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 30
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Jotham J. Bragdon, of this sketch, spent the summer of 1885 in Kansas on a cattle ranch, and in 1888 made a trip through the south. At this date he is actively engaged in looking after the interests of his farm, which labor is not only profitable but pleasing to its owner.
GEORGE HARRISON HOKE .- One of the most prosperous farmers of Widner township, Knox county, is George H. Hoke, who is an extensive landholder, a skillful agriculturist, and a business man of ability. A native of Sullivan county, he was born December 14, 1833, on the old Hoke homestead, about three miles south of Carlisle. He is a son of the late Jacob and Rosanna (Brentlinger) Hoke, and a brother of John A. Hoke and of William F. Hoke, whose sketches appear in this work, in which a more extended notice of their parents may be found.
Receiving his limited education in the pioneer log school house of his day, George H. Hoke grew to manhood on the parental homestead. When ready to begin the battle of life for himself, he bought seventy acres of land adjoining a farm owned by his father in Widner township, Knox county, and has since made this his home. Laboring with unremitting industry, he placed his land under excellent tillage, each year adding to its improvements and value, and from time to time bought additional land, having now two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land in his home estate, and owning, in addition, two farms, aggregating two hundred and forty acres, in Haddon township. As a general farmer and stock-raiser he carried on a substantial business until 1904, when he retired from the active management of his farm, although he still occupies it.
Mr. Hoke has been three times married. He married first, March 17, 1859, Mary H. Pearce, who was born December 23, 1835, on the old Pearce homestead, situated on the Sullivan and Knox county line. She died in 1867, leaving three children, namely: Sarah Isabelle, deceased ; Charles, deceased ; and Richard William, of whom a brief sketch may be found on another page of this volume. Mr. Hoke married, second, Mary M. Polk, who spent her entire life in Widner township, her birth occurring March 19, 1841, and her death, August 17, 1882. Of their
George. H. Hike and Grand children
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union three children were born, namely: Rosie, wife of French Willis, of Carlisle; Charles Edward, born May 30, 1880, was graduated at Purdue University, after which he did post-graduate work in Pittsburg., Pennsylvania, and is now an electrician in old Mexico; and Anna, de- ceased. Mr. Hoke married, third, December 23, 1883, Miss Alice Scan- ling. She was born July 18, 1853, in Preble county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Emma (Roe) Scanling. Her father, Mr. Scanling, was born in 1818 in Ireland, came to this country when a young man, and lived for a few years in Ohio, where he married Miss Roe, who was born in that state in 1830. In the winter of 1853-54 he came with his family to Indiana, locating in Knox county, where he bought land, and was subse- quently engaged in farming and carpentering until his death in 1899. His wife died on the home farm in 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Hoke have one child, Glenn Dora, who was born April 13, 1887. She was. graduated from the Vincennes high school with the class of 1906, after which she attended Rockford College, in Rockford, Illinois, taking both vocal and instrumental music at the conservatory of music connected with that college. Politically Mr. Hoke is a Democrat, and religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Hoke are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN WESLEY WONER is known to the citizens of Turman township, Sullivan county, as a thrifty farmer for the acreage which he attempts to till, and also as being connected with the grain threshing and saw mill industry, which he follows during the season for such activities. Mr. Woner was born in Madison county, Indiana, August 27, 1840, a son of David and Malinda W. (Hayden) Woner. The father was born in Kentucky, as was his wife, who was a native of Mercer county, that state. They were married in Kentucky about 1830, and between then and 1840 they moved to Madison county, Indiana, but later went to Wabash county, and while there he had a contract for the construction of the Wabash and Indianapolis railroad. During his sojourn there and while thus actively engaged, he disappeared and was never again seen by his friends and family. The mother, with her family, then removed to Mercer county, Kentucky, and lived there until her son, he of whom this biography is written, was fifteen years of age, and then moved to Orange county, Indiana, where the family resided.
Mr. Woner has one brother, Jacob, who resides in Orange county, Indiana. For her second husband the subject's mother married Jesse Burton of Sullivan county.
On July 4. 1861-the first year of the Civil war-John W. Woner enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Indiana infantry, being a member of Com- panty G, under Captain Spicely, of Orleans, Indiana. He served until November 30, 1865, when he was mustered out of the United States service at Galveston, Texas, and finally discharged at Indianapolis. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Jackson ( Mississippi). Mobile ( Alabama) and lesser engagements. After the close of his mili- Vol. II-16
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tary life, he returned to Sullivan, where he joined his mother and brother, who had moved to this county during his absence in the army, and had located east of Merom. He soon began farming and also did black- smithing for about fifteen years, attending to his farming in the mean- time. His shop was at Graysville, and there his strength was expended at the forge and anvil, which was quite a source of revenue to him. His faithful wife owns ninety acres of choice farming land, which he has worked in connection with considerable stock raising. Beginning as early as 1874 Mr. Woner has operated a threshing machine and saw mill in their respective seasons.
Politically he is a stanch supporter of the general principles of the Republican party. He naturally found a place among the comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of Richard Burton Post. He was happily married April 1, 1868, to Mrs. Cynthia A. (Dodd) Brewer, born in Curry township, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Asbourn) Dodd. The father formerly conducted a hotel at Sullivan. She first married Samuel Brewer, who died within a few years. To that union three children were born, one of whom now survives-John E. Brewer, living near New Lebanon. Mr. and Mrs. Woner have two living children and one deceased. They are: William E., deceased ; Hattie G., now the wife of William Strain, and they reside in Turman township; James I. married Esther U. Moore and they reside with the subject.
THOMAS K. CUSHMAN, a retired farmer, a veteran of the Civil war and the present postmaster of Graysville, Sullivan county, Indiana, is a native of Turman township, born November 19, 1837, a son of David and Catherine (Kennerley) Cushman. Of the father it may be said that he was born in Onondaga county, New York, in 1812, and died in Turman township in 1868. The mother was born in Kentucky in 1808 and died in the same township as her husband in 1880. The father in 1818 went to Sullivan county with his parents, Seth and Nancy (Rundel) Cushman, both natives of New York state, but of English descent. The Cushman family located two miles southwest of what is now Graysville, on a farm. He entered eighty acres of land and added thereto until at his death in 1824 he owned two hundred acres. His wife survived him four years. The children born to Seth Cushman and wife were four sons and four daughters, all of whom are now deceased. David Cushman was practically reared in Turman township and followed farming all of his life. He was a successful tiller of the soil and at one time owned four hundred acres of land. Originally he was a Whig in politics and later went into the Republican ranks as soon as that political party was formed. Among the local offices he held may be named that of township trustee, which position he filled two terms. In their religious faith David and Catherine Cushman were Universalists and Christians respectively. Their children were as follows: Thomas K., of this memoir ; Arbaces,
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deceased ; John, deceased; Caroline, wife of N. M. Cochran, residing in Waldron, Illinois; Maria, wife of G. W. Buff, of Sullivan; and Mary, deceased.
Thomas K. Cushman obtained his early training in the district schools and later Merom Academy, which was subsequently merged into the Union Christian College. He then taught school for four years in his native township, teaching winters and farming during the summer months. He continued to reside at home until July 26, 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, Sixth Regiment of Indiana cavalry, as a private soldier, serving in the Union cause until June 17, 1865, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of first lieutenant. He was discharged at Pulaski, Tennessee, and mustered out at Indianapolis. Among the more important battles in which he participated was Richmond, Kentucky. He was with General Sherman on the march to Atlanta and participated in all the many engagements of that campaign, including the siege and capture of that city. After the fall of Atlanta he went west with General Thomas' command in pursuit of Hood's army and fought in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. By reason of his military service he receives a pension. He is numbered among the members of the Grand Army Post known as "Joe Kerns," at Merom. He is also a member of Grays- ville lodge No. 627, F. and A. M., the Royal Arch Chapter No. 81 at Sullivan and the Commandery at the same place, as well as the Eastern Star No. 308, at Graysville. After the war Mr. Cushman returned to Turman township and engaged in farming, in which he continued until 1904, when he moved to Graysville. On August 4, 1897, he was ap- pointed postmaster under President McKinley's administration, and is still serving. He owns a handsome residence at Graysville, and stands high in his community.
He was united in marriage first, September 27, 1866, to Louisa Ann Cochran. born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1842, and she died August IO, 1877. She came to Sullivan county in 1856 with her parents, who located southwest of Graysville. The following children were born of this union: Cora, wife of Charles Eno; Mary, wife of C. E. Medsker ; Ambrose G., who married Anna Eno; Roy and Charles G., deceased. For his second wife he married Elizabeth D. Baker, born in New York state May 30, 1858. The date of their marriage was April 1, 1881. She came to Indiana in 1860 with her parents, who first located in Sul- livan county, on the farm now owned by C. E. Medsker. She was educated at the common schools. The children born of this union were as follows: Grace, wife of C. T. Whitlock, resides in Fairbanks town- ship, Sullivan county. David T. married Bertha Lisman, and resides at Farmersburg, where he is engaged as a teacher. He received instruction at the Union Christian College at Merom and in the State Normal. Maria is the wife of Clyde Shields, of Turman township. Paul J. mar- ried Jessie Yeager and resides with the parents. He has served three years in the regular army-doing duty in the coast artillery. Agnes is unmarried and at home. Mr. and Mrs. Cushman are members of the Presbyterian church.
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WILLIAM ADAMS, numbered among the foremost farmers of his community, is a native of Devonshire, England, born on the 9th of April, 1830, a son of William G. and Mary Ann (Tucker) Adams, both also born in Devonshire and there married. He was a farmer in his native country, and in 1847 the family came to America and settled in Clark county, Illinois, where they lived about six years and then moved to Turman township, Sullivan county. Later William Adams purchased two hundred acres of land in the Wabash bottoms, and subsequently bought in all cighteen hundred acres in this county and in Clark county, Illinois. Politically he was a Democrat, while both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church in England. The children born to William G. and Mary Ann (Tucker) Adams were twelve sons, as fol- lows: John, William, William (2), Thomas, Sham, George, Richard (a farmer of Turman township), Harry, and four who died in infancy. These sons are all deceased with the exception of Richard and William, and all were born in England excepting the last four named-Harry being the first born in America.
William Adams remained at home until he was thirty years of age, and then began to farm for himself, selecting for his field of operation Turman township, where he has continued to reside ever since. He was about sixteen years of age when his parents emigrated from England. He now owns a quarter section of land in the famous and highly fertile Wabash valley, and is an extensive raiser of Poland-China swine and red Short-horn cattle. He also owns one hundred and twenty-six acres of land in Crawford county, Illinois. Politically he is a Democrat. He has been married twice, first in 1867 to Harriet Davis, born in Logans- port, Indiana. One daughter was born of this union-Mary Ann. now deceased. For his second wife Mr. Adams was married to Anna Logan in 1875. She was born near Franklin, Indiana, and died in 1883. By this marriage two children were born: Charles, residing in East St. Louis, and Harry, born March 29, 1881. The latter was educated in the district schools, and married Nora Harris, of Crawford county, Illinois, February 22, 1882. They have had four children, Ora (deceased), William Earnest, Clinton Clay and Mildred. Harry Adams and family reside on the farm, and he operates it for his father. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Graysville.
JAMES KELLY, who is the owner of a farm of more than five hundred acres of excellent land and a resident of Turman township, Sullivan county, is a native of Geauga county, Ohio, born March 9, 1838, a son of James and Mary Ann (McFetridge) Kelly. The father was born in county Derry, Ireland, and came to the United States when twenty-six years of age, landing in New York city with but two dollars in his pos- session. His wife, Mary Ann McFetridge, came about the same time, and they were united in marriage two ycars later in the city of Phila- delphia, later coming to Ohio, where they remained until 1840, and
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thence on to Turman township, Sullivan county, Indiana. They located on the bluffs overlooking the Wabash river, the wife, who was the sub- ject's mother, dying about one year after their arrival, and the father died in September, 1859. In his political views James Kelly, Sr., was a Democrat. His occupation was that of a farmer, but prior to his coming here and while in Philadelphia he was a dyer of broadcloth goods, while in Ireland he followed the trade of a weaver of "Irish linen." At his death he owned a thousand acres of land. Both he and his good wife were grounded in the church faith of the Presbyterian denomination. Their children were: Sarah, deceased; Margaret, widow of William Crow ; and James Kelly, Jr.
James Kelly, our subject, was reared to farm life and labor, and attended the district schools of his home township. Remaining at home until twenty-one years of age he then began farming on his father's farm on the river bottoms. Here he has remained ever since, and has come to be known as one of the most extensive and prosperous agricul- turists and stock raisers within the limits of Sullivan county. On his more than five hundred acres of land he carries on both grain and stock raising. He raises thoroughbred Herefords and Short-horn Durham cattle and Poland-China swine, of which he usually sells about three car loads annually. Politically Mr. Kelly is a firm supporter of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party. He was one of the original promoters of the building of the levee in his section of the state. This particular section is thirteen miles in length, and cost approximately one hundred thousand dollars.
In his domestic relations Mr. Kelly, it should be said, was married in 1865 to Adelia Ann Drake, born in Turman township, on the Island, in 1844, a daughter of Preston G. and Susan (Bryan) Drake. The father died prior to his daughter's marriage to Mr. Kelly. Preston G. Drake was a native of Virginia, a son of Tarlton and a lineal descendant of Sir Francis Drake. Susan Bryan, his wife, was born in Kentucky, a daughter of William Bryan. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly: Augustus, born in 1867, married Annie Mitchell, born in Derry, Ireland, and has one son-James A. C. Augustus Kelly is practicing law in Chicago, having graduated from De Pauw University and attended the State University at Bloomington, Indiana. The second son. Otis, born in 1869, married Lucy Martin, of Terre Haute, and resides in Turman township. He attended De Pauw University two years and was one year at the Terre Haute State Normal.
Mr. and Mrs. James Kelly are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HON. THOMAS JOSIAH MANN, deceased, who will form the subject of this memoir, was a native of Turman township, Sullivan county, Indiana, born March 12, 1848, on the old Mann homestead. He was a son of. James B. and Fidelia (Turman) Mann. The father was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, and he was a son of Josiah T. Mann, com-
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monly called Judge Mann. Judge Mann was born in Virginia and early in his life went to Mercer county, Kentucky. About 1819 he removed to Sullivan county, Indiana, settling near Merom, on a farm to the east of the town. Subsequently he engaged in the hotel business at Merom. While there James B. Mann and wife were married. Fidelia, the wife, was the daughter of Thomas Turman, one of the well known pioneers of the county and for whom Turman township was named. Later they resided in Merom, where Judge Mann died, after which they moved into the house with the widow Mann and assisted in conducting. the hotel for a time, but in 1847 moved to the farm now owned by Dr. Durham, and this is where Hon. Thomas J. Mann was born.
Hon. Thomas J. Mann, of this notice proper, spent his boyhood days midst the scenes of his rural home and attended school like most of the boys of his time. He assisted with the farm work in the summer and went to district school in the winter months, attending the Big Spring School. Among his teachers were Seth Cushman and Messrs. Hall and John T. Phillips. In 1865 he went to Vincennes and entered the university, where he did one year's work, and then returned home and taught school two terms. This was the first demonstration he had of the people's confidence in his native ability to accomplish whatever he undertook. After teaching he returned to farm work, and there put in his wonderful energy. In 1868 he formed a partnership with his father, and together they did an extensive work as agriculturists and stockmen. This relation continued until 1878, when Thomas J. was called by the people to serve as clerk of the circuit courts, which position he ably filled two terms. During his entire clerkship P. R. Jenkins served as his deputy. In 1882, at the close of his first term of office, he formed a partnership with Dr. J. L. Durham, his brother-in-law (see his sketch), in the farming and stock raising business, which continued without change or friction until Mr. Mann's marriage, in 1897, when the real estate owned by the firm was divided. After Mr. Mann retired from the clerk's office he made his home with Dr. Durham, devoting his entire attention to his farming interests. The firm early saw the great wealth and richness of soil in the river bottom lands, and purchased all the acreage offered for sale. When the division was effected they owned seventeen hundred acres of land. Later they increasd their holdings, and at his death he owned one thousand acres.
Mr. Mann was president of the Sullivan County Agricultural Society from 1889 to 1896. In political choice he was a Democrat. In 1885 he was appointed by Governor I. P. Gray as a delegate to the Agricul- tural Congress held at New Orleans. In 1896 he was elected represen- tative from Sullivan county to the state legislature, serving during the session of 1897. He acted as chairman of the Democratic Central com- mittee in 1888. In 1899, after the county reform was passed, Mr. Mann was appointed as a member of the County Council by Judge Moffett, and when the council was organized he was chosen its chairman. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Blue lodge, and was a charter member of the lodge when it was instituted at
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Graysville. He was made a Master Mason and a member of the Chapter at Sullivan.
Concerning his domestic relations it should be stated that he was happily married March 9, 1897, to Miss Henrietta Ingersoll, born January 4, 1861, a daughter of Henry and Mary Ingersoll, who came from Indian- apolis in 1861, settling near Merom, but later moved to Turman town- ship, near Graysville. Mrs. Mann's father, Henry Ingersoll, was born in Cayuga county, New York, a son of Benjamin F. and Laura (Rose) Ingersoll. He learned the trade of cabinet maker and in 1836 he located at Greenfield, Indiana, but afterward moved to Indianapolis, where he was engaged in the manufacture of furniture under the firm name of Sloan & Ingersoll till 1862. He then came to Sullivan county and bought a farm in Turman township, where he resided until his death in 1891. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Dickinson. She was born in Bullitt county, Kentucky, a daughter of Isaiah and Polly (Fraim) Dick- inson. Archibald Fraim, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Mann, was cap- tured by the Indians when seven years old and kept until twenty years old. After this he served in the Revolutionary war. He owned a farm in Bullitt county, Kentucky, upon which were located some of the famous salt springs.
Mrs. Mann had been a teacher in the public schools of Indianapolis for fourteen years and was very popular and efficient in her work as an instructor, having a reputation throughout the state. Three children blessed this marriage union, including twins, one of whom still survives- Thomas Henry, born January 27. 1898. Mary Fidelia, the other living child, was born August 10, 1899. Mrs. Mann is a member of the Plymouth Congregational church of Indianapolis. The family reside on the farm two miles to the west of Graysville, the same being known as the "Maple Corner Farm." Since the death of Hon. Thomas J. Mann, July 30, 1901, Mrs. Mann has added one hundred and forty-two acres to the original place. She is a stockholder in the Graysville Telephone Company and the National Bank at Sullivan. In 1900 Mr. Mann went to Asheville, North Carolina, for his health, and spent the last of his life there.
RETURN JONATHAN TURMAN, who comes from the old pioneer fam- ily whose name is attached to Turman township, is an enterprising farmer of that section of Sullivan county, born near his present residence July 6, 1837, a son of Thomas and Lavina (White) Turman. The father was a native of Virginia and of English descent, while the grandfather. Benjamin Turman, was among the first to effect a settlement in Turman township, which, as well as the creek, was honored with his name. At one time he possessed twenty-five hundred acres of choice land within the township. Politically he was a Democrat. He married and reared several children, including Thomas. Thomas Turman, the father, built
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the first flour mill in the neighborhood, located near- Big. Springs, the machinery of which was propelled by the swift falling waters of Turman creek. He followed both milling and farming, and was prominent both in business and public matters. He was a member of the state legis- lature and in that capacity was instrumental in the passage of the free school bill. In his political views he was thoroughly Democratic. That he was a man of patriotism it is only necessary to add that he was a soldier in both the Black Hawk and Mexican wars, the land warrant granted him in recognition of his services having the name of Jefferson Davis affixed thereto. Thomas Turman was also a Mason of some
prominence and stood for all that was good, progressive and true. He married Lavina White, who was born in Tennessee, of Scotch extraction, and the daughter of William White. The grandparents on both sides of the family migrated to Ohio and later to Sullivan and Fountain coun- ties, Indiana, the Whites settling in the last named county, where they died. The children born to Thomas and Lavina ( White) Turman were as follows: Angeline and William, deceased; Fidelia, who married James B. Mann, and now resides with her son-in-law ; Lycurgus, Charles R. and Thomas, all deceased; Return Jonathan, of this sketch; Martha, widow of Thomas Collier and a resident of Turman township; Mary, deceased; John Higbee; and two or three other children who died in their infancy.
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