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 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
Charles W. Hardy attended the common schools of Ohio and received a fair education. After the death of his mother he made his home with a friend of the family in Ohio for a number of years, and then worked for various persons for about three years. He then became a land-renter in Ohio, in which state he this continued until 1885, when he removed to Sullivan county, Indiana, and bought eighty acres of land. After residing on this land three years he sold and bought eighty acres where his widow now lives, and also sixty-six acres near this, which now belongs to his son. He remained on this farm until death called him from earthly scenes in April, 1901. He was a man whose success was achieved by none other than his own efforts, together with the womanly assistance given him by his good wife, who now carries on the old homestead, aided by her youngest son.
During the Civil war period he served as a member of Company K, Eighth Ohio Cavalry, for three years, and very naturally found a place in the Grand Army of the Republic after the war closed. This organiza- tion was formed by the old veterans. In religious faith he was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and had been a class leader, steward and Sunday-school superintendent at one time and another. Politically he voted the Republican ticket, but never aspired to or held local offices to any considerable extent.
On January 30, 1871, he was united in marriage to Margaret A. Grim, a native of Ross county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Barbara (Grub) Grim, both natives of Ross county. Her father was a farmer in Ross county and resided in other sections of the Buckeye state, where he died in 1888, and his wife died several years prior. To Mr. and Mrs. Hardy six children were born, as follows: William Edward, born in Ohio January 12, 1872, married Mollie Rusk, of Sullivan county, Indiana, and now resides in Gill township. They are the parents of three chil- dren-Bulah H., Charles, and Floyd Allison, all at home. Frederick Marcus, born October 12, 1875, in Ohio, married Miss Carrie Troth, of Terre Haute, and they have one child-Forest Leroy. John Hays, born September 30, 1876; died January 30, 1878. Della May, born September 8, 1877, is the wife of Edgar T. Allen, residing in the country near Sullivan, and they are the parents of one child-Opal Belle. Minnie
328
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
Belle, born July 3. 1880, is unmarried and resides with her mother. Leroy Allison, born July 14, 1888, resides with his mother.
Of the Grim family (Mrs. Hardy's people) it should be added that in her father's family there were nine children, of whom five are now living: Mary Ann, widow of William Long, and residing in Greene county, Ohio ; Martha J., widow of Samuel Grimes and living in Spring- field, Ohio; Allison, of Madison county, Ohio; Lewis F., residing near Springfield, Ohio; and Margaret A., the widow of Charles W. Hardy.
EDWARD PEARSON, deceased, who is remembered by the citizens of Gill township, Sullivan county, with feelings of great esteem and regret at his demise, was a native of Crawford county, Illinois, born August 14, 1851, a son of Joseph and Henrietta ( Booth) Pearson. Joseph Pearson was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife of Kentucky. The father went to Illinois before his marriage, settling on a farm in Crawford county, where he lived the remainder of his life and died there. The mother was a distant relative of J. Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Lincoln. The date of her death was in April, 1892. Joseph Pearson, the father of him for whom this notice is written, was a soldier in the Mexican war, as is shown by the records. Joseph and Henrietta (Booth) Pearson, were the parents of ten children, Edward being the seventh in order of their birth.
Edward Pearson attended the district schools of Crawford county, Illinois, and later the high schools of Sullivan county, Indiana, as well as the Cecilian College near Elisabethtown, Kentucky, and the normal at Terre Haute. He remained under the care of his parents at home until he reached the age of twenty-three years, when he worked his father's farm one year. His father then purchased another farm, which he sold to Edward and his brother. This joint farm partnership existed two years, when Edward sold his interest in the property, which was known as the Scott farm, near Sullivan. He then purchased a two hundred and forty-acre tract upon which his widow now resides. Here he made many most excellent improvements, including the erecting of good buildings, fences, a spacious and comfortable farm house, and planted out a quantity of fruit trees. On this well improved farm he car- ried on general farming until his health failed, when he was obliged to rent the farm. He went to Colorado hoping to regain his health, and remained there one year. He then came back and soon went on to New York city and entered a sanitarium, in which he remained three months, and went from there to Vincennes in April of that year. In July he returned to the farm, and again went to Denver, Colorado, where he died January 15, 1901. The widow still lives on the place and expects to the remainder of her days. Her son-in-law, who is manager of the farm, and his wife reside with her. Mr. Pearson was a man of kindly, but firm disposition, purely a self-made man in the true meaning of this term, and one who was esteemed by all within the radius of his acquaint-
329
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
ance. In his church relations he was connected with the Roman Catholic church. Early in his life he was a supporter of the Democratic party, but latterly of the Populist party.
Of his marriage and children it may be said that he was united in marriage, February 22, 1881, to Melvina O'Flynn, born near Dublin, Ireland, May 17, 1849, a daughter of Michael and Winifred (Flinn) O'Flynn, both parents being natives of Dublin. The mother was born in 1820 and the father about 1817. In 1849 they emigrated to America. first stopping in Canada, but later moved to New York city. After a time they moved on west to Pittsburgh, Indiana, where the father was engaged in railway construction. After a few years there they removed to Evansville, where he died April 10, 1854, and the mother died Septem - ber 30, 1896, at Vincennes, which was then her home.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are as follows: One who died in infancy ; Agnes, who was born December 6, 1885, and died aged seven months ; Edna Clare, who was born July 29, 1886, and is the wife of Arthur Coffman ; and Winifred Celestine, born January 10, 1890. and a student in the Christian College at Merom, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Coffman reside on Mrs. Pearson's farm, of which he is the man- ager, and they have one little daughter, Anna Katherine. Mrs. Pearson is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church at Sullivan, Indiana, and her daughters, Edna and Winifred, are members of the same church. Mr. Pearson's remains are interred in the Catholic cemetery at Vincennes, Indiana, and a beautiful monument stands sacred to his memory, erected by his loving wife.
JEFFERSON GANAWAY JACKSON, one of the thoroughgoing farmers of Jefferson township, Sullivan county and a veteran of the Civil war, is a native of the township in which he now lives, born there July 10, 1840. He is the son of John T. and Mary L. ( Pirtle) Jackson. The paternal great-grandfather came from Ireland, being attached to the British army at the time of his coming to our shores. But soon after arriving in this country he deserted the English and joined the Continental army. He also had two brothers who deserted the British army and fought for American independence ; they were named James and William. John Jackson, Sr., the first to come to this country, had a son named for him, known as John, Jr., who became the grandfather of Jefferson G. of this biography. John, Jr., had a son, John T., the subject's father, among his children. John and Susan (Thomas) Jackson were both natives of Virginia, but emigrated to Kentucky, where they died. John T. Jackson was born July 7, 1810, in Lebanon, Kentucky, and died in Jefferson township. Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1887. He is buried at Pleasant- ville. He was married in Kentucky and was an overseer on a plantation. Leaving the south on account of slavery he came to Sullivan county, Indiana, about 1836, settling in the north part of Jefferson township. where he remained one year, and then returned to Kentucky and sojourned there one year. He had caught a glimpse of the opportunities in the north
330
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
and returned to Sullivan county, where he purchased forty acres of land and later entered one hundred and sixty acres. Here he lived, labored and died, a trustworthy man. He was an extensive grain and stock grower. Politically he always voted the Democratic ticket. Both he and his estimable wife were prominent in their church work, connected with the Methodist church, of which they were members. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary L. Pirtle, was born in March, 1813, in Springfield, Kentucky, and died in 1904, being buried beside her husband at Pleasantville. The children of this union were as follows: John H., of Jefferson township, married Nancy McClung; William A., deceased, served three years in the Civil war; James W., of Jefferson township, married Zilpha Wallace; Jefferson G .; Harriette R., wife of Mr. Buck, both deceased; Mary E., who married George W. Martin and is now deceased, her husband residing at Sullivan ; and Susan, who died young.
Jefferson G. Jackson obtained his education at the common schools and remained at home until he enlisted in the Federal army to suppress the Rebellion. In August, 1862, he became a member of Company C, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and was discharged May 30, 1864, after participating in the following, engagements: Corinth, Mississippi, October 3 and 4, 1862; Haines Bluff, Mississippi, spring of 1863; Port Gibson, Mississippi, spring of 1863; Raymond Mills in the same spring : Jackson, Mississippi, Champion Hills and Vicksburg. He was also at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, and at Dalton, Georgia. The regiment then joined Sherman on his famous march to the sea. The last engagement in which Mr. Jackson took part was that of Greens- boro, North Carolina. After his discharge he returned to his home in Sullivan county, where he remained until his marriage. In 1867 he purchased a farm of forty acres a mile and a half from where he now lives. There he built a log house and went to housekeeping and was supremely happy in the new made home. He remained there until 1872, then bought eighty acres of his present farm two miles south of Pleasant- ville. Mr. Jackson retired from active work about 1900, having been highly successful in farming and stock raising. He has long since been identified with the Odd Fellows order, belonging to lodge No. 408 at Pleasantville, he being the oldest member in that lodge. He is past grand of his lodge, and prizes highly the associations of this fraternity. He is also now a Master Mason, belonging to lodge No. 647 at Sanborn. Having worn the loyal blue in Civil war days, he naturally finds a place in the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to McClung Post, of which he is a past commander and quartermaster. Politically Mr. Jackson is an ardent supporter of the Republican party.
On March 20, 1867, he was married to Rebecca Corbin, born April 28, 1845, in Jessamine county. Kentucky, and died November 29, 1900. She was the daughter of Martin and Amanda Corbin, natives of Virginia, born in Culpeper county, but who moved to Kentucky, where the mother died, after which the father married Amanda Jett. They went to Sulli- van county. Indiana, about 1850, and in 1880, to Kansas, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are the parents of five children: Elza A., born
33I
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
April 28, 1868, died October 12, 1871 ; Mary M., born December 25, 1869. died April 1, 1908; Wiley A., born December 8, 1871, and a resident of Greene county, married Lula Loudermilk ;. Amanda E., born September 5, 1876, died August 14, 1878; and John M., born February 9, 1881, and residing in Lyons, Indiana, married Daisy O'Haver. Mr. Jackson is a member of the Baptist church, as was his wife during her lifetime.
CHARLES M. WELSH, one of the general dealers of Fairbanks, was born July 16, 1856, a son of James M. and Eliza A. (Thixton) Welsh. The father was born in Clark county, Illinois, and the mother in Fair- banks, Indiana. The grandparents were John Welsh, born in Kentucky, and Bluford and Betsie (Welton) Thixton, of Knox county, Indiana. The parents were married in Fairbanks township and settled on a farm there, and there the mother died July 2, 1895, and the father September 10, 1902. Charles M. is the third of three sons and four daughters born to his parents. He spent his boyhood days on the farm, as most farmer boys do, and remained at home until thirty-six years of age. In 1890 he went to the town of Fairbanks and commenced to deal in flour and corn meal. This he carried on successfully until 1895. when he engaged in the general merchandise business. He was compelled to rebuild and greatly enlarge his business house to accommodate his increasing trade. His store is thirty-five by one hundred and thirty feet.
Politically he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Odd Fellows order. lodge No. 763, of Fairbanks, and is also identified with Masonry, a member of lodge No. 373 at Fairbanks, of the Chapter of Sullivan, of the Sullivan Commandery and of the Scottish Rite of Indianapolis.
Mr. Welsh was united in marriage, April 15, 1884, to Mary Rebecca Holmes, born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (Rickets) Holmes, of the same county in Ohio. Mrs. Welsh died December 23, 1893, without issue. He married November 19, 1908. Mrs. Josie (Devol) Dilley. She was born on the 22d of August, 1869, at Middletown, Indiana.
JOHN THOMAS ROSE, deceased, resided on rural free delivery route No. I out of Fairbanks, Indiana. He was reared in Randolph county, North Carolina, the date of his birth being February 20, 1839, and he left home at the age of sixteen years. He was the son of Thomas and Jerusha (Dillon) Rose, of North Carolina. Young Rose worked at teaming until nineteen years of age, and then went to Henry county, Indiana, remained about one year and came to Sullivan county of this state, where he followed farming; until he enlisted in the Union cause, as a Civil war soldier in the autumn of 1861, being a member of the Fifty-first Indiana Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. About one year later he was transferred to the marine corps and served in that depart- ment until his discharge at the end of three years of service. He then
332
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
returned to Fairbanks township and was united in marriage to Rebecca Drake, after which he settled in Turman township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and where five years later his wife died. By this marriage two children were born, as follows: Jerusha, Mrs. John Ridgway, and Emma, Mrs. William Thomas, both of Fairbanks township. After the death of his wife Mr. Rose went to Hudsonville, where he was in business a few years, and in 1878 came back to Fairbanks township and purchased a farm, seventy-two acres being sit- uated within Fairbanks township, and later he bought three hundred and sixty-five acres below Graysville, now known as the Hawkins farm. He operated that farm and raised blooded horses and other stock. He was highly successful in his operations as a farmer and stock raiser. He died March 23, 1901, and was buried at Drake church cemetery.
Mr. Rose was three times married. His second wife, nee Anna Riggs, died leaving an infant son named Chauncey, who died aged two years. He was married the third time, June 30, 1878, to Mrs. Melinda ( McKee) Drake. Her father, William McKee, was the son of John and Jane ( Watson) McKee. pioneers of Turman township. Her great- grandfather, John McKee, was a native of Scotland, who on coming to America settled in Tennessee and came from there to Sullivan county, and here spent his last days. Mrs. Rose's mother, Susan Harris, was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary ( Paddock) Harris, pioneers of Fair- banks township. Mrs. Rose's first husband, Albert Drake, a farmer by occupation, was a life-long resident of Fairbanks township, where he died March 23, 1876.
WILLIAM CARL USERY, EsQ .-- Conspicuous among the representative men of Cass township is William C. Usery, Esq., of Sullivan, a man of ability, integrity and worth. Well educated and talented, he has been for many years associated with the advancement of the educational interests of our country, and has likewise been an important factor in promoting the agricultural and industrial interests of town and county. at the present time devoting his attention largely to fruit culture. A native of this township, he was born January 1, 1846, in the log cabin built by his father, the Hon. David Usery, on the site of the present village of Cass, coming from pioneer stock. His father was born in 1818, in White county, Tennessee.
Rev. Philip Usery, the grandfather of William C., came from Ten- nessee to Indiana at an early day, he, with his family, making the entire journey on horseback. He became one of the original settlers of Greene county, and the pioneer in the spreading of the gospel news, being a preacher in the Christian church. An earnest and tireless worker in the Master's vineyard, he preached in many places, making his circuit on horseback, following bridle-paths and frequently going over heavy and almost impassable trails, his mode of traveling being in strange contrast with those pursued by the clergymen of to-day. Removing from Greene county to Sullivan county, he bought land in the northwest quarter of
333
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
section one, Cass township, and there resided until his death, at the age of seventy-two years. The maiden name of his good wife was Mary Warren. She was born in Massachusetts, belonging to the same family as General Joseph Warren, who fell at the battle of Bunker Hill. She died at the age of eighty years, and was buried beside her husband in the Antioch churchyard in Cass township.
A boy when he came with his parents to Indiana, David Usery grew to manhood in Greene county. Subsequently entering government land in Sullivan county, he obtained title to a tract which included the site of the village of Buel, now called Cass, and the cabin of round logs which he at once erected was the first building on the village site and the birthplace of his son William. He afterwards built a hewed log house, and after a time erected a good frame house. He cleared a large tract of land, and after a time embarked in mercantile pursuits, opening the first store in the township and keeping a stock of general merchandise. He bought his supplies in Evansville, and they were brought here by teams, that being before the time of railroads. He also dealt extensively in live stock and superintended the care of his farm. Disposing of ali his interests in this locality in 1873, he moved to Baxter Springs, Kansas, where he bought land and was actively employed in agricultural pursuits until his death, March 4, 1884. He married Susan Pigg, who was born in Tennessee, a daughter of James and Mary (Neeley) Pigg, natives of Tennessee and pioneers of Sullivan county, Indiana. She died about two years before he did, her death occurring in February, 1882. She reared eight children, namely: Joseph Warren, James, Philip, William Carl, Nancy, Frances, Mary and Anna. David Usery was a man of com- manding presence, six feet and one inch in height and weighing, when at his best, three hundred and sixty pounds. He was an influential member of the Democratic party, prominent in public affairs, and was twice elected to the state legislature.
Brought up amid pioneer scenes, William Carl Usery remembers well the homespun garments which his mother made for the family from the material which she herself carded, spun and wove, and also remem- bers the excitement caused among the neighbors when his father, while in the legislature, sent home a cook stove, the first one ever brought into the place. the people from miles around coming to see it. He at- tended the pioneer schools of his day, going first to a subscription school kept in a small log cabin, which was heated by a fire in the fireplace, while light was admitted through a strip of greased paper inserted in place of a log. The seats were made of split logs, the floor was of puncheon, and the scholars learned to write upon a slab placed against the wall. using a quill pen. The schoolmaster was always early at his desk, and the pupil that got there first was the first to recite his lesson. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Usery began teaching, receiving at first one dollar and fifty cents a day wages. He was successful in his work, and taught in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, continuing thus employed for twenty-six terms, in the meantime being engaged to a con- siderable extent in both mercantile and agricultural pursuits. His father
334
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
had given him eighty acres of land lying north of and adjoining the village of Buel. Subsequently selling that land Mr. Usery spent two years in Kansas, after which he returned to Indiana, and taught in Greene and Sullivan counties. Going again to Kansas in 1879, he was engaged in teaching and farming in Cherokee county, afterwards being similarly employed in Vernon county, Missouri. Returning to Sullivan county in 1889, Mr. Usery traded for the farm upon which his mother was reared, and this property he still owns. Removing from it in 1903, he assumed possession of the property which he had previously purchased in the business part of Sullivan. He has also a farm lying half a mile from the village center and a fifteen-acre tract of valuable land, two acres of which is within the corporated limits of the village. Here he has lived since 1903, and has devoted the greater part of his time to the culture of fruit. He has, however, traveled some, and with his wife spent the winter of 1907-08 in California.
Mr. Usery married, November 12, 1868, Mary J. Wilson, who was born in Haddon township, Sullivan county, Indiana, October 17, 1844. Her father, Martin Wilson, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, and came to Indiana with his father, Judge Joseph Wilson, a pioneer of Haddon township and one of the early judges of Sullivan county. Martin Wilson improved a farm in Haddon township, it being the estate now owned and occupied by his son, George T. Wilson, and there resided until his death in his eightieth year. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary P. Lamb, was born in Kentucky, and died in Indiana at the early age of thirty-three years. Five of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wilson grew to years of maturity, as follows: Mary J., now Mrs. Usery ; William ; George T .; Joseph; and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Usery are the parents of four children, namely: Martin W., Winona, Ida May and Will F. Martin married Mary Carter, and they have two children, Musetta and Warren C. Winona, wife of John L. Story, has five chil- dren, Eula, George Dewey, Inez and Florence and Lawrence, twins. Ida May, wife of Harper L. Davis, has four children, William Ray, John Basil, Elva and Cleo. Prominent in public affairs, Mr. Usery was appointed justice of the peace in 1904, and elected to that office in 1907. Religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Usery are members of the Christian church, and have reared their children to the same faith.
WILLIAM R. FRAKES, an ex-county treasurer of Sullivan county and one of the thoroughgoing farmers of this section of the state, is a native of Fairbanks township, this county, born November 18, 1845, a son of John and Charity (DeBaun) Frakes. His father was born in Vigo county, Indiana, February 19, 1824, and died August 17, 1899, in Fairbanks town- ship. The mother was born in the "Blue Grass" state of Kentucky about 1827, and came to Sullivan county, Indiana, when a child. She was of French descent, and was united in marriage in Sullivan county. Her death occurred June 7, 1905. John Frakes, the father, was a farmer all his life. He was a staunch supporter of the Democratic party and both he
3
Mr and Mrs. W. R. Frakes Family Group
335
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
and his wife were exemplary members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom still survive and are as follows : William R., Abraham, Martha Ellen, John and Eliza Jane.
William R. Frakes was reared in Fairbanks township, and there obtained a good education. He taught school for ten years, during which time he attended the Ascension Seminary at Farmersburg, which was founded by Captain William T. Crawford, of Sullivan, Indiana. In 1876 he moved to Jackson township and began farming. In 1880 he was elected a justice of the peace and served in that capacity for twelve years,. being elected on the Democratic ticket. After this he was employed in a store for the Jackson Hill Coal Company, and in 1892 moved to Hamil- ton township, resigning the office of justice of the peace. After residing in Hamilton township four months he moved back to Jackson township, and in 1894 was elected county treasurer of Sullivan county. In the spring of 1895 he moved his family to Sullivan, taking his office in August, 1895, and serving until January 1, 1900. In July, 1899, he moved his family. to his present farm, which contains two hundred and forty acres of well improved land. He still retains his eighty acre farm in Jackson township, as well as a sixty acre tract in Hamilton township. He carries on both grain and stock farming in an up-to-date manner, and is one of the joint-owners of a celebrated imported Percheron stallion.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.