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 113

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 113
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 113
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 113

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).

1054

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Simeon Templin was born on his father's farm in Center township, Hendricks county, Ind., May 23, 1836, was reared a farmer, re- ceived a common education and married, No- vember 15, 1860, Martha J., daughter of Robinson C. and Ailsey (Bonefield) Russell. Mr. Russell was from a North Carolina family of English descent. He resided in 1830, in Wayne county, Ind., for one year, and then settled in Center township, Hendricks county. He cleared up a good farm of 150 acres, be- came prosperous, reached the good age of eighty years, and died on his homestead, a member of the Methodist church, of which he was steward several years, and a man of integ- rity of character. To himself and wife were born four children: John C., Susan, Eliza- beth and Martha J., all born in Center town- ship, this county, where Mr. Russell came a young man. He was a school-teacher some years and in politics a whig, then a repub- lican. After marriage Mr. Templin settled on forty acres of land, now part of his home- stead, on which there was some timber cut. Mr. Templin enlisted at Danville, August 9, 1862, in company K, Seventieth regiment, In- diana volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, under Capt. Samuel Merrill and Col. Benjamin Harrison, afterwards presi- dent of the United States. Mr. Templin served until January 8, 1865, and was honor- ably discharged at Washington, D. C., on ac- count of the closing of the war. He was in the battles of Russellsville, Ky., Resaca, and in all the battles of the Atlantic campaign, in- cluding Kenesaw Mountain, Burnt Hickory, Marietta, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Vicksburg and Atlanta, and was with Sherman on that great- " est march in history, the famous march to the sea, and in the battles of Savannah, Benton- ville, and on the return march to Washing- ton and present at the grand review, and re- turned home.

He was an active soldier and in all the battles, skirmishes, and marches of his regi- ment and always did his duty cheerfully and promptly. He was sick at Nashville, Tenn., a short time of rheumatism. He endured all the hardships and privations of army life and is now greatly disabled from its effects. He believes his hardest battle to have been Resaca, in which fifty men were killed and 1 50 wounded out of his regiment. His hardest march was on the Atlanta campaign, in which he suffered greatly from exposure. After his return he resumed farming and prospered by thrift and hard work and added to his farm until he and his wife own 350 acres, Mrs. Templin having inherited 150 acres from her father. To them have been born three children: Sarah F., born February 7, 1862, and died December 29, 1865, in her fourth year; Robert S., born January 12, 1867, and died at twenty-two years March 23, 1889, and Leroy G., born December 1, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Templin are members of the Methodist church and he has been trustee for several years. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Templin is also a member of Jesse Ogden post, G. A. R., Dan- ville. They are giving their son, Leroy G., a liberal education. Their son, Robert S., was a talented young man and good scholar. He attended the Danville Normal, and was cut down in the pride of his young manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Templin are people of sterling worth and Mr. Templin stands high in his community. He receives a pension from the government of fourteen dollars. Mrs. Temp- lin's mother, Alsey Bonefield, was the daughter of Mereen and Susan (Hardesty) Bonefield. Mr. Bonefield was a native of Virginia, a pioneer of Kentucky, a soldier in the war of 1812, and about 1829 moved to Center township, Hen- dricks county, Ind., after he had reared his children, west of Danville on the Rockville river, and kept a tavern several years. He

1055

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

and wife were parent's of seven children: in the county on the democratic ticket this fall. William, Thomas, Nancy, Rachael, Elizabeth, ' He has been honored by the positions of stew- Matilda and Ailsey. Mr. Bonefield died at ; ard and class-leader in the Methodist church, about sixty years of age in 1849. He was a of which his wife is also a devout member. good farmer and a man of true worth.

HOMAS J. SANDUSKY, of White Lick, one of the young, progressive farmer citizens of Brown township, Hendricks county, Ind., is of Scotch descent. Jacob Sandusky, his grandfather, was born in Bourbon county, Ky., and there owned a large plantation and numerous slaves. He married a Miss Bowles, and died in that county, widely and favorably known. His son, James Sandusky, father of Thomas J., was born in Bourbon county, Ky., July 20, 1821. He grew up on his father's plantation, and married Susan Morgan, daughter of Thomas Morgan, who was from Vermillion county, Ill. The children born to this union were named Thomas J. and Mary A. The mother was, in religion, a Methodist, and the father a demo- crat in politics. They were married in Ver- million county, Ill., where they lived some years, then moved to Decatur county, Ind., later to Marion county, Ind., where his mother died. His father died May 16, 1893. Thomas J. Sandusky, our subject, was born May 14. 1856; he received a good common education. was reared and has always been used to farm labor. He married Susan E. Gibbs, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Burden) Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs is a democrat and a leading man in the Methodist church. The two children born to this union were named Iva M. and Grover T., both now in school. Our subject and wife set- tled on their present farm of 125 acres when first married. Our subject takes an active in- terest in the democratic party, and has held the office of justice ten years, and now has the honor of being the only township trustee elected

a APT. JAMES P. CATTERSON, a prominent farmer of Brown township, Hendricks county, Ind., is of Irish descent. His grandfather, James Patterson, emigrated from Ireland about 1774 and located in Virginia, and later in Pennsylvania. His grandfather's wife is sup- posed to have been a sister of Patrick Henry. They were married and four children were born to them in Ireland. After some years the children went to Kentucky, where they married. James Catterson, son of above, and father of our subject, was born in Ireland, in Donegal county. He married Sarah Wyant, of Kentucky, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Wyant, the former of whom was a slave-owner and planter and who became the father of the following chil- dren: Cyrus (deceased), Zerelda, Emerine, James P., Sarah (deceased), George, Eliza- beth, Mary, Robert, Margaret (deceased).

Robert Catterson was a soldier in the late Civil war in company A, Fourteenth regiment, Indiana infantry. He was wounded in the bat- tle of Antietam and soon as he recovered he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colo- nel of the Ninety-seventh Indiana volunteers. He led the charge at Jackson, Miss., and was promoted to brigadier general and honorably discharged with the rank of brevet major gen- eral. The father and mother of subject were married in Owen county, Ky., lived there some ten years, and then emigrated to Marion coun- ty. Ind., in the fall of 1832, where they owned 160 acres of land, cleared it up and made a nice home, all by hard work. The father was a Jackson democrat in politics, but afterward, when Jackson vetoed the bank law, he voted

1056

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

with the old-line whig party. He was a dea- con of the Missionary Baptist church many years and a charter member of Lick Creek church, and aided in building the old hewed log structure. He lived to see much improve- ment made in the county, and died April 5. 1841, the wife dying January, 1873."

James P. Catterson, our subject, was born in Owen county, Ky., March 20, 1827, and was four years old when his father emigrated to Marion county, Ind. He has seen the county develop to its present high state of cul- tivation from its primitive state. He attended the old log school-house of the pioneer fathers, and later attended the old academy at Lebanon, Ind., and secured a license to teach. He en- listed in May, 1847, for the Mexican war, in company D, Fourth Indiana infantry; went down the Mississippi river to New Orleans, thence on a sailing vessel to the Rio Grande; then to Vera Cruz; then marched several hun- dred miles and participated in the battle of Hulamantola, on October 9, 1847; next was at the Pueblo fight, on the 12th of October, in which they withstood all of Santa Anna's troops. On the 18th of October he fought at Acleso, and on the 22nd at Clasdelier. Our subject had traveled several hundred miles, had seen much active service, and was honorably discharged, July 16, 1848. He married Emarine Mckee, daughter of William and Jane Mckee, early settlers of Trimble county, Ky., but who came to Marion county, Ind., in 1848. Our subject's children are named Buena Z., Hulda, Alva R. (deceased), Minnie R. (deceased), Elzena F., James S., Lou Etta, Cora M., Sallie N., Emma F. (deceased), Elizabeth J. (deceased), India Mc- Kee. James, Lou Etta and Emma F. attended Danville Normal college, and have all taught some years. Our subject has served two terms as township trustee. He is a stanch re- publican, with strong prohibition proclivities.

He and wife are devout Methodists, and his family aid the church financially very largely. He owns 100 acres of fine farm land-as good as any in the township-and has a good house . and two barns. Mr. Catterson enlisted, June 7, 1862, in company F, Seventy-ninth regi- ment Indiana volunteer infantry, and was in the campaigns of Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, taking part in the battles of Crab Apple Orchard, Perryville, Murfreesboro (in which he was badly wounded in the right foot); he was captured at Harper's Shoals, paroled, and afterward exchanged. His next battle was at Mission Ridge. He next was placed in charge of batteries Sixth Ohio, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, Capt. Bridges' battery of Chi- cago, and First Missouri artillery from St. Louis, located at Chatanooga. In forming the company our subject was elected second lieu- tenant, and was afterward promoted to the first and later to captain. He was the first new captain appointed in his regiment. He was honorably discharged May 4, 1864. He is a member of the G. A. R., post 241, Browns- burg, and a member of the F. & A. M. He is one of the progressive and enterprising citi- zen of Hendricks county.

A C. WEAVER, a most successful merchant, land-owner and ex-soldier, of Pittsboro, Hendricks county, Ind., is a native of the township, and was born August 15, 1841. His grandfather, John B. Weaver, was a native of Virginia, was of German descent, a member of one of the first families of the state, and was a schoolmate of George Washington, under whom he fought for American independence. Thomas J. Weaver, son of John B. and his wife, Christina (Stev- ens) Weaver, was born in Virginia May 19, 1805, and married Annie Hollis, daughter of William and Winifred (Lewis) Hollis, and was ·

1057

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

blessed with the following children: William H., John B., Jane, Mary, Amos C., Ellis, Zachariah T. and James L. The parents of this family were married in Louisville, Ky., where the father had been engaged for two years at his trade of carpenter, and whence he moved to Fleming county, Ky., where he was employed for three years, and then, in 1836, came to Indiana, and entered a tract of land in the wilderness of Hendricks county, which land he cleared up and developed jnto a blooming farm. He was a pious deacon in the Christian church for many years, of which church his wife was also a member, and in the faith of which he died April 3, 1873, and his wife November 10, 1886, in the full enjoyment of the confidence of all who knew them, and with the firm hope of a blessed immortality.

Amos C. Weaver was reared in his native township, and has seen it and the county, in- deed, developed from a state of primitive wild- ness to one of prosperous civilization. His youthful days were devoted to study, prepara- tory to his entrance into the Northwestern Christian university, but here his course of study was interrupted while in the sophomore class by the breaking out of the Civil war, which fired his patriotism and caused him to volunteer in defense of his country's flag at the first available opportunity, and accord- ingly he enlisted, September 8, 1861, in company A, Fifty-first Indiana volunteer infantry, and gallantly served through the campaigns of Kentucky, Tennessee, Missis- sippi, Alabama and Georgia, and fought at Shiloh, twenty-eight days at Corinth, at Perry- ville and at Stone River, where he was one of the hundred men who volunteered to dislodge the enemy's line of sharpshooters and heavy skirmishers in front. On returning to his own lines after the, charge he found several holes shot through his clothes, although he fortun- ately escaped bodily injury. For his gallantry : ver-a modest, unassuming man; a man who

on this occasion his name was mentioned in general orders. At Charleston, Tenn., he val- iantly did his duty in the main line, and also at Dandridge. In the second battle at Dal- ton, Ga., August 15, 1864, while leading a charge, a rifle ball crushed the bone of his left foot, causing him to fall, and the enemy, in re- turning the charge, swept over his' prostrate body. Amputation, however. was not resorted to, but that wound has caused Mr. Weaver ex- cruciating pain ever since, and for months at a time he is frequently confined by it to his bed. Aiter partially recovering from the primary effects of this wound through treatment at the Chattanooga hospital, Mr. Weaver was elected captain of his campany, but the government refused to muster him in with this rank on ac- count of his incomplete recovery, but on March 22, 1865, mustered him out of the service with the rank of sergeant, after a faithful and intrepid performance of his duty for three years, six months and fourteen days.

On his return home, Capt. Weaver was elected township trustee the day after his ar- rival and served two terms; he also taught school in Pittsboro one term. On the seventh of August, 1866, Mr. Weaver engaged in the drug trade, and on the first of February, 1871, he first turned his attention to general merchan- dising in the same premises he now occupies. His stock of goods would have then perhaps been invoiced at $800, but is now worth more than $1,500. Mr. Weaver is also an extensive land owner in the county, as the tax duplicates show. It is very true he has been prosperous to a generous extent, but much of his pros- perity has been gained by him while personally incapable of being at his place of business; but from his bed or his easy chair he could and did dictate measures to be pursued. He held all the details of his business in the grasp of his mind. Such has been and such is A. C. Wea-

1058

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

tries to do his duty as he sees it. No right- thinking man can envy him the prosperity that has been gained by him. For some time the business has been conducted under the firm name of A. C. Weaver & Sons, and under this style the firm is now doing as prosperous a trade as it did in its palmy days. .

Capt. Weaver married Miss Mariam Wills, daughter of George W. and Fanny (Mershom) Wills, and this union has been blessed by the birth of the following children, in the order named: Henry, Hollis, Chester A., Grace D. (now Mrs. Wood), Urban R., and Fanny P. Of these, Henry H. attended Danville Nor- mal college and Butler university, two years each, and Grace and Urban have both at- tended the Indianapolis Business college. George W. Wills, the father of Mrs. Weaver, was born in Montgomery county, Ky.,- and at the age of nineteen years came to Hendricks county, Ind., where he soon afterward entered land and eventually secured a farm of 160 acres. He also platted the village of Clayton and sold the lots, and was altogether an enter- prising citizen. In politics he was an old-line whig, but later became a republican, and in re- ligion held to the faith of the Christian church, in which he was an officer. His brother, Amos S. Wills, was a justice of the peace forty con- secutive years, missed one term, was re-elected and served until his death. Capt. Weaver is a member of the G. A. R. post No. 451 and was its first commander, but for some time past has served as its chaplain. He was also made a Mason, but the local lodge to which he belonged has surrendered its charter. He is strongly republican in politics and he and wife are ardent members of the Christian church. They reside in a modern and well furnished dwelling and are the owners of one of the finest private libraries in the county of Hendricks, and no family in the county is held in higher respect.

EORGE W. MERRITT, one of the most prominent farmers of Washing- ton township, Hendricks county, and a son of George S. and Jane (Carden) Merritt, was born in Highland county, Ohio, April 20, 1821. His grandfather, John Mer- ritt, came from England to North Carolina about the year 1770, served in the American army during the Revolution, and after its close married Elizabeth Moore, a Scotch lady, and settled down in the Old North state, where he purchased a large farm, which he cultivated until 1814, when he sold and removed in wagons to near Memphis, Tenn., but some years later emigrated, in the same manner, to Ohio, where he died in 1825, and his wife in 1827. George S. Merritt, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Stokes dis- trict, N. C., about the year 1800, and was reared on a backwoods farm. In 1818, he married Jane Carden, daughter of William and Sarah (Hunt) Carden, of Tennessee, then removed, the next year, to Ohio, where he lived until 1825, when he came to Indiana, and passed the remainder of his life, dying July 5, 1855, and followed to the grave by his widow in April, 1863.

George W. Merritt was reared a farmer on his father's extensive home place, and at the age of twenty years engaged in the nursery business and general farming, having, at one time, the finest orchard in the state, and his farm now comprises 320 acres. His marriage took place December 28, 1843, to Melvina, daughter of Thomas and Malinda (Perry) Johnston, the result of the union being the fol- lowing children: George T., John E., James H., William R., Mrs. Melinda Medsker, Mrs. Mary Flinn and Sylvester H. For generations the Merritt family have been adherents of the M. E. church, and in politics have been stanch democrats, while socially they have been among the most respectable in the township.

1059

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

OHN S. REAGAN, M. D., physician and surgeon, of Avon, Washington township, Hendricks county, Ind., is a native of the county, was born in 1849, and is a son of James M. and Lucy A. (Smith) Reagan. The father of James M. Reagan was Abner Reagan, who was born in Kentucky, and in 1826 came to Indiana and engaged in the nursery business in Putnam county until about 1830, when he came to Hendricks coun- ty and continued the same business. His son, James M. Reagan, was born in Kentucky in 1822, but he was reared in Hendricks county, Ind., and was educated in its common schools. While yet a young man he engaged with his father in the nursery business and in stock raising, and in 1847 was united in marriage with Ann Smith, daughter of Zachariah and Agnes Smith, of Kentucky, but of Virginian descent, the union resulting in the birth of eight children, of whom six still survive, viz: Mrs. Mary A. Stevens, of North Salem, Ind .; Abner, in Nebraska; Zachariah, of North Salem; James B., of Lincoln, Neb .; William H., of North Salem, and Dr. John S., of Avon, Ind. Financially Mr. Reagan was abundantly successful, and his Hendricks coun- ty home was noted for its generous hospitality. His own death and that of his wife took place in the same year-1872.

Dr. John S. Reagan passed his youthful days on his father's farm, devoting the winters, however, to attendance at the common schools, but finishing his literary education at Ladoga academy, under Prof. Hopkins. In 1868 he began teaching, and for eight years he contin- ued in that arduous profession. In 1874 he was elected principal of the North Salem schools, and held the position two years; he then entered the office of Dr. T. J. Adams, of the same place, began the study of medicine; attended one course of lectures at the Cincin- nati School of Medicine; then practiced fifteen

months, and then entered the Indiana Medical college, at Indianapolis, from which he gradu- ated in 1879, since when he has been in con- stant practice at Avon. and now stands in the front rank of practitioners in Hendricks coun- ty. In 1880 the doctor married Jennie Vick- ing, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Cas- sady) Vicking. In 1891 he removed to Den- ver, Colo., with the hope that his wife's fail- ing health would be benefited, but this hope was" disappointed, and the following year, in June, 1892, his lady was called to rest, and the doctor returned to his home and practice in Avon. February 8. 1894, he married Mrs. Mary E. Cooper, daughter of Benjamin and Catherine (Harding) Abbott, of Hendricks county, with whom he is now living most hap- pily.

HOMAS PLUMMER, a respected and prosperous farmer of Union township, Hendricks county, Ind., is a native of Eel River township, in the same county, and was born July 14, 1836, of En- lish descent. His grandfather, Levi Plummer, was a substantial farmer of Kentucky, but early became a settler of Morgan county, Ind., where he died at the age of ninety-seven years, a class leader and steward in the Methodist church. Joseph Plummer, son of Levi, was born in Morgan county, Ind., October 17. 1817, and there married Ann Day, daughter of Richard and Mary Day, and by her became the father of eight children, born in the fol- lowing order: Mary, Martha, Thomas, Levi, Hannah, John, Richard and Ann. The par- ents soon after marriage removed from Morgan county to Hendricks county, where they entered 500 acres of good land, and lived in the enjoy- ment of the respect of all who knew them. Mr. Plummer was a republican in politics, and both he and wife were members of the Method- ist church, in which he was a class leader.

1060

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Thomas Plummer has always followed farm- ing as a vocation, with the exception of a few" years, during which he was engaged in mer- cantile business at Montclair. He first mar- ried Sarah Ann Tharpe, daughter of John and Narcissa (Duncan) Tharpe, and to this union were born Mary, Belle, John W., Homer (de- ceased) and Blanche. Mrs. Plummer having died in the faith of the Baptist church, Mr. Plummer chose for his second wife Minerva Evans, widow of Orlando Evans, and daughter of David-and Mary (James) Brown, and this marriage has been blessed with the birth of two children: Allie and Lora. Mr. Plummer owns a neat and well cultivated farm of eighty acres just south of Montclair, where he and family reside in the full enjoyment of the es- teem of their friends and neighbors, Mrs. Plummer being a member of the Christian church.

J OHN LAMBERT, a thriving farmer of Union township, Hendricks county, Ind., was borh in London, England, May 20, 1821. His father, also named John, was a native of Scotland, was a carpen- ter by trade, and was married in England to Charlotte Legrice, and in that country were born all his children, who were named as fol- lows: Margaret, John and James (deceased). In 1833 the father and mother came to Amer- ica, and soon settled in Hendricks county, Ind., and entered part of the farm on which our sub- ject now resides, and which was then in the wild woods, but which was afterward devel- oped into a fine farm of 240 acres, on which the parents passed the remainder of their lives.

John Lambert was but thirteen years of age when brought to America. He had at- tended the subscription schools of London for a couple of years, but after reaching this coun-

try at once engaged in farming. a pursuit he has ever since followed. He married Sarah R. Montgomery, a daughter of James E. and Rebecca (Thorpe) Montgomery, early settlers of Hendricks county. To this marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lambert have been born the fol- lowing children: James, Letitia, Simon, John T., Florence, Indiana, Daisy and Frederick. Of these, James attended the Danville Normal college, and Letitia and Indiana attended the same institution, Indiana graduating in the teachers' course with the intention of follow- ing teaching as a profession, but was prevented by the intervention of death. Both she and her sister had, however, successfully taught several terms. Mr. Lambert is now the owner of a splendid farm of 200 acres, improved with a good residence and substantial outbuildings. He lost his wife in November, 1875.

James Lambert, the eldest son of our sub- ject, was born on his father's farm in Hen- dricks county, August 21, 1859, and fully in- culcated with the duties of farm life. He re- ceived a good common-school education, and has united himself with the democratic party in order to give expression to his political views.

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