USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
Mr. Sefton has carried on general farm- ing, and has raised cattle and hogs sufficient for his own use, but has never done much trading in stock. He has been careful in his investments, has never indulged in spec- ulation, and as a consequence has never met with any reverses in fortune. In 1886
1
he bought a fine property in Greensburg, consisting of two lots, on which were two houses,-one a frame structure and the other a brick building. Ten years later, in 1896, he retired from active business and took up his residence in the city of Greens- burg. He has rented his farm and employs his time in looking after his various inter- ests. In his political views Mr. Sefton is in sympathy with the Democratic party, al- though he has never cared for office, finding his time fully taken up in attending to his personal affairs. Both he and his wife are consistent and worthy members of the First Methodist church at Greensburg, in which he is a steward.
Mr. Sefton was married October 25, 1865. to Mary E. Myers, and the union has proved a most happy one, Mrs. Sefton being a lady of many excellent qualities, and one who has been a true helpmeet to her husband and a devoted mother to her children, two in number, namely: Katie, born November 13, 1868, is the wife of Frank R. Robbins, and has two children, Lelia N. and William S .; and Cora, born March 26, 1878, mar- ried W. H. Robbins, and has one child. Willa, who was born on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1899.
Mrs. Sefton is the daughter of Thomas S. and Mahala Myers, who were married. in Decatur county, in 1843. Mr. Myers was a son of Thomas Myers, who was of Penn- sylvania-Dutch descent, and settled in De- catur county in an early day. He was a leading member of the Baptist church. Ilis family comprised six children, namely: . .Anderson, Viana, Thomas S., Margaret. John and Edith. Thomas S. was a pros- perous farmer and was prominently identi- fied with the agricultural pursuits of Deca-
285
DECATUR COUNTY.
tur county. In 1878, he unfortunately met with an accident, by which his spinal col- umn was injured and he was incapacitated for further labor. He removed to Greens- burg, where he was a constant invalid for nine years, and there died on October 18, 1887, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church. His wife was a daughter of Walter Bradon, who was of Irish descent, but who was born in the United States in 1797. Twelve years after his marriage he brought his wife on horseback to Indiana, settling on a farm in Decatur county. He prospered in his af- fairs and took an active interest in the work of the Methodist church, to which he was a most liberal contributor. In those pioneer days there were few if any churches, and his house was used as a place of worship and was the home of itinerant preachers who traveled from one place to the other. holding meetings wherever a few faithful souls could be gathered together. Mr. Bra- don died in 1879, his wife having passed away in 1855. Their children were: Maha- la, Robert, John, Richard, Jane (Mrs. Rus- sell), Landa and James. Mrs. Sefton's par- ents had seven children, as follows: Mary E., Robert W., Emma (Mrs. Gilmore), Mor- gan, Willard, Nevada (Mrs. W. S. Minor) and Maggie B. (Mrs. Stapp).
E. R. FORSYTH.
The Forsyth family is of Scotch descent. its immediate ancestors emigrating from Edinburg to New Jersey during colonial days and making their home in Burlington county, that state. There John, the grand- father of E. R. Forsyth, was born and there
he was married to Elizabeth Antrim, of the same county, who was of Irish descent and one of the heirs of the famous Antrim es- tate. In 1829 the family removed to Indi- ana, settling near Milford, Decatur county. where Mr. Forsyth entered a tract of gov- ernment land. Here he followed farming until about 1860, when, with other members of the family, he went to Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was reared in the Quaker faith, and was a quiet. unobtrusive man, industrious and exem- plary in his habits. He lived to the remark- able age of one hundred and one years, lack- ing seven days, at last falling asleep like a wearied child, without pain or illness of any kind.
A. R. Forsyth, the father of our subject. was the eldest of seven children, three daughters and four sons, born to John and Elizabeth (Antrim) Forsyth. He was born June 10, 1810, and was nineteen years old when his father's family took up their res- idence in Decatur county. He obtained his education in the district schools, to which he has since added by extensive read- ing. He has always been fond of books, and as a boy took the first newspaper in his neighborhood, and later in life became the owner of one of the largest miscella- neous libraries in the county. Mr. Forsyth traveled extensively, having visited Europe and other countries in 1850-51. and again in 1867, and he brought from there many valuable paintings and art treasures. He was engaged in banking for many years and was well and favorably known through- out the county as a man of strict integrity and upright life. For forty-seven years he was active in religious work in the Presby- terian church, in which he was an elder.
1
286
DECATUR COUNTY.
.
Personally he was simple in his tastes and habits, a lover of books and of home, whose pleasures he preferred to any allurements of public life. In 1868 he was one of the organizers of the Roan County Iron Com- pany, which started with ten million dollars capital and for many years was a very pros- perous concern. The mother of our subject was by maiden name Elizabeth Riggs.
E. R. Forsyth was born in Greensburg. September 1, 1844, and was educated in the schools of that place. In 1867 he accom- panied his father to Europe and on his re- turn became associated with General Wild- er for three years, until his impaired health compelled him to give up business for a time. In 1872 he was made cashier in the First National Bank of Greensburg, which position he held until 1897, since which time he has been engaged in the life insur- ance business. Mr. Forsyth has always been actively interested in religious affairs and when only twenty-nine years of age was elected an elder in the Presbyterian church. He was married, in 1876, to Cath- arine Mills, of Middlefield, Connecticut. and they have one daughter, Elizabeth.
OLIVER DEEM.
One of the successful farmers of Decatur county is Oliver Deem, who has steadily worked his way upward till he is now ac- counted one of the substantial citizens of the community. His landed possessions are extensive and through the capable man- agement of his business interests he has ac- quired a very desirable capital. He was born in Washington township. April 19. 1840, a son of Thomas and Sarah ( Rinear)
Deem. But little is known of the early his- tory of the family, save that three brothers of the name of Deem, natives of Germany. came to America in colonial days and joined the army in the Revolutionary war. One was killed in that memorable struggle for independence and the other brothers were afterward separated. . The parents of our subject were married in Ohio, but the moth- er was a native of Pennsylvania. At an early day they came to Indiana, where the father purchased land consisting of a wild tract, only a few acres having been placed under cultivation. A little cabin consti- tuted the improvements thereon and so the arduous task of developing the land and making a good home remained to the new owner. With resolute purpose he began the work and energetically carried on farm. ing until his death in 1853. His wife long survived him, passing away in 1896. Her last days were spent with her sister, who was the wife of Hon. Milton Sailor, a con- gressman. Mr. Deem was a supporter of the Whig party, but never sought or de- sired political preferment. A man of known probity, he was frequently called upon to settle estates, and his advice was often sought by his neighbors, for his judgment was unbiased and reliable. He was twice married and had four children by the first union, but all are now deceased. The chil- dren of the second marriage are Mrs. Mary Heaton; Mrs. Catharine Daily; John: Wil- liam, who is living in Greensburg; Mrs Eliza Stewart: Lemuel, who died leaving a wife and one child; Mrs. Elizabeth Whit - ton: Oliver: William, who died while serv. ing his country in the civil war: Thomas 11., who also died in the army; and Mrs Nora Cory.
287
DECATUR COUNTY.
Oliver Deem, of this review, lost his father when he was only eight years of age, but he remained on the old homestead until he had attained his majority, being under the care of a guardian. When the estate was settled up he inherited eighteen acres of land and one hundred and eighty dollars. At the age of twenty-five he was married and took up his abode at the old homestead farm, where he remained until 1888, when he removed to Adams. A year later, how- ever, he purchased a farm near that town and has since engaged in its cultivation. He is a man of great industry and energy and his success has not come through spec- ulation, but as the result of earnest and consecutive labor. As his financial re- sources have increased he has made judi- cious investments in real estate and is now the owner of four farms, comprising seven hundred acres of land. His property in- terests are valued at over sixty-three thou- sand dollars. When he came into the pos- session of the money from his father's es- tate he loaned it and has since engaged in loaning money on good security. He is con- servative and has met with few losses. He mánifests keen discernment in his business affairs; and this, combined with his reso- lute purpose, has enabled him to gain a leading position among the substantial cit- izens of Decatur county. Each year his possessions are steadily augmented and his success is most creditable.
Mr. Deem was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Shellhorn, who was born in Decatur county, December 22, 1846, a member of an honored old family of this locality. Her parents, Samuel and Elizabethi (Hewitt) Shellhorn, were natives of New Jersey, and during the pioneer epoch in the history of
the state came to Indiana. The father fol- lowed farming and built the Picayune, one of the first mills of this section of the coun- try. He also handled some stock and se- cured from his business investments a good income. His dealings were honorable and at all times his upright life commanded the confidence and good will of his fellow men. Of the Baptist church he was a con- sistent member, and in his political faith he was a Republican. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Their children are La- fayette; Lydia, wife of our subject; Lavira, who is married and lives in Indianapolis; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Mr. Allen, a Pres- byterian minister of Kokomo, Indiana: Phoebe, wife of William Roberts; and John L., who is living on the old home- stead. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deem were born two children: Addison, who was born De- cember 31, 1869, and died on the 22d of December, 1891; and Otis A., who was born November 26, 1874. Mrs. Deem was called to her final rest June 28, 1899. She was a faithful and devoted wife and mother and a lady whose many excellencies of char- acter endeared her to all. In early life she was a member of the Mount Moriah Bap- tist church and after her marriage she at- tended the Methodist church with her hus- band and was one of the most zealous workers. Mr. Deem has been a member of the Methodist church since the age of nineteen years and his upright life is in har- mony with his professions. He is an advo- cate of Republican principles, but at local elections, where no issue is involved, votes for the man rather than the party. His entire life has been passed in this county, and the many who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his staunch-
-
. 288
.
DECATUR COUNTY.
est friends, a good indication of his honor- able career.
WILLIAM JAMES ROBINSON.
The life of a good man is far-reaching in its influence, and when the biographer undertakes to trace the career of so good a man and true a citizen as was the late Wil- liam James Robinson, of Adams township, Decatur county, he feels that the task is a pleasant one. In' many respects his life was not an easy one, especially in the pio- neer days, but he was a man of great force of character, and one by one he trampled all obstacles under his feet and rose to yet greater things. .
His father. John M. Robinson, was a na- tive of Harrison county, Virginia (now West Virginia), November 23. 1781. being the date of his birth. On the 7th of March, 1821, he arrived, with his family. in Adams township, Decatur county, Indiana, then an unbroken wilderness, where he had lo- cated a homestead October 8, 1820, and this place, now a finely improved farm. has never since left the possession of the family. Not only was John M. Robinson a practi- cal, energetic business man and thrifty ag- riculturist, but he also inaugurated many of the early improvements in this section, thus materially aiding in the founding of the county's prosperity. For his day. he was a man of good education, and, there being no schools here for some years after his ar- rival, ,he established one himself. holding sessions in a log building situated just across the road from the present family residence. His own children and many of the neighbor's children were glad to avail themselves of the privileges of this school,
and among his pupils there were several who later acquired fame in the professional and political world, as, for example, Thom- as A. Hendricks, Lafayette Freeman and Dr. Robbins. His life work well rounded. and his entire duty towards his family. neighbors and countrymen generally con- scientiously performed, he was summoned to his reward, April 4, 1843. To himself and wife four children were born, namely: Julia, May 31, 1813; William J., April 23, 1815; Enoch Ferris, March 22, 1817, and Mary, December 17, 1818.
Hon. William James Robinson and his sister Julia remained on the old homestead and never married, their lives being quietly and happily spent together for more than four-score years. Early in the '30s. after they had completed their elementary edu- cation under the instruction of their re- spected father, the brother and sister be- came students in the old Miami University at Oxford, Ohio. Later they both taught in Franklin College, Indiana, the sister having charge of the preparatory course, while the brother taught the higher branches. In 1843, at the death of their father, they returned to their old home. where they passed the rest of their lives, engaged in the peaceful vocations of their forefathers.
Loved and respected by all of his asso- ciates and acquaintances, Mr. Robinson oc- cupied a prominent place in this community. and was honored by being chosen to rep- resent the counties of Rush and Decatur in the state legislature. on several occasions. There he made a creditable record, doing whatever he might on behalf of the people whom he represented, and using his influ- ence for causes which he believed to be
-
289
DECATUR COUNTY.
right and just. Though quiet and unas- suming in manner, he was a man of strong convictions and performed his duty in ac- cordance with those beliefs. He kept post- ed upon all of the great events affecting the welfare of this country, and even the night before his death he read an article in the Journal relative to the president's mes- sage to congress and expressed his grati- fication at the chief executive's wisdom and conservatism in the Cuban matter. His long and useful life came to a peaceful close at his old home, December 7, 1898, about one year after the death of his faithful com- panion, his sister Julia, who had entered the silent land September 7, 1897.
William Robinson Pleak, the favorite nephew and namesake of our subject and heir to his property, is a son of Joseph D. and Mary Jane (Robinson) Pleak. He was born in this township, November 20, 1852, and, as his mother died when he was an infant of but three weeks, he was reared by his grandmother, who died January 5, 1868. Through the kindness and liberality of William J. Robinson, the uncle, the lad received a good education and, after pur- suing a preparatory course in what is now known as Butler College, near Indianapo- lis, he entered the Indiana State University, where he profitably spent two years, and in 1877 was graduated at Cornell University, his junior and senior years having been passed there. As he possessed undoubted talent and a keen, logical mind, it seemed best that he should enter the legal profes- sion, and he commenced studying to that end in the office of Colonel Robert S. Rob- ertson, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Owing to failing health, however, he returned to the pursuit of his forefathers, agriculture, and
since the demise of his uncle he has resided upon the old homestead which his grand- father located almost eighty years ago.
Following the example of his revered uncle, he is an ardent Republican, and in 1887 it was his proud privilege to represent the people of this county in the state as- sembly, then convening for the first ses- sions in the new state-house at Indianapolis. At present (1899) he is serving his fellow citizens as a member of the Decatur county council. He has naught but gratitude and love for his uncle, who so long and loyally provided for him, affording him the means for education and travel, and finally be- queathing to him the valuable Robinson homestead.
The first marriage of Mr. Pleak was to Miss Laura Baker, whose death took place in 1879. The only son of that union, Ray- mond L., born November 15, 1879, is a student in the University of Michigan and 1 is a young man of great promise. The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. W. R. Pleak was formerly Miss Mattie Throp. The family stands high in the esteem of the citizens of this community, and. like the Robinsons, their place could not be easily filled.
J. V. SCHOFIELD, M. D.
Probably there is no more popular phy- sician and surgeon in Greensburg, or, in- deed, in Decatur county, than the gentle- man whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He stands deservedly high in his profession and is called into consultation by physicians in various parts of this and adjoining counties, his skill. particularly in surgical cases, being widely recognized.
290
DECATUR COUNTY.
-
The parents of the Doctor, Joshua and Lucretia (Jowett) Schofield. were natives of Hanley, Yorkshire, England. His ma- ternal grandfather, Samuel Jowett, was of the so-called "gentry," in England, and, being an elder son, inherited large estates. He emigrated to the United States, with his family, including his daughter Lucretia, in 1830, and, locating in Dearborn county, bought a farm, and remained there for twenty-five years. Then, disposing of his property, he returned to his native land, where he eventually died. Samuel S. Scho- field, the paternal grandfather of the Doc- tor, also crossed the ocean in 1830, and took up his residence in Dearborn county, and some ten or fifteen years later returned to England, there passing his remaining years. Joshua Schofield was a woolen man- ufacturer, and was actively engaged in busi- ness at Vernon until his death, in 1863, when he was only forty-three years of age. He had three children. The eldest, Samuel, is engaged in the management of a woolen factory at Madison. Indiana, and Joshua also resides at Madison.
Dr. J. V. Schofield was born in Vernon, Indiana, April -6, 1856, and was in his sev- enth year when he went to Madison.to live. He received a good education, and left Hanover College, in his sophomore year, in order to take up the study of med- icine with Dr. G. A. Kunkler, a celebrated physician of Madison, he having graduated , in medicine at Vienna, Austria. In 1878 our subject was given the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in the Miami Medical College. . and soon afterward he established an office at Harris City, six miles south of Greens- burg. There he was successfully engaged in practice for nine years, at the expira-
tion of which period he came to Greens- burg. He has made somewhat of a spe- cialty of diseases of the eye, and, as pre- viously stated, has been very successful as a surgeon. For several years he has been the local surgeon for the Big Four Rail- road, and for about a decade he has been a member of the County and State Medical Societies and the American Medical As- sociation and the American Medical Asso- ciation of Railway Surgeons. For five years he served as a member of the local board of pension examiners, being its sec- retary during Harrison's administration.
Socially the Doctor is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity. being past master of Lodge No. 476, F. and A. M., and past chancellor of Lodge No. 148, K. of P. He takes great interest in whatever tends to uplift and benefit hu- manity, and is a loyal, patriotic citizen. In 1886 he married Belle Smalley, of this coun- ty, and their two children, named Walter D. and Mabel L., respectively, are well worthy of their parents' pride.
LUTHER D. BRADEN.
A man is judged by the company he keeps, and a town or village. to a great ex- tent, by the kind of newspapers it supports. There is no calling at once so fascinating. so laborious and so responsible as that of the editor, be he in charge of a city or coun- try journal. The profession requires intel- ligence, general information, conscientious- ness. progressiveness, and, above all. tact : and without these qualities no one can hope to make a success in the management and publication of a newspaper.
291
DECATUR COUNTY.
Luther Donnell Braden, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who is editor. and proprietor of the Greensburg Standard, one of the oldest and best known papers in Indiana, has proven his ability to publish a clean, newsy and up-to-date sheet; and the people have sustained him, as is shown by the extensive circulation of the Standard and the high class of its subscrib- - ers. He was born in Clay township, De- catur county, November 5, 1861, and is a son of Robert and Pamela (Anderson) Bra- den. On his father's side he is of Irish descent, while his mother's ancestors came from England. His paternal grandfather, William Braden, was a native of county Tyrone, in the north of Ireland, and in 1795 emigrated to the United States, settling first in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. From there he went to Scott county, Kentucky, and in 1822 removed to Clarksburg, De- catur county, Indiana, where his death occurred soon afterward. He was a farmer by occupation, and led a busy and · useful life. He married a Miss Jackson, also a native of Ireland, and they had a fam- ily of nine children.
Robert Braden, father of our subject, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, July II, 1814, and was eight years of age when his parents came to Decatur county. In 1839 he located in Clay township, where he resided until his death, in 1887. He became one of the most extensive farmers and stock-raisers in that section, and was widely known as a man of strong character and upright life. He was a charter member of the Christian church at Milford, which was founded in 1842, and was one of its officers as long as the church had an exist- ence. In politics he was an ardent Repub-
lican, and was an earnest Union man during the civil war, assisting the government as best he could in its efforts to maintain the cause of truth and justice.
In 1838 Mr. Braden was united in mar- riage to Pamela, daughter of Joseph An- derson. Her father laid out and named the town of Andersonville, Franklin county, Indiana, and there resided until his death, which occurred when he had attained the advanced age of ninety years. He was a merchant as well as farmer and was one of the wealthiest men in that part of the state. His birth occurred in Campbell county, Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Braden four children were born, as follows: Joseph A., who lives in Rossville, Illinois, where he is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business and is also serving as justice of the peace. He served during the civil war in the Seventy-sixth Indiana Volunteers. The only man killed in that regiment was his cousin, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Bra- den, who fell near Henderson, Kentucky. Jane, the second of the family, married Thomas A. Shirk, a wealthy farmer of Jack- son township, Decatur county, and a vet- eran of the civil war. in which he saw active service as a member of the Thirty-seventh Indiana. Jeremy A., a retired farmer, now residing in Greensburg, still owns a large farm west of the city. He served for two terms as a trustee of Clay township, being the first Republican elected for a number of years. He was twice candidate for county auditor at primary elections, and won the second highest number of votes when there were seven or eight other candidates.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.