USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 38
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county; and as he was the only one pres- ent who was competent to draw up the pa- pers in legal form setting forth the matter, he was chosen to perform that important duty. To him also fell the honor of being elected to serve as the first county clerk of the new county, and according to the old records he entered upon his duties as such as early as January 18, 1822, when he was less than twenty-two years of age. He so thoroughly won the esteem and admiration of his acquaintances that it was really im- possible for any one to defeat him when it came election time, and for twenty-nine years he held the offices of both clerk and recorder. At the end of this period he was barred by a general state law from holding both offices and was continued as clerk eight additional years.
Throughout his mature life he was a patriot in the truest sense, and, when the civil war broke out and the call for men to serve for three months was made, though he was sixty-one years of age, he offered himself to his country, and while he was not permitted to enlist in the ranks lie was given a position as sutler. When his regi- ment participated in the battle of Philippi. he equipped himself with a gun and ammu- nition and went into the fray with his com- rades. Politically he was originally a Whig and later a Republican. For many years he was successfully engaged in the live- stock business, driving cattle to the markets of Madison and Lawrenceburg, and also to Cincinnati, this being prior to the con- struction of railroads in this locality. In later life he was one of the most earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in the Christian faith when in the seventy-third year of his age, July 21.
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1872, his death occurring at his old home in Greensburg.
Mr. Talbott survived his beloved wife several years, as she was summoned to her reward in September, 1860, when she had attained the age of sixty-one years, nine months and three days. In her maiden- hood she bore the name of Eliza Hendricks, her father being Thomas Hendricks, formerly of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, but for years a citizen of this place. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Talbott four sons and four daughters were born. Four are deceased, namely: Rachel, Sarah A., Rich- ard C. and Thomas H. Drusilla G. is the eldest of the four who survive, and the youngest is Mrs. Mary E. King, of Indian- apolis. Abram H. and Henry H. both re- side in Greensburg.
Abram H. Talbott, who is next to the youngest son of our subject, was born in this city, May 26, 1837, and was educated in the public schools here. At intervals, until 1856, he assisted his father in the county clerk's office, and about 1860 they entered into partnership, under the firm name of Talbott & Son, and conducted a hardware store for seven years. The father then sell- ing his business, the young man obtained a position as a clerk, and continued to be thus employed until 1877, since which time he has been engaged in the drug business. - Success has attended his efforts in the busi- ness world, and no one in Greensburg or vicinity enjoys more fully the confidence of the entire community. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. situated east of the city some three miles, and this place he supervises.
Needless to say, Mr. Talbott is a stanch Republican, as was his father before him.
He is quiet and unassuming in manner, and never has been ambitious to occupy public office. His chief interest centers in his home and business, though he never fails to discharge every duty devolving upon him as a citizen. His marriage to Miss Clara L. Armington was celebrated on the 19th of May, 1880, that date being the forty-third anniversary of his birth.
THOMAS A. SHIRK.
An honored member of a well-known pioneer family, Mr. Shirk, is a valued citizen of the vicinity of Waynesburg, Indiana, where he has resided for many years. He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, May 18, 1837. His parents, Job S. and Mary (Matthews) Shirk, were both born in Franklin county, Indiana, where they were married. Job was the son of Andrew Shirk, who was of Swiss descent, and was a pioneer settler in Franklin county. An- drew's father belonged to the sect of Men- nonites, and was opposed to war, but his son was very anxious to enlist in the colon- ial army and finally left home without his parent's knowledge, and served during the entire Revolutionary war. When it was over he settled in North Carolina, after- ward making his way to Indiana, and was one of the pioneers of Franklin county. His son Andrew was a soldier in the war of 1812, and the remainder of his life was spent in farming. His children are mentioned as follows: Andrew and Isaac, neither of whom ever married: Job, father of our subject; Martha, Mrs. C. Craven; Rhoda, Mrs. M. Rudd: Elizabeth, Mrs. M. Wallace; Rachel. Mrs. Jesse Shafer; and Rebecca. Mrs. J. Wynn.
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Job S. Shirk grew to manhood and mar- ried in Franklin county, and lived on the homestead there until 1839, when he moved to Decatur county and bought the tract of land on which his son Thomas now lives. At that time there was only a log cabin on the place and a few acres had been partially - cleared. There were very few settlers in Jackson township, and there were but two families within visiting distance. Many hardships and privations were endured be- fore the wild land was converted into fields of grain, or blooming orchards; but men in those days were strong and brave of heart, and allowed no obstacles to prevent the accomplishment of the tasks to which they set themselves. By degrees the land was improved, more acres were added, and at the time of his death Mr. Shirk was able to leave a good home to each of his chil- dren. He was fond of recounting inci- dents of his pioneer life when there was a plenty of wild game to be had for the shoot- ing, when there were no roads, and only an Indian trail by which to find one's way through the boundless forests, and when the grain had to be carried on horseback for long distances to be ground before the good housewife could have flour and meal for the bread. The people of to-day are reaping the benefits of all this labor and endurance, and no honor is too great to pay to the memory of the men and women who settled this great western country.
Mr. Shirk was a general farmer and also raised stock, which he drove to Cincinnati for market. He also did much for his com- munity in this way, buying stock for the other families and furnishing the money for this purpose when they could not raise it. He was an enterprising man, and very suc-
cessful in his business affairs. In early life he was a Whig and later joined the Repub- lican party. He served as township trustee and as justice of the peace. He took a deep interest in the success of the civil war and supported the Union cause by all the means in his power, giving two of his sons to fight the battles of their country, both of whom lost their lives. While on a visit to his old home in Franklin county in 1844, Mr. Shirk united with the Big Cedar Baptist church, being baptized by the Rev. Joab Stout. On his return home he became a member of the Dry Fork Baptist church, four miles from his farm, and during the existence of that church, as well as. when afterward his church home was with the Mount Arie Bap- tist church denomination at Letts' Corner, he took an active interest in all church work, and held the offices of deacon and clerk.
Job Shirk was married August 18, 1836. to Mary L. Matthews, who died April II. 1863. She was the daughter of Thomas Matthews, a farmer of Franklin county. Her brothers and sisters were: Minerva. Mrs. G. M. Fieber: Melinda, Mrs. William Howell; George and Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Shirk were the parents of seven children. as follows: Thomas A., whose name leads this sketch; George, who was a soldier in the civil war and was for a long time con- fined in the terrible Andersonville prison. from which he was transferred to Florence. South Carolina, and died while still a pris- oner; Joab, a soldier in the same war, who was killed in battle at Port Republic. Vir- ginia; Melinda, who married J. M. Proc- tor for her first husband. I. P. Herod for her second, and is now the wife of W. W. Lowe, of Indianapolis; Samuel, who mar-
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ried Miss Emma Clendenning and resides in Indianapolis; Minerva, who married George Gilchrist; and Rhoda E., deceased, who was the wife of William Kennedy. Mr. Job Shirk was a good neighbor, a kind husband and father, and a man respected by all who knew him.
Thomas A. Shirk was reared to manhood on his father's farm, which is now his own property. His education was limited to the primitive schooling of those days, but he used every opportunity to put to a practical use all the knowledge he obtained and be- came a well informed man, who has made a success of life. During his youth and early manhood Mr. Shirk assisted his father in the management of the farm, which in- cluded the care of stock, and he pursued his daily routine of duties without troubling himself about the affairs of state. But in 1861 the cry "To arms" sounded through- out the land, and with hundreds of young men the farmer boy threw down his imple- ments of labor and hastened to offer his services in defense of the stars and stripes. · In September, 1861, he enlisted, at Law- renceburg, in Company H, Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, which was assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps, under com- mand of "Pap" Thomas. He saw hard service in many battles, was several times slightly wounded, and attained the rank of sergeant. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Tullahoma, Tunnel Hill, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Buzzards' Roost, Lovejoy Station and smaller affairs. and went through the Atlanta campaign. In October, 1864, he returned to Indian- apolis, where he was honorably discharged. He then returned to his home and resumed farming:
In 1865 Mr. Shirk was married to Miss Mary E. Fulton, and settled on a portion of the home farm. The following year his father built a new house, and the two fami- lies lived together until the death of the parent, when, by the terms of his will, the land was divided and our subject became the owner of the homestead and buildings, where he has continued to reside. In ad- dition to this he owns another good farm near by, four hundred and forty acres in all, of well improved land. He was the execu- tor of his father's will and carried out his plans and wishes in regard to the property. He has also been the executor of wills for many other people, has been administrator and trustee of a number of estates, and has been appointed guardian of both old and young. He has the reputation of being an upright, honorable man, of good judgment and practical knowledge in business affairs. and stands high in his community. In poli- tics he has always been a Republican, influ- ential in his party, but never aspiring to of- fice. He is enterprising and public-spirited, and has earned the respect of all who know him.
Mr. Shirk's first wife was born January 21, 1843, and died August 31, 1872, when only twenty-nine years old. She was the mother of two children, Mary E. and Mar- tha S., the latter dying when three years of age. . Mrs. Shirk was a consistent member of the Methodist church. Her parents were William and Susanna R. Fulton, who were natives of Shelby county, Kentucky, but on account of slavery they left that state and came to Decatur county at a very early day. They first located at Greensburg, but later entered land in Jackson township and improved a farm there on which the father
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died in 1853. It was said that he was the neatest and most systematic farmer in the township, as well as one of the heaviest tax- payers. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church and took an active part in its affairs. Politically he was a Whig, but never aspired to office. The children in the Fulton family were: Cath- erine, Mrs. J. Keisling; Eliza J., Mrs. S. Mc- Cullough; Paulina, Mrs. J. Morrow; Mar- tha, Mrs. G. Laugh; Mary E., wife of our subject; America, deceased; and Samuel David, who resides on the old homestead.
Mr. Shirk was again married. December 18, 1877, his second wife being Mrs. Eu- phamia J. Byers, a widow with one son. She was born December 28, 1846, and was the daughter of Robert and Pamelia (An- derson) Braden, of Kentucky. Her father was the son of James Braden, a native of the Emerald Isle, who emigrated to America and first took up his residence in Kentucky. He came to Decatur county among the first settlers and located near Clarksburg, where he entered land and carried on farm- ing until his death. He and his family were strong in their anti-slavery sentiments. The family comprised nine children: Re- becca, Jane, Mary, Jackson, Walter, Will- iam, Richard, Robert and John.
Robert Braden was nine years old when his father came to Decatur county, and spent all his life upon the farm, which he purchased when old enough, and brought it under a fine state of cultivation. He car- ried on general farming, also stock-raising to some extent, and was very successful. To all the worthy poor he has been charita- ble and never turned the needy from his door. He was a member of the Christian church, and lived up to a high standard in
all his dealings with his fellow men, thereby securing the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He was a Republican in his political views, but did not care for of- fice. He died December 9, 1888, at the age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Braden resides with her son Jeremy in Greensburg. Her other children are: Joseph, who lives in Rossville, Illinois; Euphamia J., wife of our subject; Jeremy and Luther D. The father of Mrs. Braden, Joseph Anderson, was the first settler in Posey township, Franklin county, Indiana, and the town of Andersonville was named in his honor. He kept a country tavern, which was popular and well known throughout that section and was the starting point of Andersonville.
Mr. and Mrs. Shirk have no children, but Edgar A. Byers, Mrs. Shirk's son by her first marriage, and Mary E. Shirk, Mr. Shirk's daughter by his former marriage. have been reared by them. Edgar A. By- ers was born February 27, 1865, and now has the management of his mother's home farm. He was married April 21, 1890, to Louisa Miers, daughter of Evan Miers. a farmer of Decatur county, and they have one child, Howard T., born June 17, 1897. Mr. Shirk is a member of the Baptist church, while his wife belongs to the Chris- tian church, but they are of one mind in their efforts to do all the good they can and to make the best of life.
ELIZABETH SHAFER SHERA.
This estimable lady, who has spent the largest part of her life in Decatur county, is the widow of Caleb Shera, who was a prominent and wealthy farmer of that
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county. Mr. Shera was born in Ireland in May, 1809, and when_ twenty-four years old he came with his father, his mother having previously died, to America, settling at first in Benton county, Ohio. On De- cember 21, 1837, he was married to Eliza- beth Shafer, and in 1838 removed to Deca- tur county. He entered land in Jackson township, but subsequently sold a part of it, on which the town of Sardinia now stands. He improved a farm on the remainder, on which he made his home, one-quarter of a mile south of Sardinia, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying there October 30, 1879. He carried on general farming. and was also extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs for the market. He added from time to time to his property until he was the owner of nearly six hundred acres in Decatur county, besides a considerable amount of land in Boone county. He was successful in all his business operations, and at his death left a large estate to his wife and children.
Mr. Shera did much to develop the town- ship in which he lived, in the way of clear- ing up land, remodeling farms and bringing them to a liigh state of productiveness, while his influence was always brought to bear on the side of educational and religious progress. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, active in its work, liberal in its support and a constant attendant in its services. He filled many of its offices, and in his life carried out the precepts of the Master whom he so faith- fully served, thereby securing the love and esteem of all who knew him.
Mrs. Shera was born in Franklin county. Indiana, February 16, 1818, and is a daugh- ter of John and Catherine (Whitman) Sha-
fer. Her grandfather, also named John, was among the earliest pioneers of Franklin county, and there reared a large and inter- esting family, many of whom are still resid- ing there. , The father of Mrs. Shera spent his entire life in that county, where he brought up a family of eleven children, namely: Jacob, who lives in Greensburg, Indiana; John, deceased, who was a local preacher living in Decatur county; Daniel, deceased, who was an exhorter residing in Indiana; Elizabeth, our subject, is next in order of birth; David, deceased, who was a farmer of this state; James, deceased, who was a resident of Madison county; Jesse, a farmer of Illinois; William, deceased, who also was an Illinois farmer; Isaac, a farmer also of that state; Mary Ann, who is now Mrs. Wardwell and living in Madison county; and Joseph, a wealthy resident of Franklin county.
Mr. and Mrs. Shera were also blessed with eleven children, as follows: John W .. who died September 20, 1880; Catharine. residing with her mother in Sardinia; Wil- liam, who died while a soldier in the civil war; James, an ex-soldier and a farmer liv- ing in Boone county, Indiana; Mary E., who died in May, 1850; Thomas, living in Boone county, Indiana; Isaac, a farmer-in Decatur county; Martha Ann, who became the wife of Mr. Wadkins, and lives in Kan- sas; Wilson, a farmer; Sylvester, who re- sides in Kansas; and Isabel, who died June 16, 1875. Besides rearing this large family Mrs. Shera took an orphan niece, Effie I., when only seven months old, who grew to womanhood and had just completed her education at Oxford College when she died, November 21. 1891. All of the children in this family are highly educated, some of
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them being graduates of Morris Hill Col- lege.
Mrs. Shera is a woman of strong char- acter and was of great assistance to her hus- band during their early life in a new state. She has seen the country develop from boundless forests and long stretches of wild land, uninhabited save by the deer. wolf and other animals which disappear as civiliza- tion advances, to smiling fields and bounte- ous orchards, or to prosperous cities filled with pleasant homes. She has fulfilled the Scriptural injunction to "do with thy might what thy hands find to do," and, like the perfect woman of whom Solomon sings, "her children rise up and call her blessed." Mrs. Shera has always been highly esteemed by those who knew her best, all of whom unite in the wish that her last days may be her best days.
R. P. HAMILTON.
R: P. Hamilton, a leading lawyer and prominent citizen of Greensburg, comes of that mixture of nationalities which has pro- · duced so many eminent men, he being of Scotch-Irish descent. His ancestors were driven from Scotland during the fierce re- ligious persecution in the reign of "Bloody Mary," and fled to the north of Ireland, where they found a home. From there, in 1770, his paternal grandfather, when a young man, emigrated to America, the haven of the oppressed of all nations. When the Revolutionary war broke out he enlisted as a "minute man" from the colony of New York, and served throughout the entire conflict. He was in the Brandywine campaign, and took part in the battle of Monmouth, under General Washington.
He received a land warrant for his services, and settled in what is now Titusville, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1820, removing thence to near Georgetown. Ohio, where he died in 1825, aged seventy- five or eighty years. He married a Miss Lamb, and they had a family of seven chil- dren, all born near Titusville and all now de- ceased.
The parents of our subject, Hugh and Mary (Woods) Hamilton, were married in 1826, and had a family of eleven children. six sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. The father was born October 28, 1800, and grew to manhood near Titusville. In. 1826, after his mar- riage, he removed to Jefferson county, In- diana, where he lived for eleven years, and then took up his residence on a farm in Rip- ley county, . Indiana. This property com- prised five hundred acres, which was brought under fine cultivation and yielded a handsome income. Mr. Hamilton took an active part in politics, was a leading man in the Democratic party of his locality, and filled a number of township offices. He died in Ripley county about April 20. 1888. Mary (Woods) Hamilton, the mother of our subject, was born in Kentucky in 1805. The family was of Welsh descent, and rep- resentatives of the same were pioneer set- tlers of Kentucky, locating in that state when the Indians were numerous there, and they had many thrilling experiences with the savages. Mrs. Hamilton died in Ripley county, in 1875.
R. P. Hamilton was reared on his father's farm. in Ripley county, and was educated at Hanover College, at which he graduated in 1872. From that date until 1884 he taught school, chiefly in Decatur county,
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and was principal of the schools at Clarks- burg for three years. . He served two years as deputy treasurer of Decatur county from 1885 to 1887, and in 1886 was elected coun- ty recorder, which office he filled until 1895. For two years he has been trustee of Han- over College, his alma mater.
While teaching at Clarksburg Mr. Ham- ilton took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1880. He prac- ticed for à time before his election to county offices, and immediately on the expiration of his second term as recorder he resumed his law work, and has built up an extensive practice, largely in the probate court. He has also been engaged in the fire-insurance business, and was for some years a director in the Working Man's Building & Loan 'Association. He is a stockholder in the Greensburg Improvement Association. which was the means of bringing the factor- ies to this place. He is also engaged to some extent in farming.
Mr. Hamilton is a leading member of the Presbyterian church, in which he held the office of treasurer for five years. and for many years he has been one of its elders. Socially he belongs to Decatur Lodge. No. 103, I. O. O. F., is past grand and the pres- ent treasurer of the same, and was a trustee for a long time. As will be seen from this brief sketch of his life. Mr. Hamilton is a "man of affairs," alive to the interests of his city and ready to serve it in any way. He is a man of strict integrity. and makes friends wherever he goes.
Mr. Hamilton was first married in 1868. to Ellen Denham, of Ripley county, and three children were born to them-Clara B .; Elmer J .. a student in the senior class of the Ohio Dental College; and Herschel
B. The mother died in 1893, and in 1896 Mr. Hamilton was married to Esther L. Freeman, of Clarksburg.
WALTER W. BONNER.
Walter W. Bonner is the present cashier of the Third National Bank. His family is one of the old and honored ones of Decatur county, having been for more than three- score and ten years intimately associated with its progress.
The ancestral history of our subject is given, at some length, in the biography of Judge Bonner, which'. is to be found else- where in this work. He is a son of the Hon. William H. Bonner, a native of Wil- cox county, Alabama, who, in the spring of 1836, accompanied the parental family to Indiana, settling upon a farm in the vicinity of Spring Hill, Fugit township. There he grew to manhood and passed his long and useful life in agricultural pursuits. He was a very good financier and made a special success of the live-stock business. In dis- position he was quiet and unassuming, and this tendency kept him from pursuing the more public walks of life. for the most part. though he had numerous opportunities to occupy official positions of trust and honor. He was in thorough sympathy with the platform and policy of the Republican party, and was nominated and elected as a representative of this county to the Indiana state legislature, in 1868, but at the expir- ation of his term retired to private life. de- clining renomination. During his candi- dlacy he stumped this entire section. and made many friends for the cause he was devoted to, but the quiet home circle and
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his accustomed routine of business were much more to his taste. Early in life he joined the United Presbyterian church, of Spring Hill, and from that time until his death he was one of the most faithful mem- bers and contributors to the cause of relig- ion and benevolence. Esteemed in his own congregation as a true "father in Israel," he was looked up to and consulted in all the enterprises of the church, and for many years was a ruling elder. He died August 12, 1874. His first marriage was to El- mira L., sister of the late Thomas M. Ham- ilton, prominently known in this county. After her death, Mr. Bonner wedded Nar- cissa E. Elliott, by whom he had two sons, -Henry E. and Walter W., and one daugh- ter, Mary F. Henry E. is a successful farmer of Spring Hill.
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