USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 44
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JAMES M. WOOD, M. D.
Dr. James M. Wood. a highly successful young physician of Greensburg who has the promise of a brilliant future in his chosen profession, was born in the southeastern part of Decatur county, Indiana, October 5. 1860. His parents, Lorenzo D. and Eliza- beth (Martin) Wood, were both of English descent. His father was born in North Carolina, and when he was a small boy his widowed mother, with her family of four sons and four daughters, came north to Kentucky, and from tlrere to Indiana. locat- ing in Decatur county. Lorenzo Wood followed farming all his life, and was suc- cessful financially. He was an old-line Whig in his younger days, but later became a Democrat. His wife was born in Decatur county, Indiana. and was a daughter of John Martin, a native of Kentucky and an early settler of Decatur county, whither he came in 1818. He was a farmer by occu- pation. . Lorenzo Wood died June 21. 1863. and his wife is still living, at the age of eighty years.
Dr. Wood was reared upon his father's farm and in his boyhood attended the dis- trict schools. acquiring a good common education. When twenty years old lie be- gan teaching. and devoted himself to that
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occupation for the five succeeding years. He then decided to take up the study of medicine, and for some time read with Dr. J. V. Schofield, now of Greensburg, who at that time was practicing in Harris City. In 1886 he was matriculated in the medical department of the University of Tennessee, in which he graduated in 1888. Since that time he has taken post-graduate courses, --- one in the Chicago Polyclinic, in 1892. and the other in Miami University, in 1897.
Dr. Wood followed his profession for nine years while living on a farm near Har- ris City, but in 1897 he took up his residence in Greensburg. and at once gained the con- fidence and esteem of the community. He has an excellent practice, and is rapidly ac- quiring the reputation of a skillful and suc- cessful physician. He is of a very studious turn of mind, and delights in penetrating into the hidden causes of disease. In his investigations he has made many researches in the line of bacteriology, in which he is deeply interested, and the results of his studies may prove invaluable to the medical world. He has the ambition, persistence and faith in himself so necessary to any suc- cess, and with these combines the thorough- ness and scientific knowledge which give authority to his conclusions.
Socially Dr. Wood is a member of Greensburg Lodge, No. 148, Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to the state and county medical societies and to the Ameri- can Medical Association, to the latter of which he was made a delegate for the an- nual meeting of 1899. but was unable to at- tend on account of ill health. He takes an active part in the work of the Baptist church, of which he is a member.
On November 14, 1897, Dr. Wood was
united in marriage to Laura M., daughter of George and Catharine Fiscus, of Deca. tur county.
REV. JOSEPH R. WALKER.
This honored minister of God, the last two decades of whose life were spent in Greensburg, will long be remembered, not only by those who were privileged to listen to his teachings from the pulpit, but also by the many who received from him instruc- tion in secular things. He has left behind him the record of an earnest. active life. devoted to the service of his Heavenly Father and the advancement of his fellow men, and it is well worthy of imitation.
Mr. Walker was the son of Benjamin and1 Elizabeth (Walker) Walker, and was born in Dublin, Ireland, October 17, 1822. When he was a boy of some fourteen years his father died, leaving a family of six child- ren, four daughters and two sons, to the care of the widowed mother. In 1842 they came to the United States and settled near Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. Josephi had laid the foundation of a good education in his native land, and, having decided to enter the ministry, he became a student in the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary. at Allegheny, at which he was graduated in 1850. With the energy and perseverance ·which characterized his whole life, he made his way through college by teaching dur- ing the vacations. The first ministeria !. work after his graduation was at Buffalo. New York, where he preached as a stated supply for three months. He was then sent 'te Michigan for a short time, and from
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Joseph R Halker
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there to Richland and Milroy, Rush county, Indiana, where he remained three months, as a supply. His first regular charge was the church at Spring Hill, Decatur county, a flourishing congregation, whose pastor he was for sixteen or seventeen years. His health failing, he was obliged to resign his pastorate, and in 1868 removed to Greens- burg, where, as his physical condition im- proved, he filled the pulpit as a supply.
In addition to this ministerial work Mr. Walker was well known as an educator. He taught private classes and fitted many young men for college. For this work he was admirably adapted. and his pupils were well trained not only in book lore, but in the many moral and religious acquirements which go to make up a rounded life.
Mr. Walker was married September 21, 1852, to Cassandra E. Donnell, of Spring Hill. Mr. Walker's death took place in Greensburg, June 15, 1886. .
Mrs. Walker's parents were Thomas and Mary (Lewis) Donnell, who were natives of Kentucky, and settled in Spring Hill in 1828. The father was a very successful farmer and a prominent citizen. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church, and lived an upright life. He died in 1863, at the age of fifty-seven years. while his wife survived him until May, 1898. passing away at the ripe old age of eighty- nine years.
Mrs. Walker still occupies her pleasant home in Greensburg, and although she has been bereft of her entire family she finds comfort and consolation in doing good to others. Her hand and heart are ever open to the appeals of the needy or suffering. and the Golden Rule is the compass by which she regulates her course in life. She has
made many devoted friends during her long residence in Greensburg, and is esteemed. by every one as a refined, Christian woman.
GEORGE P. SHOEMAKER."
Among the well known business men of Greensburg is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who is at the present time treasurer of Decatur county. He is the son of Peter and Margaret (Seitz) Shoe- maker, and was born in Brookville, Frank- lin county, Indiana, December 30, 1860. He came to Greensburg with his parents when a boy of eight years and was educated in the public schools of that city. When sixteen years old he entered the dry-goods house of the late J. P. Hittle, where he re- mained for one year, and then went to Cin- cinnati. Finding employment with a relia- ble firm he learned bookkeeping in a prac- tical way, and seven months later returned to Greensburg, where he took the position of bookkeeper with John Emmert and later with Emmert & Company, and remained with them until 1892.
In the spring of 1894 Mr. Shoemaker received an appointment as United States storekeeper in the sixth collection district of Indiana. After serving five months in that capacity he was promoted a deputy, under the collector, Captain W. H. Brack- en, of Brookville. Six months later he re- signed to accept the position of bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Greensburg, afterward being promoted to assistant cash- ier. Soon afterward the bank suspended payment and went into voluntary liquida- tion, and Mr. Shoemaker was made cashier to close up the business. Resigning this
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position, July 1, 1898, he took up book- keeping again, being employed by the Gar- land Milling Company.
Mr. Shoemaker has always been an active and influential Democrat, and in November, 1898,. he was elected county treasurer, by a majority of one hundred and twenty-two, the usual Republican majority in the coun- ty being three hundred and fifty. His term of office is for two years, beginning with January 1, 1900. Socially our subject is a member of Greensburg Lodge, No. 103, I. O. O. F. and Sexton Encampment, No. 42, I. O. O. F. He is a director in the Greensburg Building & Loan Association. He is well and favorably known in business circles.
Peter Shoemaker, father of our subject, was born at Hessen, Hamburg, near the river Rhine, September 12, 1829. His par- ents were Jacob and Anna (Gerhart) Shoe- maker, the former a farmer in good cir- cumstances who spent the greater part of his life at Jeekenbach by Meisenheim, Ger- many, where he died at the age of eighty- six years. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran church. There were five chil- dren in the family, two sons and four daugh- ters, three of whom are now living: Jacob. residing in Franklin county, Indiana; Mrs. Sarah McGregor, of Cincinnati, and Peter. The latter was for nine years a student in the excellent schools of his native land. and acquired a thorough education. He re- mained at home, assisting his father upon the farm, until reaching his majority, when, in accordance with the military laws of Ger- many, he was drafted into the army. His brother Jacob had already served six years and had taken part in the German and Dan- ish war. The draft was made in November,
1851, and finding that the younger brother would be called into active service the fol- lowing April, the young men decided to emigrate to America, the "land of the free." Bidding adieu to the loved ones at home they traveled across the country to "Bingen on the Rhine," and went aboard a ship sailing to Havre, France. At this port they secured passports, and on November 27, 1851, set sail for the New World, landing in New York city January 21, 1852, after a long and tiresome voyage.
From New York the brothers found their way to Brookville, Indiana, where Jacob settled permanently and now lives retired. Peter secured work on a farm for four months, and then assisted in building a bridge over the Whitewater river. His next job was on the Whitewater canal, and three months later he was made captain, holding the place for a year, when the own- er of the boat sold it, and Mr. Shoemaker returned to Richmond, Indiana. For the following two years he drove an omnibus at that place, and then worked for a year and a half on a farm near by. He soon afterward went to Brookville for a short time and while there made the acquaintance of Margaret A. Seitz, of Lawrenceburg. Indiana, to whom he was married April 9, 1858 .-
Mr. Shoemaker then decided to begin farming on his own account, near Laurel. Franklin county. He remained here until 1868, when he removed to Greensburg and entered the employ of his brother-in-law, John Emmert (now deceased), who for many years operated a large flouring mill and elevator. His connection with this con- cern lasted for twenty-three years, or until 1891, when, on account of impaired health,
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he was obliged to give up active work. His wife died February 18, 1890, at the age of fifty-one years. Their only child is George P., whose name heads this sketch.
Mr. Shoemaker was confirmed in the Lutheran church of his native city when only fourteen years of age, but after com- ing to America united with the Presby- terian church. He is proud of the free in- stitutions of his adopted country and is one of its most loyal citizens.
JOHN F. LUGENBELL.
Greensburg has no more able, progressive citizen than the young business man whose name heads this brief tribute to his worth. One of her native sons, he was born May 26, 1861, in the residence now occupied by him, No. 158 North Michigan avenue, and has known no other home. Naturally, he takes more genuine interest in the welfare and steadily growing prosperity of this place than does the foreign-born resident, for he has watched its advancement step by step, since his earliest recollections, and since he arrived at maturity he has mate- rially aided in the work.
He possesses many of the best qualities for which his grandfather, Peter Lugenbell, was noted. That gentleman was born in the beautiful province of Alsace-Lorraine. when it was yet under the proud rule of France. In 1821 he emigrated to New York city, where he became financially in- terested in a dairy business, but subse- quently turned his attention to other lines, at one time being a florist, and for a period being the proprietor of a hotel in what now
is the heart of the metropolis. He was a man of good education, - speaking the French and English languages fluently, and, in general, was successful in life. Dur- ing the dreadful cholera epidemic of 1848. he fell a victim to the scourge, dying at the age of sixty-five years. To himself and wife, Mary (Eckensweler) Lugenbell, also a native of Alsace, one son and four daugh- ters were born.
The son, Peter Lugenbell, Jr., born De- cember 7, 1827, in the city of New York, resided there until he attained his majority, when he decided to come to the west. He had learned the florist's business with his father, and later worked as a carriage man- ufacturer. After being employed at the last mentioned occupation in Cincinnati for four years and a half. he came to Greens- burg, and ever since that time, 1854, he has been numbered among our leading business men. He is a mechanical genius, and has taken out fifteen or twenty patents on inventions and improvements in the car- riage line and on ditching machines, hay- rakes and other agricultural implements. He is now working upon a perpetual-motion machine, and has at last so perfected it that he is confident that it will run as long as the material of the machine lasts.
In 1848 the marriage of Peter Lugenbell and Margaret Knabalaugh was solemnized in New York city. She was born in Darm- stadt, Germany, April 18, 1827, and came to the United States when she was seven years of age. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children, several of whom she lived to see holding honorable positions in the busy world. She was summoned to the better land on the 2d of July, 1895. Her eldest son, Fred P., is a successful car-
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riage painter, of Marietta, Ohio. George W., a blacksmith, is employed in the Lin- coln Carriage Company's works, of this place, and is a member of Decatur Lodge, No. 103, I. O. O. F. William H. is the superintendent of a carriage factory at Mor- ristown, New Jersey. Mary, born August 4, 1859, died in 1865. Hannah R., a grad- uate of the Greensburg high school, has been engaged in teaching here for the past six years. Joseph S. holds the position of clerk in the Chittenden Hotel, at Columbus, Ohio. Leonard L. died when three years of age in 1870. Charles E. died in 1891, at the age of twenty-one years. He was a member of Decatur Lodge, No. 103, I. O. .O. F.
John F. Lugenbell obtained a liberal ed- ucation, and when in his fifteenth. year he commenced serving an apprenticeship to the trade of a carriage blacksmith. At the end of four years he began painting and decorating carriages, which branch of the business he continues to follow. Since the organization of the Lincoln Car- riage Company he has held the responsible position of superintendent of the painting department, in addition to which he is the assistant superintendent of the entire works. To his practical knowledge of all of the details of the business, and to his thorough- ness and fidelity to the best interests of the company, much of its success may be justly attributed.
One of the most enthusiastic Democrats in this locality, Mr. Lugenbell has become widely known, as for a number of cam- paigns he has engaged in stump speaking in different parts of the state, though mainly in this and adjoining counties. For four years he was chairman of the city Demo-
cratic central committee and for two years he was secretary of the county committee. Moreover, for six years he served on the school board, two years as secretary, two years as treasurer and two years as presi- dent. In February, 1885, he joined the Odd Fellows order, passed all the chairs in Decatur Lodge, No. 103, and identified himself with Sexton Lodge, No. 42, where he filled all of the offices also. He is the only gentleman who has been honored with all of the offices in Philo Lodge, No. 75, Daughters of Rebekah, and represented all of these three branches of the Odd Fellows in the grand lodge of the state. The great and rare honor of being chosen as grand instructor of the state at length fell to him, and for three years he officiated in that ex- tremely difficult position, the importance. of which may be judged when it is stated that only two men during the fifty years prior to his acceptance of the office had occupied the place or had been found com- petent to fill it, as extraordinary qualities of memory, discrimination and judgment are absolute requisites. Ever since he was sixteen years of age he has been an active member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of this place, casting his influence on the side of religion and morality.
JOHN W. NATION.
John Wesley Nation, ex-treasurer of De- catur county, is known far and near for the prominent part he has borne in local af- fairs, and wherever his name is mentioned tributes of praise are freely accorded him. He is a citizen of public spirit, devoted to
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progress and enterprise in all lines, and those who have been associated with him for almost a lifetime repose the utmost trust in him, knowing that he is thoroughly reliable and honorable.
- John W. Nation is a son of William K. and Catherine (Smith) Nation, the former a native of Grant county, Kentucky, born December 22, 1824, and the latter born in Harrison county, same state, May 13. of the same year. When he was but a child, William K. Nation was bereaved by the death of his father, Wesley Nation, and some years afterward his mother, Jemima (Harrison) Nation, became the wife of Wil- liam L. Williams. The latter removed to Indiana in 1834, bringing with him his family, which comprised his wife and her three children, W. K., and two daughters, Nancy G. and Margaret, the children of her own by a previous marriage. In Clinton township William K. Nation grew to man- hood and then married Catherine Smith. ·who had come to this county in 1830, when she was six years old. Her parents, Elijah and Kate (Claypool) Smith, were natives of Virginia. For some time subsequent to his marriage William K. Nation was en- - gaged in farming in Sand Creek township, . and later he became a resident of Clinton township. He owned a good farm and was a practical agriculturist, respected by all of his neighbors and acquaintances. In his political views he was a stanch Republican after the formation of that party. During the civil war he served as enrolling officer. having been appointed to that important . post by Governor Morton, and though many dangers threatened him in that turbu- lent period he resolutely performed every duty devolving upon him and won the high-
est commendation from his superiors. In brief he was a man of stalwart principle, one whom naught could turn aside from what he believed to be the right course. Religiously he was a member of the Chris- tian church, and was liberal in the main- tenance of the congregation with which he was identified. He died at his home in the western part of this township, September 30, 1863. and was survived by his widow for more than a score of years, her death occurring April 26, 1884.
John Wesley Nation, who was born on a farm in Sand Creek township. November 21, 1847, was one of nine children, of whom four have been summoned to the better land. Mrs. Sarah J. Sefton died a few years ago and the other three died in early life. Elijah C. lives in Rush county; and the surviving daughters are Mrs. Martha E. Overleese, who resides in Fayette county, Illinois; Mrs. Jemima C. Parker, of this township; and Mrs. Emma B. Sefton.
From his early years Mr. Nation has been familiar with agriculture in its various de- partments. For a number of years he has been more especially devoted to dealing in lumber, and has met with distinct success in that pursuit. His transactions in lumber have not been limited to this state, but have included certain portions of the south. His . excellent business methods and well known financial ability, with his wide popularity. led to his nomination and election to the responsible office of treasurer of Decatur county. He served for two terms in that position, from 1889 to 1893, and by all con- cerned was given sincere praise for the fidel- ity and skill which he had shown in the management of the county's finances. He uses his franchise on behalf of the Repub-
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lican party, and is an earnest believer in its policy.
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On the 17th of March, 1870, a very im- portant event in the life of Mr. Nation took place,. as upon that day he was united in marriage with Margaret Swails, daughter of Robert and Mary J. (Knox) Swails. Her grandfather, Nathan Prather Swails, was born. in 1800, in Maryland, within twelve miles of our country's capital, Washington. and during the war of 1812 he saw the smoke arise from the burning city which the British had set on fire. Years after- ward he came to Decatur county, and was one of the earliest settlers in Clinton town- ship. He died on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Nation. Only two of his several children survive, namely, Nathan and Josiah, who reside in Boone county. Mr. and Mrs. Nation have two children, a son and a daughter, Wilbur K. and Kitty Claypool.
THE THOMSON FAMILY.
The name of Thomson is to be found almost coextensive with our Anglo-Saxon civilization, and wherever found the indi- vidual bearing it lays claim to the same Scotch ancestry; and this claim is supported by the fact that the same given names, pre- vious to the last half century, were to be found in every family bearing the surname.
[For much of what follows the writer ac- knowledges his indebtedness to a "History of the Thomson Family" left by the late Rev. Preston Wallace Thomson, of Ma- comb, Illinois. ]
James Thomson, the founder of the American branch of the family of which
this sketch treats, was a. son of William Thomson, who emigrated from Scotland to Ireland early in the seventeenth century; and' nothing further of him is known. James Thomson was born in county Done- gal, Ireland, in 1730, and married to Mary Henry, in 1760. In 1770 or 1771, with five children, they emigrated to America and settled, first in Franklin county, Pennsylva- nia, where they remained until 1777, when they removed to Westmoreland county in the same state, and again from there to Nicholas county, Kentucky, in 1793, their oldest son, William, having preceded them there by one year. Of the Irish-born chil- dren William was born in 1761, Jane 1763, Esther 1765, Rosanna 1767, and Martha 1770. Four others were born in Pennsyl- vania: John, November II, 1772; Alex- ander, April 23, 1775; James Henry, April 2, 1778, and Mary in 1780.
"Grandfather," says the historian above named, "was a ruling elder in the Presby- terian church in Ireland, also in the Cona- cocheague church in Franklin, the Salem church in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, and in old Concord church, Nicholas county, Kentucky. He died there in 1817. and his wife in 1823, each of whom had reached the age of eighty-seven years."
William Thomson, eldest son of James and Mary, and the one from whom the fam- ily in Decatur county was mostly descend- ed, was married to Sally McConnaughy in Pennsylvania, in 1787 or 1788. He died in Kentucky, March 15, 1822, aged sixty-one years, and she in this county, May 25, 1835. aged about seventy. They left four living sons, all married: James, who married Jen- nie Blair, and died near Rushville in 1836: Samuel, twice married, died in Boone coun-
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ty, in 1835; William H., married Jane B. M. Blair, and both died in this county, -- he March 18, 1864, and she December 14, 1866; and John, of whom "more anon."
John Thomson, the second son of James and Mary, became a Presbyterian minis- ter, and in his younger days labored at Rip- ley, Ohio, and about 1830 settled at Craw- fordsville, this state, where he was largely instrumental in establishing Wabash Col- lege. Four of his sons followed him in a ministerial career: William M., who went as a missionary to Palestine about 1832, and was the author of The Land and the Book; James, who was many years pastor of the Presbyterian churches at Crawfords- ville and Wabash, and in later years in Min- nesota; John and Samuel, who, besides be- ing preachers, were professors in Wabash College. Another son, Alexander, is an attorney at Crawfordsville, and until a few months since had been for over a quarter of a century treasurer of the college. A number of the sons and grandsons are now, or were when living, Presbyterian ministers.
James H., the third son of James and Mary, was a farmer, but took an active in- terest in church work. He was famed throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana as a revival singer, and was a ruling elder both at Concord, Kentucky, and at old Sand Creek, now Kingston, this county. He reared two sons for the ministry: James, who settled in Mississippi about 1832; and Preston Wallace, before mentioned. An- other son, Samuel Harrison, was a profes- sor in Hanover College, this state, for over a quarter of a century, and was also a licensed minister, and had three sons in the ministry, two of whom are now living. Two of James' daughters married Presbyterian
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