A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 105

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

USA > Indiana > Boone County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 105
USA > Indiana > Clinton County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 105
USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 105

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).

sons in the war, Ira, John, Chauncy and Perry. John and Chauncy were in the Forty- first Illinois infantry and served four and one- half years. Ira and Perry,were in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois infantry. Perry died at home of lung-fever after a service of a few months.

Ira Goodrich, our subject, was born in Put- nam county, Ind., May 6, 1834, and went with the family to Illinois when he was twen- ty-two years of age. He enlisted in Christian county, Ill., in Company E, One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois infantry, August 13, 1862, and was honorably discharged, on account of the closing of the war, at Nashville, Tenn., June 11, 1865. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, where a ball grazed his left temple, Dallas, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and Kenesaw Mountain, and was at the battle of Atlanta, where McPherson was killed, and he saw his body on the field. His regiment returned with Gen. Thomas to Nashville and engaged in the battle of Franklin, and the battle at Nashville, and was afterward (on Christmas, 1864) in the battle of Pulaski, and was also at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. He was in hospital but one month, with sickness, at Nashville, and was once taken prisoner with thirty comrades at Lexing- ton, Ky., but was shortly afterward parolled. After the war he returned home and engaged in farming. He had married, November 10, 1859, Mary, daughter of John and Barbara (Shirley) Millman. John Millman was from Ohio, later from Decatur county, Ind., and was a hatter by trade and a farmer, and owned 120 acres of land, on which he settled in 1847. Mr. Millman was the father of Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth, John, Andrew J., Adrian, George, Jacob, Mary and Harriet, by his first wife; and by Sarah Goodrich, his second wife, he had three children, Hannah, Barbara and Justus B. He had five sons in the Civil war, as fol-

996

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

lows: John, Andrew; Jacob, Andrew and Joel, all in Indiana regiments. Mr. Millman died . at the age of eighty-seven, a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist church. After marriage, Mr. Goodrich and wife went to Christian county, Ill .; afterward moved to Putnam county, Ind., and finally settled in- Hendricks county in 1888, bought a homestead of forty acres and built a neat residence and barn. In pol- itics he is a republican and a member of John Layton post, No. 237, G. A. R., of Coatsville. Mr. Goodrich belongs to a family of American soldiers who have fought in all the wars of their country, and his descendants may well take an honest pride in the loyal patriots from whom they descend.

J OSEPH W. ELROD, of Coatsville, Hendricks county, Ind., was one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and is an honored and substantial citizen. His grandfather, Jeremiah Elrod, came from Ger- many and settled in Stokes county, N. C., where he married and reared a family of chil- dren. Joseph Elrod, son of the above, was a North Carolinian, and married Catherine Swain, and to them were born seven children : Jesse F., Jeremiah H., Barbara A., Mary M., Lucy C., Charles W., and Joseph W. Mr. Elrod was killed instantly by the falling of a tree, in 1836. Two sons, Charles W. and Joseph W., were in the Civil war.

Joseph W, Elrod, our subject, was born in Wayne county, Ind., where his father had moved, in 1834. He enlisted July 21, 1862, at Fillmore, Putnam county, Ind., in company I, Fifty-fifth Indiana infantry, for three years and while on a transport on the Ohio river was stock. His ancestors were early settlers of Long Island, N. Y., and Pennsylvania. His grandfather was a farmer of Stokes county, N. C., coming there from Bethlehem, Pa. attacked by the enemy, the only engagement he was in, which was below Caseyville, Ky., he served out his time and was honorably dis- charged. He was seriously sick with the | John C. Gambold, the father- of our subject,

measles and chronic diarrhea, and disabled, and this for one year almost prevented him from re-enlisting. He re-enlisted, however, February 21, 1865, at Indianapolis, in com- pany H, Eleventh Indiana infantry, for one year or during the war, and was honorably discharged August 7, 1865, on account of the closing the war. He married in Putnam county, Ind., Elvira A., daughter of Henry and Jane K. (Dick) Shields, May 29, 1864, and to Mr. and Mrs. Elrod were born three children: Walter B., Oscar C. and Ella. After marriage, Mr. Elrod engaged in the saw-mill business at Coatsville, and carried on this business until 1866, and has farmed since. He bought land in Putnam county, lived with his father-in-law from 1884 until 1889, and then settled on his present farm. He is a re- publican and a member of John A. Layton post, G. A. R., at Coatsville. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Elrod is in good circumstances, owning 100 acres of land. All his children have good educations. One son, Walter, at- tended the DePauw university for two years, also the State university, and is now a teacher; Ella is a teacher at Amo, and was educated at the State Normal school. The remainder of the children are at home. Mr. Elrod is an honored and respected citizen and has one of the most amiable families in Hendricks county.

e RI A. GAMBOLD, of Coatsville, Ind .. one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, and a respected citizen and farmer of Clay township, Hendricks Ind., comes from Holland Dutch county,

997

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

was a farmer of North Carolina and there married Nancy, daughter of Jesse Swim, and to Mr. and Mrs. Gambold were born seven children: Levi, Eri, Louisa, Jane, Josephus, Narcissus and Cynthia. Three of these sons were in the Civil war, Josephus and Eri serving in the Twenty-seventh Indiana infantry and Levi in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth in- fantry. In 1836 Mr. Gambold moved to Indi- ana and settled on a farm in Hendricks county near Amo, lived to be about sixty-seven years of age, died a member of the Methodist church and in politics was a republican. He was a carpenter in his later days and an honor- able, industrious man, who brought up a re- spected family of children.

Eri A. Gambold, our subject, was born in Stokes county, N. C., September 7, 1833, and was but three years old when brought by his parents to Hendricks county, Ind. He was reared a farmer, received a common education in the pioneer schools, and was brought up a farmer among the pioneers. He enlisted in July, 1861, in company A, Twenty-seventh In- diana infantry, at Coatsville, under Capt. A. L. Morrison and Col. Silas Colgrove, for three years or during the war. He served out his time and was honorably discharged and veteranized in the same organization February 14, 1863, served until the close of the war, was honorably dis- charged at Louisville, Ky., July 23, 1865, and returned home August 6, 1863, where he was paid off at Indianapolis and received his dis- charge, dated as aforesaid. He was in the battle of Winchester, Cedar Mountain, and Antietam, where he was shot through the heel, which lamed and disabled him, and he was in hos- pital at Philadelphia nine months. Pieces of . shattered bone continued to come out from his wound for months, so that it was a long time in healing. He then rejoined his regiment and was in the famous Atlanta campaign, the battles of Bentonville, Dallas, Resaca, Cassville, New

Hope church, Pumpkin Vine, Kenesaw Moun- tain and Peach Tree Creek, and was in Sher- man's march to the sea, and Hawesboro and at Bentonville on the return march to Washing- ton, and took part in the grand review, which was one of the greatest sights in history. After this he returned home and engaged in railroad work and bridge carpentering on the Vandalia railroad from 1865 to 1870.

Mr. Gambold married, in 1370, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Johnson) By- ram. Mr. Byram was a merchant from Ohio, now of Clayton, and aged about seventy years. He was the father , of seven children: John, James (soldier), Edward, Charles Caroline, Lizzie and Indiana. Mr. Byram is an hon- orable, respected citizen and a member of the Methodist church. After marriage Mr. Gambold settled on his present farm, consisting of seven- ty acres, where he has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Gambold have been born four chil- dren, Maud (died aged twenty-three years), Orissa, Edie, and Anna. Mrs. Gambold is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Gam- bold is a member of the G. A. R., John A. Layton post, Coatsville, and has held the office of senior vice-commander. Mr. Gam- bold is one of the most industrious and hard- working men, and has reared a highly respected family.

S AMUEL OLIVER, of Coatsville, Hendricks county, Ind., is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, as well as a respected citizen, who springs from an old American colonial family of North Carolina, of sterling English ances- try. His grandfather, James Oliver, was the first of the family to come from England and settle in North Carolina and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He and his wife Susan, were the parents of seven children, of

998

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

whom, John, Betsy and Samuel are all that are remembered. James Oliver was a pros- perous farmer in Rockingham county, N. C., and reached the great age of ninety-three years. He owned eight or ten slaves and was a much respected citizen.

Samuel Oliver, father of our subject, was born in Rockingham county, N. C., and mar- ried there Obedience Alley, and to them were born eight children, viz: James, Mary, Ruth, Amy A., John, Alexander, Samuel and Martha. Mr. Oliver was a farmer owning 160 acres of land and passed all his days on his farm. When he was a young man he served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and was at the battle of New Orleans. He was a mein- ber of the Missionary Baptist church, lived to be about sixty years of age, and died on his farm. He was industrious and hard-working, of honorable character, and a good citizen, who brought up a respected family. Samuel Oliver, his son and our subject, was born Octo- ber 28, 1834, on his father's farm in Rocking- ham county, N. C., and came to Jefferson county, Ind., at the age of nine years, in 1843, with his mother, who moved here with her family, and bought a small farm, and here she lived the remainder of her days. She was a hard-working, pious woman, of great perseverance and energy.

Samuel Oliver was brought up a farmer and married in Putnam county, Ind., at the age of twenty-three years, in 1860, Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin and Susan (Alley) Short. Mr. Oliver enlisted the next year, September 2, 1861, in company I, Twenty-seventh Indiana infantry, at Fillmore, Ind., under Capt. Joel McGrew and Col. Silas Colgrove, for three . years or during the war. He served three years and twenty-four days and was honorably discharged on account of the expiration of his term of service. He was in the battles of Cedar Mountain and Winchester, and in sev-

eral skirmishes on Pope's retreat, and in the second battle of Bull's Run, Antietam, and many hard skirmishes. He was taken sick in November, 1862, at Dam No. 4, on the Po- tomac, with pneumonia, and was in hospital six months at Frederick City, Md., and York; Pa. He was then transferred to the invalid corps in November, 1863, at Washington, D. C., and Albany, N. Y., and was discharged there, September 26, 1864. While in the in- valid corps he was with the soldiers who brought the long bridge across the Susquehanna river at Columbia, Pa., to prevent Lee's troops from crossing. Mr. Oliver remembers the battle of Cedar Mountain as the most severe of all the battles he was in. At the battle of Winches- ter, however, more men were lost. Mr. Oliver was an active and efficient soldier and was in all the battles, skirmishes and marches of his regiment, and did his duty promptly and cheer- fully, and was promoted to corporal. After the war he returned to Putnam county, Ind., where he had settled previously, and he lived there until 1872. To Mr. and Mrs. Oliver eight children were born-Samuel, Benjamin, Sarah, Susan, Luella, Otis, Myrtle and one that died an infant.

Mrs. Oliver died in December, 1883, and Mr. Oliver married in Hendricks county, where he had settled in 1872, Mary E. Pierson, née Stanley, daughter of Cyrus and Lucy (Elrod) Stanley. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver became the parents of two children, Tennie L. and Thurs- ton R. They lived in Coatsville until June, 1894, when they settled in their present home. Mrs. Oliver is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the G. A. R., George A. Layton post, Coatsville. He is a straightforward, industrious citizen, and has the respect of all who know him. Mrs. Oliver's first husband, Thomas H. Pierson, was a soldier of Putnam county in company A, Twenty-seventh Indiana infantry, and served

999

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

three years, and was honorably discharged on account of disability. He died in July, 1887, a member of the Methodist church, and was an honest, industrious man ..

Cyrus L. Stanley, father of Mrs. Oliver, was born in North Carolina April 6, 1831, and came to Indiana when a young man, and mar- ried, in. Putnam county, Lucy Elrod (born September 14, 1831, and died in May, 1850). By this marriage two children were born- Mary E. and Cassander A. (deceased.) Mrs. Oliver was born in Putnam county, Ind., June 5, 1852, and is the eldest child of her parents who lived. Mrs. Stanley died, and he mar- ried Mrs. Sarah J. Duckworth, nee Brann, and by her had six children. Three died infants and three lived-Eva E., Ena E., and Oscar O. Mr. Stanley is a merchant of Coatsville.

EWELL BROWN, of Reno. Hen- dricks county, Ind., is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, is a sta- tionary engineer and a respected citi- zen, and was born in Putnam county. Ind., October 24, 1838, and is the son of Stephen and Anna (McGuire; Brown. The Browns were an old American family from North Carolina, and the grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Stephen Brown was a farmer and pioneer of Hendricks county, and of Putnam county, where he died, a member of the Methodist church, an industrious and respected citizen, and in politics a republican. He had four sons in the Civil war-Tillman, Elkana, George W. and Newel-in Indiana regiments, the two first in the Fifty-first infantry. The remaining children of Mr. Brown are Harmon, Eliza A., Mary J., Lee, Elvira, Becka E. and Columbus.

Newel Brown, our subject. was brought up in Putnam county, Ind., received a com-

mon education at the pioneer schools and learned stationary engineering. He enlisted at Fillmore, Putnam county, in company H, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Indiana infantry, for six months or during the war. He served out his time and was honorably dis- charged at Indianapolis, Ind. His service was guard duty at Cumberland Gap and other points in Tennessee. He was sick with chronic diarrhea and by it disabled. He married in Putnam county, Ind., January 16, 1868, Ellen, daughter of P. and Mary J. (Pierson) Etchy- son. Mr. Etchyson was from Putnam county, Ind. He lived to be only about twenty-three years of age, surviving his wife but one year. They left two children, Ellen and Paulina. He was a member of the Methodist church, and he and wife both died of quick consumption, engendered from the climate of west Illinois, where he was engaged in clearing a farm. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brown settled in Putnam county, Ind., and then moved to Hendricks county and settled near Reno, and shortly after 'invested in the property where they now live. Mr. Brown is a member of the G. A. R., John A. Layton post, and in politics is a republican. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Methodist church. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born six children -Samuel O., Stephen, Dora J., Zola, Gerty A. and James E. Dora J. married Robert Gross, a farmer of Clay township, and has two children; Samuel O. married Maggie Walters, is the father of one child and is a section hand on the Big 4 railroad; Zola married Franklin Estep, also a railroader. The remaining chil- dren are at home. Three of Mr. Brown's sisters also had husbands in the war, viz: Wm. Allen. who married Mary J. Brown and was shot dead through the head at the battle of Antietam; John Lewis, who married Leona Brown, served through the war and was in many battles; Hiram Busby, who married

1000

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Elvira Brown, served through the war, was wounded and died from the effects. This is a noble record for one family, of whom seven served to preserve the Union.'

J OSEPH WILLIAMS, of Clay township, Hendricks county, Ind., is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, and an honor- ed citizen. His father, Joseph Will- iams, was born in 1810, in Ohio, and was the son of William Williams, a Quaker preacher, and the family have lived in America since its earliest history. Joseph Williams married, in Highland county, Ohio, Catherine Underwood. To them were born eleven children: Phœbe, Hamilton, Joseph, Stephen, James, Mary, Jonathan, Moses and Aaron (twins), Luther, and Jesse. Directly after marriage, before the birth of his first child, Joseph Williams moved to Indiana and settled in Carroll county, and remained there two years, and then moved, about 1833 or 1834, to Hendricks county, and settled in Franklin township. He bought one hundred acres in the woods, cleared up his land and reared his family. He was born in the Quaker church, but was expelled on ac- count of his marriage, and never returned to the fold. In politics he was an abolitionist and a republican, was a strong Union man during the war, and had four sons in the army, Joseph, Stephen, James and Moses. Stephen was in the Nineteenth Indiana infantry, served three years and was wounded in battle. Moses was in the One Hundred and Twenty- fourth Indiana infantry, enlisted for three years and was shot through the hand on the Atlanta campaign, also shot in left leg. James enlisted in the Sixty-third Indiana infantry for three years, and died six months later from sickness at Indianapolis. Joseph Williams, father of our subject, became a substantial farmer and moved, in 1860, to Marion county,

Ind., six miles west of Indianapolis, where he died in 1887. Mr. Williams and wife were members of the United Brethren church, in which he was a local preacher. He was a justice of the peace for several years and was respected by all who knew him. :

Joseph Williams; our subject, was born, January 10, 1839, in Franklin township; Hen- dricks county, received the ordinary pioneer education, and learned farming, also the cooper trade, and the trade of stone-mason of his father. In July, 1862, he enlisted, at Indian- apolis, in company K, Fifty-fifth Indiana in- fantry, to serve three months, under Capt. James Laymon, filled out his time, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, Ind., in October, 1862. His services were in Ken- tucky, where he was in the battle of Richmond and a skirmish at Shepardsville. He returned home and married, December 11, 1862, in Franklin township, Catherine Crews, daughter of William and Sarah (Frazier) Crews. Mr. Crews came from North Carolina to this county about 1851, and he and his wife- were the parents of seven children: Ashley, John, Isaac, Manassa, Sewell, Catherine, and Melissa. Ashley and John were both soldiers in the Civil war, served about seven months, and were honorably discharged at the closing of the war. Mr. Crews lived to be about seventy-eight years old, and, with his wife, was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. After mar- riage Mr. Williams resided at Coatsville, en- listed in February, 1865, at Indianapolis, Ind., in company H, Eleventh Indiana infantry, to serve one year, or during the war, but was honorably discharged, at Indianapolis, in Au- gust, 1865, on account of the closing of hos- tilities. His services were at Baltimore, Md., on fort duty. After the war Mr. Williams engaged in various kinds of work-coopering, brick-laying, and finally in brick-making. and contracting brick-work-and has been gener-

1001

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

ally successful. He is a member of John Lay- ton post, G. A. R., and is now chaplain. Mr. Williams and wife are members of the Method- ist church, and he is a church trustee, and has been class leader and steward. As a re- publican, he has filled the office of justice of the peace four terms, and was elected for the fifth term, but declined. He has also filled other town offices, such as member of the council and trustee. To Mr. and Mrs. Will- iams three children have been born: Leni, George and Alva.

3 OHN M. CHAMPION. one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a respected citizen of Clay township, Hendricks county, Ind., was born in Delphi, Ohio, and is a son of Thomas and Martha (Moore) Champion. Thomas Champion was from an old Virginia family and was a prosperous farm- er of Hamilton county, Ohio, and the father of eight children: Robert, John M., William L., Andrew J., Sarah (died at twenty-five years), Elizabeth (died about twenty-five years old), Emeline and Thomas, who died young. Mr. Champion moved to Indiana in 1838 and settled in Morgan county, Adams township, on a farm which he entered, and died at forty years of age. He had three sous in the Civil war, John M., William L., and Andrew J. The last two were in the Thirty-third Indiana infantry, company A, as privates. William L. served from August, 1861, veteranized and served to the close of the war, making one of the longest records of Morgan county. He was wounded at Peach Tree Creek, July 22, 1863; he was taken prisoner at Cumberland Gap and confined in Libby prison, but had taken part in many battles. Andrew J. served about three years. John M., our subject, was but three years of age when he was brought to this state by his parents and was reared a farm-

er. He enlisted October II, 1861, at Indian- apolis, in company C, Fifty-first Indiana in- fantry. His first captain was James Sheets, his next was D. W. Hamilton, and then Aaron Dooley, of Hendricks county. He served un- til December 17, 1864, and was honorably dis- charged at Nashville, Tenn.

He was in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and reached Pittsburg Landing a few hours too late for that battle. He was in Straight's famous raid, leaving Nashville, Tenn., April I, 1862, and was on this raid one month and three days, nearly all the time under fire, day and night. The command was selected from the Fifty-first Indiana, Third Ohio, Seventy- third Indiana and Thirteenth Michigan mounted infantry, the soldiers going into the surround- ing country and gathering up the horses and mules from the farmers. After a series of bat- tles and skirmishes, Col. Straight was obliged to surrender near Rome, Ga., and Mr. Cham- pion was made a prisoner and was taken to Belle Isle, but fifteen days later was pa- roled. There was no shelter to speak of, the vermin was plentiful and the rations very meager-two inches square of corn bread and a small piece of mule meat, two inches square, served raw, for two days' rations. After his parole and a short furlough home, Mr. Cham- pion rejoined his regiment, served in Kentucky and was in several severe skirmishes, and was, beside, in the battle of Franklin, one of the hardest of the war; was on the field at Chatta- nooga and took part in the battle of Perryville, Ky. After the war, Mr. Champion came to Amo, Clay township, Hendricks county, Ind., and engaged in farming. He had married, be- fore the war, Peggy, daughter of William and Epervia (Orrell) Cosner. William Cosner was the father of six children, and his only son was a private in company B, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana infantry, and had served about seven months, when the war closed,

1002

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

After marriage, Mr. Champion settled on the old Cosner homestead, and after the war settled in Amo, where he has been engaged in farming and teaming, and is a substantial citizen and owner of real estate. To Mr. Champion and wife have been born four children: William (died an infant), Otis (died an infant), Dora B. (died aged seven years), and Charles, now a resident of Chicago. Mr. Champion and wife are members of the Methodist church, in which he has been class leader many years. He is also a member of Reuben Masten post, No. 431, G. A. R., of Amo, and he is a quarter- master. He has been supervisor two years and eonstable four years, and in politics is a re- publican. He is a well-known citizen, re- spected for christian worth and sterling moral character.

EORGE MEYERS, of Coatsville, Hendricks county, Ind., is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, who was. entirely disabled by his service to his country, contracting asthma from the expo- sure. He was born June 7, 1836, in Michi- gan, and his father was Henry Meyers, who married Martha McClain. The Meyerses were of Pennsylvania Dutch stock and the McClains were of Scotch-Irish extraction. George Mey- ers received a common school education and went to Iowa with his parents about 1850. He was brought up a farmer, and enlisted at Burlington and was sent to Ft. Madison, Iowa, August 21, 1861, in prompt response to the call for three years' troops, and was mustered into the United States service for three years on August 30, 1861, at Davenport, Iowa. He served until 1862, at Corinth, Miss .; was at the battle of Island No. 10; was at Shiloh in both battles at that place, and in several skir- mishes. The exposure and hardships of army life brought on epileptic fits, for which he was

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.

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080