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 39
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E
D. 7. Harper
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
Dr. Henry F. practiced alone at the same place until his death, February 10, 1898. He was admitted to be the best physician in the county. He accumulated much property, including several tracts of valuable land, besides much real estate in California. He owned and occupied the fine residence on Merom Bluff where his widow now lives. Politically Dr. Harper was a Republican. He served as a corporal in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Indiana volunteer regiment of infantry. The date of his discharge was December 15, 1864. He was president of the Sullivan County Medical Association, a member of the American Medical Association, and took much interest in the science of his profession, in which he ever sought to excel. He was high in Masonry, belonging to the lodge at Merom and to the Chapter at Sullivan. In his religious faith he was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, in which body he was a trustee for some years.
He was united in marriage, November 8, 1877, to Harriett Minter, who was a native of Gill township, Sullivan county, born about one mile north of Merom April 28, 1857, a daughter of William and Malinda (Pinkston) Minter. Her father was born in Missouri, near Liberty, August 10, 1820, and died on the old Minter homestead north of Merom. Mrs. Minter was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, June 10, 1829, and died August 17, 1905, in Merom, Indiana, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harper.
Mrs. Harper was educated in Sullivan county and attended the Union Christian College at Merom. One daughter was born to Dr. Harper and wife-Bernice Isabella, born October 24, 1886. She graduated at the Merom schools in 1904 and at Oberlin College, Ohio, in 1907. The mother and daughter are both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
CHRIS KAHRE, who is associated with his brother Fred, is a thorough- going farmer of Gill township, Sullivan county, where he has made a success as an agriculturist. He was born in Germany, near Bremen, in 1850, a son of Henry and Mary Kahre, both natives of Germany. The father died in his native land when his boys were both small, and soon after his death the mother and family came to America and settled in Knox county, Indiana, where they all worked out for others. The mother died within a few years after her arrival in this country. The sons had but little opportunity to attend schools, as they were compelled to work for their maintenance. From the time he was sixteen years of age during the next fifteen years Chris Kahre worked out for others, and then pur- chased fifty two and a half acres of land, to which later he added twenty- two acres more. This constitutes his present farm of eighty and a half acres, upon which he has made all the improvements. Here he does a general farming and stock raising business. The twenty dollars which had been loaned him in Germany by an uncle who came with the family had to be paid from out the first money he earned after coming to America. This was the cost of his transportation from his native land.
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
Mr. Kahre was united in marriage, April 24, 1892, to Sarah Jane Engle, born in Sullivan county, Indiana, a daughter of Alexander and Patsy Engle, natives of Virginia and early settlers here, but both are now deceased. By this union one child was born-Frank, on May 26, 1893, and now living with his father. Mrs. Kahre died in 1895. In his church faith Mr. Kahre is of the Christian denomination, and politically is a supporter of the Democratic party.
Fred Kahre, who is the brother associated with Chris Kahre, men- tioned above, was born in Germany in 1847, a son of Henry and Mary Kahre. The father died in Germany and the family on emigrating to this country located in Knox county, Indiana. The sons had to shift as best they could for themselves, but have always aided one another in their life's conflict. When eighteen years old Fred Kahre, having worked for others for two years, then bought sixty-one and a half acres of land, upon which he lived until February 5, 1906, but now makes his home with his brother Chris. While on his own farm he carried on general farming and stock farming, but has now disposed of all of his property, for he was bereft of his wife by death March 5, 1901.
Mr. Kahre was married in September, 1881, to Hannah Skidmore, a native of Sullivan county and a daughter of Abe Skidmore and wife, who came from Kentucky, and both are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Kahre were born twins, but both died in infancy. The sad affliction has cast a gloom over the otherwise bright pathway of Mr. Kahre, and at this time his plans for the future are unsettled.
JAMES A. SHAW, deceased, was in his lifetime one of the energetic. moving factors in Sullivan county, as well as a well known merchant in different sections of the country. He was born April 4, 1850, near Bowling Green, Clay county, Indiana, a son of Thomas Shaw and wife. The mother died when he was but five years of age. The father was a native of Rhode Island, and became one of the early settlers of Clay county, Indiana, where he was known for years as an extensive farmer. He was twice married and died in Clay county. He was the father of three children, all now deceased.
James A. Shaw had but a limited common-school education, having been bereft of his parents when quite young. After the death of his parents he worked for others as a farm hand in Illinois until when about seventeen years old. He then began canvassing for a picture firm in Chicago, and later went to that city and remained there until five years before his marriage. He then moved to Indianapolis, where he continued to reside for some time. He engaged in the carpet and stove business, and was among the first men to start an installment house in that city. He furnished houses from kitchen to the parlor and drawing-room, and continued there until December 10, 1887, and established another store on the same plan in the following spring. In the following year he shipped his goods to Terre Haute and continued there one year, and
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
then sold and went to Merom, Indiana, near which place he conducted a farm which he had previously purchased and which was situated imme- diately across the river in Illinois. The family resided at the leading hotel almost one year, then moved to the farm, remained two years, and they then rented the land and located in Indianapolis. There Mr. Shaw again engaged in the installment business, continuing four years, after which he moved to another farm which he had owned for some time in Owen county. He resided there four years, and then sold and moved to Merom, where the family was settled in a rented house for four years while Mr. Shaw conducted the farm. He also manufactured brooms for about three years. The date of his death was November 5. 1905.
Since the death of Mr. Shaw, his widow still conducts the farm. which consists of almost two hundred acres. She, together with her family, resides in one of the most modern and spacious residences in Merom, which house she purchased in February, 1907. Her husband was a man of great native ability and wonderful energy and determina- tion. He possessed the natural gift of a salesman and was offered many tempting positions as such, but always believed he was entitled to all the profits that might accrue from such ability. He had no other assistant in his business affairs save his good wife, who always did her share, and to whom he frequently looked for council along important business lines. Mr. Shaw was an active member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities. While not a member, he was in sympathy with the teachings of the Christian church. Politically he was formerly a Republican, but later became a supporter of the Democratic party.
He was united in marriage, May 12, 1884, to Miss Martha Baldwin. who was born in Ohio, near Lebanon, a daughter of Jesse and Susan (Wood) Baldwin, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born May 30, 1817, and the mother September 9, 1821. They went to Ohio. at a very early day with their parents. At that time many Indians roamed throughout that section of the country. They were married in that state, and the father became a shoemaker, which at that time was a paying trade, it being before the shoemaking machinery had been invented. The mother died March 30, 1873, and the father April 5. 1877. After the death of her parents Mrs. Shaw resided with an aunt until her marriage. By this union four children were born: James A., born May 17, 1885, was principal of the public schools at Merom four years. He married Lara Hoskins, of Trimble, Illinois, December 29, 1907. Mabel is unmarried and attending school at Union Christian College at Merom, Indiana. She was born July 27, 1888. Harrison, born April 19, 1891. is at home and in the college above mentioned. Mary Elizabeth was born November 19, 1897, and is at home.
Concerning the Baldwin family it may here be stated that in Mrs. Shaw's parents' family there were nine children, all now living excepting three. They are as follows: Jacob Marion, who died in the service of his country in Tennessee, at the time of the Civil war, he being a member of Company A in the Seventy-ninth Ohio Regiment: Samuel died November 14. 1908, resided at Lincoln, Illinois, and was also a veteran
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
who served in the regiment named above; Emily, who died at the age of seventeen years; Thomas, living in Hamilton, Ohio, a shoe merchant ; David, of Dayton, Ohio; Lewis, residing in Springfield, Illinois, a retired farmer ; Freemont, of the last named place ; Susan, wife of Elmer Smith, residing at Lebanon, Ohio, a merchant and also chief of police for six years ; and Martha, who married Mr. Shaw, of this memoir.
FRANKLIN KIMBERLIN, who is numbered among the heavy land owners and tax-payers of Sullivan county, and now living retired in the suburbs of New Lebanon, is a native of Greene county, Indiana, born October 15, 1844, a son of Joseph and Susan (Bechtal) Kimberlin. The father was a native of old Virginia and the mother of Greene county, Indiana. They were married in Bloomfield, Indiana. He came with his father from Virginia, and the former entered government land near Bloomington, and there the family resided many years, but finally removed to Greene county. The grandparents both died there ; their deaths occurring but twenty-four hours apart, both dying at night time. Joseph Kimberlin, the father of him for whom this sketch is written, remained in Monroe county until too aged to continue to farm, and then went to Sullivan county and made his home with his son Franklin until his death, about 1882. The mother had died about 1875. They were the parents of fourteen children and four are living : John, a farmer in Richwood, Illinois; Franklin, of this review ; Polly, wife of James Haggard, and resident of Morgantown, Indiana; and Jacob, resident of Mitchell, this state.
Franklin Kimberlin had the advantages of the public schools of Monroe county, and also attended the same while living in Greene county. On the theory that "Antagonism is the law of development" Mr. Kimber- lin has forged his own way to the front rank, beginning to strive for himself and his own support at the age of ten years. His parents being unable to assist him he was forced to stem the tide by the force of his own will power, which, however, proved successful in the conflict, but the race for several years was indeed fierce. At the age of seventeen years (then probably called eighteen) he enlisted as a member of Com- pany K, Fourteenth Indiana Regiment, under Captain Kelly, of Bloon- ington. The date of his enlistment was in 1862, and he served as a brave and loyal soldier for two years and ten months, participating in the battles of Fredericksburg (Virginia), Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, Bull Run, The Wilderness, Smoky Charge and Peters- burg .. Was on a raid in pursuit of General Lee until his final surrender. He was wounded three times-first in his first battle; secondly at Cold Harbor, and the third day before the surrender he was wounded the third time. He was mustered out of U. S. service at Alexandria, Virginia, in the month of June, 1865, and after a short stay in Bloomington upon his return from the army he went to Greene county, Indiana, where he rented a farm for one year. He then lived a short
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
time in Marshall, and then went to Crawford county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm containing forty-four acres. After two years' sojourn there and in 1870 he sold and bought a farm in Gill township, Sullivan county, Indiana, containing eighty acres, to which subsequently he added from time to time until he possessed seven hundred acres. This land he finally sold and purchased four hundred and eight acres, all within Gill township, and this most excellent farm is at this date ( 1908) being operated by his son and son-in-law. In 1902 Mr. Kimberlin purchased a tract of sixteen acres in New Lebanon, which he now has finely improved, and here he expects to make his home and spend the remainder of his days. While he has met with misfortunes and given away as much or more than he now possesses he may well count life a success, having served his country in time of peril, reared a family which is an honor to his name, and still possesses a goodly heritage of this world's goods. At one time and another in his life, he belonged to various lodges and societies, but at the present is not connected with any of the orders. He is an acceptable member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and lives an upright, true citizenship before his fellow men.
Mr. Kimberlin was married first, in the month of February, 1870, to Louisa Hite, born in Greene county, Indiana, a daughter of William and Dianah (Woodall) Hite, natives of Virginia and both now deceased. To this union were born three children: Joseph Edward, married and residing on his father's farm; Elvira Jane, wife of Jeff House, a resident of Cass township, Sullivan county, and a farmer ; and Amanda, widow of Lisle M. Pirtle and now residing in Gill township on her farm. For his second wife Mr. Kimberlin married, in April, 1896, Mrs. Jennie Stedman, born in Pike county, Ohio, a daughter of James and Rebecca (Potts) Dunham, she having been previously married. Her parents were natives of Jackson county, Ohio, and the father farmed until his wife died about 1875, while he passed away in 1893. There was no issue by the second marriage. Mrs. Kimberlin had one son by her former husband-William Allan Stedman, a telegraph operator at New Lebanon, and who married Lelia Morris, of the village.
DAVID H. HANCOCK, of Gill township, comes of a family some of whose members have been residents of Sullivan county for many years. His grandfather was sheriff of the county in the forties. He whose name heads this sketch was born in Gill township July 10, 1857, a son of Marion and Johannah ( Nash) Hancock. The parents were both natives of Sullivan county, the mother born in 1825, and the father two years earlier. The father enlisted in an Indiana regiment, served but a short time and died in the service at Nashville, Tennessee. The mother died in 1889. David H. received his education at the common schools of his native township. and remained with his mother until he was twenty-one years of age, when he commenced farming on twenty acres of land, left him by his mother. To this he added forty acres
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
more, giving him his present excellent place of sixty acres of choice land, a portion of which he has lived upon ever since he was four years of age. Here he conducts general farming and stock raising. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and votes the Democratic ticket.
He was united in marriage, September 21, 1887, to Nannie Elliott, born at New Albany, Indiana, November 7, 1856, a daughter of William and Maggie (Ford) Elliott, who were 'natives of Indiana and of English descent. Mrs. Hancock's father was an engineer by occupation, and later, about 1867, went to Sullivan, where he ran the engine in a flouring mill, continuing there until 1869. when he died. The widow married again and moved to Gill township, where she died May 10, 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. Hancock were born four children : Rellie Otis, residing, at home ; Josephine, deceased ; Lucian, at home ; and the fourth child died in infancy. Mr. Hancock is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at New Lebanon, Indiana. He is a progressive farmer and an excellent citizen in whom all have implicit confidence.
FRANCIS M. BLANN, a prosperous agriculturist of Gill township, Sullivan county, is a native of Knox county, Indiana, born on Shaker Prairie September 17, 1867, a son of S. G. and Sarah S. (Sprott) Blann. The father, S. G. Blann, was born on Indian Prairie, Sullivan county, and the mother at Carlisle. Indiana, the date of the former's birth being March 31, 1833, and of the latter's January 26, 1835. S. G. Blann's parents came from Virginia, and the grandfather spent part of his life in Kentucky, residing in Breckinridge county, but later in life moved to Sullivan county, Indiana. After a few years there he removed to Shaker Prairie, Knox county, and still later made his home in Sullivan county, but finally returned to Shaker Prairie, where he died.
S. G. Blann worked as a hired hand early in his life, receiving six dollars a month, but later purchased land with his scanty earnings and commenced farming for his livelihood. He was a progressive and industrious man who accumulated rapidly, and at one time possessed eleven hundred acres of land, a portion of which was situated in Sullivan, and the remainder in Knox county. He spent the last years of his life in retirement at Oaktown, Knox county, to which place he removed in about 1899. He died July 4, 1907, and his widow still resides at Oaktown. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are still living: Edward P., a merchant of Monroe City, Knox county : John A., deceased ; Francis M., of this review ; Mary O., wife of John G. Ford, residing in Knox county, a farmer by occupation ; William W., a farmer of South Dakota ; Dr. Herbert E., a physician of Fairbanks, Indiana ; and Charles Everett, of Oaktown, a farmer.
Francis M. Blann obtained his limited education at the schools of Shaker Prairie and at Oaktown. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, and purchased a tract of land containing one hundred and
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
twenty acres situated in Knox county, north of Vincennes. He was unmarried at that time, and only kept this land about one year, when he disposed of it and bought one hundred and ninety acres in Sullivan county, near Carlisle. Here he resided for five years, during which time he was married and purchased two hundred acres more land from his father, the same being near Oaktown, to which place he removed and engaged in the grocery business in partnership with an uncle. This he only followed for about a year, after which he purchased a hundred-acre farm two miles to the north of Carlisle, having already sold both of his other farms. The last place he kept a year and then sold and bought one hundred and fifty acres where he now lives, and upon which he has made extensive and valuable improvements. As it now presents itself it is among the best equipped places in the vicinity. and here he expects to remain and carry on his farming and stock raising operations, making thoroughbred short-horn cattle a specialty. Possessed of great determina- tion and natural ability, only success seems probable to follow and crown his untiring efforts.
Mr. Blann is in his political views a pronounced advocate of pure Democracy. In his religious faith he adheres to that of the Christian denomination. He was united in marriage, October 21, 1894, to Miss Effie J. Shepherd, a family sketch of whose family will appear in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Blann the following children were born : Edward Roy, born September 12. 1895: Lester Ray, born August 21, 1897; Robert Lowell, born in November, 1899; and Harry Shepherd, born November 1, 1906. The fourth born child died in infancy.
Mr. Blann is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 5488, as a protection to his family. The camp of Woodmen is located at New Lebanon, Indiana.
AUGUSTUS L. THRASHER, who is numbered among the agriculturists that are developing and bringing forth the products of the soil in the territory embraced within Gill township, Sullivan county, was born in this township February 27, 1871, a son of Martin M. and Angeline ( Pinkston) Thrasher. The parents were both born within Gill township, the father February 16, 1847, and the mother December 23, 1849. Martin M. was a son of Elanthon A. and Rachel ( Mary) Thrasher. His mother was a native of Vermont and the father of New York state. She was born in 1812 and he in 1817. Elanthon came to Sullivan county at a very early day, locating in what is now Gill township. He was a farmer, and was married here. For a few years they resided in Terre Haute, but retraced their steps to this township, and still later moved to Illinois, but came back to their old farm again and died in this township, the mother September 2, 1870, and the father in 1891. Martin M. Thrasher resided with his parents until about 1867, when he leased a farm and cultivated it three seasons. He has continued to rent within the township ever since. The subject's mother died November 16, 1875.
Augustus L. Thrasher, of this biographical review, was educated
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within his native township, at the "Blue School House" and at the Rose district schools. He remained at home until he had reached his majority, when he rented land in partnership with his brother for one year and the following year with another man of the neighborhood. In the autumn of 1897 he was married, after which he rented another farm in the same part of the county, on which he lived three years. His next experience was in renting land of John Mason for almost five years, at the end of which time he purchased eighty acres of land where he now resides. There were no improvements on this place at the time he bought it, and he has cleared it and built a comfortable house and barns, with the neces- sary out-buildings. It is now under fair cultivation and all well fenced. He expects to make this his permanent home, although on account of ill health since about 1904 he has been unfitted for heavy manual labor, but superintends the work of the place. In politics Mr. Thrasher is an avowed Republican. He has held the office of supervisor and been deputy assessor two years.
He was united in marriage to Elizabeth N. Clark, who was born in Gill township April 12, 1873, a daughter of John S. and Anna (Butler) Clark. Her parents were natives of Nova Scotia, and came to this country with their parents at a very early date. They were married prior to the Civil war. He served in Company C, Fifty-ninth Indiana Regiment, being a private soldier. Upon his return from the service of his country he engaged in farming, which was of the truck-garden type on a three- acre plot where he still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Thrasher are the parents of the following children: Roy Otto, born August 18, 1894; Charles Edward, born January 30, 1896, died January 12, 1897; Lucy Viola, born February 3, 1898; Lella Rachel, born February 16, 1900; Eva Pink, born December 24, 1901 ; Bernice Pearl, born December 31, 1903, and John Martin, born August 8, 1907.
JAMES H. BANTHER, a farmer and stockman of Gill township, Sulli- van county, is a native of this township, born April 13, 1866, a son of Cyrus and Nancy Banther, whose sketch will appear elsewhere in this work. He was educated in the district schools of his native county and in Turman and Gill townships especially. He remained at home with his parents until twenty-one years of age, and the following season worked as a farm hand for others. Being seized with the western fever he went to Coles county, Illinois, where he found employment on the railroad for three years, and in 1872 returned to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he worked in the car shops for about three years, and also followed carpenter- ing. In 1895 he returned home and was employed by his father for seven years, which was up to the spring of 1902, at which date he pur- chased forty acres of land where he now resides, and upon which he has placed all of the improvements, including house, barns, fences, etc. Here he carries on general farming. and pays special attention to hog raising. Mr. Banther is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
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and carries a two thousand dollar beneficiary policy with the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a believer in Republican prin- ciples and platforms, but has never aspired to public office.
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