USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 52
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tled on a piece of land which had been entered by Mr. Montgomery's father. and which was eventually improved into a good farm, and there Mr. Montgomery passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1845. Following are the names of the offspring of Thomas and Lizzie (Bingham) Montgom- ery: Rebecca and Sarah, who died unmar- ried, the latter aged ninety-one years; Eva. who became Mrs. A. J. Draper; John B .. de- ceased: Hugh and George, who died in 1851; Martha, who became Mrs. Craig; Thomas, who married Sarah A. Gageby and died November 24. 1874; and Robert S .. some account of whose career it will be at- tempted now to give.
Robert S. Montgomery bought the inter- est of the other heirs to his father's estate in the old homestead and has lived on it and managed it successfully during all his active life thus far. and has no thought but that he will live on it to the end of his days. He is a thorough farmer of good business ability. Politically he is a Republican, exerting a quiet influence upon the local work of his party but never aspiring to any public office. He is not married.
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DAVID MOSS.
Indiana is heavily indebted to her repre- sentative farmers, who during the years of her development constituted the mainspring of her progress and who at this time consti- tute the most important factor in her pros- perity. Decatur county numbers among her leading citizens many such representa- tive farmers, and none of them is held higher in the estimation of his fellow citi-
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zens than the gentleman whose name is. above.
David. Moss was born in Hamilton coun- ty, Ohio, August 20, 1827, a son of David and Hannah (Smith) Moss. His father, a son of Daniel Moss, was born in Vermont, and his mother, a daughter of Benjamin Smith, was born in New York city, where her father was a brick-maker. Daniel Moss was a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary war. Late in life he came west, and for some years made his home with a daughter at Cincinnati, but the last two years of his life were spent as a member of the household of his son David, under whose watchful care he ended his days in 1860, at the venerable age of ninety years. His children were Betsy (Mrs. Jalliff, of Cincinnati), Lydia (Mrs. Collingsworth), Alfred (of Illinois). Benola (of Pennsylvania) and David (father of the David Moss who is the immediate subject of this sketch).
David Moss. Sr., was apprenticed to the · clothier's trade, and after he had finished it worked as a journeyman in New York until his marriage. He then went to Penn- sylvania and there later joined a colony which built a flat-boat and made its way down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Illinois, where all the members located. Mr. Moss remained there six years, when he went back as far as Cincinnati, where he bought a small piece of land and lived until 1834, when he came to Decatur county, In- diana, and bought a farm, upon which he lived to the close of his life, in 1876, when he was ninety-three years old. His wife died in 1852. He was a Whig in politics. but a plain farmer who did not seek polit- ical distinction. ' His children were named as follows: Lavina, who died young; Dan-
iel, who for many years was a hotel man at Greensburg and who died in Illinois: Har- riet, Mrs. Barron: Hannah, Mrs. Evans: Sarah. Mrs. J. Sailors; Fanny, Mrs. Win- ters: David, the subject of this sketch; la- vina, Mrs. St. John; and Luetta, who died young.
David Moss was brought up on the farm and in the public schools of his day and locality obtained a scant education, to which he has added by reading and observation in his mature years. He remained under his father's roof until he was twenty-one years old. After that time he was employed as a farm laborer for two years and for four years thereafter as a carpenter. In 1853 he mar- ried and began a successful career as a farmer on rented land. After eleven years he removed to Greensburg, Indiana, where he remained two years. He then purchased the farm upon which he now lives. This property he sold at the expiration of four- teen years. and ten years after that time bought it back again and it has since been his home.
Mr. Moss married Miss Drucilla Talbert, a native of Decatur county and a daughter of Henry and Eliza (Hendricks) Talbert. Her mother was a cousin of the late Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, and her father was a public man, the first county clerk of Decatur county and the incumbent of other important official positions. After having held office continuously for thirty- six years he set two sons up in the hard- ware business and gave some atten- tion to their interests. From early in life he devoted himself enthusiastically to breeding and handling stock and often drove stock to the Cincinnati market. 11 :- breeding stables and his fine stallions-Jack
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M. and Dick Thompson-are well remem- bered. He was also at one time in the dry- goods business and he was the contractor of the brick work on the present Decatur county court-house. He commanded the respect of all the people, irrespective of po- litical affiliations, and possessed the public confidence in a remarkable degree. He was a Methodist and a Mason and endeav- ored in an earnest and practical way to live up to the teachings of his church and of his fraternity. He died in 1872.
The children of Henry H. and Eliza (Hendricks) Talbert were Rachel, who died unmarried ; Sarah A., Mrs. W. S. Woodfill : Drucilla, Mrs. David Moss; Hendricks, a druggist; Henry H .. of Greensburg. In- diana; and Mary E .. Mrs. J. King, of Indian- apolis, this state. The children of David and Drucilla (Talbert) Moss are Harry T .. who lives in Kansas: Joseph, of Greensburg. Indiana; Charles, a farmer; Daniel, who farms on the family homestead: Monroe. a druggist of Chicago, Illinois: William W., a farmer; and Cortez C .. a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Moss are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Greensburg. Mr. Moss enjoys an enviable reputation as a business man and is a public-spirited citizen. always interested in every movement which in his good judgment tends to the general welfare.
AARON DAVIS.
Mr. Davis, who is one of the valued citi- zens of Letts, is the worthy representative of a pioneer family of Decatur county. He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, May 16, 1833, the son of James and Martha (Smothers) Davis. He was reared to the
honest toil of a farmer's lad and in the coun- try schools of his day gained all the specific education he ever had. He improved his opportunities, read all the books he could get hold of and qualified himself for a teacher.
Mr. Davis remained at home until eigh- teen years of age, when he started out for himself, hiring out as a farm hand, doing some trading and working industriously at whatever he could find to do. When twen- ty-four years old he was married and settled on a small farm in Sand Creek township. There he remained but a short time. then sold out and bought a farm in Clay town- ship. He remained on that four years, later buying property in Jackson township, where he lived four years, and then purchased the one hundred and forty acres on which he still resides. To this he has added until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres, which includes forty acres belonging to his youngest son. Clifford S. Davis, and all of which is under good cultivation. He has a commodious two-story brick resi- dence, with all modern conveniences, which he built at a cost of over five thousand dol- lars. He also set out a small orchard and in every way beautified the homestead, which is to-day one of the best managed and finest farms in the neighborhood.
Mr. Davis has carried on general farming. also buying, feeding and shipping stock to some extent. In 1881, in connection with O. S. Mitchell. he built an elevator at Letts Corner and bought and shipped grain ex- tensively. He afterward disposed of his interest in this to his partner. and for a few years again gave all his attention to farming. Since 1894. on account of ill health, he has been obliged to give up all active employ-
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ment and lead a quiet life. Mr. Davis is comparatively a self-made man, starting with very small means and being the architect of his own fortune. He has been successful in his enterprises and has proved himself a good financier. His children have had good advantages in way of schooling, are all edu- cated and have had a fair start in the world.
Politically Mr. Davis is a Republican and an active worker in the party. He attends the state and county conventions and uses his influence in selecting the best men for responsible positions, but has never aspired to office himself. He is a member of the Baptist church and is well respected as a Christian gentleman and a loyal citizen.
Mr. Davis was married, October 24, 1858. to Miss Jane Barrett, who was born in Franklin county, Indiana, October 10, 1837, and is a lady well respected by all who know her. Her parents. Charles and Mildred . (Gentry) Barrett, were natives of Virginia. where they were married and where the father died in 1.837. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Barrett was a daughter of Claiborne Gentry, a representative of an old family of Virginia, many of whom set- tled in Kentucky and raised large families, some of their descendants becoming prom- inent lawyers, bankers and physicians. The . . family are well known all over the west and are highly respected. They hold reunions every year, the one in 1898. at Crab Or- chard. Kentucky, being attended by over three hundred persons of that name. The reunion in 1899 was held at St. Louis, Mis- scuri. Mr. Claiborne Gentry removed with his family in 1837 to Franklin county, In- diana, settling on a farm near North Bend. Mildred, the third born in the family, came with her father to Decatur county; Indiana,
in 1839. The others were David and Dab- ney, who died in Illinois; William, who died in Decatur county, Indiana; and Winson. who died in Illinois. Mildred Barrett was left a widow when a young woman and never married again. She is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Davis, and although ninety-four years old is still active and in excellent health. She reads her Bible, the newspapers and all the literature which comes in her way, and enjoys life as well as those about her. Such a delightful old age is rare, and it is a great pleasure to meet and converse with a lady who can recall the inci- dents of so many years ago, during whose life three generations have come and gone and who yet retains an interest in the affairs of the present time and is well posted on the questions of the day. Mrs. Barrett com- mands the love and respect of her children, grandchildren and the numerous friends who gather about her in the evening of her long and useful life. She is a lifelong mem- ber of the Presbyterian church and has set a worthy example to her descendants. To her and her husband three children were born: Eliza, Mrs. Morgan; James, who died unmarried; and Jane, the wife of Aaron Davis, our subject.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had eight chil- dren, concerning whom we give the follow- ing brief record: John C., now quartermas- ter in the United States Army in Cuba: Albert, living in Idaho; Emma, Mrs. J. Evans; Minnie N., Mrs. John Shafer: Ida M., Mrs. L. Moore; Henry, who is highly educated, a minister of the Missionary Bap- tist church, and who has been stationed at Beatrice, Nebraska, but has resigned that charge and accepted one at Omaha; was married September 27, 1899, to Miss Eva
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White, who was born in Nebraska, and is of a well known and highly respected family: she is a college graduate, a lady of great in- tellectual ability and refinement and has been a successful teacher; Everett, who is the seventh child in the Davis family, lives in the state of Washington; and Clifford S., the youngest, is engaged in farming on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are consistent members of the Baptist church.
The parents of our subject. James and Martha (Smothers) Davis, were both born near Mount Sterling, Kentucky, where they were married. The father was the son of Matthias Davis, who married a Miss Mc- Clellan, a relative of General George B. McClellan. Matthias Davis was born in Wales, of Welsh and Scotch parentage, and came to America at an early day, his first permanent settlement being in Kentucky near Mount Sterling. He was a farmer by occupation and served in the war of !812. He raised his family on the Kentucky home- stead and in 1830 he, with all his children, married and single, excepting three. came to Indiana and settled in Franklin county. He' entered land and improved a farm on Salt creek in the township of that name. Mr. Davis was a member of the New Light church and was an honest, industrious man, well thought of in his community. He died in 1840. His children were ten in number: Melinda; James (father of our subject), Joseph, Elizabeth, Isaac, Daniel. Allen. Ambrose, William and Matthias.
James Davis grew to manhood and was married in Kentucky. He came to Indiana with the rest of his father's family, and lived in Franklin county until 1835, when he re- moved to Decatur county. He entered land in Clay township, built a cabin and cultivated
his farm there until 1850, when he sold it and bought a farm near Westport, Sand Creek township, where he spent the remain- der of his life. He was born in 1798 and died in 1866. When quite young he became a member of the New Light church, but after coming to Indiana, there being no church of that denomination in Decatur county, he attached himself to the Baptist church, in which he was long a. leading member. He was a local preacher and an exhorter for many years before his death. Politically he was originally a Whig and later a Republican. Of a social disposition. he was a good neighbor and friend, and was ever ready to advise or sympathize with any who asked his counsel; a man of honor and integrity, he had the love and respect of all who knew him.
Mrs. Davis, who survived her husband until 1885, was a daughter of Hugh Smoth- ers, a native of Ireland, who came to this country, married and settled on a farm in Kentucky. Besides farming he dealt in stock and was considered a good financier. About 1830 he came to Indiana, where lie entered land and carried on farming and also engaged in trading in cattle. About 1840 he joined his relatives who had gone to Iowa and there spent his last days. He was a soldier in the Indian wars and also in the war of 1812. Mr. Smothers was the father of one child by his first wife, that one being the mother of our subject. After her death he married a Miss Hopkins, and three chil- dren were born of that union: Hugh. Sobrina and Benjamin. To Mr. and Mrs. James Davis eleven children were born, as follows :. Sarah, Mrs. Shelton; Harrison. living in Clay township: Matthias, deceased: Nancy, Mrs. Pavey; Sobrina, Mrs. Burk-
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man; Hugh, deceased; Aaron, our subject; Andocia, Mrs. Sharp: Eliza, Mrs. Barnes; Martha; and Elizabeth, Mrs. Britt.
SAMUEL H. LOGAN.
Decatur county, Indiana, owes much to Pennsylvania. If a census could be taken showing the number and identity of its citi- zens who came from the Keystone state or are descended from pioneers who came from that great commonwealth. the deductions which would follow a careful study of the names and of the achievements of their own- ers would be highly favorable to Pennsyl- vanians and their descendants in Decatur county. Of such good, thrifty and patriotic stock is the well known citizen whose name appears above.
Samuel H. Logan, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, February 1. 1819, a son of John and Isabel (Graham) Logan. His father was a son of Samuel Logan. who came to America from Ireland some time before the beginning of the nineteenth cen- tury and settled on his own land in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where he reared his family and where he died as the result of an accident. He was twice married and by his . first marriage had children named Joseph. Margaret. Daniel and John, the last named being the father of the immediate subject of this sketch. His children by his second marriage were named William. Elizabeth and Samuel.
John Logan, son of Samuel Logan, mar- ried in Pennsylvania and became the owner of his father's homestead. His half-brother. Samuel, came early to Decatur county, In- diana. entered government land and im-
proved a farm and spent his life upon it. John came to visit Samuel and while he was his guest entered a tract of land, a part of which he subsequently leased. Later he made other visits to Decatur county, but re- turned to Pennsylvania and in due time gave his Indiana land to his son, Samuel H. Logan. John Logan was a Democrat, and in religious adherency both he and his wife were Presbyterians. The latter was a daughter of Joseph Graham, from Ireland. who settled in Pennsylvania, where he ac- quired a farm, reared his children and lived out his days. His wife was born in October. 1796, and died in 1887, aged ninety-one. Their children were 'named James. Polly, Isabel, Hannah, Ann and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Graham were Presbyterians, and so far as was possible brought their family up in the same faith. The children of John and Isabel (Graham) Logan were Samuel H .; Hannah, who married Hugh Hise; Mar- garet, who married J. Elliott : and Ann. Mrs. Baker. After the death of her hus- band Mrs. Logan came to live in the family of her son Samuel H. and brought Ann with her. She died about thirty years later. in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Hise also came to De- catur county, where they reared a family and died.
Samuel H. Logan married Miss Millie Hise in 1843. Miss Hise was of German (lescent and a native of Pennsylvania. Her father, Henry Hise, was a native of New Jersey, one of three brothers who came early to Pennsylvania, where they selected val- uable land and developed farms of more than average value. Their father, also named Henry, came up from New Jersey to Penn- sylvania and spent his declining years as a member of the family of his son and name-
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sake. The children of Henry Hise, Jr., were George, John, Betsy, Millie and Mary A. After the death of the father. the mother came to Terre Haute, Indiana, with her son John, who became a railroad man, and they both died there, John leaving a wife and four daughters. '
Samuel H. Logan was brought up to the work of a farm and gained such an education as a bright boy could obtain in the public schools in his day and locality. Always used to hard work, he became a model farmer and not only improved his property in many ways and added greatly to its value but also bought other farm land in purchases of one hundred and seventy acres and one hundred an'd forty acres in Decatur county, and one hundred and sixty acres in Howard county, and he owns real estate also at Greensburg. He gave attention to stock farming and raised many hogs, for fifteen years feeding them at distilleries at Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Upon his retire- ment he gave his farms above mentioned to
his children and his son William lives on and manages the homestead. A man of first- class business ability, Mr. Logan has often been chosen to advise in the affairs of others. and his wise, just and honest methods in all business relations have so commended him to his fellow citizens that he has been elected county commissioner on the Democratic ticket, though the county is Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. as was his wife, who died October 15. 1878. Their children were John, who is engaged in commercial pursuits at Indianapolis. In- diana; Henry, a farmer in Decatur county; William, who lives on his father's old home farm; George, who is employed by the Os- born Manufacturing Company at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Marene R., who died leaving a widow and son and whose widow is now also dead; Samuel, born September 16, 1857, who died April 18, 1893; Marion, born March 16, 1855, who died January 22. 1885; and Emma J., born August 20, 1860, who died August 16, 1865.
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