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 43
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
ORLANDO C. BREWER, an extensive land-owner of Sullivan county, is a native of the township in which he now resides, born May 22, 1858, a son of James and Mary (Johnson) Brewer, natives of Turman township, and both reared at Graysville. The paternal grandparents, John and a Miss (Cook) Brewer, were natives of Ohio, and the maternal grand- parents, James L. and Hannah ( Watson) Johnson, were natives of Ten- nessee. The grandfather Brewer was among the pioneer band in this section of the state, having, settled where now stands the thriving city of Terre Haute, when it was a wilderness. He cultivated land where now stands the business portion of the city. After a short stay there he went to Turman township and engaged in the mercantile business at Graysville, and still later moved to Sullivan and there followed the same vocation. After a number of years' successful operation at that point he returned to Graysville, where he died.
James Brewer, the father, spent his life on a farm in Sullivan county, owning at one time four hundred and twenty acres of choice land in Fair- banks township. He died October 21, 1889, while his good wife survived until May 4, 1891. Six children were born of this union: Mary A .. who died in 1888, aged forty-one years ; Sarah H., died in 1863, aged fourteen years ; Frank R., who died in 1855, aged three years ; Theressa J., who
344
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
died in 1889, aged thirty-four years, and who was the wife of Charles Ramsen ; Orlando C., of this memoir; and Nancy E., Mrs. C. E. Harri- son, of Fairbanks township.
Orlando C. Brewer spent his youthful days on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-four he bought eighty acres of land, to which he kept adding until his estate now consists of four hundred and eighty acres in sections nine and ten of Fairbanks township, all in one body. Here one sees the well-tilled and productive fields of a farmer who gets the best paying results by a careful study of his various pieces of land, together with plenty of industry and hard labor, the necessary qualities in any kind of a business undertaking. He is a believer in the saying that "Fortune is a lazy goddess, she will never come to you." In addition to his farming interests he has come to be a stockholder in the Farmersburg bank.
He was happily married April 20, 1882, to Louisa Johnson, of Fairbanks township, born May 12, 1861, a daughter of Bethuel and Sarah (Pounds) Johnson. The father was born in Fairbanks township, a son of James and Jane (Vandine) Johnson, pioneers of Fairbanks township. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brewer: Vernon and Ray, both at home with the parents. Mr. Brewer attended the common schools of Sullivan county, and in his political views is a Democrat. He was a men- ber of the county council for four years. He is an advanced Mason, belonging to Fairbanks Lodge No. 373, at Fairbanks, and the Chapter at Sullivan, No. SI, and to the Eastern Star degree. Mrs. Brewer is also a member of the Eastern Star.
ELIJAH H. DILLEY (deceased) .- Elijah H. Dilley, a farmer of sec- tion 16. Fairbanks township, Sullivan county, who lived on the rural free delivery route No. 3 out from Farmersburg, was born in Effingham county, Illinois, May 15, 1846, a son of Jonathan and Adeline ( Henry) Dilley, natives of Kentucky. The maternal grandparents, Elijah Henry and wife, were natives of Kentucky. The parents of the subject were married in Lawrence county, Indiana, where they resided several years, and then removed to Effingham county, Illinois, and resided for a time. Then, returning to Indiana, he bought land in Fairbanks county. In 1849 he joined a company and made an overland journey to California, spend- ing several months on the way, and he was quite successful there. About two years later he returned to Fairbanks township and resumed farming. He enlisted early in the Civil war in the Forty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged and returned home and farmed a few years. Then on account of ill health he went to Glenn county, California, and stopped a short time, but as his health continued to fail he returned to Fairbanks township and died here shortly afterward. His widow survived him.
Elijah H. Dilley enlisted in Company E, Sixty-second Illinois In-
345
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
fantry Regiment, February 27, 1864. While he was fortunate in never receiving wounds while in service of his country, he did contract diseases from which he never recovered. He was discharged from the Army of the Mississippi in 1866, after which he came to Fairbanks township and bought a farm in the northern part of the township, and three years later bought the place where his widow now resides, the place being three- quarters of a mile northwest of Fairbanks village. There are two hun- dred acres in this farm, all of which are well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He was always a farmer by occupation, and raised much fine stock. His education was obtained at the public schools in Indiana and Illinois. He was a member of the Christian church of Mid- dletown. He was first married in 1868 to Mary Ann Neal, born in Fair- banks township, a daughter of Walker and Matilda ( Pogue) Neal, natives of Indiana. The issue of this marriage union was: Nora, deceased ; Teressa, at home ; and Mattie, who died aged twenty-six years. For his second wife he married, May 25, 1878, Rose Denney, born in Monroe county, Indiana, September 1, 1850, a daughter of John W. S. and Sarah (Gaskins) Denney. The father was born in Kentucky and the mother in Washington county, Indiana. The grandparents were William and Mar- garet (Scott) Denney, of Kentucky, and John and Mary Ann (Kite) Gaskins, natives of Indiana. The children born to Mr. Dilley by his second wife were: Elba, who was born May 25, 1882, and died aged eleven years ; Harry D., born March 17, 1887 ; and Elijah Homer, born September 21, 1889, and now superintends the farm. The death of Mr. Dilley occurred November 3, 1907. Thus one by one and all too fre- quently are the veterans of the Civil war dropping out of the vast army that was dispersed in 1865-66. He was a brave man, a good citizen, a true husband and devoted father.
JAMES MARVIN DE BAUN is well known in the agricultural circles of Sullivan county, Indiana, as residing in Fairbanks township, where he carries on general farming and stock-raising. He is the son of Simon and Angeline (Harris) De Baun, and was born January 6, 1865. The place of his birth was Fairbanks. township, Sullivan county, Indiana, where he was educated in the common schools. The father, Simon De Baun, was a native of Kentucky, while the mother was born in Fairbanks township, Sullivan county. When a mere lad the father went to Fair- banks township with his parents, and after his marriage he settled on a farm east of Fairbanks village, where he lived until 1867, and then lived in Vigo county four years. His next location was within Parke county, Indiana, where he purchased land, and resides there at the present time --- 1908. His wife died in 1880. He was the father of seven sons and five daughters, ten of whom still survive, and of whom the subject, James M., is the eldest.
James M. De Baun spent his youth at home on his father's farm, and continued to reside there until his marriage, June 9, 1889, to Ida Ory,
346
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
born in Parke county, Indiana, February 12, 1872, a daughter of Marion and Mary (Hadley) Ory. After his marriage he lived on and farmed rented land until 1897, when he moved to his father's farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres. He also has one hundred and five acres in Vigo county, which he also farms. He raises hogs and cattle quite extensively. Politically he is a Republican.
Mr. and Mrs. De Baun have the following children: Ester Mae, born April 17, 1891 ; Orville Raymond, born March 29, 1893 : Cloyd Fay, born March 29, 1895 ; and Orsa Vernan, born February 22, 1897.
JOHN F. HARRISON, well known as an industrious farmer and raiser of Duroc swine in Fairbanks township, Sullivan county, was born in section 35, Fairbanks township, March 18, 1858, a son of Benjamin and Sarah M. (Wisner) Harrison. The father was a native of North Caro- lina, while the mother was born in Clay county, Indiana. The grand- parents, Henry and Ann ( Beason) Harrison, were from North Carolina. The father, Benjamin Harrison, accompanied his parents in 1818 to Clark county, Illinois, when but eighteen months old. He lived there with his parents until 1842, when he went to Sullivan county, Indiana, and there purchased forty acres on the bottoms of the Wabash river, and later added thereto and cleared from timber and improved a large tract, at one time owning a tract of eight hundred acres. Two hundred acres of this land was situated in Clark county, Illinois. He died July 22, 1887, and his good wife laid down the burden of life March 12, 1896. He had, how- ever, been married twice, and had four daughters and one son by the former union. The children were: Narcisus and Emma Jane, living at Rocky Ford, Colorado; Rachel A., Mrs. William Lawson, of Sullivan, Indiana ; Sarah E., Mrs. Levi Strain, of Fairbanks township; and one son, who died aged three years. For his second wife, mother of our subject, Benjamin Harrison married the widow of James Cowan, who by the first marriage had two children-Martha, Mrs. William A. Shields, of Turman township, and Mary Bell, Mrs. O. P. Badger, also of Turman township. The children born to the subject's parents, Benjamin and Sarah M. ( Wisner) Harrison, were as follows : Milton A., born April 22, 1856, died February 22, 1875 ; John Fremont, of this notice ; Cassius E., of Fairbanks township; and Edward, who died aged three years and three months.
Up to the date of his marriage John Fremont Harrison spent his years with his parents, and in his early youth he was permitted to attend the common schools a few years. He was married September 30, 1884, to Jessie Medsker, born in Turman township, Sullivan county, Indiana, March 3, 1867, a daughter of William and Sylvia ( Baker ) Medsker. The mother was born in New York. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harrison took up their residence on a sixty-five acre farm in Fairbanks township, where they lived about three years, and then removed to a place in Turman township containing ninety-two acres, where they resided for
347
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
eight years. Their next location was on the farm purchased of his brother, the same being a part of the estate of the father. Here Mr. Harrison has resided ever since. He now owns one hundred and eighty acres in his home place, and ninety-two acres near Graysville. He car- ries on general farming and makes a specialty of raising Duroc-Jersey hogs, horses and mules, and to some extent fattens cattle for market.
In his political affiliations Mr. Harrison is a loyal supporter of the principles of the Republican party. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are as follows: William B .. born October 18, 1885, at home ; Arthur E., born July 4, 1887, at home : Ralph H., born December 25, 1898: and Hazel E., born October 13, 1890, died June 3, 1899.
CHARLES E. CURTIS, of the younger generation of farmers and stock- raisers residing in Gill township, Sullivan county, was born in Hamilton township, of this county, January 12, 1866, a son of James R. and Olive J. (Mooney) Curtis. The father of Charles E. was born in Hamilton town- ship, March 2, 1842, a son of Gideon and Elizabeth (Dudley) Curtis, natives of North Carolina. They settled in Washington county at an early day, remaining thirty years, and then moved to Sullivan county, settiing in Hamilton township. Their place was about one mile from Sullivan in a southwestern direction, and there they continued to live almost twenty-four years, when they sold and moved to Turman town- ship, bought land, and resided there eight years, then sold and made their home with their children. The grandfather died in the autumn of 1884 and the grandmother, March, 1901.
James R. Curtis, the father of Charles E., remained at home with his parents until he had reached his majority, and then commenced renting land and farming. He was united in marriage, in March, 1863, to Miss Olive J. Mooney, a daughter of William and Lucy (Irwin) Mooney, natives of Floyd county, Indiana, and farmers by occupation. The father died there about 1850, and the widow married Abraham Cantwell, a native of Ohio. They then moved to Illinois, remained a short time, and went to Sullivan county ; later back to Illinois, and thence to Tennessee. They lived in the last named state eight years, and then moved to Sullivan again. Mr. Cantwell served as a Civil war soldier in the Seventeenth Indiana Regiment as a private and lieutenant of his company. After they had resided there in that place about two years he was taken to the Sol- diers' Home at Lafayette, where he died from an operation. Lucy J. Cantwell resided at the Soldiers' Home at Lafayette, thus fulfilling her husband's dying request, until her death, December 3. 1908. Her body was laid to rest in the cemetery at the home beside that of her husband.
James R. Curtis had rented land twelve years and operated a sawmill seven years, and then bought eighty acres of land in Gill township, where he still lives. He is a member of the Christian church. The children born to James R. and Olive ( Mooney) Curtis are as follows : Jennie, wife of Albert Lane, and their children are Ola and Elma : Charles E., of this notice ; A. G.,
.
348
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
engaged in the railway mail service and residing in Sullivan, married Eva Morgan, and they have eight children-Fred, deceased, Ray, Frank, Nellie, Lucy, James, Abe J. and Harold, all at home ; William A., married Lizzie Catlin, and they reside in Oklahoma, where he is a minister in the Chris- tian church, and they have four children-Roy, Gertrude, Olive and Hester Lucile; Estella, wife of Dr. Bailey, and their one child is Law- rence ; Cora, wife of Elmer J. Bittle, of Hamilton township, and their two children are Keith and Francis W.
Charles E. Curtis, a son of the above James R., started out in life for himself at the age of twenty-two years. He commenced school- teaching in 1885 in the districts of Gill township, and has taught every winter since except that of 1903. He farms his place, consisting of eighty acres, which he bought in 1890. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising in a most systematic and successful manner. Mr. Curtis is identified with the Odd Fellows order, and in politics is a Democrat.
He was married May 12, 1889, to Miss Lydia M. Payton, born in Parke county, Indiana, May 31, 1871, a daughter of Jolin L. and Sarah (Stout ) Payton, natives of the same county, and farmers. They came to this county in 1877, locating on a farm at Paxton, where the mother died in 1888. The father still survives and resides in this county.
The issue of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis is as follows: Rugby, born May 3, 1891 ; Paul, born August 26, 1896; Mildred, born November 13, 1898; and Charles William, born August 9, 1908.
WALKER V. JENNINGS, one of the heaviest taxpayers within Curry township at this date, and the only exclusive lumber dealer, is a man possessed of much business ability, and is well known, as he who was for many years connected with the hardware trade here. Mr. Jennings was born June 26, 1865, in Marion county, Indiana, a son of Abel J. and Fannie M. (Willsey) Jennings, the former born in March, 1812, in Hamp- den county, Massachusetts, and died January 10, 1877, while the latter was born in 1824 in Auburn, New York. Abel J. was a captain on a Lake Erie sailboat for five years before his marriage, when he quit the sea and engaged in farming and operating a saw and feed mill at a point within Marion county, Indiana, where he continued to live and operate until 1867, when he went to Curry township, in Sullivan county. There he purchased a farm and built a steam sawmill. His land there consisted of a one hundred acre tract, and there he spent the remnant of his life, with the exception of one year in Missouri. He was quite a hunter, and delighted in the huntsman's chase. By trade he was a carpenter. When he first located in Sullivan county he lived in a log cabin, but soon built the first frame residence in his section of the county. The old log house is still standing as a relic of the early times within this township. While much of a politician and a Democrat of uncompromising principles, he would not hold public office. His reason for coming. to Sullivan county was to raise his young family in a Democratic county. Of his twelve
349
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
living children the following is an account: Marshall A., residing in Farmersburg, is a veteran of the Civil war; Harriet (Grey) resides in De Witt county, Illinois; Mary (Shackow), residing in Oklahoma ; Millie (Hiatt), of Oklahoma; Sylvester, of Curry township; Emery and Emma, twins, and both living in Sullivan county ; Rufus A., of Okla- homa ; Mattie (Moore), of Vigo county, Indiana; Katherine (Tharp), of Curry township; Walker V., of this sketch, and Elza W., of Far- mersburg.
After the death of the father, Walker V. Jennings lived with his mother until his marriage, April 14, 1885, to Lucretia Lloyd, born in 1868, a daughter of John G. and Elizabeth Lloyd. The latter is now deceased, but the former is residing here. In 1884, one year prior to Mr. Jennings' marriage, he bought a sawmill and threshing machine, which he operated until 1900; but in 1894 he engaged in the lumber business at Farmers- burg with his brother, Emery J., and they continued as partners two years, when Mr. Lloyd bought E. J.'s interest. Soon a partnership was formed between E. J. and E. W. Jennings and John Lloyd for the purpose of engaging in the hardware trade, coupling with it lumber and farm imple- ments. In 1902 this partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, and Walker V. Jennings went into the lumber business alone. He is a stock- holder in the Citizens' State Bank and one of its directors. In 1907 he bought out his competitor in the lumber business, and now has the only yard in the place.
He for whom this notice is written is a Democrat in his political views, and is now a school trustee and secretary of the board. He is con- nected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Blue lodge, No. 594. at Farmersburg, and the Chapter and Council and Commandery at Sulli- van. He has taken twelve degrees, and is a member of the Eastern Star, No. 168, as is also his wife. They have twice represented the lodge at the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Mr. Jennings and family are members of the Central Christian church. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jennings are : Clennie M., wife of D. W. Bolinger, and they reside in Indianapolis ; and Cecil J., residing at Farmersburg, married Edythe Huntwork. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings gave their children good practical educations, and the daughter at one time attended the Christian College, at Merom.
JAMES M. HOWARD, one of the enterprising agriculturists of Sullivan county, Indiana, who by the frugality and success which have attended his operations as a tiller of the soil for a long term of years has finally wisely chosen a retired life in which to more befittingly enjoy the fruits of his toil in his earlier years, was born November 5, 1840, in Jefferson township. Of his parentage it may be said that his father was Rual and his mother Mary (McConnell) Howard. The former was a native of Kentucky, but came to Sullivan county, Indiana, prior to his marriage. After becoming a citizen of this county he entered land and remained until death. His father was Joseph Howard, a native of North Carolina.
350
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
who moved to Kentucky, and about 1831 to Sullivan county, Indiana. Rual Howard's wife bore him thirteen children, ten of whom reached their majority, and of this number seven still survive. They are as follows : Strather M., deceased; Sarah J., who married John Newkirk, and both are now deceased; James M .; Mary A., residing in Jefferson township, the widow of John Douthit; Francis M., deceased, formerly of Jefferson township ; Miranda, deceased; Jasper, deceased ; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of Isaac Yates; William T., who resides in Florida ; one who died in infancy ; and Newton, a resident of Carlisle, Indiana.
James M. Howard was educated at the common schools of his native county, and when old enough to exercise the right of franchise voted with the party which he still supports, the Democratic. When twenty-five years of age he left the old home and its surroundings, hallowed because of its early memories, and began to carve out his own fortune and make a name among his fellow men worthy of a true American citizen. He first rented land in Jefferson township, and in 1869 purchased sixty acres in Greene county and lived there until 1872, when he leased a farm for one year near Pleasantville. The next three years he resided in the same house with his father-in-law in Greene county. Having plenty and to spare, Mrs. Howard's father gave her a beautiful tract of land containing one hundred and nineteen acres, which is located three miles south from Pleasantville, and upon which they now live and carry on successful farm operations, yet lead a retired and satisfactory life.
October 11, 1870, marked an important event in Mr. Howard's career, for upon that day he was married to Eva Spencer, born September 9, 1853, a daughter of Charles and Frances (Owens) Spencer, both of whom are now deceased. The children born to brighten and cheer this home are: Mary F., who was born September 22, 1871, and died in 1873; Sarah E., born March 9, 1873, and now residing in Jefferson township, the wife of James G. Loveall ; Lyman M., born January 17, 1875, at home, unmarried, operating a sawmill, and also a carpenter; Charles R., born January 6, 1877, married Elva Trinkle and resides in Bloomington, Indi- ana ; William L .. born December II, 1881, wedded Miss Edna Booker and resides with his parents at Pleasantville ; Cordia D., born April 28, 1886, resides at Sanborn, Indiana, married to Clifford Wells ; Nellie, born March 22, 1891, wedded Goldie Herndon and resides in Jefferson town- ship ; and Opal D., born August 20, 1893, died July 23, 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard are members of the Missionary Baptist church located three miles southeast of their residence in Greene county. Mrs. Howard has one of the old parchment deeds executed under the hand of President Martin Van Buren and dated March 20, 1837, a valuable sou- venir in her home.
ORA POOL, one of the reliable general mercantile dealers of Pleasant- ville, Indiana, is a native of Jefferson township, Sullivan county, Indiana, born February 18, 1881, a son of Jeremiah M. and Nancy (Long) Pool. His father was born in 1833, in Greene county, Indiana, and now resides
35I
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
in Stockton township of that county. The mother was born in 1837, in Frankfort, Kentucky, and came to Jefferson township, Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1852, with her parents, who were farmers. Jeremiah Pool, who has been a successful agriculturist many years, has retired, but still remains on his sixty-five acre farm. He resided in Sullivan county from 1860 to 1882, when he moved back to Greene county.
The grandfather was William M. Pool, whose wife was named Martha, and both were Virginians by birth and of English descent. They came from Virginia to Greene county, Indiana, in 1830, and lived there the remainder of their days. He was both a farmer and a cooper. William M. Pool was the son of William M., Sr., who was born in Eng- land and came to this country in 1770, settling in Virginia, near Charlotts- ville. He was a captain in the Revolutionary war against England and became a tobacco planter and held slaves.
The children born to the subject's parents were as follows: Amanda, born 1868, married George Tincher, and resides in Greene county, Indi- ana : William M., born in 1873, married Nora O. Firebaugh, and resides in Greene county ; Walter L., born in 1875, married Rosa Spencer, and is living in Greene county ; Charles, born 1877, died in 1885, and Ora, of this sketch. Jeremiah Pool married for his first wife Amanda Bedwell, by whom four children were born, as follows: Samantha married Francis M. Howard, and is residing in Jefferson township, Sullivan county ; Wiley, deceased ; Mary married Sherman Hull and resides in Linton, Indi- ana ; Alonzo, residing in Stockton township, Greene county, Indiana, mar- ried Elizabeth Beck.
Mr. Pool, of this narrative, received a common school education and graduated from the Linton high school. Politically he is a Republican. He is connected with the Knights of Pythias order, lodge No. 358, at Pleasantville, and is the vice-chancellor of his lodge. He set out for himself at the age of twenty-one years as a coal miner in the mines of Greene county, Indiana, continuing there until 1906, when he went to Pleasantville and there engaged in the general mercantile business, and is still thus engaged. Besides his stock of goods he owns about fourteen hundred dollars worth of real estate in Pleasantville.
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.