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 40
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In relation to his domestic life let it be stated that Mr. Banther mar- ried, February 21, 1889, Miss Minnie McClure, born in Hamilton town- ship, Sullivan county, Indiana, May II, 1872, a daughter of Dr. Griswold Barton and Mary ( Mason) McClure, both natives of Sullivan county. The mother was born May 6, 1837, and the father January 15, 1836. They resided on a truck farm after 1891, and before that date had farmed in Gill township. After the father's death the mother sold the place and made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Dora Hart, in Sullivan until her death in 1904. In the McClure family there were seven children, all now deceased except Mrs. Banther and her sister Dora, wife of Philip Hart. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Banther are as follows: William Harry, born September 2, 1889; one who died in infancy, born May 13, 1891 ; an infant born February 14, 1896, and died early ; George Dewey, born May 8, 1898; James Garry, born April 24, 1902; one who was born September 7, 1904, and died early, and Cyrus Henry, born November 18, 1906.
EDWARD ANDERSON, one of the extensive land owners and successful farmers who is a tiller of Gill township soil, Sullivan county, is a native of that far away and picturesque country of northern Europe-Sweden. He was born May 3, 1861, near Starby. He is a son of Swan and Mary (Benson) Anderson. The father was born about 1816 and died about 1868, in the country of his birth. The mother was born April 14, 1821. in Sweden and died December 20, 1908, in her native land. At the age of fifteen, having attended the schools of Starby, Sweden, Edward Anderson commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade. After working at the forge for twelve years he emigrated to America, where he worked in New York City one year and then went to Rantoul, Illinois, and after two years' service for wages there he went to Paxton, Illinois, and purchased a machine and blacksmith shop. There Mr. Anderson worked vigorously during all the years up to 1905, when he had accumu- lated a sufficient amount to enable him to buy land, which he did, leasing his shops. He selected the lands on which he now resides in Gill town- ship. This land he purchased in 1903, and his first tract consisted of three hundred and sixty-eight acres, to which he has added until he now owns five hundred less two acres. Of this he operates through careful tillage about three hundred acres, and the remainder he has leased to others. He raised corn, wheat and stock. Being a thorough man in whatever he undertakes he has succeeded well in the role of an American farmer, as well as one who wielded the sledge so many years. Having in mind the protection of his home circle he wisely became a member of both the Modern Woodmen of America camp at Merom, Indiana. and the Royal Neighbors fraternal societies, both affording a beneficiary in case of sickness or death.
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Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and children are members of the Swedish Lutheran church at Paxton, Illinois, and in politics he is a Republican. He has never aspired to public office in his adopted country, but seeks the best men to fill the local and state positions. He was united in marriage, April 20, 1895, to Anna Marie Peterson, born in Sweden, May 24, 1872, a daughter of P. M. Aberhanson, whose wife's maiden name was Charlotte Helen Johnson. The father is deceased, and the mother resides in Sweden. Mrs. Anderson accompanied her brother to this country in 1888, and they located in Rantoul, Illinois, going from there to Chicago, where she was employed as a domestic until the date of her marriage in 1895. Six children were born of this union: Swan Walford, born June 2, 1897, died aged two years and seven months; Oscar Edward, born May 6, 1898; Helen Marie, born September 6, 1900; Ebba Marie, born January 18, 1902: Albert, who was born July 21, 1906, and died in infancy ; Carl Raymond, born December 25, 1907.
Mrs. Anderson is a member of Royal Neighbors and also of the Circle of Honor and she carries protection in both. 'Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have policies in the Prudential Insurance Company also, and both are well insured for their families.
WILEY GAMBILL, one of the representative agriculturists of Hamilton township, Sullivan county, was born April 3, 1843, in Cass township, this county. He is the son of Morgan and Eleanor (McGrew) Gambill. The father was a native of Kentucky, who went to Indiana when a single man and settled in Wright township, Greene county, where he remained until he was married. He then came to Cass township, Sullivan county, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he resided until his death, at which time he owned a half section of land, and was an extensive stock raiser. He had become well versed in the science of medicine, as understood and practiced at that time by the herbal doctors of this country. He practiced throughout the section in which he lived with much success, using exclusively roots, barks and herbs in the treat- ment of disease. The grandfather, Morgan Gambill, was a soldier in the Mexican war. Hle was a farmer and was of Irish descent. The mother of Wiley Gambill was born in Tennessee in October, 1808, and is still living and makes her home with her son Wiley. She came to Salem, Indiana, with her parents, and later moved to Greene county, south from Linton, where she remained until her marriage to Mr. Gambill. By this union eight children were born, as follows: John, deceased ; Hannah, deceased ; Lucinda, wife of William Walters, a resident of Cass township ; Levi, of Cass township; Eliza, deceased ; Wiley, of this sketch ; Morgan, who occupies the old Gambill homestead, which has never gone out of the family's hands; and Mary Ann, deceased. After the death of Morgan Gambill, the father, the mother married William Combs, who is now deceased and by whom she had three children: Eleanor, wife of John Mason, residing in Cass township; William, deceased ; and William H., deceased.
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Wiley Gambill.
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Wiley Gambill's father died when the son was about six years of age, and he remained at home until he was twenty years of age, then began farming on his own account on a forty-acre farm, to which he added until he had three hundred and sixty acres, all in Cass township. In 1904 he divided this tract of valuable land between his children, and in March of that year moved to Sullivan, adjoining which town he pur- chased forty acres, and bought a small house, to which he built an addi- tion. He was engaged in raising registered Durham cattle and Poland- China hogs, also fine wool sheep, the Cheviots, which were imported and the only ones of the kind in the county. When a boy Mr. Gambill saw many hardships and lived in the old style and in most primitive manner. It was his father's custom to go each autumn time to New Albany to procure leather for the children's shoes and boots. Their clothes were all hand-made, and many of the garments from flax which they grew. Deer skins being very plentiful at that time they were used for making many articles of wearing apparel. Fresh and cured venison formed the chief article of meat diet the year around, and their flouring mill was many miles distant. His father cleared up all of his land from out the heavy forest-lands, which was no small task. His house was of the hewed log type, not beautiful but very comfortable, and from such have come forth some of America's greatest public men and women. Mr. Gambill, of this notice, did not have the early educational advantages afforded most boys of to-day, but had to gain what knowledge he received by studying evenings, after his marriage, and attending night schools, in which he captured all the prizes offered for good scholarship. Politi- cally he is a Democrat, and he served as county commissioner for six consecutive years in the third district.
He was married first, April 20, 1863, to Nancy Moss, born in Greene county, Indiana, August 24, 1842, and died August 23, 1882. They were the parents of twelve children. as follows: Stephen Morgan, residing in Sullivan, the principal of the high school of that town; Albert, a resident of Cass township; Laura, wife of Jesse Burge, and they reside in Greene county ; Sidney, residing in Gibson City, Illinois, where he owns a clothing store ; Walsey, deceased ; William, deceased ; John, residing. in Sullivan ; Eleanor, wife of Ed. Llewellyn, of Cass township; Elza, of Cass town- ship; Osa, of Cass township; Hezza H., of Cass township, on his father's old farm; and Floyd, deceased.
For his second wife Mr. Gambill married Elizabeth J. (Smith) Baldwin, born in Ohio. She is still living. There was no issue by this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Gambill are members of the Christian church, as was his former wife and all of her father's family. He has been a trustee of this church for the past twenty-five years, thus showing his zeal in church work and the business affairs of the same.
GEORGE B. THOMPSON, one of the progressive representatives of the most excellent farming section embraced in Gill township, will form the subject of this narrative, showing something of his parentage and his
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own success in life's activities. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, April 12, 1842, a son of John and Elizabeth (Burton) Thompson. His mother was born in Ohio, while the father was a native of Virginia, who went to Ohio when a small boy, and resided there with his parents until their death. He was a carpenter and contractor, which occupation he followed throughout life, leaving the management of his farm to his sons. He died about 1900, and the mother soon thereafter.
George B. Thompson obtained his education at the public schools of Highland county, Ohio. He made his home with his parents until about 1859, when he began working out for others by the day and montn. During the first year of the Civil war-1861-he enlisted as a member of Company A, Sixtieth Ohio Regiment, under Colonel Trimbel. He served nine months and was sent home on a "sick furlough," and was never able to return to his regiment, and never received any kind of a discharge. When so far recovered that he could get out he went to Madison county, Indiana, in which section he worked by the month for two years, and then married and worked in company with his father-in- law for five years. At the end of that time he went to Sullivan county, Indiana. The father-in-law first purchased one hundred and twenty acres, to which he subsequently added until at his death he owned two hundred and five acres of choice land. Mr. Thompson has within his farm ninety-three acres, all well improved and devoted to general farming purposes.
He was married in the month of March, 1863, to Miss Rebecca Obriant, born in Madison county, Indiana, March 2, 1850, a daughter of Daniel and Caroline (Richardson) Obriant, both born in Ohio and came to Indiana very early. They accompanied their parents and grew maturity in this state. They were united in marriage in Madison county, and a few years later settled in Sullivan county, on the land upon which Mr. Thompson now resides, where they died several years ago. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are as follows: John, a blacksmith at Sullivan, Indiana, married Bertha Poston, and they have two children, Hadie and Essie. David, residing near the father, married Ellen Mckinney, and they have three children-George, Beatrice and Myrtle, and three who died in infancy. William, residing with the parents, married Jessie Langford, and they have two children-Gladys Eulalia and Rebecca. In his church faith Mr. Thompson is in harmony with the Methodist Episcopal denomination, though not a member of that church, and politically is a firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party.
ALOYSIUS MATHIAS, who is the owner of one of the fine grain and stock farms within Gill township, is a native of Ohio, born November 22, 1860, at Chillicothe, Ross county. He is the son of John and Mar- garet (Schanase) Mathias. The father was born in the same place as was the son Aloysius, while the wife and mother was a native of Germany.
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The date of the father's birth was February 24, 1840, and while the exact date of the mother's birth is not now known, it is certain that she was several years his senior. The father was a plasterer by trade, but worked in a large packing house much of his time, especially during the winter months. He accumulated considerable property in Chillicothe, where he died about 1905. The mother died about 1873. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom were living in 1908, and they are as follows: John, of North Dakota; Joseph, of Chillicothe, Ohio: Lizzie, wife of Mr. Michaels, residing in Athens, Ohio; Minnie, wife of Charles Baley, of Ohio; and Aloysius, who was the eldest of the children.
Up to the time Mr. Mathias was thirteen years of age he had the comforts of a home, but at that early time in his life he went to work as a farm hand in Ross and Fayette counties, Ohio, and remained in that locality until 1888, when he purchased a team and rented land in Gill township, Sullivan county, Indiana, to which section he came in 1885. The first two years he rented, then worked for others for five years, and then bought a second team and again rented land two years longer. He then purchased forty acres of land upon which he now resides. This purchase was made in 1901, and later he added sixty-three acres more and also made many needed improvements and now carries on general farming and pays especial attention to the raising of hogs for the market, in which he has been very successful.
Mr. Mathias attended the parochial schools in Chillicothe. Ohio, and was reared in the religious faith of the Roman Catholic church. Politic- ally he is an independent voter, choosing the best man for public posi- tions regardless of party lines. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order at Merom, Indiana, and is progressive in all that affects public policy. As to his domestic relations let it be stated in this connection that he was married to Miss Mary Schwint, born in Gill township, Sullivan county, Indiana, August 24, 1875, a daughter of Frank and Louisa Jane (Collier ) Schwint. Her father was a farmer who came from Kentucky about 1863. The mother was a native of Kentucky, and there they were married. They removed to Sullivan county, Indiana, and located south of Carlisle, where they remained about five years and then moved to Gill township, where they continued to reside until his death in 1882. The mother died in March, 1895. Before coming to this country from Germany Mrs. Mathias' father was a sailor. To Mr. and Mrs. Mathias the following children were born: Claud L., born January 5, 1899: Chloe May, born September 5, 1901 ; Lela Opal, born September I, 1904 ; David Orval, born June 25, 1906; and Kenneth Eugene, born September 5, 1907.
JAMES W. JACKSON, one of the industrious farmers living two miles west of Pleasantville, Indiana, is a native of Marion county, Kentucky, born October 13, 1836. His parents were John T. and Mary L. (Pirtle) Jackson. The father was born July 7, 1810, in Kentucky, and died July
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5, 1887. The mother, also a native of Kentucky, born in 1813, died in Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1905. The paternal grandfather was John Jackson, and his father, also named John, came to this country as a British soldier, but deserted and joined the Continental army, as did two of his brothers. John T. Jackson went to Indiana in 1837, remained one year, and then returned to his native state for a year and then came back to Sullivan county, Indiana. Here he entered forty acres of landi, which he later sold and entered a quarter of a section in sections two and eleven, where he spent the remainder of his days at farming. He was a Democrat, and in church relation a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The children born to John T. Jackson and wife were as follows: John H., of Jefferson township, Sullivan county ; William A., deceased : James W., of this notice ; Jefferson G., of Jefferson town- ship, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work ; Harriette R., deceased ; Mary E., deceased; and Susanna, deceased.
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James W. Jackson received a limited common-school education, having to spend much of his time in youthhood in assisting his father to clear their forest farm and make for themselves a comfortable home. He remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when he married and settled on his father's farm, which he worked until 1869, when he purchased forty acres where he still resides, now owning sixty-seven acres, which land his son now farms for him. He has been a successful farmer, tilling what land he possessed in a most thorough and painstaking manner. In his political views Mr. Jackson is a staunch defender of Democratic principles, believing as he does that this party best serves the interests of the masses of American citizens. Both he and his wife are acceptable members of the Methodist church.
He was united in marriage, February 28, 1861, to Zilpha A. Wallace, born November 12, 1837, in the township in which she now resides. She is the daughter of Andrew K. and Betsey (Halston) Wallace. Her father was born in Virginia and followed coopering and farming for his livelihood. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are the parents of three children : Hattie A., born February 17, 1862, and residing near Fairland in Shelby county, Indiana, married D. V. Howard ; William M., born February 3. 1864, married Evaline Bedwell and they reside in Jefferson township : and Charles I., born April 28, 1872, is at home with his parents and unmarried. Mr. Jackson has one of the old deeds executed October I. 1850, and signed by President Millard Fillmore, and this deed is one of the valuable souvenirs of Sullivan county. This land never changed hands until the death of the mother.
WILLIAM THOMAS SPENCER, a generally known and highly respected farmer of the thoroughgoing type residing in Jefferson township, Sulli- van county, was born January 19, 1842, in Stafford township, Greene county, Indiana, a son of Charles and Sally (Snyder) Spencer. The former was a native of Virginia, born about 1807, and died in 1898, and
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the mother was born in Kentucky and passed from earthly scenes in 1846. Charles Spencer emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky with his parents, Moses Spencer and wife, who were farmers. Charles was married in Kentucky, after which he moved to Greene county, Indiana, some time about the middle of the "thirties." He lived in Greene county until about 1875, and then went to Jefferson township, Sullivan county, and settled on the farm owned by James Howard, and there spent the remainder of his days. At one time he owned four hundred acres of land. He was twice married. By his first wife, Sally 'Snyder, the following children were born: Moses, who died in the army; Manda, who married first Thomas Stafford, who died in the army, and secondly, Joshua Anderson, also now deceased, and she resides at Sanborn; John, who also lost his life in the War of the Rebellion; Mary, deceased; James, residing in Jefferson township, this county; William Thomas, our subject; and Armon, of Jefferson township.
William Thomas Spencer obtained his education at the schools held within an old log school building, but his educational advantages were indeed very limited, as most of his time was spent in helping his father to subdue and improve his farm. On March 28, 1864, Mr. Spencer enlisted in Company C, First Regiment of Heavy Artillery from Indiana, and received his honorable discharge January 10, 1866. He saw much actual fighting, including the engagements at Mobile, Alabama, but was fortunate in not receiving any wounds. After the war ended he returned to his father's home in Greene county, where he remained until his mar- riage, February 27, 1877, to Manda Blevins, born February 4, 1861, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Corbin) Blevins. The father, was in the Union army at the time of the Civil war, and died after having been captured and taken to a rebel prison. The mother still lives and resides in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, she having married again, her second husband being Jacob Purcell. At the date of Mr. Spencer's marriage he owned eighty acres of land, which constitutes a part of his present farm home, the same having been settled by James Smith, one of the very earliest settlers. Here Mr. Spencer lived and labored until 1883. when he purchased forty acres adjoining and to the north, where he now lives. He has conducted a general grain and stock farmn, in which he has been crowned with success. He is a member of the Baptist church. as is also his wife. He naturally finds a home with the veterans of the Civil war, and belongs to Henry T. McClung Grand Army Post at Pleasantville, of which he had the honor of being commander in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have seven children, all living: John Moses, born March 29, 1878, married Mary Good and resides in Jefferson town- ship. They have two children-Hershel and Donne. William Thomas. Jr., born February 10, 1881, and residing in Sanborn, married Bertha Lucas. Sallie Elizabeth, born July 22, 1883, married Charles Hinkle and lives near Carlisle. Corda Doll, born November 10, 1885, is now in Sullivan and is a music teacher. Lottie May, born May 6, 1890, resides at home and is in school. Charles Benjamin, born February 28, 1892, and Eliza Olive, born November 22. 1896, are both in school. Mr.
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Spencer has one of the old parchment deeds, which bears the signature of one of the old presidents. This is the tenth deed found in Sullivan county, Indiana.
ISAAC A. BRYAN, one of the younger farmers of Sullivan county, whose pleasant farm home is situated on the rural mail route running out from New Lebanon, is a native of Fayette county, Ohio, born January 26, 1876, a son of Josiah and Mary (Wilson) Bryan, both born in Ross county, Ohio, the father September 4, 1842, and the mother March 2, 1846. The father, who followed farming for a livelihood, came to Indiana in 1901, having the year before purchased one hundred and ninety-eight acres of land in Gill township. Here he conducted a success- ful farming business until his death in November of the same year in which he came to this place to reside. After his death the widow resided on the same farm until 1906, when she purchased a home on North Main street in Sullivan, where she expects to spend the remainder of her days. Josiah Bryan enlisted in 1862, at Chillicothe, Ohio, in Company I, Sev- enty-third Ohio Regiment, and served three years and nine months. He was slightly wounded in the ankle, and at another time in the stomach. The children of Josiah and Mary (Wilson) Bryan were: Flora, de- ceased; Louise, deceased; Edward, residing, in Colorado; Isaac A., of this notice ; and Eva, deceased.
Isaac A. Bryan received his education at the village schools of Stan- ton, Fayette county, Ohio. He remained with his father until the latter's death and with his mother until his marriage, and the estate was then divided between the mother, his brother and himself, Isaac A. remaining on the old homestead place. It contains sixty-four and a fraction acres, upon which he carried on a general farming and stock business. He made great changes and excellent improvements after taking the farm, including the clearing of some of the land, fencing and other conveniences needed about a first-class place, making it one of the best equipped places in his township. He sold his estate in Gill township and purchased ninety-three acres in Hamilton township. This place is known as "The Marlow" farm and is located about four miles northeast of Sullivan.
In his church faith Mr. Bryan is identified with the Methodist Epis- copal denomination, and has been president of the board of stewards in this church. Politically he is a firm supporter of the Republican party. On January 7, 1903, he was married to Miss Belle Holt, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 9, 1886, a daughter of Thomas and Mary E. (Prose) Holt, who came to Indiana in September, 1898, locating in Gill township on a farm, and he also operated a threshing machine. The father died February 7, 1908. The mother still resides in the town- ship. The date of the father's birth was August, 1866, and the mother's the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan are the parents of three children : Mary Louise, born January 10, 1904; Doris Waneta, born December 28, 1906; and Floyd Theodore, born June 2, 1908.
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Mr. Bryan is a member of the New Lebanon Modern Woodmen of America Camp No. 5488, and carries for the protection of his family a thousand dollar policy.
CHARLES W. HARDY, deceased, who was one of the progressive farmers of Gill township up to the date of his death, April 26, 1901, was a native of Ross county, Ohio, born March 9, 1840, a son of David and Rosanna Hardy. His father died in Ohio, and it is supposed that his wife died there. This worthy couple were the parents of five children : Mary A., deceased ; John, a widower residing in Ohio; David, residing in Benton county, Indiana, also a widower; one who died in childhood ; and Charles W., of this notice.
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