USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > A history of Sullivan County, Indiana, closing of the first century's history of the county, and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth, Volume II > Part 16
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Born in Kentucky, Theophilus Padgett was but six years old when he came with his parents to Sullivan county. Brought up on a farm, he continued in the occupation to which he was reared, and on reaching man's estate entered government land in Haddon township, and at once began the pioneer work of clearing and improving a homestead. During the fall and winter seasons, he kept four horses busily employed by doing nearly all of the teaming for the Carlisle merchants, taking produce for them to Evansville, and bringing back large loads of general merchandise. As a farmer, he was very successful, at one time being owner of about three hundred and seventy acres of rich and valuable land. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member, with his wife, of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Susie Hinkle, died in early womanhood, leaving two children, namely : William, of Pleasantville, and Sareldia, deceased. He married for his second wife Permelia Bodwell, who was born in Jefferson township, Indiana, and died in Haddon township. She bore him four children, as
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follows: Martha Elizabeth, wife of William Lisman, of Haddon town- ship; Sarah Jane, wife of James Spencer, of Jefferson township; James H .; and Cassius G., of Haddon township.
A farmer by birth, breeding and inheritance, James H. Padgett is now living on a part of the land which his father took up from the gov- ernment, and in the raising of grain and stock has been exceptionally fortunate, his labors as an agriculturist meeting with substantial rewards.
Mr. Padgett married, in 1861, Martha Yates, who was born in Jeffer- son county, Kentucky, December 25, 1848, a daughter of William and (Shake) Yates, who were lifelong residents of Kentucky. After the death of her parents, she came with her uncle, James Shake, to Had- don township, being then sixteen years of age. Five children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Padgett, namely : Mary and William died in infancy ; Theodosia ; Everett E .; and Della Grace. Theodosia, born in December, 1878, has been twice married. She married, first, Don Pane, who died a short time later, leaving one child, Floy, who lives with her mother and grandparents; and, second, Rev. A. L. Tidric, a Baptist minister, now located at Oolitic, Indiana, and they have one son, Lawrence. Everett E., born in November, 1880, was graduated from the State Normal school at Terre Haute, after which he took a course of study at the North- western University, in Chicago, later being graduated with the degree of M. D. from the Rush Medical College, in Chicago. Since 1905, Dr. E. E. Padgett has been located in Indianapolis, where he has built up a fine practice as a physician and surgeon. He married Theresa Bow, of Pleasantville. Della Grace, born in 1882, married Lee Douthitt, of Wag- ner township, Knox county, and has one child, Catherine, living, and has lost one child. Mrs. Tidric, Mr. Padgett's oldest daughter, began teaching school when but sixteen years old, and for seven years was a most success- ful and popular teacher in the common schools of Sullivan county. Politi- cally, Mr. Padgett is a strong Prohibitionist; fraternally, he belongs to Ben Hur Lodge, of Carlisle, and religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
JAMES WHIPPS .- A practical and skilful farmer, James Whipps, of Haddon township, is an able representative of the horticultural and agri- cultural interests of Sullivan county. His highly improved farm, lying south of Carlisle, contains the site of old Fort Haddon, the fort itself having been located very near the house in which Mr. Whipps lives. A son of Reuben Whipps, he was born, October 9, 1853, in Perry county, Ohio, of Irish ancestry. His grandfather Whipps emigrated from Ireland to this country, bringing with him his wife and children, locating in Perry county, Ohio, where he was engaged in tilling the soil until his death.
Born in Ireland, in September, 1812, Reuben Whipps came with the family to the United States, assisted his father in establishing a home in Perry county, Ohio, and there resided during the earlier years of his life. Coming from there to Sullivan county, Indiana, he located in Haddon
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township on April 7, 1857. Buying land just east of Carlisle, he improved a good homestead, and as a tiller of the soil met with signal success, at the time of his death, which occurred February 6, 1886, being owner of three hundred and twenty-seven acres of valuable land. He was a Jack- sonian Democrat in politics, and an earnest supporter of the principles of his party. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Welch. She was born in Ireland, January 10, 1822, a daughter of George Welch, who came to this country with his family, and settled in Ohio, living first in Harrison county, but spending the later years of his life in Perry county. Six chil- dren were born of their union, namely: William and George residing in California; John, a farmer; Thomas, deceased; James, of this sketch; and Mary Ann, wife of Dudley Willis, of California.
Brought up on the home farm, James Whipps received his early edu- cation in the district schools, which he attended in the long winter terms, laboring on the farm during seed time and harvest. He remained beneath the parental roof until thirty years of age, when he moved to the farm which he now owns and occupies, but which was then owned by his father. Continuing the improvements already begun on the place, Mr. Whipps has now a valuable farm of ninety-two acres, its land being highly cultivated, and one of the most productive in the vicinity. Here he is raising both grain and stock, and for the past eight years has made a specialty of rais- ing potatoes and strawberries for the home market, doing an extensive and lucrative business in this branch of industry. He raises fine varieties of strawberries, having the Warfield, Haviland, Sample, Excelsior, and Senator Dunlap, all of which are especially fine, being pleasing to the eye and of particularly rich flavor.
On October 9, 1883, Mr. Whipps married Margaret McClure, who was born in Knox county, Indiana, August 6, 1858, and was there edu- cated. After completing a course at the Bruceville Normal School, she taught four years in Knox county, being a teacher in the public schools of Oaktown for a year. Her parents, Hiram and Rosella (Wilson) McClure, spent their lives in Knox county, being farmers. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whipps, namely: Chellis O., born Jan- uary 19, 1885, was graduated from the Carlisle high school with the class of 1905, and is now assisting his father on the home farm; and Clara E., born March 17, 1888, was graduated from the Carlisle high school with the class of 1906. True to the political faith in which he was reared, Mr. Whipps is an uncompromising Democrat. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the Carlisle lodges of both organizations. He and his wife and their son and daughter are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN A. HOKE .- Numbered among the practical and progressive agriculturists of Sullivan county is John A. Hoke, who is successfully employed in his chosen occupation on the old Hoke homestead. which lies three miles south of Carlisle. He was born on the homestead where
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he has spent his entire life, May 6, 1842, being a son of Jacob and Rosanna (Brentlinger) Hoke, and a brother of William F. Hoke, in whose sketch, on another page of this work, further parental history may be found.
Assisting in the clearing and improving of the home farm, Mr. Hoke remained with his parents as long as they lived, and subsequently suc- ceeded to the ownership of the original tract of land that his father took up from the government, and the title to which has never been changed. He has now one hundred and eighty-three acres of rich and arable land, and also one hundred and twenty acres in the same township, which is well improved and judiciously cultivated, constituting one of the model farms of the vicinity. He carries on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of the black Poll-Angus cattle. He feeds each year about a half carload of cattle, from one to two carloads of Poland China hogs, and raises Shropshire sheep. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Carlisle, and is a Democrat in his political affiliations.
Mr. Hoke married, January 3, 1875, Elizabeth Brentlinger, who was born, March 12, 1849, in Clark county, Indiana. Her parents, Joseph and Camellia (Wells) Brentlinger, were born and reared in Kentucky, but shortly after their marriage settled in Clark county, Indiana, where they improved a farm, on which they spent their remaining years. Five chil- dren have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hoke, namely : Estella, born in July, 1878, married Austin Wortman, who lives on a part of Mr. Hoke's farm, and they have one child, Helen; Evelyn, born December 24, 1880, married Ivan Lisman, and they live just across the street from Mr. Hoke; Albert and Allie, twins, born in December, 1882, are unmar- ried, and live with their parents; and Camellia, born in July, 1887, lives at home. Mr. Hoke's daughters are members of the Methodist church.
MRS. MARY LOUISE (COLLINS) BRENTLINGER .- A highly esteemed woman of Haddon township, Mrs. Mary L. Brentlinger has spent her entire life in Sullivan county. She was born two and one-half miles south of Carlisle, October 6, 1839, a daughter of William S. Collins. Coming from Scotch descent on the paternal side, and from English stock on his mother's side, William S. Collins, was born, May 30, 1798, in Sumner county, Maryland. At the age of nineteen years, being of an active and enterprising disposition, and possessing a resolute will and an honorable ambition to better his material condition, he left home, determining in a newer country to seek a living. Going, therefore, to Gallatin county, Kentucky, he lived there a short time, and then located, in 1818, in Louis- ville, where he resided until after his marriage. Coming with his bride to Sullivan county in 1837, he located in Haddon township, and was here a resident until his death, July 6, 1886. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Hoke, was born, in 1797, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and died, in Sullivan county, Indiana, at the age of sixty-eight years. Nine children were born to them, as follows: Sarah, deceased; James O., of Haddon township; the next two children died in infancy; Julia Cather-
BRENTLINGER HOMESTEAD, HADDON TOWNSHIP
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ine, living with her brother Edward; Mercer D., deceased; Edward, residing in Jefferson township; Alfred B., deceased; and Mary Louise, of this brief sketch.
On January 28, 1863, Mary L. Collins became the wife of Andrew J. Brentlinger, who was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, October 27, 1827, and died in Haddon township, Sullivan county, Indiana, February 6, 1905. His father, Jacob Brentlinger, was born, July 4, 1793, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and there spent the earlier portion of his life. In 1836 he followed the trail of the emigrant to Indiana, locating in Clark county, where he passed his remaining years, dying February 19, 1874. On Jan- uary 5, 1826, he married Sarah Hoke, who was born, March 12, 1804, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and died, in Clark county, Indiana, July 12, 1884. Of their union, thirteen children were born, namely: Robert H., deceased ; Andrew J., deceased; Susan C., deceased ; Charles M .; Mary F., widow of the late William McMillan, residing in Clark county, Indi- ana ; Rosanna, widow of the late Mr. Barrickman, lives in Charlestown, Indiana ; Matilda, deceased; Sarah A., deceased; Amanda, widow of the late James Beggs, resides in Arcola, Illinois; George W., deceased ; Jacob A., living in Kentucky; Eva Elizabeth, deceased; and John W., living in Kansas.
Brought up on a farm in Jefferson county, Kentucky, where his birth occurred, Andrew J. Brentlinger received a common school education, and early in life became well acquainted with the various branches of agricul- ture. With his parents he came to Clark county, Indiana, in 1836, and was there a resident for a number of years. In March, 1860, he bought two hundred acres of land in Haddon township, and with characteristic indus- try and ability, began its improvement. He succeeded in his efforts, and for many years was one of the leading agriculturists of this part of the county. He raised grain to quite an extent, but was especially interested in stock farming, each year feeding and raising on an average a carload of hogs, chiefly Poland-Chinas, which were his favorite breed. Just a short time previous to his death, Mr. Brentlinger sold one-half of his farm, his widow and heirs now owning the remainder of the estate. He was a straightforward Democrat in politics; fraternally, he belonged to Carlisle Lodge of the I. O. O. F. In early life Mr. Brentlinger united with the Methodist Episcopal church, in Charlestown, Indiana, but after coming to Haddon township became a member of the Carlisle Presbyterian church, to which Mrs. Brentlinger belongs.
Mr. and Mrs. Brentlinger became the parents of six children, namely : Agnes A., born November 11, 1863, died October 15, 1869; Emmett P., born January 20, 1865, lives in Carlisle; Kate C., born November 20, 1866, died April 30, 1902; William J., born June 30, 1869, resides in Carlisle; Charles T., born September 19, 1873, died April 25, 1874; and Rush E., born January 7, 1878, lives with his mother on the old home- stead, which he is managing most successfully. On March 8, 1899, Rush E. Brentlinger married Sallie D. Vigus, who was born in Knox county, Indiana, March 22, 1877, a daughter of Henry C. and Barbara (Norton) Vigus. Mr. Vigus was born in Martin county, Indiana, and Mrs. Vigus
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in Sullivan county. They are now living in Merom, Sullivan county. On September 4, 1907, Mrs. Rush E. Brentlinger died, leaving one child, Hubert V., born September 15, 1900.
PLEASANT ALEXANDER MINICH .- Of honored pioneer descent, and for many years a leading agriculturist of Sullivan county, Pleasant A. Minich has the distinction of being one of the very oldest native-born citi- zens of Haddon township, his birth having occurred here, about three miles south of Carlisle, June 6, 1822, on the farm which his father, Adam Minich, entered from the government. Of German descent, Adam Minich was born, in 1791, in Virginia. During a part of his early life he resided in Tennessee, living there until after his marriage. Coming to Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1819, he located in Haddon township, buying a tract of wild land from the government. He began the clearing of a farm, and also worked at his trade of a saddlemaker, living here until his death, in 1826, while yet in the prime of life. He was a Jacksonian Democrat, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah O'Haver, was born in Tennessee, May 16, 1799. She bore him five children, as follows: Two who died in infancy ; Pleasant Alexander, of this sketch; Mary, deceased; and Sarah, deceased. His widow subse- quently married for her second husband Richard Whalen, grandfather of Dr. Joseph Whalen, of Carlisle, of whom a brief sketch is given elsewhere in this work, and they reared several children.
Succeeding to the free and independent occupation to which he was reared, P. A. Minich has resided on his present homestead since June, 1856, and during the fifty and more years that have since passed has con- tributed his full share towards advancing the agricultural and industrial interests of the community. As a farmer, he has had excellent success, his two hundred and eighty acres of land being in a fine condition. Since 1881 he has not performed any of the actual labor devolving upon an agri- culturist, having relegated the management of his farm to his son Will- iam, but has lived in ease and comfort, enjoying the reward of his earlier years of persistent toil. True to the political faith in which he was brought up, he is a straightforward Democrat.
On April 24, 1856, Mr. Minich married Sarah Corbin, who was born, January 25, 1832, in Haddon township, on the same farm that he was. Her father, Vincent Corbin, was born in Virginia, in 1799, and died in Haddon township, on the farm which he bought from the govern- ment in 1829, his death occurring February 20, 1871. He married, in Kentucky, Julia Spencer, who was born in that state, in 1805, and died in Haddon township, Indiana, in January, 1891. Three children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Minich, namely: A. V., of Sullivan, of whom a sketch may be found in this biographical work; William Franklin, born August 22, 1859; and Charles Theodore, born October 21, 1860, who died July 14, 1861.
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WILLIAM FRANKLIN MINICH has spent his entire life on the parental homestead, at first carrying it on with his father. The past twenty-five or thirty years, however, he has had entire control of the estate, and has carried on general farming and stock raising with great success. He finds hog raising and feeding especially profitable, raising from one to five car- loads each year. He is now paying considerable attention to the breeding of cattle, formerly the black Poll-Angus. Politically, Mr. Minich is a Democrat, and fraternally, he belongs to Carlisle Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M .; to the Modern Woodmen of America ; and to the Ben Hur Lodge of Carlisle.
On May 6, 1891, Mr. Minich married Sarah C. Risinger, who was born in Knox county, Indiana, September 21, 1862, a daughter of Charles and Martha (Snapp) Risinger, of whom further history is given in con- nection with the sketch of Thomas S. Risinger. Mrs. William F. Minich is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bethlehem. They have no children.
IVIN SYLVESTER LISMAN .- Conspicuous among the wide-awake, pro- gressive business men of Haddon township is Ivin S. Lisman, who is actively identified with many of the more substantial enterprises of this part of Sullivan county, and holds an assured position among the thriving agriculturists of his community. A son of William F. and Martha Eliza- beth (Padgett) Lisman, he was born in Haddon township, November 22, 1874, and was here bred and educated.
Acquiring under his father's tuition a practical knowledge of the many branches of agriculture, Mr. Lisman remained on the parental home- stead until twenty-eight years old, in the meantime earning and saving money. Beginning farming on his own account in 1902, he bought one hundred and thirty-one and one-half acres of land, three miles south of Carlisle, and in the fall of that year took possession of it. Here he has since devoted his energies and time to grain and stock farming, each year raising from one and one-half to two carloads of hogs, mostly Poland Chinas, for which he finds a ready market at top prices. In his agricul- tural labors, Mr. Lisman has been almost invariably fortunate, meeting with far more success than discouragement. He possesses recognized financial ability, and is secretary and treasurer of the Carlisle Coach Horse Company ; a stockholder in the coach horse "Ozar," which is kept in Carlisle; and owns stock in the People's State Bank of Carlisle. Politi- cally, he is a Republican, and fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 3332, and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On November 26, 1902, Mr. Lisman married Mary Evelyn Hoke, who was born December 24, 1879, a daughter of John A. and Elizabeth (Brentlinger) Hoke, of whom a brief sketch may be found on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Lisman have no children. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bethlehem, in Haddon township. Mrs. Lisman is a member of the Rebekah Lodge at Carlisle.
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MICHAEL UNGER .- A man of enterprise and ability, Michael Unger is intimately identified with the agricultural interests of Sullivan county, his farm being pleasantly located in Haddon township, near Bethlehem. A son of Michael Unger, Sr., he was born, October 5, 1834, in Canada, not far from Buffalo, New York. Michael Unger, Sr., a native of Alsace, France, spent a number of years in Canada, but in 1837 returned with his family to his native country, and subsequently lived in Alsace until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Raches, was born in France, lived in Canada, and went back to France with her hus- band, living there a number of years after his death, then returning to America and spending her last days in Indianapolis, Indiana.
But three years old when he accompanied his parents to France, Michael Unger was there bred and educated, attending school in France for fourteen years, being a pupil in both French and German schools, and being now able to converse fluently in the French, German and Eng- lish languages, an accomplishment of decided value to a business man. Returning to America in 1851, Mr. Unger was for five years employed in a whalebone factory in New Jersey. The following five years he resided in Walworth county, Wisconsin, near Racine, and there had his first experience as an agriculturist. Going then to Topeka, Kansas, he worked for a year at the stone mason's trade, after which he spent another year in Walworth county, Wisconsin. Going then to Indianapolis to meet his mother, who had just returned from France, he was there employed as a firing engineer in the railroad shops for ten years. Desiring a change of occupation, Mr. Unger farmed for a year in Knox county, Indiana, and then worked for another eighteen months in the Indianapolis car shops. Taking up his residence in Sullivan county in 1878, Mr. Unger bought his present farm of eighty-two and one-half acres, in Haddon township, and has since been here industriously and prosperously em- ployed in agricultural pursuits, his farm lying about four miles south of Carlisle. He carries on general farming, including both stock and grain raising, and is meeting with deserved success, his well tilled fields yielding abundant harvests each year.
On December 17, 1861, Mr. Unger married Carrie Deiss, who was born, November 12, 1843, in Germany, a daughter of John Frederick and Wilhelmina (Heifner) Deiss. Mr. and Mrs. Deiss came to the United States with their family in 1851, and for a number of years lived in Ohio, being in Georgetown until 1853, and in Salem from that time until 1859. Coming then to Indiana, they resided in Noble county, near Kendallville, for fifteen years, after which they spent a year in Indianapolis. They then came to Haddon township, where they bought a farm, on which both spent their remaining years. Eleven children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Unger, namely: William, who died in infancy; Elizabeth, born August 1, 1864, married William Pruesner, of Haddon township, and died November 27, 1904, leaving one child, Wilhelmina; Minnie, born October 17, 1866, married Rollie Col- lins, and died November 12, 1900; George Henry, born January 28,
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
1869, resides on a farm adjoining his father's; Edgar, born December I, 1871, married Flora Roach, and lives in Knox county; Emma, born January 9, 1875, married, August 23, 1908, Mordecai Cox, a teacher in Vincennes ; Della, deceased; Carrie, born July 14, 1878, lives with her parents ; Nellie, deceased; Lillian, born September 7, 1882; and Harry, who was born October 31, 1886, died in 1891. Politically, Mr. Unger is identified with the Republican party, and religiously, he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bethlehem, which is near their home.
GEORGE HENRY UNGER .- Holding an excellent position among the practical and thriving agriculturists of Sullivan county is George Henry Unger, a son of Michael and Caroline (Deiss) Unger, of whom a brief personal history is given on another page of this volume. Born, January 2, 1869, on a farm lying in the southeast corner of Haddon township, George H. Unger was about a year old when his parents removed to Indianapolis, where he acquired the rudiments of his education. Return- ing with the family to this part of Sullivan county in 1878, he here com- pleted his early education in the district schools, and until attaining his majority remained with his parents. Going then to Knox county, he worked by the month for two years, after which he assisted his father on the home farm for four years. Beginning then his career as an agri- culturist on his own account, Mr. Unger bought the old Walston farm of ninety-six acres in Knox county, where he was actively engaged in his chosen occupation for seven years. Deciding to make a change, he then sold out, and for a year resided in Indianapolis. Returning to the scenes of his childhood, he subsequently purchased the George McCor- mick homestead, which adjoins his father's farm, buying it in March, 1903, and assuming its possession in September of that year. It contains sixty-six and two-thirds acres, a large part of which is under a high state of cultivation, and here he is carrying on general farming and stock raising with most satisfactory results.
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