USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 45
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
preachers,-Rev. Samuel G. Lowry and George F. Whitworth,-and both of these have sons in the ministry.
The writer heretofore quoted states that the descendants of James and Mary Henry Thomson up to 1877 were, of the first generation, nine; the second, fifty-two; the third, three hundred; and the fourth and fifth, near eighteen hundred. Another authority gives the number of male descend- ants of the name of Thomson who had en- tered the ministry up to 1890, as eighteen. with about half as many more from the fe- male line, while a far greater number were teachers, professors, physicians, attorneys, civil engineers or in other professional pur- suits, the great preponderance, however, be- ing tillers of the soil. A grand showing from a single pair in a period of one hun- dred and forty-seven years!
JAMES E. MENDENHALL.
This gentleman needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for few are more widely known in Decatur county than he. For many years he has been actively identi- fied with the business interests of Greens- burg, and has long been prominent in political affairs. He has exerted a wide influence in Democratic circles and has left an impress of individuality upon the mate- rial advancement and political history of his native county.
Mr. Mendenhall was born near what is now Alert. Decatur county, June 23, 1853. his parents being Noah and Mary J. (Quick) Mendenhall. His father was a na- tive of Butler county, Ohio, was married near Brookville, Indiana, and there engaged
366
DECATUR COUNTY.
1
in merchandising. In 1850 he came to Decatur county, locating in Jackson town- ship where he carried on farming and also did an extensive business as a nurseryman. He was well known throughout this section and sustained an unassailable reputation. His fellow citizens, appreciating his worth and integrity, called him to public office, and he served as trustee of Jackson township for twelve years, being elected by the Demo- . cratic party, of which he was a stanch advo- cate. In 1865 he sold his farm in Jackson township and removed to Clay township. where for two terms he filled the office of justice of the peace. He was long a faith- ful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, held many of its offices and was very active in its work. He contributed liber- ally to its support, was regular in his attend- ance on its services and in his daily life ex- emplified his Christian belief. His death occurred in Greensburg in August, 1898. when he was seventy-six years of age. He was married in 1847. to Miss Mary J. Quick. She was a native of Franklin county. Indi- ana, and became the mother of eleven chil- dren, of whom six sons and four daughters grew to years of maturity. The sons and three of the daughters are still living. James E. is the eldest of the sons; John C. is a druggist and manufacturer of and deal- er in proprietary medicines, in Evansville. Indiana; Noah is the editor of the Laporte News, of Laporte, Indiana: William C., of Evansville, is head bookkeeper of the firm of H. A. Cook & Sons, wholesale grocers: Rush is living in Franklin, Indiana: Edgar N. is principal of the high school of Greens- burg, and is mentioned in another page of this volume; Indiana is the wife of W. J. Grant, a merchant of Clifty, Indiana; Flor-
ence died at the age of twenty-four years; Zouie makes her home with her mother in Greensburg; and Queen is the wife of J. H. Spillman, of the firm of Mendenhall & Spillman, hardware merchants of Greens- burg.
In the public schools James E. Menden- hall acquired his education, and at the age of eighteen years entered the school-room as a teacher. For seven years he followed that profession, and was then elected county recorder, in 1878, on the Democratic ticket. receiving a majority of two hundred and twenty-two when the usual Republican ma- jority was three hundred. He ably dis- charged his duties and on the expiration of his term was re-elected, in 1882, by a major- ity of two hundred and fourteen. Before the expiration of his second term he pur- chased the Decatur News, then edited by W. A. Donnell, and the Press, then edited by Martin Zorger. He consolidated those papers under the name of the New Era in 1885, and edited and published that journal for seven years. It was the only Demo- cratic paper in the county and received a liberal support. Success attended his ef- forts in journalistic circles and he made the New Era one of the brightest and best newspapers found in this section of the state, but in 1892, on account of impaired health, he sold out to Allen W. Clark. While editor of the paper he was appointed clerk of the committee on public lands of the house of representatives, fiftieth con- gress, Judge W. S. Holman, who was called the "Watch-dog of the Treasury," being chairman of the committee. He was also appointed and served as clerk of the com- mittee of Indian affairs, house of repre- sentatives of the fifty-third congress, Judge
367
DECATUR COUNTY.
Holman being also chairman of that com- mittee. For four years he was engaged in the real-estate and brokerage business, and in 1898 he began dealing in hardware, farming implements and plumbers' supplies, . purchasing the stock of Robert Maegel, in connection with his brother-in-law. J. H. Spillman. The firm of Mendenhall & Spill- . man is now conducting a large and profita- ble business.
In .1886 Mr. Mendenhall was united in marriage to Miss Manie E. Ross. the eldest daughter of Marine D. Ross, who was one · of the leading citizens of Decatur county, but is now deceased. Socially Mr. Men- denhall is a prominent Mason. a member of Greensburg Lodge. No. 36. F. & A. M., and Greensburg Chapter. R. A. M. He also belongs to Decatur Lodge, No. 103, I. O. O. F. Soon after attaining his majority he united with the Methodist Episcopal church. with which he was officially connected for many years. He has led an honorable, upright and useful life and Greensburg num- bers him among its best citizens. His un- impeachable character, both in social cir- cles and in public life, has gained him a large circle of friends.
JOHN MORRISON.
The subject of this sketch was the found- er of the Greensburg Repository-now the Standard. He was the fourth son of Wil- liam and Sally McC. Morrison, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, March 26, 1796, and was married to Spicy G .. daugh- ter of Robert and Mary Eward Hamilton. November 22, 1821. In March, 1823. they moved to Decatur county and settled four
miles northeast of Greensburg, where they remained until the fall of 1832, when they moved to Greensburg; and here they re- tained their home until their deaths. she dying December 22, 1838, and he the 3d day of February. 1856.
During the winter of 1823-4 he and a brother-in-law, Elijah Mitchell, introduced the first wool-carding machinery in the county, located on the exact spot where Robert A. Hamilton's residence now stands, which business he continued. except from 1837 to 1840. until 1847. In the fall of 1835 he issued the first number of the Greensburg Repository, now the Greens- burg Standard. the first permanently estab- lished newspaper in the county, of which he continued the proprietor and editor un- til the fall of 1843, when he turned the busi- ness over to John Thomson and Jacob W. Mills, the latter now of Kingfisher. Okla- homa. In 1847 Mr. Thomson engaged in the grocery and drug business, in which he continued until his decease.
In 1829 he was elected sheriff. his oppo- nent being the late Abram Hendricks, and was re-elected in 1831, receiving all but ninety-two out of over nine hundred votes polled. his opponent then being Enoch Tackett. In 1834 he was the Whig candi- date for representative in the state legisla- ture. and was defeated by William Fowler. the fact of his being a temperance man be- ing used effectively against him. Two years thereafter he was elected associate · judge, and as such he served a term of six years. In 1841 he was the nominee of the Whig party for county treasurer, but. not- withstanding General Harrison had carried the county the year before for president by near four hundred and fifty majority, owing
368
DECATUR COUNTY.
to dissatisfaction with some action of the convention the entire county ticket was de- feated by goodly majorities,-Abram Hen- dricks over Jackson . Draper, for sheriff; Andrew Dyer over Philander Hamilton, for auditor; and James B. Foley over John Thomson, regular, and James Johnston, in- dependent, for treasurer. A few years later (record not found) he was elected probate judge, in which position he continued to serve until the office was abolished by the constitution of 1852. With this his polit- ical life closed.
In 1833 he was chosen ruling elder in the Greensburg Presbyterian church and was continued in that relation until his death, and was often a delegate from this church to the presbyteries and synods. At the first organization of a temperance so- ciety in this county (about 1830) he signed the total-abstinence pledge, also that of the Washingtonians, in 1842, and served as president of both these organizations; but when the Sons of Temperance was organ- ized, in the early '50s, such was his preju- dice against secret societies that he refused to join it. "If it was a good thing." said he. "let it be open to the public, that all may see and know it."
After the death of his first wife he mar- ried Mrs. Catharine Gillespie (widow of Dr. Jesse M. Gillespie. and daughter of Judge John and Jennie Hopkins), who survived him thirty years, dying July 10, 1886. By the first marriage he was the father of ten children, six of whom died in early child- hood; by the second, of two, one of whom. Milton Morris, died May 7. 1849. Of the five who survived him four are now living. -Orville, Rosina and Jesse M., in this city. and Camilla T. Donnell, at The Dalles, Ore-
gon. Origen, the fifth, was a civil engineer by profession, served several years as county surveyor and city engineer, and at the time of his death, November 8, 1882. was the largest stockholder in the Sand Creek Limestone Company and its secre- tary and treasurer.
WILLIAM S. WOODFILL.
As the river whose deep and steady cur- rent. winding among fair landscapes, past blossoming fields and through busy towns, blessing millions of people and enhancing the wealth of nations, affords little of that wild and romantic scenery which startles the traveler or delights the artist: so those lives which contribute most toward the improve- ment of a state and the well-being of a peo- ple are seldom the ones which furnish the most brilliant passages for the pen of the historian or biographer. There is, in the anxious and laborious struggle for an hon- orable competence and the solid career of the business or professional man fighting the every-day battle of life, but little to at- tract the idle reader in search of a sensa- tional chapter; but for a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble and immortal lessons in the life of the man who, without other means than a clear head. a strong arm and a true heart. conquers adversity, and toiling on through the work-a-day years of a long career finds that he has not only won wealth but also something far greater and higher .- the deserved respect and esteem of those with whom his years of active life placed him in contact.
Such a man, and for many years one of
369
DECATUR COUNTY.
the leading citizens of Greensburg, was William Skeen Woodfill, who was born in Owen county, Kentucky, November 16. 1825, and died in . Greensburg. July 25, 1899. The Woodfill family is of Welsh and English extraction, and was established in Pennsylvania in early colonial days. From that state Rev. Gabriel Woodfill removed to Shelby county. Kentucky, and subsequently located in Jefferson county, Indiana. where he died at a very advanced age. He was a pioneer Methodist minister, and for many years rode the circuit. exerting a wide influ- ence for good. His son, Andrew Woodfill. the grandfather of our subject. was born in Pennsylvania, and with his parents went to Shelby county, Kentucky, when a lad in his teens. He afterward removed with the family to Jefferson county, settling near Madison, Indiana, where he spent the' re- mainder of his life, successfully engaged in farming. He entered land from the gov- ernment and developed therefrom a good farm, on which his death occurred. He too was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. and in his political views was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. All of the family were adherents of the same political faith with the exception of one. who for a short time voted .the Democratic ticket, but ultimately joined the Republican ranks. Andrew Woodfill married Miss Mitchell, and they were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity. Of these, Mrs. Ellen Greene lives in Seattle, Washington: Mrs. Sarah Marsh is a resident of Illinois: and Mrs. James Woodfill makes her home in Texas. The others are now deceased.
Gabriel Woodfill. the father of our sub- ject, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky,
in 1800, and when a young man went to Jefferson county, Indiana. with his parents. There he remained for some years. after which he returned to Kentucky, and on the 16th of November, 1830, he took up his residence in Greensburg. Prior to this time he had carried on farming and had also conducted an old-time tavern. but after coming to this city he turned his attention to merchandising, which he carried on for many years, when he was succeeded by his sons. This business, founded by Gabriel Woodfill in November. 1830. is probably the oldest mercantile enterprise in the state that has been conducted continuously by one family through a period of almost sev- enty years. The store is located at the cor- ner of Washington street and Broadway. and Gabriel Woodfill, who was one of the pioneer merchants of the town, had a good trade and was widely known throughout the county. Before a bank had been estab- lished in the town business men deposited their money with him, for he sustained an unassailable reputation and his name was synonymous with honesty in trade transac- tions. In politics he was a stanch Whig. until the dissolution of the party, when he became equally zealous in his advocacy of Republican principles. being a man of strong convictions, but never on office- seeker. He was a leading and active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. served as steward. trustee and in other of- fices, and aided very materially in the build- ing of two churches, the First Methodist and the Centenary Methodist. supporting both very liberally. In his business deal- ings he met with gratifying success. and his prosperity was well merited. Mr. Wood- fill was twice married. He first wedded
370
DECATUR COUNTY.
Eleanor Pullam, and to them were born three children: Andrew, now deceased: William S., of this review; and Mary, de- ceased wife of Henry Christian, who was a prominent attorney in Greensburg. After the death of his first wife Mr. Woodfill mar- ried Elizabeth, a daughter of Joseph Van Pelt, of Kentucky, and to them were born three children: James M .. a prominent citi- zen of Greensburg; John, deceased: and Catharine, of Greensburg, widow of Rev. James Crawford, who was an able minister in the Methodist Episcopal church.
William 'S. Woodfill arrived in Greens- burg with his parents on his fifth birthday and here grew to manhood. He acquired a limited education in the public schools, and was essentially a self-educated as well as self-made man, having through experience. observation and reading become well in- formed. He learned the dry-goods business in his father's store. and in 1855 was ad- mitted to a partnership in the business, un- der the firm name of Woodfill & Son. oper- ations being carried on under that style until. January. 1863. when the name was changed to Woodfill Brothers, the father re- tiring from business, while his sons, William and John, both now deceased. and James M., became his successors. That firm re- lationship was continued until February. 1869, when John died and the name of W. S. Woodfill & Company was assumed. the remaining brothers being the partners. Again a change occurred. in 1882. to the name of J. M. Woodfill & Company, and on the Ist of January, 1883. James Wood- fill retired and a partnership was formed under the style of W. S. Woodfill & Sons, a connection that was maintained until the father's death, since which time the sons
have conducted the business under the firm name of W. S. Woodfill's Sons. They have for years carried on an extensive and re- munerative business, having a large general store well supplied with a stock of dry goods and carpets. This well equipped es- tablishment is the leading store of the kind in the county, and W. S. Woodfill, who was so long connected therewith, through the channels of legitimate trade, became the leading capitalist of Greensburg. He ex- tended the field of his operations into other channels, and for many years successfully conducted a money-brokerage business. He was also one of the organizers, in 1875. of the Greensburg Gas & Electric Light Company, and served as its president from that time until his death. He owned four valuable farms in the county, within a few miles of Greensburg, and his judicious in- vestment of his capital brought to him handsome returns.
On the 18th of November. 1857, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Woodfill and Miss Sarah A. Talbott. daughter of Henry H. Talbott, deceased. who was the first clerk of the county. They had four children: Elizabeth, wife of Rev. J. W. Turner, of Evansville. Indiana, a prominent and able minister of the Methodist Episco- pal church: William Wirt, who married Gertrude Elliott, and is associated in busi- ness with his brother: Harry Talbott, who married Katie Johnson and is the younger member of the firm of W. S. Woodfill's Sons: and Web, who married Jessie Hart. He is a graduate of the Cincinnati Law School and is now a practicing attorney of Greensburg. The mother of this family. who was an earnest Christian woman and most devoted to her family, died Oct. 31.
371
DECATUR COUNTY.
1898, respected and beloved by all who knew her.
In his religious faith Mr. Woodfill was a Methodist, having been for twenty years a faithful member of the Centenary church. of which his father was one of the founders. He took a deep interest in its work and con- tributed liberally to its upbuilding, and to other commendable interests he gave his hearty co-operation. In politics he was a zealous Republican, but official honors or emoluments had no charms for him, as he preferred to devote his energies to his busi- ness interests. When Greensburg Lodge, No. 103, I. O. O. F., was organized, in 1851, he became one of its charter members, and was the last survivor of those who aided in its formation. He was also a charter member of Sexton Encampment, of Evans- ville, and he represented both lodge and encampment in the grand bodies. His life was well spent and his was a well rounded character, symmetrically developed through his interest in the various things that go to make up the sum of human existence,-the social, intellectual, material and moral du- ties of life. He bore an unassailable repu- tation, for he was ever true to duty. to the right and to all that was ennobling. Strong ties of friendship bound him to many of the best citizens of the county, and though they have been severed in death his memory is still cherished by all who knew him.
MILTON F. PARSONS.
Milton F. Parsons, one of the most en- terprising and successful business men in his line in the state, is a resident of Greens- burg, and has gained the confidence and
esteem of the people by his courteous man- ners and the care with which he conducts the details of his work, which is that of a funeral director. He has a large establish- ment, and employs only the best and most modern methods, giving his personal atten- tion in each case and thus ensuring satis- faction to those who secure his services.
Mr. Parsons was born near Rushville, Rush county, Indiana, April 6, 1860. the son of Matthias and Mary A. (Dill) Parsons. His grandfather. John Parsons, was a native of Maryland, and came to Indiana, taking up government land two miles north of Rushville, on which he settled and carried on farming until his death, at the age of sixty-four years. His son, Matthias, was born on the home farm, and spent his entire life in Rush county. He became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land, and was very successful as a farmer. He was married to Mary A. Dill, and they had a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom received college educations with the exception of two, who died in infancy. J. L., the eldest, was a minister in the Christian church, and now lives retired in Indianapolis. Indiana: John was accidentally killed when only twenty- four years old: William was a farmer in Rush county, Indiana, and died at forty years of age: Mary is the wife of J. P. Par- rish, of Indianapolis; Anna married A. C. Shewey, of Chicago, and their son, Charles P., a dental surgeon of Chicago, was in the naval service, and took part in the bat- tle of Santiago: Dr. C. H. Parsons is a graduate of Bellevue (New York) Medical College and is a prominent surgeon of Rushville, Indiana: Carrie died when sev- enteen years old: and Milton F. is the im-
372
DECATUR COUNTY.
mediate subject of this review. The father died in September. 1895, at the age of sev. enty-eight years, and the mother died April 17, 1895.
The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family. He spent his boyhood in Rush county. He was for one year a stu- dent at Butler University, and then entered De Pauw University, but was obliged to leave school in 1881, when in his junior year, on account of ill health. A year's sojourn in Denver proved very beneficial, and he then returned to the farm in Rush county, where he remained for five years. In 1889 he came to Greensburg, and for the succeeding eight years was in the employ of the Greensburg Furniture Company. He then opened an undertaking establishment of his own, on the north side of the square, removing to his present location, in the Knights of Pythias building, in 1899. Mr. Parsons graduated at the Chicago College · of Embalmers July 8. 1897. and also holds a state certificate, granted December 16, 1898.
Mr. Parsons was appointed on the board of examiners by the state board of health in 1899. He is a member of the Indiana Fun- eral Directors' Association, and was elected a member of the legislative committee for 1899. He was also made an alternate to the national convention of funeral directors in the same year. Mr. Parsons is a promi- nent member of the Presbyterian church, in which he holds the office of deacon, and also belongs to the choir. He is active in church work, and in every position in which he is placed performs his duties to the sat- isfaction of the public and with credit to himself. Socially Mr. Parsons is a member of Greensburg Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M .;
master of finance in Greensburg Lodge, No. 148, K. of P .; and a member of Greensburg Lodge. I. O. O. F.
Mr. Parsons. was married. October 3. 1884, to Miss Anna D. Wooley, of Greens- burg, and has one son, Henry W .. now fourteen years of age, and a student in the high school.
· CHARLES KEMBLE.
Charles Kemble, one of the oldest and respected citizens of Decatur county, In- diana. residing at Greensburg, is of sturdy English-Quaker stock. He is a son of Isaiah G. and Charlotte (Wood) Kemble. and was born in Clinton township, Decatur county, Indiana, January 4, 1826. William Kemble, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of New Jersey, which was his home all his life, and there he died about 1795. at an advanced age. He was for many years engaged in mercantile pur- suits and was also a civil engineer. He was very proficient as a surveyor and was em- ployed in surveying and establishing the boundary lines of the state of Kentucky.
His son Isaiah G. Kemble, who was the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in New Jersey, in 1798. In 1821 he came west on a prospecting tour, entered a tract of government land in what afterward be- came Clinton township, Decatur county. and the year following he brought his family and located thereon permanently. He set about to clear up and improve his new farm, but his career was cut short, by an accident. He was killed seven years later, by the fall- ing of a tree. in 1829. By occupation he was a farmer all his life, and was industrious
.
373
DECATUR COUNTY.
and progressive. He was a Democrat in political faitli and was once a candidate for the legislature, but was defeated. He was a devout and consistent Christian, dying in the faith and belief of life eternal. He mar- ried Charlotte Wood, and to them were born two children .- Charles, and a daugh- ter who died in early life.
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.