USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 37
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James H. Matthews, the father of our subject, was born in western Indiana, March 5, 1847, and died in Indianapolis, April 23. 1898. When seventeen years of age he be- gan the study of photography in Green- field, Ohio, and followed that art in the Buckeye state until twenty-three years of age, when he came to Greensburg, Indiana. He carried on the photographing business in this and various other locations in dif- ferent states, for twenty-eight years, and then removed to Indianapolis, where hic spent his last days. He was one of the lead-
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ing photographers of the state, his artistic talent and skill in his profession winning him prestige. On the 14th of October, 1874, occurred the marriage of James H. Mat- thews and Phoebe W. Garver, who resided in Greensburg, Indiana, and to them was born a son, Harry O.
The well known editor of the Greensburg Daily and Weekly News spent the first four years of his life in the city of his nativity and then accompanied his parents to other parts of this and other states. The educa- tional privileges which he enjoyed were those afforded by the common schools, but at the early age of ten years he entered a printing office in Seymour, Indiana, to learn the printing trade, to which he has since devoted his energies. He removed to Illi- nois, and was employed for two years in a printing office in Wilmington, returning to Greensburg on the 7th of March, 1888. where he has mastered the business in every detail. After acting as compositor on va- rious papers of the city he began business on his own account, in Milroy, Rush coun- ty, founding the Milroy Press, in Novem- ber, 1895. He published that journal for a year, as an independent paper, and in No- vember, 1896, he returned to Greensburg. The following April he purchased a half in- terest in the Greensburg Daily News, and on the Ist of August, 1898, he became sole proprietor. This paper was established in 1894, by Frank Trimble and Ed Line, but on the Ist of May of that year the latter retired, Mr. Trimble continuing the enter- prise.,until it was purchased by Mr. Mat- thews, who is now sole owner. The paper is independent in politics and is devoted to the business interests of Greensburg and Decatur county. It is a seven-column, four-
page journal. neat in appearance. fully meriting the liberal patronage which it re- ceives. Its large circulation makes it an excellent advertising medium, and it re- ceives a liberal support in this direction. On the 28th of April, 1899, Mr. Matthews also began to publish the Greensburg Weekly News, a five-column sheet of eight pages, issued every Friday.
On the 9th of January, 1895, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Matthews and Miss Cora E. Patterson, of Greensburg. but after a short married life of three and one-half years the wife was called to her final rest, May 10, 1898. Socially Mr. Matthews is a Mason, having become a member of Greensburg Lodge, No. 36, F. and A. M., August 12, 1897. On the 16th of June of the following year he became a member of Greensburg Lodge, No. 148, K. P. He is a young man of marked energy, enter- prise and executive ability, and his close application to his business interests has brought him a success which he well de- serves. He exemplifies the western spirit of progress and is known as a public-spirited citizen who not only gives his influence through his papers to all movements calcu- lated to prove a public benefit, but also lends them his substantial support.
BENJAMIN F .. GASTON.
This leading and representative farmer of Jackson township, Decatur county, was born in Butler county, Ohio, October 15. . 1849. His parents, Francis M. and Mar- garet (Gray) Gaston, were also born in Butler county, Ohio, where they were mar- ried. His father was a son of Joseph and
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Ann (Minor) Gaston, who were both of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. They came to Ohio at a very early date, and were well and favorably known in this locality. Jo- seph Gaston was a farmer by occupation. and was also a local preacher in the Mission- ary Baptist church. He was a Democrat, but very strong in his anti-slavery views. and affiliated with the Birney abolitionists. There were seven children in their family. Besides Benjamin F., there were Margaret. Francis M., father of our subject; Abiah W., living in Iowa; John, who went to Cal- ifornia, and from there to the Sandwich Islands, where he was a missionary, and since then nothing has been heard from him; Joseph K., who enlisted in the Eighty- third Ohio Volunteers during the civil war and gave his life a sacrifice to his patriot- ism; and Samuel, who is a contractor and lives at Albia, Iowa.
Francis M. came with his family to Deca- tur county in 1851. He purchased land, on which there were some improvements. and also bought a store at Sardinia, which he conducted for one year. At the end of that time he decided to give his undivided atten- tion to farming, which proved to be a wise resolve. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising. and was very successful in all his enterprises. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church and a leading man in his community, where he com- manded undivided esteem. He died May 26, 1894, at the ripe age of eighty-one years. His wife, who survives him, makes her home with her children in Sardinia, where she is surrounded with tender love and care in her old age. Mrs. Gaston's father died when she was a child. and she was reared by an uncle, Jacob Schuff, a prominent citizen and
county commissioner of Hamilton county. Ohio. The others of the family remained with the mother in Ohio. Benjamin Gray and Mrs. Gaston are the only ones now liv- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Gray had each been previously married, and had children by each marriage. James T. Gray was a lead- ing politician of Butler county, Ohio. and was elected the treasurer of the county, but died before qualifying for the office. Abra- ham and John McMeans were large farmers in Elkhart county, Indiana, and both are deceased. To Francis M. Gaston and wife six children were born: Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch: Jessie M., who lives on the old homestead; James S .. a farmer in Jackson township; Julia A., Mrs. John R. Shaw. living in Chicago, Illinois; Eliza J., Mrs. L. E. Newsome, a resident of In- dianapolis: and William G., a prominent merchant in Sardinia.
Benjamin F. Gaston obtained a good education in the common schools, and sub- sequently took a course in the Commercial College at Lebanon. Ohio, after which he taught school for five years. Until he was twenty-six years old Mr. Gaston remained with his parents. In 1875 he married Miss Ruth Smith and settled on a farm of his father's, which he rented and which five years later he purchased. He remained on this place a number of years, then sold it and bought the property where he now re- sides. Mr. Gaston has been very success- ful in his business enterprises. and is now the owner of three well improved farms. He has devoted his entire time to agricul- . tural pursuits. and although he studied law and is a competent attorney he has never practiced his profession to any greater ex- tent than in the way of giving advice to liis
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neighbors. However, he has settled a good many estates, and has been guardian for a number of children. At the present time he is acting as assignee of the large business of James S. Harper, of Sardinia. In all his business relations his integrity has never been doubted, and he has shown himself to be a man of much executive ability.
In politics Mr. Gaston is a strong and influential worker in the Republican party, although his township is largely Demo- cratic. He is a constant attendant at the state and county conventions, and works earnestly in advocating the principles of the party which he believes to be that of "law and order." He was elected county com- missioner in 1890, and served out his term with honor and credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is at present a member of the Decatur county council. He is also a director of the Farmers' Insurance Company. Socially he belongs to the Odd Fellows.
On April 21, 1875, Mr. Gaston was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Smith, who was born in Wayne county, New York, April 7, 1854, and was a daughter of Thomas and Hannah Smith. Her parents were English by birth, and soon after their marriage emigrated to the United States and settled in New York, where they re- mained but a short time, and then came to Jennings county, Indiana. Her father was a miller by trade, and for a number of years operated the mill at Sardinia. He died June 30, 1875: his wife is still living and resides in Sardinia. In the Smith family there were seven children, namely: Ruth (Mrs. Gaston), William F .. James, Charles, Louisa (Mrs. Falkner), Mary and Freder- ick. " Mrs. Gaston died June 4, 1899, leav-
ing three children,-Carl and Annie, who live with their father; and Margaret, Mrs. E. L. Irving, residing in Indianapolis. She was a woman of culture and refinement, and a consistent member of the Baptist church, to which organization all the family belong. and in which Mr. Gaston is a deacon at Westport, Indiana.
HON. MARSHALL E. NEWHOUSE.
One of the most popular and prominent citizens of Fugit township, Decatur county, ' is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. In all measures having for their object the benefit of the people, he takes an active part, and consequently he is looked up to and considered an authority upon publie matters in his own community. The secret of his popularity is to be found in the high and creditable record he has made. -a career which is noble and of which his children and posterity will have reason to be proud.
The Newhouse family is one of the hon- ored pioneer families of the adjoining Rush county, and comes from stanch old Virginia stock. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Samuel Newhouse, emigrated from the Old Dominion to these Indiana wilds at a very early day, and proceeded to clear a farm in the midst of the forest. There, on the old homestead, the father of our sub- ject was born, in 1824, and for three-quar- ters of a century has dwelt, peacefully tilling' the soil. Though now so advanced in age, he enjoys good health and attends to the same duties which have occupied his atten- tion during his mature life.
The birth of Marshall E. Newhouse oc-
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curred on the old Rush county farm, in November, 1852, and there he mastered the various departments of agriculture. He was a studious youth, and supplemented his common-school education by a course at Hanover College, subsequent to leaving which institution he engaged in teaching for a number of years, with marked success.
In 1878 Mr. Newhouse was united in marriage with Miss Ella Throp. a daughter of James B. Throp, and granddaughter of . Thomas Throp, one of the early settlers of Fugit township. The latter, who settled here permanently in 1821. was born in New Jersey, October 17, 1776, and died in this locality, March 24, 1853. His wife, Ellen, born November 30, 1784, died August 12, 1839. James B. Throp was born in Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, December 28, 1815, and from the time that he was six years old he dwelt in this township on the land originally entered by his father. He was an industrious, highly respected citizen, and was deeply mourned when he was called to his reward, April 6, 1884. His widow, whose maiden name was Mary Kerrick, is yet living at the home which has sheltered her for so many decades. Her father, Thomas Kerrick, was a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and he is numbered among the pioneers of this county.
The present home of Marshall E. New- house is on section 24, Fugit township, this property being a portion of the old home- stead of James B. Throp. He has resided here.ever since his marriage, and has made many desirable improvements, thus enhanc- ing the value of the homestead. He is a practical business man, and has the inter- ests of the agricultural class in particular sincerely at heart.
In his political faith Mr. Newhouse is a stanch Republican, his first presidential ballot having been cast for Hayes. In 1893 he was the people's choice for repre- sentative of this district to the state legisla- ture, and again in 1895 he was elected as a representative. Once a member of the legislative body, Mr. Newhouse took a prominent place on many of the enactments and important bills, and during his first term he was the author of the Southern Prison bill, which really was the ground- work of the reform bill that was finally passed. During his last term in the legis- lature he was chairman of the committee on apportionment, which redistricted the state, and he also warmly championed the mort- gage exemption bill and other measures which he believed to be for the welfare of the people.
Fraternally, Mr. Newhouse is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He resides in a very pleasant home, which is brightened by the presence of his estimable wife and their five children, who are named Mary, Winnie M., Lewis J., Ruby and Helen. The family are active members of the Christian church and loyal in the support of education and all other worthy enterprises.
H. C. MILLER.
Anything like an adequate presentation of the history of this worthy citizen and of his antecedents must possess many elements of interest. It comprehends the pioneer days of our country and is an indication of the advancement of civilization from the days of the block-house to the present time: and it deals with the experiences of brave
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nien and women in the new country, sur- rounded by beasts of prey, intimidated by red Indians and hampered and inconven- ienced by the conditions of primitive life. H. C. Miller had a part in reclaiming the Indiana forests and has a claim now on the honor due to a good and upright citizen.
H. C. Miller, of Westport, Decatur coun- ty, Indiana, has been long identified with the development of his township and with the advancement of the farming interests of his county. He is a native of Clermont county, Ohio, and was born April 17. 1820, a son of John H. and Abigal (Witham) Mill- er. His father was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and his mother was born in Massachusetts. His grandfather, James Witham, came out from Massachu- setts and about 1775 located at Cincinnati, then a mere village of five log cabins. where he bought of Judge Sims a tract of land extending along Deer creek to the Ohio river and including valuable land now nearly in the business center of the city. The place was then a mere settlement of log cabins, with a blockhouse in which the pio- neers would seek safety whenever an Indian alarm was sounded. The. Withams, with four other families, floated down the Ohio river on flat boats and were frequently fired at by Indians from the shores; and it may be imagined that the journey was no less dangerous than tiresome. After improv- ing some of his land and farming on it for a comparatively short time, Mr. Witham sold it and went to Warren county. The chil- dren of James Witham were Robert. John. Morris, Gideon. Mehetable. Rachel and Abigal (who became Mrs. John Miller and was the mother of H. C. Miller).
John H. Miller and Abigal Witham were
married in Hamilton county, Ohio, and they lived on a rented farm until 1830, when Mr. Miller settled on public lands in Deca- tur county, Indiana. When he moved here the country was an unbroken wilderness. There were no roads and but few settlers. The Millers found their way to their new home by blaze marks on trees, cut there by some one who had gone over the ground before them. Mr. Miller erected a log cabin and made a ten-acre clearing, and then exchanged his improvements for forty acres of wild land. Then he went further into the wilderness, built another cabin. cleared and worked more land and died after having seen the work of improvement well advanced all about him. His expe- riences in this land of promise were the fa- miliar but arduous ones of all pioneers in this part of the country. The woods were full of game of the land and of game of the air, and it was to be had for the shooting. For some time there were no milling facili- ties beyond small hand-mills in which corn was ground to meal. The hardships and (leprivations were many, but they were not discouraging, and opportunity to worship God was provided for by the formation of Methodist classes. After that the devoted settlers did not feel so lonely and so help- less, and they made strides more and more rapidly toward improvement, enlighten- ment and complete civilization. The men in the woods of Indiana had their politics. The politics of John H. Miller was of the Jacksonian Democratic stripe; and though the "stripe" was so deep and so wide that . there could be no mistake about it he was content to study up political questions and to discuss them with his neighbors, and never sought or accepted offices that might
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have been his for only the taking. He died in 1843, his wife in 1845. Their children were named Lavina (Mrs. G. Vandergriff), Rachel (Mrs. William Wyn), Diadama (Mrs. John K. Porter), H. C., Levi (who died at the age of thirty-three and left seven children), Isaac (who died aged thirty-four leaving four children), James, and John (who died in Paulding county, Ohio, leav- ing a family). James, the first born, went to Louisiana, where he became a wealthy sugar planter and a large slave-owner.
H. C. Miller was "bound out," and the wages the father received for his services were of value in the economics of the family. When he was not thus employed he was helping his father clear, improve and culti- vate the farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then went to Louisiana and was an overseer for his brother James .. Thus he was employed for six years, working and saving, and when he came back to Indiana he was able to buy an eighty-acre farm with an eight-acre clearing and a log cabin on it. He has added to this purchase from time to time until he now owns more than four hun- dred acres. His place is one of the most attractive homesteads in the county. He molded and burned a kiln of brick, and in 1858 finished the magnificent house which has since been his home. With his own hands he built a stone fence in front of the house and extending along his land near by, half a mile. His place is beautified with a magnificent grove of forest trees set by his own hands, and at a point distant from the house is another stretch of stone fence bounding the place for thirty rods. From the first he was enterprising beyond many of his neighbors. He was early a driver of stock to the markets of Cincinnati and
Madison, Indiana, and he hauled much wheat to market to Madison and to Law- renceburg. For some time he worked on the construction of the Indianapolis & Madison Railroad, the first built in this part of the country.
It is a matter of course that such a man as Mr. Miller should have become as popu- lar as useful. He is a Democrat in a coun- ty in which there is usually a Republican majority; otherwise he might have almost continually filled the highest offices in the gift of his fellow citizens. He received the nomination for representative in the Indiana legislature and lacked only sixty votes of election though the Republican majority was five hundred. He made a good stand also for the office of county commissioner and ran far ahead of his ticket. He has served as drainage commissioner and for many years advised his fellow townsmen and adjusted their differences as justice of the peace.
Mr. Miller married Miss Elizabeth Ab- bott, a lady of rare culture and many vir- tues, who was born in Hamilton county. Ohio, December 16, 1822, a daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Young) Abbott. Her parents were both born in New Jersey. They were married in Hamilton county. Ohio, where Mr. Abbott, who was a teacher and farmer, lived until he was about sixty years old. At that time they came to Deca- tur county, Indiana, where Mr. Abbott bought and improved land. Selling out after a residence here of twenty years, he removed to Kentucky, where he died at the ripe age of eighty-six. His wife survived him three years and died at the age of eighty. This worthy couple were Method- ists and for years their house was a regular
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preaching place and the meeting place of classes of which Mr. Abbott was leader, and their charities were constant and practical. Besides Mrs. Miller, their children were Samuel and Lucinda, both of whom are dead. Children have been born to H. C. and Elizabeth (Abbott) Miller as follows: Mary E., who married Isaac H. Taylor and died in 1864, leaving no children; Julia C., who married W. F. Robbins and has borne him two sons and three daughters; and two sons who died in infancy were also born in the family of H. C. Miller. Besides bring- ing up these daughters and settling them in life, Mr. Miller has reared and educated seven orphan children, five of whom are established in life. One of the two who remain is a highly educated and successful teacher, the other is a member of Mr. Mill- er's household. Since their youth Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been devout and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Miller has served many years as trustee and steward.
REV. JOHN W. PARKER.
The able and popular pastor of the Pres- byterian church at Greensburg was born at Edinburg, Indiana, September 29. 1867. He is the son of George D. and Elizabeth (Matthews) Parker. The family came orig- inally from Ireland and settled in Ohio.
The father of our subject was born in Brown county, Ohio, but has resided in In- diana for the past forty years. He was edu- cated in Marietta College, Ohio. being graduated at that institution. He subse- quently taught for a number of years in Madison, Kingston and Clarksburg, the last
two towns mentioned being in Decatur county. In 1866 Mr. Parker entered the ministry and became a member of the synod of the Presbyterian church of Indiana. He - preached for six years in Decatur county, and resided for two years at Greensburg. Since 1895 he has had charge of the church at Converse in this state.
He was married to Elizabeth Matthews, and they have reared a family of four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters. John WV. Parker was fitted for college under pri- vate instruction, and when twenty-one years of age entered Princeton, taking a classical course and graduating in the class of 1892. with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then took the theological course in the same institution, at which he was graduated in 1895. During two of his summer vaca- tions he was employed in missionary work in New York and Chicago, and in October. 1895. became pastor of the church with which he is now connected.
Under the ministrations of Mr. Parker the church at Greensburg has largely in- creased in members and influence. The building has been improved and refitted, and a new pipe organ has been put in, while one hundred and fifty additional members have been received. Mr. Parker is a young man of fine education and natural ability. a good speaker, and has won the love and respect not only of his congregation but of the entire community.
HENRY H. TALBOTT.
It has fallen to the lot of very few men in the United States to serve the public as long or to have made such a highly credita-
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ble record as did Henry H. Talbott, de- ceased, formerly of Greensburg. Indeed, he is justly accredited as one of the prime factors in the founding of Decatur county, and to his wisdom and counsel was due much of its early prosperity.
He was of English ancestry, his father, Richard C. Talbott, Jr., and his grand- father, Richard C. Talbott, both having been born in England. The family, includ- ing the three or four children of the grand- father, emigrated to the United States prior to the Revolutionary war and located near Baltimore, Maryland. Richard C. Talbott, Jr., later proceeded westward, and for some years dwelt at Stanford, Kentucky, but spent his last years in Ripley county, Indi- ana, where he bought a farm and cultivated it until his death. He was the father of four sons and one daughter, to whom he gave as good advantages as was possible at that early day in the wilds of the Hoosier state.
Henry H. Talbott, whose birth had oc- curred March 25, 1800, in Stanford. Ken- tucky, was a small lad when the family set- tled in Ripley county, and soon afterward he went to live with an uncle at Madison, the county-seat of Jefferson county, In- diana. That relative was then serving in the capacity of clerk of the courts of that county, and the nephew held the office of deputy for several years, thus becoming thoroughly familiar with the duties of. a county clerk. This knowledge, as will be seen; was of great benefit to him thereafter. He came to Decatur county when it was naught but a dense forest, and the town of Greensburg unknown. In company with a few other pioneers, at Kingston, he took nieasures for the purpose of organizing this
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