USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 49
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John Meek, son of Samuel and father of Jethro C. Meek, was born in Kentucky, in October, 1814. He was a child when he was brought to this county, and the remain-
der of his youth was passed in the wilds of Fugit and Clinton townships. For a number of years after his marriage to Jane Mont- gomery he was engaged in farming in the last mentioned township, but for many years he was numbered among the re- spected citizens of Greensburg. A long and useful life was granted him, and he lived to see vast changes in the country where he, lived for about three-quarters of a century. He was called to his reward April 20, 1896. his wife having passed away several years before. Both were active members of the United Presbyterian church. Of their four sons and six daughters who lived to mature years eight are yet living, and all but two reside in this county. Mrs. Tirzah Ennis and Mrs. Lola Smith have been called to the silent land; and Josiah and Etta died in early life. Those who survive are: Robert S., born May 27,.1840; Mrs. Margaret E. Robinson; John T .; Louisa, wife of John _1. Meek, of Kansas; Adamı, a resident of Greensburg; Jethro C .; Mrs. Mary Brown. of Rushville; and Mrs. Anna Pleak, of Greensburg.
The birth of Jethro C. Meek occurred Oc- tober 22, 1852, on the homestead which he now owns and carries on, and, with the ex- ception of about five years, he always has dwelt here. Following the example of his worthy forefathers. he has been an indus- trious, practical agriculturist, managing his business affairs with ability. Recognized as one of our best and most progressive citi- zens, he has often been called upon to serve in public positions, and in the fall of 1897 was elected to the important office of county commissioner, his term to run until December, 1900. He is a stanch Repub- lican in politics, and is a firm believer in the
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wisdom of that party, which has guided the course of the ship of state during so many perilous periods.
The marriage of J. C. Meek and Miss Mila Henry was celebrated June 26, 1877. She is a daughter of Thomas D. and Re- becca Jane (Meek) Henry, who came to this county from Kentucky, but in 1852 went to the far west, taking up their abode in the present state of Oregon. They were ac- companied on their long journey by- the father of our subject. At the end of a few years, within which time their daughter Mila was born, Mr. and Mrs. Henry re- turned to this county, and here she has re- sided ever since. She has been a true help- mate to her husband, and shares with him the high regard which the people of this community entertain for all who bear the name of Meek.
ELI PENINGTON, M. D.
The task to which the writer now ad- dresses himself is the telling, in more or less detail, of the busy life of a man well known in Decatur county, Indiana, as a pioneer farmer and physician, as a leading citizen and land-holder and as a figure conspicuous in the medical history of this part of the state. Dr. Eli Penington, who lives near Greensburg, came to the county while it was yet a wilderness, peopled with wild ani- mals, and has been identified closely and in- fluentially with its development to the pres- ent țime.
Dr. Penington was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 24, 1822, a son of John and Elizabeth (Thompson) Penington. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and
his father descended from the same Pening- ton family into which William Penn mar- ried. John Penington's father was Amos Penington, and Amos was a son of Daniel Penington, a lineal descendant of Isaac Pen- ington, who was lord mayor of London and counsel to the king. The first of this family of Peningtons in America of whom mention is made was Isaac Penington, of Pennsyl- vania, who was buried beside Penn, as were also Mary Penington and their son John, the last mentioned of whom died in 1710. Edward, the youngest of this family, was surveyor general of the province of Penn- sylvania. He was married in 1699 to Sarah. daughter of Daniel Jennings, the Quaker governor of New Jersey, and died in Phila- delphia, leaving a son named Isaac, from whom has descended the line of Peningtons of whom Dr. Penington is a worthy repre- sentative.
John Penington, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared in the faith of this Society of Friends and adhered to it all his life. While yet a boy he came to Ohio, and there he grew to manhood and was married, at Barnesville, that state. In 1826 he came to Indiana and stopped at Richmond, Wayne county, where he en- gaged in business as a merchant. Soon he was located at Williamsburg, Indiana, where he engaged in packing pork and hauling the product to Cincinnati to market. After a time he lost his stock in trade by fire and was thus compelled to give up the business. He them came to Decatur county and en- gaged in farming. His wife died at the Boardman tavern, in 1847, and he removed to Ripley county and died there. Their children were named as follows, in the se- quence of their birth: Eli, the subject of
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this sketch, Eleanor, Mary, Joel, Melissa, Bryce C. and Isaac C. The last mentioned is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and is living and laboring in Okla- homa. Bryce C., of Oak Park, California, has retired on a competency well earned. - Eli Penington passed his youth in the public schools and in assisting his father in his store. He finished his primary educa- tion in the schools of Williamsburg, Wayne county, Indiana. Then he began to study medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Hank, of Milford, teaching school to earn money with which to defray expenses. He began practice at Milton, with his cousin, Dr. Penington. From Milton he removed to Centerville, Indiana, where he practiced his profession two years. Then he lived for a year at Richmond, from which place he , came to Decatur county about fifty years ago. In 1851 he laid out the town of New Pennington, which has been known by his name since 1860. When he first came to the county he bought a place at Sulphur Springs, which he has owned ever since. At that time the locality abounded with game and he killed many deer, turkeys. etc. He has been an extensive speculator in lands and has owned farms and other landed property in different states for forty years. At one time he had a real-estate office in Kokomo and by shrewd trading amassed a good fortune; but later he lost heavily through fraudulent titles. He entered the last four hundred acres of public land in De- catur county.
Dr. Penington married Miss Mary Anna Barclay, daughter of William Barclay, a na- tive of Kentucky, who came to Indiana in 1826, among the early pioneer settlers, and died here. He was a Baptist and a Whig,
and in the closing years of his life a Repub- lican. His children were as follows: Wil- liam, Addison, Parkison, Henly, Thomas and Mary Anna (Mrs. Penington). Dr. and Mrs. Penington have had no children of their own, but have adopted, reared and educated two boys. The first was Frederick Brooks, whom they took into their home when he was nine years old and who lives in Illinois and is making a success of life. Later they adopted Edward J. Penington, then nine years old, and he was a member of their family until he was nineteen years of age, being reared and educated under their care and as their own son. Of an inventive turn of mind, he became famous as the in- ventor of an air-ship which was exhibited with success at Chicago and elsewhere, a few years ago, and attracted much attention from scientists and the public. Later he went to England and there invented a rapid- fire gun which has yielded him a goodly financial reward. A few years ago Dr. Pen- ington retired to one of his farms, where he and his faithful and helpful wife are enjoying the rewards of a well spent life. The Doctor has a birthright in the Society of Friends. and for three years he was a preacher among his people.
HON. JOSEPH D. PLEAK.
Probably only one or two persons, if any now living, can claim priority of birth in Decatur county when it is stated that the subject of this memoir was born in Wash- ington township, November 27, IS22. Few of our citizens are better informed upon the history of this portion of the state, and his recollections of the trials and vicissitudes of
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life in the early pioneer days are replete with interest.
He is of German descent. upon his father's side of the family. though his father's mother, a Miss Wade in her girl- hood, was of English extraction, and one of her cousins was General Wade, of Revolu- tionary war fame. John Pleak. the grand- father, emigrated to the United States from Germany at a very early day and settled upon a farm in Kentucky, in which state both he and his wife continued to dwell un- til death. Fielden Pleak, the father of our subject, was born at Castleton's Fort, near Mount Sterling, Montgomery county, Ken- tucky.' His proud parents bestowed upon him a long and ambitious name, Marcus Baron Steuben Isaac Henry Fielden Lewis; but he was commonly known as Fielden Pleak. When he had arrived at maturity he sought a wife and finally chose Sabina Virt. who was a native of Pittsburg. Pennsyl- vania, and had been taken by her parents to Kentucky when she was a child.
In 1818 Fielden Pleak, with his family. located in the neighborhood of Cross Plains, Jefferson county. Indiana. The land which he leased was a part of what was known as the "old purchase:" and though some of the conditions were favorable. Mr. Pleak found himself in very straitened circumstances at the close of four years of extremely arduous labor. He was not a strong man physically. and learning of the fact that a party of men were to be employed by the government to survey land in Decatur county he concluded to accompany them and to aid in the busi- . . ness, taking. in return payment, sufficient land to make a home for his family. Never did he nor his wife forget the experience through which they passed at that time.
.After a five-days . journey through almost trackless wilds, they arrived in Washington township. on the 11th of March, 1822. The entire trip had been made in a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, and when they reached here the family were on the verge of want. for they had provisions to last them a few days only, and they were obliged to camp out of doors until a temporary shelter was constructed by Mr. Pleak and the teamster who had accompanied them. A rude hut. made of poles and bark, sufficed to shut out some of the cold: and here, in the midst of the dense forest. the mother, with her three little children and her aged mother, was obliged to stay until Mr. Pleak had returned from the distant mill, at Brookville, whither he had gone to have a bag-full of corn ground. He was absent for five days: and one can well imagine how joyfully he was welcomed when he again joined his dear ones. To this favored generation it seems wonderful, indeed. that such hardships could be endured with fortitude by women and children: but bravery is always developed by necessity, and in spite of some very try- ing experiences the pioneers were on the whole contented and happy.
In the course of a few years Mr. Pleak had developed a good farm, and when he was claimed by death, in the guise of con- sumption. in 1835, he left his family in com- fortable circumstances. His faithful wife. who had so nobly shared his reverses and had borne the burdens which only the pio- neer women can know, survived him a num- ber of years, and until she was about ninety years old continued to dwell on the home- stead where she had first located upon her arrival in this county. During the rest of her life she made her home with her chil-
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dren, and at ninety-three years of age she passed to her reward. Of her ten sons and. two daughters only two are now living,- Joseph D. and Mrs. Louisa Miller, the birth of the latter occurring January 15, 1816. The old homestead is now owned and car- ried on by Walter Pleak, a grandson of Fielden Pleak.
Born during the first year of the family's residence in Washington township. Joseph D. Pleak early started to work in the battle which his elders were already fighting with untamed nature, and ere he had reached manhood he was strong and rugged, for he had lived an outdoor existence and had been exclusively engaged in manual labor. Schools there were none for years in this lo- cality, and he was obliged to rely solely upon his own exertions in the matter of education, as, indeed, in everything. Nature had endowed him with keen powers of ob- servation, however, and experience and pri- vate reading made him a well informed man. After his marriage he removed to a farm a mile and a half north of Greensburg. and at the end of two years he exchanged the place for a farm in Adams township. Locating thereon in 1849, he made his home there for forty years, and in 1899 retired from active cares and is now living in the village of Adams.
In 1847 Mr. Pleak was united in marriage to Nancy Coleman, who died in 1850, and four years later he wedded Mary Jane Rob- inson. She died two years afterward, leav- ing a son, William R. There were two sons by the first union, namely. Joseph D., Jr .. and Coleman T. The lady who now bears our subject's name was formerly Martha J. Woodward. She was born in 1833, and is a daughter of Charles and Mary (Johnson)
Woodward, who settled in Decatur county in 1832.
In his early manhood Mr. Pleak was a stanch advocate of the principles of the Whig party, and when its successor, the Re- publican party, was organized, he joined its ranks and has continued to give it his hearty support. His first presidential vote was cast in the spirited campaign year of 1840. when William Henry Harrison was the can- didate of his party. During the civil war Mr. Pleak was chosen by the people of this county to represent them in the Indiana state senate, which he did to their entire sat- isfaction. For a number of years he was president of the Decatur County Agricul- tural Association, and while acting in that capacity was enabled to do much for the lasting good of the public.
JOHN L. WOODEN, M. D.
Dr. John L. Wooden was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, May 17. 1826, and died at Greensburg. Indiana, November 28. 1886. His parents were Levi and Frances (Weyman) Wooden. His father was a na- tive of Shelby county, Kentucky, and spent his early manhood there. In 1821-2 he bought land in Indiana and subsequently became an extensive land-owner in that state. holding tracts near Greensburg, at Jeffersonville and at New Albany. He died at his home near Greensburg in 1840, and is remembered as having been a prominent Methodist and a good citizen. Frances Weyman was born at Bingen-on-the-Rhine. Germany. in 1803, and came to the United States with her parents in 1818. The fam- ily located at Baltimore, but later removed
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to Shelby county, Kentucky, where she married Levi Wooden.
Dr. Wooden came to Decatur county, Indiana, with his parents in October, 1830. His early life was spent on the farm, of which he practically assumed charge after the death of his father, which occurred be- fore John L. was fourteen years old. At the age of twenty years he entered a dry-goods store, where he remained two years, when he commenced the study of medicine and surgery in the office of Dr. L. McAllister. of Milford, Decatur county. In May, 1853. he began his career as a medical practitioner at Andersonville. Franklin county, which he continued until the fall of 1859. when he entered the Medical College of Ohio, where he was admitted to fellowship in the degree of Doctor of Medicine, March 1. 1860; and in the autumn of 1861 he decided to leave a good civil practice for the variable experi- ences of a field surgeon in the volunteer army of the United States. He entered the service as a contract medical officer with the staff of the Seventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, and was advanced to the grade of assistant surgeon, with the rank of cap- tain, and. after experience which practically covered operations of the armies of Gen- erals Lander, McDowell and Pope. he was promoted to be a surgeon, with the rank of major, and assigned to duty with the Sixty- eighth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. to date from August 19. 1862. He had pre- · viously served as special inspector of that regiment during its formation. He was made a prisoner of war at the battle of Mun- fordville. Kentucky. September 17. 1862. and was exchanged in November, 1862. At the battle of Chickamauga. September 20. 1863, while in charge of the division hos-
pital, he was again captured and was sent to Libby prison, from which he was liberated. by exchange, after three months' confine- ment. Having returned to duty in the fieldl. he was placed upon the staff of General Wil- lich as brigade surgeon, and was near that officer when he (Willich) was severely wounded. Dr. Wooden's service ended only with the war, when he returned to civil practice in Greensburg.
He was a man of active temperament. quick to perceive and prompt to act, though not unmindful of the opinions of others. Having become familiar by long experience with the diseases peculiar to this locality. and the best methods of treating them. to- gether with a liberal knowledge of practical surgery, it is not surprising that he should have had a wide and lucrative practice. He took great interest in whatever pertained to his profession and was prominent in ad- vocating any measure necessary for its ad- vancement or protection. He was presi- dent of the Decatur County Medical Society and examining surgeon for the United States pension board of that county, which office he filled for many years.
In 1847 Dr. Wooden married Miss Jane Braden, of Decatur county, who bore him two children, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Wooden died in 1857. Dr. Wooden's surviving wife was Miss Sarah Guest. of Milford, who bore him four children: Ida May. who is the wife of T. Edgar Hamilton. of Greensburg: William 'H., M. D .: Elmer E., who was graduated at the Greensburg high school and who is a member of the firm of Bird. Deen & Wooden, prominent hard- ware dealers of Greensburg: and Fannie E .. wife of J. S. Moss, of the firm of Talbott & Moss, druggists in Greensburg.
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Dr. Wooden was, and his family are, con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and an active coworker with the comrades of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and was commander of "Pap" Thomas Post, No. 5, and senior vice commander of the Department of the Grand Army of the Republic of Indiana.
WILLIAM H. WOODEN, M. D.
William H. Wooden, M. D., was born at Clifty, Decatur county, Indiana, August 12, 1857. He was educated at the Indiana Uni- versity, at Bloomington, in the classical course and in modern languages, including Latin, Greek, German and French, his studies there extending over a period of more than three years. Returning home, he studied medicine under his father's precep- torship, which was most thorough and painstaking, and was graduated with the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine, at the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, March I, 1879. He was associated with his father, Dr. John L. Wooden, in the practice of his profession until the death of the latter. No- vember 28, 1886, and since then he has been alone in the practice, which has assumed
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large proportions and covers a wide terri- tory. He is alert and active in the study of his profession and is a member of the De- catur County Medical Association and of the American Medical Association. He has been especially active in the county associa- tion and has filled every important office in that body.
Dr. Wooden was made a Mason in early manhood and is a member of Concordia
Lodge, No. 476, Free & Accepted Masons; a member of Greensburg Chapter. No. 8. Royal Arch Masons; a member of Shelby- ville Council, No. 3, Royal '& Select Mas- ters, and a member of Greensburg Lodge. No. 148. Knights of Pythias, and surgeon of Greensburg Commandery, No. 36, of the Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of John L. Wooden Camp. No. 19, Sons of Veterans, named in honor of his father, and is past chaplain of the same. He has served as the health officer of Greensburg several years, and is a member of the United States pension board.
HARRY BOYD.
Decatur county has many sturdy, self- made men among her citizens, men who have kept their eyes open for opportunities and have availed themselves of the benefits at the accepted time and have been borne on by them to success. Such a citizen is the gentleman whose name is at the head of this brief personal notice, and who, in his career thus far, has exemplified the substantial value of good character and taught again the old but ever useful lesson that morality and honesty are better capital than money.
Harry Boyd, of the firm of Boyd & Adams, dealers in hardware and kindred goods, at Letts, is one of the most promi- nent of the younger business men of that place. He is a son of William and Jane (Dickerson) Boyd and was born in Jennings county, Indiana, October 18, 1861. Wil- liam Boyd, of Irish blood, was born in Dear -. born county, Indiana. Jane Dickerson, of German descent, was a native of Jennings county. They settled in Jennings county
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after their marriage and there Mrs. Boyd died, in 1865. For his second wife Mr. Boyd married Mary Mermons. John and George Boyd, brothers of William Boyd, and Tip- ton and Townsend Dickerson, brothers. of Mrs. Boyd, all became well-to-do and well known in Jennings and adjoining counties. Of the children of William and Jane (Dick- erson) Boyd, four died of diphtheria and two, Lafayette and Harry, survive. By his second marriage Mr. Boyd had a son, who died young. As a Democrat in politics, William Boyd was elected to the office of assessor, and performed the duties of the office to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned; and for his sound judgment and straightforward character he came to be re- spected by all who knew him. Though he was a fairly successful farmer he never had means to educate his sons as he would have liked; and for this reason Harry Boyd, who early determined to equip himself as well as possible educationally, was in a large meas- ure thrown on his own resources in this re- gard. He took a firm grip on the situation and worked his way slowly but surely to the acquisition of a liberal education. Then for four years he was a successful teacher. As opportunity afforded he tried his faculty for business and was not slow in developing an ability which was recognized by men of the highest standing in the community. Such men made him favorable propositions. which he accepted, with results which have been satisfactory to himself and to his friends. He began his business career as a · bookkeeper for Mr. Mitchell, at Letts Cor- ner. After working six months in that po- sition he taught a term of school at Letts Corner, in which he was successful from every point of view. He then returned to
Mr. Mitchell's employ and after a few months accepted a proposition from Messrs. W. T. & J. G. Adams, which resulted in his being taken into a general merchandise business as a partner. After a time, having acquired some cash capital, he withdrew from this enterprise and, in partnership with Mr. Mitchell, opened the first hardware store at Letts, which they conducted suc- cessfully for some years,-until Mr. Boyd exchanged his interest in the concern for a farm. He passed the succeeding four years as a farmer and then went back to merchan- dising, with Mr. Adams as a partner, under the firm name of Boyd & Adams. They bought the Mitchell hardware store, which Mr. Boyd had helped to establish, and en- larged it and broadened its scope in many ways. The business of the concern has steadily increased and is now one of the most important of its class in this part of the country. A very full line of hardware is car- ried, as well as a large stock of stoves, farm implements and harness; and in connection with the hardware trade there is nothing for which there is a demand in this vicinity that cannot be procured, good in quality and reasonable in, price, of Boyd & Adams. Be- sides his mercantile interests Mr. Boyd owns two farms and a fine village residence.
Mr. Boyd was married in 1888 to Carrie I. Mitchell. daughter of Oliver S. and Mary E. Mitchell. Oliver S. Mitchell was born in Decatur county and reared to the work of the farm. For some years after his mar- riage he was a successful farmer and stock- man. Later he bought grain at Letts and gradually built up a trade in farm imple- ments. Later his business included a trade in hardware and windmills. He died in 1897, his wife in 1894. He was a broad-
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minded, energetic, public-spirited man .. Democratic in political faith and helpful to every useful public movement; he was a Mason and a Knight of Pythias. He left two daughters: Carrie I .. the wife of the sub)- ject of this sketch: and Lou V., the wife of K. L. Adams. Mr. Boyd's marriage is a happy one and has been blessed by one child, Jessie, born January 31, 1895. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and. having been received as an Entered Appren- tice and passed the Fellowcraft degree of Masonry, has been duly raised to the sub- lime degree of Master Mason.
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