USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 48
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
frequently fled to the block-houses for pro- tection against the hostile red men. When peace was restored Mr. Linch improved a farm, which continued in possession of his descendants until it was sold by our subject. B. F. Linch. His was one of the typical pioneer homes of the country, the latch- string on his cabin door being always out and the hospitality of the dwelling being always extended to the traveler who chose to seek entertainment there. He lived a quiet, happy life. and, though there were many hardships and trials to be met. in fron- tier times, one could also enjoy a good hunt, for wild game was abundant, and among the settlers the most cordial and friendly spirit existed. The ladies of the neighborhood spun and wove the cloth and made the clothes worn by the family. Mr. Linch industriously prosecuted his farming labors, and thus gained a comfortable com- petence. In early life he was a Democrat. but later in life he joined the ranks of the newly-organized Republican party. He kept well informed on the issues of the day but never sought office. He was honest. industrious and faithful to his friends, and enjoyed the confidence and good will of all who knew him. He died in 1864. and his wife passed away March 4, 1861. She was a daughter of William Jenkins, of Virginia. who served as a captain in the Revolution- ary war, and afterward removed to Butler county, Ohio. where he died. His children were: Evan, Benjamin, William, James. Catherine. Ruth. Nancy and Susan.
The children of the Linch family were: John, who died in Iowa; Betty, wife of Tomas Lough: James, who died in Jackson township. Decatur county, Indiana; Pierce. who died in Virginia; Nancy, who died in
: 389
DECATUR COUNTY.
Franklin county, Indiana, the wife of Will- jam Fisher; William Linch, who is living . in Nebraska; Susan Aulhands, who died in Nebraska; Alexander, who died at the age of twenty-five years. in Franklin county. Indiana; Evan, also of Nebraska; Benja- min F. Linch, of this review; and Mrs. Mary Shields, living in Adams, this county. The mother of these children died in Franklin county, this state, a member of the Mount Carmel Presbyterian church.
Benjamin F. Linch was reared on his father's farm, and to a limited extent at- tended the district schools, but acquired the greater part of his education after attaining his twenty-first year. He assisted in the labors of the fields until after he had arrived at years of maturity, when he went to Iowa. In 1852 he drove an ox team across the plains to California and spent four years on the Pacific slope, engaging in mining and in conducting a dairy. He met with a fair degree of success in his undertaking and returned to Indiana in 1856, by way of the Panama route and New York city. In 1857 he was married, and remained upon the home farm for eleven years. In 1868 he re- moved to Greensburg, where he was engaged in the sale of fruit-trees. Subsequently he purchased a tract of land adjoining his pres- ent farm, and later he bought the tract upon which he now resides. He has since be- come the owner of another farm, in Adams township, Decatur county, for his industry. economy and enterprise have enabled him thus to add continually to his possessions. In connection with general farming. he has engaged extensively in raising and shipping stock and grain. He was the first to ship stock from Adams, where he built rail pens for stock and later was instrumental in se-
. curing the building of the stock pens. His extensive business as a stock dealer proved of great benefit to the town of Adams. He has always been a public-spir- ited and progressive citizen, and has aided in promoting many enterprises which have proven of great benefit and value to the community. He was one among the larg- est stockholders in the Vandalia. Adams & Michigan Pike Road and has always been an advocate of good roads, believing them to be of decided advantage to the commu- nity. He was a member of the Agricultural Society and County Fair Association, and in many ways has promoted the welfare of his section of the county. He was the owner of property in Adams, and after the business portion of that town was burned he rebuilt and now has some good buildings at that place.
In 1857 Mr. Linch married Miss Sarah S. Bentley, daughter of William and Sarah Bentley. of Butler county, Ohio, who came to this county at an early day. Here the father purchased timber land and improved a good farm, upon which he remained until his death. In connection with the cultiva- tion of the fields he operated a thresher, and was an energetic. enterprising man. In re- ligious belief he was a Baptist, while his wife was a member of the Presbyterian church. Their children were: Adolphus: Ebene- zer: Alvin: Gideon: Calvin: Alexander: Louisa, wife of Noah Brunton; Sarah. wife of our subject. B. F. Linch: Anna, wife of B. F. Moore: and Letha, now deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Linch have been born six children, two of whom died in infancy: Anna L., wife of W. Wooley, who is living near Lebanon. Boone county, Indiana: Olive A., ^wife of G. C. Roberts, superin-
390
DECATUR COUNTY.
tendent of the schools of Greensburg .; Perry, who is operating the homestead farm; and Mary L., wife of W. Cory, a prominent farmer of Washington township. Decatur county. The parents were men- bers of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. B. F. Linch was reared in the Pres- byterian faith, but after coming to this county became a Methodist and has since labored earnestly in behalf of the church of his choice. He has served in many of its offices and contributes liberally to its sup- port. In politics he is a stanch Republican on questions of state and national impor- tance, but at local elections, where no general issue is involved, he votes indepen- dently. His marked enterprise, keen dis- crimination and sound judgment in business affairs and his unflagging enterprise have gained him a handsome competence and won him a place among the substantial and representative citizens of Decatur county.
1
WILLIAM HOGG.
Mr. Hogg, who resides near Forest Hill, Decatur county. Indiana, is a prominent farmer of Jackson township and the repre- sentative of one of the pioneer and highly honored families of the county. He was born on the homestead near where he now lives, June 13, 1847. and was reared as most farmers' boys are-to assist in caring for the stock, in ploughing, sowing and reaping, in preparing the firewood, milking the cows and the thousand and one things which keep a country lad busy from morning till night. In the winter time he attended the common schools and obtained a good prac-
tical education, which he has supplemented by reading and observation.
Mr. Hogg is the son of George and Ann J. (Gibson) Hogg. The former was born on the ocean as his parents were on their way from Ireland to this country, in 1812. His father was William Hogg, who set- tled in Pennsylvania in that year, where he was a farmer. and there died. Two of the three children born to him, Wil- liam and Robert, died in that state, of which their mother was a native. George Hogg remained on his father's farm in Pennsyl- vania until he was thirty-five years old. when he married, and in 1846 removed to Indiana. He located in Clay township, near the line of Jackson township. where he pur- - chased one hundred and sixty acres of land. of which a few acres were poorly cleared and a log cabin built on the place. He ini- proved a good farm and became a success- ful farmer and stock dealer. He was a hard-working. honest man, and prosperity rewarded his efforts. Personally he was a de- lightful companion. full of humor. loving a good joke and always ready to contribute to the amusement of his friends with a jest or story. His character was above reproach and he had a high standard of integrity. He was strictly temperate, charitable to the poor, and was beloved by all who knew him. As his financial condition improved Mr. Hogg began adding to his real estate until at the time of his death he owned five hun. dred and fifty-five acres of fine land in ad- joining townships, and one thousand acres in Alabama, besides other interests. He loaned money on mortgages and in varion- ways became a well known financier. He was the founder of Forest Hill postoffice and one of the projectors of the Sand Creek
.
391
DECATUR COUNTY.
pike, of which he was a stockholder, and was president of the road for some years. He exerted his influence in the making of good roads in the township, and in every- thing relating to the community he was en- terprising and public-spirited. He built an elegant two-story brick residence on his farm, also good barns and outbuildings, and in other ways made of his place one of the most attractive and valuable pieces of property in the county. Although a strong supporter of the Democratic party he never aspired to office, and always claimed the right to vote for the best man for office, ir- respective of his political opinions. He was one of the wealthiest citizens of Decatur county and an important factor in its growth.
Ann J. (Gibson) Hogg, the mother of our subject, was one of six children. Two of her brothers, Reuben and David, were the first merchants of Newburg (now Forest Hill). They moved, in 1872. to Liberty. Indiana, where they engaged in merchan- dise business for several years. David ยท moved to Kansas, where he still lives. Reu- ben returned to Decatur county and died near Forest Hill, in April, 1892. One sis- ter, Mrs. Sophia Evans, lives at Marion, In- diana. Mrs. Hogg died in 1880, aged fifty- six years. She was a devoted member of the Baptist church and was a most estimable lady.
To George Hogg and his wife were born ten children,-the eldest being William, the subject of this sketch; Mary D. died at the age of thirty years; Margaret J. died when twenty-six years old: James died when forty years old, leaving a wife and three children; Annie is the wife of Dr. J. D. Lorimor, re- siding near Forest Hill; George, a fruit
farmer, lives in California; Martha, wife of Edward Dillman, also lives in California; Lilla died when fourteen years old; and two other children died in infancy. - The father of this family died April 14, 1891, aged sev- enty-nine years.
William Hogg remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years old. In 1872 he was married, and rented a farm in Jack- son township, on which he lived for four- teen years. He then returned to the home- stead and cared for his father until the death of the latter. Mr. Hogg, Sr., did not leave any will, but desired that his estate should be equally divided among his children. Our subject was made administrator, and in the settlement the home buildings and seventy . acres of land fell to his share. He after- ward bought ninety acres more, and now owns the original one hundred and sixty which his father first purchased. He lived upon the farm until his wife died, June I. 1893. He has made a success of farming and stock-raising. and holds a leading place among the agriculturists of Jackson town- ship. He is an independent Democrat, and while loyal to the interests of his commun- ity has never cared to hold office. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and a liberal contributor to its support.
Mr. Hogg has been twice married. His first wife was Hettie F. McCracken, who was born in Clay township, August 13. 1851. She was a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Gillaspie) McCracken, both na- tives of Kentucky. Mr. McCracken came to Indiana at an early day and settled in Fugit township, where he was unfortunate in his enterprises, and later removed to Clay township. He bought a small farm in the latter place, where he died of smallpox, .
.
392
DECATUR COUNTY.
April 13, 1861, aged sixty-six years. He was a kind husband and father and a good citizen. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and was a consistent member of the Pres- byterian church. His wife died August 23. 1883, at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. McCracken was twice married. By his first wife he had two children,-Sarah A., who married J. J. McCracken, and John, de- ceased. Both settled in Decatur county and reared families. Of the second mar- riage nine children were born, namely: Margaret, Mrs. S. W. Garrison; Mary A., Mrs. McVey; Rebecca J., Mrs. T. Jacks; Amelia E .; Lucy, Mrs. Sparks; Hannah; James W., who lives in Oklahoma; Felix A., deceased in early youth; and Hettie F., wife of our subject.
Five children were born to Mr. Hogg by his first marriage: Ora, wife of John Cham- bers, a farmer; George, a farmer in Jackson township; Hugh, deceased in childhood; Almah, Mrs. C. Annis; and Robert, who died in early life. The mother of these chil- dren died June 1, 1893. On March 31, 1896, Mr. Hogg was married to Miss Mary Brown, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 12, 1851. She is a daugh- ter of Thomas and Eliza (Smiley) Brown. Her father was of Irish descent and was a native of Butler county, Ohio; and the mother was a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. They were married in But- ler county, in 1841, and lived there until 1857, when they removed to Decatur coun- ty, Indiana, where Mr. Brown bought a farm, in Clay township. Later he sold that and bought one in Jackson township. near Newburg. When a young man Mr. Brown was a school-teacher and afterward a mer- chant, having taken up farming when he
was married. He was a Democrat in his political views. He was of a very social dis- position and fond of company, but his greatest happiness was found in the home circle, from . which he was seldom absent. He was an intelligent, well read man and especially conversant with historical works. His religious affiliation was with the Pres- byterian denomination, and he was re- spected and esteemed by all who knew him .. He died September 11, 1891. Mrs. Brown survived her husband until August 29, 1893. She was the daughter of Patrick and Mary Smiley, who were of Irish descent, but were born in Pennsylvania. They moved to Ohio in 1827, and there died. There were nine children in the Smiley family: James, John, William, Sovereign, Nancy, Lettie, Eliza, Mary and Margaret. The parents were members of the Associate Reformed church. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had three children,-Ralph, who died in 1870; Lettie J., wife of W. R. Ogden; and Mary L., wife of William Hogg.
DR. WILLIAM BRACKEN.
One of the oldest and most highly es- teemed medical practitioners of the state of Indiana, Dr. William Bracken, of Greens- burg, is a son of Thomas and Matilda (Coen) Bracken, and was born in Dearborn county, this state, May 26, 1817. The fam- ily is of English origin and was established in America by four brothers who emigrated in 1760 to this country, one settling in Can- ada, two in Pennsylvania and one in South Carolina. Dr. Bracken, of this sketch, is a descendant of the Pennsylvania branch of the family.
393
DECATUR COUNTY.
His father, Thomas Bracken, was born in a portion of Westmoreland county which is now a part of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and was the son of William Bracken, who likewise was a native of that county and who died shortly before the birth of our subject's father, leaving three children to the care of a widowed mother. Subsequent- ly the family removed to Indiana, and the Doctor's father and mother both died in Rush county, this state, the former in 1883 and the latter in 1859. The family arrived in Rush county, December 16, 1821, and there our subject was reared and obtained such education as the primitive schools of that time afforded. He worked on the farm during the summer months and attended a subscription school near by during the win- ter, in an old log school-house in which greased paper was used for window glass. He spent five winters in this way, and at the age of seventeen entered upon the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Drs. H. G. Sexton and W. H. Martin, both of Rushville, Indiana. Completing the' re- quired course of study at the age of nine- teen, he was licensed to practice medicine by the old Fifth District Medical Society, at its session in Connersville, Indiana, Novem- ber 2, 1836. January 1. 1837. Dr. Bracken began life as a medical practitioner in Jack- son county, this state, where he remained about twenty months. Then. April 4, 1839. he removed to Richland. Rush county. In December, 1842, he located in Milroy, same county, and established a good practice, winning the confidence of the people. In 1850 he was elected one of the three dele- gates to represent Rush county in the State Constitutional Convention. He was one of the youngest members of that body, but
represented the interests of his constituency faithfully and efficiently. He has been a Democrat all his life and has always taken an intelligent interest in politics, but has never aspired to political preferment. April II, 1862, he removed to Greensburg. In- diana, where he. has practiced successfully for nearly forty years. He has been a care- ful student of the best medical literature of his time, and by close attention to his pro- fessional duties established and retained un- til recent years a large and remunerative patronage. He has accumulated a com- petency and is now gradually retiring from general practice, owing to his advanced age and consequent failing health.
He has been prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal church for many years and supports all the enterprises of that zealous denomination. He is also a mem- ber of Greensburg Lodge, No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons, and is past master of this lodge and also of Milroy Lodge, being the oldest living past master in the county. He is also a member of Greensburg Chapter. No. S. Royal Arch Masons.
November 19, 1837, Dr. Bracken married Patience Ann Berry, then of Rush county. but a native of Kentucky. To them were born seven children, -- five sons and two daughters, as follows: Captain William H .. of Brookville. Indiana, a retired attorney. formerly a soldier of the civil war, county clerk and internal-revenue collector; Thomas E., formerly in business in Greensburg. but . now a farmer of this county; James B., who is a physician by profession, having studied in Chicago and at the Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia; Mrs. Martha E. Rucker, of Greensburg; John L., who is an attorney by profession, has been deputy col-
.
1
394
DECATUR COUNTY.
lector and is now engaged in farming; and one daughter and one son who are de- ceased. Mrs. Bracken, who was a devoted wife and an estimable Christian lady, passed away March 18, 1898.
JAMES M. BOYER, M. D.
. Dr. Boyer is a prominent and popular physician of Sardinia, Decatur county, In- diana, and a descendant of one of the oldest and best known families of that locality. His parents, William and Mary (Miller) Boyer, were natives of Clark county, In- diana, where they were married. William was the son of John Boyer, a farmer who lived in Maryland. The father of John Boyer, also named John, was a native of Al- sace, France, and emigrated to America at an early day, settling in Maryland, where he spent the remainder of liis life. He had a brother who was a surgeon on the staff of Napoleon I., and another brother, Lewis, who was the first French governor of Vin- cennes. After his term of office expired he left that place, and his family lost all trace of him. John Boyer, Sr., came from Mary- land to Indiana and settled on a farm in Clark county, where he reared his eight children, whose names were James, Mary. William, Eliza, Louise, Andrew. John and Margaret. The family held membership in the Methodist church.
William Boyer, father of our subject, was born at Charleston, Indiana, and had but few opportunities for acquiring an educa- tion, but being a great reader lie acquired a valuable fund of general information, which he put to practical use. He learned the trade of wagon and carriage maker,
which he followed until increasing years be- gan to tell on his strength and endurance. For eight years before his death he lived quietly, enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. He was killed in a railroad accident, October 4, 1897. Mr. Boyer was a member of the Methodist church, active in church work and broad-minded and charitable in his views; he was well-to-do and brought up his family in good style, and no citizen was more respected and esteemed than he. In politics he was a Douglas Democrat, but voted for Lincoln on his second nomina- tion, and thereafter was in sympathy with the Republican party.
Mrs. Boyer. the mother of our subject. died in 1874. Her parents, John and Mary Miller, were of German and French descent. and came from Maryland to Indiana at an early day, settling on a farm. They were highly esteemed in their community. Their children are: Jacob, living in Davenport. Iowa; John, residing in Jeffersonville, In- diana; Mary, Mrs. Boyer; Nicholas, living in Davenport, Iowa; and Ann, Mrs. S. Tuell. The children are. as were their parents, all members of the Methodist church. To Mr. and Mrs. William Boyer eleven children were born, of whom the following record is given: Marietta, Mrs. J. Long; John, de- ceased, was a farmer in Iowa; William, de- ceased in infancy; Ferdinand. a farmer in Iowa; Charles, a manufacturer of plows: Frank, superintendent of plow works; Clar- ence, a hardware merchant; Lenius and Louis; James MI., the subject of this sketch: and Maude, the wife of J. F. Mccullough. employed in a bank at New Albany, In- diana.
Dr. James M. Boyer was born in Charles- ton, Clark county, August 11, 1863. He
395
DECATUR COUNTY.
attended the common schools in his boy- hood, and later became a student at De , Pauw University. He then entered Bow- doin College, at which he graduated. He made his own way through college and is a self-made man. He taught school for six years after his graduation, and was county superintendent of schools for six years. During this time he had constantly in mind the idea of becoming a physician, and when only twenty years of age began reading medicine with Dr. W. F. Worth, of Charles- ton, as his preceptor; he also studied under the instructions of Dr. D. C. Peyton, a lead- ing physician of Charleston, and later prominent in the United States service, and physician to the Jeffersonville prison for many years, at which time Dr. Boyer was associated with him. Dr. Boyer attended lectures from 1893 to 1895, graduating in the latter year at the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville. He was at first in partnership with Dr. Worth, at Charleston, but in March, 1896, came to Sardinia, which has since been his home. Here he has been very successful in securing a good practice, which is constantly growing, and he has gained the confidence of the people by his undoubted ability and thorough knowledge of his profession. He is still a young man and has a bright future before him.
In 1888 Dr. Boyer was united in mar- riage with Idella Scott, a lady of culture and refinement, who was born in Clark county, Indiana, September 9, 1867. Her parents were Caleb and Sarah Scott, both natives of Clark county. Her father is a prominent farmer and is highly educated, having stud- ied for the ministry, but he gave up his plans in this line on account of his mother, who, by reason of her increasing years, de-
manded his care. He is an active worker in the Presbyterian church and a man of fine character. Mr. Scott had six children. namely: Dora, Mrs. Southerland; Idella. Mrs. Boyer; Homer, who was a Presby- terian minister and who died in May, 1899; Jennie, the widow of J. Fales; Virgil, also a Presbyterian minister, in Kentucky; and Charles, attending school. Two children have been born to Dr. Boyer and wife, namely: Ralph, born March 19, 1889, and Lewis, August 11, 1891. Mrs. Boyer is a member of the Methodist church, of which the Doctor is a liberal supporter. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, as well as of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to the Jennings County Medical Society. Politically he is a stanch Demo- crat and takes a lively interest in the success of his party at the polls.
JETHRO C. MEEK.
Since the early days of the settlement of Decatur county, the Meek family have borne an important part in its development. and the name is well known, and everywhere favorably so, throughout this section of In- diana. Coming into the wilderness, they proceeded to clear land and make perma- nent homes for themselves and their chil- dren; and from that day until the present they have upheld good government, schools and churches and everything which has been instrumental in the progress of civili- zation.
Thomas Meek, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Maryland, thence went to Kentucky, and in 1824 came to In-
.
-
396
DECATUR COUNTY.
diana, settling in Decatur county. To him- self and wife, whose maiden name was Martha Davis, fifteen children were born. Two of the number died in Kentucky, and , twelve of them, some already married and with families of their own, located in De- catur county. Samuel. the grandfather of Jethro C. Meek, accompanied by his two brothers-in-law, James, and William Mc- Cracken, was the first of the family to settle here, for it was about two years later that Thomas and Martha Meek, then well along in years, came, and here they died a few years subsequently. Their eldest son, James, born January 8, 1781, passed his en- tire life in Kentucky. Samuel, the next son, born May 15, 1782, died August 18. 1837; Sally was born August 17, 1784; Priscilla was born in September, 1786: Adam R., December 15. 1789; Martha, April 30, 1792; David, January 21, 1794; Jemima. May 9. 1796; Tirzah, April 28, 1797; Mary (or Polly), June 15. 1800; Davis, September 18. 1802; Sophia, August 31, 1805; and Anna K., January 18, 1808. The only survivor of this large family is the youngest, Mrs. Anna Kindness Braden, of Greensburg. All ex- cept Jemima married, and Mrs. Braden was the only one of these who did not have chil- dren. Thus the descendants of Thomas and Martha Meek are very numerous, and their value to this county cannot be overesti- mated. With the exception of Adam. all of the children of Thomas Meek who came to this county settled in Fugit township. and all located here between the years of 1822 and 1826.
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.