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 46
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In 1896 Mr. Nicholson was married to Myrtle Beckett, who was born in Hymera in 1875, a daughter of J. P. Beckett, who died several years ago, as did his wife. The only child of this union is a daughter, Rebah, who is attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson are members of the Methodist church.
CALEB J. THOMPSON, an honored resident of Hamilton township. Sullivan county, and a veteran of the Civil war, was born April 4, 1839. in Curry township, in the little village of Williamsburg, which place ceased to exist after Sullivan sprang up and overshadowed it. He is the son of James W. and Beulah (Hunt) Thompson, whose family sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Caleb J. remained at home in his native township until ten years of age, then moved to Turman township, and in a short time moved with the family to Hamilton township. In less than one week after Fort Sumter had been fired upon he offered his services to his country, enlisting April 18, 1861, as a member of Company I. Seven- teenth Indiana Infantry Regiment, as a private. He was soon promoted to corporal and then sergeant, serving faithfully in the Union cause until August 19. 1865, when he received an honorable discharge at Indian- apolis. His captains were Martin, Cubberley, Anderson and Louthan,
Vol. 11-24
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respectively. He participated in thirty-six different engagements, among which were Chickamauga, Shiloh, Knoxville, Tennessee, etc. His regi- ment served as infantrymen for nineteen months, after which they were mounted. On May 28, 1864, Mr. Thompson lost his right eye at Dallas, Georgia, and received a wound in the back at Plantersville, Alabama, April 1, 1865. This rebel ball is still carried in his back, and the one which destroyed his eye is now located just back of his ear. For his army hardships and wounds he receives a pension of twenty-four dollars a month. After the close of the war Mr. Thompson returned to Hamilton township and has farmed ever since, now owning a farm of ninety acres.
Politically he is a firm supporter of Republican principles. He very naturally finds a hearty welcome in Gaskin Grand Army Post No. 564, at Farmersburg. He was united in marriage September 1, 1868, to Sarah E. Higdon, born February 19, 1849, and died April 12, 1888. She was the daughter of William W. Higdon and wife, and a sister of Edmond Thompson's wife. By this union four children were born: Effie, de- ceased ; Viola, deceased ; James H., now residing in Sullivan ; and William P., who resides in Texas. After the death of his first wife Mr. Thompson married, February 26, 1889, Mary F. Osborn, born February 23, 1855, in Curry township, but has lived in Hamilton township since she was about six years of age. She received her education at the common country schools and at the high school at Sullivan. She taught one season after leaving school. Her parents were Thomas and Martha (Pinkston) Os- burn ; her mother still lives, but her father died in May, 1904. He was a native of Kentucky and came to Sullivan county, Indiana, when about four months of age, and when old enough followed the life of a farmer. By Mr. Thompson's second marriage one daughter was born, Cozy B., born February 7, 1894, and is still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are identified with church work, he being a member of the Baptist and his wife of the Methodist church.
EDMOND W. THOMPSON, one of the industrious and successful agri- culturists of Hamilton township, Sullivan county, Indiana, is a true type of an American citizen, and no more exalted title can be conferred upon any person, for in all that is good America affords the best. Mr. Thomp- son was born August 20, 1845, in Hamilton township, a son of James W. and Beulah (Hunt) Thompson. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother of North Carolina, born October 30, 1816, and died in Hamilton township, May 20, 1906. The date of the father's birth was 1813, and he died in February, 1864. James W. Thompson came to Sullivan county, Indiana, when a mere boy, and was always a farmer and stock-raiser. Politically he voted the Whig ticket early in life, and when the organization of the Republican party was effected he united with that and was ever true to its teachings and principles. Both he and his wife were worthy members of the Baptist church. He served his country a short time during the dark days of the rebellion as a member of Com-
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pany I, Seventeenth Indiana Regiment. James W. and Beulah (Hunt) Thompson were the parents of thirteen children, only three of whom are now living ; Caleb J .; Edmond W .; and Rachel L., the latter the wife of Henry Christopher, now residing in Wyoming ..
Edmond W. Thompson obtained his education at the schools of Hamilton township, and remained at home until he enlisted, August 21, 1863, in Company F, One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, known as the "Persimmon Brigade." He served six months and then re-enlisted (rather, went as a substitute) in the fall of 1864 with the Fifty-ninth Indiana Regiment, as a member of Company D, with which command he remained until the close of the war. That the family was one pos- sessed of true patriotism, it only needs to be stated that his father and four brother were all in the Union army. All were indeed fortunate and returned home to follow the more peaceful pursuits, and that within a free nation. After the war the subject returned to the old homestead and lived with his mother until he married, after which she lived with him until her death in 1906. Mr. Thompson owns a valuable farm prop- erty of almost a hundred acres on the north side of Hamilton township, near the village of Shelburn. He also deals some in real estate. Politi- cally he is of the Republican party faith. He was married, January 21, 1883, to Annora B. Higdon, born in Hamilton township, August 12, 1859, a daughter of William W. and Nancy ( Coghill) Higdon. Mrs. Thomp- son's mother died in 1902, and her father resides in Curry township, near Shelburn. Mrs. Thompson received her education in her native township schools. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of nine children, born in the following order : Charles Wesley, born November 21, 1883, married Sadie McCammeron and they reside in Shelburn; Oliver Caleb, born December 29, 1885, unmarried and at home; Ethel May, born January 23, 1888; unmarried and at home; William H. H., born February 12, 1890; Eveline, born June II, 1892; Leona, born March 13, 1894; Hobart, born May 13, 1897; and the two youngest children were twins, born October 25, 1899. This family were all well educated, and Charles Wesley attended the Danville Normal. The parents and daughter Ethel M. are members of the Baptist church.
MRS. MAHALA CONNER, numbered among the pioneers of this section of Indiana, justly finds space in this connection with which to make a family record of her people, who have had no small part in the developing of the country to its present high state of cultivation. Mrs. Conner was born March 24, 1839, in Coshocton county, Ohio, the daughter of Samuel S. and Jestena (Darling) Severns. Her parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father born October 17, 1794, and the mother May 22, 1800. She died in 1850, while her husband survived until 1873. They were married in Ohio and were sturdy farmers. He was in the war of 1812-14. His wife was a devoted member of the Baptist church. They were the parents of thirteen children, Mrs. Conner being next to the
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youngest in the family, and there were nine daughters and four sons, all now deceased but four : Cordelia and Ellen, both of whom reside in Ohio, and Sovenia in Greene county, Indiana.
Mrs. Conner was married September 10, 1857, just prior to coming to Indiana, to Isaac Conner, born in Holmes county, Ohio, February 27, 1835. He went to Coshocton county with his mother when he was a mere lad and received his education in that section of the state. He was of Irish descent, and always followed farming pursuits for his livelihood. He was both a grain and stock farmer, and highly successful. He owned five hundred and sixty acres at the time of his death, which event occurred June 25, 1902. When he first came to Sullivan county the now enter- prising town of Sullivan was not in existence. His father, James Conner, and wife came to Sullivan county in 1838, remained about two years, when the father was killed, after which Isaac and his mother went to Ohio, and he there remained until his marriage. Mrs. Conner arrived in Sullivan county in October, 1857, and at once began keeping house on the farm. The ten children born to Isaac Conner and wife were as fol- lows: Frank, born July 6, 1858, and is now a retired farmer living in Sullivan ; Effie and Emma, born September 29, 1860-Emma died August 3, 1893, and Effie is now the wife of John Wilson, residing in Turman township, Sullivan county ; Samuel, born December 18, 1863, is a resident of Hamilton township; Flora, born January 4, 1865, is now wife of John M. Woodard, residing in Hamilton township; Stewart, born August 6, 1867, resides with his mother ; Luella, born December 12, 1869, is now the wife of Frank Wible; James Harvey, born April 21, 1871, wedded Maude Daily and resides in Curry township; Gertrude, born April 17, 1874, is the wife of John H. Park and resides in Sullivan ; and Myrtle, born March 10, 1878, is the wife of Benjamin Mattix and resides in Hamilton township.
Mrs. Conner has eighteen grandchildren. In 1889 Mr. Conner built a fine eight-room brick farm house-one of the best in Sullivan county. Mrs. Conner still occupies the old homestead and rents her land to others, who care for it. Both Mr. and Mrs. Conner were acceptable members of the Christian church. Mr. Conner is interred in Walls cemetery, where his parents also are buried.
WALTER R. WARD, D.D.S .- The name of Walter R. Ward is familiar to the residents of Sullivan county through his membership with one of its most honored families and through his identification with its pro- fessional life. He now has the distinction of being the only practicing dentist in Hymera. He received his dental training in the Louisville College of Dentistry, in which he matriculated in 1900, and in 1903 he completed the course and graduated. On the 15th of May of the same year he opened an office in Hymera, and in addition to being its only practicing dentist he also has an office at Coalmont in Clay county, where he practices on Mondays of each week. He is rapidly winning for himself a name and place in the front rank of his profession, and his well known
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ability has brought to him the success which he now enjoys. He is identified with the fraternal life of the city through his membership with the Knights of Pythias order, and he is a member of the Elks at Linton, this state. He is also a worthy and acceptable member of the Methodist church.
Rev. John A. Ward, who has also been long and prominently identi- fied with the professional life of Sullivan county as a Methodist minister, is the father of the doctor and was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, December 25, 1839, of Scotch and English descent. He received his early educational training in the common schools of this state, and in 1847 moved with his parents, Steven and Adeline (Baxter) Ward, to Putnam county, this state. The mother was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1816, near Cincinnati, and was of English descent, while the father was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1812, and died in 1881. He came north when but twelve years of age and located in Wayne county, Indiana, from whence he moved to Illinois, and was a farmer and miller there, having worked on a number of patent rights. He was living in Morgan county, Indiana, at the time of his death.
Rev. Ward began his professional career as a school teacher at the age of twenty-one years, and after teaching in the district schools of Morgan county for two terms he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering on the 12th of August, 1862, the Seventieth Volunteer Infantry as a private, and his services continued until the 12th of June, 1865, meanwhile taking part in the battles of Russelville, Kentucky, Dallas Woods, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, the Atlanta campaign, and was under fire in all about one hundred days. Rev. Ward was in the same division with Captain William T. Crawford, and General Harrison was their colonel. After returning from the army he entered the Method- ist ministry, having been ordained at Bloomington, Indiana, in the fall of 1870, and during his ministry he has served as pastor at Francisco, Shoals, Fredericksburg, Corydon, Greenville, Salem, Sullivan, Washing- ton, Mooresville, Indianapolis, and Rockport, having also been presiding elder of the Rockport district, Bedford, Vincennes, thence back to Sulli- van, New Albany, and College Corners. In October, 1906, he retired from active ministerial work, and he and his wife are living in Hymera. She was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, April 5, 1838, and they became the parents of seven children,-Laura, Charlie, Ella, Frank, Harry, John and Walter, but Frank is now deceased.
Rev. Ward is loved and honored for his nobility of character, his integrity and his promptness in all things, and his life and achievements worthily illustrate what may be attained by painstaking effort. He has been a life-long Republican.
MARSHAL B. SMITH, who is identified with the industrial interests of Hymera in connection with the barber business, was born in Cass township, Sullivan county, Indiana, November 9, 1858, a son of Joseph and Nancy (Posey) Smith, whose history will be found in the sketch of
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Douglas Smith in this work. The son Marshal grew to years of maturity on his parents' farm, receiving his education in the district school of the neighborhood, and when he was but fifteen years of age he began work- ing by the month for George Patton. During the five years following his first business venture he worked for others at farm labor and then began farming for himself in Hamilton township. After six years there he sold his farm and began clerking in a store in Terre Haute, and after several years became connected with the Walter A. Wood Harvester Machine Company in the capacity of a traveling salesman.
It was at the close of his connection with that company in 1888 that Mr. Smith entered mercantile life in Terre Haute, but after four or five years there he located at Dugger, and he remained there until January of 1895. On the 15th of February, 1896, he came to Hymera and has ever since been the proprietor of one of the leading barber shops here. He owns his own place of business and conducts three chairs in his shop. He has also been the vice-president of the Union Building Association of Hymera since its organization, as well as one of its principal stockholders.
Mr. Smith was married in 1878 to Elizabeth Gardner, a daughter of Green Gardner, and she was born on the 26th of April, 1851, and died in 1886, leaving one daughter, Roxie, who was born June 9, 1879, and is now the wife of Floyd McGregor, of Winfield, Kansas. On the Ist of November, 1898, Mr. Smith wedded Bettie Buress, a native daughter of Owen county, Indiana, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Smith has membership relations with the Knights of Pythias, Paul Revere Lodge No. 374, at Terre Haute; with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Terre Haute Lodge No. 51, and with the Elks, Lodge No. 911. He is a Republican in his political views.
CLYDE LEE BEASLEY .-- Among the younger representatives of the business interests of Hymera is Clyde L. Beasley, who has spent the greater part of his life here and is well known in the business and social circles of this community. He was but twenty years of age when he started in the drug business in company with his brothers, Bert and William, the three forming the firm of Beasley Brothers, and the store has ever since been conducted under that name, although Clyde L. has since purchased his brothers' interests and since the fall of 1904 has been the sole proprietor of the business. He carries a full and complete line of drugs, drug sundries, wall paper, paints, oils, school books, cigars, tobacco, clocks, jewelry, and many other articles found in a store of this character, and transacts a large business in an up-to-date and satis- factory manner.
Hymera's popular druggist was born in Shelburn, Indiana, Septem- ber 19, 1883, a son of Samuel and Lucy (Rodgers) Beasley and a grand- son of Ephraim Beasley, a native of Tennessee and in his lifetime a very large farmer and stock buyer, and William Rodgers, who was born in Kentucky. He was a prominent contractor and also owned a farm in
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Hamilton township. Samuel and Lucy (Rodgers) Beasley were born respectively in Sullivan county, Indiana, and in Kentucky, and their home is now in Hymera, where Mr. Beasley has lived as a retired farmer since 1905. Their six children are Bert, whose home is in Terre Haute ; William, also of that city; Clyde Lee; Clifton, of Hymera; and Pearl and Anna, both at home.
The Democracy receives Mr. Beasley's active support and co-opera- tion, and he is a member of the Red Men, Chicopee Tribe No. 319, at Hymera, and of the Elks at Linton, Indiana, Lodge No. 866.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS BAILEY, a Civil war veteran and a prosperous farmer of Turman township, Sullivan county, was born near New Bed- ford, Massachusetts, on the 19th of June, 1847. His birthplace was on the home farm of his parents, Oliver and Lillis ( Phillips) Bailey. His father, who was born in Rhode Island in 1808, died near Big Springs, Turman township, in the year 1863. The widow, born in New York state in 1808, survived her husband until 1887, when she died on the farm now the homestead of William P. Bailey. In 1855 the paternal family removed from Massachusetts to Warren county, Ohio, where the father continued his farming until 1861, when he migrated again, locating in Turman township during the month of August of the year named. The homestead was first near Big Springs, where the father died within two years of thus locating his family in what was then the far west. The deceased was a Republican, and served in the Mexican war, and both parents were members of the Christian church. The following children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Bailey: John, who is now a resident of Merom; William, of this sketch; Oliver Irvin, who lives in Oklahoma, and Elizabeth, now deceased. The above named were all born in Massachusetts.
William Bailey had received but a district school education when, at the age of seventeen, he did his part in the support of the Union by enlisting in the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, becoming a member of Company F on the 9th of November, 1864. After serving one year, during which he participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. Tennessee, and other engagements in the campaigns of the southwest, he was honorably discharged at Victoria, Texas. Mr. Bailey is now drawing a pension for injuries received while in the faithful discharge of his soldierly duties. While away at the front the farm in Turman township was purchased by his mother, and at the conclusion of the war he located thereon to assist in its cultivation and management. His settlement on the property which he now owns dates from January, 1866, and a few years thereafter he purchased it from his mother and the heirs. It was here that the mother passed away in 1887, at the venerable age of nearly eighty years.
The fine homestead owned so many years by Mr. Bailey consists of one hundred and ninety acres of valuable land, devoted both to grain
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farming and the raising of stock, the latter feature of his business being confined to hogs. Like many other old soldiers, Mr. Bailey has always voted for the Republican party.
In September, 1889, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Colvin, a native of Wheatland, Knox county, born February 28, 1860, a daughter of William and Elsie ( Adams) Colvin, natives of Merom. Both of her parents died when she was quite young. Mrs. Bailey is a member of the Meth- odist church and a most worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of Turman township.
JACOB FRANKLIN HOUPT, a veteran of the Civil war and one of the substantial agriculturists of Turman township, Sullivan county, was born April 18, 1847, in Gill township, a son of Jacob and Sarah H. (James) Houpt. The father was born in North Carolina in 1812, and died in August, 1892, and the good mother, also a native of that state, was born in Iredell county in 1813, and died in 1848. After their marriage in their native state this worthy couple migrated to Sullivan county, spending the winter of 1836 in Gill township, and then going to Missouri, where they purchased eighty acres of land near the present site of the town of Mexico. After owning this property two years, they sold it and returned to Gill township, where the elder Mr. Houpt commenced to purchase land, and at his death owned two hundred and forty acres, known as the "Half-way Woods," between Sullivan and Merom. In his political views Jacob Houpt was a stanch Democrat, while both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he himself was a zealous worker in the Sunday school. To Mr. and Mrs. Houpt were born the following children: Martha, deceased; Thomas J., residing in Gill town- ship; Sarah E. and Susan, deceased; Mary F., unmarried; William A., proprietor of a hotel in Chicago; John W., a retired Methodist minister residing in Marion county, Indiana; Henry L., who died at Calhoun, Kentucky, in 1862, while in the Union army, serving as a member of Company D, Thirty-first Indiana Infantry ; Robert K., of Gill township; Julia, deceased ; and Jacob F., of this memoir. For his second wife Mr. Houpt married Mrs. Cynthia A. Linsley, who died in March, 1900, the mother of one son, Morris M., also deceased.
Jacob F. Houpt, of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm and continued to reside at home until he was sixteen years of age, when he enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, November 21, 1863, and served until September, 1865, never receiving a wound during his term of service. He took active part in the battle at Spring Hill, Ten- nessee, which lasted three hours; was also in the engagement at Nash- ville December 15 and 16, 1864, after which he participated in the entire Hood campaign, which ended at Pulaski, Tennessee. He was honorably discharged and draws a small pension from the general government. After the war Mr. Houpt returned to the old homestead in Gill township, remaining there until 1870, going then to Turman township, where he commenced farming on his own property. Later he purchased eighty
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acres of land where he is now located, subsequently adding thirty acres and making his present farm a tract of one hundred and ten acres. It is situated two miles east of Graysville and is highly improved, making him a man of independence.
Politically Mr. Houpt is a Republican. He belongs to the Odd Fel- lows order, lodge No. 584, at Graysville. He was united in marriage in August, 1870, to Sarah A. Burton, who was born in Turman township and is a daughter of Nelson and Mahala (Dodd) Burton. The latter, a Kentuckian, is still living in her eighty-eighth year. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Houpt : Clara, now the wife of A. D. Morris ; Charles W., who married Edna Ridgeway and resides on the home farm, being his father's assistant; and Lexie, deceased. All the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the elder MIr. Houpt has served as trustee and steward.
All in all Mr. Houpt may well count life a success. Commencing his career as a soldier when but a youth of fifteen, he passed unscathed through that terrible strife, and with a healthy body began the real activities of life. He has since been able to make a handsome competency, is an honored citizen, and is blessed with a family wherein both love and intelligence prevail.
WILLIAM WESLEY WIBLE has been a farmer of Turman township, Sullivan county, ever since he was old enough to perform the labors of such an occupation. He was born April 24, 1844, in the township in which he still resides, a son of John V. and Mary (Grigsby) Wible. The father was a native of Washington county, Indiana, born March 27, 1816, and he died April 22, 1879, in Turman township. His wife (subject's mother) was born in Orange county, Indiana, January 15, 1821, and died March 24, 1894. They were married in Orange county in March of 1842, and went to Sullivan county in the same year. He settled first on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Turman township which he had previously entered, in about 1840. To this he later added another eighty acre tract, making him an even two hundred acre farm. This truly worthy couple died on this place. He was by trade a carpenter, but never followed it after his marriage. Politically he was a Democrat, while both he and his wife were members of the Church of Christ. To them were born the following children: One who died in infancy ; William W., the subject of this sketch; Perlina, deceased ; Adam Walter, running a livery business at Sullivan ; Susan J., wife of Solomon J. Dix, of Nebraska ; Margaret A., deceased, who married W. W. Moore, also deceased ; and Perlina, who married Return J. Turman, whose family sketch appears elsewhere within this work.
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