is a member of
Harrodsburg Lodge, No. 322, A. F. & A. M. He is a National in poli-
tics, and a strong advocate of temperance. He has one of the best farms
in his region that is to be found, and he is one of the leading and solid
citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Heltenburg are long-standing and esteemed mem-
bers of the Christian Church, and the parents of eight children, of which
number two sons and five daughters are living.
JOHN HUNTINGTON, farmer, is a native of this township, his
date of birth February 21, 1883, and his parents Jonathan and Elizabeth
(Turman) Huntington, the former a native of Lower Canada, the latter
of Tennessee, and both of English extraction. Jonathan Huntington
had received a good education, and about 1831 or 1832, moved to this
county, where he followed his only profession — farming — having pur-
chased land from the Government. He died in 1843, and Mrs. Hunting-
ton in 1872; she was a member of the Baptist Church. John Hunting-
ton was born, reared, educated and married in this county, where he has
spent a life of fifty-one years, and is now the oldest settler. In 1854,
he went by emigrant train to California, remained until 1857, and then re-
turned. March 31, 1859, he married Sarah V. Payne, of this county,
from which union issued eight children, of which three sons and four
daughters are living. Mr. Huntington has one of the best farms with
improvements and appointments in this township. He has served as
Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner. Both he and wife are
adherents of the Baptist Church.
672 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
JOHN C. JOHNSON, deceased, was a native of Danville, Vt. , born
July 4, 1824, and is a son of Robert and Sarah Johnson. He received
more than a common school education, having for a time attended an
academy in his native State. In consequence of his father's decease, he
was early destined to struggle for a livelihood, and in that time played
many parts as a sailor, a railroad hand, and for some years worked on the
L., N. A. & C. Kailroad. May 15, 1853, he married Susan Ellis, a na-
tive of this county, to which union were bestowed several children, three
sons and four daughters being yet alive. In 1865, Mr. Johnson enlisted
for service againt the rebellion, dui'ing which he contracted a fatal ill-
ness, which culminated in death June 21, 1869. Mr. Johnson was a de-
voted and honored member of the M. E. Church, a Republican politically,
and a most reputable and trusted citizen. Mrs. Johnson has, by her in-
domitable energy, not only reared her family, but purchased a farm in
this township, which constitutes her home.
DAVID B. JUDAH, farmer, is a native of Montgomery County, Ky. ,
was born September 9, 1814, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Jennings)
Judah, the former a native of Germany, the latter of Virginia, and re-
spectively of German and German-Irish descent. Samuel Judah emi-
grated to the United States about the year 1790, and settled in Kentucky,
where he lived more than thirty years, then moved to Lawrence County,
this State, planted a crop of corn, returned to Kentucky for his family,
and there sickened and died; this was in October, 1820. He associated
preaching with farming, and was hostile to slavery. David B. Judah re-
mained at home until he was eighteen years old, when he learned the
tanner's trade and worked thereat until 1840, at which time he established
a tannery at Bloomingrton. January 31, 1836, he married Miss Emma
Harriet, daughter of William and Jemima Parks, to which union eleven
children were bestowed, of which number five sons and two daughters are
yet living— Samuel N., Winepark, Elizabeth E., Morris, Rodolphus,
Francis M. and Emma H. Mr. Judah followed tanning until 1873, when
he gave his attention to farming, with an experience of two years in the
mercantile way; his farm is situated in Brown County, His sons, Mor-
ris and Francis, are proprietors of the only grist mill in this township,
also one of the best water mills. Morris is likewise a practicing physi-
cian; both are influential citizens. Mr. and Mi-s. Judah are members of
the Christian Church.
MILTON MYERS, farmer, was born in this county May 12, 1840,
his parents being Henderson and Minerva Myers. Henderson Myers
came to this count}' when about fourteen or fifteen years of age, worked
on a farm, and continued in that capacity until he was twenty-five, when
he married. He purchased a farm in Perry, and also one in this town-
ship, where he died March 22, 1826; he and wife were lifelong mem-
bers of the Separate Baptist Church. Milton Myers received a good pub-
lic school education, and remained with his parents until June 21, 1860,
at which time he married Mary A. Buskirk, of this county, which union
was blessed by nine children, of which number are yet living three sons
and four daughters, of which last Miss Addie has received a fine educa-
tion and is now a promising teacher. Mr. Myers is a practical farmer;
he has held the position of Road Superintendent, and is one of the lead-
ing and influential citizens of the township. Mrs. Myers and two daugh-
ters are members of the Christian Church.
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. 673
SOLOMON C. PAYNE was born in Rowan County, N. C. , November
16, 1830, and is the eldest child of James and Anna (Phillips) Payne, the
former a native of North Carolina, born 1810, the latter of Virginia, born
1812. James Payne was a miller, and moved to this county in 1831,
where both he and Mrs. Payne closed their lives — the former January 13,
1874, the latter April 21, 1876, a member of the Baptist Church; they
were parents of eight girls and four boys, all of whom lived to maturity.
Mr. Payne was a Democrat, and served as Justice of the Peace and Town-
ship Assessor for more than twenty years. Solomon C. Payne lived
mostly with a grandfather until he was sixteen years old, at which time
war with Mexico was declared, and he, in common with many boys, de-
sired to engage therein. His father finally consented, and our subject
enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Infantry, said company commanded by
Capt. Richard Owens, the regiment by Col. John W. De Batts. About
July, 1847, they reached Monterey, and did garrison duty until peace was
proclaimed, the regiment being disbanded August 7, 1848. About 1850,
Mr. Payne married, with an issue of two girls, from which mother he was
afterward divorced, and about 1860 married Elizabeth Hathaway. In
August, 1861, Mr. Payne enlisted for three years in Company I, Fifty-
ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged June
14, 1865, since which date he has been variously employed, but mainly
as a farmer. He has been ordained as a minister of the Baptist, and later
of the Christian Church (New Light). He is a Democrat, has been
Township Assessor, and is now a Justice of the Peace.
JOHN SEXTON, farmer, is a native of Greene County, Ind. , was
born December 28, 1835, and is a son of James and Mary (Staton) Sex-
ton, the former a native of Alabama, the latter of Kentucky. James
Sexton was reared and attended school in Tennessee, whither he had
gone at an early age, and when about twenty-one years of age removed
to Kentucky, remained ten years; afterward came to Greene County, this
State, and finally to this township, where he finished his earthly course
in October, 1874. Mrs. Sexton is yet living at the age of eighty-four.
She is, as Mr. Sexton was, a member of the Separate Baptist Church.
John Sexton received but slight education, having been depended upon
to assist the family in the work of the farm dui'ing his boyhood. He re-
mained at home, therefore, until he was twenty-six years of age, about
which period, September 19, 1861, he married Margaret J. Smith, a na-
tive of this county, a union which has been favored with two sons and
one daughter. Sixteen years ago, Mr. Sexton purchased the farm where
he now resides, and has become one of the representative men of the
township. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and lady are worthy
members of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM H. SHIELDS, farmer, was born in Bourbon County, Ky.,
March 7, 1819, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Masterson) Shields,
also natives of Kentucky. Joseph Shields moved with his family to
this county in 1835, where he purchased land and remained until death,
April 5, 1841. He was exclusively a farmer, and, during the war of
1812, a teamster. Mrs. Shields was a member of the Separate Baptist
Church, and left the earth October 31, 1880. William H. Shields re-
ceived an ordinary education in Kentucky, and remained with and la-
bored for his parents until January 12, 1842, when he married Mary
Hudlan, to which union were born twelve children, of whom four sons
and six daughters remain. He is a Democrat, and he and wife are hon-
ored members of the Separate Baptist Church.
674 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
John W. Shields, teacher, is a native of this township; was born
February 15, 1863, his parents being William H. and Mary Shields. He
received a good public school education, makes his home with his par-
ents, and a business of agriculture. For a few years past, he has been
a teacher in the public schools, and is progressing satisfactorily. He is
a Democrat and a promising young gentleman.
GEORGE W. WAMPLER, teacher, was born in this township July
4, 1849, and is a son of William and Julia (Sherrill) Wampler, the former
a native of Virginia, the latter of Kentucky, and respectively of Dutch
and German-Irish descent. William Wampler was fairly educated at the
public schools of this State, whither he came about 1830, and remained
until 1874. He served eight months as a private during the rebellion,
and has since, as before, made farming his occupation. Mr. and Mrs.
Wampler are life-during members of the Baptist Church, and are at pres-
ent living in Wright County, Mo. George W. Wampler remained at
home until he was twenty-four years of age. March 13, 1873, he married
Miss Julia C. Shields, a native of this county, a union which was hon-
ored with five children, two sons and three daughters. Mr. Wampler in
his former life was a farmer, but is now in the profession of teaching.
In politics, he is a Democrat, and at present holds the office of Township
Assessor, with satisfaction to his constituents. He is one of the most
influential men and most respected citizens of his township.
MARION TOWNSHIP,
THOMAS JACKSON BATES, an old settler and farmer of Monroe
County, was born in Tennessee May 7, 1820, and is the third of the five
children born to Charles and Eda (McCollan) Bates, natives of Virginia
and Kentucky respectively. The family came to Bloomington, this
county, in 1830, remained a few months, then went to Illinois, but re-
turned to Bloomington in 1832. December 13, 1840, Mr. Bates married
Mary Hendrickson, daughter of Ezekiel and Susan (Walls) Hendrickson,
and a native of Lawrence County. Two children, Charles D. and Eze-
kiel, were born to this marriage. Mrs. Bates died/September 28, 1854,
and on August 3, 1856, Mr. Bates married Eliza Smith, of Miami County,
Ind., a native of Monroe County, and daughter of Hugh and Jane (Gid-
dings) Corr. To this union have been born the following children:
Thomas Jefferson, who was born May 20, 1857, in Miami County, and
who married, February 26, 1883, Nettie Billings, of Daviess County, and
daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Miller) Billings; Martha E. and Mary
Jane (twins), Laura, Sarah, Maria and Hattie. Mr. Bates settled on his
present farm in 1859, and is the owner of 180 acres; he was formerly a
Granger, and in politics is a Democrat. His father was a soldier in the
war of 1812; his wife's mother is an inmate of his home, and is in her
ninety-seventh year; his wife's father, Hugh Corr, settled in Blooming-
ton Township in 1821, and finally settled where Hindostan now stands,
in Washington Township.
JOHN CAMPBELL is a native of County Antrim, Ireland, was bom
December 4, 1841, and is one of the eight children of Robert and Jane
MARION TOWNSHIP. 675
(Cunningham) Campbell, natives respectively of County Antrim and
County Derry, Ireland, and of Scotch descent. The parents of our sub-
ject came to the United States in 1843, landed at New Orleans, came to
this State, located near Bloomington, and remained until 1858, at which
time he bought a farm. Here our subject remained until June, 1861,
when he enlisted in Company F, Twenty -seventh Indiana Regiment, and
was engaged at Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Antietam (where he was
wounded in the right side), Chancellorsville, Gettysbm-g, where he re-
ceived a wound in the left thigh) and Kesaca (where his left arm was
broken), which finished his service, being discharged September 13, 1864.
June 24, 1866, he married Martha J., daughter of Robert and Angeline
Williams. This union produced three children — Robert Henry, James
Homer and John Lewis; also, by adoption, John W. Maginnis. Mr.
Campbell is the owner of seventy-four acres in Bloomington Township,
which is improved by a good residence, buildings, orchard, fences, etc.
He is an active Republican, has served two terms as Township Trustee,
and he and wife, like his father and mother, are members of the Presby-
terian Church. Mr. Campbell is a worthy and progressive citizen, and
is a member of the G. A. R.
THOMAS J. FARR, farmer and stock- raiser, was born January 1,
1844, in Ray Township, this county, and is the sixth of twelve children
born to Jefferson and Sarah (Miller) Farr, natives of Kentucky and of
English descent. Thomas was reared to farming, but attended school
during the winter seasons. April, 1862, he enlisted in Company H,
Thirty-third Indiana Regiment, during which service he was promoted
to be Sergeant, and took part at Thompson's Station (where he was capt-
ured and afterward confined in Libby Prison for nineteen days), Mur-
freesboro, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and the march to the sea;
he was discharged May, 1865. March 20, 1866, he married Susan,
daughter of Martin and Sarah Goble, to which union were born six chil-
dren— Howard, Sarah C, Jefferson V., Thaettie, Julia A. and Willard
N. (deceased March 15, 1883). Mr. Farr has a good farm of 540 acres,
supplied with stock and well improved, making alike a comfortable home
and valuable property, almost all of which is the result of his wise ad-
ministration and honest industry, thus marking his life a success. He is
a Republican in political faith and has served two terms as Township
Trustee. Mrs. Farr is a member of the Baptist Church.
MAHLON HACKER is a native of Clay County, Ky., was born De-
cember 4, 1829, and is one of the family of Valentine and Mary (Spires)
Hacker, natives of Tennessee; the former of German, the latter of Irish
descent. Mahlon Hacker "was reared on the farm and obtained but little
schooling in his youthful days. When sixteen years of age, he left
home and undertook his own living by working by the month or by the
day. When a young man, he married Nancy Fulford, of this county, a
union which was smiled upon by nine children, of whom seven are living
— F. T., Jonathan, Mary E. (now Mrs. McDonald), C. J., Florence M.,
Andrew W. and Isabel D. Mr. Hacker is the possessor of 120 acres and
also a partner in a half section of timber land. August, 1862, he en-
listed in Company B, Sixty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and
participated in the battles of Munfordville (when he was captured and
paroled), and at Arkansas Post; he was discharged April, 1863, and re-
enlisted as a veteran in October, 1864, and was therefrom discharged
May, 1865. Mr. Hacker is a worthy citizen: in politics, Republican, and
he and wife are honored as members of the Baptist Church.
676 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
JOSEPH A. HA.DDEN was born in Washington Township, this
county, March 1, 1854, and is the second of the five children born to
Jacob and Jane (Martin) Hadden — the latter a native of North Carolina
and of German and Irish origin. He was educated in the common
schools, and assisted his mother in the management of the home farm
until married, April 20, 1883, to Mrs. Mary A. Johnson, of Monroe County,
a daughter of Michael and Rebecca (Barnett) Fleener. Mrs. Hadden owns
440 acres of land in a good state of cultivation and improved with a
good residence and outbuildings. Mr. Hadden is proprietor of a first-
class sawmill, and also owns considerable live stock. In politics, he is a
Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
JAMES J. HUBBARD is a native of this county, was born May 28,
1838, and is the youngest of the eleven children of John and Nancy (Wed-
del) Hubbard; the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Vir-
ginia, and respectively of German and English extraction. Our subject
was reared on a farm and had but very spare advantages for education.
He resided with his parents until October 7, 1859, at which period he
married Indiana Twomey,of Brown County, which union was productive
of five children — Laura A., Eimira C, James A., William T. (deceased)
and Virginia; Mrs. Hubbard died November, 1872: and October 10, 1873,
he wedded Mary Jane Weddel, of this county, but a native of Kentucky,
and by this union came into the world five children, of which number
four are living— Belzora E., Mary E., Clara I. and Ada J. In 1863, Mr.
Hubbard was in the service at Indianapolis for three months. He has a
good home and farm; has the respect of his community, and is in politics
a member of the National party. He is a member of the Christian
Church, and his wife of the Baptist Church.
THOMAS MAGENIS is a native of County Clare, Ireland, was
born December 17, 1835, and is the sixth of the family of twelve of
Timothy and Frances (Frost) Magenis, the former a native of County
Down, the latter of County Clare, Ireland, and both of Scotch descent.
Thomas was reared on a farm in Ireland, and when fourteen years of age
his parents emigrated to America. After living in Goshen, N. Y., five
years, he moved to this State in 1856, and settled in this township, where
he labored by the month. March 23, 1861, he married Mary E., daughter
of John and Rebecca Garrett. This union was smiled on by five children
— Emma (deceased), Maggie F., George W., Anna S. and Minnie E.
August 7, 1861, Mr. Magenis enlisted in Company F, Twenty- seventh
Indiana Regiment, serving at the battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain
and Antietam (where he was wounded in the arm, leg and breast). He
was discharged September 1, 1864, and located for one year in Washing-
ton Township. In 1865, he moved to the farm he now occupies, com-
prising 188 acres of well- improved land, and containing comfortable resi-
dence, barns, orchard, etc. He also owns forty acres in Washington
Township, all of which is alone due to his energy and tact. In 1864, he
was elected Real Estate Appraiser of this county and township; Trustee in
1876, and was twice appointed Assessor. Mr. Magenis is a Democrat,
and a member of the G. A. R.
JAMES P. RIDDLE, one of Monroe County's enterprising young
farmers, was born in this township February 6, 1848, and is the youngest
of the seven children born to G. M. and Margaret (Thomson) Riddle,
natives of Kentucky. He was educated at the common schools, and
assisted on the home farm until he was married, November 12, 1871, to
MARION TOWNSHIP. 677
Eliza A. Fleener, of this county, and daughter of Michael and Rebecca
(Barnett) Fleener. To his marriage have been born six children^Will-
iam, James H., Mintia May, Amanda B., Joha and Rebecca. Mr. Rid-
dle is the owner of a farm of 190 acres, well improved, with a commodious
residence, bai'n and other outbuildings, two orchards, etc., mostly ac-
quired by his own perseverance and industry. He formerly was a mem-
ber of the Grange. In politics, he is a Democrat, and he and his wife
are members of the Baptist and Christian Churches respectively.
JOHN M. TOMEY, farmer, was born in Augusta County, Va., April
17, 1834, and is the sixth of the twelve children born to Michael and
Mary (Lockridge) Tomey, natives of Virginia, and of Scotch and German
descent respectively. The family came to Indiana in 1835, and settled
in Henry County. Three years later they moved to Brown County, and
in 1870 came to this township, and bought the farm on Section 15, where
John M. now lives. Mr. Tomey remained on the home farm until his
marriage, March 30, 1856, to Catharine Prickitt, of Brown County, Ind.,
and a native of Ohio. She died July 13, 1873, the mother of five chil-
dren— Josephus, Richard J., Elizabeth E., Mary H. and Julia A. — and a
member of the Christian Church. November 16, 1874, Mr. Tomey mar-
ried Mary C. Mann, also of Brown County, Ind., and a native of Ohio.
In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seveath Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged at Antietam, Winchester, Cedar
Mountain, Chancellorsville, second Bull Run, Gettysburg, Resaca and
Peach Tree Creek, and was discharged the evening before the fall of
Atlanta, in August, 1864, as Corporal. He has served as Justice of the
Peace, is a Republican, a Granger, a member of the G. A. R., and the
owner of 216 acres of good land.
WILLIAM E. WHITESELL, farmer, is a native of Bloomington,
Ind., was born July 17, 1833, and is the eighth of the fifteen children of
Peter and Elizabeth (Akens) Whitesell, natives of Kentucky and Virginia
respectively. Peter "Whitesell moved to this county about the year 1824,
and settled near Bloomington, where he entered land. William E.
Whitesell was reared on a farm, and attended school for about six
months. When about eighteen years old, he moved to Illinois for a
time, where he began to work for himself. June 12, 1858, he married
Eliza A. Matlock, of this county, which union gave being to five chil-
dren, two of whom are living. September, 1864, he enlisted in the
volunteer service, was on duty at Indianapolis, and was discharged May,
1865. He afterward came to this county and purchased 195 acres, some
of which was improved. He now owns 225 acres, which constitutes a
good home and farm. Mr. Whitesell has served for one term as Town-
ship Trustee, and is in political classification a Democrat. He is an up-
right, liberal citizen, and one generally esteemed and trusted.
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY,
BY WESTON A. QOODSPEED.
INDIAN CESSION TREATIES.
THE territory comprising the county of Brown lies partly within the
limits of two tracts of land, secured at different times from the In-
dians by treaty. A straight line drawn from Section 25, Township 9
north, Range 1 east, to Section 7, Township 7 north, Range 4 east, will
coincide with this old Indian boundary, which extends, as will be seen by
this, from southeast to northwest. All that portion of Brown County
southwest of this boundary was, with other territory of which it formed a
part, obtained of the Indians at the treaty of Fort Wayne, on the 30th
of September, 1809, and constituted a portion of " Harrison's Purchase."
The boundary line was run or surveyed at this time by Arthur Henrie
and William Harris. All that portion of Brown County northeast of the
line, remained the property of the Indians until the treaty of October
2 to 6, 1818, at St. Mary's, Ohio, when it became with other lands the
property of the Government, and constituted a part of the " New Pur-
chase." The Indians were permitted to occupy the lands for the pur-
pose of obtaining sustenance from the chase for the period of two years,
at which time they were removed farther west to territory prepared for
them. The first settlers found the Indians still here. The survey of
that portion of Brown County in the " Harrison Purchase," was made in
the autumn of 1812 by Arthur Henrie and William Harris, and that
portion in the "New Purchase" by J. Hedges and A. C. Looker, in
1819.
INITIATORY LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS.
The first known disposition made of any portion of the lands of
Brown County by the General Assembly of Indiana, was at the session
of 1817-18, when all south of the old Indian boundary of 1809 was
made a part of Monroe County created at that time, as will be fully
seen in another part of this work. This was a short time before the In-
dians' title to the northern portion of the county was extinguished.
Probably the next dispostion made of Brown County lands was in
January, 1820, when that portion north of the Indian boundary, or in
the "New Purchase," together with more of the "New Purchase," was
formed into Delaware County, as will be seen from Section 2, of an act
approved by the General Assemby, January 20, 1820, as follows :
Section 2. That all the remaining part of said New Purchase lying east of the Second
Principal Meridian, except so much of it as has been attached to the counties of Fayette,
Jackson and "Wayne, by former laws, and except so much of it as is attached by the first
section of this act to the counties named therein, be and the same is hereby formed into a
new county, to be known by the name of Delaware. * ^ * *
680 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
By an act of the General Assembly, approved December 31, 1821,
that portion of Brown County in the New Purchase, and west of the ex-
tended line dividing Sections 4 and 5, Township 10 north, Range 2 east,
was made a part of Monroe County — not attached, but made a part of.
By an act approved January 16, 1828, the following territory, now com-
prising a part of Brown County, was attached to Jackson County, to wit :
Beginning on the line dividing the counties of Jackson and Bartholomew,
at a point where the line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east, of the Second
Principal Meridian, intersects the same ; thence north with said line three
miles to the northeast corner of Township 7 ; thence west with the line
dividing Townships 7 and 8, to the line of Monroe County ; thence south
to the line of Jackson County ; thence east to the place of beginning.
And at the same time, by the same act, the following territory, now com-
prising a portion of the county of Brown, was attached to Monroe
County, to wit : Beginning sn a point on the line dividing Townships 7
and 8, where the line dividing Sections 30 and 31 intersects the same ;
thence north with the last mentioned line to the line dividing the counties
of Bartholomew and Johnson ; thence west with said line to the northeast
corner of Monroe County ; thence south, to the line dividing Townships
7 and 8 ; thence east with the last mentioned line to the place of begin-
ning. At the same time, and by the same act, it was provided that all
territory east of Monroe County and west of Bartholomew County, not
attached to Jackson or Monroe Counties, should form a part of Barthol-
omew County, No other change seems to have been made until the
creation of Brown County in 1886. The territory composing the county
was of course formed into townships, or at least attached to townships in
the counties of Bartholomew, Monroe and Jackson. Bartholomew
County was created in 1821, Monroe in 1818, and Jackson in 1815.
That portion of Brown County attached to Monroe formed a part of
Jackson and Salt Creek Townships ; that part attached to Bartholomew
formed part of Harrison, Union, Nineveh and Ohio Townships, and that
part attached to Jackson formed part of Salt Creek Township. In the
meantime, the settlers continued to come in slowly and locate, for the
most part, on the hills of Brown County. At last, in 1835, enough had
arrived to warrant the formation of the county, and accordingly the Rep-
resentatives in the State Legislature were requested to introduce the bill
and carry it through, which in February, 1836, was done, as follows:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that from and afler the
Ist day of April next, all that tract of country included in the following boundary lines
shall form and constitute a new county, to be known and designated by the name of the
county of Brown (in honor of the late Maj. Gen. Jacob Brown) : Beginning at the north-
west corner of Section 1, in Township 10 north, of Range 1 west, of the Second Principal
Meridian ; thence south with the Government land line twenty miles, to the southwest cor-
ner of Section 12, Township 7 north, of the aforesaid range ; thence east sixteen miles,
to the southeast corner of Section 9, in the last-mentioned township, and in Range 4 east;
thence north with the Government land line twenty miles, to the northeast corner of Sec-
tion 4, Township 10 north ; thence west with the line dividing Townships 10 and 11 six-
teen miles to the place of beginning.
Sec. 2. That the new county of Brown shall, from and after the 1st day of April
next, enjoy and possess all the rights, privileges, benefits and jurisdictions which to sep-
arate and independent counties do or may properly belong or appertain.
Sec. 8. That James Alexander and Aquilla Rogers, of Monroe County, David
Deitz and Hiram Wilson, of Bartholomew County, and Stephen Sparks, of Jackson County,
be and are hereby appointed Commissioners, agreeably to the act entitled "An act fixing
HISTORY OF BROAVN COUNTY. 681
the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners afore-
said shall meet on the second Monday in August next, at the h use of .James Dawson, in
the said county of Brown, and sh.U proceed immediately to perform the duties required
of them by law; and it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Monroe County to notify said
Commissioners, either in person or by writing, of their appointment, on or before the
second Monday of July next ; and for such service he shall receive such compensation as
the board doing county business in the said county of Brown may, when organized,
deem just and reasonable, to be allowed and paid as the other county claims.
Sec. 4. The Circuit Court and the Board of County Commissioners, when elected
under the writ of election from the Executive Department, shall hold their sessions as
near the center of the county as a convenient place can be had, until the public buildings
can be erected.
Sec. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the
county seat of said county of Brown, sha'l reserve ten per centum out of the proceeds
thereof, and pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to
receive the same for the use of a county library.
Sec. 6. The county of Brown shall be attached to the Seventh Judicial Circuit of
this State for judicial purposes, and for Representative purposes the citizens of said
county shall vote in the counties of Bartholomew and Monroe in the following manner :
Those living within the territory of said new county, which was strickeu from either of
the counties aforesaid, fhall vote with the respective counties from which they were
stricken.
Sec. 7. That the Circuit Court shall be held in the county of Brown on Mondays
succeeding the week of the Monroe Circuit Court, and sit three days at each term, should
the business require it.
Sec. 8. That the Justices of the Peace in and for said county, when elected and quali-
fied by a writ of election from the Executive Department, shall constitute the Board of
County Commissioners, and the Board of Commissioners aforesaid shall hold special ses-
sions, not exceeding three during the first year after the organization of said county, and
shall make all necessary appointments, and do and perform all other business which may or
might have been necessary to be performed at any other regular session, and to take all
necessary steps to collect the State and county revenue, any law or usage to the contrary
notwithstanding.
Sec. 9. Ttiat the act entitled " An act providing the mode of opening and repairing
public roads and highways in the county of Monroe" (approved February 2, 1883), and
the act entitled " An act to amend the several acts regulating the jurisdiction and duties
of Justices of the Peace in the several conn ies hei-ein named" (approved February 7, 1835),
be and the same are hereby declared to be in force in the said new county of Brown.
Sec. 10. This act to be in force from and after its passage.
Approved February 4, 1836.
A mistake was made by the clerks of the Legislature in the wording
of this enactment, which was corrected at the succeeding session as fol-
lows :
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the word west, when
it occurs in the eighth line of the first section of said act, shall be and the same is hereby
declared to be a misprint, and that the word east shall be substituted in lieu thereof, and
that the boundary lines of the said new county of Brown shall be permanently established
in accordance with said change.
Sec. 2. That the election of all officers, and that the proceedings of the board doing
county business in said county from its first organization up to the time of the publica-
tion of this act, be and the same are hereby legalized and rendered as valid to all intents
and purposes as if no misprint or mistake had occurred in the law for the formation of
said county.
Sec. 3. That all fines assessed on any person or persons, citizens of said county of
Brown, for the non-performance of militia duty, and the non-performance of road labor, or
either of them in Monroe County, be and the same are hereby declared to be illegal, and
in any case where a fine as aforesaid has been assessed and paid, the same shall be re-
funded to him or them or an equivalent amount of county orders. This act to be in force
from and after its publication in the Indmna Democrat.
Approved December 20, 1836.
THE FIRST COUNTY ELECTIOISr.
The first thing necessary in the new county was the election of the
necessary officers for the management of county aiFairs and the adminis-
682 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
tration of justice. James Dawson was commissioned Sheriff by the Gov-
ernor, and directed to order an election of a Clerk and Recorder, two Asso-
ciate Judges of the Circuit Court, and three County Commissioners. An
election was accordingly held on the first Monday in June, 1836, and re-
sulted as follows: John Floyd, Clerk and Recorder; James Taggart and
Lewis F. Raper, Associate Judge; and Daniel Hedrick, William Jackson
and James Davidson, County Commissioners; James Dawson's commission
as Sheriff was dated April 20, 1836, and was to remain in force until
his successor was elected and qualified the following August. The com-
missions of the two Judges and the Clerk and Recorder were issued July
9 ; the County Commissioners were not commissioned, but were to begin
service as soon as elected and qualified. At the August election, James
Taggart became County Sheriff; William Followell, Coroner, and James
Mclntire, Probate Judge.
FIRST MEETING OF THE COUNTY BOARD.
The three County Commissioners met at the house of James Dawson,
as provided by law, on the 25th of July, 1836, for the transaction of busi-
ness. The first act was the subdivision of the county into townships and
election precincts, as follows :
CREATION OF TOWNSHIPS AND OTHER ACTS.
Hamblen Township, bounded as follows : Beginning at the northwest
corner of Section 5, Township 10 north, Range 3 east ; thence ten miles
to the southwest corner of Section 20 ; thence east eight miles to the
southeast corner of Section 21, in Range 4 east ; thence west eight miles
to the place of beginning. Van Buren Township, bounded as follows :
Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 29, Township 9 north.
Range 3 east ; thence ten miles to the southwest corner of Section 8,
Township 7 north. Range 3 east ; thence eight miles east to the south-
east corner of Section 9, Range 4 east; thence ten miles north to the
northeast corner of Section 28, Township 9 north, Range 4 east ; thence
eight miles west to the place of beginning. Johnson Township, bounded
as follows : Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 30, Town-
ship 9 north. Range 3 east; thence south ten miles to the southeast cor-
ner of Section 7, Town 7 north. Range 3 east ; thence eight miles west to
the southwest corner of Section 12, Township 7 north. Range 1 east,
thence ten miles north to the northwest corner of Section 25, Township
9 north. Range 1 east ; thence eight miles east to the place of beginning.
Jackson Township, bounded as follows : Beginning at the northeast cor-
ner of Section 6, Township 10 north, Range 3 east ; thence ten miles
south to the southeast corner of Section 19, Township 9 north. Range 3
east ; thence eight miles west to the southwest corner of Section 24,
Township 9 north, Range 1 east ; thence north ten miles to the north-
west corner of Section 1, Township 10 north. Range 1 east ; thence eight
miles east to the place of beginning.
An election precinct was established at the residence of James Daw-
son, for all that part of the county taken from Monroe County, and one
at the house of James Taggart and one at the house of Cornelius Hurley,
for that portion taken from Bartholomew County. Elections were ordered
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 683
held in the four townships created on the first Saturday in September, for
all the township officers except Constables. Assessors were appointed, the
returns to be made by the first Monday in September. Thomas Hempson
was appointed County Treasurer. Overseers of the Poor were appointed
for the various townships, their names appearing in the township sketches
accompanying this volume. Supervisors of Roads were appointed. At
the next session the locating Commissioners appointed by the Legislature
presented the following report :
We, the undersigned Commissioners appointed by the act of the Legislature of 1836,
for the location of the county site of Brown County, Ind., do certify that according
to said act we met at the house of James Dawson, in said county, on the 8th of
August, 1836, and on the Ilth of August located the site of said county of Bro^n on
Section 19, Township 9 north. Range 3 east, or a tract of fi''ty acre^ of land donated by
James Dawson, Banner Brummet, John FoUowell, Pierson Brummet, James Huff, Will-
iam Snyder, John King and Henry Jackson. Also, we have received a donation of
$150 to be paid in cash, fir which we have received a note payable to_ the Commissioners
of said county of Brown in the following persons, to wit : Banner Brummet, James
Dawson, James Huff, Pierson Brummet and J. W. Dunning. We also certify that we
have named the county site Jacksonsburg. Given under our hands this 11th day of
August, 1836.
Stephen Sparks, ]
James Alexander, ! Locating
David Dietz, j Commissioner t.
Hiram Wilson, I
The amounts claimed by the Commissioners were as follows ; Stephen
Sparks, for seven days, $21 ; David Dietz, for five days, $15 ; James
Alexander, for five days, $15 ; Hiram Wilson, for five days, $15 ; total
Z^Q. This was not paid until October, 1843, after the lapse of seven
years.
This report was ordered, received and spread upon the records. On
the 15th of August, 183(5, the township of Washington was created, with
the following boundaries : Beginning at the southwest corner of Section 36,
Township 9 north. Range 1 east ; thence east sixteen miles with the town-
ship line to the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 9 north, Range 4
east ; thence four miles north to the northeast corner of Section 16 ; thence
sixteen miles west to the northwest corner of Section 13, Township 9 north.
Range 1 east ; thence four miles south to the place of beginning. On the
same day also Banner C. Brummet was appointed County Agent, with
bond at $4,000, and directed to lay out the county seat into lots to be sold
at public auction, the first auction to be September 12, 1836. The
sale was ordered advertised in Brown, Monroe, Bartholomew, Johnson
and Jackson Counties, and was to continue as long as the agent deemed
advisable. The .terms of the sale were to be one-fourth in advance, one-
fourth in eight months, one-fourth in sixteen months, and the remainder
in twenty-four months. On the 16th of August the County Agent was
ordered to lay out the county seat, which he proceeded to do. One dollar
was ordered paid for each wolf scalp, and the first claimant under this
order was William Snyder, who presented the scalp of one wolf over six
months old. James Dawson was appointed County Surveyor. The
license for taverns in the county was fixed at $ ") ; liquor or gro-
ceries, $5; merchandise, $10; wooden clock peddlers or sellers, $8;
ferry keepers, $2. The tax levied was 20 cents on each $100 valuation
and $1 on each poll. John Richards was appointed Collector of the State
684 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
and county revenue. After the lots of the county seat had been laid
out, Jonathan Watson and George Groves were appointed to value them,
assisted by the County Agent, and the latter was instructed to sell lots at
auction thereafter quarterly. Nashville at this time was called Jackson-
burg. On the 7th of November, 1836, John S. Williams was appointed
County Treasurer. John Floyd had been serving and continued to serve
as County Clerk and Recorder, the two offices being held by one man at
that time and for a number of years afterward. In January, 1837, Will-
iam Snyder was appointed Commissioner of the three per cent fund, and
W^illiam Jackson was appointed Seminary Trustee. All the fines of the
Circuit, justices' and other courts went to this fund, which was to be used
to found a county seminary when sufficient in amount. F. Goss, J.
Watson and William Taggart were appointed a committee to select public
lots upon which to erect county buildings. D. D. Weddel, Jonathan
Watson and H. C. Weddel were appointed a committee to settle with the
County Agent. They found his report to January 3, 1837. to be as fol-
lows: Fifty lots had been sold for $694.87^. Of this ^91.901 had
been received in cash, and the remainder in notes according to the above
conditions of sale. James Dawson was appointed Inspector of the
"General Election," to be held in Brown County. All these orders were
issued and business done by the County Board, which, after the first few
months, consisted of all the Justices of the Peace in the county, who
met as the County Commissioners now meet for the transaction of busi-
ness. As high as ten or twelve met at one time. Meetings of the board
were held at the house of James Dawson. The county court house and
the jail were built in 1837. The tax for 1837 was 20 cents on each
$100 valuation, and |1.26 on each poll. Lot No. 1 was selected for the
jail, and Lot No. 2 for the court house. The board had been without
funds enough to do county business, and had issued "orders," which soon
began to depreciate in value. The burden then fell upon individuals, in
whose hands they fluctuated. To cap the climax, the board in March,
1837, ordered that no county order should be received in payment
for town lots. This served to still more depreciate the value of the
orders, though they still continued to pass current at a variable point of
discount. After a few years this trouble was outgrown.
THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT.
This was held on the 20th of April, 1837, before Elisha M. Hunting-
ton, President Judge, and James Taggart and Louis F Raper, Associate
Judges. The first acts were the administration of the oaths of office to
the Judges. The next was the consideration of a bastardy case, wherein
the defendant moved to dismiss proceedings against him on account of
irregularity, which motion was overruled by the court. As it appeared
that a regular traverse jury had not been called for the April term of the
court, and as the defendant called for a jury, the case was continued until
the next term of court, the defendant giving sufficient bond for his ap-
pearance. The next case was one of slander — Pierson Brummet vs.
Reuben Mathis. The plaintifi", by his counsel, moved to dismiss the suit,
which was done by the court. A seal for the court was then ordered as
follows: "Brown County Circuit Court," inscribed in a circular form
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 685
near the margin of the seal, and in the center the figure of a Western
hunter leaning upon the muzzle of his rifle, with his dog lying at his feet,
the whole to be engraved on the usual material of proper diameter and
thickness. Banner Bruramet, David D. Weddel and John Floyd were
then appointed Commissioners to view and re-locate so much of the Bloom-
ington & Columbus State road as crossed the farms of Henry Newkirk
and Robert Henderson. Court then adjourned.
The second session was begun on the 19th of October, I'^ST; present,
same Judges as before. The following panel of grand jurors was sum-
moned and took their seats. Henry Sipes, Henry Newkirk, Joseph
Bracken, Asa Hatten, James Dawson, Stephen Matney, Arnold Helton,
H. A. Stivers, Thomas Elkins, James Mathis, Henry Jackson, John
David and Stephen Parks. There not being enough of the regular panel
present, the Sheriff was ordered to summon two bystanders, which he did
as follows: Aaron Mathis and D. D. Weddel. The jury was sworn and
sent out. The following attorneys were then admitted to practice at the
court: John Cowgill, C. W. Hester, Paris C. Dunning, Willis A. Gor-
man, Louis F. Coppersmith and Samuel W. Smith. The bastardy case
above mentioned was continued at the cost of the defendant. John Cow-
gill was State's Attorney. The next case was a recognizance to keep the
peace — Nancy Polly vs. Thomas Polly. Nancy, upon being called, came
not, and the defendant was discharged without a day. Six cases were
disposed of at this term of court. The grand jury returned ten bills of
indictment — six gaming, three assault and battery, and one assault and
battery with intent to murder. And so the second term ended.
The record of the County Board shows that both traverse and grand
jurors were chosen iu 1836 as follows: Grand jurors for October, 1836 —
James Weddel, J. S. Williams, Daniel King, Eliakim Hamblen, Pierson
Brummet, Robert Henderson, Robert Robertson, James S. Wood, Alfred
Hicks, Griffith Davidson, Henry Jackson and John Hubbard. Traverse
jurors for October, 1836 — William Whiteham, Wiley Guy, Silas Smith,
Solomon Followell, Roily Sturgeon, Jacob Fleener, Stephen Motley, Hi-
ram Mabe, Cornelius Cox, Sandy Walker, Arthur Rippy and Pleasant
Weddel. Jurors were also drawn for 1837 as follows : Grand jurors for
April, 1837 — David Warner, John Sinex, Asa Hatten, Cornelius Hurley,
William Rippy, Simon Weatherman, William Elkins, Henry Newkirk,
William Snyder, John Helton, D. D. Carrol and Abraham Chappel.
Traverse jurors, April, 1837 — William Johnson, Israel Mullinix, Will-
iam Davidson. David Siveley, James Dawson, Thomas Brown, Stephen
Sparks, John Hoover, John Conner, George Followell, Ezra Wilson and
Levi Tablet. So far as known, neither of the four juries above given,
though legally appointed, served the county.
THE FIRST PROBATE COURTS.
On the 8th of May, 1837, the first Probate Court of Brown County
convened at the court house at Nashville, with Judge James Mclntire on the
bench. The Judge presented his commission from Gov. Noah Noble,
and then opened court. There being no business, the court, after adopt-
ing a scrawl as a temporary seal, adjourned until August. On the 4th
of this month the court again convened, and the first act was the appoint-
686 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
ment of Alfred Young, administrator of the estate of William Rippe,
deceased. Mr. Young reported on hand of the decedent's estate $608.15,
besides considerable personal property reported. Ho was appointed
guardian of the estate, and directed to order a sale of the personal prop-
erty. The court then adjourned.
At the November term, 1837, there being no business, court adjourned.
During vacation, letters of administration were issued to Banner and
Esther Brummet, of the estate of James Brummet, deceased. The will
of Stephen Robertson was also filed for record. At the February term,
1838, Banner and Esther Brummet were called to answer for the admin-
istration of James Brummet's estate. They reported, under oath, the
following bill for record : 3 chairs, $1 ; 1 horse collar and pair of hames,
43f cents ; .1 saddle and 1 bridle, $1 ; 1 water pail, 43f cents ; 5 crocks,
50 cents ; 1 tin pan, 7 tin cups, 8 spoons, 1 coffee-pot, 8 lavers, and 1 set
of knives and forks, $1.75: 1 bread tray and smoothing iron, 62J cents
1 box, 1 razor, 1 horseshoe, $1.37J; 1 bed, bedding and bedstead, $6.50
1 bed and bedding. $5; 1 bedding and bed, $4; money, $4.06
1 saddle and bridle, $2.50 — total, $26.06^. It being shown that James
Brummet had died insolvent, it was ordered that the widow have all the
property and pay no demands of the creditors of the deceased. The will
of Stephen Robertson was read and admitted to probate. The court then
adjourned. In August, Patterson C. Parker became Probate Judge, his
commission being signed by Gov. David Wallace.
THE FIRST COMMON PLEAS COURT.
This court was established apart from the others in 1858, and the first
session was held at Nashville on the 81st of January, 1858, before Judge
William G. Quick. The following attorneys were sworn to practice in
the court: P. C Dunning, Daniel McClure, Fred T. Butler, George
A. Buskirk and Shadrack Chandler. The next thing was the adoption
of rules governing the court. The first business was the consideration of
the petition for dower and partition of Jane Kelley and Zachariah Kelley
vs. Nancy Hamblen et al. The next was the examination of witnesses
in the case of James Fleetwood for retailing liquor without a license.
He was required to appear at the next term of court. And so the busi-
ness continued at length.
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
The first courts were held in the residence of James Dawson. On
the first Monday in February, 1837, pursuant to an order from the
County Board, Banner Brummet, County Agent, let the contract of
building a court house and a jail, the first to be finished according to
specifications, by the first Monday in September, 1837, and the last by
the 1st of November, 1837. The work on both buildings was completed
within the time specified. The court house was of hewed logs, 18x24 feet,
two stories high, two rooms above, two stairways, one at each end, two
windows above, with twelve panes of glass each, one room below with one
door, and one window with twelve panes of glass opposite to it; fire-places
in all the rooms, chinks daubed with good mortar and weatherboarded
on the inside ; gable ends of building to have one window each, and to be
weatherboarded. The contractor, David D. Weddel, was to receive $50
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 687
on the 1st of June, 1837, and the remainder when the building was
completed. The contract of both buildings was sold at "public outcry "
to the lowest responsible bidder, at Nashville, on the 7th of March, 1837,
between the ho«rs of 10 o'clock A. M. and 4 o'clock P. M. The jail built
was of hewed logs, 14x14 feet, and one foot thick. There were two walls
one foot apart, and each one foot thick, and the space between was filled
with hewed foot-lumber, inserted perpendicularly. The logs of the walls
left no space between them. The building was two stories high, seven
feet between floors, floors of twelve-inch timber, window nine inches
square on each side of criminals' room, heavy iron door and windows.
Fifty dollars was to be paid on the jail, August 1, 1837, and the re-
mainder when done. William Snyder was the jail contractor. The cost
of these two buildings cannot be given, but was probably not more than
$700.
This court house answered the purpose until 1853, when arrangements
were made to build a brick structure to take its place. The old log
structure was sold, and for a year or more the courts were held in the
Methodist Church. In the fall of 1853, the court house contract
was sold to John Douglas for about $6,500. The house was com-
pleted so as to be occupied by the courts in 1855, and cost when
fully finished and furnished a little more than $7,000. In 1873, dur-
ing a session of the Circuit Court, this building took fire and burned to
the ground, involving a loss of nearly all the county records. In June,
1874, the contract of rebuilding the house on the old ruins or foundation,
and a portion of the old walls, was let to McCorraack & Sweeney, of Co-
lumbus, for $9,000, of which $4,500 was to be paid when the building
was under roof, and the remainder two years after the completion of the
work, with ten per cent interest. The work was performed according to
contract. The building is of brick, and is two stories high, with court-
room and jury-rooms above, and county ofiices below. Two stairways
over the main entrance on the south lead to the second story. The old
jail of 1837 was used with various repairs, which were almost equivalent
to a new building, until 1879, when the present hewed-log "bastile"
was erected, at a cost of about $1,500. The building is two storied, is
20x12 ; four on the inside, and 8 feet 4 inches high. The old log court
house is yet standing, and is used as a stable, a great depression of its
former noble use.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OP INTEREST.
John Floyd, the first Clerk and Recorder, did not stay in the office
himself, but had a deputy, named Avery Magee. The assessment roll in
1887 (spring), showed 225 polls in the county. The land taxables at
this time were worth $8,150, and the personal property, $44,649.94.
John S. Williams furnished the court house with twelve chairs in Septem-
ber, 1837, and D. D. Weddel furnished a table. Banner Brummet's
donation to the county was twenty acres of land. James Taggart was
appointed Commissioner of the surplus revenue and the three per cent
fund in the fall of 1837. The County Clerk's office was established in
the log court house for the first, September 2, 1837. The note of $150,
part of the donation to the county, was turned over to the jail contractor
as a partial consideration for his work. William Snyder succeeded
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
James Taggart as surplus revenue and three per cent Commissioner.
The last named fund was used to pay for the court house and the jail.
Considerable money was paid out for wolf scalps. In August, 1839, the
first bridge over Salt Creek, east of Nashville, on the Columbus & Bloom-
ington road, was built by John A. Brown for $233. Henry Jackson was
appointed Seminary Trustee in the fall of 1839. Banner Brummet still
continued to serve as County Agent. Shadrach Chandler was appointed
a student at the University at Bloomington in 1811. William Taggart
became agent of the surplus revenue in 1841. In 1842, Stephen
Brocken was appointed a student at the State University ; in 1?^43.
John Arwine, Jr., same ; in 1844. Walter Hotchkiss, same ; in 1845,
Isaac Somsel, same; in ISli, B. Mason, same. In 1848, D. D. Weddel
became County Agent. In 1863, Sylvanus Manville was County Agent.
In 1853, the county took several thousand dollars in bonds in the Colum-
bus, Nashville & Bloomington Railroad, but canceled them when it was
found that the road would not be built. During the winter of 1863-64,
the Treasurer's oflBce was robbed of $3,555.59 by burglars, for whom a
reward of $1,000 was offered. Neither thieves nor money were recovered.
In 1869, the Morgantown & Nashville Gravel Road Company came into
being, among the stockholders being James S. Hester, Harvey Coleman,
R. M. Dill, Isaac Knight and Thomas M. Adams. The entire length of
the road was thirteen miles and sixty-seven rods, and the total estimated
cost of grading the same was $17,130. It was decided to omit graveling
the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh miles north of Nashville, and the re-
mainder were estimated to cost $10,200. Three miles at the south end of
the road had been previously graveled and two miles at the north end, but
this had to be purchased. By 1869, there was subscribed $6,120 toward
building the road. The benefits to adjoining lands were assessed by order
of the County Board. This project was abandoned after much had been
done. It was revived in 1879 — the part between Nashville and George-
town— when Lawson Hopper, W. D. Roberts, W. G. Quick, W. L. Cox,
Isaac Chafin, Eliakim Hamblen and H. W. King asked for the right of
way, which was granted. Much of the road was put in good shape and
toll-gates were erected, but the collection of toll is almost wholly aban-
doned at present (November, 1883).
In 1869, a petition signed by over one hundred citizens was presented
the County Board, asking that a two per cent donation be given to the
Cincinnati & St. Louis Short Line Railroad Company, in consideration
that the road should be built through the central part of the county. An
election was ordered held December 11, which resulted as follows, by town-
TOWNSHIPS.
For
Donation.
Against
Donation.
45
259
18
46
72
46
2
201
6
Hamblen '
64
440
319
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTT. 689
In accordance with this decision the tax was levied, but as the road
was not built, the limited amounts paid were refunded to the tax-payers
In 1876, the citizens voted " yes " to donate $7,700 to the Indianapolis &
Evansville Mineral Railway, provided the line was built, and at the same
time Jackson Township voted $7,500 aid, and Hamblen Township, $7,-
550 aid, for the same road, upon the same condition, but the road was not
built.
COUNTY POLITICS.
The Democracy of Brown County has always been unquestionably
Simon pure. From the first, the majority was comparatively great, and
never fell to a doubtful depth. The results of the earlier elections can-
not be given. At the gubernatorial election of 1856, 0. P. Morton re-
ceived 220 votes in the county, while his competitor received 773, more
than three and a half times as many. The vote for Common Pleas Judge
was: G. A. Buskirk (Rep.), 376; W. G. Quick (Dem.), 485. Prosecut-
ing Attorney, F. T. Butler (Rep.), 202; A. D. Cunning (Dem.), 510.
In 1858, the result for Representative in Congress was : James Hughes
(Dem.), 548 ; W. M. Dunn (Rep.), 253; for Circuit Judge, J. W. Chap-
man (Dem.), 550; William Harod (Rep.), 286; for Prosecuting Attor-
ney, W. S. Mavity (Dem.), 572; G. W. Richardson (Rep.), 241. In
1860, the vote for Governor was: Thomas A. Hendricks (Dem.), 744 ;
Henry S. Lane (Rep.), 296 ; Representative in Congress, W. M. Daily
(Dem.), 702; W. M. Dunn (Rep.), 31;^; Representative in the State
Legislature, Lewis Prosser (Dem.), 575; J. W. Mcllvain (Rep.), 306;
John Beck (S. Dem.), 118. In 1862, the result for Secretary of State,
a strict party vote, was : William A. Peelle (Rep.), 213 ; James S. Athon
(Dem.), 840. A majority of 627, in a total vote of 1,053, was enough
for all practical purposes. Having reduced the Republican vote to such
a diminutive figure, one cannot help wondering why the Democracy did
not wipe it wholly out. In 1864, the vote for Governor was : Morton
(Rep.), 367 ; McDonald (Dem.), 823 ; Circuit Judge, Chapman (Dem.),
828 ; Buskirk (Rep.), 360. Prosecuting Attorney Circuit Court, H. A.
Downey (Dem.), 827 ; B. F. Lewis (Rep.), 360 ; Judge Common Pleas,
O. J. Glessner (Dem.), 827 ; W. J. Manker (Rep.), 354 ; Representative
in the State Legislature, John Richards (Dem.), 814; W. W. Browning
(Rep.), 351. In 1864, the result for Presidential Electors was : Demo-
cratic, 821 ; Republican, 288. In 1866, the vote for Secretarv of State
was: M. D.Morrison (Dem.), 1,025; Nelson Trusler (Rep.)l^ 423 ; for
Representative in Congress, H. W. Harrington (Dem.), 1,016; M. C.
Hunter (Rep.), 430. In 1868, the result for Governor was : Thomas A.
Hendricks (Dem.), 1,084; Conrad Baker (Rep.), 427; for Represent-
ative in Congress, John W. Knightley (Dem.), 1,087 ; John Coburn
(Rep.), 425 ; Presidential Electors, Democratic, 1,080 ; Republican, 458.
In 1870, the result for Secretary of State was : Norman Eddy (Dem.),
974; M. F. A. Hoffman (Rep.), 346; Representative in Congress,
Thomas Cottrell (Dem.), 978 ; John Coburn (Rep.), 339. In 1872, the
result for Governor was: T. A. Hendricks (Dem.), 1,166; T. M. Brown
(Rep.), 467; Representative in Congress, Cyrus F. McNutt (Dem.),
1,170; John Coburn (Rep.), 460; Presidential Electors, Democratic,
957; Republican, 462; Independent, 0. In November, 1876, the result
for Presidential Electors was as follows, by townships :
690
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
Tilden and
Hendricks,
Democratic.
Hayes and
Wheeler,
Kepublican.
Cooper and
Gary,
Independent.
Hamblen
305
232
359
279
79
102
124
129
119
14
17
42
Washington
12
8
30
Totals
1,254
488
109
In 1878, the result for Secretary of State was: John G. Shanklin
(Dem.), 1,166 ; Isaac S. Moore (Rep.), 378 ; Henley James (Ind.) 137.
In November, 1880, the result for Presidential Electors was as follows,
by townships :
TOWNSHIPS.
Hancock and
English,
Democratic
Garfield and
Arthur,
Kepublican.
Weaver and
Chambers,
Independent.
356
286
461 ■
344
129
106
162
159
133
39
7
25
Washington
5
Van Buren
4
1
Totals
1,576
599
42
In November, 1882, the result for Secretary of State was : W. R.
Myers (Dem.), 1,217 ; E. R. Hawn (Rep.), 555 ; H. Z. Leonard (Ind.),
91.
THE COUNTY PAUPERS.
The first record of a pauper claim against the county was made in
the spring of 1837, by Ambrose Cobb, who was allowed |6.97, or 40
cents per week, for caring for some poor person from November 2, 1836,
to March 6, 1837. After this, claims were constantly allowed on audit
from the Overseers of the Poor, under whose direction the townships cared
for their poor and helpless. Many or most of the early claims were set-
tled in the townships, and were not presented to the County Board at all.
Jane Sconce was a pauper who was cared for by the county for more than
twenty years. She was regularly "farmed out " annually to the lowest
bidder. She first came to public notice in 1846, v^hen William Gillaspy
was allowed $6.65 for providing her with necessary wants for a few
months. The pauper claims allowed in 1846-47 amounted to $89.75 ; in
1847-48 to $231.14; in 1848-49 to $194.49; in 1855-56 to $483.73; in
1857-58 to $488.35; in 1861-62 to $553.29 ; in 1863-64 to $529.11 ; in
3864-65 to $762.49 ; in 1865-66 to $968.14 ; in 1869-70 to $546.40 ;
in 1875-76 to $769.45; in 1879-80 to 908.84. In 1859, the County
Board took steps to purchase a poor-farm, but after viewing several loca-
tions and counting the cost the project was abandoned. In March, 1869,
the County Board purchased 244 acres of land, adjoining Nashville on the
east, of Thomas M. Adams, for $5,000, in two equal installments ; the
first, April 25, 1870, and the second April 25,1871, the payments to be
in county bonds bearing six per cent interest. William Waltman con-
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 691
tracted to erect a frame poor-house, 30x60 feet, for $1,474, The house
was completed in 1870, and cost about $1,600. James Taggart was the
first Superintendent. He received the use of the farm, and $3,085 for
caring for the poor for three years. In 1872, Caleb Ferguson became
Superintendent for $675 per year and the use of the farm. He was suc-
ceeded, in 1877, by B. R. Kelley, for $277.50 per year and the use of
the farm. Thomas J. Taggart became Superintendent in 1879, and Am-
brose Fraker in 1883 — the latter for $100 per year. The number of in-
mates ranges from eight to fifteen.
THE COUNTY SEMINARY.
All the early fines, penalties, forfeitures, etc., were paid into a fund
for the foundation and maintenance of a county seminary. Henry
Jackson was the first Trustee. On the 1st of February, 1840, he reported
the receipts up to that time to be $80.25. A year later the amount was
$127.48, and in December, 1843, was $342.67. In 1853, when the
fund was transferred to the common school fund, it amounted to
$515.90.
THE COUNTY LIBRARY.
The act creating the county provided that ten per cent of the pro-
ceeds of the sales of public lots at the county seat, should be used to
found and maintain a county library. In 1840, the fund amounted to
$177,601. Soon after this, the first books were bought. In 1846, Will-
iam Ganla was Librarian, and R. P. Manville, Treasurer. Several hun-
dred volumes had been bought by this time. The fund came in slowly
and in small amounts, and the library was correspondingly small. In
the fifties, the McOlure bequest gave to the workingmen a small library
of choice reading matter. The old libraries are not kept up in these
days of newspapers and cheap books.
ORIGIN OP SCHOOL FUNDS.
The common school fund was started in February, 1837, by the dis-
tribution to the counties of the State of certain moneys which had accu-
mulated and were known as the surplus revenue. Brown County re-
ceived :
Surplus revenue (1836) |2,125.H0
Bank tax 211.23
Saline 183.24
Sinking fund 2,519.04
Countv Seminary fund (1853) 515.90
Total fines, penalties, forfeitures, etc., up to 1853 287.62
Fines and penalties from 1856 to 1866 inclusive 494.88
Sinking fund (1870-3) 3,428.50
Fines and penalties from 1866 to 1876 inclusive..... 2,259.22
Fines and penalties from 1876 to 1883, inclusive.... 1,613.36
Total $13,636.59
The Congressional fund has arisen from the sale of sixteenth sections
and other lands specially reserved for the purpose. This fund furnished
about the first money for the public schools and was a godsend to the
early settlers. The condition of the school lands of the county in March
1845, was as follows :
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Amount of
Sale.
Cash receipts
of
Sale.
Acres
Unsold.
Township 9 north, Range 4 east...
Township 8 north, Range 3 east...
Township 10 north. Range 3 east .
Township 9 north, Range 3 east...
Township 10 north, Range 2 east...
Township 10 north. Range 4 east.
Township 9 north. Range 2 east ...
Township 8 north. Range 2 east ...
Township 8 north, Range 4 east...
120
160
640
150
200
720
62
50
180
640
640
640
640
640
640
The following table shows the number of children in the congressional
townships and the dividend in March, 1851 :
Township 9, Range 3
Township 7, Range 3
Township 8, Range 3
Township 8, Range 4
Township 9, Range 4
Township 10, Range 4
Township 10, Range 2
Township 10, Range 3
Township 10, Range 4 (Bartholomew County)
By 1866 the sales were as follows :
Township containing the Sixteenth Section.
Township 8 north. Range 2 east...
Township 8 north. Range 3 east...
Township 8 north. Range 4 east...
Township 9 north. Range 2 east...
Township 9 north. Range 3 east...
Township 9 north. Range 4 east...
Township 10 north, Range 2 east..
Township 10 north. Range 3 east..
Township 10 north, Range 4 east.,
Total 5227^
From 1866 to 1876 the fund increased by further sales to $9,755.37,
and from 1876 to 1883, to $10,497.39. These two funds, amounting in
all to 124,133.98 in 1883, are loaned out and the interest distributed to the
townships. The Congressional school fund of the western townships of
Bartholomew County is managed by Brown County. The following
school statistics are for the year 1871 :
TOWNSHIPS.
Number
of
Children.
Congression-
al Revenue.
Common
School
Revenue.
Total
Tuition
Revenue.
Hamblen
758
728
943
753
273
$33.48
51.81
31.25
33.55
17.61
$394.16
378.56
490.36
391.56
141.96
$427.64
430.37
521.61
Van Buren .
425.11
Johnson
159.57
Totals
3,455
$167.70
$1,769.60
$1,964.30
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
693
The following church statistics for Brown County were prepared in
1881:
1
1
MEMBERSHIP.
t
3
>
II
i
1
o
if
6^
3 •-
ill
1
S3
DENOMINA-
TIONS.
1
i
i
1
ll lis
Methodist
Presbyterian
15
2
7
1
10
2
37
12
2
t
29
600
48
300
20
450
35
1,453
750
60
334
25
500
45
1,714
1350
108
634
45
950
80
150
20
10
10
50
15
255
S 8,375
2,000
2,000
600
5,000
1,000
$78,875
82,000
400
1,000
100
1,200
200
$4,900
$1,000
1,000
175
25
200
50
$650
40
200
10
300
20
70
12
27
6
45
12
500
100
250
SO
400
75
800
150
600
United lirethrea...
80
650
New Lights
100
Totals
3,167
$2,450
$1,220
172
1,375
2,380
OLD settlers' association.
In pursuance of a notice for the old settlers of Brown County to meet
at Georgetown and make arrangements for a re-union, the following persons
assembled August 28, 1H77 : D. B. Adams, Calvin Moser, A. S. Ander-
son, William Marcum, Lawson Hopper, Alfred Williams, David Crouch,
John McDonald, Thomas Waltman, Sen., George Heines, Milton Fleener
and Howard Arwine. On motion D. B. Adams was made Chairman and
W. M. Waltman, Secretary. It was then decided to hold the first re-union at
Georgetown on the 22d of September, 1877, and invite Judge Hester,
Alfred Williams and William Mason to address the multitude. Gov. J.
D. Williams and Hon. D. W. Voorhees also received an invitation to be
present. William M. Waltman was selected to deliver the address of
welcome to the old settlers. On motion a committee of three from each
township was appointed to record the names of all persons living therein
who had been in the county thirty years or more and to bring the list to the
first re- union to be read and recorded. These committees were as follows :
Hamblen Township — W. G. Watson, W. P. Taggart and Joshua
Metheney. Jackson Township — A. S. Anderson, Milton Fleener and
William M. Waltman. Washington Township— DavidjCrouch, Alfred Will-
iams and Lewis Rogers. Van Buren Township — J. A. McKinney, John
Noblett and J. T. Ping. Johnson Township — James Sexton, Wart
Elkins and Thomas Madgett. Various committees and ofiicers were
appointed to introduce everything to make the occasion enjoyable. A
beautiful cane was promised the man who had lived in the county longest
and was over sixty years of age ; and a hickory rocking chair to the lady
longest in the county and over fifty years of age. All were asked to bring
old and interesting relics. On the 22d of September, 1877, an enormous
crowd gathered at Georgetown, coming from all points of the compass.
The exercises were opened with music by the Nashville Cornet Band and
prayer by Rev. Benjamin Woods. Mr, Waltman, in an appropriate manner,
made the welcoming address. The committee to award the cane and chair
were Judge Hester, W. G. Watson, John Richards, Hiram and
Enoch Sexton. Hon. Alfred Williams was elected permanent President
of the society and W. M. Waltman, Secretary. The cane was awarded to
Edward David, who was ninety-two years old and had lived in the county
sixty-four years, and the chair to Margaret Graham, who was eighty
years old and had lived in the county sixty-three years. The old gen-
694 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
tleman, as if but forty years old instead of ninety-two, exhibited his
activity and appreciation of the gift after the fashion of ye olden time by
dancing a jig to the tumultuous applause of the large crowd. A fine
dinner was enjoyed and the day was passed in narrating incidents of
pioneer times, which by all means ought to have been recorded. Old-
fashioned speeches, full of rude eloquence and strength, were delivered
by many old settlers present. Cornelius McCoy was dressed in hunter's
suit and armed with rifle, tomahawk and knife. The following record
was made :
Age in Years in the
1877. County.
Edward David 92 64
Enoch Sexton ■ 64 36
Green Graham 89 63
Enoch Hampton 67 60
Jesse Hamblen 65 57
Alfred Smith 80 40
Thompson Henry 77 36
John Richards 69 . 47
William Marcum. 73 43
James Keaton 75 37
Christopher Long 80 42
Christopher Stump 86 50
James Terhune 77 50
Jacob Stephens 78 30
Thomas Waltman 71 40
John Prosser 80 40
Levi Dubois 65 37
Mrs. John Hoover 73 56
Mrs. Mary Marcum 67 43
Mrs. Margaret Graham..., 80 63
Mrs. Nancy Walker 71 48
Mrs. Mary Kennedy 72 40
Mrs. Betty Smith 77 40
Mrs. Andrew Gray 74 32
Many were present whose ages and dates of settlement were not se-
cured.
The meeting of 1878 was held at Nashville, and the day was dark and
rainy, but notwithstanding was quite well observed. The meeting of
1879 was also held at Nashville, and was well attended and enjoyed.
So was the meeting of 1880. The re-union of 1881 was held at Goshen,
three miles east of Georgetown. This was a very interesting meeting.
John Prosser and wife, each eighty years of age, Avho had lived together
sixty-three years, were presented an elegant bible. A pair of spectacles
was awarded to Green Graham as the oldest person present — ninety-one
years. Each of the following old settlers were presented with a stout
cane, each having choice in the order of age : Martha Terhune, eighty-
three years of age ; Enoch Davis, eighty ; James Terhune, eighty ; An-
drew Gray, seventy-eight; James Keaton, seventy eight; Charles Smith,
seventy-seven; Mary Kennedy, seventy-seven ; Mrs. A. Gray, seventy-
seven; William Marcum, seventy-seven; Nancy Walker, seventy-six; Mrs.
William Marcum, seventy-six ; Martin Bright, seventy-six ; Jacob Fron-
felter seventy-two; Katie Wilson, seventy-two; James Groves, seventy-two;
Jesse Gee, seventy-two ; David Hamblen, seventy-one ; Jesse Hamblen,
seventy; Philips Hupp, seventy; Thomas Ogden, seventy; Brazilla Horner,
sixty-eight; Mrs. Keaton, sixty-eight: Lewis Moser,sixty-eight; Mrs. Samuel
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 695
Ellis, sixty-seven; James Parsley, sixty-seven; James Mcllvain,sixty-seven-
A. S. Anderson, sixty-five; Thomas Swift,sixty-five; Charles Walker, sixty,
four; William Douglas, sixty-four; Lucinda Curry,sixty-four; Calvin Moses;
sixty-four. The reunion of 1883, one of the best, was held at George-
town and was largely attended. A foot-race was run by the old men
present.
BROWN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
In October, 1879, Drs. J. M. Cook, A. J. Ralphy, J. H. Leonard,
R. E. Holder, W. H. Beatty, N. Browning, James P. Mosier, T. E.
Smith, E. S. Arwine. James B. Campbell, Marion H. Duncan, John F.
Genolin and A. A. Yook met at Nashville and organized the Brown
County Medical Society, under control of and auxiliary to the State
Medical Society. The object of the society, as stated in the constitution
adopted, was '• to provide an organization through which the regular
physicians of the county maybe united in one professional fraternity for
the purpose of giving frequent expressions to the views and aims of the
medical profession ; to supply more efficient means for cultivating and ad-
vancing medical knowledge ; for elevating the standard of medical educa-
tion; for promoting the usefulness, honor and interests of the medical
profession and encouraging emulation and concert of action among its
members ; for facilitating and fostering friendly intercourse between those
engaged in it ; for enlightening and directing public opinion in regard to
the duties, responsibilities and requirements of medical men ; and for the
promotion of all measures adapted to the relief of the suffering and to
improve the health and to protect the lives of the community." It was
decided that any regular physician of the county could become a member
of the society upon vote of two-thirds of the membership. The ethics
of the American Medical Society was adopted for the regulation of the
organization. A seal was adopted, bearing the legend in Roman letters :
"Brown County Medical Society, organized October, 23, 1879," and
within the center a cut of the mortar and pestle. Meetings were held
quite regularly at first and much interest was manifested, but lately the
society has become almost defunct.
LIST OF COUNTY PHYSICIANS 1881-83.
Enoch S. Arwine, Bean Blossom; William H. Beatty, Needmore ;
Nathan Browning, Elkinsville ; William H. Banks, Waymansville; H. C.
Conner, Nashville ; Marion A. Duncan, Nashville ; Joseph N. Fleener,
Needmore ; Arnold S. Griffitt, Nashville ; Johij F. Genolin, Nashville ;
R. E. Holder, New Bells ville ; Lavina Hotchet,* Schooner Valley; M.
L. Judah, Bloomington ; John H. Leonard, Elkinsville ; James P.
Moser, Spearsville ; Stephen Mossop, Schooner; Sarah M. Mery man,*
Ramelton ; A. J. Ralphy, Nashville ; W. H. Roddy, Mount Moriah ;
Joannah Richards,* Richard; A. C. Spencer, Bean Blossom; George P.
Story, Pike's Peak ; Marietta J. Smith,* Bloomington; Capt. T. Taggart,
Nashville ; James G. Ward, Bean Blossom ; Samuel C. Wilson, Pike's
Peak ; T. E. Warring, Nashville ; John M. Warring, Smithville ; A. F.
Wright, Bean Blossom ; Amy Whitehorn,* Pike's Peak.
69(5 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
THE COUNTY PRESS.
In about the year 1854, S. A. Armour established at Nashville the
Spy, a small Democratic newspaper, subscription price $1 per year. This
was the first editorial venture in the county. A subscription of about
300 was secured. Mr. Armour was at once editor, publisher, compositor
and devil, and after continuing with fair success until about December, 1856,
the office was sold to a company consisting of J. S. Hester, J. S. Arwine,
Eugene Culley, Sylvanus Manville and perhaps others, who began pub-
lishing the Hickory Withe, a sheet of pronounced Democratic views,
edited by James S. Hester, a man of excellent brain and a writer of
unusual strength. Manville & Arwine were the publishers. The paper
was conducted about a year, when the office was sold to a faction of the
United Brethren Church, which had left the parent organization over the
subject of the Mexican war. W. S. Olmstead, Eli P. Farmer, Jesse
Brandon. William Taggart, Jesse Hamblen and others then immediately
started the Uvangelieal Republican, a religious newpaper of the United
Brethren Church, new organization. Jesse Brandon was the publisher.
This paper was issued for some time, possibly until Jesse Brandon pur-
chased the office early in 1861, and started the Nashville Union, of Demo-
cratic proclivity. This paper was well patronized during the fiery years
of the war, and was conducted until the death of Mr. Brandon in about
1866, when Watts Adams bought the office and founded the Nashville
Star, another Democratic paper, which saw a sickly existence for about
eight months. The office then passed to Summers & Gaston, who issued
the Democrat through a laborious life of about six months. After this a
man named Winters continued the sheet three numbers, when it died for
the want of breath. In December, 1867, George Sleeth secured the of-
fice and began to issue the Nashville Democrat, and continued until
about September, 1868, and then sold out to L. H. Miller, who started
the Index, another Democratic organ. This was issued until about the
month of March, 1839, when it became defunct. In 1870, Yates & Al-
lison started the Jacksonian, another Democratic newspaper, but within
a few months Yates sold out to Allison, who continued the issue until
March, 1883. In February, 1883, Waltman & Chafin founded the
Democrat, and in March, 1883, bought the office of the Jacksonian, as-
suming the name the Jacksonian Democrat. Before this W. W. Browning
had purchased Chafin's interest in the office. In May, 1*83, John C.
Hester bought Waltman's interest, becoming Browning's partner, and in
June, 1883, bought the latter's share, becoming sole owner and proprietor,
which he is at present, November, 1883. It will be noticed that all the
above papers, except the Evangelical Republican, which was a religious
sheet, were Democratic. Only one Republican paper has been published
in Brown County. In about the fall of 1878, A. S. Helm started at
Georgetown the Brown County Republican and continued the issue until
February, 1879, when he removed the office to Nashville and resumed
the issue. The political soil of Brown County was unfavorable for the
growth of this Republican plant, and in about three months it withered
and died for the want of financial showers and nourishment.
COUNTY JUSTICES AND COMMISSIONERS.
Daniel Hedrick, President, 1836 ; William Jackson, 1836 ; James
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 697
Davidson, 1836. (In November, 1836, the Justices of the Peace assumed
the county business.) Justices — William Taggart. Jonathan Watson,
George Groves, Nathan Davis, Banner C. Brummet, David D. Weddel,
Jacob Hentsonpiller, Frederick Goss, Hiram C. Weddel, 1836 ; John C.
Marshall, William Bender, John Hampton. Joshua Boles, William S. Rob-
erts and Thomas M. Adams, 1837 ; James Chandler, Cornelius W. Tucker,
James Terhune and George Krider, 1838 ; * Jacob B. Myers, Patter-
son C. Parker, John Richards and David Crouch, 1839 ; John Hoover,
1840; Benjamin Chandler, Solomon S. Pressley, Joseph Hurley and
William M. Mason, 1841 ; Samuel Lane and James Arwine, 1842 ;
William A. Cardwell, William Sullivan, James Chandler and James M.
Mabe, 1843 ; David D. Weddel, Samuel Champion, James T. Berry,
John Richards and Daniel Crouch, 1844 ; Lewis F. Raper and William
Galaspy, 1845. (In June, 1845, the county was divided into three Com-
missioners' districts, and after the fall elections Commissioners took
control of the county business in place of the Justices of the Peace.)
Commissioners — Joseph Kelley, 1845; William Taggart, 1845; William
Bender, 1845 , John S. Arwine, 1846 ; Preston Goforth, 1847 ; Joseph
Kelley, 1848 ; John S. Arwine, 1849; Preston Goforth, 1850; J. A.
McKinney, 1851; Milton Fleener, 1852; George Butcher, 1853; Jamea
Arwine, 1854; Preston Goforth, 1854; J. A. McKinney, 1855, A. A.
Anderson, 1855 ; Preston Goforth, 1857 ; Eli L. Moore, 1857 ; A. S.
Anderson, 1858; N. N. Maris, 1859; Wiley Spurgeon, 1860; John
Richards, 1861; L. J. Tull, 1862 ; John Wadsworth, 1863; John Breed-
love, 1864 ; Hannibal I. Mead, 1865 ; Thomas S. Lucas, 1866 ; John
Richards, 1867 ; H. I. Mead, 1868 ; A. R. Moser, 1869 ; Robert Hen-
derson, 1870; John Stilenbauer, 1871; Allen S. Anderson, 1872;
Robert Henderson, 1873; H. I. Mead, 1874; B. V. Lockman, 1^75;
Thomas Waltman, 1876 ; Samuel Webber, 1876 ; John Deist, 1877 : B.
V. Lockman, 1878; Thomas Waltman, 1879; John Deist, 1880;
Thomas Madgett, 1881 ; James Flint, 1882 ; William Walker, 1883.
AUDITORS.
Thomas M. Adams, 1841 ; Shadrach Chandler, 1848 ; Lewis Prosser,
1850 ; Sylvanus Manville, 1858 ; Eugene Culley, 1862 ; W- G. Watson,
1870 ; G. W. Allison, 1874 ; John S. Williams, 1882.
John Floyd, July 9, 1836; Thomas M. Adams, 1839; Shadrach
Chandler, 1842 ; William M. Mason, 1848 ; Thomas M. Adams, 1859 ;
James S. Hester, 1863; James Ralphy, 1864; William H. Bainbridge,
1865 ; W. M. Cox, 18b7 ; Eliakim Hamblen, 1874 ; Joshua Metheney,
1882.
RECORDERS.
John Floyd, July 9, 1836 ; Thomas M. Adams, 1839 ; Shadrach
Chandler, 1848 ; William M. Mason, 1848; Fountain Southerland, 1858 ;
John Carson, 1862 ; Daniel Marcellus, 1864 ; L. D. Wood, 1872 ; Isaac
Chafin, 1876.
*Many of the Justices held over from year to year, several for many years. Commissions were for sevsn
years.
698 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
SURVEYORS.
James Dawson, 1836 ; Allen S. Anderson, 1839 ; John W. Chaver,
1842 ; A. S. Anderson, 1852; John P. Wright, 1854; Alfred Williams,
1856; William H. McCarty, 1860; David S. Story, 1862; John P.
Wright, 1862 ; L. S. Alder, 1865; John P. Wright, 1867; Alfred Will-
iams, 1869; John T. Brock. 1870; W. T. Carmichael, 1871; L. S.
Adler, 1872 ; Alfred T. Gee, 1882.
TREASURERS.
Thomas Hinkson, July 26, 1836; John S. Williams, November 7,
1836; Isaac Bott, 1844; W. W. Baker, 1849; Lewis F. Raper, 1852;
Charles C. Hanna, 1856; Alfred Williams, 1860; J. A. McKinney,
1864; W. H. Taggart, 1868; Eli T. Moore, 1872; Thomas Milnes,
1876 ; Joseph M. Cook, 1880.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER, EXAMINER OR SUPERINTENDENT.
D. D. Weddel, 1837, Commissioner; Alfred Smith, 1844, same; Thos.
M. Adams, 1854, Examiner; Isaac N. Prosser, 1856; David S. Story,
1857 ; James S. Hester, 1858 : S. E. Mcllhaney, 1860 ; W. W. Brown-
ing, 1861 ; W. S. Olmstead, 1862 ; William L. Cox, 1864 ; L. S. Alder,
1867; Fletcher D. Wood, 1871; W. D. Roberts, 1872; J. S. Williams,
two months, 1873 ; John M. McGee, first County Superintendent, June,
1873; D. M. Beck, 1877 ; S. P. Neidigh, 1881.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
James Taggart, July 9, 1836 ; Lewis F. Raper, July 9, 1836 ; Daniel
King, 1841 ; John Hoover, 1843 ; Jonathan Watson, 1843 ; Hiram C.
Weddel, 1848 ; John C. Marshall, 1850 ; Milton Fleener, 1850.
PROBATE JUDGES.
James Mclntire, 1836 ; Cornelius W. Tucker, 1838 ; Joseph Stilson,
1840 ; John C. Marshall, 1840 ; James Watson, 1847.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
Elisha M. Huntington, 1836; David McDonald, 1839 ; Alexander
C. Downey, 1853; Joseph W. Chapman, 1858; John G. Berkshire,
1864 ; James S. Hester, 1870 ; Nathan T. Carr, 1880.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.
W. G. Quick, 1853 ; G. A. Buskirk, 1857 ; Oliver J. Glessner,
1864 ; Thomas W. Woolson, 1869.
SHERIFFS.
James Dawson, April 20, 1836 ; James Taggart, August 16, 1836 ;
Littleton Mathews, 1839 ; R. S. Brummet, 1839 ; William S. Roberts,
1841 ; Walter W. Baker, 1842 ; W. S. Roberts, 1846 ; R. S. Brummet,
1848; Benjamin R. Kelley, 1852; Stephen A. Kennedy, 1856; David
Crouch, 1860: W. G. Watson, 1864; R. S. Brummet, 1868; F. G.
Matheney, 1870; A. T. Sipes, 1872; S. A. Kennedv, 1876; John H.
Watson, 1880 ; T. J. Taggart, 1882.
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 699
CORONERS.
William Followell, August 16, 1836 ; James S. Woods, 1838 ; Joseph
Kellev, 1841; Otho Wolf, 1845; Hiram Reynolds, 1848; William
Taylor, 1849; Royal P. Manville, 1854; Thompson H. Larkin, 1856;
Daniel Marsh, 1858 ; James Jackson, 1859 ; John Henry, 1864 ; James
Hampton, 1865; Asa Reeves, 1866; W. G. Watson, 1868; S. C. Wil-
son, 1870 ; M. E. Phillips, 1872 ; A. S. Griffitt, 1874 ; W. T. Grat-
ton, 1876 ; W. J. Long, 1878 ; Alfred J. Ralphy, 1880.
POPULATION OF BROWN COUNTY.
Population in 1830 (estimated) 150
Population in 1840 2,364
Population in 1850 4.846
Population in 1860 6,507
Population in 1870 8,681
Population in 1880 10,264
FINANCES.
The first money secured for carrying on the expenses of the county
was the cash received from the sale of lots in Nashville. This amount
was small, but the county expenses were correspondingly small. On the
second day of the January term, 1837, of County Justices' Court — about
six months after the machinery of the county had been set in motion —
John S. Williams, County Treasurer, presented the following report of re-
ceipts and expenditures :
Cash receipts to date $25.00
Cash paid out $24.00
Treasurer's percentage 76
Total $24.76
Balance on hand .24
The second report of the Treasurer was made on the 1st of Septem-
ber, 1837, and was as follows, exclusive of the above report:
Cash receipts f34.93|
Cash from County Agent 60.00
Cash received on donations 16.00
Total $110.98J
Cash paid out $39.70
Cash paid on court house 50.00
Total $89.70
Balance in treasury $21.23|
Since paid in 4.76^^
Total balance $26.00
From September, 1837, to November, 1837, the total receipts were
$24.53|, and the total expenses $24.35, leaving a balance of 18| cents.
From November, 1837, to January, 1838, the receipts were $45.75, and
the expenses the same. The following is the full report of the Treasurer
for the first fiscal year— from May, lb 37, to May, 1838 :
44
700 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Cash receipts $286.56
Cash paid out 288.53^
OverdrawD § 1.971
Treasurers percentage 16.34
County indebtedness $18.31i
The Treasurer's report for the fiscal year ending May, 1839, was as
follows :
Received from County Agent : $352.62
Received from county revenue 345.18
Total receipts , $697.80
Town lot fund paid out $351.18
County revenue paid out 335.20
Total expenses $686.38
Balance on hand $11.42
Treasurer's percentage 17.39
Balance due Treasurer $5.97
The following is the Treasurer's report for the calendar year 1840 :
Cash receipts from all sources $745.00
Paid first grand jurors $211.25
Paid first traverse jurors 244.25
Paid Supervisors 4.-50
Paid Associate Judges 42.00
Paid Assessors 20.00
Paid for blank books 27.37
Recording field notes 20.00
Assessment rolls 8.00
Clerk's extra service 60.00
Sheriif' s extra service 60.00
Wolf scalps 23.00
Press and screw 4.00
Election returns 6.00
Total expenses $730.37
Balance $14.63
Treasurer's former percentage $34.82
Treasurer's present percentage $13.50
Total $48.32
Balance due Treasurer 23.69
The total receipts for the fiscal year 1845-46 were ^1,289.82, and the
total expenses $1,275.76. The county revenue was §758.45 ; wolf scalps
cost $63 ; paupers cost $4.75. For the fiscal year 1848-49 the receipts
were $3,967.49, and the expenses $8,725.36. The county revenue was
$3,181.50; merchants' license brought $31.03 ; grocery license $3.75; and
the poor cost $194.49. The receipts for the fiscal year 1857-58 were
$3,672.13 ; expenses, $3,866.58. County officers cost $894.23. The
county revenue was $2,705.01. The receipts in 1860-61 were $4,-
682.42; expenses, $3,817.90. The following year the receipts were
$4,429; expenses, $4,251.24 ; county officers, $1,269.35. In 1863-64
the receipts were $7,154.14; expenses, $7,154.22 ; overpaid, 8 cents ;
county officers cost $2,011.17; county revenue was $5,004.17. In
1865-66 the receipts were $35,531.52; expenses, $27,340.16; leav-
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 701
ing on hand $8,191.36. The county revenue was $13,973.64. The
military bond tax collected was $12,111.49. This heavier tax v/a»
due to expense growing out of the war. In 1869-70, the receipts-
were $17,614.21 ; expenses, $14,488.93, leaving on hand $3,125.08.
The county revenue w^as $11,428.89 : county oflficers cost $4,550.78.
In 1875-76 the receipts were $25,652.31; expenses, $27,378.25,
leaving outstanding orders $1,925.94. The county revenue was $10,-
441,95; refunded county bonds sold, $13,955; county officers cost $4,-
847.87. In 1879-80 the receipts were $18,701; expenses, $18,701 ; county
revenue was $13,519.97 ; county officers cost $4,153.15. The total county
orders issued from June, 1857, to June, 1875 — eighteen years — were $162,-
772.99, of which $150,557.60 were redeemed, leaving outstanding $12,-
221.35. In June, 1875, the County Board issued $15,000 new bonds to
refund some old ones and cover new indebtedness. Of this $2,000 was to
be paid June, 1877, and $2,000 every year thereafter until 1883, with
ten per cent interest.
The following is the County Treasurer's report for the fiscal year
1882-83 :
KECEIPTS.
Cash on hand last report $7,699.24
Net collection of taxes, November installment 12,166.88
Net collection of taxes, April installment 19,960.47
Tuition fund, June drawing 5,323.58-
Tuition fund, January drawing 4,386.83
School fund principal, including fines 3,005.77
School fund interest 1,656.34
School fund, damage and cost on sale 12.50
Redemption 388.99
On sale of county realty 400.00
Liquor license 100. 00
Sale of bonds 6,500.00
On Moore judgments 148.03
State docket fees 44.00
Jury fees 13.50
Refunded County revenue t 38.00
Costs received, Bartholomew County 38.30
Surplus on tax sale 7.14
Sale of old carpet 1.00
Total $61,890.07
EXPENDITURES.
Warrants surrendered $17,573.15
Paid Treasurer of State 2,663.92
Paid Insane Asylum 10.90
Paid House of Refuge 30.00
Paid Congressional School interest to Bartholomew County.. 76.52
Paid bonds 2,000.00
Paid interest on bonds 560.00
Warrants surrendered 14,843.13
House of Refuge 30.00
Paid Treasurer of State 4,001.68
House of Refuge 30.00
Congressional interest to Bartholomew County 70.13
AVarrants surrendered 10,929.52
Total $52,818.95.
Balance in Treasury $9,071.12
Respectfully submitted.
June 6, 1883. Joseph C. Cook, Treasurer,
702
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
The following is the recapitulation of taxes for the year 1883 :
CIVIL DIVISIONS.
Value of
Lands.
Value of
Im-
prove-
ments.
Value of
Lands
and Im-
prove-
ments.
Num-
ber of
Dogs.
Value
of
Lots.
Value
of Im-
prove-
ments.
Value of! rp..„,
af Pro- vllueof
^1 P-- Taxables.
1
Polls.
Hamblen
8232,120
177,322
153,739
149,748
56,261
842,635
61,628
55,856
79,532
20,439
8274,755
238,950
209,595
229,280
76,700
250
301
290
303
110
25
8250
615
225"
"9',0.36
8430 !S108,160 8383,-595
3,230 152,365 | 395,160
319
333
Van Buren
1,340
'24,389'
130,220
50,340
41,310
361,065
127,040
74,735
857
139
Town of Nashville
67
Totals
8769,190
8260,090
81,029,280
1,228
810,126
329,389
5584,880
81,653,675
1,576
CIVIL DIVISIONS.
STATE
TAX.
STATE
HOUSE
TAX.
STATE
SCHOOL
TAX.
STATE
UNIVER-
SITY
ENDOW-
MENT.
COUNTY
REVENUE.
BOND
TAX.
Hamblen
Jackson
8616 81
640 69
555 00
611 78
221 95
123 18
876 71
79 04
62 41
72 21
25 41
14 95
8773 25
798 75
679 84
756 21
272 76
153 08
819 18
19 76
15 60
18 06
6 35
3 73
82,825 48
2,912 86
2,349 46
2,687 90
952 42
552 91
8271 56
280 83
Van Buren
269 78
98 27
♦Nashville
54 11
82,772 41
8330 73
83,433 89
882 68
812,281 03
81,220 84
♦Nashville paid a corporation tax of $37.37.
CIVIL DIVISIONS.
ROAD
TAX.
TOWNSH'P
TAX.
SPECIAL
SCHOOL
TAX.
DOS
TAX.
TOTAL
TAX.
8575 39
592 74
468 12
541 60
190 56
112 10
8383 60
395 16
312 08
361 07
190 56
8 926 69
1,154 40
960 70
.1,261 69
450 62
295 07
8266
333
313
323
124
25
86,737 67
7,207 23
Jackson
Washington
5,962 50
Johnson
2 532 90
♦Nashville
1,371 50
Totals
82,480 51
81,642 47
85,049 17
81,384
830,715 10
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 703
MILITARY HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.
MILITIA ORGANIZATIONS.
SCARCELY any attempt was made during the long years of peace from
the formatiom of Brown County until the war with Mexico, and af-
terward until the rebellion of 1861-65, to maintain the organization of the
county militia. During the forties a nominal organization was kept up
for short periods, and several of the citizens were permitted to assume the
honors of military commissions, but prior to the war with Mexico, there
was scarcely a man in the county who could have boasted of having smelled
gunpowder, much less having participated in an actual war campaign.
There were a few survivors of the war of 1812, who, at celebrations of the
Fourth of July, were placed on the stand, eulogized and cheered. James
Taggart was a commissioned officer under this old militia system, as were
T. M. Adams, James S. Hester and several others.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
On the 13th of May, 184:6, the President of the United States called
for troops to carry on the war with Mexico, which had just begun.
Within a few days after the receipt of the news, James Taggart, T. M.
Adams, P. C. Parker, Williamson Wise, Charles Bolt and perhaps others
concluded to raise a company, if possible, in Brown County for the war. A
meeting was advertised to be held at Georgetown, to raise volunteers, on
which occasion a large crowd gathered. The above men headed the enlist-
ment roll with their names, and a call was made for others and was responded
toby an increase to about twenty men. Another meeting was called at Nash-
ville soon afterward, and the number of volunteers was so increased that it
was seen that the completion and organization of the company was assured.
Early in June, the complete organization was effected by the election of
the following officers : James Taggart, Captain; Thomas M. Adams, First
Lieutenant; Patterson C. Parker, Second Lieutenant; Williamson Wise,*
Third Lieutenant. The organization was fully completed on the 8th of
June, and was reported thus to the Governor of the State for acceptance
and assignment to the Third Indiana Regiment, which was rapidly being
mustered at New Albany. On the 14th of June, orders were received
from the Governor for the company to proceed forthwith to New Albany
and there to report to the officers of the Third Regiment. The company
hastily made preparations to leave on the following day — the 15th of June.
They had purchased bright uniforms of bright of blue jeans and had styled
themselves " Brown County Blues," a name by which they were known all
through the war. The following day they left the county, followed by the
* It is stated by Mr. Kennedy, who was a member of the company, that the Third Lieutenant was not
elected until after New Albany had been reached.
704 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
best wishes of neighbors and the tears and warm farewells of friends. A
large crowd had assembled to see them leave in wagons. The company,
except about ten of their men who remained behind to arrange their busi-
ness affairs before joining their comrades, reached New Albany on the
17th of June, and were soon mustered in as Company E of the third In-
diana Volunteers, Col James H. Lane. Here the company and its
regiment remained until early in July, being subjected in the meantime
to constant parades and discipline to fit it for the active scenes of war.
It reached New Orleans early in July, and camped upon the field made
famous by Gen. Jackson. At the expiration of about a week the regi-
ment took shipping across the Gulf of Mexico to Brazos Island, encoun-
tering on the way a severe storm. While at New Orleans, Caleb Bidwell, of
the company, died of measles, his death being the first in the company.
Reese Brummet and John Followell died of disease on the Gulf and were
buried beneath the waves with cannon balls at their feet. Joshua Brum-
met and several others died at Brazos Island, and were entombed in the
sand. The regiment after several months was removed to Camp Belknap
where Capt. Taggart was taken sick and sent home. During his absence,
Lieut. Adams commanded the company.
The regiment occupied Matamoras. Marine. Saltillo, Nueva and various
other points, doing guard or garrison duty and suffering severely from the
peculiar Southern diseases. At last the regiment moved back from Saltillo,
and was unaware of the presence of an enemy until the long-roll called
to arms on the field of Buena Vista. Gen. Taylor hastily formed his
line of battle across Buena Vista Pass, and with about 5,000 troops waited
the approach from the southwest of Gen. Santa Anna with 20,000 Mexi-
cans. Capt. Taggart had regained his health at home and had joined his
company on the 21st of February, 1847, the day before the battle of
Buena Vista. At last the enemy could be seen moving up the Pass, and
soon his swarming legions were in full vie;\' and within three miles. The
Third Indiana was posted on a round hill on the right side of the Pass,
to support Washington's battery. The Mexicans first undertook to force
the Pass in solid column, but they met such a storm of shot and shell
from the battery that they were forced back in full retreat. Then it was
that the Mexican commander flanked to the right and fell upon Taylor's
left, forcing the Second Indiana and other troops back and gaining the
rear of the American army. The Third was ordered from its position
and thrown out to check the retreat, and was soon where bullets were as
thick as hailstones in the air. Here the Brown County boys received their
first baptism of blood and fire. The first one hurt was Elias Weddel,
who was shot through the hips, and was carried from the field. Squire
Stewart Avas prostrated by concussion from a howitzer ball. Matthew
Mathews, was shot through the hand, for which he draws a pension. The fight
was sharp and hot and continued until night. Just at the close of the
battle, at almost the last fire from the enemy, while Company E was
being thrown back, Capt. Taggart received a mortal wound from a carbine
ball, which entered just over his left kidney and came out near the center
of his right breast. He pitched forward on his hands and knees, exclaim-
ing "I'm a dead man," and immediately fell over on his side. Stephen
Kennedy, the only one of his company at that moment near him, car-
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 705
ried him into one of the many deep ravines within a few feet of where
he had fallen. The firing was yet brisk over the ground there, but Ken-
nedy remained to hear the last words of the dying man. He said sub-
stantially, " Tell my folks to meet me in the good world. Be a good
soldier, Kennedy. Go on to your company." He then became uncon-
scious, and Kennedy hurriedly left the spot amid the last shower of car-
bine bullets from the enemy. Capt. Taggart lies buried on the battle-
field where he heroically died a soldier's death. No other casualties oc-
curred, and Company E, commanded by Capt. T. M. Adams, saw no more
fighting. Many more of the boys died from disease before their return.
After occupying various positions, the regiment started north on the 24th
of May, 1847. The Brown County boys reached home early in July, and
were given a warm welcome by their relatives and friends.
The boys who went to Mexico must not be forgotten under the shadow
of the last great war. It was no holiday undertaking to go from the com-
paratively cold climate of the Northern States to the hot and peculiar
climate of Mexico. The appalling sacrifice of life from disease abun-
dantly attests the peril which the men w^ere required to undergo. Many
were left in lonely, deserted and forgotten graves, in that distant land,
and the rugged cactus comes and kisses with its crimson blossoms the
silent mounds where they sleep. The rich flowers of the stately mag-
nolia shed their fragrant perfume around ; the long festoons of silvery
moss hang weeping above the grassy graves ; the sighing wind and the
tear-drops of rain come to mourn for the departed, and over all the strange,
bright birds of tropical woods chant the sad requiem of death. The
boys are gone, but their names are living jewels in the bright casket of
memory.
THE POLITICAL FEELING IN 1860-61.
The political campaign of 1860 had been very warm in Brown
County. Every township had had its company or companies of Wide-
Awakes, and scarcely a night had passed without public speaking and
noisy and enthusiastic demonstration. The clubs of Democracy had uni-
forijaed themselves with hickory suits, erected poles and flung the names
of Douglas and Johnson or Breckinridge -and Lane to the breeze. Torch-
light processions and vociferous cheering had nightly disturbed the
drowsy air. The few Republican clubs were jubilant and confident.
Their emblems of the campaign were rails or mauls and wedges, and they
were called Wide- Awakes. The songs of the two parties are yet fresh in
the memory :
"Oh see the Douglas platform falling,
Falling, falling, down it must go,
And in its place shall firmly stand
Abe Lincoln the true and Hamlin too,
Abe Lincoln the true and Hamlin too,
And with them we'll beat Little Dug, Dug.
Dug, Old Abe has cracked his mug."
Or the following lament of Lincoln sung by the Democrats to the air
of " Susannah."
706 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
"Oh, Hamlin, dear, my "fairest"* one,
Oh don't you cry for me ;
I fear that house in Washington
I'll never, never see.
I love the Black Republicans,
And for the darkies sigh ;
But all, I fear, will do no good,
But Hamlin don't you cry.
Chorus. — Oh, my dear Hannibal,
Don't you cry for me,
I'm going up Salt River
With a darkey on each knee."
Or the following :
" No, Lincoln can't come in, I say.
Then ho, for Douglas, ho !
The Democrats have Stephen A.,
Then ho, for Douglas, ho !
Republicans may bite their nails.
May rave about their Lincoln rails,
But can't come up to Steve's coat tails,
Then ho, for Douglas, ho !"
When the returns were all in and the name of Lincoln was on every
tongue, and the Southern States, one after another, began to enact ordi-
nances of secession, all wiser heads saw that the conflict had come.
The slavery question must be settled either to the satisfaction of the North
or the South. No evasion would answer. Many citizens throughout the
county, some of them Abolitionists, believed that the Southern States had
a right to peaceably secede from the Union. It was a period of political
chaos. Men did not fully know their own minds. A revolution in thought
on the subject of State rights, secession, slavery, etc., was ensuing, and
the public mind was buffeted around by every breeze of sentiment, or
fancy, or even folly. Here and there arose some intellect head and shoul-
ders above its fellows and looked down with the impartial eye of a true
philosopher upon the real and ominous state of the country. To such
men the hearts of all turned anxiously for relief When Mr. Lincoln took
the reins of government, speedy relief from public gloom and embarrass-
ment was expected ; but as time slipped away, and effective action was
masked by broad generalizations and the course of the administration was
clouded with apparent doubt and hesitancy, many of the best Union men lost
heart. The friends of disunion looked upon the hesitancy as a prac-
tical acknowledgment that the Government could see no way under the
Constitution to a settlement of existing differences. But when the blow
at last fell upon Fort Sumter, and all pacific overtures from the administra-
tion, even to an avowal that no established institution of the South should
be interfered with, were haughtily rejected, the mask of peace was thrown
aside, and the call to arms sent a thrill of joy and hope to thousands of
loyal hearts. In view of the darkness which enveloped the country at
subsequent stages of the war, when it seemed certain that masses in the
North would compel a cessation of hostilities and permit the Southern
States to go out of the Union, the transcendent wisdom of Mr. Lincoln in
throwing upon the South the responsibility of commencing the rebellion,
even in the face of the most abundant promises, undoubtedly saved the
country from hopeless disruption.
*Hannibal Hamlin was so dark complexioned and such a warm friend of the colored man, that it gave
rise to the report among his political enemies that he was a mulatto. Albert D. Richardson, the famous war
correspondent of the New York Tribune, said this was actually believed by many in the South,
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 707
THE FALL OF FORT SUMTER.
The news of the surrender of Fort Sumter, in April, 1861. caused
great excitement in Brown County. Instead of subsiding, it continued
to rise higher, until at last a public meeting of the citizens was called, to
be held at the court house, to take action regarding the state of the
country. Several hundred persons appeared and filled the room to over-
flowing. Mr. Culley was made chairman, and briefly stated the object of
the meeting. Judge Hester was called out. He said that while he
found fault with many acts and omissions of the administration, it was
the duty of the citizens to help quell the rebellion. W. W. Browning,
T. D. Calvin, Lewis Prosser and others spoke in favor of raising men to
end the rebellion. Some of the speakers did not believe that the admin-
istration had the right to coerce the seceding States, and so publicly
stated with considerable warmth; but the general sentiment of the meet-
ing, as shown by the series of seven resolutions adopted, was for the
enlistment of volunteers to sustain the administration in all constitu-
tional acts to preserve the Union and enforce the laws. The meeting
adjourned without taking any steps to raise volunteers, but within a few
days a roll for a company was circulated, and very soon the limit of men
was secured. When this was accomplished, the company was called
together to elect officers. James S. Hester was chosen Captain; W. W.
Browning, First Lieutenant ; W. A. Adams, Second Lieutenant. This
organization and election took place in the court house, not far from the
25th of April, 1861. The services of the company were immediately
tendered Gov. Morton, but so prompt had been the Hoosier State to
resp:>nd to the call of the President, that it was found impossible to get
into the three months' service, and word was sent back by the Governor
that the company was not then wanted, and that it should maintain its
organization and continue drilling. This somewhat discouraged the boys
and the company was almost disbanded. In July, additional calls were
made for men, and the company was revived in hope of getting into the
service. The officers previously elected resigned, to give the members of
the company the privilege of either re-electing the old officers, or select-
ing new ones; but the result was the reinstatement of all the former
officers. Early in July, word was received that the company was accepted,
and immediate preparations were made to move to Madison to join the
Twenty-second Regiment, which was being rendezvoused there. A splendid
dinner was given the company by the citizens on the day of their depart-
ure for camp. Tables were spread in the court room, where the meal was
eaten, and where speeches were made by Hester, Browning and others.
The company was presented a beautiful banner. Wagons conveyed the
boys to Columbus, thence the cars to Madison, where they became Com-
pany C, of the Twenty-second Regiment, three years' service. Here, and at
Indianapolis, the company and its regiment were subjected to constant drill
and discipline to fit them for the field, until the 15th of August, when
the entire regiment was mustered in, and on the 17th of August was
transferred to St. Louis, Mo., and there assigned to the army of Gen.
Fremont. Its first service was as a relief up the Missouri River to Gen.
Mulligan, at Lexington. From that on during the term of service the
regiment participated in the following skirmishes and engagements : The
708 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
capture of about 1,300 prisoners at Blackwater ; Pea Ridge, losing nine
killed and thirty-two wonnded; pursuit of the enemy after the evacua-
tion of Corinth : pursuit of Bragg's army in Kentucky ; battle of Perry-
ville, losing in killed and wounded 50 per cent of the men engaged,
fifty-six being killed in battle; skirmished at Lancaster, and pursued to
Crab Orchard; skirmished at Nolensville, losing four wounded: battle of
Stone River, losing twelve killed, thirty-six wounded and thirty missing;
skirmished at Liberty Gap ; charge at Mission Ridge ; Tunnel Hill ;
Rocky Face Ridge; Resaca; Rome; Dallas; Big Shanty; in front of
Kenesaw Mountain; Chattahoochie River; Peach Tree Creek; battles
before Atlanta; Red Oak Station; Jonesboro ; Siege of Savannah;
Averysboro; Bentonville; and was mustered out early in June 1865, at
Washington, D. C. The officers of Company C during the war were as
follows: Captains — James S. Hester, W. H. Taggart, W, H. Fesler.
First Lieutenants — W. W. Browning, W. A. Adams" V. P. Mason, W.
H. Fesler, T. A. Pearce. Second Lieutenants — W. A. Adams, V. P.
Mason, S. A. Kennedy, W. M. Gould.
ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS.
In August and September, 1861, a company was started in Monroe
County and the enlistment of men was carried over to Brown County in
the vicinity of Elkinsville, where one or two rousing war meetings were
held, and sixteen or eighteen volunteers were secured. These men went
to Bloomington, and formed a part of the company commanded by Capt.
H. L. McCalla. The boys were mustered into the Thirty-first Regiment,
Company G. on the 20th of September, at Terre Haute. They saw serv-
ice as follows : Fort Donelson, where the regiment lost 12 killed, 52
wounded and 4 missing; Shiloh, the regiment losing 22 killed, 110
■woundeu and 10 missing ; siege of Corinth ; Stone River, losing 5 killed
and 46 wounded ; Chickamauga, losing 4 killed and 66 wounded ; in
nearly all the skirmishes and battles of the Atlanta campaign ; battle of
Nashville ; in Texas, saw service with the Army of Occupation ; reached
home in 1866. So anxious were many of the boys in the county to get
into the service, that they left the county without getting proper credit.
They entered the various companies organized at Bloomington, Columbus,
Morgantown, Indianapolis and elsewhere. This was due to the fact that
the county was too small to complete many full companies wholly within
its own borders, and hence the men, to get into the service at all, were
forced to join other companies raised outside of the county. In this way
the county was cheated out of many officers, as a few men could not have
sufficient influence in such companies to receive the commissions which
were so eagerly sought during the war, especially at its early stages. It
is safe to say that Brown County furnished over 200 men during the year
1861.
ENLISTMENT IN 1862.
A few men left the county during the spring of 1862, going chiefly
into old regiments that were then in the field. On the 2d of July. 1862,
came the call for 300,000 men, and on the 4th of August came the call
for 300,000 more. Immediate preparations were made to clear the county
quota. The militia companies which had been organized in the county
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 709
were used as nuclei for the formation of two full companies. War meet-
ing were held in all portions of the county. Among those actively en-
gaged in raising the volunteers were W, W. Browning, D. B. Adams,
John Calvin, J. K. Mcllhenny, J. M. Metheney, Jackson Woods, D. S.
Story, Joseph Fraker, T. J. Metheney, G. S. Bradley, W. W. Hays and
others. Under the two calls for troops, two full companies were raised
for the Eighty-second Regiment, one becoming Compan}^ D, and the
other Company H. The officers of Company D were : W. W. Browning,
Captain ; I). B. Adams, First Lieutenant ; John Calvin, Second Lieu-
tenant. The officers of Company H were: John M. Metheney, Captain ;
Jackson Woods, First Lieutenant ; David S. Story, Second Lieutenant.
The companies were mustered in at Madison, on the 30th of August.
The Eighty -second Regiment saw service as follows: Stone River;
Hoover's Gap ; Chickamauga, losing 21 killed, 72 wounded and 29 miss-
ing ; skirmished at Chattanooga and Brown's Ferry ; charge on Mission
Ridge, losing 26 men killed and wounded; Buzzard's Roost, losing 25
killed and wounded ; Resaca, losing 25 killed and wounded ; Dallas ;
Kingston ; Kenesaw Mountain, and many others ; Peach Tree Creek ; in
front of Atlanta ; skirmish of August 7, 1864, losing 26 men killed and
wounded out of 105 men engaged ; Sherman's march to the sea ; Ben-
tonville ; was mustered out at Washington, D. C, June 9, 1865 ; reached
Indianapolis June 15.
THE DRAFT OF OCTOBER, 1862.
Brown County enjoys the distinction of having been one of only fifteen
counties in the State to clear themselves of this draft. The draft took
place in both Morgan and Monroe, but the county of Brown, which was
declared, by outside parties, to have been so disloyal, furnished more than
the number of men required. By the 19th of September, 1862, she had
furnished a total of 502 volunteers, out of an enrolled militia of 856,
which included 163 exempts. At this time the county had 486 volunteers
in the service. This was an excellent showing for the little county. It
is safe to say that by the 1st of January, 1863, the county had furnished
a total of 525 volunteers.
THE COUNTY IN 1863.
It was during this year that, like all other counties of the State, dis-
loyal organizations were formed in Brown County. There was not a
county in the State that did not have bitter disloyalty displayed within
its limits during 1863, and Brown County was no exception to the
rule. But that does not detract from what the county actually did to
carry on the war. It is well to bear lightly on mistakes and errors. At
a mass meeting in Nashville in January, 1863, it was resolved that '" Our
interests and inclinations will demand of us a withdrawal from the polit-
ical association in a common government with the New England States,"
and " We demand an immediate armistice preparatory to a compromise
of existing difficulties." and "general amnesty for political offenses."
About the last of March, 1863, at a large mass meeting at Nashville, the
following resolution, among others, was passed :
Resolved, That we trace to political priests, who have abandoned their high calling
to intrude their visionary and impracticable schemes upon civil government, where his-
710 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
tory shows they are, of all others, the least qualified to advise or act, and the most ua-
scrupulous and intolerant in carrying out their wild projects, a very large share of the
terrible responsibilities of the war, its pillage and carnage, its houses of mourning, its
widows and orphans, its all-pervading social, moral and political demoralization. If
Solomon was right when he said that '■ when the righteous are in authority the people
rejoice, but when the wicked beareth rule the people mourn," they must be well-nigh
God-forsaken, for no one now rejoices in this nation, but thieving army contractors and
abolitionists. We, therefore, exhort our conservative brethren to discountenance these
clerical incendiaries by abandoning their congregations and " stopping their feed."
At another meeting in August, it was resolved that " the present
fratricidal and desolating war was unnecessarily forced upon the country
by wicked, fanatical politicians, North and South," and " we are opposed
to furnishing men or money to prosecute a war to free negroes," and
" we are in favor of immediate armistice and a national convention to
restore peace and union under the Constitution." This will show about
the course taken by the disloyal element of the county. It was during
this year that the " Brown County War " occurred. The facts are sub-
stantially as follows : A war meeting was held in the northern part of
the county, and Lewis Prosser and a companion, who had been hunting
squirrels in the woods, attended with their guns on their shoulders.
There was present a detachment of soldiers that had been sent to the
county from Indianapolis to arrest one or more deserters who were said
to have secured a hiding-place in Brown County. Prosser, who was a
prominent man, and against whom the charge of disloyalty had been made,
was invited to speak, but refused, as he had made no preparation, and
did not care to speak then anyway. He was rather outspoken against the
war, and soon had a small crowd around him. A soldier present named
Daniels, who, it is said, had been drinking, hearing some remark from
Prosser he did not fancy, stepped up to him, and with the statement that
he had no right to be carrying a gun there, twisted the weapon from his
hands. Prosser instantly drew a revolver and shot the soldier dead, and
turned to leave the ground, but as he did so was shot by one of the by-
standers in the leg and brought to the ground. Two or three other shots
were fired, but no damage was done. Prosser afterward died from the
effects of his wound.
Under the call of October, 1863, for 300,000 men, Brown County
furnished half a company. The men (thirty-five) were recruited almost
wholly by Lieut. Timothy D.Calvin in Nashville and vicinity. They became
part of Company I, of the One Hundred and Twentieth Kegiment,
three years' service. The remainder of the company was raised at Bed-
ford. William J. Cook, of Bedford, became Captain of the company, and
T. D. Calvin, of Nashville, First Lieutenant. The regiment saw service
as follows: Mustered in March, 1864; fought at Resaca; assaulted
Kenesaw Mountain ; fought at Atlanta ; Jonesboro ; skirmished two
days near Columbia, Tenn. ; battle of Franklin, losing forty-eight
men, killed and wounded, included Maj. Brasher; battle of Nashville,
Wise's Forks, Va., losing seven killed and forty-eight wounded ; mus-
tered out in 1866. During the year the county furnished not less than
seventy-five men, about half of whom went as recruits to the older
regiments.
THE COUNTY IN 1864.
No attempt was made during the year to organize a company wholly in
the county. The men recruited and drafted were sent to the older com-
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
711
panies. The following table fully exhibits what the county did during
the entire year, except January, possibly :
Credits by
°*
^
^
a
Voluntary
II
II
11
k
C 00
3 T-l
3 ^
1
1
^ c
Enlistments.
1
i
g.
TOWNSHIPS.
1
1
1
C
N
H
>•
6
H
0
H
Q
OT
Washington
32
13
30
181
75
55
25
80
5
Hamblen :
33
13
28
171
74
44
1
i
46
21
25
28
28
11
24
145
63
29
,
37
66
45
21
3
Van Buren
29
12
28
165
69
44
1
74
42
32
5
10
4
9
56
23
11
6
1
18
3
15
S
Totals
132
53
119
718
304
183
33
68
284
111
173
33
13
Under the last call of the war (December 19, 1864), one full company
was raised in the county. The men were recruited mainly in January
and February, 1865, and became Company K, of the One Hundred and
Forty-fifth Regiment, one year's service. The officers were Volney P.
Mason, Captain ; John C. Hester, First Lieutenant ; Franklin P. Tag-
gart, Second Lieutenant. The Colonel of the regiment was W. A.
Adams, of Brown County. The regiment was mustered in at Indianap-
olis on the 16th of February, 1865. It moved to Nashville, Tenu.,
thence reported to Gen. Steadraan, at Chattanooga. On the 23d of Feb-
ruary, it was placed on guard duty at Dalton. Ga., and was afterward
moved to Marietta, where it remained until the fall of 1865, when it
marched to Cuthbert, where it remained until it was mustered out in
January, 1866. The following table shows the condition of the county
under the last call of the war (December 19, 1864) :
q
^
«
0
a
Q
"2
.1
0
■g
^
M
TOWNSHIPS.
a
1
a
1
'1
i
1
S
1
0
^
1
0
.|i
1
s
Washington
Hamblen
10
145
10
14
14
14
4
43
32
31
13
80
88
111
51
43
32
31
13
12
25
31
5
31
9
43
34
31
13
43
34
31
13
Jackson
2
Van Buren
Johnson ,
8
..
Totals
129
475
129
87
48
135
135
6
THE DRAFTS OF 1864 AND 1865.
Two drafts occurred in the county at the close of the war — one in Octo-
ber, 1864, and the other in February, 1865. The number drafted cannot be
given, but the above tables give the number of draft credits. The Board
712 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
of Enrollment of the Third District was as follows : Simeon Stansifer^
Provost Marshal from March, 1863, to March, 1865; James B. Mulkey,
Provost Marshal from March, 1865, to October, 1865 ; John R. B.
Glasscock, Commissioner ; Albert G. Collier, Surgeon. Assistant Mar-
shals were appointed in Brown County. The drafts were not seriously
interfered with.
RELIEF, BOUNTY, ETC.
In August, 1861, in response to a petition from the citizens, the County
Board ^'■Ordered, That there be allowed the sum of $100 for the support
of the families of those who have enlisted in the army of the United
States in the present war." Michael Tomy, M. H. Parmelee, T. D.
Calvin, E. T. Moore and T. L. Lucas were appointed a committee to ex-
pend the amount. In September, an additional $100 was appropriated
for the same purpose. In September, 1862, $500 was appropriated for
soldiers' families. The following were the township committees to expend
the fund : Hamblen Township — Jonathan Watson. Conrad Kirby, W. P.
Taggart. Jackson — J. Fleener, John Snyder, A. S. Anderson. Wash-
ington— Daniel Crouch, S. G. Pettigrew, G. L. Boruff. Johnson — G.
W. Ard, W. II. Arwine, Asa Reaves. Van Buren — J. A. McKinney,
G. P. Story, E. T. Moore. In December, 1863, a petition signed by
177 citizens was presented the County Board, asking that a bounty of
$100 might be offered from the county treasury for each volunteer who
should enlist before the 5th of January, 1864. The County Board re-
fused as follows : "That they had no right by law to grant any such
bounty as asked for by the petitioners, and although as private citizens
they might entertain different opinions in regard to granting a bounty
as asked for, still as Commissioners of said county they could not grant
the bounty, from the fact, among others, that the petition embraced only
a small minority of the tax payers of said county." In January, 1865,
the County Board, with this order on the records staring them in the face,
ordered sold county bonds to the amount of $27,000, to be used in
securing volunteers at $300 each, to clear the county of the last quota.
Sylvanus Manville was appointed to apply the fund, after selling the
bonds. By the 8th of March, 1865, he had expended $19,500. It was
found that $27,000 was not enough to cover the county quota, which by
previous credits had been reduced to 101 men ; so the Auditor was or-
dered to issue in all $30,300 of county bonds. The Agent's final report
in June, 1865, showed that $26,100 had been paid out. The remainder
was claimed afterward and paid by the County Board. The following
table for the entire war explains itself:
Bounty. Relief.
Brown County $29,700 $1,596
Washington Township 200 350
Hamblen Township 2,200 300
Jackson Township 3,475 275
Van Buren Township 2,100 275
Johnson Township 180
Totals $37,675 $2,976
NUMBER OF MEN FURNISHED.
Of course it is impossible to give the exact number of men furnished
by the county to crush the rebellion. In September, 1862, the county was
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 713
officially credited with having furnished 502 men. In 1863, the county
sent out about seventy-five more. The quotas under the calls of Febru-
ary 1, March 14 and July 18, 1864, were respectively 132, 53 and 119.
The number furnished under these calls by January 1, 1865, was 284 ;
and the number furnished from that date to the end of the war was 135.
The sum total of these numbers will give to within a close figure the men
furnished by the county during the war ; 502 and 75 and 284 and 135
equal 996 — or say 1,000 men, a full regiment. Kind and aff"ectionate
reader, how is that for a county which in 1860 polled for Governor 1040
votes, and in 1864 polled for Governor 1190 votes? Where is the county
in the State that did proportionately better? Just ponder on that show-
ing when you are led to accuse Brown County of disloyalty. "Facts
speak louder than words." In the above estimate each man has been
counted as often as he enlisted.
CALLS FOR TROOPS DURING THE WAR.
1. April 15, 1861, 75,000 men for three months.
2. May 3, 1861, 42,034 men for three years (regular army).
(During the summer or early autumn of 1861, six regiments of State
troops were put into the field by the energy of Gov. Morton, but when their
term of service had expired they were mustered into the service of the United
States. These regiments were from the Twelfth to the Seventeenth
inclusive. It was also during the same time, that the three months' regi-
ments, from the Sixth to the Eleventh inclusive, re-organized and entered
the three years' service. Regiments from the Eighteenth to the Sixty-
third were also sent out prior to the call of July, 1862).
3. July 2, 1862, 300,000 men for nine months.
4. August 4, 1862, 300,000 men for nine months.
5. June 15, 1863, 100,000 men for six months.
6. October 17, 1863, 300,000 men for three years.
7. February 1, 1864, 200,000 men for^hree years.
8. March 14, 1864, 200,000 men for three years.
9. April 23, 1864, 85,000 men (about for 100 days).
10. Julv 18, 1864, 500,000 men for one, two and three years.
11. December 19, 1864, 300,000 men for three years.
BROAVN county's ROLL OF HONOR.*
Twenty second Regiment^ three years service. — Thomas J. Adams, died
of wounds received at Pea Ridge ; John B. Alexander, died December,
1861, at Syracuse, Mo.; Henry D. Bruner, veteran, killed at Atlanta,
August, 1864 ; John Campbell, died at Georgetown, Mo., October, 1861 ;
William G. Chitwood, died at St. Louis, Mo., September, 1861 ; John A.
CoflFman, killed near Glasgow, Mo., September, 1861 ; Henry M. Daggy,
died May, 1864, of wounds received at Rome, Ga.; William B. Dalsbury,
died at Jefferson City, Mo., October, 1861 ; Treat S. Dubois, killed at
Kenesaw, June, 1864 ; William Gee, died at Boonville, Mo., October,
1861 ; William Hobbs, died January, 1864, of wounds received at Mis-
sion Ridge ; John Jackson, died in Andersonville Prison June, 1864 ;
*Thi8 " Roll of Honor " is made out from the Adjutant General's reports, and though incomplete, owing
to the fact that many of the boys could not be traced, is the best that can be given.
714 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Robert C. Kelso, died at Syracuse, Mo., January, 1862 ; John P.
Maguire, died at Jefferson City, Mo., October, 1861 ; George Parmelee,
died at Jefferson City, October, 1861 ; Thomas Raridon, died at Otter-
ville, January, 1862; Jefferson Reynolds, killed at Pea Ridge, March,
1862 ; James Snyder, died at Otterville, December, 1861 ; George W.
Spaulding, died at Georgetown, Mo., October, 1861 ; Pleasant D. Weddel,
killed at Perryville, October, 1862 ; David A. Whitehorn, veteran, killed
at Kenesaw, June, 1864 ; Robert Worley, veteran, died April 1865 ;
Frank Kennedy, died December, 1864 : Elijah Lyons, killed at Rome,
Ga., May, 1864.
Eighty-second Regiment, three years' service. — Capt. Jackson Woods,
died of disease at Macon, Ga., May 27, 1864 ; Capt. Joseph Fraker, died
of disease September 30, 1864 ; Sergt. Joseph Mead, died at home
February, 1863; William Fleener, died at Nashville, Tenn., December,
1862 ; Barton Holly, died at Gallatin, Tenn., January, 1863 ; James
McCoy, died of wounds at Chattanooga, November, 1863 ; Edwin Parks,
died at Gallatin, November, 1862 ; John Pender, died at Bowling Green,
Ky., November, 1862; Frederick Richardson, died at Danville, Ky.,
October, 1862; James Richardson, died at Chattanooga, November,
1863 ; James M. Sipes, died at Beaufort, S. C, April, 1865 ; John Truex,
died at Murfreesboro, April, 1863 ; Jacob C. Walker, died at home,
February, 1863; James P. Weaver, died at Louisville, December, 1863;
Tilghman H. Watson, died of wounds near Broad River, S. C, February,
1865 ; James M. Wilson, died of wounds near Atlanta, July, 1864 ;
Henry Henderson, died at Savannah, Ga., February, 1865 ; Oddy
Sattethwait, died in Andersonville Prison, June, 1864 ; George W.
Dubois, died at Gallatin, November, 1862 ; George W. Coffin, killed at
Chickamauga, September, 1863; John Weddle, died at Louisville, Octo-
ber, 1862 ; Joseph A. Mcllvain, killed at Atlanta, August, 1864 ; Wil-
son Price, died at Murfreesboro, March, 1863 ; Henry Kinsley, died at
Atlanta, November, 1864; Martin Ault, killed at Chickamauga, Septem-
ber, 1863 ; Alexander Bailes, died at Louisville, December, 1862 ; Jack-
son W. Bradley, died at Louisville, January, 1863 ; Francis M. Bradley,
died at Bowling Green, Ky., November, 1863 ; William R. Breedlove,
died at Murfreesboro, March, 1863 ; Robert Honeycut, died at Bowling
Green, December, 1862 ; Hugh James, died at Bowling Green, December,
1862 ; Benjamin Kelley, died of disease ; Henry Lucas (Berry), died at
Murfreesboro, April, 1863; Washington Mosier, shot by his comrade at
Irwin, Tenn., May, 1863 ; Elza W. Weaver, died at Nashville, December,
1863 ; John W. Wilson died of disease ; Jackson Woods, died of disease ;
William Woods, died at Atlanta, August, 1864 ; Michael Waddle, died at
Murfreesboro, February, 1863.
One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment, three years' service. — Flem-
ing R. Followill, died at home, January, 1865 ; Isaac Harding, died at
Louisville, April, 1864; William N. Hoover, died at Decatur, September,
1864 ; Jacob Honeycut, died of wounds at Raleigh, N. C, October, 1865 ;
Jacob Robertson, died at Rasaca, October, 1864 ; Edward N. Smith,
died at Nashville, Tenn., May, 1864.
One Hundred and Forty -fifth Regiment, one year s service. — Daniel
D. Bradley, died at Dalton, Ga., March, 1865; Henry W. Brown died at
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY. 715
Dalton, Ga., March, 1865; John Gosser, died at Chattanooga, February,
1865 ; Conrad King, died at Dalton, March, 1865 ; Thomas (John) Mob-
ley, died at Dalton, April, 1865 ; Samuel Peake, died at Jeffersonville,
Ind., July, 1865; John H. Porter, died at Dalton, April, 1865 ; John W.
Rich, died at home, February, 1865 ; Francis M. Smith, died at Nash-
ville, Tenn., March, 1865 ; Philip S. Smith, died at Nashville, Tenn.,
March, 1865; Aaron H. Wheeler, died at Nashville, Tenn., July, 1865;
Richard Elkins (Thirty-first Regiment), killed at Fort Donelson, February,
1862; Sylvanus Greenlee, died at Oak Ridge, Miss., October, 1863.
The following is the list of pensioners, as it stood on the first of Jan-
uary, 1883 :
Roundebaugh, Henry, thigh ". $ 2 00
Reaves, James A., minor 10 00
Waltman, William H., minor 10 00
Garlock. David, eyes 6 00
Brand, Peter, hip and back 10 00
Greathouse, Peter, spine 8 00
Zimmerman, Martha .J., widow 8 00
Taylor, Orpha A., widow 25 00
Beck, Margaret S., widow 8 00
Hedrick, Shelby, leg 6 00
Arwine, James N., rheumatism 6 00
Wendland, John, arm 12 00
Young, Andrew, knfe 12 00
Franklin, Calvin, diarrhoea 6 00
West, Michael, typhoid fever 18 00
Davis, John, lungs , 6 00
Davis, Mary E.. widow 16 00
Wright. John C, lungs 8 00
Me Carty, William H., var. veins 8 00
Quinn, Margaret, mother 8 00
King, Conrad, minor 10 00
Myers, James, hand 18 00
Smith, John R., diarrhoea 4 00
Skinner, Joseph M., rheumatism 8 00
Sherrell, Levi, hand 18 00
Taggart, Capt. T., arm 4 00
Hampton, VVillis, abdomen 7 00
Griffin. William, thorax 8 00
Kent, Thomas, arm 6 00
Shipley, Jesse, dropsy 18 00
Scroznm, James, knee 10 00
Wood, Leander, rheumadsm.... 12 00
Percifield, William J., eye and face 8 00
Palmer, Robert, thigh 6 00
Parks, George W., arm 4 00
Bond, James, face 2 00
Condon, Alexander, rheumatism 24 00
Mullis. Thomas, eye 10 00
McGrail, Michael, face 24 00
Hampton, James, abdomen 8 00
Kelley, Benjamin R., rheumatism 7 50
Meloy, James A., kidney and heart 8 00
Hatchell, Bardell, lungs 2 00
Day, William, shoulder, 2 00
Calvin, Timothy D., diarrhoea 4 00
Baker, John, side 6 00
Breedlove, Thomas, abdomen 4 00
Reddick, Nancy, widow 1812 8 00
Moser, Delila, widow 8 00
Bradley, Linia, widow 8 00
Price, Mary E., widow 8 00
45
716 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Pearsoll, Rachel, widow 8 00
Shipley, Sylvania A., widow 24 00
Floyd, Louisa, mother 8 00
Tullos, Susan, mother 8 00
Hunt, Jailey, mother 8 Oa
Jackson, Minerya, mother 8 00
Polley, James W., minor of 10 OO
Winkler, John D., rheumatism 4 00
Gant, Henry B., loss fingers 18 OO'
Fleener, Joseph N., rheumatism 8 00
Fleener, William, minor of 10 00
Leal, William, scurvy 6 00
Ping, Silas, disease of abdomen 4 00
Hancher, Alexander, hip and thigh 8 00
Moore, Emanuel H., deaf one ear 1 00
Truex, Catharine, widow 8 00
Greenlee, Matilda, widow 8 00
Noblett, Lucinde, widow 8 OO
Sprague, Catharine, widow 8 00
Powell, Richard, disease of kidney 8 00
Nickerson, Henry W., heart disease , 18 00
Enes, Frederick, rheumatism 4 00
Hurley, Cornelius, ankle 4 00
McClare, Anna, widow 1812 8 00
Powell, Elizabeth, mother 8 00
Young, Joseph M., disease of heart 8 00
Wheeler, Elihu, finger 3 00
Wise, Rachel, widow 1812 8 00
McDonald, James D., abdomen 4 00
Zimmerman, Jacob, face and neck 2 00
Parmerlee, Marcus B., loss of three toes 10 00
Wheaton, Fielding, injury to sternum 2 00
Shoup, Abraham, paralysis of arm 18 00
Wilsone, Catharine A., widow 8 00
Batton, Almeda, widow 8 00
Browning, Nathan, diarrhoea 4 00
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 717
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
MINERALS, OIL, SALT, HTC.
THE township of Washington was created in August, 1836, and
at first comprised a strip four miles wide and sixteen miles long
entirely across the county from east to west. Afterward two tiers of sec-
tions from the northern part of Johnson were added, thus giving the
township a total of eighty sections, eight more than two full Congressional
townships. The area of this township is almost or wholly drained by the
North Fork of Salt Creek. Its branches on the north are Jackson's
Lick, Owl, Greasy, Clay Lick, and on the south Schooner, Hampton
and on the east Henderson's. The township except the eastern part is
a valley bounded south, north and east by high hills. Salt Creek enters
the township from the northeast coming from Hamblen Township. The
geology of the county teaches that North Salt Creek is not as old as Bean
Blossom. At the time of the glacial epoch, the ice masses could get no
farther south, except in comparatively small quantities, at the ridge
bordering Bean Blossom on the south. On the northern side of that ridge
the ice melted and the water was forced westward, soon eroding the valley
of Bean Blossom. It must be understood that at the beginning of the
glacial epoch the surface of the county was almost level and was at the
elevation of the highest lands. The streams, or rather their valleys,
have all been cut down through the subsequent years to their present de-
pression. The hills have not been raised ; the valleys have been cut out
by the action of the ivater. As the ice melted on the northern slope of
Bean Blossom ridge (when the valley of that stream was almost as high
as the ridge, and when Salt Creek Valley had not been commenced), large
quantities of water, with some ice and some drift of soil from Canada were
forced over the ridge, thus forming sluggish rivulets which slowly forced
their way southward covering all the county and gradually wearing small
depressions which have since been formed into North Salt Creek and its
northern branches. The ice which passed over Bean Blossom ridge was
stopped by the higher elevation of the central ridge (the one just south of
North Salt Creek) and forced southwestward in the general direction of
Salt Creek where an outlet could be had. The only portion of the coun-
ty that seems not to have been under water during the glacial epoch is
Weed Patch Knob and perhaps a few others of the highest elevations on
the ridges. Around their sides the ice water has deposited slight terraces
containing minute pebbles and some imported material as if to record
the highest flood upon this meter of the great glacial river, while white
and bare these storm-scarred summits looked out over the wintry wild
and saw that rigid river of ice menace their base or turn to right or left
into the two White River Valleys and float by in a stream of molten
silver. A table of altitudes is here given :
718 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Nashville above the ocean 652 feet.
Nashville nbove mouth of Wabash 355 feet.
Nashville above Columbus 35 feet.
Nashville above Wabash at Terre Haute 167 feet.
Nashville below Georgetown 42 feet.
Nashville below Spearsville 285 feet.
Nashville below Bloomington 132 feet.
Nashville below Indianapolis 46 feet.
Nashville below Weed Patch Kuob 495 feet.
At the Hester Quarry, half a mile west of Nashville, the following is
the formation :
Soil on first terrace, containing a few small quartz, pebbles and
minute grains of black sand from the glacial drift 10 feet.
Soft friable reddish sandstone 43 feet.
Shaly sandstone with ferruginous bands 25 feet.
Sandy shale with ferruginous plates and concretions 65 feet.
Sandstone (Quarry] 12 feet.
Total 155 feet.
In the western part of the township, notably on Section 31,
Township 9 north, Range 2 east, and Section 12, Township 8 north.
Range 2 east, are salt springs which were famous "licks " in early times,
when deer in large numbers wandered browsing through the glades and
forests and came there to get their salt. These springs, known of course
to the Indians before the whites came, gave name to the creek along
which they are found. On Section 31, above mentioned, Mr. Jackson,
as early as 1823, bored a well about 300 feet deep, securing a good flow
of brine, which was boiled down in eight or ten large iron kettles and sold
to the early settlers, many of whom came forty or fifty miles for it. He
manufactured thus about 2,500 bushels of superior salt per annum after
the well had been fully secured, and gave employment to some six or eight
hands, who watched the fires and water. At first the salt sold as high as
$8 per bushel, but within a few years it went down, and after about 1836
did not pay, and the manufacture was abandoned. On Section 12, above
mentioned, a company from Bloomington, at the head of whom were the
Howes, sunk a well in the twenties and also manufactured a considerable
quantity of excellent salt. This was called Howe's Salt Lick and the
other Jackson's Salt Lick. Several other wells were sunk for salt, one
being about three miles northeast of Nashville. During the great oil
fever many years ago, an oil well was sunk at the old Howe's Lick by a
company, of which Dr. Arwine of Nashville was a member. The well
was on the Story farm, and the strata passed through were as follows :
Surface clay 10 feet.
Sandstone with partings 110 feet.
Shale, white and blue 220 feet.
Shale, reddish 48 feet.
Slate, black, with a carbonaceous parting of six inches 110 feet.
Huron shale containing sulphur 1 foot.
White sandstone or limestone 45 feet.
Clay 15 feet.
White sandstone or limestone 4 feet.
Total 560 feet.
In the black slate, all the way through it, a small quantity of crude
petroleum was found, which formed bubbles on the " pum pings " of
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 719
water, and when a lighted match was applied to the bubbles the gas
therein took fire and burned as quick as powder. This gas was carbureted
hydrogen very similar to ordinary coal gas manufactured for lighting
cities. The oil brought up had a plainly perceptible odor, which was
unpleasant. It was found only in small quantity. Brine was struck
near the base of the slate in sufficient quantity and strength, it was
estimated, to make one barrel of salt per day. The well northeast of
Nashville was sunk to about the same depth, about the same formation
being found ; the slate was not so thick. Gas, oil and salt were also
found. It is estimated that |1,000 worth of gold has been found on Salt
Creek (North Fork), principally near its head. Traces are found in
places along its course.
CIVIL DIVISION AND ORGANIZATION.
Before the creation of Brown County in 1836, the western portion
of Washington Township formed a part of Monroe County and the
eastern of Bartholomew County. The dividing line, or the " old county
line," as it is yet called, was a short distance east of Nashville. As
soon as the township was created in August, 1836, John S. Williams was
appointed Assessor, and upon the completion of his work was paid $3 in
full in county orders. He was also paid 50 cents for making return of
the September election in the township. Levin Tull was the first Con-
stable. James Mclntire assessed the township in 1837. In 1838, J. S.
Williams was Inspector of Elections ; Robert Henderson and William
Jackson, Overseers o the Poor; John Hoover and Levin Tull, Fence
Viewers ; Stephen Parks and Littleton Matthews, Constables. Joseph
Stilson was Assessor in 1840, and James Taggart, Jr., in 1841. The
old Sparks Ferry road extended north and south across the county,
passing through the little village of Hedgesville, about three miles and a
half east of Nashville. This road was divided into five districts : 1st.
From the Jackson County line to Section 14, Van Buren Township ;
2d. Thence to Hedgesville; 3d. Thence to Owen Simpson's about Sec-
tion 1, southern Hamblen ; 4th. Thence to Section 14, Hamblen ; 5th.
Thence to the county line of Johnson. Alfred Weddel, in July, 1836,
was appointed Superintendent of District No. 3, with the following
hands : Hiram C. Weddel, John Harris, William Matthews, Matthew
Matthews, Martin Matthews, Isaac Matthews, Henry Sipes. Jeremiah
King, George King, Jonathan Fox, Joseph Fox. Alfred Young was
appointed Superintendent of District No. 2, and was given the following
hands : John Hampton, Edward Ayres, Henry Ayres, Samuel Ayres,
Enoch Hampton, Ephraim Hatton, James Williamson, Asa Hatton,
Alfred Young, William Rippey, John Rippey, William Kenworthy and
Thomas Polly. At this time also (July, 1836) the Columbus & Bloom-
ington road east of the old county line was divided into two districts :
1st. From the line to Hedgesville ; 2d. From Hedgesville to the Bar-
tholomew County lines. Andrew Marshall w^s appointed Superintendent
of District No. 1, his hands being John Floyd, John Ping, Edward
David, John Whittington, James Matthews, M. Hedges, Lemuel M.
Hedges, David Randolph, Thomas Hampson and Gamaliel Millsap.
Robert Henderson was appointed Superintendent of District No. 2, with
720 HISTORY OF RROWN COUNTY.
the following hands : Henry Whittington, James Mullis, Henry New-
kirk, Merrick Graham, Job Ping, Walker Ping, Lewis F. Raper, Am-
brose Cobb, William Crouch and David Crouch. These names include
many of the earliest residents of Washington Township.
THE EARLY SETTLERS.
It is probable that old man Schoonover, who located on Schooner*
Creek in Washington Township, as early, certainly, as 1820, was the
first permanent white settler within the county limits. He was a Ger-
man and was semi-barbarous, preferring to live in the wilderness than in
the settled localities. Some state that his location in the township, on
Schooner Creek, was as early as 1817 or 1818, and there is postitive and
undoubted evidence that he was living on the creek in 1820. Others
also state that, for a time, at the period of his earliest settlement, he
owned a small stock of trinkets, ammunition, etc., which he kept to trade
with the Indians for their furs. This is purely traditionary, and could
not have continued longer than three or four years at the farthest, as the
great bulk of the natives was removed early in the twenties. What finally
became of the family cannot be stated. It is likely that the second set-
tlement was at the old Jackson salt works, about the year 1821. The
presence of salt there became known to hunters and others in Monroe
County several years before, and finally families moved there to open the
industry of manufacturing salt. A well was sunk, and a fair article of
brine was secured and boiled down in iron kettles until a hard cake of
salt was the residue, which was pulverized and rendered fit for market.
In after years large quantities were prepared. Several familes located
there and in a few years a little settlement sprang up around them.
Edward David located in the eastern part of the township as early as
1822, though it is stated that he was not the first there. A man named
Henderson, and perhaps others, settled on a creek of that name about the
same time, and perhaps earlier. The early entries of land will show the
early settlement in a fairly correct light.
LAND ENTRIES.
The early entries on Township 8 north. Range 1 east, were as fol-
lows : Section 1 — Finney Coatney, 1844 ; Joshua 0. Howe, 1826 ;
John W. Lee, October 21, 1824 ; the east half of the southwest quarter;
Henry Wampler, August 17, 1824, the west half of the southwest quar-
ter. Section 12— Dawson Debord, 1836 ; J. 0. Howe, 1826 ; Moses
Williams, November 26, 1821, the west half of the northwest quarter,
and in June, 1824, the east half of the northwest quarter. Township
8 north. Range 1 east. Section 1 — Samuel Dunn, 1831 ; Fred Fleener,
1844; Michael Fleener, 1836 ; Elizabeth Fleener, 1837. Section 12—
Nathan Pruett, 1839, Township 8 north. Range 2 east. Section 3 —
George Henry, 1839 ; William Followell, 1836. Section 4 — George
Cox, 1839. Section 6— John B. Williams, 1844 ; Elam Carter, 1839 ;
Jacob Stephens, 1836 ; James B. Chandler, 1839. Section 7— Robert
Robertson, 1843 ; William Johnson, 1831 ; Peter Sink, 1839. Town-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 721
ship 9 north. Range 2 east. Section 14 — David D. Weddel, 1837. Sec-
tion 18— Gilbert Percifield, 1839 ; Henry Jackson, 1839. Section 19—
Oilbert Percifield, 1836. Section 23— Polly Kannatser, 1836; James
Taggart, 1836 ; James Taggart, Jr., 1837. Section 24 — Bezaleel Mc AuUy,
1833-, William Jackson, 1836; Henry Jackson, 1839; James Taggart, Jr.,
1837; Jesse L. Hubbard, 1839. Section 26— Stephen Parks, 1836; George
Followell. 1836 : William Wise. 1836 ; John Followell, 1844. Section
27— Thomas J. Breedlove, 1836 ; William Followell, 1839 ; William
King, 1836 ; Rachel Coulson, 1837 ; John Hoover, 1836-37-40-47. Sec-
tion 28— Rachel Coulson, 1837 ; John Hoover, 1839. Section 29— Finney
Coatney, 1838. Section 31 — was reserved by the Government for the
Saline Fund. Township 9 north, Range 3 east, Section 14 — Jonathan
Fox, 1831 ; John Brown, 1836 ; Jacob Davis, 1835 ; Cornelius W.
Tucker, 1835. Section 18 — Pierson Brummet, 1837 ; Ira Davar, 1844 ;
Alexander Baker, 1828 ; Sylvanus Manville, 1844. Section 19 — (see in
advance a few pages). Section 20 — Matthew Matthews, 1836 ; Reuben
Matthews, 1836; John Huff, 1836; James Mclntire, 1836; J. B.
Chandler, 1844; John S. Williams, 1836; Isaac Matthews, 1836;
Levin Tull, 1836 ; Henry Sipes, 1836. Section 21— Thomas Coulson,
1837. Section 22 — Jesse Brown, 1840; Thomas Coulson, 1837; James
D. Robertson, 1840. Section 24— John Flinn, 1830. Section 25 —
Jerry King, 1832 ; James Taggart, March 22, 1828 ; Robert Henderson,
1835; Henry Newkirk, 1836; James Sullivan, 1832. Section 26—
Henry Whittington, 1834; Hiram C. Weddel, 1839. Section 27—
John King, 1833; William Snyder, 1832; John Alcorn,. 1832 ; Fran-
cis Whittington, 1837 ; John Fox, 1839. Section 28 — John Alcorn,
1832 ; Edward David, Jr., 1833 ; Aquilla Rogers, 1836 ; Edward
David, March 6, 1828 ; Benjamin Rogers, 1836 ; John Matthews, 1844 ;
James D. Robertson, 1840; John Fox, 1839. Township 9 north,
Range 4 east. Section 4 — John King, 1836 ; William Taylor, Sr.,
1836. Section 5— William King, 1832 ; John King, 1839 ; Section 6
—P. J. Weddel, 1839. Section 9— Alfred King, 1843. Section 19—
James Rude, 1839; Henry Whittington, 1839; Joseph White, 1833;
John Harris, 1836. Section 30 — Matthew Matthews, 1837. Section 33
— Abe Marlett, 1839; Isaac Nickerson, 1839. This list includes all
, who entered land in Washington Township, or nearly all, before 1850.
The list includes many of the very first settlers, though unfortunately,
owing to the destruction in 1873 of the county records, the names of all
the early residents cannot be given. As a means of preserving as many
of the names of the early residents as possible, the following list is given :
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1848.*
Thomas M. Adams,* W. W. Baker,* Jesse Brown,* George Brum-
met, T. S. Breedlove, Joab Brummet, James Bradley, Milton Bradley,
Samuel Boruff, Robert Brummet, Solomon Brummet, Joseph Brummet,
John A. Breedlove, Thomas J. Breedlove, David D. Bradley, Banner
Brummet, Jr., William Bracken, Shadrack Chandler,* George Coulson,
Robert Carter, Thomas Coulson, Elam Carter, James Chandler, James
Oarter, Richard Corum, Daniel Carmiohael, Washington Crouch, Levi
* Those marked with a star (*) were rasidenta of Nashville.
722 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
B. Dubois, Edward David, John L. Due,* Asa B. Dowell, George W.
David, W. W. Duncan, D. 0. Elliott,* Drury Edwards, Mathew Floyd,*
John Fox, Robert Floor, Samuel R. Followell, Joseph Fox, L. B. Fol-
lowell, Alexander Followell, James J. Floyd, Isaac Fox, James H. Follo-
well, Hanson Graham, John C. Gould, Thomas M. Guffey, William
Griffin, Benjamin Huntington,* John Hoover, John Huflf, James Hunt-
ington,* Charles B. Huff, Henry Hampton, William Hoover, D. L. Hunt-
ington, William Huntington, David Jackson, Henry Jackson, James
Jackson, Joshua Jackson, John Jeffries, Isom Jones, W. Joslin, Levin
Knight, Henry King, W. H. Knight, John Kelley,* James Kentz, Kizer
Loudermilk, P. A. Meadows, William M. Mason,* Alfred McGuire, Jacob
B. Myers, Daniel McKinney, L. R. Moore, John P. Myers, Robert
Marshal, John Miles, Breckenridge Mason, John Mathis, Royal P. Man-
ville, Sylvanus Manville, William McCoy, James Marshal, Matthew Mathis,
Joseph Parks, Thomas Percifield, Stephen Parks, Gilbert Percified, Daniel
Pogue, Henry H. Porter, P. C. Parker, Jesse R. Payne,* M. G. Percifield,
George Percifield, W. J. Percifield, Phillip Pike, Bluford Roddick, Robert
Robertson, Joseph H. Rice, Arson Richardson, Hiram Reynolds, William
S. Roberts, William K. Rogers, Lewis Rogers, E. E. Rose, Dennis Rey-
nolds, Thomas Rutherford, J. S. Resley, John Lee, Charles Sipes, Daniel
Scrogham, Henry Sipes, Jr., James Shelton, Alexander Sturgeon, James
Sturgeon, Lewis Sisco, George Stephens, G. W. Snider, John Tumblenson,
Lewis I. Tull, John Tull, Samuel Turk, James W. Taggart, Mason Watts,
Matthew Wise, William Weatherman, John B. Williams, James Wise,
Alfred Williams, Jackson Woods,* I. Westfall, Peter Whisnand, Jacob-
Yoder. The heaviest tax payers were Thomas M. Adams, $9.29 ; Ban-
ner Brummet, Sr., ^7.46 ; John Carter, $15.61 ; Thomas Coulson $10. ;
L. B. Dubois. $8.49; Edward David, Sr., $8.12; David Deitz, $5.50 ^
John Floyd, $7.15 ; Matthew Floyd, $5.63; Robert Henderson, $6.99;
John Hoover, $8.61 ; James Huntington, $5.71 ; Joshua 0. Howe, $22.06 ;
Henry Jackson, $6.21 ; Levin Knight, $6.21 ; D. M. C. Lane, $5.78 ;
P. A. Meadows, $5.16; Lewis Rogers, $5.05 ; Henry Sipes, Sr., $5.50;
James Taggart's heirs, $8.03; James Taggart, $5.72; Number of
polls, 134; Number of acres, 6,226.34; value of land, $17,313 ; value of
improvements, $15,540 ; value of lots $6,650 ; personal property, $20,040;
total taxables, $59,543; total tax, $561.98; delinquent tax and interest
$187.92 ; grand tot^l tax, $749.80.
INCIDENTS.
William S. Roberts was one of the first Justices of the Peace of this
township. His old docket exhibits many amusing items. Fighting to
see which was the better man was as fashionable as drinking to see
which could carry the more liquor. Many of the best citizens were in-
volved in fights, and were required to swell the seminary fund by fines.
In 1839, Stephen Gibson was fined $1.50 for an assault and battery on
Samuel Parsley. He was also fined $10 for profane swearing, which fine
seems not to have been paid, probably because it was excessive. James
Stephens was fined $2.50 for thrashing L. Marshall. Matthew Ma-
thews and Calvin Huflf were fined $1.50 each for an affray. A. J. Dietz
and H. C. Weddel were fined each $1 for an affray. Banner C. Brum-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 723
met and Littleton Matthews were each fined |1 for contempt of court.
And so the record goes on. In 1840, the township officers were as fol-
lows: James Taggart and Willam Followell, Overseers of the Poor;
Roily Rains and Henry Jackson, Fence-Viewers ; William S. Roberts,
Inspector ; John Hoover, P. C. Parker, Littleton Matthews, Henry New-
kirk, Road Supervisors.
The township was very wild even in 1836, Deer, bear, wolves and
panthers were quite numerous. Green Graham tells that on one occa-
sion, at night, he had occasion to pass from Jackson's salt works to the
eastern part of the township via Weed Patch Knob. He was on horse-
back, and was unaccompanied except by a small colt and a cur dog. Just
before reaching the summit of the hill, he heard what he took to be some
one calling him on some distance in advance, and he returned the call,
which was soon repeated. He again answered, and this was repeated sev-
eral times, and the person calling seemed each time to be getting nearer.
At last, just before reaching the top of the knob, he observed that his dog
was so frightened that it ran under the" side of the mare he was riding, and
remained cowering there. The mare also began to prick up her ears and
sniff the air in fright, and shy off to one side of the path. A minute later
the leaves rustled out to his right, and looking that way, the already fright-
ened settler saw two large cat-like forms skulking along through the weeds.
He knew then that the animals were panthers, and without further par-
ley he put whip to his mare, and regardless of the consequences, went down
the steep hill at a break-neck pace. He was soon away from the spot and
saw no more of the panthers whose cries had so misled him. He states
that he was so scared that his hair rose straight up on his head.
HEDGESVILLE.
This defunct village, on Section 27, had a short and insignificant ex-
istence. It is thought that Merrick Graham first lived there. Some of
the Hedges located there probably as early as 1884, thinking that a new
county was to be formed, and built a few houses, designing to start a town
near the probable centre of the new county, and expecting to lay claim
to the county seat when the county should be created. One of them
started a small grocery and liquor establishment, which was conducted for
a year or more. Joseph King lived in the village. It is stated that a
tavern was also kept by the Hedges, and was well patronized by the trav-
elers along the Columbus & Bloomington road. It is said that John
Whittington had a store there for a short time. Not more than five or
six families ever lived at one time in the village. Jacksonsburg was no
sooner founded than the little village was deserted. The residents there
and in that vicinity had put in a claim for the county seat, but failed to
secure the prize.
JACKSONSBURG, OR NASHVILLE.
This town was founded in 1836. and was laid out in August of that
year by Banner 0. Brummet, County Agent. It was named Jacksons-
burg from the township in which it was then located. James Dawson pre-
pared the plan of the town, and was the surveyor under whose direction
the lots and streets were measured. The first sale of lots took place on
the 12th of September, 1836, and was continued privately during the
724 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
autumn months. The names of the purchasers cannot be given. Prior
to January 3, 1837, fifty lots were sold for $694. 87|, of which $91.90|
was cash, and the remainder, $602.97. in notes, one-fourth due in eight
months, one-fourth in eighteen months, and one-fourth in twenty-four
months. The results were not flattering for the future prosperity of the
county seat. By the 2d of May 1837, the County Agent received $42.50^
more for town lots, $5.68f being cash. Sales continued to be made from
time to time. In September, 1837, it was ordered that one-third of the
purchase price of town lots could be paid in county orders. In March,
1838, the County Agent's report was as follows, from the commencement
of the sales in 1836 to that date: Total proceeds of all sales, $759.37;
total cash receipts, $260.31; total paid out, $246.28; leaving on hand
$14.03. In August, 1838, all lots south of Washington street were
ordered sold by auction. The sales by January, 1840 (from the com-
mencement), amounted to $864. 87J, of which $569.38 was cash, and
$543.08 had been expended. And so the sales went on very slowly, and
with meager available results.
The first house built at Jacksonsburg, or that immediate vicinity, was
a log structure erected about 1835 by Banner C. Brummet, and was loca-
ted about one hundred and fifty yards northeast of the present poor-house.
About the same time, or soon afterward, Isaac Matthews built a log
cabin in the northwest part of town. Henry Jackson's log cabin, near
the cemetery, was erected about the same time. W. S. Roberts built in
town in May, 1836, before the lots were laid out, and placed in one apart-
ment of his double log cabin a stock of goods worth $1,500, which he
brought with him from Bloomington, where he and Mr. Barnes had been
in business together. Mr. Barnes owned an interest in the store, but
continued to reside in Bloomington. Elijah Preston came in about this
time, as did also Avery McGee, the Deputy County Clerk and Recorder.
Lorenzo D. Head came in not far from this time. He was a gunsmith,
and had a small shop in his cabin, and was also a blacksmith, building a
shop soon afterward. He was a single man, and boarded with Henry
Jackson, up by the graveyard. His widowed sister, with three children,
kept house for him later. Lewis E. Wayland moved his family in soon
afterward, as did also David Deitz. The latter built a double-log cabin,
in one room of which his family was domiciled, and the other of which he
opened a store of probably $2,000 worth of a general assortment of goods.
The crash of 1837 was felt in Jacksonsburg, and Mr. Roberts was
forced to close his doors. He was entirely broken up, and saw the Con-
stable drive away his last cow. In 1839, he managed to start in business
again, however, with a fair stock, which was rapidly increased. Banner C.
Brummet opened a grocery (liquor), in 1837. William Davidson also
began selling liquor about the same time. William M. Mason, Thomas
M. Adams and Henry Whittington came to live in the town early. P. C.
Parker was the first tavern keeper. He owned a double-log cabin and
sold liquor and groceries. William Followell began selling liquor early.
Davidson's liquor was kept for sale in Ike Matthews' house. Pierson
Brummet also sold liquor early. This was the town of 1837-38, or nearly
80. The Section 19 upon which the town was located was entered as
follows :
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
725
PURCHASER.
Thomas Coulsoa
Littleton Mathis
Nicholas Fleener
Isaac Boltenhouse
George Brumtnet
James Huff
James Huff
Calvin Huff
Banner C. Brummet
James Dawson
John Huff and ")
Levin Tull j ""
Milton Fleener
John Hight
40 January 15 1846|N. E. N. E.
40 February 24, 1845iS. E. N. E.
40 August 15, 1836 N. W. N. E.
40 July 8, 1886 iS. W. N. E.
40 April 4, 1836 N. E. S. E.
40 October 13, 1832 S. E. S. E.
40 April 4, 1836 N. W. S. E.
40 November 24. 1836*S. W. S. E.
179.52 March -^5, 1836 j N. W.
45.62 .June 16, 1836 N. E. S. W.
4o.62!August 7, 1844 iS. E. S. W.
45.62;October 5, 1836 ,N. W. S. W.
45.62lNovember23, 1846 S. W. S. W.
Elijah Preston was an early tavern keeper, as was Thomas Chinn, who
bought him out. In the forties, Sylvanus Manville was tavern keeper, his
house being called the American Tavern. Chapman & Lowe conducted
the hotel before Manville. James Taggart sold merchandise and groceries
for a short time in 1837-38. John S. Williams sold liquor in 1837.
Nearly or quite all of the early business men sold liquor. Henry Jackson,
Thomas Chinn, W. S. Roberts, P. C. Parker, Thomas Carr, Avery Mc-
Gee, Israel Mullinix, Daniel C. Smith (colored) and others being among
the earliest. Sylvanus Manville & Co. opened an excellent store in 1840,
though his stock did not exceed |2,500 in value. D. M. C. Lane, an
attorney, began selling merchandise in 1842. In 1846, Svlvanus Man-
ville, D. M. C. Lane, David Deitz, W. S. Roberts, E. E. & G. G. Sluss,
Royal P. Manville and others were in business in the village, which
contained a population of about 175 or 200. Merchants and grocers
after this were as follows: Chapman & Co., W. S. Roberts, Joseph Kelley,
G. W. Crouch, 1818; Albert Martindale, Dr. John Kelley, David Deitz,
L. F. Raper, David Huntington, F. A. Metheney, William and D. A. Elli-
ott, 1849; T. M. Adams & Co., John Jackson, John Wershing, T. S.
Colvin, Henry Havlin, 1850 ; Mathew Floyd, W. J. Mathews, W. W.
Baker, Z. Kelley, 1852; Cross & Hull, J. W. Knight, W. M. Mason,
James S. Hester, Roberts & Taggart, William Hayes, Robert Miller,
1855; W. B. Hoagland, T. S. Larkin, George Jackson, Ed Mc-
Elhaney, Sylvanus Manville, E. H. Cox & Co., 1862 ; W. H. & C. T.
Taggart, 1865 ; W. W. Browning, 1867 ; John Genolin, J. C. Hester,
Moody & Cumming, Frank P. Taggart, Charles Davidson, Charles Gib-
son, W. T. Grattan, Hugh Mason. The following constitutes the pres-
ent business of the town : General merchandise — F. P. Taggart, Charles
Gibson, Patterson Brothers, Hugh Mason, Taggart & Grattan. Drugs
and notions — Cornelius & Colvin. William Day, groceries and boots
and shoes. John & F. D. Calvin, hardware. J. B. Kennedy, groceries
and confectionery. W. A. Mason, groceries and notions. 0. J. Tag-
gart, Barber. Blacksmiths — Guthrie & Patterson, George Stone. Car-
penters— J. P. Gray, James Meyers. Grist mill — Yoder & Gray.
Wagons — Leander Smith, Arnold. Harness — J. & T. D. Calvin.
Furniture — John L. Dew. Butcher — Robert Brown. Milliner — Mrs.
726 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Jennie Allison. Doctors — C. T. Taggart, John F. Genolin. A. J.
Ralphy. Lawyers — R. L. Coflfey, W, W. Browning, W. L. Cox,
Anderson Percifield, W. C. Duncan, J. C. Hester. Ministers — Rob-
ert J. Watts. Churches — Methodist South, Presbyterian.
TOWN AND TOWNSHIP INDUSTRIES.
The old Edward David combined grist and saw mill was erected in
the eastern part of Washington Township not far from the year 1830.
A small temporary dam was built on the creek, and a race of perhaps 100
yards furnished additional head to the water which furnished the power
to propel the saw and nigger-head stones. The mill was afterward much
improved, a set of French buhrs being secured and a stronger dam being
constructed. The mill was very useful in its day. Jonathan Fox con-
ducted an old horse mill in the eastern part near Salt Creek at a very
early day — as early as 1828 it is said. In the year 1840, there was ob-
tained in the township salt to the amount of 1,600 bushels, as shown by
the United States census reports. Some years before that, as high as 3,000
bushels were obtained in one year. Six men, with a capital of $3,000,
carried on this enterprise in 1840. There were also raised 3,562 pounds
of tobacco. Nashville in early years was a famous resort for sporting
characters. Horse-racing was a favorite pastime, and when that became
too dull a fight was projected and enjoyed, or perhaps a game of cards
was played on a stump in the court house square as a settlement of who
should treat to a quart of whisky. . All this was called gaming, and was
fined by the early laws before Justices. Another amusement was shooting
at a mark, either for pleasure or profit. Turkeys were shot for, but the
drinks were settled oftener this way than any other. From this chapter
it will be noticed that the county seat contained a great many liquor es-
tablishments. It was thought nothing of then, and cannot be judged by
the standard of to day. All drank then, and rejoiced as the liquor ele-
ment now does in their personal liberty. Fights in those days were very
frequent and were projected in a perfectly friendly way to settle who was
the best man. Any and all new comers were required to show their met-
tle and muscle. Friendly and neighborly relations were resumed when
the fight was over. All this took place at the county seat. It is said that
Isaac Hooper was the first carpenter in Nashville, and Dow Head and
John Mills the first blacksmiths ; Jesse Payne was the second carpenter.
John L. Dew was probably the first cabinet-maker; he is yet a resident of
the town and works at his trade. Henry Sipes conducted a small distil-
lery as early as 1839. about a mile and a half out of town. It was oper-
ated several years. John Genolin, Sr., owned a distillery in Nashville,
early in the fifties. It did a small business for several years. Benjamin
Huntington started a tannery southeast of Nashville early in the forties,
and at first had four vats which were soon increased to eight. It after-
ward passed to Mr. R , and later to Mr. Calvin. It was abandoned
about the beginning of the last war. T, S. Calvin started a tannery in
Nashville about 1851, and had six vats. He afterward sold to Shotwell
& Larkin. It was afterward owned by Dow Head, Carter and others.
As high as ten or twelve vats were used. Late in the forties John Hight
built a carding mill in Nashville. He fitted it up with the necessary ma-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 727
chinerj for a general carding business. It was operated by a tread
•wheel, and was conducted by W. H. Turner. Mr. Hight took out the
second flat-boat from the dock at Nashville. In about 1852, he construct-
ed a boat, loaded it with grain and pork, and floated it down the streams
to New Orleans. Only two boats were sent out from Nashville — the first
being a load of bacon by , and the second grain and pork by Mr.
Hight. Elijah Scarborough took out two or three farther down the creek,
as did also Al. Meadows, and perhaps others;
The county seat was first called Jacksonsburg, but at the session of
the General Assembly in 1836-7, an act was passed changing the name
to Nashville, after the capital of Tennessee, the change to take effect
from and after the publication of the law, which was about the 1st of
March, 1837. This name has since been retained. The population of
the town in 1840, was about 80 ; in 1850, about 175; in 1860, about
220 ; in 1870, about 260 ; in 1880, 348 ; in 1883, about 380. In 1880,
the population of Washington Township, including Nashville, was 2,836.
INCORPORATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT.
Nashville was incorporated in 1872. The census was taken by S. G.
Pettigrew early in August, and the survey of the territory, to be com-
prised within the limits of the corporation, was made by John P. Wright
about the same time. The petition for the incorporation, signed by forty
residents and accompanied by the necessary plats, descriptions, etc., was
presented to the County Board on the 5th of August, whereupon an elec-
tion was ordered held to determine at the polls whether a municipal gov-
ernment should be assumed. This election was held September 23, and
the vote was as follows: For incorporation, 39 ; against incorporation, 8 ;
total 47. The village was then duly declared to be the incorporated
town of Nashville. It included 194.37 acres, a strip ten rods wide and
and 162 rods long being taken from Section 24, Township 9 north. Range
2 east, the remainder being on Section 19, Township 9 north, Range 3
east. The census as taken by Mr. Pettigrew, in August, was in full as
follows :
Heads of family. Males. Females. Total.
John Genolin 6 3 9
W.W.Browning 2 4 6
T. D. Calvin 4 2 6
Minerva Jackson Oil
John C. Hester 2 3 5
James S. Hester 5 3 8
E. H. Cox 3 14
Hannah Stone 3 2 5
Sarah Stabb 12 3
William G. Watson 3 3 6
Captain T. Taggart 2 2 4
George Milhorn , 2 2 4
Leander Smith 2 13
M. C. Hunter Oil
Mary Manville 12 3
P. S. Taggart 3 14
Frank P. Taggart 4 2 6
John Ralphy 3 14
John A. Marshall 2 2 4
James Myers 2 2 4
Martin E. Phillips 3 3 6
728 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Samson Scrock 6 2 8
William M. Mason 3 2 5
W. T. Gratton , 12 3
A. S. Griffitt 2 4 6
Rachel Pearsoll 2 2 '4
John Mobley 3 3 6
Michael McNamee 3 3 6
Richard L. Coffey 3 2 5
Mary Price 2 13
Daniel Marcellus 3 2 5
Katharine Roberts 3 2 5
William S. Olmstead ... 3 3 6
John L. Dew 14 6
Andrew J. Williams 2 13
BleninPercifield 4 15
Felix G. Metheney 3 4 7
Charles Gibson 3 5 8
William L. Cox 3 14
F.D.Wood 3 3 6
John Britton 2 2 4
Seth Stevens 4 2 6
James P. Gray 2 3 5
Martin B. Jackson 2 4 6
Leander Wilson 2 2 4
Caleb B. Ferguson* 7 14 21
Thompson Mobley 3 14
S. G. Pettigrew 2 5 7
A. E. Hatton 2 1 3
William Kelp 4 1 5 ,
Nelson Baker 2 4 6
Eli Bartholomew 112
Totals i44 142 286
Soon after the village was incorporated, the first Trustees, Frank P.
Taggart, John Genolin and Charles Gibson, met and adopted a series of
by-laws, and also a series of ordinances, for the government of the town.
E. H. Cox was the first Clerk, and Leander Smith the first Treasurer ;
but little was done during the winter. The May election, 1874, result-
ed as follows: John Genolin, Charles Gibson and John C. Hester,
Trustees — each receiving thirty-three votes. Frank P. Taggart, Treas-
urer and Assessor; Allen W. Prather, Clerk. The latter was also em-
ployed as Town Attorney. Jonas Milhorn was appointed Marshal. At
the next few meetings, the by-laws and ordinances were revised,
amended and put in force. Work was begun upon the streets, one of the
first acts being to build a bridge over the creek, leading to the poor house.
In October, two town bonds of $110 each were issued, to cover certain
repairs to the schoolhouse. W. W. Browning became Town Attorney in
January, 1875. The Treasurer, in May, 1875, reported receipts for the
year past as $t>6 ; expenditures, $55.58 ; balance on hand, 42 cents. In
May, 1875, the officers were John L. Dew, W. R. Selfridge and Allen
W. Prather, Trustees ; James McGreyel, Clerk ; John C. Hester, Treas-
urer and Assessor; John A. Marshall, Marshal. A tax of 30 cents on
each $100 was levi'ed to pay off the bonds above mentioned. In October,
1875, James McGreyel became Trustee, vice Prather, resigned.
Gilbert F. Little was appointed Clerk and Town Attorney. A road
scraper was purchased for $15. The receipts for the fiscal year 1875-76
*Thi8 large number included the county paupers.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 729
were $117.17 ; expenses, $103.62. The officers elected in May, 1876,
were Eugene Cully, James McGreyel and W. R. Selfridge, Trustees ;
James P. Gray, Marshal; G. F. Little, Clerk; J. C. Hester, Treasurer.
The officers of 1877 were John C. Hester, W. L. Cox and James Mc-
Greyel, Trustees ; Aaron David, Marshal ; W. L. Cox, Town Attorney ;
Nelson H. Franklin, Clerk. The officers of 1878 were Alonzo Allison,
Charles Gibson and Collins Calvin, Trustees; W. L. Cox, Treasurer and
Clerk; T. J. Taggart, Marshal. W. W. Browning soon took Calvin's
place as Trustee, and John E. Roth Taggart's place as Marshal, and
Eugene Cully Cox's place as Clerk, etc. Columbus Duncan was ap-
pointed Attorney. The officers of 1879 were Alonzo Allison, C. M.
Calvin and Charles Gibson, Trustees ; W. L. Cox, Treasurer and Clerk ;
T. J. Taggart, Marshal ; W. C. Duncan, Attorney. The officers of 1880
were W. M. Hopper, George Stone and Alonzo Allison, Trustees ; James
A. Wilson, Clerk ; W. L. Cox, Treasurer ; C. M. Calvin, Marshal ; R. L.
Coffey, Attorney. L. F. Wilson became Attorney in August. The re-
ceipts for the fiscal year 1879-80 were $205.40. including $45 on hand
from the previous year, and the expenses were $161.05, leaving in the
treasury $44.35. The officers of 1881 were G. J. Stone, T. J. Taggart
and Alonzo Allison, Trustees ; J. A. Wilson, Clerk ; W. L. Cox, Treas-
urer ; C. M. Calvin, Marshal. The officers elected in 1882 were Charles
Gibson. James Hampton and Sanson Shrock, Trustees; Henry Pope,
Clerk ; C. C. Both, Treasurer ; Samuel Brandenburgh, Marshal; W. C.
Duncan, Attorney. Mr. Duncan also became Clerk in June, vice Pope.
The receipts for the fiscal year 1882-83 were $325.71, and the expend-
itures $224.85, leaving on hand a balapce of $100.86. The officers
elected in 1883 were James Hampton, Charles Gibson and Sanson
Shrock, Trustees; C. C. Roth, Treasurer; Anderson Percifield, Clerk;
R. N. Guthrie, Marshal. In September, Leander Woods became Clerk,
and Robert J. Watts, Treasurer. Many changes were made by resigna-
tions and special appointments, which are not noticed above. The muni-
cipal government is not rigid ; it is in accordance with the Democratic
policy of open instead of centralized government. Red tape is an article
unknown to the "City Dads " in their official capacities. It may be said
in all truth that the metropolis of Brown County contains some of the
best citizens of the State. The society is good, morals are observed,
schools are well attended, and the citizens indicate refinement and culture.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
The Masons organized a lodge at Nashville in about the year 1850,
among the earliest members being T. M. Adams, Larson Hopper, W. S.
Roberts, John L. Dew, Sylvanus Manville, Shadrach Chandler, W. W.
Baker, F. A. Metheney and B. S. Roberts. Mr. Adams was the first
Worthy Master ; F. A. Metheney the first Senior Warden, and Larson
Hopper the first Junior Warden. The lodge grew and multiplied until
it now has a pleasant hall and a flourishing membership. In August,
1883, Post Commander Samuel Webber, of Shearsville, organized at
Nashville the J. S. Hester Post, No. 218, Grand Army of the Re-
public, with the following charter membership : T. D. Calvin, James P.
Gray, James M. Yoder, James Hampton, C. T. Taggart, D. P. Acton,
730 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
William Day, G. W. Marshall, Leander Woods, Leander C. Smith,
William T. Grattan and James Myers. The first members to be initiated
were W. D. Watts, Theodore Huff, J. W. Mathis and J. W. Percifield.
The first and present officers are T. D. Calvin, Commander ; J. P. Gray,
S. C. ; J. M. Yoder, J. C. ; James Hampton, Q. M. ; C. T. Taggart,
Surgeon ; D. P. Acton, Chaplain ; William Day, 0. of D. ; G. W. Mar-
shall, 0. of G. ; Leander Woods, Adjutant; Leander Smith, S. M. ; W.
T. Grattan, Q. M. S.
BANKING AT NASHVILLE.
Early in the fifties, it was found necessary at Nashville, owing to the lim-
ited quantity of small change in circulation, and to the constant fluctuation
in the value of the various wild-cat bank issues then passing current, to issue
a small amount of local shin-plasters of the denominations of 25, 50 and
100 cents. William M. Mason issued a few hundred dollars worth, as
did also Snyder & Arwine, the latter doing at the same time something
of a brokerage business. Their money passed readily, and for a time met
a greatly needed want, but ere long it also began to depreciate and
fluctuate, although it was secured by real property. In March, 1854,
the Traders' Bank of Nashville, Ind., was established, with the an-
nounced capital of $100,000, the charter to extend twenty years. The
stock was divided into 1,000 shares of $100 each, and was owned by the
following men: Andrew Wilson, of Indianapolis, 33 4 shares; John
Woolly, of Indianapolis, 333 shares ; L. D. Inglesbee, 333 shares. This
banking enterprise did little more than file and record its articles of
association. Nashville now has no bank.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the township was taught near Hedgesville about
the year 1835, in a rude log cabin that had for a time been occupied by
some family. The name of the teacher cannot be stated. The few
families in that neighborhood sent eight or ten children. It is probable
that school was taught in the David neighborhood about this time, or, as
stated by some, earlier. It is also stated that a few terms of school were
taught, at a very early date, at or near the old Jackson's salt works, in
the western part. In 1840, there were three schoolhouses in the town-
ship— one in the western part, one in the eastern part and one at Nash-
ville. In 1850, there were four schoolhouses ; in 1860, five or six ; in
1870, nine or ten ; and in 1880, twelve. This number gives the town-
ship excellent educational facilities. As early as 1837, the few families
at Nashville erected a log schoolhouse within a few rods of the present
house, in the northwestern part of town. It was built of round logs,
was not larger than 12x16 feet, had poplar poles split for benches, slabs
for desks, and had no window at all. The huge fire-place which oc-
cupied one entire end of the room furnished the only light save what
was occasionally admitted on warm days through the open door. The fire
light was very cheerful and grateful, as the hickory logs snapped and
glowed with heat, and cast a ruddy glow over the whole room. David
Reddick was the first teacher (winter of 1837-38). Children of the
Hoovers, the Dawsons, the Roberts, the Brummets and perhaps others,
went to this first school. Mr. Reddick was a good teacher. He kept
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 781
in the schoolroom a small, curiously forked stick. Any scholar wishing
to leave the room could only do so after getting possession of this
stick, which arrangement prevented two or more from being out at the
same time. John C. Marshall, who taught three or four terms, was the
second teacher. Charles Sipes was probably the third, and John C.
Gould the fourth. It was the custom then to turn the teacher out on
Christmas, and keep him out until he capitulated and treated. The cus-
tom was so universal that scholars demanded the right to do it, and were
upheld by their parents. Christmas came, and Mr. Gould was informed
that he must treat. The scholars refused to come to order when called,
and the teacher refused to treat. After a short time the large boys
forcibly captured the teacher, bound him hand and foot, and carried him
down to Greasy Creek to be severely ducked in the cold water, unless he
surrendered and treated. Several men of the town accompanied this
novel expedition. The stubborn teacher was carried out into the stream
by the large boys, who took oflf their shoes and rolled up their pants and
waded out. A parley was held, but the teacher was obstinate, and was
on the point of being unceremoniously baptised, when W. S. Roberts in-
terceded, and after some sharp words, pro and con, secured from the
teacher a promise to treat to candy and apples. He was released and the
cavalcade marched up to the store, where all were given a taste of the
above-named delicacies. School was then resumed and all went on as
before. This first log schoolhouse was not used longer than about five
years : after that, various buildings, already standing, were used. The
Followell grocery building was thus occupied, Sipes teaching there one or
more terms. The court house was used for the same purpose. Gould
taught there several terms. A man named Roseberry was one of the
first teachers in Nashville, and in the old log court house. The present
schoolhouse in the northwestern part of town, though greatly altered in
appearance and improved, was built about the year 1857. It is said that
Ada Gould was the first teacher in this house. Others were Andrew
Gray, Leonidas Alders, Graham, Luther De Motte, John Metheney and
others. The schoolhouse in the southeastern part was built about fifteen
years ago. The town schools have been partially graded for a number of
years. The present school in the eastern part under Prof. Watts is well
conducted.
CHURCHES.
It is said that a minister named Eckles preached the first sermon at
Nashville in the old log court house, about the year 1837. He did not
succeed in forming a class, however, for a year or two. He stopped at the
tavern kept by P. C. Parker, after the class had been organized. In one
of his sermons he gave the dram-sellers a broadside, which so angered Mr.
Parker, who kept liquor at his bar, that he refused the man of God ad-
mission to his hotel, and the latter was forced to go to Banner Brummet's.
Among the earliest members of the United Brethren class were the fam-
ilies of D. D. Weddel (who was himself a minister or Elder of the church),
W. S. Roberts, Benjamin Chandler, James Watson, Henry Jackson and
others. This old class survived for many years, but did not build a
church. The Methodists also organized a class quite early. It is
probable that Rev. Eli P. Farmer formed the first class. Godfrey Jones,
732 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
of Johnson County, was an early minister of this class. The Goulds,
the Dews and others were early members. The old frame church now
used as a printing oflBce was built about 1848, and was used for almost
everything for many years. The class went down about war time over
the slavery question, and was not revived as such. A few years ago, a
Methodist class South was organized by Revs. Branstutter and Hunter.
In about 1878, the present church was built at a cost of about |1,500, J.
C. Hester alone giving $500 and guaranteeing that full payment for the
house should be made. Among the first members were J. C. Hester and
family, J. L. Dew and family, W. W. Browning and family, Eliakim
Hamblen and family, Isaac Chafin and family. Widow Jackson, Dr. C.
T. Taggart and family, M. B. Jackson and family, Mrs. Frank P. Tag-
gart, Solomon Lawver and wife, Dr. M. E. Phillips and family, Mrs.
Gibson, Mrs. Hannah Stone and others. The ministers of the new class
South have been Revs. Hunter, Taylor, Felkner, , Hunter, Savage
and the present pastor, Mr. Jackson. The church is in a prosperous con-
dition. In 1879, the Presbyterian class was organized, and among the
first members were G. W. Allison, T. D. Calvin, W. L. Cox, Charles
Gibson, R. L. Cofiey, John Deitz, John Allison, Henry Voland, Harvey
Bay, T. H. McLashon and their families. The frame church was built in
1882, at a cost of about $1,600. The ministers have been Revs. Wood,
Larimore and the present pastor, who is serving as a supply, Elder
Demaree. The Presbyterian Sunday School was organized in the spring
of 1883, T. D. Calvin being the first Superintendent. The average at-
tendance is about fifty.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
THE GOLD DEPOSITS.
THE natural features of Jackson Township are too unusual and
important to be passed over with only a cursory notice. It may be
stated in general that the high ridge extending across the county east
and west, just south of the general course of Bean Blossom Creek, formed
the wall against which the masses of ice from the north during the gla-
cial era of the world's history, piled themselves, unable to move farther
south except in small quantities, which escaped through gaps in the
ridge. Here, then, in the valley of the creek, are the remains of what
the ice transported from British America. Here is where the great ice
glaciers were stopped and were melted by the recurring summer's sun,
and were forced to deposit their loads of Canadian soil and rocks. The
fact that south of this ridge the drift is rarely, if ever, found, proves the
ridge to have been the southern limit of the enormous masses of ice. All
over the northern slope of the ridge and throughout the valley of Bean
Blossom Creek are large quantities of the remains of the Laurentian Hills
of British America — greenstone, quartzite, quartz, magnetite, gold, etc.
But the township has valuable native minerals as well. There are rich
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 783
beds of limestone and sandstone, and large quantities of geodes from the
Keokuk beds, which have been left from the destruction of the rocks.
The surface soil of the creek valley is composed of the rich debris of the
native rocks, washed down the hillsides through long periods of years,
and mingled with the warmer sands and clays from the glacial drift.
The geodes locally known as " nigger-heads " are very abundant on Bear
Creek, and are usually roughly mammalated and homely, but filled with
variously tinted or pellucid crystals of silica, with occasional beautiful
specimens of calcspar and sulphuret of iron and zinc. At the old " gold
placer " of John Richards, on Bear Creek, several of them are geodized
fossils of the genera Zaphrentis, Bellerophon, Groniatites and Nautilus.
The valley of Bean Blossom Creek was, doubtless, at one time, much
deeper than at present, having been filled up with washings from the
adjacent elevations. It is probable that at some future time, borings or
excavations in the valley will be rewarded with paying quantities of gold
found mingled with the famous black sand or magnetite brought by the
ice from the Canadian highlands. Occasional pebbles of Canadian white
quartz, containing bright particles of pure gold, are found in the creek
valley. Gold has been known to exist in the county and in Jackson
Township for many years, and persons ignorant of the geologic forma-
tions have vainly supposed that there was no end in quantity to the valu-
able mineral. It may be stated that while gold may continue to be
found, even in paying quantities, at certain lucky " placers," continuous
quantities are not present, and need not be sought. The gold does not
belong here. It was brought from Canada and deposited by the ice
thousands of years ago. Numerous gold excitements, growing out of
some lucky discoveries, have occurred in the past, during which time
companies were formed, leases were bought, sluice-ways were constructed,
and long-toms and rockers prepared. The companies did not average in
gold more than 25 cents per day. On the contrary, single individuals
of California experience, by careful selection of location, have " panned
out " from $1 to $2 per day. The most valuable nugget found was
worth about $1.10. It is probable that the best pay dirt lies at
the deepest part of the trough of the creek valley. Bores would
establish this line ; then, by shafting, the richest dirt may be brought
to the surface. The following estimate of gold found in Jackson Town-
ship has been made :
Richard's farm and adjoining $400
Plum Creek 100
Lick Creek 1-50
Christopher Stumps, Georgetown 500
Bean Blossom Creek 800
Total $1,950
The little village of Needmore, situated in the southwestern part of
the township, on the Bean Blossom Ridge, rests upon a bench of modified
drift. Here it was that the ice overreached the ridge and scalped the
original or native deposits of rock, and permitted the glaciers to partially
pass over and rest upon the bench where the village stands. Hence there
are scattered all around the remains of the drift — bowlders of quartz, quartz-
ite, granite and black sand, or magnetite containing gold and a suf^cient
734 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
quantity of garnet "that a bushel may be panned out in a day." Fine
specimens of sulphuret of zinc, sulphuret of iron and calcspar are often
found. At Baughman's Hill, on Section 9, Township 9 north. Range 2
east, the geologic formation is as follows :
Surface soil, yellow loess 12 feet.
Keokuk limestone, with geodes, and chert containing Hemi-
pronites crenistria, Productus semi-reticulatus, and crin-
oidal stems 8 feet.
Sandstone 2 feet.
Knob shales with plates and band of sandstone 230 feet.
Quarry knob sandstone to water level 4 feet.
Total 256 feet.
DRAINAGE, ETC.
The township has all varieties of soil and scenery. Orchards of
peaches are numerous on the hill-tops, and are quite sure and productive.
Other fruits are numerous, large and fine. The township is covered with
a valuable growth of native forestry, and sends abroad annually large
quantities of staves, hoop poles, etc. Three-fourths of the township are
drained by Bean Blossom Creek and its branches — Bear, Brier, Lick,
Opossum and Plum. The two tiers of sections on the south are drained
by Owl, Jackson and other branches of Salt Creek.
FORMATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
On the 1st of March, 1825, the three tiers of sections on the west
side of the present townships of Jackson and Washington, as far south as
the line dividing Townships 8 and 9 north, were made a part of the town-
ship of Jackson, created in Monroe County, of which that much of
Brown County was then a part. An election of two Justices of the Peace
was ordered held at the house of Banner Brummet, on the last Saturday
in April, 1825, with Elias Swift, Inspector. This election was held, but
the results cannot be given, except that Banner Brummet was elected
Justice of the Peace, and served as one of the Board of Justices of Mon-
roe County. In January, 1826, Henry Kendall was appointed Inspector
of Elections in Jackson Township ; Banner Brummet and James Brum-
met, Overseers of the Poor ; John Young and John Hensley, Pence
Viewers. The greater portion of this Jackson Township was in the pres-
ent Monroe County — five tiers of sections, while only three were in the
present Brown County. When Brown County was created in 1836, and
formed into townships, the old name — Jackson — was kept for the town-
ship in the northwest part of the county, leaving Monroe County without
any Jackson Township. The original boundary of the Jackson Town-
ship of Brown County will be found elsewhere. It took in all of the
present township together with two tiers more of sections on the south,
and included within its limits Jacksonburg, the county seat, the name
being taken from the name of the township, in accordance with the sug-
gestion of Banner Brummet. The township took its name from the old
township which had been named in honor of Gen. Jackson, the hero
of New Orleans. The August election in the new township of 1836
was ordered held at the house of James Da^vson. This was true also of
Johnson Township. The September elections were ordered held at the
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 735
house of Simon Weatherman. Ira Wilson was appointed Inspector of
both elections. The Justices of the Peace elected prior to 1846 will be
found in another chapter. Early in 1837, the township of Washington
was created, which took from Jackson the two tiers of sections on the
south, and removed beyond its limits the county seat. William Snyder
assessed Jackson in 1836. William Murphy and John Hubbard were
the first Overseers of the Poor. John Jackson was the first Constable, but
within a month or two it was found necessary to have two, and Ben Brum-
met was appointed in September, 1836. In December, 1836, elections
were ordered held at the house where Silas Young formerly lived, and
March, 1837, at Georgetown, where they continued to be held for some
time. At the first meeting of the County Board, in 1836, a district was
established on the ''Jackson's Licks & Martinsville road," to extend
from the Licks northward to Bear Creek, and William Davidson was ap-
pointed Superintendent, and the following " hands " living along or near
the road were ordered to report to him for work : Samuel Pogue, Israel
Mullinix, Joseph Parks, William Robertson, Robert Robertson, Shadrach
Robertson, Pleasant Robertson, William Robertson, Jr., Abram Wooden,
Michael Fleener, Aaron Fleener and Henry Young. The southern part
of this road district was in Washington Township. D. D. Weddel was
the Township Assessor in 1837. John Prosser and D. D. Weddel were
Overseers of the Poor in 1838 ; John Harris and Christopher Stump,
Fence Viewers ; S. Robertson, Inspector. In 1839, Chris Stump was
Inspector ; Michael Tomey and William Dunaway, Overseers of the Poor ;
John D. Kennedy and Robert Robertson, Fence Viewers. John Richards
assessed Jackson Township in 1840, and Michael Tomey in 1841.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The Youngs and the Fleeners were among the very first in the
township. Several families had lived on the creek as early as 1823 or
1824, and about this time the first permanent settlements were formed.
James A. Baker was an early settler, as was also one or two of the Wed-
dels, John Hubbard, the Robertsons, John David, John Richards, and
others. By 1830, not less than eleven or twelve families lived in the
township in rude round-log cabins. Bear Creek took its name from the
great number of bears which could be found along its course. When
pursued by hunters in surrounding localities, these animals made a bee
line for the ravines and heavy woods along Bear Creek. The following
comprises all the early entries of land in the township and includes the
names of many of the earliest settlers and most prominent families. The
descendants are scattered all through the hills and ravines where their
grandfathers first squatted forty and fifty years ago. The following were
the entries in Township 10 north, Range 2 east. Section 1 — James
Pratt, 1839; William Fesler, 1837 ; J. M. Williams, 1837 ; John Fesler,
1837 ; Section 2— William Marcum, 1837 ; Sampson Coatney, 1838 ;
Jacob Fleener, 1835; Section 3— Preston Doty, 1839; A. B. Kelso,
1841; Samuel Fleener, 1837; John Lake, 1839; Section 8— Daniel
Thomas, 1837; Section 10— Joseph Anderson, 1839; C. H. Hill, 1844;
J. W. Baker, 1845 ; John Harris, 1839 ; Evan Reynolds, 1840 ; Samuel
Fleener, Jr., 1838; Section 11 — Dolly Hickman, 1843; Nancy Conatsey,
736 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
1839 ; Fred Goings, 1841; Jerry Harrel, 1837; John Morgan, 1840 ; W.
B. Harris, 1837; Alexander Groten, 1836 ; Section 12— Peter Oben-
chain, 1837; William Fesler, 1837; T. J. Obenchain, 1839 ; Elizabeth
Fesler, 1839; James P. Abbey, 18'43; Section 13— Lewis Brummet,
1839; Jerry Davidson, 1837; Charles McGinley, 1837; Allen S.Ander-
son, 1837 ; John C. Gould, 1843 ; Sarah Anderson, 1839 ; Raleigh Rains,
1837 ; Gillis Hitch, 1840; Section 14— Z. Fairrie, 1839; Section 15—
Alfred Hicks, 1837; James A. Baker, 1833 ; Section 17— Daniel Thom-
as, 1837; Harvey Young. 1837; Thompson Weddel, 1833; Thomas W.
Weddel, 1836 ; Section^l8—D. D. Weddel, 1837 ; Section 19— John
Hubbard, 1832 ; Stephen Richards, 1837 ; Section 20— David Weddel,
1836; Section 21— Curtis Morris, 1839; William Hodgin, 1839;
Section 22— Henry Gratner, Jr., 1836; Willis Earles, 1837; J. A.
Lockridge, 1837; Elijah Long, 1840; Section 23— Owen Barker,
1837 ; Silas Smith, 1837 ; William Shannon, 1840 ; Christian Hesse,
1837 ; Jerry Harrell, 1837 ; Section 24— John Harris, 1836 ; AlexEvans,
1838 ; M. Melden, 1836 ; Thomas King, 1838 ; William Day, 1841 ; G.
M. Sparks, 1837; Jesse Ritter, 1835; G. B. Myers, 1839; John
True, 1837; Joseph Robertson, 1835; Section 25 — Joseph Dunlap,
1837; Jesse Carr, 1837; John Brooks, 1836; Isaac Prosser, 1837;
Michael Tworaey, 1837; Arthur Mulekin, 1838; Shad Robertson, 1835 ;
William Dunamby, 1836 ; John Maxwell, 1836 ; Section 26— Thomas
M. Adams, 1836 ; Caleb Cane, 1839 ; Thomas Golyear, 1837; David
Rousseau, 1837; Thomas Dunaway, 1836 ; Elijah Long, 1837; John
Cartright, 1837; James Niles, 1839 ; Section 27— Joshua Boles, 1837;
Daniel Laughbough, 1841 ; Mary Myers, 1839 ; Nancy Myers, 1836 ; P.
I. Pearce, 1837; Catharine Neidigh, 1839; William Hodgin, 1839; John
Neidigh, 1839 ; J. A. Lockridge, 1887 ; Section 28— John Roach,
1839 ; Christopher Baker, 1837; Joseph Rank, 1841 ; Jacob Daggy,
1838 ; Daniel Branstutter, 1840 ; Section 29— Silas Young, 1833 ;
Hugh McClary, 1839 ; Thompson Weddel, 1839; John Richards, 1834 ;
John David, 1832 ; Arnold Helton, 1837 ; Section 30— John Richards,
1833; L. W. David. 1839; John Home, 1837; Christopher Baker, 1837;
Section 31— Samuel Dunn, 1836 ; John D. Faghner, 1841 ; Section
32— Alexander Neidigh, 1839 ; Michael Branstutter, 1842 ; W. B.
Slaybough, Isaac Robertson, 1841 ; Charles Neidigh, 1839 ; Section
33— Arnold Helten, 1887; Christopher Baker, 1839 ; James Mitchell,
1834 ; Section 34— J. H. Blackbower, 1837 ; Samuel Lockridge, 1837 ;
Wm. W. Hornish, 1839; Section 35— William Kennedy, 1839; W. P.
Twomey, 1837; Catharine Stump, 1837; Christopher Stump, 1836 ;
Section 36 — William Dunaway, 1836 ; Israel Weeks, 1836 ; William
Snider, 1836; John Adams, 1836 ; Merinda Kesterson, 1833; George
Snider, 1887. Township 9 north. Range 2 east; Section 4 — G. W.
Snyder, 1844 ; Section 5 — Lazarus Robertson, 1837; Robert Robert-
son, 1837; Section 6— Charles Neidigh, 1839; Section 9— John
Fleener, 1848; W. W. Cotton, 1839. Township 9 north. Range 3
east; Section 7 — Jackson Woods, 1844; John Knox, 1839 ; Banner
C. Brummet, 1837. Township 10 north. Range 3 east; Section 6 —
James Terhune, 1836; Paulina Demott, 1838 ; Garret Terhune, 1889 ;
Section 7— John Cox, 1836 ; Garret Terhune, 1838 ; W. R. Hunt,
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 737
1838, M. Boaz, 1843 ; Owen Barker, 1837 ; Section 18— Chris. Long,
1836; Lewis Brummet, 1837; Hezekiah McKinney, 1836; Joshua
Brummet, 1835 ; Henry Bates, 1836 ; Owen Barker, 1837 ; Griffith
Davidson, 1835 ; Section 19 — Joshua Brummet, 1835; Calvin Moser,
18o9; George Grove, 1835; S. M. Gillaspy, 1837; William Owens,
1836; Section 30— John Conner, 1837; George King, 1839; John
Gillaspy, 1836; George Burkhardt, 1839; M. B. Weddel, 1837;
William Nickerman, 1838 : Henry Taylor, 1836 ; John D. Kennedy,
1839; J. B. Hornish, 1837; William Snider, 1833; Section 31— C. L.
Hesse, 1837 ; John Prosser, 1837 ; Abe Prosser, 1837 ; John Barnhill,
1837.
HISTORICAL ITEMS.
Probably the first marriage in the township was that of Jesse Rich-
ards and Anna Grove, in November, 1836, by Jonathan Watson, Justice
of the Peace. Charles Smith and Irenah King were married by Rev.
Jerry King in 1836 also. This is said to have been the first. The
Youngs built a horse mill in the western part at an early day, where a
fair article of fiour and excellent, coarse meal could be secured. It was
quite well patronized. Christ. Stump's water mill, built on Bean Blos-
som, about two miles west of Georgetown, not far from the year 1848,
supplied the region around for many years. A saw mill was connected
with it and the two were operated several years. The old George Grove
Mill was built as early as 1835, and was operated about ten years. It
was operated by horse power.
GEORGETOWN.
George Grove was probably the first man to live at this village. H.
was there as early as 1833, and very likely several years before.
He founded the village which took its title from his given name. James
Dawson lived there very early before he moved down into Washington
Township. Adams & Kennedy opened the first store there in 1836,
having about $1,500 worth of variety merchandise. Brooks was an early
resident. William Snider came there not far from 1835, and for many
years was the leading man in business. Mcllhenny moved there in 1837,
and Thomas Waltman soon afterward. William Murphy was another
early resident. In about 1839, Jacob McNeeley erected a large tannery
there. He sunk between forty and fifty vats, and manufactured leather
on a large scale for that early day. His buckskin was well known in
Eastern markets. The tannery was conducted until about 1848, and was
abandoned after his death, by lightning. A man named Nordyke also
conducted an early tannery there. Cooper & Becket were merchants
about 1839. W. W. Baker sold liquor as early as 1837. Samuel Law-
rence followed suit a year later, and Daniel Parsley trumped them both
about the same time. Charles and George McLish opened a store in
1840, with a general stock worth, $4,000 ; they sold liquor, groceries and
merchandise, and paid a license of $25 per year. Robert Mcllhenny
also started a small store in 1839, continuing to about 1841. T. and R.
Pugh were merchants in 1846. John R. Davis opened with $1,000
worth in 1842. William Snider began merchandising in 1847. Robert
Mcllhenny sold goods in 1850 and onward, William Banta was in later
738 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
and also Samples, Peoples & Co. The Watermans have long been in
business there, and are yet doing well. The Staples jewelry establish-
ment has long been an important industry there. All kinds of repairs in
gold and silver are turned out, and gold, silver and nickel spectacles and
silverware are manufactured. The village had a newspaper a few years
ago, edited by A. S. Helm. It also has a couple of lawyers, Waltman &
Cooper. A fine grist mill was built by the Waltmans a few years ago.
It is now in excellent shape and has a liberal patronage. The population
of the village is about 100.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
So far as can be learned, the first school in Jackson Township was
taught at Georgetown about the year 1838, by John C. Marshall. A
log building was erected there about that time to serve the double duty of a
church and schoolhouse — in fact it was used for everything of a public
nature. Traveling small shows exhibited there, and various and all
denominations of religion were entitled to use it. Marshall was a good
teacher for that early day. He had received a fair education, but the
greatest value he possessed as a teacher was in his muscle and sand. The
big boys (and boys were big then), found in him a "master" of the
typical character. He taught in many places throughout the county.
The second school is said to have been taught in the Anderson neighbor-
hood, probably by a man named Rice, and the third down the creek near
the Richard farm. In 1845 there were three or four school districts, and
in 1860 about ten. Now there are fourteen. Rev. Eli P. Farmer, an
earnest Methodist from near Bloomington, preached the first sermon in
the old log building referred to in about the year 1838, possibly 1837.
Godfrey Jones was another early preacher of the same persuasion. These
men formed a small class of the Kennedys, the Walkers and others.
Rev. Aaron Farmer, of the United Brethren Church, preached there in
1838, and afterward organized a small class. The Presbyterians started
up there later, and finally built their church, which is yet standing.
NEEDMORE.
This little village, in the southwestern part, is of recent origin. A
post ofiice was first established there and a store. At last a blacksmith
appeared, and other houses were built, and finally another store was
started, and now there are three or four, and the village has a population
of probably 100.
HORSE RACES.
Georgetown was a famous place for horse races in early years, as there
was a long level tract of ground there. William Snider, Matthew
Mathis, Edward David, the Brummets, the Grahams and others in all
parts of the county, owned fast horses and would assemble on a given day
to test the merits of their animals. Of course, whisky cut an important
figure at these gatherings. Betting on horses was carried to an extrava-
gant extreme very often.
POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1848.
Allen S. Anderson, M. B. Anderson, James P. Abbey, Charles G.
Adams, Levi B. Anders, William Adkins, Jacob Baughman, Owen Bar-
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP. 739
ker, William Bowman, Lewis Brummet, Henry Brock, Daniel Branstutter,
Isaac Bolt, A. G. Bergen, Banner C. Brummet, William Barker, William
Brummet, James Blasingen, Robert Blain, John B. Baker, Benjamin
Boles, Michael Branstutter, R. S. Brummet, John J, Cain, Caleb Crane,
William Crane, Norflet Dolsberry, John David, James Daggy, Samuel
Daggy, Thomas Dunaway, John Donelson, L. H. David, Felix C. Dunn,
Aaron Fleener, Jacob Fleener, George Followell, Milton Fleener, Fred-
erick Fleener, Jackson Fleener, Abraham Fleener, Austin Franklin,
Cornelius Followell, William Fusselman, George Fusselman, Frederick
Goings, W. A. Guinn, W. P. Holman, Daniel Houtz, Alfred Hicks,
W. B. Harris, John Harris, John Hitch, Alexander Jenkins, David
Kessel, A. B. Kelso, John Knox, Thomas Kemp, James Kemp, B. R.
Kelley, G. W. Lambert, Elijah Long, Samuel Lockridge, Christopher
Long, Andrew Long, Calvin Moser. H. A. McClary, William Murphy,
William Marcum, Elisha Marcum, John Mooney, Robert Mcllhenny,
William McCoy, James McCoy, William Murphy, John D. McClary,
Samuel Marshall, John C. Marshall, James Martin, George Morgan,
Zedekiah Morgan, John Neidigh, Alexander Neidigh, Abraham Neidigh,
Elias Nail, Isaac Neal, Nathan Pruitt, Lewis Prosser, John Prosser,
James Prosser, Isaac Prosser, A. M. Proctor, John Richard, Thomas
Ross, Isaac Robertson, Joseph Robertson, Sr., Joseph Robertson, Jr.,
W. R. Robertson, Claiborne Robertson, Jesse Ritter, Thomas Swift, Will-
iam Shannon, Robert Shannon, Harmon Snider, Calvin Skinner, Will-
iam Snider, Alexander Shannon, Jacob Stephens, Stafford Smith,
George M. Sparks, William Stone, William Taylor, Daniel Thomas,
James Terhune, William Terhune, Michael Tomey, William Tuttle,
George Tultro, Michael Waltman, V. H. Watson, David A. Wallace,
Ephraim Ward, Daniel Weddel, Abraham Wooden, Theodore Whitney,
David D. Weddel, W. E. Weddel, Samuel White and Aaron Zook. The
heaviest tax payers were Allen S. Anderson, $9.01 ; Owen Barker, $7.25;
Daniel Branstutter, $7.87; A. G. Bergen, $1L65 ; W. P. Holtman,
$7.53; John Hitch, $9.86; David Kissel, $6.36; Elijah Long, $8.11;
Samuel Lockridge, $9.56; Calvin Moser, $6.79; Hugh A. McLary,
$8.95 ; T. & R. Pugh, $8.80; John Richards, $8.12 ; Christopher Stump.
$7.03 ; William Snider, $30.12 ; total number of polls, 127 ; total acres,
12,653.92; value of land, $29,912; value of improvements, $22,230;
value of lots, $1,010 ; value of personal property, $21,198 ;
total value of taxables, $74,350 ; total tax, $651.77 ; delinquent tax
and interest, $147.25 ; total tax, $799.02.
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP.
NATURAL WEALTH.
THIS is one of the most valuable sections of Brown County. It
was earlier settled by numbers than any other portion, and that too,
by a class whose courage and industry were only surpassed by their cordial
though homely hospitality. Many of the earliest came from Johnson
County, where they had located at a still earlier date, coming largely from
740 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
the Southern States, originally. The rich valley of Upper Bean Blossom
possessed too many inviting features to be passed by by home seekers.
The hills were clothed in fine raiment of poplar, hickory, maple, white,
black and chestnut oak, walnut, cherry, elm, sycamore, sassafras; and
the luxuriant verdure in open glades revealed the fertility of the soil.
And the judgment of the fathers was wise. In the southwest were the
vast deposits from the glaciers of pre-historic times. Here the rich wash-
ings from the adjacent hills had been freely mingled with the warm sands
and loams of the drift beds, and here were the deposits of magnetite,
quartz, bowlders, jasper and gold from the Laurentian Rocks of Canada.
In this portion of the township has since been found probably $2,000
worth of gold, occuring with but little or no alloy. Both North Salt
Creek and South Bean Blossom rise in the northern part, not far apart,
and both flow southward within a mile and a half of each other. In the
northeast corner is Saddle Creek which flows eastward, and belongs to
another river system. High ridges with spurs along their sides occur
throughout the township. The stone is not as valuable as in other parts
of the county. The following is the formation a short distance east of
Georgetown :
Alluvial soil 1 to 2 feet.
Loess 10 to 50 feet.
Polishing sands 0 to 1 foot.
White potter's clay, apparently of excellent quality 2 to 4 feet.
Modified glacial drift with black sand, gold, etc 25 feet.
Indurated tough dark clay, silt to creek, more than 12 feet. •
Total 94 feet.
THE WHITE SETTLEMENT.
It is next to impossible to name the first settler of this township. It
was one of the first to be visited of Brown County. The older counties
over east — Johnson and Bartholomew — were settled early in their west-
ern parts, and the settlement was extended westward into Hamblen Town-
ship. It is quite certain that the first settlers appeared as early as the year
1820, and by 1824 there were probably ten or twelve families, if not
more, living within the present limits of the township. The township in
about 1830 was attached by Legislative enactment to Johnson County
and remained a part of the same until the creation of Brown County in
1836. Upon its creation Hamblen extended two miles farther south,
but the township of Washington was created a few months afterward, as
will be seen in another part of this work, thus taking away two tiers of
sections on the south, and leaving the territory as it is at present. The
first election was held at the residence of James Taggart, and continued
afterward to be held there. Mr. Taggart was the first Township Assessor,
Daniel King and Cornelius Kirts were the first Overseers of the Poor.
Taggart was paid $5 for assessing the township. William King was the
first Constable. Taggart also assessed the township in 1837. In 1837,
the place of election was changed to the house ot Wiley Guy. In 1838,
Eliakim Hamblen and Abraham Chappel were Overseers of the Poor.
Jacob Walker and John Maxwell, Fence Viewers ; David King, Inspector.
King was yet Constable. James Taggart was Assessor in 1840, also in
1841. In 1841, Mr. Taggart killed an old wolf near his house, and sue-
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP. 741
ceeded in finding her five young ones. He took the six scalps to the
County Auditor and received county orders to the amount of $3.50.
The township took its name from Jesse Hamblen, not because he was
the first settler, because he was not, but because he was a prominent man
and had much to do with early public affairs. This accounts for the
peculiar spelling of the name of the township, it being the same as the
family name. In 1840, Wiley Guy and C. W. Tucker were Overseers of
the Poor ; Conrad Kirts and Benjamin Pitcher, Fence Viewers. The
Road Supervisors at this time were Jesse Hamblen, Preston Goforth, and
James Parks. Henry Stivers and Sarah Harris were married by L. F.
Raper, Associate Judge, on the 29th of July, 1836. Elijah Curry and
Mary Richards were married by James Taggart, Justice of the Peace, Sep-
tember 15, 183(5. G. M. Parks and Elizabeth Harris were married by
Squire Taggart, October 30, 1836. Cornelius Tucker and Mary Ham-
blen were married January 19, 1837 by William Taggart, Justice of the
Peace. Conrad Kirts and Jane Rariden were bound in Hymen's chains,
by Squire Watson, April 20, 1837. In 1886, on the old Sparks Ferry
road, from the creek at Owen Simpson's to Sections 13 and 14, Pleasant W.
Weddel was Superintendent, and was given the following hands. Archi-
bald Taylor, John King, James Kirts, William King, Isaac King, Jesse
Hamblen, Pleasant Hamblen, Owen Simpson, William Taggart, John
Brown, Jesse Brown, William Taylor, Henry Taylor, James Taggart,
Mordeica Weddel, Thomas Taylor, Preston Goforth, Abraham Chapel,
James Weddel, Elias Weddel and Eliakim Hamblen. On the same road,
from Sections 13 and 14 north to the Johnson County line, James Walker
was appointed Superintendent, with the following hands : Ed Duncan,
Isaac Bell, John Conner, Benjamin Pitcher, Levi Petro, Jonathan
Watson, Willis Rowden, Harrison Stivers, John Gibson, Luther Calvin,
William Campbell, John Terhune, Charles Bolt, George White, William
Spears, Sandy Walker, Zephaniah Walker, Wiley Guy, Moses Thorp,
John Rariden and Josiah Goodwine.
ENTRIES OF LAND.
Township 9 north. Range 3 east; Section 1 — Pleasant G. Weddel,
18-33 ; Robert Millsop, 1833 ; James Taggart, 1834 ; Section 11— Jesse
Brown, 1836 ; John Brown, 1835 ; James Taggart, 1839 ; Jonathan
Fox, 1836 ; Thomas Brown, 1834. Township 10 north. Range 3 east.
Section 1— Abraham Martin, 1837 ; H. Wyatt, 1836 ; Dawson Walker,
1839 ; John Peterson, 1836 ; M. H. Lancaster, 1837 ; Humphrey
Wells, 1836 ; Thomas McClary, 1837 ; Elizabeth Duncan, 1837 ; Sec-
tion 2— S. Welch, 1837; John Wells, 1837; John Buttram, 1839;
Isaac Bell, 1837 ; Avery Chase, 1838 ; John Frad, 1836 ; Stephen El-
der, 1836; Andrew Raymon, 1839; Section 8— Luther Calvin, 1831 ;
John Calvin, 1839 ; James Calvin, 1836 ; James Culley, 1835 ; Elisha
Mathis, 1836 ; Melinda Pritchard, 1836 ; John Harris, 1833 ; Section
4— Maj. Mitchell. 1836 ; David Zook, 1837; Isaac Holman, 1839 ; Idy
Terhune, 1838 ; Isaac Walker, 1838 ; James Newill, 1836 ; W. J. Hogg,
1837 ; John Terhune, 1836 ; James Culley, 1836 ; Pat Keefe, 1837 ;
William Culley, 1837 ; Section 5— John Culley, 1836; John and Timo-
thy Grifiith, 1839 ; Henry Goodpasture, 1836 ; Jonathan Porter, 1837 ;
742 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Garrett Terhune, 1838; Edward Allen, 1837; Richard Bowling, 1836;
Section 8 — Jerry Graham, 1839; Jonathan Porter, 1837; David Park-
hurst, 1836; John Cox, 1836; Gideon Stephens, 1839; Section 9—
William Keaton, 1837 ; Henry Admire, 1837 ; John Varris, 1836 ; A.
B. Debord, 1838 ; Jacob Barret, 1837 ; John Graham, 1836 ; J. T.
Tucker, 1836; Mark Mitchell, 1836; Section 10— Peter Handy, 1839;
William Shears, 1837 ; John Lemon, 1837 ; William Keaton, 1837 ;
James Wallser, 1837 ; Jacob Barnett, 1837 ; Section 11 — George Sparks,
1837 ; Andrew Raymon, 1839 ; Pat Smith, 1841 ; W. W. Cotton, 1836 ;
Harrison Stephens, 1837 ; Section 12 — Abe Martin, 1837 ; Thomas
McClung, 1837 ; Thomas Bowles, 1839 ; Robert McClung, 1837 ; Sec-
tion 13— Thomas Milliken, 1837 ; George Smith, 1839 ; Section 14— M.
H. Lancaster, 1837; Benjamin Pitchen, 1835; James Stewart, 1833;
Samuel Walker, 1838 ; Levi Petro, 1834 ; John Connor, 1834 ; Section
15_WilIiam Hodgin, 1839 ; William Kennedy, 1836 ; George White,
1833 ; Charles Bolt, 1836 ; James Bolt, 1833 ; Ed Duncan, 1843 ; Sec-
tion 17— David Parkhurst, 1836 ; Fountain Devore, 1836 ; John Grat-
ner, 1838; Ezekiel Parkhurst, 1837; William Murphy, 1835; Section
20— William Phillips, 1837; Josiah Goodwine, 1833; Thomas M.
Adams, 1839; Jesse Richards, 1837; Section 21-^P. Wilkins, 1836:
Jonathan Watson, 1836 ; Michael Richards, 1835 ; Thomas Kennedy,
1837 ; Section 22— Caleb Kennet, George White, 1833 ; Stephen De-
bord, 1838 ; Franklin Walker, 1834 ; S. B. Walker, 1836 ; Moses
Tharp, 1838 ; Section 23— John H. Smith, 1838 ; Charles Walker, Jr.,
December 24, 1829 ; Samuel Walker, 1833 ; Henry Burton, 1842 ; Sec-
tion 24 — Joseph Spangler, 1839 ; John Mcllvain, 1840 ; Section 25 —
W. N. Taylor, 1836 ; Ransom Smith, 1839 ; Section 26— Wiley Guy,
1834; Conrad Kirts, 1834; William Chappel, 1837; Abe Chappel,
1834 ; E. W. Curry, 1836 ; Robert Lingo, 1841 ; Section 27— Stephen
Debord, 1838 ; Preston Goforth, 1839 ; Moses Tharp, 1834 ; James
Kirts, 1836; Section 28 — Preston Goforth, 1835; Jonathan Watson
1837; John McDaniel, 1837; John Adams, 1836; Gorge Burkhart,
1839; S. B. Walker, 1836 ; Curtis Maris, 1839; John Hyatt, 1839
Joshua Richardson, 1837 ; Section 29 — Isaac Crum, 1839 ; George
Smith, 1834; John and Abe Prosser, 1839; William Hesse, 1837
Charles L. Hesse, 1837 ; Section 32— Robert McClung, 1837 ; Thomas
Waltman, 1837 ; Section 33— Elias Weddel, 1836; S. S. Parsley, 1837
William Kennedy, 1839; Section 34— Curtis Maris, 1839; William
Hodgin, 1839 ; Section 35— Eliakim Hamblen, 1834 ; Pleasant Hamb
len, 1836 ; Christopher Stump, 1834; Section 36 — James Taggart, No
vember 15, 1828 ; Samuel Smith, 1834 ; M. B. Weddel, 1834. Town
ship 10 north. Range 4 east. Section 4 — Charles Walker, 1836 ; Henry
Mowery, 1837 ; Elijah McEndree, 1838 ; Richard Lewis, 1836 ; Joseph
Wheaton, 1837 ; Benjamin Phillips, 1837 ; William Wells, 1837 ; Zeph
W. Baker, 1839 ; William Skidmore, 1836 ; George Botchford, 1837 ;
John Wheaton, 1837 ; Section 5— Solomon Hicks, 1839 ; William Gil-
laspy, 1839; William Handy, 1839; Section 6— J. S. Rutherford,
1839 ; J. H. Smith, 1838 ; Leah Martin, 1834 ; Edward Duncan, 1834 ;
William Duncan, 1836 ; Section 7— Elijah Bolander, 1839 ; Joseph Mc-
Nichol, 1839 ; James Martin, 1836 ; Section 8— Sydney Hanks, 1836 ;
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP. 743
W. W. Lyon, 1841 ; Section 9 — Aaron Hendrickson, 1838 ; Benjamin
Harris, 1889 ; Fred Storch, 1839 ; Samuel Lewis, 1839 ; Sydney Hanks,
1836 ; Section 17— George Smith, 1839 ; Section 18— Abraham Mar-
tin, 1837 ; Section 19 — Joseph Spangler, 1839 ; Section 20 (for schools) ;
Section 21 — Joseph Anderson, 1837 ; J. R. Smith, 1837 ; Jacob Moxey,
1837 ; Section 28— Bennet Cardry, 1840 ; Section 31— Jesse Hamblen,
1837 ; Patrick Sullivan, 1829 ; James Taggart, Sr., 1834 ; Section 32—
Daniel King, 1834 ; Section 33— Abe Waltz, 1840. This l;st includes
many of the old settlers.
INDUSTRIES, INCIDENTS, ETC.
It is said the first mill in the county was built on Salt Creek, in this
township, as early as 1827 by a man whose name is not remembered. It
ceased running about 1835. Eliakim Hamblen built a water mill in about
1838, placing therein a good set of buhrs. He ground considerable grain
for about six years. Thomas Waltman built a water saw mill a short
distance east of Georgetown at an early day and operated it a few years.
William Taylor built a water grist mill on Bean Blossom, also at an early
day, and, it is said, continued it about five years. Scores of wolves were
killed in the township in early years, the incentive being threefold: 1.
The sport ; 2. To rid the country of the pests ; 3. To get the bounty
oiFered by the County Board. Many bears have been killed in the town-
ship. The dogs of Eliakim Hamblen one day treed a bear, and Mr. Ham-
blen shot it from the tree. It was not killed by the shot or the fall, and
sprang up to ran off, but was pounced upon by the dogs. In its efforts to
get away, it ran over Mr. Hamblen, knocking him down. The animal
was finally killed. The Kennedy corn-field had suffered from the depreda-
tions of a bear, and young Stephen thought next night he would get up a
tree and watch Mr. Bruin. The animal duly appeared for another feast
on the green corn, but the boy was so scared that he called the dogs.
Away the bear went with the dogs in pursuit. The pursuit could be
heard all the remainder of that night, the deep baying of the hounds
reaching a distance of over five miles. The next day the bear was shot
near Needmore by Lloyd Brummet. Eliakim Hamblen went to a dear
lick one night to get some fresh vension. After waiting some time he saw
a panther approaching through the bushes, and, when close enough, he
shot the animal dead. Log rollings and house or barn raisings were
made very interesting in early years by the presence of many hardy men,
plenty of whisky, and many handsome women, who gathered to do the
cooking. Thomas McAdams, of Iowa, had this to say in 1878 of an
incident which occurred in Hamblen Township :
" It was common in those days, upon the arrival of a new-comer, to
ascertain at once whether he had sand in his craw. To illustrate this, I
will relate a circumstanc^e which took place under my own eyes. The settle-
ments on Bean Blossom and Salt Creeks were sparse at that time, and it
was no uncommon thing for persons to go ten or twelve miles to a house-
raising in 1837-38. The Prosser families moved to the vicinity of
Georgetown, among them being old Uncle Billy Prosser, who was famil-
iarly known as 'Billy Plumpsock.' He was a man fond of his cups,
and usually got pretty happy whenever opportunity offered. A house, in
744 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
those days, could not well be raised without a big jug of whisky. He
and I went to a raising at Jesse Richards', a few miles east of George-
town, and the old man soon got lively and talkative, and somewhat boast-
ful of his manhood. He being an entire stranger and new-comer, soon
attracted the attention of the crowd. It was not long until I overheard
a conversation by some of the party present, to the effect that as soon as
the raising was over, old Johnny Stivers (a bluff, rugged, old man)
should try Uncle Billy Plumpsock a twist. Being anxious to avoid any
such trouble, because the old man had come with me, I took him to one
side and undertook to tell him what was brewing, and try to get him to go
home with me, but before I could finish telling my tale or persuade him
off, he began to roll up his sleeves. He commenced walking before
the crowd, swearing by all the saints that he was the veritable Plumpsock,
and if any one in that crowd had any desire to test his muscle, to just
step out and they would settle that while the house was being finished, so
that all could be ready for supper at once ; but, suffice it to say, no one
there seemed anxious to try it on, and we got off without a scratch."
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
Hamblen Township has fourteen school districts. That number is
certainly sufficient to supply the children with all necessary educational
advantages. There are also five or six churches, so there is no reason
why all may not belong to some religious class. The township is not sur-
passed by any other subdivision of the county in these respects. So far
as known, the first term of school was taught in the Taggart-Hamblen
neighborhood about the time the county was organized, by a man named
Edgington. The house had been used for a dwelling by some pioneer
family, and when it was deserted it was fitted up and occupied for school
purposes. A man named Rice was another early teacher in the township.
John C. Marshall also taught in the southern part. In about 1837, the
old log United Brethren Church was built on the Taggart farm, and this,
for many years, was used as a schoolhouse ; in fact, the building was
built as a combined church and schoolhouse. Schools were supported in
that day largely by private expense. The only public money was from
the sale of school lands. In 1840, the Township Treasurer received $19
from this fund, which was distributed to the four school districts which
then comprised the entire township. In 1843, there were seven school
districts, and the fund received amounted to $66.28. In 1850, there
were ten school districts. A man named Washington (not the first occu-
pant of the White House) was the first teacher in the old United Brethren
Church. Among the members of this church were the families of Tag-
garts, Duncans, Hamblens, Taylors, Kings, Hicks, Hemphills, Weddels
and others. The building was burned down after a few years. Above
there, a class of the Christian denomination was organized, the Walkers,
Watsons, Chappels, Kirts and others belonging. The Methodists also
had a class in the western part, among the members being the families of
Mcllvains, Richardsons, Guys, Millsops and others.
VILLAGES.
Spearsville was named for William Spears, who founded it not far
from 1835. If Mr. Spears kept a store there, such fact is not now
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP. ■ 745
remembered. John S. Burns was selling goods there in 1837, and con-
tinued for some time. He secured a post office, and attracted a black-
smith to the spot. In 1838, George Sparks opened there a liquor and
grocery store, his license being $15. Late in the forties, James Burnes
became merchant there, with a stock of merchandise worth about $1,200.
Henry Musselman was thus engaged in 1851, and onward for a few
years. The village has usually had one store and about a dozen families.
Cleona, Ramelton and Mt. Moriah Post Offices are in this township.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1848.
George Anderson, Robert Allen, George Admire, Daniel Alexander,
J. W. Applegate, John Bleik, Henry Burton, Lewis Brummet, Acles
Bickum, Joshua Brummet, Granville Brummet, Josiah Brummet,
Charles Bolt, Thomas Card well, James Calvin, Elias Curry, Elijah
Curry, John Conner, John Calvin, John A. Coons, John A. Camp-
bell, Peter Conner, Benjamin Comiford, John H. Colviji, David H.
Chase, John Cordray, Thomas S. Colvin, William Cordray, Absalom
Comiford, Besky Crumperg, Josiah David, Joshua Dean, Stephen
Debord, Elias Downing, Jesse Duncan, Edward Duncan, William Dun-
can, Fountain Devore, Cornelius Dine, Elaskin Dehart, Stephen Elder,
Ananias Ellison, John Frod, Stephen Frod, James Frod, Anthony
Fraker, Guthry Frod, Wilken Forester, M. Galoway, Preston Goforth,
Tilmon Guy, John Griffin, Wylie Guy, Jackson Grums, James Griffin,
John Gibson, James T. Gillaspy, Hiram Graves, Richard Goforth,
W. E. Gillaspy, Michael Groves, Martin Hemphill, William Handy,
Josiah Handy, Solomon Hicks, William Hogg, Pleasant Hamblen,
Thompson Henry, Sydnor Hanks, Amos Hicks, Jesse Hamblen,
Robert Hicks, Jr., Trueman Holeman, David L. Hamblen, Will-
iam Henry, W. C. Hubbard, Levi Hatten, William Hamblen, S.
Hubbard, John Jackson, Jr., Joshua Jenkins, Alfred King, John D.
Kennedy, John King, William King, James Keaton, Caleb Kennett,
Stephen Kennedy. John H. Kennedy, Isaac King. James Legins, Henry
Legins, George Lamb, Michael Lanegan, William Milnes, Elisha Mathis,
George McKinny, John Millsop, James W. Mcllvain, Thomas Mcllvain,
Mills Mcllvain, J. W. Markwell, Israel Mordie, William Marcum, Han-
nibal I. Mead, James Murphy, James C. Parmelee, M. H. Parmelee,
Solomon S. Parsley. D. I. Parsley, Abraham Prosser, Timothy Page,
Hardy Pace, Franklin Pitcher, George Petro, Jonathan Pitcher, Z. R.
Porter, Hiram Procise, Hugh Peck, Hugh Quinn, John Quinn, Dudley
Richardson, Nathaniel Roberts, Jessie Richards, Isaac Redwine, George
Ray, Mathew Redwine, Jesse Smith, W. L. Smith, Harrison A. Stiver,
William Smith, Benjamin Steward, James Sparks, Adam Stilenbauer,
David Scripter, George Scripter, C. W. Tucker, William N. Taylor,
William Taggart, Archibald Taylor, William Thomas, Absalom Waltz,
Samuel Walker, B. F. Walker, M. B. Weddel, Pleasant G. Weddel,
George White, William Wells. John Wells, William Waltz, Otho Wolf,
Dawson Walker, Thomas Waltman, Jacob Wayman, Jonathan Watson,
L. B. W^alker, Charles Walker, James Wilkerson, Henry Weaver, Phil-
lip Weaver, Darius M. Watson, Solomon Wyatt, Hulett Wyatt, William
Watson and Elas Weddel. The heaviest tax payers were John D. Ken-
746 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
nedy, ^10.30; William Murphey, Sr., $10.85; Thomas Mulliken, $11.-
83; James W. Mcllvain, $9.45; Abraham Martin, $8.67; James C.
Parmelee, $11.85; Dudly Richardson, $8.52; William Taggart, $10.-
14. The number of polls was, 165; number of acres, 15,997.16 ; value
of lands, $43,903 ; value of improvements, $27,305 ; value of personal
property, $23,409; total value of taxables, $94,617; total tax, $809.14;
delinquent tax and interest, $223,37 ; total tax, $1,032.51.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
THE ROCKS, TIMBER, STREAMS, ETC.
IN several essential particulars, the surface and geology of this portion
of Brown County differ from those of any other portion. The north-
west part is on High or Central Ridge, just over the line being Weed
Patch Knob, the highest point in the State. Two miles southeast of this
is the Middle Fork of Salt Creek, flowing across the township in a south-
westerly direction. One mile southeast of the creek begins an elevated
plateau of a grayish soil, called lacustral loam, and here, with the
exception of the usual branch bottoms, is the garden spot of the county.
Along the eastern border of the township, this loam has been modified by
fresh water deposits, thereby increasing its fertility, and is known as
White Creek flats or slashes. On Buffalo Ridge, the wheat crops are
habitually large and reliable. On Section 13 is a sandstone quarry, where
stone of unusual hardness and durability is readily obtained. It is
homogeneous, evenly bedded and easily quarried. Another quarry on
Section 35 also furnishes good stone. Layers four feet thick are found ;
also bands and concretionary nodules of excellent iron ore. Another val-
uable quarry has been worked at Wadsworth's mill. The bed and bars
of Hamilton Creek are covered with scales and small pebbles of silicious
iron ore, washed down from the concretionary deposits of the shaly hills.
Excellent fruit, such as peaches and apples, is raised in abundance, and
is of superior quality. Very large quantities of tobacco are raised
annually.
THE SETTLEMENT BY WHITE MEN.
White settlers were in this township as early as 1820. and by 1830
the log cabins were scattered in all directions. The bulk of the settlers,
however, did not come until the decade of thirties. Natives of the
Southern States largely predominated. Many were well bred and all
were hospitable, as representatives of the South always are. Many left
the South owing to their hatred of the institution of slavery. A sprink-
ling of Yankees were among them — enough to give the Northern spirit
to all public undertakings. The Hattens and the Hamptons were among
the first in the township. A man named Bozwell was early also. James
Taber, Thomas Brown, James Williamson were in the township during
the twenties. The Gosses were early also. When a new settler appeared,
the residents all turned out to help him raise his cabin. They often
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 747
went miles to assist, as nearest neighbors were very often four and five
miles apart. So glad were the settlers to see new families come in that
they were always ready, not only to help them up with their buildings
and to become comfortable, but, if necessary, provisions were given them,
and their acquaintance was sought and, if deserving, continued. It was
customary then to goto a neighbor's to spend the evenings; especially was
this true in winter. The visits were always enjoyed. The great fire
place, full of blazing logs, threw out its ruddy glow over the room and
diffused warmth, light and comfort to all. A pailful of nice hickory
nuts or a plate of choice apples would be brought out and would soon dis-
appear under the fresh appetites sharpened with the sauce of neighborly
good cheer, and the ride behind oxen over the frozen ground and
through the frosty air. -All was enjoyed to the best. After all, though
the old settlers had many hardships to encounter and trials to undergo,
did they not enjoy themselves as well, or better, than the present genera-
tions. They were hearty, robust, and full of wild animal spirits, and the
novelty of any and all gatherings was not such as we now know it. A
person isolated from pleasures for a time was ready to fully appreciate and
enjoy a holiday spent in the simplest manner. The appetite for enjoyment
was not cloyed. The simplicity of pioneer life brought keenest enjoyment
from simple things,, and the freedom from swiftly multiplying cares kept
the faces clear of wrinkles, preserved the hair and ruddy face, and
retained the springing steps and the upright figure. The pioneers were
contented — were happy in their lot — and as a result have bequeathed to
their children sound mental and bodily organisms and good habits*
ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS.
The township was one of the first four created in 1836, and was, of
course, named in honor of Martin Van Buren, eighth President of the
United States. Daniel Hedrick was the first Assessor of the township.
Hiram Mabe and William Rippe were the first Overseers of the Poor.
Hiram Mabe was also the first Constable. Hedrick was Assessor again
in 1887. In 1838, Daniel Goss and James Williamson were Overseers
of the Poor. Joseph Hurley and another were Fence Viewers; Jacob
Lawless, Inspector. The first elections — those of 1836 and 1837 — were
held at the house of Cornelius Hurley. In 1839, Asa Hatten and James
Williamson, were Overseers of the Poor ; Thomas Brown and James
Tabor, Fence Viewers ; William Crouch, Inspector. John Hampton as-
sessed the township in 1840, also in 1841. J. D. McKinney was
paid $4 by the County Auditor in 1841 for four young wolf scalps. In
1842, John Davis and John Hampton were each paid $7 for seven young
wolf scalps. In 1840, John Anderson was Constable ; Asa Hatten and
Hiram Baker, Road Supervisors ; Thomas Brown and Job Mulliss, Over-
seers of the Poor ; John Hill and William Bender, Fence Viewers ;
Hiram Mabe, Inspector. In 1836, there were two road districts estab-
lished in the township on the Spark's Ferry road, 1, from the Jack-
son County line to Sections 13 and 14; ii, from Sections 13 and 14 to the
boundary of the township (two miles farther north than the present bound-
ary). Alfred Young was Superintendent of No. 1, with the following
hands : John Hampton, Edward Ayres, Henry Ayres, Samuel Ayres,
748 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
Enoch Hampton, Ephraim Hatten, James Williamson, Asa Hatten, Will-
iam Rippe, John Rippe, William Kenworthy and Thomas Polly. Cor-
nelius Hurley was Superintendent of No. 2, with the following hands:
Elias Matley, Stephen Matley, Hiram Mabe, Daniel Goss, Henry Bird,
Thomas Brown, James Rippe, Jr., Arthur Rippe, Hiram Rippe, Levi
Noblet, John Sinex and John Kenworthy.
LAND ENTRIES.
Township 7 north. Range 3 east. Section 11 — Benjamin Owens,
1833 ; John Hill, 1836 ; Section 12— John Wagoner, 1838 ; W. M.
Evans, 1844, Alexander Fisher, 1844; Legrand Bozwell, 1844; Col-
man White, 1843 ; David Wagoner, 1840. Township 8 north. Range 3
east ; Section 11 — John Davis, 1839 ; William Bender, 1836 ; Section
13 — Stephen Matney. 1837 ; Jacob Byerly, 1839 ; Section 14 — Cornel-
ius Hurley, 1833 ; James Sullivan, 1833 ; George Sumner, 1839 ; W.
F. Mabe, 1844; Hiram Mabe, 1833; Section 15— Ambrose Cobb, 1844;
Daniel Goss, 1839 ; Allen Whitehorn, 1844 ; Section 20 — Hiram Rippe,
1834 ; Section 21— Fred Goss, 1834 ; Section 22— Daniel Goss, 1839,
Fred Goss, 1830 ; Section 25— John Hampton, 1832 ; J. M. Mabe,
1841 ; Section 28 — James Rippe, 1836 ; Arthur Rippe, 1836 ; Section
29— Levi Noblet, 1839; Section 32— Martin Tabor, 1844; Henry
Hampton, 1844; Isaac Shipley, 1834 ; Section 33— John Rippe, 1833;
Section 34 — Samuel Hatten, 1844 ; James Williamson, 1836 ; Alfred
Young, 1833; William Rippe, 1834; Section 35— Asa Hatten, 1834;
Jonathan Hampton, 1836 ; Section 36 — Alexander Arthur, 1838,
Joseph Gardner, 1838; Washington Dobson, 1844. Township 7 north,
Range 4 east. Section 6 — James Mullis, 1844, J.. M. McCord, 1844;
Section 8 — Dennis McMahon, 1844. Township 8 north. Range 4
east ; Section 5 — David Crouch, 1840; Section 8 — Henry Bird,
1837; Joseph Hedrick, 1840, William Crouch, 1840; William
Bender, 1840; William Ping, 1844; Section 17— Thomas A.
Brown, 1837 ; Section 18— Granville Hedrick, 1841 ; Jacob
Sawles, 1836 ; Daniel Hedrick, 1834 ; Ambrose Cobb, 1839 ; Ephraim
Hurley, 1841; Section 20— Job Ping, 1844; Henry Bird, 1844: Sec-
tion 28— W. C. Needham, 1844 , John D. Wormack, 1844.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1848.
John Anderson, Edmund Ayers, I. C. Bender, Thomas Brown, Hiram
Baker, Samuel Bird, Byron I. Barker, Legrand Bazwell, Henry Bird,
David Crouch, William Crouch, Henry Cross, Asa Clark, Aaron Crouch,
Moses Crouch, Ambrose Cobb, Hiram Crouch, Martin Evans, Drury
Elkins, Francis Elkins, James George, Elijah Graham, George Grosvenor,
J. M. Hurley, Asa Hatten, Enoch Hampton, John Hill, Granville Hed-
rick, Ephraim Hurley, George Hill, James D. Hurley, Ephraim Hatten,
David M. Hurley, John Kenworthy, Ambrose Keelen, Jonathan Lucas,
W. G. Lee, Jacob Lawless, James M. Mabe, Richard Mullis, John Mullis,
Joshua Matney, Daniel Matney, W. F. Mabe, Joseph Merrit, James Mc-
Kinney, Franklin Mullis, George Phillips, William Ping, Thomas Pruitt,
Paul Petro, Job Ping, Edmund Phigley, Serenus Ping, Richard Ping,
John Ping, Jr., William Reynolds, George Summa, William Smith,
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 749
Fountain Sutherland, James Tabor, Martin Tabor, John Wagoner, James
Williamson, H. C. Weddel, Allen Whitehorn, Coleman White, Nelson
White, John D. Womack and Thomas Vance. The highest tax payers
were I. C Bender, $4.92 ; Thomas Brown, $5.82 ; David Crouch, $6.43;
William Crouch, $4.37 ; Frederick Goss, $5.40 ; Cornelius Hurley,
$5.50; Asa Hatten, $5.47 ; Jacob Lawless, $8.69 ; total number of polls,
70 ; acres of land 2,274.77 ; value of land, $4,211 ; value of improve-
ments, $5,935 ; value of personal property, $9,069 ; total taxables,
$19,215 ; total tax, $228.19; total delinquent tax and interest, $109.65 ;
grand total tax, $337.84.
VILLAGES.
Christiansburg was founded by Thomas Carmichael about the year
1850. Calvin & Mann opened a large tannery there of about twenty
vats. Sylvanus Manville opened a store there, with Lawson Hopper as
clerk. In a short time, several families moved there, and a post office was
secured. A store has been there the greater portion of the time since.
Several churches are there, which are well attended. Pike's Peak was
founded about the time of the last war by James Ward, who opened a small
store there. A post office was obtained, and a few families went there to
live. New Bellsville was founded at a later date by Joseph Campbell.
Buffalo started up about thirty years ago. It is said George Har-
lan had the first store. Butcher & Bennington were there for a
time. The village was quite prosperous for a time. The old Goss
Saw Mill on Salt Creek, at Mt. Zion, was built during the thirties,
and in an early day had a large patronage. William Crouch operated a
mill in the township, beginning late in the forties. John Hampton shot
a panther in about 1840. He found in the township a half eaten deer,
covered with leaves, and, concealing himself, saw the varmint and shot it.
William Rogers and Mary Ann Cobb were married by Squire Goss
March 30, 1837. This was the first wedding in the township.
' SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
The township has fourteen school districts. The first term taught was
in the southwestern part in a log schoolhouse, the Hamptons, Ayres,
Browns, Tabors, Noblets, Hollens, Williamsons sending children. The
first teacher was an Irishman named Sullivan. He was paid by subscrip-
tion, and boarded around. The second school was taught near Christians-
burg. In 1840, there were four school districts, and in 1850, seven.
The old Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church was organized before 1840,
among the first members being the families of Hattons, Williamsons,
Browns, Hedricks, Kenworthys, Ayres, Bailses, and others. The log
church was built early in the forties, and was used not only for religious
purposes, but for school purposes as well. Many an excellent term of
school was held there. The Baptists had an early organization, the lead-
ing members being the Noblets. Mr. Noblet was a minister of this church.
The Campbellites organized a class in the southern part early in the
forties. The Bozwells, Benningtons, Phillips, Bridgewaters, Gobies,
Pruitts (three or four families) and others belonged. A church was built
on the south line of the township. In later years, three or four churches
have been erected, so that the township is now well supplied.
JOHNSON TOWNSHIP. 751
JOHNSON TOWNSHIP.
THE SURFACE AND SOIL.
THIS is the smallest subdivision of Brown County. It comprises
forty-eight sections in the southwestern part. The entire township,
except about two sections in the northeast corner, lies within the Harri-
son's Purchase, obtained from the Indians by the treaty of Fort Wayne
in 1809. It is drained wholly by the Middle Fork of Salt Creek and its
branches, ■ Little Blue, Crooked, Grave and smaller creeks. On the
northern boundary is High Ridge. The creek flows westwardly through
the southern part, and its principal branches rise in High Ridge and
flow southwardly. In this township considerable sandstone is found upon
the surface, lying scattered on the hillsides in great cubic or columnar
form, and often presenting red furruginous or gray alluminous colors.
The sandstone below this is often shaly, and disintegrates easily upon ex-
posure. Much iron pyrites is found. The bottoms about Elkinsville
are rich and productive with the wealth of the lacustral silt deposited by
torrents down the hillsides. The geologic formation in a well at Elkins-
ville is as follows :
Alluvial soil 4 feet.
Dark quicksand 7 feet.
Black and blue lacustral clay and silt, including wood and
vegetable remains 9 feet.
Total 20 feet.
On the knob on Section 10 may be seen a few scattered fragments of
Keokuk limestone which once covered the region, but which has since
been washed away. They contain crushed specimens of zophrentis
archimedes, and other hryozomis and crinoids. Excellent sandstone of
the Knobstone beds is also found here in abundance. The water in past
ages has washed out this stone and dressed it into cubes three and four
feet through, and pillars three by four and twenty feet long. The soil is
yet heavily timbered, though the best has been culled out for staves and
other lumber. For a number of years the ax has been turned upon the
numberless hickory saplings, hundreds of loads of which are annually sold
for barrel hoops. Traces of gold have been discovered. Sulphuret of
iron has animated the hopes of many a resident and seeker after sudden
wealth.
THE ERA OF SETTLEMENT.
It is said that William Elkins was a resident of Johnson Township as
early as 1819. One thing is certain, he was in the township to live be-
fore the Indians were removed, which was done in 1821. Some state
that his residence in the county dates further back than that — back to 1816
or 1817. It is told that he came directly from the block-house, which had
been built in Lawrence County as a protection from the Indians during the
war of 1812-15. That statement is currently made and believed, and if
752 HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.
true, would fix the date of his settlement at about the year 1816, and cer-
tainly not later than 1817. Some state that he was the first white man
to live with his family in what is now Brown County. Others state that
old man Schoonover, who located on the creek which bears his name (cor-
rupted), in the western part of Washington Township, was the first in the
county. The truth cannot be learned. It is certain that both were in
before 1820, and very likely by 1817. Old David Johnson was
another very early resident of the township. The date of his set-
tlement cannot be given. It should be remembered that the territory
comprising Johnson Township (except a small portion of the northeastern
corner), was obtained by cession treaty from the Indians in 1809, and
that the old boundary line, which crosses the northeastern corner, was
established at that date. The land was surveyed south of this line in
1812, and soon afterward was open to settlement. No settlers 'appeared
except Elkins, and perhaps Johnson, until after 1820. Then a few fami-
lies arrived, but no extensive settlement occurred until the decade of the
thirties.
LAND ENTRIES.
Township 7 north, Range 1 east. Section 1 — Nelson Roberton,
1843; James Todd, 1844; Section 12 — Hiram Butcher, 1844; John
Griner, 1844 ; Township 7 north. Range 2 east, Section 2 — David John-
son, 1834 ; Adam Fleetwood, 1833 ; Thomas Fleetwood, 1833 ; Henry
Combs, 1837 ; Section 3— J. H. Alexander, 1843 ; David Sively, 1844 ;
Isaac Fleetwood, 1844 ; Section 4 — Adam Fleetwood, 1834 ; G. W.
Starnes, 1844 ; Isaac Fleetwood, 1844; Section 6 — D. M. Martin, 1839;
Charles Holland, 1844 ; Section 6 — William Burroughs, 1833 ; Arnold
Helton, 1844 ; George Butcher, 1843 ; Section 7— David Sively, 1833 ;
William Mitchell, 1844 ; Section 8— Albert L. Gilstrap, 1834 ; Andrew
Helton, 1839; Henry Clark, 1841; Section 9— Jerry Terrell, 1844;
Henry Clark, 1841 ; Section 10 — Jacob Fleener, 1843 ; George Lutes,
1843; Jacob Fleener, 1843; Township 8 north. Range 2 east, Section 22
—John Huffman, 1838 : Section 25— William Stogdill, 1837 ; Zachariah
Pauley, 1844; Section 32— Isaac Hall, 1843; Section 33— Solomon
Fleetwood, 1833; J. S. Arwine, 1844 ; Section 35 — Jerry Brannon,
1837 ; Section 3(3— A. T. Hazzard. 1837 ; Richard Elkins, 1844 ; Wil-
liam Elkins, 1834.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1848.
James Arwine, John S. Arwine, George Butcher, W. M. Crusenberry,
James Chafin, Hezekiah Deckard, Nathan Davis, Joseph Elkins, Richard
Elkins, Reuben Enes, James Fleetwood, Solomon Fleetwood, Samuel
Fowler, Shadrack Fleetwood, Isaac Fleetwood, John Grimes, William
Helton, Joseph Hedrick, Stephen Harper, John Hatchet, A. D. Hoag,
Isaac Hall, Jacob Lutes, Amos Lawson, Thomas Lucas, William Mitchell,
Nicholas Martin, Jackson Messer, Zachariah Polly, Lincoln Polly, James
Polly, Thomas Polly, Asa Reeves, Alexander Ryans, Alfred Ramsey,
William See, Enoch Sexton, Hiram Shipley, William Sullivan, Jonathan
Sherrel, John Shipley, Ezekial Sullivan, John Scott, Jesse Shipley,
Arthur Sutphin, Jeremiah Terrel, James Wilkenson, Hammond Wilkenson
and Bird Wilson. The heaviest tax payers were Andrew Helton, $6.49 ;
Lutes et al, $3.30; William Mitchell, $3.18 ; and Alfred Ramsey,$3.13.
JOHNSON TOWNSHIP. 753
The total number of polls, 50 ; number of acres, 1,210.43 ; value of land,
^2,584; value of improvements, $2,955; value of personal property,
^4,244; total taxables, $9,783 ; total tax, $141.29; delinquent tax aiid
interest, $107.94 ; grand total tax, $249.26.
INCIDENTS AND NOTES.
The first elections were held at the residence of Simon Weatherman
in 1836, Ira Wilson being the Inspector. William Johnson and William
Davis were the first Overseers of the Poor ; William Followell assessed
the township in 1836, and Henry White in 1837, the latter receiving
$3.50 for his work. George Crider was the first Constable. Jacob Hut-
senpiller assessed the township in 1837, and James S. Woods in 1840.
The first bounty for wolf scalps was paid to Andrew Todd. While hunting
in the woods, he found a litter of five young wolves in an old hollow tree.
He knocked them all in the head with lively satisfixction, scalped them
with energy, and took the scalps to the County Auditor, who paid him $5.
J. S. Woods assessed the township in 1841. He was also Constable this
year, as was also W. H. Bradley. The elections for a year or two before
1845 were held at the house of William Sullivan, but in that year they
were changed to the residence of A. Sutphin. In 1840, William Johnson
and Andrew Todd were Overseers of the Poor ; Arnold Helton and
Thomas Polly, Fence Viewers ; Benjamin Chandler, Inspector ; James
Fleetwood, Zachariah Polly and James Bradley, Road Supervisors. The
first marriage was that of William Elkins and Mary Polly, on the 20th
of July, 1837, Nathan Davis, Justice of the Peace, officiating. The
second was that of Dawson Debord and Mahala Woods, on the 4th of
November, 1837, by Jacob Hutsenpiller, Justice of the Peace. No, the
marriage of John Arwin to Miss " Mernervey " Quick, on the 4th of
December, 1836, by Squire Nathan Davis, was the first in the township.
ELKINSVILLE.
This village is a creature of comparatively recent origin. It started
up during the decade of fifties, and was named in honor of the first settler
of the township and founder of the village. It is said that Butcher
and Bennington opened the first store, and that a man named Morris
was in with goods soon afterward. The village was so isolated from other
villages that it had quite an extensive trade in early years. It was not
long before blacksmiths and carpenters appeared, and soon the population
could be numbered by the dozens. It is a thrifty little place.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND NASHVILLE.
JESSE BROWN, farmer, is a native of Illinois, was born July 24,
1855, and is a son of John and Keturab A. Brown, the laiter a native of
Illinois, and both of English descent. John Brown received a limited
education in youth in this State, whither he was brought in early life.
He remained at home until his marriage, followed farming in Illinois
after that event, but soon returned to Indiana, remaining in this State
until his death in 1859. Jesse Brown was only four years old when his
father died, and was obliged to depend on himself for education and
livelihood as soon as able to acquire the same. In 1878, he engaged in
the stave business, which he is yet carrying on. April 21, 1881, he mar-
ried Mary W. Stull, a native of Ohio, with an issue of the following chil-
dren: Ambrose Marting and Mary Alvie. Mr. Brown has upward of
900 acres, with the finest barn in the county, various improvements and
considerable stock, all self-acquired, he having begun life doUarless. He
is a Republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, and an influential, respected citizen.
WILLIAM WESLEY BROWNING, editor of the Broivn County
Democrat, was born in Lawrence County, Ind. , July 1, 1831, and is the
eldest of the nine children of Amasa and Mary (Winfrey) Browning, na-
tives of Tennessee, and of English extraction. W. W. Browning was
reared to farming, and attended the public schools, from which he
learnod sufficient to become a teacher. After his majority, he was en-
gaged in mei-cantile business at Heltonville and at Smithville for about
four years. In 1855-56, he studied law under ex-Gov. Dunning, of
Bloomington; then removed to Bedford, practiced one year, and March
4, 1858, came to Nashville. Was a partner with Hon. James G. Hester,
who was elected Judge in 1873. Mr. Browning continued the law un-
til November 1, 1883, when he began work in the Clerk's office of this
county. June 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Tweatj^-second Indi-
ana Regiment; was through the Missouri campaign, took typhoid fever
and came home. In the spring of 1862, he enlisted 500 men, and was
elected Captain of Company D, in the Eighty-second Regiment Indiana
Volunteer Infantry; was injured by an exploding shsU at the battle of
Resaca, soon after which he resigned. In 1870, he was elected Repre-
sentative of this and Jackson County in the General Assembly, and was
tendered the same in 1872, but refused. He has been a minister in the
Methodist Episcopal Church sixteen years, for four of which he was an
758 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
itinerant. He is now Deputy Clerk and editor of the Democrat. Mr.
Browning has been twice married, his first wife being Lucinda DaytoD,
who died April 28, 1878, leaving one child. July 1, 1878, he wedded
Martha M. \^'atkins. Mr. Browning was Prosecuting Attorney of the
Ninth Judicial District in 1874.
JOHN B. CALVIN, dealer in hardware, furniture, undertakers' sup-
plies, etc., was born in this county February 15, 1855, and is the eighth
of the nine in family of Timothy D. and Mary (Middleton) Calvin, the
former a native of Ohio, the latter of Indiana, and respectively of
English and Irish descent. Timothy D. Calvin moved hither in 1854,
and followed the tanning business for a number of years. John B. Cal-
vin worked alike on the farm and in the tanyard until he reached man-
hood, when he engaged in the harness business with his brother on a
joint capital of $100. The business grew so fast, however, they were
compelled to build a larger place to house their increasing stock, and
now they have one of the best stores in the county. January 28, 1878,
he married Miss Carisadie Reddick, which union was graced by two chil-
dren, only one of whom lived to be named— Dennis J. (born May 17,
1882). Mr. Calvin is a stanch Democrat in politics, but withal an
amiable gentleman and honored citizen; also a practical business man
and successful merchant.
JOHN W. CAKTER, teacher, was boru May 29, 1851, in Belmont
County, Ohio, and is the fourth in the family of Ephraim and Nancy
(Willison) Carter, the foi-mer a native of New Jersey, the latter of Penn-
sylvania, and respectively of Scotch and German extraction. John W.
came to this county with his parents when two years old. Here he was
reared, and here they made their home, where he remained until he be-
came of age, at which period he attended the Central Normal School at
Danville, and later that at Valparaiso, which fitted him to be a teacher,
which profession he entered upon in 1871, in Morgan County. He has
taught nine terms in this county, and is an energetic and efficient in-
structor. During summer he assists his father in his farm work, and is
a good manager and agriculturist. He is politically a Democrat, a pub-
lic-spirited, influential citizen, and one of the coming men of this por-
tion of the commonwealth.
^< ISAAC CHAFIN, County Recorder, is a native of this county, was
born October 11, 1849, and is the sixth of eight children born to
James and Sarah (Hall) Chafin, both natives of Kentucky, who moved
hither about 1843, remained a short time, then moved to Missouri, and.
came again to this county, where Mr. Chafin died about 1853. Isaac
Chafin was reared as a farmer, attended the common schools, and one
year at Clear Springs, after which he commenced teaching. February
14, 1878, he married Miss Mary C. Woods, a native of this county, and
to them have been born three children — John B., Herma E. and Sarah I.
Mr. Chafin is owner of a good farm, one best adapted to stock-raising,
but making a comfortable home. He has also some property in Nash-
ville. He is a Democrat; was elected Recorder of this county in 1876,
and re-elected in 1880. He is a public-spirited and liberal citizen; also
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mrs. Chafin is
a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
ABRAHAM T. CLARK, farmer, was born in Fayette County, Penn.,
November 9. 1818, and is a member of the family of Enos and Anna
Clark; the former a native of Maryland, the latter of Pennsylvania.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND NASHVILLE. 759
Abraham T. Clark acquired a good education in his birth State, and
when nineteen years of age moved with his father to Ohio, and afterward
traveled through several States and Territories. At the age of thirty-two,
he married Miss Jane, daughter of Edward and Jane. Broom, and a native
of Ohio, and by this union were produced ten children, of which number
are living six sons and one daughter. Mr. Clark has been a member of
the Board of Education and Justice of the Peace. In 1858, he came to
this county, and purchased a farm in this township, where he now resides
in comfort and independence. He is a Master Mason, of Lodge 135, and
an esteemed and trusted citizen.
Benjamin Clark is a native of this county, came into this life Novem-
ber 6, 1863, a son of Abraham T. Clark, and engaged in saw milling in
the eastern part of this township, having one of the best mills of the
county, and doing a large business. He is an advocate of Democracy
and temperance, and among the most prominent young men of the county.
■JUDGE RICHARD L. COFFEY was born in Monroe County, Ind.,
May 7, 1835. He is the eldest son and the fourth child of the seven
children born to Lewis and Harriette E. (Powell) Coffey, natives of
North Carolina. He was reared on a farm three miles west of Elletts-
ville, and received the rudiments of his education in the district schools.
In the fall of 1850, he entered Franklin College, at Franklin, Ind.. stud-
ied two years; then clerked for Helton & Dodds, general merchants of
Bloomington, Ind. From the fall of 1853 to the fall of 1854, he taught
school in Owen County, and in November, 1854, married Margaret,
daughter of Lorance Lytton, a pioneer of Spencer, Ind. To this union
was born one child — Annie E. He then farmed in Monroe County until
the death of his wife, which occurred in January, 1857. Soon after
this event he traded his farm for land in Iowa; at once went there; re-
mained a short time, and then went to Gentry County, Mo. , where he
taught school one term, returning to Monroe County, Ind., and teaching
during the winter of 1857-58. In the spring of 1858, he entered the
law oiBce of Gov. Paris C. Dunning; was admitted to the bar in the fall
of the same year; entered the Law Department of the State University,
and graduated March 1, 1859. He immediately went back to Gentry
County, Mo.; taught school until the spring of 1861, and then entered
upon the practice of law in what was known as Smithville, Mo. , where
he was soon appointed Commissioner of Worth County, to settle the af-
fairs between it and Gentiy County, the two having just been divided.
In the fall of 1861, he returned to Owen County and taught school un-
til the spring of 1864, when he married Martha F., daughter of E. F.
Faulkner. During the winter of 1864-65, he taught school in Nashville,
and also entered in legal practice. In the spring of 1865, his wife died.
December 7, 1865, he married Julia M. , daughter of Dr. William M.
and Lucy J. Mason, early settlers of Nashville. By this marriage, he
became the father of four children — William, J. Hill, Lucy and Rich-
ard. He was shortly appointed by Gov. Baker Common Pleas Judge of
the district composed of Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, Monroe and Brown
Counties, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge
Wollen; at the general election, in 1870, was elected, ahd in 1872 re-
. elected to fill said office, which he filled until it was abolished by the
Legislature. In 1878, he was elected Senator for the district composed
of Brown and Bartholomew Counties; served four years, and then re-
sumed the practice of the law. In 1876, he was commissioned, by Gov.
760 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Hendricks, Marshal, in and for the Third Congressional District, Indiana,
and charged with the duties required by an act entitled " An act to pro-
vide for electing Electors for President and Vice President of the United
States," approved May 20, 1852. He also served as a member of the
State Democratic Central Committee, from June, 1870, to June, 1872.
He is at present Town School Trustee, and has filled the position eight
years. While Senator, in 1879, he was on the following committees:
Elections, Organization of Courts, Banks, Phraseology (Chairman), Ar-
rangement, Enrollment of Bills, Unfinished Business, and also on the
Joint Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills; in 1881, on Organization
of Courts, Banks, Federal Relations, Rights and Privileges of the Inhab-
itants of the States, and on Legislative Apportionment. Judge Coffey
is a Freemason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
GEORGE W. CORNELIUS was born December 29, 1838, in Wayne
County, Ind., and is the third of the ten children of Benjamin and
Letitia (Wilson) Cornelius, the former a native of Virginia, the latter
of Kentucky, and both now deceased. George W. Cornelius was reared
on a farm, obtained a fair education, and, with his parents, came to this
county in 1856. February 13, 1861, he married Miss Susan J. Pogue, a
native of this county. In 1876, Mr. Cornelius moved to Nashville, was
elected Trustee of Washington Township, and re-elected in 1878. In
1879, he commenced the mercantile business, in which he is yet en-
gaged, and also is Treasurer of the School Board. He is owner of eighty
acres, some town property, and a half interest in a drug and grocery
store with T. D. Calvin. Mr. Cornelius is a liberal Democrat and a
valued citizen.
Timothy D. Calvin was born June 28, 1858, in this county, a son of
Timothy D. and Mary (Middleton) Calvin, the former a native of Ohio,
the latter of Illinois. Om^ subject grew to manhood in this town, at-
tended school at Bloomington and Terre Haute, and has taught eight
terms of school in this county. November 14, 1880, he purchased a
drug store, where he keeps a guod line of general wares. In 1879, he
began a hardware store with his brother, but sold his interest to his
father afterward, and devotes his energies and time to his present busi-
ness. November 19, 1880, he married Miss Linda Ferguson, from which
alliance has sprung two children — Notie and Otis W. Mr. Calvin has a
cozy farm of forty acres, also a good town property. He is a Democrat
and a worthy citizen ; Mrs. Calvin is a member of the M. E. Church.
WILLIAM L. COX, attorney at law, was born July 28, 1838, in
Monroe County, Ind., and is the second son of John B. and Barbara
(Ledgerwood) Cox, natives of East Tennessee. John B. Cox was born
in 1812, moved to Monroe County in 1828, and is now residing in Ben-
ton Township. He is owner of 280 acres ; is a Missionary Baptist min-
ister since 1838, and has preached in this and adjacent counties. He
was married a second time, the bride being Miss Martha Moser, with an
issue of ten children. William L. Cox was reared a farmer, attended
school and became a teacher; afterward attended college at Bloomington
for one year, and in 1864 began his studies in law with W. H. Bain-
bridge, and was the same year appointed school examiner, in the inter-
vening time continuing the study of law. September, 1867, he resigned
his position and was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of this county,
re-elected in 1870, and held the same until 1875, when he engaged in
practice as a lawyer, making probate and civil cases a specialty. Octo-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND NASHVILLE. 761
ber 18, 1866, he married Miss Parmelia Bartholomew, which union pro-
duced four sons — George W., Nathaniel D., William Fuller and an in-
fant. Mr. Cox is a member of the Masonic Order up to the Royal Arch,
a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM DAY, grocer and Trustee of Washington Township, was
born January 27, 1838, in Delaware County, Ohio, and is the first son of
Cresley and Celinda (Reynolds) Day, both natives of Ohio and now de-
ceased. William Day was reared to farming, which he followed in his
birth State, and in 1873, located near Nashville. October, 1861, he en-
listed in Company F, Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served three
years and three months, and was at Shiloh, Perryville and Stone River,
where he received a flesh wound in the shoulder. Rejoining his regi-
ment, he fought at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Dalton,
Resaca, and the Atlanta campaign, being discharged December 15, 1864.
October 15, 1865, he married Miss Viola A. Serels, which union was
crowned by five children — Nettie B., Ettie D., Eva J., Ellie M. andNeo-
ma A. November, 1882, he moved to this town and engaged in his pres-
ent business, in which he has a good trade, carries a large stock and has
been very successful. Mr. Day is a member of the G. A. R., of the Re-
publican party; was elected Trustee of Washington Township in 1880,
and is an upright, esteemed citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Day are members of
the Christian Church.
JOHN DEIST, farmer, is a native of Germany, was born February
14, 1833, whose parents were Conrad and Mary S. Deist, both of them
natives of Germany and of German extraction. Conrad Deist was en-
gaged on a farm until 1814, at which time he became a soldier in the
wars of that period between France and his native land, part of the serv-
ice being spent on land as a husbandman. He was mainly a herder, and
died January 3, 1872, aged seventy- seven, a member of the Reformed
Church, as was his wife. John Deist obtained a good education in the
fatherland, remained at home until he was twenty, when he emigrated
to New York, remained two years, moved to Wheeling, W. Va., thence
to Ohio, where he lived for ten years, and finally to this county, where
he purchased a farm and still resides. February 25, 1857, he married
Elizabeth Glaus, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., by which union they
were given one son and three daughters. Mrs. Deist left the world
April 7, 1862. After this event Mr. Deist wedded Louisa C. Faber, of
Ohio, which union was honored by three sons and four daughters, of
whom Henry C. Deist is one of the ablest of the county's teachers. Mr.
Deist is a Democrat, has served as County Commissioner, and he and
lady are members of the Presbyterian Church.
ALEXANDER DUNCAN, farmer, is a native of Stokes County, N.
C. ; was born January 29, 1815, the son of Alamanda and Susanna
(Vaughn) Duncan, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina.
The father of our subject learned the occupation of shoe-making, and
followed the same forty years, but after man'iage he engaged in farming
and so continued until his decease. Our subject worked for his father
on the farm until he was united in wedlock, which event took place
November 17, 1887, the bride being Sarah F. Reddick, a native of the
" Old North State." To this union were granted fourteen children, of
whom two sons and eight daughters are living. In 1839, he moved to
this State, and remained some time in Fayette County ; then moved to
Marion County, where he resided twenty years, and thence to this coun-
762 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
ty, March 23, 1860, where he purchased a farm and made a home. Mr.
Duncan is a time-honored member of the Freemasons, and one of the
oldest citizens of the county toward which he has done so much. He is
now in his seventieth year, and a greatly esteemed citizen.
HON.W. C. DUNCAN is a son of Alexander Duncan and Sarah F.Dun-
can, both of whom are still living at their old home, six miles southwest
of Nashville, in Brown County, Ind. Both the father and mother were
born, reared and married in North Carolina; after this marriage they re-
moved to Indiana, settling for a time in Fayette County; soon thereafter
they removed to Marion County, where W. C. Duncan was born on the
24th of June, 1851, and is the ninth child in a family of fourteen chil-
dren, consisting of five boys and nine girls. On the 23d of March, I860,
with his father's family, he came to Brown County and settled upon a
farm six miles southwest of Nashville. Here he was brought up in habits
of industry, honesty and frugality. He early evinced a desire for knowl-
edge, and obtained the rudiments of a good education in the common
schools, as taught in District No. 11, of Washington Township. He com-
menced teaching in the common schools of the county at the age of eight-
een, and continued to teach and labor upon the farm until the 24th of
June, 1871, when, having accumulated enough money to pay his way for
a considerable time in school, he was examined and admitted to the
Freshman class in the Indiana State University at Bloomington. He at-
tended college regularly for more than two years, until, after entering
and attending one term of his junior year, he was again compelled to
seek employment as a teacher to supply himself with the necessary funds
to further prosecute his studies. But while out of college he continued
to study, and before the end of the year returned, and with his class
passed examination, and entered the Senior class. Graduating in 1875,
for one year he engaged in teaching, and returned in 1876, and entered
the Law Department. But in the winter of 1877, he again taught school
for a term. In the spring of 1877, he re-entered upon the study of
his chosen profession, the law, in the office of Richard L. ColBfey, in
Nashville. Here he continued until the winter of 1878, when he en-
tered upon the practice, in partnership with W. W. Browning, at Nash-
ville. On the 23d day of April, 1878, he was nominated by the Democ-
racy of the Ninth Judicial Circuit for Prosecuting Attorney for the
counties of Bartholomew and Brown, and in October following was
elected to that office, and entered upon his duties on the 22d day of Oc-
tober, 1879. During most of his term of office he resided in Bartholo-
mew County, and became largely and favorably known to the people of
that county. In November, 1881, after the expiration of his term of
office, he again resumed regular practice at Nashville, and on the 17th of
June, 1882, he was nominated by the Democrats of Bartholomew, Brown
and Monroe, as a candidate for State Senator, and after one of the most
heated campaigns ever known, was in the fall of that year elected State
Senator, and was a member of the Legislature of 1883, in which he dis-
tinguished himself by his industry, courage and integrity. His votes
will all be found consistently in favor of a strict construction of the con-
stitution; of the largest amount of personal liberty of the citizens con-
sistent with the public good; of liberal sxipport of the State's great char-
ities and benevolent institutions and universities, and other educational
facilities. He was likewise always found a« earnestly opposing jobs,
schemes, subsidies and all repressive legislation. Although next to the
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND NASHVILLE. 763
youngest member of the Senate of 1883, he was accorded recognition as
one of the most determined and energetic membei's of that body. Mr.
Duncan is the senior member of the tirm of Duncan & Percilield, now
engaged in the practice of law at Nashville. On July 26, 1880, he was
married to Jennie Buskirk, a daughter of Michael Buskirk, now of Clay
County, Ind. Two little girls — Edith and Jessie — have been born of
this union. Mr. Duncan claims for himself nothing bat the ability and
willingness to work with devoted energy for whatever cause he may es-
pouse. He is the architect of his own fortune, and is in every sense a
self-made man. He is a man of strong convictions and firm friendship.
If at times he appears reticent and unwilling to express his preferences,
it is not because he lacks courage or convictions. He always abides his
time. He never fritters away his opportunities. Mr. Duncan is now
but thirty -two years of age, and few men so young have accomplished so
much as he, or seen so much of life and honor.
"WILLIAM GEARY, miller, first saw the light of earth in this county;
was born June 20, 1854, and is a son of Josephus and Betsey (Stump)
Geary, both natives of Kentucky, and respectively of English and En-
glish-Irish descent. Mrs. Betsey Geary is yet living, aged fifty-seven,
and a devoted member of the Christian Church. William Geary re-
ceived a very limited education in boyhood, and when fourteen years of
age he commenced working in a mill, and in this occupation he has since
been engaged. March 20, 1879, he married Mary E. Shepherd, daughter
of Richard and Sarah Shepherd, and a native of Belmont County, Ohio.
As a result of this union, three children have been born to them — one
son and two daughters. Mr. Geary is now opei*ating a flouring-mill and
a saw-mill, and both very successfully. He is one of the leading citizens
and representative men of the township.
CHARLES GENOLIN is a native of this township; was born May
10, 1862, and is a son of John Genolin, of Marseilles, France, born
1812, who emigrated during boyhood to the United States, and August
10, 1840, married, in Connecticut, Elizabeth Clark, and they located in
this county in 1851, where Mr. Genolin engaged in trade and died April
24, 1874. He was an affectionate father and husband, and a worthy cit-
izen. Charles Genolin was reared to manhood in his birthtown, and has
been engaged in various branches of business, he having natural execu-
tive ability, and being a born merchant. AVith a small inheritance from
his father's estate, he has made his way to a position of pride and pros-
perity. He is a member of the Democratic party and an active politician,
a correspondent for several local newspapers, and is a promising young
man with a cloudless future.
JOHN F. GENOLIN, M. D., is the fourth of the ten children of
John and Elizabeth (Clark) Genolin, the former a native of France, the
latter of Ireland, who located in this county in the early time, where Mr.
Genolin was successfully engaged in the mercantile business until 1874,
when he left the world; Mrs. Genolin now resides in Nashville. Dr.
John F. Genolin was born in Nashville, Ind., July 18, 1854, where he
attended school and assisted his father until his majority, at which time
he entered the office of Dr. Phillips, at Nashville, and assiduously de-
voted himself to the study of medicine. Two years later, he entered the
Vanderbilt Medical University, whence he graduated in 1877, with the
ad eundem degree of doctor of medicine. He then opened an office in
Nashville, and has continued the practice successfully, his consultation
48
764 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
business being especially large. * September 15, 1881, he married Miss
Susie E. AValton, a native of Ohio, a marriage which gave issue to two
children — Verna and an infant. Dr. Genolin is a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity, and an uncompromising Republican. In 1880, he was
commissioned Postmaster at Nashville, but resigned in 1882. He is an
esteemed and honored citizen.
CHARLES GIBSON, merchant, is a native of Greene County, Tenn. ,
and is the youngest of the four children of John and Elizabeth (Russell)
Gibson, the former a native of Tennessee, the latter of North Carolina,
and both of Irish extraction. John Gibson was a hero of the war of
1812. Charles Gibson lirst saw the world's light February 13, 1885,
was reared to farming, began as a teamster when ten years of age, and
followed the same until be was twenty-three, having labored in North
and South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky. September 17,
1857, he married Sarah E. Kelton, a native of Virginia. Eleven children
hallowed their union, of which nine were named James D., William I.,
Alice, Ida M., Dora, Emma, Charlie, Clara and John. From 1858 to
1862, he was exclusively a farmer, but was then obliged to leave Tennes-
see. Mr. Gibson then moved hith(ir and one year later brought his fam-
ily; they located in Johnson and later in this coiintr, where he farmed,
and subsequently went into business in this town, having begun the
same with a cash capital of $50. Now he carries a $4,000 stock, and
owns some good property. Mr. Gibson is a Freemason, is a Republican,
has been School Trustee and Councilman, and was commissioned Post-
master December 18, 1882, which he now retains. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson
are members of the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM GRIFFIN, farmer, was born in Decatur County, Ind.,
October 13, 1843, and is a son of David D. and Parmelia (Johnson)
Griffin, the former a native of Indiana, the latter of Kentucky, and of
English and German descent respectively. David D. Griffin remained
with his parents until his marriage, December 14, 1841. After the death
of his wife, in 1865, Mr.' Griffin wedded Mary A. Rush; this lady also
died, after which he was joined to Rebecca A. McElroy. He was a
minister; took his death-cause from exposure while holding meetings,
and died December 7, 1883. William Griffin remained at home until his
eighteenth year, when he entered Company C, Twenty-second Indiana
Volunteer Regiment; served four years, and was severely wounded. He
married Miss Susanna, daughter of AVilliam K. Rogers, and a native
of this county, to which union were decreed ten children. In connection
with his tine farm of upward of 350 acres, he is largely interested in
handling stock. He is a Republican by political preference, a liberal
and enlightened citizen, and he and Mrs. Griffin are members of the
Christian Church.
ELIAKIM HAMBLEN, farmer, was born October 22, 1832, in
Hamblen Township, of what was known as Bartholomew, now a part of
Brown County, Ind., and is the eldest of eight in the family of Jesse
and Rachel (Hamblen) Taggart, the former a native of Virginia, the lat-
ter of Tennessee, both of Irish extraction. Jesse Hamblen came to this
region about 1825, and atter marriage settled where he now resides.
The grandfather of our subject, Eliakim Hamblen, was the first Repre-
sentative in the State Legislature from this county, in 1838. Our sub-
ject was reared to farming, and received a primitive education, and re-
mained at home until he was twenty- four years old, after which he made
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND NASHVILLE. 765
a beginning in life, which has so far. beeo prosperous. May 31, 1855>,
he married Miss Elizabeth Musser, which has given being to two chil-
dren— Rachel and Caroline Mr. Hamblen is owner of 070 acres, most
of which is choice land, making a very comfortable possession. He is a
Democrat, and was elected Clerk of the court of this county, in 1874; re-
elected in 1878, and has held various offices besides. He is a member of
the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are adherents of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South.
CA8TER V. HARRISON, a leading county instructor, was born
February 28, 1856, in Bartholomew County, Ind , the ninth of the
twelve children of Carter and Julia A. (St. Clair) Harrison, natives of
Kentucky. Carter Harrison moved to Bartholomew County in 1839; he
resides in Harrison Township. In 1867, his wife died, and he wedded
Barbara Matson, by which union they had seven children. Carter V.
Harrison was reared and grew to man's estate on a farm, received a good
public and normal -school education, and is now teaching his ninth term,
with satisfaction to the counties of Brown and Bartholomew and credit
to himself. December 25, 1879, he married Miss Roselpha A. Young, to
which union were born two children — Arnetta J. and Bertha L. Mr.
Harrison is a Democrat in political conviction, an energetic gentleman,
and a useful citizen. He moved to this county in 1880, to Nashville in
1883, and was chosen Deputy Auditor in June of that year. Mr. and
Mrs. Harrison are members of the church, he of the Christian and she of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
STEPHEN A. KENNEDY, farmer, is a native of East Tennessee;
was born October 17, 1826, and is the second of eleven children born to
John D. and Mary K. (Alexander) Kennedy, natives of East Tennessee^
and of Scotch-Irish extraction, who emigrated to this county in 1837,
and here lived until overtaken by death, November 19, 1864. He was
owner of 240 acres, and had served as County Assessor. Stephen A.
Kennedy was a farmer's boy with high educational aspirations, which he
accomplished sufficiently to teach a school. June, 1846, he enlisted in
Company E, Third Indiana Volunteers, bound for Mexico under. Capt.
Taggart, and was absent twelve months; he was a participant at the battle
of Buena Vista. On returning home he resumed farming, and was
elected in 1856 and re-elected in 1858 Sheriff of this county, which posi-
tion he retained until 1860, at which period he prepared to enter the
service again. July 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-second
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and took part in the battles of Pea Ridge,^
Stone River, Mission Ridge and others, having been commissioned Sec-
ond Lieutenant, as which he resigned April, 1864. In 1876, tie was
again elected Sheriff and re-elected in 1878. July 26, 1847, he married
Susanna Taggart, and has had born to him seven children — James W...
John E., Margaret E., William M., Patterson S. (deceased), Wesford L.
(deceased) and Cm-delia (deceased). Mr. Kennedy is an Odd Fellow, a
Democrat and a Pi-ohibitionist.
SAMUEL KENT, miller, is a native of Belmont County, Ohio, was
born June 14, 1825, and is a son of John and Lovicia (Barker) Kent.^
both natives of Pennsylvania, the former of German, the latter of En^
glish-Welsh descent. John Kent emigrated to Ohio and married, in Bel-
mont County, where he farmed for a number of years, and in 1852 ended
his days. He and wife were members of the Christian Church. Samuel
Kent was given the usual school education, and lived at home until her
766 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
reached his majority. April 2, 1846, he married Miss Frances, daughter
of Jacob and Martha Sill, and a native of Monroe County, Ohio, and to
their union were decreed thirteen children. Mr. Kent had previously
learned the millwright and milling business, and is now following the
latter in company with one of his sons, Marion Kent, they owning the
Kent Mill, one of the best in the county. Mr. Kent i^ a Republican,
politically, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
WESLY KIRTS, farmer, is a native of Hamblen Township, Brown
Co., Ind., was born August 22, 1836, and is a son of James and Rachel
(King) Kirts, the former a native of Tennessee, the latter of Kentucky,
and both of German descent. James Kirts was married in this State
when eighteen years old, whither he had come some time befoi-e; pur-
chased a farm in this county, of which he is an old settler. Wesley Kirts
received a good school education, and remained with his parents on the
home farm until his twenty-third year. March 13, 1859, he married
Elsie Jane Henderson, which union was honored by six children. Mr.
Kirts is a practical farmer, owning 296 acres of land on Salt Creak, and
in addition opex-ates a saw mill, at which he has been engaged for two
years, and had followed thrashing for twenty-five years previously. He
is a Democrat in politics, and an iDfluential citizen and excellent busi-
ness man. Mr. and Mrs. Kirts are members of the Southern Methodist
Church.
THOMAS C. McOLASHAN, teacher, is a native of Noble County,
Ohio, was born October 20, 1847, and is a son of James and Phebe
(Fisher) McGrlashan; the former a native of the Scotch Highlands, the
latter of Pennsylvania. James McGrlashan, when sixteen years old,
went to Glasgow, where he learned the trade of a fuller and dyer; served
three years and then moved to Edinburgh, where he remained until the
age of twenty-one, at which time he embarked for America, remained in
New York a short time, then moved to Pittsburgh, traveling from Phila-
delphia on foot, where he worked at his trade some years; he then settled
in Ohio, followed his trade, and finally ended his days in Noble County
in 1878; both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church.
Thomas C. McGlashan attended the ordinary schools and also several
normal schools, and commenced the business of teaching about 1863,
taught twelve years, then came to this State, where he has steadfastly
followed his profession. March 29, 1868, he married Miss ]\Iathie J.,
daughter of John Johnson, and a native of West "Virginia. Three chil-
dren have succeeded these nuptials — Lillie C, Frank and Mary E. Mr.
McGlashan is a Democrat, a temperance advocate, and he and wife are
members of the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM M. MASON was born in Madison County, Ky., May 19,
1815, and when quite young, accompanied his father, Edwin, to Law-
rence County, Ind. Edwin Mason's family consisted of himself, Nancy
J. (his wife) and three children — William M. being the eldest child.
There were also born to Edwin and Nancy J., in Lawrence County, ten
children, making in all thirteen — seven boys and six girls. William M.
Mason was reared a farmer. He married Lucy J. Clark in Washington
County, Ind., September 5, 1836, at which time he was engaged in the
grocery business, in Bedford, Ind., which he conducted five years. In
Bedford he studied medicine under his father-in-law, Dr. Alexander
Clark, and under Dr. Winthrop Foot, and he there began practice. In
1840, he came to Nashville, where he had a successful practice, and was
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND NASHVILLE. 767
the second physician in the county, On the first Monday in December,
1846, he took his seat in the Thirty- first General Assembly of Indiana,
as Representative from Brown County. At the general election of 1848,
he was elected Clerk of Brown County Circuit Court, for a term of seven
years, and at the same time elected Coimty Recorder for a like period.
In 1855, he was re-elected for four years. After the expiration of his
term of office, he practiced law until his death. At the time he came
here the country was a vast wilderness, and his was the fourth family to
settle in the town. They had to go twenty miles for groceries and other
supplies, the different families taking turns in making the trip. In the
year 1844, he erected a large two-story frame building, and subsequently
opened a hotel, which his widow is still conducting. He has born to him
nine children, as follows: Emily (deceased), Julia M. (now Coffey),
Volney (a Captain in the late war, now deceased), Edwin, Jane, James
M., Martha L., William A. and Hughes.
Hughes Mason, merchant, was born in Nashville, Brown County,
Ind., October 16, 1858, and is the youngest of nine children of William
M. and Lucy J. (Clark) Mason, natives of Kentucky and Connecticut
respectively. Our subject was reared in Nashville, where he obtained a
good common school education. February 14, 1874, he embarked in life
for himself; having natural business qualifications, he began the grocery
business, on a capital of $260, $150 of which was borrowed. So attentive
was he to business, and of such genial disposition toward customers, that
he at once controlled a steadily increasing trade; he was soon compelled
to extend his rooms, and with this larger room, his business so rapidly
increased that he was enabled to add a stock of dry goods; not long after
this he added hats and caps; then boots and shoes, and lastly, clothing.
In the progress of his work, he gained the entire confidence of his many
customers, and such was his trade that, in the fall of 1882, he was com-
pelled to enlarge his capacity for goods, and hence built a large two-story
frame building, and to this he transferred his entire stock of general
merchandise, having also rented a room for a stock of drugs. So rapidly
did he increase his trade that, in the year of 1882, his sales amounted to
$32,500. of which all started from a capital of $260. April 10, 1883, he
was married to Miss Nora F. Johnson, a native of Spencer, Ind. Thus
has Mr. Mason been the architect of"his own fortune; the recipient of no
gratuities, and it may be truthfully written of him that he is a self-made,
energetic, enterprising business manager, and success will inevitably
crown his efforts wherever he goes.
SIMON P. NEIDIGH is a son of John Neidigh and Nancy Neidigh,
whose maiden name was Nancy Stover. Both the father and mother are
of German families. John Neidigh is a native of Pennsylvania, born in
1817. Nancy Neidigh was born in 1827, in the State of Maryland.
While quite young and before marriage, both emigrated from their native
States to the State of Ohio, where they became acquainted and were mar-
ried. In 1841, they removed from the State of Ohio, and settled in what
was then a wilderness, but where they now reside, near the center of
Jackson Township, Brown County. It was upon the farm thus settled
that the subject of this sketch was born on the 28th day of October, 1851,
the second child in a family of eight children, consisting of four boys
and four girls, all of whom are still living. It was here, upon a Brown
County farm, that Simon P Neidigh was reared up amid sterling habits
of industry, economy and integrity; which traits of character have fol-
768 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
lowed him into manhood, and have been his chief agencies in making his
life work a sucsass. At the old praain^t sohoolhoiise near by, ia Jackson
Township, he received the rudiments of a good Eaglish education, under
all the trying difficulties which then beset a Brown County boy in pursuit
of knowledge, such as short terms of school, and some years none, rude
and uncomfortable schoolhouses, hard, backless benches and inefficient
teachers. At the age of twenty years, he entered as a student in the
high school at Bloomington, Ind. , and pursued his studies with marked
^success for one year, qualifying himself to engage with unusual suc-
cess in the profession of teaching, which he followed until he secured a com-
petency to enable him to further pursue his studies, when he matriculated
as a student at the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso, Ind., where
he continued to attend and alternately to teach until the spring of 1881,
when he graduated at that institution with marked distinction. Imme-
diately thereafter, he returned to his own county, and the Trustees of the
various townships of Brown County, recognizing in him a thorough teacher
and live educator, on the 6th of June, 1881, elected him to the office
of County Superintendent of Schools. This office he tilled with such
general satisfaction to both teachers and parents that at the expiration
of his first term in 1883, he was unanimously re-elected to the County
Superintendencyi which office he now holds. As the leading school officer
of the county, he has manifested fine abilities as an executive officer and
organizer of school work. Both teachers and pupils have received the
impress of his genius, and the standard of the common schools of Brown
County has been elevated during his administration. He has organized,
for the benefit of teachers and schools, most excellent normal schools
within their own county, conducted by the best educators in the county.
He is practical in all things, speculative in nothing. These traits he has
.to some extent imparted to the teachers and the schools of the county.
ile is a man of great physical and moral courage; and he displays in his
life and habits the strong, practical traits of character which distin-
guish his German ancesfry. On July 17, 1883, Mr. Neidigh was mar-
ried to Mary C. Hester, formerly wife of the late Judge James S. Hester
(deceased), and a daughter of Alexander Duncan, of Brown County, Ind.
CHARLES M. PATTERSON, merchant, was born September 25,
3860, in Washington Township, Bi'own Co., Ind., and is the seventh son
of Samuel and Eliza (Cable) Patterson, natives of Pennsylvania, and of
English and German extraction respectively. Samuel Patterson moved
hither from Ohio in 1848, and settled where he resides, on 160 acres.
Charles M. Patterson was reared on the home ftirm, but received a share
of schooling, and when twenty years old attended the Nashville High
School, and later at Bloomington for one term, his mother furnishing the
means. He taught school at North Salem, Central Junction, and after-
ward located in this town, where, in 1882, he commenced the mercantile
business with his brother. November 6, 1881, he married Miss Lucetta
J. Downey, which union has been cemented by two children — Oliver T.
(born April 25, 1882) and Dora C. (born March 7, 1884, deceased). Mr.
Patterson and brother carry a full stock of the best goods, with large
annual sales. They are practical and obliging business men, who merit,
as they receive, the respect and patronage of their community.
MARTIN PHILLIPS, M. D., was a native of Rhode Island, was born
December 5, 1835. and came to the end of his life March 8, 1880. Au-
gust 12, 1866. he was united in wedlock to Miss Louisa Higher, who left
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND NASHVILLE. 769
the world Septembor 19, 1867; whereupon, March 26, 1868, he wedded
Miss Sarah J. Hanablen, a native of this county, which union gave place
to two children — Joseph B. (born March 12, 1869) and Ida F. (born
August 19, 1871). Dr. Phillips was a graduate of the medical college at
Nashville, Tenn., and was a devoted student and enlightened practitioner
of his profession. His death resulted from a bronchial affection. He
was a popular gentleman, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a
very generally lamented citizen. Mrs. Phillips has been engaged since
April, 1883, in the hotel business, being the proprietress of a first-class
institution in ail respects.
DR. ADFRED J. RALPHY was born March 28, 1855, and is the
second of three children of John and Sarah (Jones) Ralphy, the former
a native of London, Eng., born 1797, the latter of Warwickshire, who
emigrated to South America with a colony in 1846, but, being dissatisfied
with the country, moved to Cincinnati and remained until 1853, when
he removed hither. He had served an appronticeship to architecture and
building, and was an organizer of the Mechanics' Relief aud Aid Associ-
ation. Alfred J. Ralphy was reared in Nashville, and commenced to
work for himself when twelve years of age. He worked at the printing
business for three years, and began teaching school when sixteen years old ;
he also clerked in a drug store and read medicine under Dr. Arnold S.
Griffitt, afterward forming a partnership with him for one year, but now »
is in practice alone. Dr. Ralphy is solely a self-made man, having main-
ly educated himself during youth; he attended the Cincinnati College of
Medicine and Surgery and the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louis-
ville. June 12, 1878, he married Miss Addie Keller, a native of this
county, to which union have been born two children — Clifford, and an in-
fant, deceased. Dr. Ralphy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and
a leading Democrat; he has a good, growing practice, and is a worthy
citizen. Mrs. Ralphy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DANIEL STUKEY is a native of Monroe County, Ohio, was born
July 10, 1835. and is a son of Jo.seph and Hannah (Brewer) Stukey, who
were natives of Ohio, and of English descent. Joseph Stukey received
a fair education, aud afterward followed farming until his death, in
1852 -a devoted member of the Christian Church. Daniel Stukey at-
tended the schools of his boyhood, and when fifteen years of age he
hired as a farm hand. October 25, 1855, he married Miss Elizabeth,
daughter of Michael and Priscilla More, to which iiuion were born
nine children — Mary C, Martha J., Emmer E., Elmer E. , Erastus G.,
Hannah P., Daniel E., Emma F. and Lula A., of whom Miss Emmer E.
is a prominent schoolmistress of this county. June 25, 1863, Mr.
Stukey enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer
Regiment; served until March 4, 1864, and in the autumn of that year
moved to this county and purchased the farm on which he has now
his residence. Mr. Stukey is a radical Republican, a member of the
Patrons of Husbandry, and he and wife are consistent members ol the
Christian Church.
WILLIAM P. STULL, farmer, is a native of Ohio, was born No-
vember 14, 1827, and is a son of Abraham and Barbara (Palmer) Stull,
the former a native of Pennsylvania, and of German, the latter of Ohio,
and of English descent. Abraham Stull emigrated to Ohio at an early
age. married, remained there until 1852, when he removed to Bartholo-
mew County, Ind., and purchased the farm, on which he lives with one of
770 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
his sons, Mrs. Stull having died January 13, 1881, a member of the Bap-
tist Church, as is her surviving husband. William P. Stull received a
good education in his native Ohio; remained with his parents until he
was seventeen, when he engaged to learn cabinet-making; served four
years, and thereafter engaged in business for himself. January 24, 1850,
he married Mary A. Moring, a native of Ohio; to this union were born
eleven children, of whom seven daughters survive — Campsadell A.,
Frances A., Rebecca J., Sarah Bell, Mary W., Cora B. and Nancy E.
Mr. Stull remained in Ohio until 1857, when he emigrated to this town-
ship and engaged in farming. He is a Democrat, and he and Mrs Stull
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
FRANK P. T AGO ART, merchant, is the son of James and Jane
(Weddel) Taggart, the former a native of North Carolina, born in 1801,
the latter of Tennessee, born in 1804 Our subject was reared to farm-
ing, but served an apprenticeship to blacksmithing, and when but four-
teen years old assisted to build the first brick court house at Nashville.
He followed his trade some time, and then engaged in the mercantile way
as a salesman for Judge Hester, and afterward for Thompson & Bro.
August 13, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-second Indiana Regiment as
one of the leaders of the band, being present at Pea Ridge, siege
of Corinth, and several other battles. In June, 1862, he re-enlisted in
Company K, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Volunteers, and was
commissioned Second Lieutenant. After the surrender of "Lee he passed
most of his time on detached duty, and was discharged February, 1866.
May 13, 1860, he married Martha E. Seip, to which union have descended
four children — Walter A., Patterson E., Ira W. and Estella. Mr. Tag-
gart began his present business December, 1870, and has been uncom-
monly successful, having arranged to increase his stock and storeroom.
He is a member of the Masonic body, of the G. A. R., of the Democ-
racy, of the Prohibition party. He is a partner in the grocery and pro-
vision business of Gratton & Taggart, and also of the general store of
Houston, Jackson & Co.
CAPT. T. TAGGART, M. D., was born December 28, 1846, near this
town, and is the youngest of the eleven children of James and Jane
Taggart, the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Tennessee.
James Taggart came to this region before the organization of Brown
County, and was the first Sheriff thereof. In 1846, he organized Com-
pany E, of the Thirtieth Indiana Regiment, for service in the Mexican
War, and was killed at Buena Vista February 23, 1847. Our subject
was reared on a farm, where he remained until fifteen years of age, and
June, 1862, enlisted for three months in the Fifty-fifth Indiana Volun-
teer Regiment. He took part in the battle at Richmond, Ky., after
which he re enlisted for three years in the One Hundred and Twentieth
Indiana Regiment, and was appointed principal musician, being present
at the following engagements: Resaca, Stone Mountain, Kenesaw Moun-
tain, Siege of Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville and Kingston. After the
war, he engaged in mercantile business at Nashville, Ind. ; this he sold
in 1868, and commenced the study of medicine under Drs. Phillips and
Selfridge; graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Indian-
apolis, in 1880, and opened practice at Mahalasville. On May 6, he
moved to Nashville, and established his profession here. November 19,
1865, he married Emarine Williams, of this county, and to them were
bestowed three children — Egbert B. (deceased), Lorena M. and Alvey.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND NASHVILLE. 771
Dr. Taggert is a member of the Freemasons, and Master of his lodge, also
of Columbia Commandery and of the G. A. R. Mr. Taggart is a prom-
inent Democrat, and has been Trustee of Washington Township.
THOMAS J. TAGGART, Sheriff of Brown County, was born De-
cember 15, 1837; is a native of this county, and the sixth of the ten
children of William and Sarah (Mullis) Taggart, the former a native of
North Carolina, the latter of Tennessee, both of Irish descent, and both
deceased. William Taggart came to what is now Brown County in 1826;
married, entered land, cleared a farm and remained until his death.
Thomas J. Taggart was reared on the home farm; remained with his
parents until his majority. Except the last two years, he has followed
farming, having now forty acres of good land, some building lots and a
residence. September 27, 1860, he married Miss Evaline S. Strahl, a
native of Ohio, and to this union have been born nine children — William
T., Amanda E., Ida F., Hannibal P., Sanford L., Elizabeth A. J., Sarah
L., John E. and Frank P. Mr. Taggart is an uncompromising Demo-
crat, having given his first vote for S. A. Douglas. He was made Assess-
or of Hamblen Township in 1873, appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1878,
elected Sheriff in 1882, and is a candidate for re-election.
THOMAS E. WARRING, M. D, is a native of Ghent, Ky., was
born September 3, 1852, and is a son of Dr. John M. and Tabitha M.
(Hopkins) Warring, natives of Kentucky, and of English descent. Dr.
John M. Warring was for some years in early life engaged in teaching
before he began the study of medicine, after which he attended and grad-
uated from the Lexington Medical College, subsequently moved from
Kentucky to Hancock County, Ind., and thence to Smithville, Monroe
County, where he is living and following his profession. Dr. Warring
is a member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Warring was before her
death, July 12, 1882. Thomas E. Warring entered the medical college
at Keokuk, Iowa, after obtaining a good education, in the year 1877, com-
pleting his course in 1880, after which period he commenced practice at
Kent's Mill, this township, where he is doing a profitable practice. June
12, 1881, he married Othilia Kleindorfer. Dr. Warring has been Justice
of the Peace of Monroe County, is a Democrat in politics, and a promi-
nent citizen and rising physician. Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Warring are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
REV. ROBERT J. WATTS was born October 29, 1848, near Nash-
ville, Ind., and is the eighth of the eleven children of the family of
Mason and Elizabeth (McClery) Watts; the former a native of Virginia,
the latter of Kentucky, who emigrated to Decatur County, Ind., and
thence to this county about 1817, where Mr. Watts died. Robert J.
Watts was reared on a farm, received a fair school education, and when
nineteen years old attended the Clear Springs High School, in Jackson
County, Ind. , after which he taught school and prepared himself to enter
the State University, since which he has been Principal of the high
school in Nashville. June 27, 1871, he married Miss Lizzie Guthrie, a
native of Ohio, with a result of three children — Everett W. (deceased),
Ella M. and Alma L. In 1882, he commenced his labors in the minis-
try of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he now devotes the larger
portion of his time, and the prospect for his success and usefulness is
very flattering. He is an extremely liberal Democrat, a worthy. Chris-
tian man, and an enlightened citizen.
772 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
JOHN S. WILLIAMS was born in this county November 1, 1849,
and is the fifth of the ten children of Alfred and Nancy (Mathis) Will-
iams. He attended the public schools of Nashville, and when eighteen
years old commenced teaching, continuing the same until 1873, at which
period he was elected Assessor; served four years, and thereafter engaged
in farming. November 7, 1882, he was elected County Auditor, which
position he yet occupies. April 20, 1871, he married Sarah E. Woods,
whose father. Jackson Woods, died a prisoner of war at Macon, Ga.
Six childrAU followed their union Eva, Alfred S., infant (deceased),
John N., Jennie and an infant. Mr. Williams is a Democrat, a Patron
of Husbandry, and he and wife belong to the Missionaiy Baptist Church.
Alfred Williams, father of the above, was born in East Tennessee,
November 6, 1822. His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and
had been several times made prisoner by the British; he died a pensioner
in 1849, aged ninety-five years. The father of our subject was a native
of North Carolina; served as Second Lieutenant in Ihe war of 1812; was
at the battle of New Orleans; settled in Monroe County in 1825, and
later in Brown County, Ind., of which he was appointed Treasurer before
its organization, and elected afterward. Alfred Williams was made As-
sistant SiU'veyor of Brown County in 1854, elected in 1856, and re-elect-
ed in 1858. He was elected Treasurer in 1862, and also a Legislative
Representative of this county afterward, and finally Representati s^e from
Brown and Bartholomew Counties.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 773
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
SAMSON J. ANDERSON, farmer and stock-breeder, was born April
26, J 840, and is the eldest of the family of Allen S. and Sarah Can-
natsay) Anderson, natives i-espectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Sam-
son attended school in boyhood when not engaged in farm work, and
lived with his parents until August 25, 1859, when he married Mary E.
Terbune, by which union they had seven children, six of whom are liv-
ing— Rozilla, Lorena Alice, Walter Q., Ettie Viola, Vestal and Ed. S.
Mr. Anderson is owner of 248 acres of good aad well cultivated land,
also with barns and implements, the finest brick residence in the county,
and a pear orchard of 1,000 trees. Mr. Anderson is also raising Clydes-
dale horses, short-horn cattle, Oxford Down sheep and China-Poland
hogs; he, in company with Mr. Mosier, introduced this stock into the
county. He was Deputy Land Appraiser of this covinty in 1869, 1870,
and has a good farm, 120 acres of timber land having been given him
by his father. He ia an active Democrat and a highly respected citizen.
GEORGE M. ANDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser, was born Octo-
ber 31, 1842, in this township, and is a son of Allen S. and Sarah An-
derson, natives respectively of Vii'ginia and Kentucky. George M.
resided with his parents until February 19, 1863, when he married Mar-
garet Terhune, a union which was honored by four children — Amanda
C, America A., Dora E. and Alonzo W. Mr. Anderson is possessor of
300 acres in good cultivation and improvement, having in addition three
good orchards, also the homestead place, which is likewise well improved,
and containing one of the best residences in the county. He now lives
on eighty acres entered by his father, and forty by his mother. Mr.
Anderson is a prominent and consistent Democrat; has been several times
made School Director. He is an honored Mason, an upright citizen, and
very generally and highly regarded.
JOHN W. BEATY, pioneer farmer and stock-raiser, was born June
3, 1828, in Shenandoah County, Va., and is the eldest child of the family
of Samuel and Mary (^Stell) Beaty, natives of Virginia. John W. had
poor advantages for an education, his mother having died in his youth,
at which time he was compelled to labor for a livelihood, and when of
age commenced tobacco-raising on shares. November 6, 1851, he mar-
ried Susan Smith, of Ohio, which nuptials were succeeded by three chil-
dren— William H, Ermine E., and George W. After the death of this
wife, in 1857, he married Nancy Gregg, by which second union he was
parent to five children— John (deceased), C. D., Mary B., Sar^uel
H, and Oscar Allen. Mr. Beaty came hither with his parents in 1844;
moved to this county in 1850, and settled in Hamblen Township, and
purchased 160 acres, which he improved, and in 1867, moved to where
he now lives, having also 150 acres on Bean Blossom Creek; Mr. Beaty
was the only Road Superintendent of the county; the law being abolished
thei-eafter. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a liberal,
genial gentleman.
774 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
MICHAEL T. BROWN, a farmer and stock-raiser, was born Sep-
tember 6, 1836, in Marion County, W. Va., and is the third child of Den-
nis and Elizabeth (Toothman) Brown, natives of West Virginia. Michael
T. Brown was reared a farmer, and September 11, 1856, married Mary
Beach, of Marion Connty, W. Va., and to this union were born nine chil-
dren— John F., Samnel D., Marion L., Rebecca E., Margaret E., Lillie
Bell, Martin T., Ann Eliza and one deceased. Mr. Brown moved to this
county in 1865, and settled where he now resides on 110 acres, in good
cultivation and with many improvements. Mr. Brown is a leading Dem-
ocrat, a practical farmer, a successful businessman, an upright gentleman
and reputable citizen.
GEORGE A. BRUMMET, farmer, was born December 22, 1840, in
Monroe County, Ind., and is the fourth of the nine in family of Joab
and Sarah (Brummet) Brummet, natives of Tennessee, and of German
extraction. George A. Brummet was reared to farming as a business,
and with a meager education. When he was six years of age, he came
with his parents to this county, having been early settlers of Monroe
County, and settled in Washington Township, where Mr. Brummet pur-
chased 500 acres. Our subject lived with his parents until March 6,
1861, when he married Miss Martha, daughter of William and Elizabeth
Snider, from which union succeeded four children — Eli (deceased), Will-
iam McClelland, Arwine and Thena Catharine (deceased). Mrs. Brum-
met died September 12, 1875; and January 11, 1877, Mr. Brummet
wedded Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Brown, and to
this second marriage three children were gi'anted. Mr. Brummet moved
to his present residence in 1861; it comprises 125 acres, which is con-
siderably improved with good buildings, orchards and the like — almost
all of which was acquired by his industry and management. In politics,
he is a Democrat.
WILEY BURNS, farmer, was born October 16, 1832, in Morgan Coun-
ty, Ind., and is a son of Wiley and Mary (Baker) Burns, natives of Ken-
tucky and of Scotch and Welsh descent respectively. Our subject re-
ceived a fair education and taught school for four terms in this county.
September 15, 1857, be married Nancy K. Hastings, of Morgan County,
and to this union were born four children — Melissa V., Mattie, Elmer E.
and Thaddeus S. ; their mother died April 4, 1872, and Mr. Burns, April
18, 1876, wedded Emily A. Matthews, and this union produced two chil-
dren— Wiley and Katie. December 21, 1863, he enlisted in Company
H, Seventieth Indiana Infantry, and served in the following battles: Res-
aca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw, Marietta,
Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah, Bentonville and the march through
Georgia. He was discharged June, 1865, came to this county in 1867,
and settled on 155 acres of well-improved and planted land, where he
makes a specialty of fruit-raising. Mr. Burns is a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity and the Knights of Honor. He is a leading Republican,
and was elected Trustee of this township one tei'm. He is an honest man,
an upright citizen, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
JAMES L. CAMPBELL, farmer, was born March 18, 1854 in Wash-
ington County, Ohio, and is the eldest of the eleven children of James
C. and Minerva (Flint) Campbell, natives respectively of Pennsylvania
and Ohio, and of English and German extraction. James L. Campbell
was reared on a farm, and in the lull of farm work obtained some educa-
tion, and afterward attended for one term the State University, by which
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 775
he became a teacher, having already taught fifteen terms, several of them
in Illinois. The father of our subject purchased 156 acres of timber
land in this township, on which he made improvements and resided until
his decease. March 16, 1863, James L. Campbell married Miss Rachel
C. daughter of William and Elizabeth Snider, to which union were de-
creed two children — Walter and James A. (both deceased). Mr. Camp-
bell is the possessor of 156 acres, with improvements, appointing, plant-
ing and stocking, which makes the place a choice and valuable one; he is
a prominent Democrat and an enlightened citizen.
THOMAS W. DAVID, pioneer farmer, is a native of Jackson County,
Ind., and is the second child of five boys and five girls of John and
Morning (Weddel) David, natives of Virginia. Our subject passed his
early days on a farm, with a very limited education; was born September
8, 1827, and moved with his parents to this county in 1835, who settled
on Bear Creek, where his father entered 140 acres, and remained until
his death. February 2, 1846, Thomas W. David married Sarah E.
Tomey, to which union were born ten children — Adeline (deceased), Mary
C, John E. (deceased), Elizabeth, Serepta H., Willie, Daniel W., Lewis
E., Silva V. (deceased) and an infant. Mrs. David died October, 1822,
a member of the Christian Church, and February 2, 1884, Mr. David
wedded Eliza Jane Hale, a native of East Tennessee. In August, 1861,
he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
and was discharged after seventeen months' service, and resumed active
farm life. He has several times been appointed School Director, and is
an earnest Republican. Mr. David moved to where he now lives, on Lick
Creek, in 1869, where he owns eighty-five acres in a good state of culti-
vation, well and variously improved, containing good buildings, orchards,
etc., etc.
GEORGE R. EARLYWINE, one of the pioneers of this county, is a
native of Bartholomew County, Ind., and is the sixth child of the family
of George W. and Sarah (Doan) Earlywine, natives of Kentucky and
respectively of German and English extraction. George R. Earlywine
was reared to farming, with a fair school education, and lived at home
until his majority. He was born June 16, 1841, and February, 1864,
enlisted in Company D, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
was engaged at the following heroic battles: Dallas, Tyson's Cross Roads,
Noonday Creek, Belle Plaine, Cotton Creek, Stone Mountain and many
others, being discharged September, 1865. December 28, 1865, he
married Amanda Hendricks, by which alliance were born nine children —
William Sherman, Sarah D. , Fannie L. (deceased), London H. , Willis
F., Ordella Jane (deceased), Thomas B., Minta and Jesse J. Mr. Early-
wine is owner of 130 acres cultivated and improved. He is an earnest
Republican and an estimable citizen.
MILTON FLEENER, pioneer farmer, was born June 1, 1818, in
Washington County, Ind., and is a son of Nicholas and Nancy E. (John-
son) Fleener, natives respectively of Vii-ginia and North Carolina.
Milton was reared a farmer by his parents, wlio came to this State in
1820, settled near Bloomington, where they entered and cleared land.
Our subject remained at home until September 28, 1837, when he married
Eliza Jane Davison, a native of Ireland, from which union descended
three children — Joseph N. , James P. and Margaret Ann (deceased). In
1840, Mr. Fleener removed to this township, where he piu'chased 320
acres, which he improved, and to which he added until he controlled 800
776 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
acres. He was elected Constable for one term, Associate Judge for
seven years and County Commissioner one term. Mr. Fleener is owner
of several lots in Needmore, also a good store building. He and wife
are members of the Christian Church.
LUTHER FLINT, farmer, was born April 25, 1815, in Vermont,
and is the youngest child of Porter and Lucy (Farwell) Flint, natives of
Massachusetts. In 1827, his parents moved to Ohio, purchased 120 and
entered 80 acres, which they improved. December 10, 1835, Luther
married Miss Mary, a daughter of Edward and Prussia Edwards, to
which union were born nine children, seven now living — Minerva. Prus-
sia, Hannah, James. Lucy. Miranda and Caroline; this mother died Feb-
ruary, 1872, and JuQe 9, 1875, Mr. Flint wedded Lucinda Long, by
which union succeeded two children — Jasper and Laura. Mr. Flint
moved to this county in 1868, and settled on his present home of 190
acres, containing good house, barns, orchards, fencing, stock, etc., the
bulk of which he has acquired by his own efforts, unaided and continued.
He is an active Democrat, and a reputable citizen. He and wife are
members of the Baptist Church. The paternal grandfather of our sub-
ject was a soldior of the Revolutionary war.
JAMES FLINT, stock raiser and farmer, was born April 13, 1843,
in Washington County, Ohio, and is the fourth of the nine children of
Luther and Mary (Edwards) Flint, natives respectively of Vermont and
Ohio. James was reared to farm labor, attended the common schools,
and lived at home until September 5, 1862, when he married Isabella
Livingston, from which descended seven children — Mary E., Albert M.,
Jacob C, Alonzo T., Salina V., Lorena E. and Lulu. February 24, 1864,
Mr. Flint enlisted in Company C, Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and served
until the succeeding September. In 1866, he moved to this county, set-
tled in Jackson Township, purchased 140 acres, mostly timber, which he
improved, sold, and afterward bought sixty-seven acres, where he lived
three years, and later purchased 145 acres, wherA he is now living,' and
which he has cleared, improved and adorned — all the outcome of his
labor and economy. Mr. Flint is a Democrat, and is now serving as
County Commissioner. He is a good citizen, a reputable gentleman, and
he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
LEWIS FRITCH was born in Germany March 13, 1816, and is the
second child of Joseph and Frances Fritch, the former a native of
France, the latter of Germany. Our subject was taught farming in the
fatherland, as well as shoe-making. In 1837, he came to the United States
by way of New Orleans; traveled to Hamilton County, Ohio, where he
worked on a canal; and there, April 13, 1839, he married Sarah Ann
Prail, from which union issued three children — Margaret Jane, James
W. and Francis (deceased). Mrs. Fritch died August, 1843, and Mr.
Fritch married a second wife March 18, 1845, Ellen Aldrich, to which
union seven children were born: Joseph F., Nathaniel, Hannah Ellen,
McAllen, Andrew (deceased), John (deceased) and Conrad; this wife also
died; and November 23, 1858, he wedded Elizabeth Stump, from which
last marriage descended seven children — Catherine A., Nancy E. (de-
ceased), Christopher, Frederick (deceased), Isaac M. , Mary (deceased)
and Martha A. After marriage, Mr. Fritch moved to Shelby County,
Ind., purchased sixty acres, sold the same in 1849, and removed to where
he now lives, having purchased 130 acres, which he cleared, improved,
and to which he added, owning now 255 acres — a comfortable home and
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 777
valuable estate Mr. Fritch is a reputable citizen and, with his wife, is
a member of the Christian Church.
LEWIS M. FRITCH. merchant, is a native of this county, was
born August 18, 1851 5 and is the fourth of the seven children of Lewis
and Ellen (Folsom) Fritch. Our subject was raised as a farmer's boy,
lived at home until nineteen years old, then went to La Bette, Kan. ; re-
mained two years working on a farm, and returned home thereafter to
assist his father. November 1, 1877, he married Miss Melissa A.,
daughter of Andrew J. and Mary E. (Armstrong) Vaughn, and by this
union these parties became parents of four children — Jason H., Herman
J., Lewis A. and Alonzo E. Mr. Fritch farmed for a time after his
marriage, and in 1878 engaged in the lumber and stave business, which
he continued to pursue until 1882, when he purchased a stock of general
merchandise. In 1883, he moved his goods and family to Needmore.
where he has continued the business, having an excellent and selected
stock. Mr. Fritch has been successful in his venture, and now employs
a wagon for dealing in all varieties of produce. He has displayed valu-
able business traits, and is a popular merchant. In politics, he is a Na-
tional, and was Postmaster at Richards for eighteen months.
RILEY GORDON, farmer, is a native of Batler County, Ohio, was
born September 16, 1882, and is fifth of the family of Riley and Sarah
Gordon, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch extraction.
Our subject was reared on a farm, with poor advantages for education,
most of which he gained after his marriage. When nineteen years old,
he began working by the month, which he continued for eight months,
and two years later as a teamster. December 17, 1856, he married Eliz-
abeth Jones, with an issue of eight living children — ^Willard G., Ida
May, Charles E., MaryM., Edward Riley, Armina E., Olive Q. and
Louisa E. Mr. Gordon became a resident of this county in 1869, and in
1875, moved to his present residence on seventy acres of good and im-
proved land. He is also owner of 800 acres near Georgetown. He has
served as Justice of the Peace, as Land Appraiser for two terms, was Dep-
uty Prosecutor of the county for a time, and now is Deputy Prosecutor
for this and Hamblen Townships. His first vote was given for C. L. Val-
landigham for Congress.
WILSON HELMS is a native of this county, was born November
22, 1822, in Harrison County, Ohio, and is the eldest child of Isaac and
Rebecca (Mehaffey) Helms, natives of Pennsylvania. William Helms,
when fifteen years of age, began to work by the month, and September
28, 1845, he married Mary Ann Smith, a native of Ohio, and to this
union were born eleven children, of whom nine lived to receive names.
Mr. Helms moved to this county in 1854, settled on Bean Blossom Creek
and purchased 100 acres, which he cleared and improved. This farm
contains a fine residence, good buildings, orchard, etc. — all self-made,
and he has given his children each $600 when married. September, 1864,
he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-second Indiana Regiment, but was in
hospital during nearly all his term, and was discharged Jaly 17, 1865.
Mr. Helms has been generally successful in life, but had his property
destroyed by fire, during which his children were obliged to leave the
house without clothing, two daughters having lost their lives thereby,
Mr. Holmes is an active Republican and worthy citizen.
THOMAS H. HENDRICKS, stock-raiser aiad farmer, is a native of
Johnson County, Ind., was born February 15, 1839, and is the fifth of
778 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
the ten children of Landon and Drusilla (Hardesty) Hendricks, natives
of Kentucky, and of German descent. Thomas H. was reared a farmer,
and lived with his parents until November 28. 1860, at which time he
married Emmeline, daughter of Jacob and Nancy Hougham; to this
union were born five children — Ida M., Emma D., Albert H., Ira and
Odus. In August, 1861, Mr. Hendricks moved to Tipton County, pur-
chased 220 acres, which in 1868 he sold and removed to Johnson County,
purchased eighty acres, lived twelve years, and, in 1881, came to this
county, and now resides on 265 acres, well-improved, cultivated and
adorned; he also gives considerable attention to breeding stock, espe-
cially Poland-China hogs. He is an active Republican, has served as
School Director for eight years, and is a highly regarded and greatly
trusted citizen. Mrs. Hendricks is a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
LEWIS JONES, farmer, is a native of Monroe County, Ohio; was
born October S, 1824, and is the second of the seven boys and three girls
born to Samuel and Cisner (Hamilton) Jones, natives of Pennsylvania;
the former of English- German, the latter of Irish- German descent.
Lewis Jones was reared on a farm, but enjoyed very spare advantages
for education, and remained with his parents until December 31, 1846,
when he married Margaret Ann, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Potts)
Turner; to this union were born six children — Mary Elizabeth, Minerva
A., John Harvey (deceased), Hannah Jane (deceased), Martha Ellen and
Sarah Ann (deceased). In 1854, Mr. Jones moved to this county, settled
near Georgetown, and two years later removed two miles northwest of
Georgetown, remained seven years, and thence to where he now lives,
having purchased eighty acres, well-improved, with good buildings,
orchards and the like — the whole an outcome of his will and energy.
September, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fifth Indiana Regi-
ment, and served in the following engagements: Savannah, Cheraw,
Columbia, Bentonville and numerous others, including Sherman's march,
and was in the grand review, receiving his discharge June 14, 1865,
after which he resumed farming in this county. Mr. Jones is a Demo-
crat, has served as Township Trustee, and is an upright man and worthy
citizen.
HENRY C. LEGGE, farmer, was born September 16, 1842, in
Bloomington, and is the eldest son of William A. and Mary (Hight)
Legge, natives of Kentucky. Mr. Legge graduated from the State Uni-
versity in 1861, and engaged in the stock and livery business. In 1862,
he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-fourth Indiana Regiment; was dis-
charged after three months, then re-enlisted for three years in Company
A, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Indiana Regiment; was mainly en-
gaged in guard duty, and was discharged honorably as Corporal. Decem-
ber 15, 1864, he married Miss Elizabeth F. Dunn, with an issue of six
children — William D., Margaret M., Carter L., Howard W., Emma and
Henry R. Mr. Legge moved on the farm he now occupies in 1869; it
comprises 165 acres of improved, cultivated land, with good buildings,
orchards, etc. Mr. Legge is an enterprisi Qg, valuable citizen, a member
of the G. A. R., and one of the active Republicans of the county.
HUGH McLARY, stock-dealer and farmer, is a native of this town-
ship, was born October 30, 1847, the eighth of the ten children of Hugh
A. and Savannah (Lockridge) McLary, natives respectively of Kentucky
and Virginia, and of Irish and German extraction. Our subject was
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 779
bred to the farm, on which he labored and remained until after man-
hood. January 10, 1869, he married Misg Mary C, daughter of Jackson
and Polly Fleener, a union which has been favored with two children —
Kosa Ellen and Franklin Pierce. Mr. McLary is a practical farmer and
stock-breeder, an excellent citizen and honored gentleman. His life
has been passed in this county. He is now residing on his father's farm
at the mouth of Bear Creek. Politically Mr. McLary is an advocate of
the principles of Democracy, and he and Mrs. McLary are members of
the Christian Church.
REV. EVAN E. McNEELY is a native of Washington County, Ind.,
was born December 28, 1823, his parents being William and Rhoda
(Richards) McNeely, natives of East Tennessee. Our subject's educa-
tion was a sparse one. His parents moved to Monroe County in 1825,
settled near Bloomington, where his father entered land and died some
time later. Evan E. McNeely lived at home until January 19, 1845,
when he married Miss Mary C, daughter of Wiley B. and Elizabeth
Robinson, which union was enriched by eight children: William W., Rhoda
J., Louisa C, Clark R., Joseph W., Susanna M., Emesly (deceased)
and Harriet E. Following the death of this lady, March 18, 1867, he
married, March 8, 1868, Elizabeth Neidigh, a native of Ohio. After
living at Martinsville, Morgan County, Mr, McNeely removed to this
county in 1867, settled where he now lives, and where his wife has 130
acres, cultivated and improved. In 1859, Mr. McNeely was licensed
as exhorter, in 1872 as preacher, and still later as a deacon of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. In politics he is Republican, and has been
School Director several times.
RICHARD J. MILLER, farmer and bee culturist, was born June 14,
1827, in Butler County, Ohio, his parents being John L. and Hannah
(Whitsell) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania, and respectively of Irish and
English descent. Richard J. Miller worked on the home farm until he
was fourteen, when he went to learn the trade of joiner and bridge-
builder, which he followed until 1862, having come to Clinton County,
Ind., with his parents, in 1830, and afterward moved to Rice County, Minn.
In 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Eighth Minnesota Regiment,
and was engaged in many Indian battles, after which the regiment was
transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and participated at Stone
River, Franklin and other struggles, being discharged August 18, 1865.
He afterward resumed his trade for two years, then engaged in saw mill-
ing, moved to this county, again began saw milling, and afterward fell
back on farming at his present location ; this place embraces 240 acres,
with good orchard, etc. Mr. Miller makes a specialty of bee culture.
May 23, 1852, he married Nancy M. McAnly, with a result of ten chil-
dren, the following yet living; Eliza, Jane, John F., Bell V. , Ida
May, Jessie Fremont, Emma E., Richard Edgar and Zora Helen. Mr.
Miller is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Good Templars.
He was Marshal of Noblesville one term, and he and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
CALVIN MOSER is a native of Cumberland County, Tenn., was born
February 17, 1817, and is a son of Jacob and Polly (Stephens) Moser,
both of Dutch descent, who moved to and settled in Monroe County about
1819. Calvin was reared as a farmer, had poor school advantages, and
lived at home until March 12, 1840, when he married Margaret Williams,
from which union sprang nine children, eight of whom are living — A.
49
780 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
R., Martha A., Mary, J. P., M. S., Isaac B., Kebecca and Katie M. After
the decease of his first wife, February 23, 1875, Mr. Moser married, ou
September 24, 1875, Mrs. Hannah Prosser. After this marriage, Mr.
Moser moved to where he now resides, and purchased 80 acres, to which
he steadily added until 600 acres had become his, most of which he im-
proved, and afterward sold for the benefit of his children, he now retain-
ing but 350 acres, well improved, planted and stocked. Mr. Moser is a
self-made and self-sustaining gentleman. He is an active Democrat, has
served one term as Township Trustee, is a valued and trusted citizen, and
he and wife belong to the Baptist Church.
AQUILLA K. MOSER, farmer and stock -raiser, was born February
2, 1841, in this county, and is one of the eight children of Calvin and
Margaret (Williams) Moser, the former a native of Tennessee, the latter
of Indiana. Our subject lived with his parents until his marriage, De-
cember 13, L862, with Clarissa Calvin, which union produced seven chil-
dren— Alva N., Haron D., Jennie June, Cortez Mexico, Brigham Young
(deceased), Jack William and Roscoe La Mar. After marriage, Mr.
Moser lived four years near Georgetown, and in 1866 he moved to his
present site, where he owns 193 acres, with good residence, barns, build-
ings, peach and apple orchards, etc., most of which was acquired by his
own industry. Mr. Moser is a leading Democrat, and was elected County
Commissioner in 1870. He has a half -interest in the gravel road leading
south from Morgantown. He was formerly a member of the Grange, and
is an honorable man and an esteemed citizen.
CALVIN PLATT, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Mahoning
County, Ohio, was born August 30, 1823, and is the eldest of the four
boys of Erastus and Julia (Hitchcock) Piatt, natives of IMassachusetts
and Connecticut respectively, and of Puritan stock. Calvin passed his
boyhood on a farm, attended the common schools at intervals, and so re-
mained at home until he was of age, thereafter working for himself at $12
per month. August, 1846, he married Miss Louisa, a daughter of Thomas
Peterson, to which union were born two children, both deceased. Mrs.
Piatt died in April, 1853, and in August, 1854, Mr. Piatt wedded Angelina
Camp, of Mahoning County, Ohio, and to this marriage were born seven
children — Erastus D., Julia (deceased), Jabez, Eben, Presly, Elizabeth
and Adella. This wife died, April, 1883. Mr. Piatt moved to this
county in March, 1855, settled on 160 acres, which he partially improved,
and where he remained about twelve years, at which time he removed to
his present home and farm, which is well improved, planted, and contain-
ing considerable stock. Mr. Piatt has in all 316 acres. While in Ohio,
he served as Constable and Deputy Sheriff. He is an active Republican,
and a worthy citizen.
DAVID 'W. POLING was born June 3, 1838, in Marion County,
W. Va., and is the youngest of the three children of Jonas and Rachel
(Pitzer) Poling, natives respectively of New Jersey and Virginia, and of
English and German descent. David W. Poling received a good educa-
tion— so good that he became a teacher, and taught eighteen terms of
school. He remained with his parents until August 25, 1858, when he
married Ann Eliza Barrick, of Noble County, Ohio, and to this union
six children have been born — William H., Susan A., Henry B., Ida M.,
Samuel C. and Fletcher. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Company C,
Twenty-seccmd Indiana Regiment, and was^ engaged in the battle of
Nashville and the Southeastern campaign; was in the grand review at
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 781
Washington, and was discharged June, 1865. In 1848, our subject came
to Noble County, Ind., with his parents, who engaged in farming. In
1861, our subject moved to this county and divided his time between
teaching and farming; he owns eighty acres at Needmore, besides a
house and lot. Mr. Poling was elected Justice of the Peace for two
terms, and December, 1882, was commissioned Notary Public. In poli-
tics, he is a Republican.
JOHN RICHARDS, farmer and stock-breeder, was born August 7,
1808, in Hawkins County, Tenn., and is of the family of Michael and
Charity (Hubbard) Richards, the first a native of Germany, the second of
North Carolina. John Richards came hither with his parents in 1816,
and located in Washington Township, where Michael Richards entered
land and improved the same. After our subject was sixteen he lived
with his grandfather, and later engaged in pipestave making and
flat-boating until 1830, when he returned to this locality to remain. He
entered forty acres about the time of the county's organization, to which
land he added until he had 500 acres, and has owned more land, per-
haps, than any man now living here. He possesses 940 acres on Bear
Creek with some improvements and good orchards, besides other farm
lands, and having given to his children 500 acres, all the conquest of his
industry and ability, he having once cut wood at 25 cents a cord, and
made rails for 25 cents a hundred. March 22, 1832, Mr. Richards married
Priscilla Parks, which union was honored by seven children — Stephen
A., Marian, Columbus, Commodore Perry (died in the army), Mary Jane,
Michael and John, the last three deceased. After the death of his wife.
May 21, 1846, Mr. Richards wedded, January 13, 1847, Joanna Stipp,
with issue of six children He and wife are members of the Christian
Church. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Richards lived to be one
hundred and eleven, and his maternal grandfather to be ninety- four
years old. Mr. Richards has served as Constable, Justice of the Peace
and County Commissioner.
STEPHEN A. RICHARDS, farmer, was born May 6, 1833, in this
county, and is the eldest of the family of John and Priscilla (Parks) Rich-
ards, natives of Tennessee. Stephen was reared to farming, but became a
teacher and lived at home until July 17, 1855, when he married Mary C.
Richardson, and to this union were born six children, four living — John
A., Joanna, Byron and Mary C. September, 1864, Mr. Richards en-
listed in the service, but afterward hired a substitute and began the study
of medicine, which he soon abandoned. He has now 160 acres, in good
cultivation and with varied improvements. In 1875, he and brother es-
tablished the first store at Richards, carrying on merchandise in general
for one year, when the same was sold to their father. January 28, 1884,
Mr. Richards was appointed Postmaster at Richards, and for many
years carried on a grist mill in the same place. He is a leading Demo-
crat and an honored citizen. Mr. Richards' farm contains gold.
JOHN RICHARDSON, farmer, was born in Tennessee January 16,
1820, and is the second of fourteen children born to William and Sarah
(Stephens) Richardson, natives of Tennessee. John Richardson passed
his youth at school and in attending to the farm duties, his parents hav-
ing moved to Monroe County, this State. Januarv 16, 1843, he married
Serilda Bull, and to this union were born six children — Jacob, William,
Richard, Owen A., James M. and Sarah Jane; this mother died in
November, 1855, and March 15, 1856, Mr. Richardson wedded Mrs.
782 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Kelley, fi'ora which mai-riage descended two children — Nancy C. and
Rebecca A. This lady also died — May 24, 1863 — and on July 14, of
that year, Mr. Richardson was joined to Anna Stephens, to which last
alliance were born nine children, of whom five are living — Jourdan L.,
Theodosia E., John K., Cordelia F. and Daniel Boone. Mr. Richardson
moved to his present place in 1855, purchasing 120 and adding after-
ward 40 acres, of which he now owns 113 acres, which are well
improved and planted. He is in politics a Democrat, and he and wife
commune with the Baptists.
WILLIAM R. RITTER. farmer, was born in this township
May 13, 1839, and is the third of ten children granted to Jesse and
Sarah Ritter, both natives of Tennessee and of Dutch descent. William
R. Ritter was raised on a farm, received but a limited education, having
in all about one year's schooling. W^hen sixteen years old, he left his
father's roof and went to Shelby County, where he remained working by
the month until he was twenty-one years of age, the first year at $85,
the second at $115, and when his majority was reached he had saved
$400; he then returned to this county, and here worked by the month
for a time. February 1 1, 1862, he married Hannah M. Fleener, daugh-
ter of Jacob and Hannah Fleener, to which union succeeded one child —
Jesse Anderson. After marriage Mr. Ritter located nine miles south-
west of Shelby ville, and in 1869 moved to where he now lives, and owns
120 acres, which land is improved and adorned in the best manner — all
the result of his labor and saving. He is a Democrat, a good citizen and
honorable gentlemen.
WILLIAM SNIDER, stock-raiser and farmer, was born January 18,
1839, in this county, and is the fifth of the eleven children given to
William and Elizabeth (Brummet) Snider, natives respectively of Ken-
tucky and Tennessee, and of German and German-Irish extraction. Our
subject was brought up to the plow, received some schooling, and re-
mained to assist his parents until his marriage to Sarah Brummet, to
which union were born six children— Cordelia (deceased), Margaret
(deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Ewing, Shockey and Oscar; after the
death of this mother, July 10, 1875, Mr. Snider was united with Ellen
Cornett, February 17, 1876. He owns 135 acres where he now makes
his home, which is improved, adorned and cultivated. He is also owner
of 160 acres in Woodrufif County, Ark., and gives some attention to stock.
In 1863, he moved to Monroe County, Ind., purchased 220 acres, sold the
same in 1882, and then removed to his present home. Politically, Mr.
Snider is an active Democrat, and gave his first vote for Stephen A.
Douglas. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Christian
Church, while Mrs. Snider belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ALEXANDER C. SPENCER, M. D., was born December 27, 1846,
in Monroe County, Ind., and is the fifth of the eight children born to
James W. and Nancy (Alexander) Spencer, both natives of Kentucky.
Our subject was reared to farming, and after some time at the common
schools he attended the State University for one year. When twenty-
two years old he began the work of self sustenance, and in 1870 was
elected County Surveyor for one term ; he then traveled further West.
In 1876, he entered on the study of medicine with Dr. Campbell, of this
county, and in 1883 graduated from the Central Medical College at Indi-
anapolis. October 23, 1881, he married Annie E. Prosser, of this
county, but a native of West Virginia. To this union has been born one
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 783
child — Virgil B. F. Dr. Spencer is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
lie was elected Assessor of Benton Township, Monroe County, for two
years ; was School Commissioner and County Surveyor for thirty years,
and is an active Democrat. He is a reputable citizen and a promising
practitioner. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN W. STEPHENS is a native of this township, was born Au-
gust 26, 1858, and is the third of the four boys and two girls bora to
Jordan and Zilpha (Huff) Stephens, natives of Indiana. Our subject
was reared to the labor of the farm and the acquirement of education.
He was elected Constable some time ago, and is now a prominent candi-
date for re-election. Jordan Stephens is a pioneer of this county, en-
tered eighty acres where now lives, being a practical farmer. February
24, 1830, he married Agnes Chandler, moved to this county in 1847, and
settled in this township. These parents had born to them live boys and
two girls. John W. Stephens is a promising gentleman, mentally and
physically. He stands six feet seven inches in his shoeless feet, and
weighs 210 pounds. He is a prominent Democrat for so young a man,
and a generally respected citizen.
WILLIAM E. STUART, farmer and stock-raiser, was born Decem-
ber 22, 1823, in Hancock County, W. Va., and is the third of the eight
children of Joseph and Elizabeth (Campbell) Stuart, both of Scotch de-
scent, and respectively natives of Pennsylvania and "West Virginia.
The great-grandfather of our subject was the single member of his fam-
ily left after the battle of Culloden, Scotland. The grandfather of our
subject was the only one of his family spared by the great London
plague, and immigrated to America. "William E. Stuart in company with
his father engaged in the manufacture of fire brick in 1842, and which
was continued until 1866, flat-boating their wares to New Orleans and
other Southern markets, the last brick descending the Mississippi in 1861.
In 1866, Mr. Stuart came to Indiana, settled on his present residence
site, and purchased 240 acres of well-improved and appointed land, com-
bining a good home and farm. March 7, 1850, he married Hezaniah
Campbell, of Pennsylvania. This union gave being to three children —
Elizabeth Virginia, John and Joseph William. Mr. Stuart is a Demo-
crat, an honored citizen, and he and wife belong to the Presbyterian
Church.
ISAAC S. WADE, merchant, was born December 7, 1826, in Bel-
mont County, Ohio, and is a son of Owen S. and Margaret (Strahl)
Wade, natives respectively of North Carolina and Ohio. Isaac S. lost
his mother in infancy and was reared by a sister, afterward removing to
Noble County, where he learned harness-making and subsequently shoe-
making. In 1861, he moved to this county, where he worked at shoe-
making for about ten years; moved to Needmore, engaged in general
merchandising Buccessfully, now having as tine a store as the county af-
fords, and doing a very fine trade. August 3, 1858, he married Elizabeth
Headley, and to them have been born two children — Owen Headley and
Mary Ellen Thatcher. Mr, Wade was appointed Postmaster October 16,
1872, being the first of such officers in his town. He is an honored
member of the Masonic fraternity, and has given his children good
courses of instruction. Ho is also an Odd Fellow and an active Repub-
lican and worthy citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Wade are adherents of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church.
784 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
THOMAS WALTMAN was born January 22, 1837, in Frederick
County, Md., and is the sixth of eleven children born to Thomas and
Catherine (Wolf) Waltman, natives of Maryland. Our subject was
reared on a farm, with a common school education, and when about nine-
teen years old he commenced the task of getting his own living, and fol-
lowed farming where his father had entered 160 acres, and purchased
the first mill, which mill our subject has since managed. March, 1862,
he married Ann L. Ellender, to which union were born eight children,
six of them livicg to day — Hiram D., Armilda, Minnie May, Gresilda,
John and Bessie. Mr. Waltman is the possessor of 400 acres, under
good cultivation, improved with comfortable residence, fair barns, and
other appurtenances for use and value, all of which were acquired by in-
dustry and skill. Mr. Waltman is a member of the Masonic fraternity;
is a Democrat, and has served as County Commissioner for two terms.
He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
WILLIAM M. WALTMAN is a native of Georgetown, Brown Coun-
ty, Ind., was born November 15, 1844, and is the tenth child of Thomas
and Catherine (Wolf) Waltman, natives of Maryland and of German ex-
traction. The grandfather of our siibject, Michael Waltman, was a sol-
dier of the Revolution. William M. Waltman, at the age of fourteen
years, went to work in a tannery, where he labored some years. Novem-
ber 15, 1865, he married Mary E. Moser, which nuptials resulted in nine
children — Walter V., Edgar C, Hattie L., Thomas M. (deceased), John
A., Charles G., Maggie, Bertie W. and Rubie. Mr. Waltman is the
possessor of 180 acres, 80 being improved, constituting a good home
and valuable property. He was admitted to the bar in 1874. He is a
member of the Freemasons, and a charter member of Lodge 527. He is
a self-made man truly, and has accumulated his property and acquired
his good name by industry and ability. He is now Notary Public at
Georgetown, and esteemed as an honorable, benevolent citizen. He and
Mr. Chatin were the founders of the Brown County Democrat. Mr. Walt-
man, Sr., was one of the first promoters of the Brown County Old Set-
tlers' Association. The grandfather of Mrs. Waltman was a soldier of
the war of 1812.
DR. JAMES G. WARD was born July 25, 1845, in W^illiamsburg,
Johnson County, Ind. , and is the third of the ten children of Dr. Rufus
and Clementine D. D. J. M. (Alexander) Ward, natives respectively of
Virginia and Kentucky, the former being one of the oldest practitioners
of Johnson County. Our subject, during youth, received a fair educa-
tion, and December, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Tenth Indiana
Cavalry, and was engaged in the following battles: Decatur, Nashville,
Franklin and Mobile, and was discharged in the fall of 1865. After this
event, he attended school at Blooraington, and thereafter farmed until
1868, when he engaged in saw-milling for three years. In 1872, he com-
menced the study of medicine with Dr. Maxwell, attended lectures at
Indianapolis in 1883-84, having practiced at Bloomington; he now re-
sides at Bean Blossom, and has a good practice. March 24, 1863, while
on furlough, he married Serepta Peterson, by which union were produced
six children — Ida B., Rufus, Mahlon (deceased), Bezeta Clementine,
Harrison Gammell and Hannah J. Dr. Ward is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, a Republican in politics, an esteemed citizen and a successful
practitioner of medicine
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP. 785
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP.
ABRAHAM CANARY, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Mercer
County, Ky., April 12, 1819, and is the second of the four children of
Michael and Elizabeth (Gashwooler) Canary, natives of Kentucky and of
German descent, who moved to this State in 1829, located in Johnson
County, entered land and commenced the work of making a home and a
farm, where Mr. Canary housed his family, reared four childx-en and died
in 1861, aged eighty -three years. Abraham was reared on the home
place, and shortly after reaching his majority married Mias Mary, daugh-
ter of Thomas McDaniel, and thereafter engaged in farming in John-
son County, until 1861, when he moved to this township, and in Au-
gust of that year enlisted in Company D, Eighty-second Regi-
ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, served three years, and took part at
Lookout Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Missionary Ridge, Murfreesboro,
Stone River, Perry ville, the Atlanta campaign and Gen. Sherman's
march to the sea. At Scorcby Valley he was captured, held nine days,
paroled, and thirty-five days later joined his regiment. June, 1864, he
was discharged and resumed farming, having now a well-improved,
stocked, cultivated farm of 100 acres. October 31, 1881, Mrs. Canary
died, and September 1, 1882, he wedded America Perkins. Mr. Canary
is a strong, aggressive Democrat, also a valued citizen.
WILLIAM CRABB, dealer in general merchandise at Spearsville,
was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, April 23, 1823, and is the youngest
of the twelve children bestowed upon Henry and Ann (George) Crabb,
natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish and German extraction respectively.
"William's paternal grandmother was a member of the Keller family.
He remained with his parents on the farm until 1854, when he moved
from Ohio to Indiana, located at Unionville. engaged jointly in farming
and. selling goods, remained one year, came then to Spearsville and has
been engaged in the mercantile line for more than thirty years, being the
oldest merchant of the place, with a large and established trade. He
has also a tine peach orchard near this town. Mr. Crabb has been four
times married, first, to Eleanor Taylor, in 1846, with an outcome of one
child— Henry Newton. Mrs. Crabb died in 1849, and he then married
Matilda Moore, also with an outcome of one child — Mary J. ; this mother
died in 1851, and he married Elizabeth Peterson, with an issue of six
children — Seward, Alice, William R., Keller E., Lena and Maud E., of
which number the third and fourth are teachers; this lady died January
1, 1878, when he married Keziah Tracy. Mr. Crabb is a member of the
Greenback party, and he and wife are members of the church — the first
of the Presbyterian and tbe latter of the Christian Church.
JOHN B. CRAVEN, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of England,
was born December 15, 1848, and is the eldest of the eleven children of
William and Mary Craven, also natives of England, who emigrated to
the United States in 1853. John B. Craven was reared to the profession
of agriculture, educated in the schools of Ohio and Indiana, and remained
with and assisted his parents in making a home and clearing a farm in
786 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
this county, whither they had moved in 1864. After his majority he
returned to Ohio and assisted to clear as a farm-hand until September 7,
1871, when he married Martha A., daughter of William and Nancy
(Gof orth) Hamblen ; the product of this union was three children — Mary
Almie, Nancy Olive and Essie Myrtle. Mr. Craven has a good farm of
sixty acres, which has been cultivated and is well improved, stocked with
mules, cattle and hogs, making a very agreeable home and a valuable
property — all of which is wholly the consequence of his application and
constancy to business. He is a much esteemed and liberal citizen.
WILLIAM B. GRAY, was born in Monroe County, Ind., November
19, 1832, and is the ninth of the family of Andrew and Nancy (Bass)
Gray, natives of Kentucky. Our subject was reared a farmer, obtained
a mediocre education, lived at home until he was of age, then went to
Illinois, and worked by the month, purchased a saw mill and managed
the same for three years, and in 1860, returned to Indiana, where, on the
29th of November, he married Miranda Caughron. of Johnson County,
which union gave being to seven children — Andrew W. (deceased), Ida
May (deceased), Mary L., Florence E. (deceased), W^ilber G., Cyrus
Edgar and Miranda (deceased). Mr. Gray enlisted March 1, 1864, in
Company I, Twenty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and was in
the battles of Rome, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, Atlanta,
Bentonville, and was in the Washington grand review. After his dis-
charge, August, 1865, as Corporal, he resumed the plow. He owns a
farm of excellent quality and in high cultivation, with good buildings,
barns, orchard and the like — all obtained by his thrift and economy. Mr.
Gray is an earnest Republican, an esteemed citizen, and he and wife have
been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church since the year 1846.
REV. ANDREW B. GRAY is a native of Monroe County, Ind., was
born March 12, 1834, and is one of six boys and eight girls descended
from Andrew and Nancy (Bass) Gray. Andrew was brought up on a farm,
and when not engaged in farm duties, during the winters, attended the
accessible schools; he afterward went to Asbury University for one year,
and then taught five terms in this county. January 15, 1856, he married
Sarah J., daughter of David and Mary Shaffer, and to them were bestowed
seven children — G. O. Norman, Addie Bell, Corinne Juliet, Sarah Rox-
anna, Mary Alice, Arthur Leon and Charles William. In 1845, Mr. Gray
settled where he now resides, on 40 acres of his father's pre-emption.
August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-second Indiana Volun-
teer Infantry, soon after which event he took measles, and was in conse-
quence discharged. He is aa active Republican, and was appointed to
fill a vacancy as Trustee, caused by the real Trustee's enlistment. Mr.
Gray is an esteemed citizen, one of the county's ablest friends, and he
and wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
REV. WILLIAM HAMBLEN, minister and farmer, was born in Lee
County, Va., July 31, 1814, and is a son of John M. and Mary (Camp-
bell) Hamblen, respectively natives of North Carolina and Maryland, and
of English and Irish extraction. William Hamblen was reared to farm-
ing in Virginia, and learned boot and shoe making, and in 1836 emigrated
to this State, entered Government land, and has since made this county
his home. In June, 1846, he enlisted for the Mexican war in the Third
Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged after six
months. Returning home, he followed his trade until 1856, at which
time he was ordained a minister of the United Brethren Church, to which
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP. 787
he devoted his attention until the year 1872, when he changed to the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. June 10, 1839, he married Miss
Nancy, daughter of William and Juriah (Barnes) Goforth. Seven chil-
dren have crowned this union — Elizabeth Jane, Mary, John William
(deceased), Richard, Williamson, Sai-ah C, and Martha A. Rev. Mr.
Hamblen is a Democrat in politics, and gave his first vote for Martin Van
Buren in 1836. As a practical farmer, he has been successful, now own-
ing and controlling a farm of forty acres.
GEORGE W. HAMBLEN, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in this
township August 4, 1847, and is the sixth of seven children descended
from Jesse and Raehael (Taggart) Hamblen. George W. was reared at
home, assisted his father on the farm, obtained a good common school
education, and so continued until manhood. July 2, 1871, he married
Miss Mary E., daughter of Alanson and Eliza (Clemons) Corwin, and a
native of Bartholomew County, Ind. This union gave being to four
children — Edward, Addie, Omer and Nettie. Mr. Hamblen is owner of a
190- acre farm, under good improvement, with valuable stock and em-
bellishments, all of which he has acquired by his indomitable will and un
aided efforts. He is a worthy and honored citizen of his township, and,
with Mrs. Hamblen, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
DAVID JAMES, dealer in general merchandise, at Spearsville, is a
native of Noble County, Ohio, was born February 8, 1849, and is the
third of the six in family born to Theodore and Clarissa (Merry) James,
natives of Ohio, and of German extraction. David James attended
school and was reared in Ohio. August 17, 1867, he married Miss
Hannah, daughter of Abram M. and Helen (Hart) Bryan, and to this
happy pair were bestowed seven children, five of whom are living — Or-
pha A., Olive B., Gracie M. B., Orvel S. and Reed C. In 1871, Mr.
James emigrated to this township, purchased land near Georgetown,
farmed four years, then sold, rented land for one year, and engaged in
produce-dealing for three years, after which experiment he moved to
Spearsville in 1879, and engaged most successfully in his present line.
Mr. James has been a useful and diligent citizen, having contributed
more, perhaps, to the growth and prosperity of the town than any one
other person. He is a Democrat by party preference, a prominent citi-
zen, and he, his wife and two daughters are members of the church, of
which our subject is an assistant Class Leader.
ALFRED A. KNEE, Postmaster, grocerymau and shoe-maker at
Spearsville, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, May 7, 1834, and is
the eldest of the ten children of Philip and Frances Knee, natives of
Pennsylvania and of German extraction. Alfred A. Knee received his
education and grew to mature age in Ohio, where, as well as in Indiana,
he taught school for a time. May 7, 1861, he married Elizabeth Sharp,
a native of Ohio, who died in 1866, having beea the mother of thi'ee
children, all deceased. August 7, 1862, Mr. Knee enlisted in the One
Hundred and Second Ohio Regiment, in which he served three years,
being in the Army of the Cumberland. They were at the battle of De-
catur, and pursued Gen. Forrest through several towns. In 1863-64, he
suffered from rheumatism and otorrhoea, and has since been deaf in the
right ear. After his discharge, he followed farming and shoe-making.
In 1870, he married Nancy E. Tracy, of Belmont County, Ohio, but
without issue. In 1877, Mr. Knee located in Spearsville as a shoe-maker,
788 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and December, 1881, engaged in his present business; he was afterward
appointed Postmaster, and is yet doing duty. He controls a farm of
sixty acres, having good improvements and a number of horses, cattle
and hogs. In politics, he is a Republican, and, with Mrs. Knee, a mem-
ber of the Christian Church.
JAMES W. McILYAIN was bora June 29, 1814, in Belmont County,
Ohio, and is a son of Andrew and Anna (Spear) Mcllvain, natives of
Delaware, and respectively of Irish and English descent. Our subject
was reared on a farm and remained at home until he became of age.
April 2, 1835; he married Miss Louisa B. Mead, a native of Virginia,
and to their union were granted seven children — Elizabeth (deceased),
Joseph A. (killed at the battle of Atlanta), Leander J., James E., Crary
J., Milton H. and Lovina Amanda Malvina. Mr. Mcllvain moved to his
present residence in 1845, containing 520 acres entered by him in 1841,
of which be now has 240 acres, having given considerable to his children.
He has long been known for his benevolent acts, and has been a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, since his eighteenth year; had a
church built within forty rods of his house, and has been a Steward in
that denomination for forty-five years. He was elected Justice of the
Peace under the old Constitution; in 1847, one of the three Trustees of
township, and again elected Jiistice in 1874, being commissioned by
Govs. Hendricks and Williams. He began voting with the Republicans
in 1856, and is a stanch member of that party. He has had a somewhat
eventful life, his house having been bored by bullets during the war on
account of his adherence to the Union cause. Mr, Mcllvain is a mem-
ber of the Masonic fraternity.
LEANDER JOHN McILVAIN> farmer and raiser of stock, was born
February 2, 1842, in Belmont County, Ohio, and is the third child of
James W. and Louisa (Mead) Mcllvain. Leander J. Mcllvain was
reared on a farm, with limited education, and remained with his parents
until August, 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-second In-
diana Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged at Perryville, Stone River,
Murfreesboro, Ch ickamauga, Peach Tree Creek, Buzzard Roost, Missionary
Ridge, Atlanta, Savannah, Goldsboro and Sherman's march. He
was discharged June, 1865, and returned to active farm life. October 25,
1866, he married Miss Mary A., daughter of William and Mary A.
Douglass, and to this union five children were born — Mary L,, James
William, Henrietta, Minnie Florence and Andrew F. Mr. Mcllvain is a
member of the Horse Thief and Felony Detective Societies. In 1867,
he located on liis present farm of ninety-eight acres of good land, with
improved buildings, orchard, and full supply of stock, etc. In politics
he is an active Republican; was commissioned Postmaster in December,
1878. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
EPHRAIM McKEE, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Tuscarawas
County, Ohio, May 2, 1830, and is the eldest of the seven children de-
scended from James and Cassie (Morris) McKee, natives respectively of
Maryland and Pennsylvania, and of Irish and Welsh descent. Our sub-
ject emigrated from Ohio to this State, with his parents, in 1845; set-
tled in this township on Government land, made a home from nature's
wilds, and reared and educated a family of six children. After two
years, Mr. McKee sold this farm and purchased the tract on which he now
resides. It comprises 440 acres, well cultivated, improved, stocked and
adorned — a fine property and commodious home. February 17, 1852,
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP. 785
he married Phebe A. Stilabwer, a native of Germany, to which unio^
were born Michael, Mary E., Ann Eliza, Caroline, John H., and Marth^
Ellen, deceased. Mr. McKee is a practical farmer, who has acquired hi^
property laboriously and honestly. He is a Democrat in politics, and'
with his wife, a member of the Lutheran Church.
HANNIBAL I. MEAD was the sixth of the seven children born to
Joseph and Elizabeth (Grey) Mead, natives of Virginia, and respectively
of English and German descent. Our subject was born March 24, 1822,
in Virginia. He was reared to labor on a farm, and was carried to Bel-
mont County, Ohio, by his parents in 18B0; fourteen years later, he moved
to this township, entered eighty-four acres, to which he added until he
owned 300 acres, and made a comfortable home and a good farm. Octo-
ber 4, 1848, he married Miss Nancy Jane Hamblen, of this county, to
which union were born three children — Milo Milton (deceased), Florence
A. and Louisa Ellen. Mr. Mead was an active Democrat; has served
two terms as Township Trustee, three as County Commissioner, and was
serving as such at the time of his decease, March 31, 1878. He was a
member of the Masonic order, and a benevolent, respected gentleman.
His widow is living on the homestead, greatly esteemed by all.
JOHN G. MILNES, farmer and stock-raiser, is a. native of Halifax,
Eng., was born June 23, 1835, and is descended from William and Han-
nah (Greenwood) Milnes, the second of their seven children. These par-
ents came to the United States in 1841, landed in New York, came to
Johnson County, Ind., purchased a farm, remained three years, thence
came to this township, here settled on land and remained until their
deaths — he in 1853, she in 1880. John G. Milnes was reared at home,
and September 6, 1854, married Elizabeth Ann Porter, a native of Ohio,
who gave birth to ten children — William, Louisa. Ann M., Mary E, (de-
ceased), John H. (deceased), Charles, Sarah E., Joseph, Ida and Minn'e.
Mr. Milnes has in control and is owner of 384 acres, which are improved
by good residence, orchard, and stocked with horses, cattle and sheep,
the whole acquired by honest labor and frugality. Mr. and Mrs. Milnes
are consistent and honored members of the New Light Church, and Mr.
Milnes is an upright and esteemed citizen.
JAMES P. MOSER, M. D., of Spearsville. is a native of Jackson
Township, this county, was born October 11, 1849, and is the fifth of
the nine children of Calvin and Margaret (Hunting) Moser. James P.
was reared to the duties of farm work, also attended for some time the
schools of his neighborhood, and so applied himself that he was able
to teach, which he did for awhile, afterward entering the high school at
Bloomington, where he prepared himself to acquire a profession. He
further taught school, and later entered the office of Dr. E. S Arwine,
of Georgetown, and devoted himself assiduously to the study of medi-
cine for two years, afterward attending lectures at, and graduating from,
the Cincinnati Medical College, June 14, 1876. August 11, 1870. Dr.
Moser married Miss Josephine, daughter of Crawford and Elizabeth Liv-
ingston. The result of this union was three children — Laura V. , Boston
Scott and Elmer Bramble. Dr, Moser located at Georgetown one year
after his graduation, thence moving to Spearsville, where he has success-
fully and continuously practiced medicine and surgery. He is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, a Democrat, and was Secretary of Brown
County Board of Health in 1883. Dr. and Mrs. Moser are members of
the Baptist Church.
790 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
JOHN SMITH, farmer and gunsmith, was born in Wayne County^
Ind., May 9, 1827, and is the second of fifteen children granted to
Charles and Nancy Ann (Langley) Smith, natives respectively of Ten-
nessee and North Carolina, and of Scotch and German extraction, who
moved to Madison County in 1832, entered and cleared land and made a
home. Mrs. Smith died in 1872, but Mr. Smith is yet living. On this
land our subject grew to manhood, and served an apprenticeship to gun-
making of seven years, afterward working as a journeyman for two years,
and has since followed this business for himself, being one of the best
workmen in the State. In January, 1851, he married Miss Lydia E.,
daughter of Jonathan West, which union has been endeared by eleven
children— George W. , Charles C, Susan, JosephR., Jane, Jeremiah, Mary,
Alice, Julia, Rebecca and Norah (deceased). Mr. Smith is owner of an
improved farm of 155 acres, making a good home, but devotes his time
himself wholly to gunsmithing. He is a Freemason and an Odd Fellow;
an Independent in politics, and he aud wife are members of the Mis-
sionary Baptist Church.
WILLIAM W. STOCKWELL, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in
North Hampton, Mass., February 27, 1829, and is the third of twelve
children born to William and Clarissa W. (Whittemore) Stockwell, na-
tives of Massachusetts, and of English extraction. William W. Stock-
well grew to manhood at home, and attended the public schools until he
became of age. December 6, 1863, he married Mary M. Jerome, which
union was crowned by one child — Frank J. Mrs. Stockwell died March
9, 1867. After moving from Ohio to Indiana, Mr. Stockwell became a
sub-mail contractor, and after two years came to and located in this
township. April 12, 1868, he married Alice A. Wisenberg. with a re-
sult of two children — Herbert W. and Florence L. Mr. Stockwell's
place comprises 1 11 acres in good cultivation, and with considerable stock
and improvements. He has been for years a correspondent of several lit-
erary and scientific journals in Ohio, New York and this State. He is
also author of many poemt and songs for camp and fireside; likewise a
work embracing incidents in the life of George W. Murray during four
years' service in the late war and term of confinement in Libby Prison.
AUSTIN F. STOCKWELL is a native of Ravenna, State of Ohio,
was born August 25, 1834, and is the fifth of the twelve children of
William and Clarissa (Whittemore) Stockwell. Austin F. Stockwell
was reared on the home farm, attended school in boyhood, and remained
with his parents until he reached man's estate. March 26, 1859, he
married Miss Mary P., a daughter of Zedoch and Maria Wright, which
union was endeared by seven children — Perry A., William E., Vernon
E., Alice M., Franklin I., Myrtle N. and Palmer R. The last named,
but eldest, born December 14, 1862, has attended the Central Indiana
Normal School and Business lustitute, thereby fitting himself for an
educator, which profession he has followed for four years. He is a
member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. August 17, 1864, our subject enlisted in Company C, One
Hundred and Seventy- seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; served
until the close of the war, and at the battle of Shelby ville Pike, while
on a " double-quick," received a fall which has caused permanent disa-
bility, and was discharged July 28, 1865. Mr. Stockwell is Treasurer
and Quartermaster of Adams Post, G. A. R., and an esteemed and
worthy citizen. Mrs. Stockwell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP. 791
WILLIAM P. TAGGrART, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of
this township, was born May 28. 1832, and is the second of the nine in
family of William and Sarah (Mullis) Taggart, natives of Tennessee, and
of Scotch and Irish extraction respectively. Our subject was reared at
home, attended the ordinary schools, and assisted his parents. August
6, 1851, he married Zerelda, daughter of L. Eliakim and Nancy Hamblen,
to which union were born two children — Amanda Jane and Martin El-
bridge. Mr. Taggart has a fine farm of 1,000 acres, which place is well
stocked, improved and planted — an enviable possession, which has been
wholly acquired by his unflagging industry and astute management. He
is a reputable citizen, an honorable gentleman, a voter with the National
party, and he and wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for several years. In 1879, Mr. Taggart engaged in saw-milling
on his pl-dCe most successfully, and in 1880 introduced buhrs for grind-
ing corn.
JOHN M. URICH is a native of Eatonsburg, Penn., was born May
30, 1831, and is the eldest sou of David and Ann (Eckenroad) Urich,
who emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania, located in Mahoning County,
and cleared and established a home. They were natives of Pennsylvania,
and parents of ten children — John M., Lucinda, Absalom, Lafayette,
Henry, Frank, William (deceased), Laura, Mary and James (deceased).
Mr. Urich left the world in 1850, aged lifty-six. Mrs. Urich yet survives
on the home farm, aged seventy- three. Our subject remained with his
mother on the farm until October 14, 1858, at which period he married
Miss Eliza M., daughter of William and Clarissa W. Stockwell, which
union was cemented by eight children — W^illiam W. (deceased), Elmer
E., Frank W., Edna A., Ida M., Pearl J. (deceased), Claude C. and
John E. Mr. Urich is the owner and manager of a farm of 100 acres
of excellent land, productive, cultivated, improved and stocked. He
came to this attractive home in 1866, having then removed from Ohio.
He is a respected citizen and a worthy gentleman. Mr. and Mrs. Urich
are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JACOB PERRY WALKER, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in
Henry County, Ky., January 27, 1828, and is the eldest of the twelve
children born to Samuel and Nancy Young W^alker, natives of Kentucky
and of German extraction, who emigrated to this State in 1839, settled
in this county, entered Government land, and reduced the forest and
wilderness to a home and a farm. Here they resided thereafter — he
closing his life in 1874, leaving his wife to survive him, a member of the
Christian Church, as was her husband. John Perry Walker obtained the
rudiments of an education, and remained at home until May 26, 1858,
when he married Cynthia White, with an issue of seven children, three
of whom are living — Emily, David and Nancy M. The mother of these
children died April, 1877, and December 12, 1879, he wedded Rachel
Amanda Wright. Mr. Walker is owner and director of a farm embracing
240 acres, in good cultivation, with good stock and improvements, giving
some attention to raising varieties of stock. He is a member of the Ma-
sonic body, a practical farmer, a Democrat in politics, and an upright
and respected citizen.
SAMUEL WALKER, Trustee of Hamblen Township, is a native of
this county, was born February 3, 1847, and is the fourth of the eight
children of Charles H. and Jane Raii'den Walker, natives of Kentucky.
Our subject attended subscription school and worked on the farm, and
792 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
remained at home until a short time before his majority ,when he begjan'to
care for himself by working on a farm and then in a saw mill. January 4,
1872, he married Miss Caroline B., daughter of John and Jane Gosser,
to which union succeeded two children — Ernest G. and Estal E. Mr.
Walker is owner and controller of 160 acres of good and well-improved
land, which is fully stocked and equipped, and he is also the proprietor
of land on which a church and schoolhouse have been erected. He is a
voter of the Democratic stock, and is now serving his second term as
Township Trustee, which service is well and worthily appreciated. He
has been an industrious, prudent man, and is generally highly respected,
Mr. and Mrs. Walker are consistent members of the Christian Church.
JOHN M. WALKER, dealer in dry goods, boots and shoes, grocer-
ies, queensware. glassware, etc., at Spearsville, was born in this town-
ship April 20, 1855, and is the youngest of the family of Charles H. and
Jane Walker. John M. Walker worked for his father and attended school
until he was eighteen years old, when he commenced on his own account
as a farm hand. January 19, 1882, he married Miss Sarah J., daughter
of Hamilton R. and Margaret Heskett, and to this union two children
have been born — Elsie M. (deceased) and Verless. In February, 1882,
Mr. Walker abandoned the plow and the field, and took up mercantile
business at Spearsvile, since which date he has done a thriving and en-
couraging trade. He is a first-class business man, an honorable citizen,
a Democrat politically, and an advocate of justice and progress. Mrs.
Walker is a member of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM G. WATSON, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Mon-
roe County, Ind. ; was born November 28, 1833, and is the eldest of the
family of ten born to Jonathan and Elizabeth (Steward) Watson, natives
of Kentucky, who moved to this township about 1834, where they con-
tinued throughout their lives, he dying in 1867, she in 1870, after hav-
ing made a home on entered land. William remained with his parents
and attended subscription schools until April 6, 1859, when he married
Rachel Parsley, thci fruit of which alliance was seven children — Louisa,
William E., Steward, James H. (deceased), Laura, Cordia and Rufus.
Mr. Watson is the owner of 210 acres of quite well- improved land, which
is also fully stocked and adorned, his residence now being where the
great spectacle enterprise had its beginning. Ho votes with the Demo-
cratic party, has served two terms as Assessor of this township, from 1864
to 1868 as Sheriff of the county, and in 1870 was elected Auditor, in
which service he gave full satisfaction. Mr. Watson is a member of the
Masonic fraternity to the degree of Royal Arch, and he and wife are
members of the Christian Church.
SAMUEL WEBBER, farmer, was born in Noble County, Ohio, Octo-
ber 27, 1841, and is the third of eight children born to Ira and Hannah
(Moore) Webber, the former a native of Maine, the latter of Virginia,
who emigrated to this State in 1865, purchased a farm on Salt Creek,
where Mr. Webber died October 13, 1871, and where his wife is yet liv-
ing. Samuel Webber grew to almost manhood on the home place, and
October 1, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Seventy- seventh Regiment Ohio
Volunteers; served three years and participated in the following engage-
ments: Shiloh, Jenkins' Ferry and siege of Corinth; was wounded in
the leg before Corinth, and still carries the ball; he afterward was as-
signed to carpenter svork, and was wounded in the elbow while building
a bridge at Jenkins' Ferry. After his discharge in 1864, he moved to
HAMBLEN TOWNSHIP.
793
Indiana in 1865, and April 23 of that year married Bethania C. Harper,
who died the succeeding autumn. Mr. Webber thereafter came to this
county, and resided with his parents until September 16, 1866, at which
period he married Miss Minerva A. , daughter of Joshaa and Mary Dean,
which union has been endeared by five children — Frank E., James H.,
Charles C, Laura E. and Pearl E. Mr. Webber is a practical farmer,
owning 241 acres, with a good share of stock and numerous improve-
ments. He is a member of the Masonic order, and as a Democrat has
served his township as Trustee, also as Commissioner, and is a reputable
citizen. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Chui'ch.
SOLOMON WYATT, of Spearsville, is a native of New Jersey, was
born December 19, 1815, and is the seventh of the nine children of Sol-
omon and Sarah Wyatt, natives of Delaware and of English descent.
Our subject was reared on a farm in his native State, where he worked on
the farm, attended the subscription schools, and afterward served an ap-
prenticeship of three jears at trunk-making in Philadelphia; he then,
moved westward and located in Belmont County, Ohio, where he remained
two years; moved to Indiana in 1848, settled in this township, purchased
a farm, and in 1866 moved to this town. December 29, 1861, he married
Miss Mary, daughter of Zephaniah and Catherine (Cleft) Johnson. Mr.
Wyatt is a man self-made and independent. He is a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity, by political preference a Democrat, has donated land for
building a church near Spearsville, and is a greatly respected citizen.
Mrs. Wyatt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 795
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
ELDER DAVID M. BECK, ex-County Superintendent, was born
February 4, 1836, in Lawrence County, Ind., and is the sixth of ten chil-
dren descended from David and Elizabeth (Phillips) Beck, the former a
native of North Carolina, the latter of Kentucky, who were married in
Washington County, Ind., and in 1850 located in this county, where Mr.
Beck remained until death, having given up his ministry a few years pre-
viously, which he had followed thirty years. Elder Beck grew to man-
hood on a farm, received a practical education, after which he began
teaching in Lawi-ence and Brown Counties, having taught in both twenty-
three terms. August, 1872, he commenced his ministrations in the
Christian Church, to which he still adheres. In 1877, he was appointed
Supei'intendent of Brown County, and in 1879 re-appointed. September,
1856, he married Miss Mary J. Litten, who died leaving one child, Paris
M. (deceased). March 22' 1862, he wedded Mary J. Allen, to which
union eight children were born — Julia A., Emma J., Lottie E., William
W., Cora A., Laura L., David C. and James A. (deceased). Elder Beck
owns a good farm of eighty-three acres, beautifully located, and with
many improvements and adornments. He is now a Democrat, also a
Prohibitionist, and a worthy, trusted and honored citizen.
DR. MARION A. DUNCAN, physician and surgeon of Bellsville, was
born June 9, 1855, in Marion County, Ind., and is the eleventh of the thir-
teen children of Alexander and Sarah F. (Redick) Duncan, natives of
North Carolina, and respectively of Scotch and Irish descent. Dr. Dun-
can was reared as a farm boy near Nashville, this State; attended the
common schools, and one term at the State University. When quite a
boy he expressed a predilection to be a doctor, and commenced the study
of medicine at twenty- two years of age, under Dr. J. M. Cook, with whom
he remained one year, then attended lectm-es at the Ohio Medical Col-
lege; returned home, and began practice at Jonesville in 1879. In 1880,
he removed to Nashville, staid two years, and finally located at Bells-
ville, where he has done well. December 23, 1881, he married Miss Lu-
cinda Francis, born April 24, 1855, the crown of which union has been
two children — Pearlie and Varnie. Dr. Duncan is a good business man, a
promising physician, an energetic Democrat, and a trusted citizen. Mrs.
Duncan is a member of the Christian Church.
ARNOLD S. GRIFFITT, M. D., physician and surgeon, was born
September 19, 1840, in Morgantown, Ind., and is the sixth of twelve
children born to Reuben and Lovina (Shell) Griffitt, both deceased, na-
tives of East Tennessee, and of German extraction. Reuben GrifiStt was
Justice of the Peace for a number of years, and Postmaster at Morgan-
town for thirty-three years. Arnold S. Griffitt worked on a farm until
he was twenty-eight years of age; he received the rudiments of an edu-
cation in youth, and when twenty-six began studying medicine with Dr.
J. L. Grinnell, under whom he remained two years, then attended lect-
ures at Louisville University, Kentucky; graduated in 1869, and located
at Nashville, where he continued until 1879; removed to Tavlorsville for
796 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
eighteen months, thence to Nashville again until 1882, at which period
he purchased seventy-five acres in this township, and farmed in connec-
tion with his practice. While at Nashville he was Postmaster four and
Pension Examiner two years. September 9, 18C1, he wedded Miss Eme-
line F. Anderson, who died leaving four children — LucettaE., Annie C,
Katie and Joseph G. He nest married Mrs. Emma Taggart August 16,
1876. Dr. Grifl&tt is a member of the Masonic body, an active Kepub-
lican, and an esteemed citizen. At present Dr. Griffitt is selling goods,
holding the positions of Postmaster and Notary Public at Story, as well
as medical practitioner. From 1861 to 1866 he taught school. He and
wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
EGBERT HENDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Jack-
son County, Ind., born August 28, 1827, and is the eldest of ten children
of Robert and Parmelia (Newkirk) Henderson, the former a native of Vir-
ginia, the latter of Indiana. The father of our subject was born 1795,
remained in Virginia until he was fourteen years of age, moved thence to
Kentucky, thence to Lawrence County, Ind., in 1815, and to this county
in 1829. Our subject grew to manhood on a farm, having beeu brought
here when an infant, and remained with his parents until he was twen-
ty-three years of age. December 13, 1850, he married Mary A. Davis,
from which union sprang eleven children, of whom are living — Emeline,
James M.. John C. B., Parmelia, Robert M., Benjamin, Jasper and Free-
man. Mr. Henderson has a good farm of 200 acres, on which he lives,
also one of 200 acres in Jackson County, which farm is well improved.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and a Democrat; was elected
County Commissioner in 1870, re-elected in 1872, and is now a candi-
date for re-election. Mr. Henderson is an excellent citizen, and he and
wife are members of the Baptist Church.
E. H. MOORE (of the firm of Moore & Tilton, New Bellsville, Ind.)
is a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, was born September 19, 1846,
and is one of the ten children of Peter and Mary (Nelson) Moore, natives
respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The grandfather of our subject,
Patrick Moore, emigrated from Ireland, settled in Westmoreland County,
Penn. , then moved to Ohio, where he came to death, the father of eleven
children. Peter Moore was a native of Ohio, bom August 12, 1810; was
married in 1832, and in 1850 went to California, where he engaged in
mining for two years; then came to this county, where he came to death
October 12, 1871: his wife November 10, 1881. Their family were
Robert, Susan, John, Laban, James, Irena, Edward, Emmanuel H., Thomas
J. and George W. October 4, 1864, our subject entered the war of the
rebellion in Company D, One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, being dis-
charged July, 1865. November 22, 1866, he married Miss Mary E.,
daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Moore, a native of Belmont County,
Ohio. In 1868, Mr. Moore moved to Grundy County, Mo., and in 1873,
retui'ned to this county, where he engaged in farming for a year, then
began dealing in tobacco, in which he has since been engaged, now ex-
tensively, and in 1881 he opened a store with J. G. Tilton. Mr. and
Mrs. Moore have a family of five — Anabel (deceased), Edward L., Lin-
nie M., Benjamin F. and Clara R. Mr. Moore belongs to the Masonic
order and the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN T. PING is a native of this county, was born January 29,
1842, and is descended from Job and Christina Ping, natives of Ken-
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 797
tucky, where they married, then moved to Bartholomew County, Ind. , in
1831, and thence to this county, in 1841, where Mr. Ping closed his life,
February 2, 1883. Mrs. Ping is still living in this township; their
family was William, Catherine, Betty, Logan, Walker, David, Deborah,
John T., Silas and Job J. John T., our subject, married in Bartholomew
County, Ind., February 2, 1862, Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse and
Elizabeth Campbell, and born in Muskingum County, Ohio, July 1, 1841.
After marriage, Mr. Ping settled in this township, and February 7, 1865,
enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-lif th Indiana Kegiment,
served until January 21, 1866, when he was discharged. After his return
he moved to Bartholomew County, remained until 1870, then returned to
this county, where he has since resided, in pursuit of his trade as car-
penter. Mr. and Mrs. Ping are parents of six children — Sarah F.,
Rosalie, Emory (deceased), Cora A. (deceased), Andrew B. and John W.
Mr. Ping is a greatly respected citizen.
JOHN C. WERT was born in Preble County, Ohio, November 11,
1809, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Balsley) Wert, natives of
Fayette County, Penn. The grandfather of our subject. Christian
Wert, emigrated from Switzerland to Pennsylvania, before the Revolu-
tionary war, where ho wedded Maria Neeley, and moved to Fayette
County, where he subsequently died. He was a soldier in the Revolution
and the father of six children. Jacob Wert was born ia 1784, was a
soldier of the war of 1812, was married in Fayette County, Penn.,
moved to Ohio in 1807, and settled on what is now a part of Cincinnati;
this land he sold and moved to Preble County, where he died in 1850,
his wife surviving him thirteen years: they were parents of fourteen chil-
dren. John C. Wert when a young man learned the trade of milling,
which he followed for a large portion of his time, November 4, 1832,
he married Miss JaneE., daughter of Larkin and Susan (Crisler) Weaver,
and a native of Virginia. In 1846, Mr. Wert moved to Aurora, Ind.,
worked as a miller, and in 1855 purchased a mill in Ohio County, which
he managed until 1867, at which time he came to this county and pur-
chased and settled on the farm which is now his home and sustenance.
Mr. and Mrs. Wert have been the parents of twelve children — William,
James, Maria, Susan, Washington, Amanda, Arabelle, Isabelle (deceased),
Thomas (deceased), Charles, Eliza and Harvey. Mr. Wert is a Mason, a
Republican and an Odd Fellow.
JOHNSON TOWNSHIP. 799
JOHNSON TOWNSHIP.
HEZEKIAH AXSON, farmer and stock- raiser, is a native of Yadkin
County, N. C, was born August 19, 1831, and is the eldest son of Sam-
uel and Winnie (Mathews) Axson, both natives of North Carolina, and
respectively of English and Irish extraction. Samuel Axson moved to
^ Monroe about 1838, and to this county twelve years afterward. Hez-
ekiah Axson received a subscription-school education in youth, and re-
mained at home until he was twenty-one years old, and followed various
occupations, principally farming. September 5, 1861, he entered the
service and remained three years, serving in the following battles :
Pittsburg Landing, Stone River, Chickamauga and others. He received
two gunshot wounds, one in the left thigh, and one in the left shoulder,
and was mustered out September 2, 1864. After this experience he re-
sumed farming. April 15, 1854, he married Miss Mary Helenburg, a
native of Virginia, from which union have sprung seven children — Andy
W. (deceased), Mary J,, Amanda E., Stanley, Alice M., John T. and Cor-
delia. Mr. Axson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a Republican
in politics, and an estimable citizen. His greatest ambition is to leave
with his children a good education as a basis for life.
DR. JOHN H. LEONARD is a native of Monroe County, was born
December 27, 1843, and is the eldest of eleven children born to William
and Lucinda (Grimes) Leonard, both natives of Indiana. William
Leonard came with his parents to Monroe County about 1825, of which
locality he is yet a resident. John H. was reared a farmer, with such
education as the schools afforded, and when seventeen began the business
of telegi-aphing, which he followed until he was thirty years of age, at
which time he began to study medicine under Dr. Dowden, at Owens-
burg, with whom he studied three years, then attended a course of lect-
ures at the Louisville Medical College, and afterward located at Elkins-
ville, Brown County, Ind., in 1876. His first marriage was to Dulcinea
Carr, which union was blessed with three children, two having been
named — Charles (deceased) and Dora E. After the death of this mother,
Dr. Leonard married Miss Louisa E. Stark, by which marriage has been
born one daughter — Ida B. Dr. Leonard has a good and growing prac-
tice. He is a prominent Democrat, and the present Assessor of the town-
ship. He is a trusted physician and a good citizen, and, as is his wife,
a members of the Christian Church.
THOMAS MADGETT, farmer, was born in Ennis, County Clare,
Ireland, March 24, 1817, and is a son of John N. and Sarah (Perry)
Madgett, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Canada. John N.
Madgett received a good education at an endowed school, and May, 1807,
was commissioned Doctor of Pharmacy, and followed that profession
throughout his life, having been in a hospital at Ennis; Mr. Madgett
died in 1849, and Mrs. Madgett fourteen years before; they were mem-
bors of the English Chui'ch. Thomas Madgett obtained a classical edu-
cation in the land of his birth, passed his early years at farming, and when
thirty-eight emigrated to America, lived for a time in New York and Cin-
800
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
cinnati, and finally came to this county, where he now lives. He entered
school land at the time, and now has a fine farm under good cultivation.
Mr. Madgett is a member of the Masonic fraternity, has been Township
Assessor and Township Trustee, and is at present County Commissioner.
He is a leading citizen, a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and resides with his sisters.
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