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 17

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 17
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 17
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 17

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J OHN E. BEASLEY-One of the most useful and beautiful of the arts preserv- ative is that of the taxidermist. To the naturalist, the skill is not only use- ful, but of the highest importance, as he pre- serves, by means of his art, in the most natur- al manner, all forms of life and many species and varieties of life that must soon become extinct. John E. Beasley, our subject, is not

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

only one of the most expert taxidermists in the United States, but is a naturalist of experience, and is a correspondent of the Smithsonian In- stitution. His father, Thomas Beasley, was a shoemaker by trade and a resident of the city of Leicester, England. He married Elizabeth Hunt, and to them were born eleven children, now all deceased except our subject and one sister, Anna E. Ferry, an artist of Indian- apolis. In 1852 Thomas Beasley settled in Indianapolis, where he resided for many years. He died in August, 1893, aged eighty-eight years, a respected citizen.

John E. Beasley, our subject, was born November 7, 1826, in Leicester, England; he received the common education of his country and learned the trade of shoemaker and the art of a taxidermist, in which latter he soon became very useful. In 1853 he came to America and settled in Philadelphia. In 1854 he went to Indianapolis and resided fourteen years and became the leading taxidermist of the state. He was also foreman of the boot and shoe manufactory of Adam Knodle & Son. In 1866 he came to Lebanon and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, employ- ing from five to seven men and doing an ex- tensive business, but still following his favorite pursuit of taxidermist. In 1884 he retired from the boot and shoe business, and has since devoted his entire attention to the more con- genial pursuit of the taxidermist. Specimens of his art may be found in many of the best private collections of the United States. He is also correspondent, and reports matters of scientific interest relating to our native birds and animals to the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, and also to the Indiana Academy of Science of Brookville, Ind. Mr. Beasley also prepares specimens for the Indiana State museum and the most fastidious private col- lectors throughout the country. Some years since he prepared an African lioness at Leba-

non, which is one of the largest animals he has prepared. He has prepared most of the American wild animals and birds, and many foreign specimens. His work has the most natural appearance-some of his specimens, especially the hald-headed eagle, are very fine -the attitude and expression being very life- like-its grand and fierce beauty being perfect- ly preserved. Mr. Beasley's many years' ex- perience, extending over nearly half a century, his rare genius and natural love of his profes- sion, have enabled him to develop it to its fullest capacity. He is one of those men who study with keen eye, quick ear and active mind, and has spent much time in the woods and fields to gain a thorough knowledge of the life, action and habits of animals and birds on their native heath. Being a lover of nature he has all the naturalist's patience and keen- ness of observation.

In December, 1858, Mr. Beasley married Cynthia A., daughter of Harrison Waugh of Indianapolis, and to them were born three children: George, deceased an infant, Edward, deceased at nineteen years of age, and Carrie A. In political opinions Mr. Beasley is inde- pendent. He has been successful in his en- terprise, and owns valuable real estate in Leb- anon, consisting of an attractive residence and business block. He stands high through- out the state of Indiana as the foremost artist in his profession. As a citizen he has the re- spect of the people of Lebanon as an honor- able and upright man.

A LFRED D. BECK. a retired farmer of Lebanon, Boone county, Ind., was born in Union county, Ind., October 31, 1823, a son of Abraham and Eliza (Winchester) Beck, the former of German de- scent and a native of North Carolina, the lat- ter of English descent and a native of Tennes-

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see. Abraham Beck grew to manhood in North Carolina, having the advantage of the common schools, and was early taught indus- try and economy. In the fall of 1822 he re- moved to Union county, Ind., where he resided until 1838, when he removed to Boone county with his family and lived the remainder of his life. He was the father of ten children, four of whom are now living. Mrs. Eliza Beck represented one of the pioneer families of Ten- nessee, where she grew to womanhood and married, and later with her husband became one of the pioneer families of Indiana. She was the aunt of Gen. Winchester of Tennessee of the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Beck ex- perienced all the hardships of pioneer life of southern Indiana, having come to the state with limited means, where they were called upon to forge from the forest a home, in which they succeeded. They were good religious people, reared a large family as faithful workers in the church, and afforded them the educa- tional advantages of that day.

Alfred D. Beck was reared a farmer and educated in the common schools of his native county, remaining upon the home farm with his parents until arriving at his majority, at which time he began life upon his own respon- sibility. He engaged in farming and stock- raising, and continued to reside in Jefferson township, Boone county, until 1887, when he removed to Lebanon, since which time he has lived a retired life, enjoying the fruits of his earlier labors. Mr. Beck was married April 6, 1848, to Miss Susan E. Sanders, the daughter of John and Sadie Sanders, which union was blessed by the birth of two children, namely: James H., deceased, and an infant, deceased. Mrs. Beck, the mother of these children, died in 1851, and Mr. Beck's second marriage occurred April 11, 1854, to Margaret J. Alex- ander, the daughter of John Alexander, and to this union seven children have been born, six

of whom are now living, namely: Lelia, wife of Thomas Goodwin; Udorah, wife of Isaac Hooten; Susan, wife of George Taylor; Alex- 'ander W .; Estella, wife of Charles Witte; and Grant, of Chicago. The one deceased was Lonzo. Mr. and Mrs. Beck are members of the Christian church, and socially are highly respected wherever known. Politically Mr. Beck is a republican. The Beck family has always been recognized as among the most respected citizens of Boone county, and Mr. . Beck's past industry and frugality entitle him to the enjoyment of his retired life. Mr. Beck owns 200 acres of finely improved land in Jef- ferson township.

I SAAC H. BELLES, a very prominent farmer of Washington township, Boone county, Ind , is a native of Ohio, and was born in Hamilton county, Febru- ary 22, 1816. He is a son of William and Mary (Huff) Belles, natives of New Jersey and of German, Holland and French extraction. They were among the early pioneers of Ohio, and about the year 1837 moved to Boone county, Ind., settling in Washington township, where they resided until his death. She died in Iowa. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, viz: Ann, Elisha, Adam, Catherine, Eliza, Isaac H., Leah, William, Jacob and Peter.

Isaac H. Belles was united in marriage in Hamilton county, Ohio, to Abigail M., daugh- ter of Andrew and Catherine May, and in 1855 came to Boone county, Ind., and settled on the same farm on which he now resides. He now owns 200 acres of fine land, of which 165 acres are under cultivation. He lost his wife by death, September 17, 1869, having had born to him, by her, twelve children, viz: David, Emmeline, Angeline, deceased, Sarah, deceased, Frances A., deceased, Clark W.,

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Alexander, deceased, Mary M., Theodore, Elethia, Alva C. and Herschel, deceased. Mr. Belles has always led an industrious and upright life and there has never been the slightest stain attached to his name; a friend to religion and education, he has always con- tributed freely of his means to the aid of churches and schools, and he has never been behindhand in advancing the interests of his township and county. His name is respected wherever it is known, and-as an agriculturist there are few, if any, that equal him within the limits of Washington township. He is a republican.

J OSEPH BELT, farmer of Perry town- ship, Boone county, Ind., was born in Fleming county, Ky., March 1, 1823. and is the son of Joseph and Jane (Jones) Belt, also natives of Fleming county, Ky., who were there married and there resid- ed until 1826, when they came to Indiana and bought 160 acres of land in Hendricks county, on which they lived until 1834, when they re- moved to Marion county and resided about two and one-half miles from Indianapolis un- til their respective deaths in 1853 and 1860. They were parents of eleven children, all de- ceased excepting Joseph, who was ninth in order of birth.

Joseph Belt was reared chiefly in Marion county, and in 1846, while at Chicago with a drove of horses, heard of the breaking out of the Mexican war, and walked forty to forty- five miles a day to Indianapolis, where, with two companions, Madison Russel and John LaCouter, he enlisted in company F, Fifth regiment, and served one year and two months, going with his regiment to Vera Cruz, to the city of Mexico, to Molina del Rey, and to San Luis de Potosi, and was finally discharged at Madison, Ind. He then returned to Marion

county, where he was employed six years in a grist-mill; then went to Hamilton county, and for three years was engaged in driving oxen and handling hogs, after which he drove oxen in Marion county three years longer; he then was employed three years in a grist-mill in Brownsburg, Hendricks county, and cultivated it for ten years, when he sold and bought the eighty acres on which he now lives. He was first married in Cottontown, Marion county, Ind., in 1848, to Elizabeth Furgeson, who was born in Brockville, Ind., August 28, 1824, and became the mother of nine children, viz: Amanda J., deceased; Martha E., wife of J .. W. Swigart; Nelson J .; George; Samuel; Julius; Thomas; Mary, and Margaret, de- ceased. The mother of this family passed away June 20, 1888, and her remains were interred at Mount Tabor, Boone county.

J AMES H. BENEFIEL, a progressive and experienced farmer of Jefferson township, Boone county, Ind, was born here November 29, 1829, his parents having been Samuel M. and Nancy M. (Taylor) Benefiel, who were respectively of Scotch-Irish and German-English descent. Both parents, however, were natives of Ken- tucky, and were married in that state. Mrs. Benefiel died in 1832, and Mr. Benefiel chose for his second life companion Elizabeth Cald- well. To his first marriage were born three children, and to his second marriage two chil- dren were born.

James H. Benefiel was educated to the use- ful calling of farming by his father, to whom he rendered good and faithful service in return until his marriage, December 29, 1853, to Mary E. Sample, daughter of James and Isabelle (Wiley) Sample, both of Scotch-Irish extraction, but of American birth, the father having been born in Ohio, and the mother in

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Sample were the parents of twelve children, of whom seven are still living. The father of the family passed to his final repose in 1852, his widow follow- ing in 1883. To the marriage of James H. Benefiel and Mary E. Sample have been born six children, viz .: Edna J., wife of Leonard Peterson; Samuel E .; Amanda I., wife of Ma- rion Swail; Henry A., Robert L., and James M. The first business venture of Mr. Benefiel was in 1873, when he purchased a farm in Jeffer- son township, Boone county, Ind., the farm being then of moderate dimensions, but now increased, by his skill, economy and industry, to one of goodly proportions, on which he and family reside, enjoying the respect of all their neighbors. They are faithful members of the Presbyterian church, and the political procliv- ities of Mr. Benefiel are republican.

S M. BEST, the leading and most pros- perous dry goods merchant of James- town, Boone county, Ind., as well as a veteran of the late Civil war, was born February 9, 1843, and reared in the city of Zanesville, Ohio, in which state his grand- father, Valentine Best, a native of Ireland, was the first of the family to settle. Valen- tine Best, son of the one above named, was but one year of age when his father died, and he was consequently reared by his widowed mother. He married Miranda Fox, whose father was a native of Virginia, and to this marriage were born the following children: William J., Sarah A. (who died at the age of sixteen), S. M., George B., Laura, John H., Mary F., Ida and Charles. The father was a prominent merchant of Zanesville for many years, was a steward and class leader, also leader of the choir, in the Methodist Episcopal church, and always took a deep interest in the Sabbath school, of which he was superintend-

. ent for many years. Mrs. Best was also a de- vout member of this church. For several years, also, Mr. Best was president of the Mus- kingum Valley Fair association. He was a member of Amity lodge, F. and A. M., and Woodland lodge, I. O. O. F., in both of which he reached high degrees. In politics he was a republican, and passed away in March, 1880.

S. M. Best graduated with honors from the high school of Zanesville, and had prepared himself by home study for admission to the junior class of the Ohio Wesley college, when the Civil war broke out. He immediately responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted in company E, Third O. V. I., which was at once sent to (West) Virginia, where, at Gauley Bridge, with eleven companions, he received the fire of the first rebel gun dis- charged in the state: he also took part in the battle of Rich Mountain. His term of service having expired, Mr. Best enlisted in company C, Seventy-sixth O. V. I., of which Mr. Best was appointed orderly sergeant. He took part in the battle of Fort Henry and next at Fort Donelson, where, the captain being unable for duty, Mr. Best was placed in command of the company; at the siege of Corinth he still acted as captain. After the capture of Corinth the regiment was sent to Memphis, Tenn., and thence to Helena, Ark., where it encamped several weeks; thence it went to the Yazoo river, up as far as Haines' Bluff, where, after a running fight of three days, it was repulsed; at Arkansas Post this regiment led the charge, and here Captain Best lost fourteen men out of sixty-eight in twenty minutes, but his com- pany was the first to mount the breastworks. After the capture of the Post, the division encamped a while at Helena, and was then sent to raid and devastate the country, in order to deprive the guerrillas of subsistence; in this raid, 4,000 contraband negroes were taken pos-

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session of. Capt. Best also fought at Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, 'Raymond, and Champion Hills, and was at Jackson when Gen. John- ston's train pulled out in full view. His next engagement was at Black river, where took place the hardest fight in the Vicksburg siege; after the surrender of the city, Capt. Best's regiment was ordered to Jackson and Meridian to destroy shops and railroads, etc .; on his return to Vicksburg he was honorably dis- charged. August 27, 1863, with the rank of captain. Within a week, Capt. Best shipped on board the United States steamer Brilliant, and was appointed paymaster's clerk. The vessel soon steamed past Fort Henry, and took part in the fight at Nashville, after which the Brilliant was transferred from the Tennessee to the Cumberland river, where Capt. Best distinguished himself as bearer of dispatches from Commodore Fitch to the commander of the upper Tennessee, through a country thronged with the enemy. He was later sent down the river to intercept Jeff. Davis, and received his final discharge August 27, 1865.

On his return to civil life, Capt. Best was married, February 8, 1866, to Melissa J. Al- kire, daughter of James and Sarah (Cutches) Alkire- the father a farmer of large means, then residing near Columbus, Ohio, but now in New Ross, Ind. The children born to this happy union have been named, in order of birth, as follows: Ida May, Elnora, James, Alice and Edgar. In 1884 Capt. Best came to Jamestown, Boone county, where he has ever since been. In politics, he is a stanch republican, and in religion he and wife are de- voted Methodists, in which church he has offi- ciated as steward and trustee several years, and has long been superintendent of the Sabbath- school. At present he is president of the Ep- worth league, and treasurer of the school board. He is past chancellor of Venus lodge, No. 43, K. of P., and has been appointed dele-

gate to the grand lodge; he is likewise a mem- ber of Luther lodge, No. 227, I. O. O. F., which he has represented in the grand lodge; and is also a member of the Odd Fellows' en- campment; he organized the Henry Howard post, G. A. R., New Ross, and was a charter member thereof; for six years he has been com- mander of Antietam post, No. 162, G. A. R , and he has been a leading spirit in every or- ganization with which he has ever fraternized.

3 OHN S. BLACK, an enterprising and successful farmer of Harrison township, Boone county, Ind., came of English- Irish stock, and was born in Henry county, Ky., March 11, 1831. His great-grand- father on the paternal side came from Ireland and settled in Culpeper county, Va., in the colon- ial days, and took an active part in the war for the release of the colonies from the tyranny of British rule, and the establishment of the American union of independent states. James Black, his son, was born in Culpeper county, Va., shortly after the Revolutionary war, and and was reared a farmer, and followed this vocation all his life. He was married in Vir- ginia, but at an early day, however, contem- poraneously with Daniel Boone, he moved to Bourbon county, Ky., where he reared a family and passed the remainder of his days, dying a devout member of the Christian church. Of his six children, James, the father of John S., our subject, was born in Culpeper county, Va., in 1798, and moved with his father to Ken- tucky, where he was reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools, such as they were. He was an energetic leader in the Christian church, and was an associate of the renowned Rev. Campbell, the founder of the faith. Mr. James Black moved from Bourbon to Henry county when he was about forty years of age, and settled on 140 acres of

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government land, to which he afterward added ninety acres. He was quite influential in both Bourbon and Henry counties, and died universally respected.

John S. Black, the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, was reared a farmer and was educated in one of the old-fashioned log school- houses of his youthful days. He resided on the home farm until the death of his father, when he hired out for a year to superintend the farm of his brother-in-law, and for four years following was engaged in merchandizing with his brother's widow in Trimble county. In 1860 he married Sally, daughter of William and Cordelia Foree. The Civil war now breaking out, he joined the Confederate army, and fought until the close of the struggle. He enlisted at Bedford, Trimble county. Ky., September 11, 1862, in company G, Ninth Kentucky cavalry, and went from Lexington to the Cumberland mountains, to intercept Gen. Morgan, of the Union forces, and then fought for seven days and nights without sleep- ing or eating. He was then in the raid through Tennessee and back into Kentucky, tearing up the tracks of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, taking 10,000 prisoners and reaching within ten miles of the city of Louis- ville; he was next ordered to Murfreesboro; but reached that point too late for the fight; was next in the battle at Snow Hill, which ex- tended in a running fight to Milton, where within forty yards of the breast works he was shot through the thigh and left on the field, his companions running out of ammunition. He was made prisoner and confined four weeks in the prison hospital, whence he was removed to Nashville, thence to Louisville, and one week later to Baltimore, Md., where he was exchanged the following week, and rejoined his command at Ringgold, Ga. His next fight was at Missionary Ridge, where the first day the battle lasted from early morn until

four o'clock in the afternoon, and the next day four hours. At Taylor's Ridge the strug- gle was very heavy; Grant charging the works four times without success. Mr. Black next saw service at Atlanta, where he was a courier, an office incurring great risk and a very great responsibility as bearer of dispatches. Here he succeeded in conveying orders to burn the Confederate arsenal and two long trains of railroad cars, to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy. After the fall of Atlanta, Mr. Black was sent with a brigade of cavalry to escort Pres. Davis to the trans- Mississippi. Gen. Breckinridge, in command of the escort, accompanied Davis from North Carolina to Washington, Ga., and here they parted.

After the close of the war Mr. Black passed a year in Henry county on a farm, and here his wife died, leaving two children, Sammy G. and Lizzie H. Mr. Black then came to Boone county, Ind., and here married, December 2, 1866, Betta Black, widow of his brother Wil- liam, and daughter of James Henry and Nancy Pinnell. Willie J. Black was a lieutenant in the Confederate army, was a brave officer and beloved by his men, and died of typhoid pneu- monia, March 26, 1864, at Talledega, Ala., where he was buried with the honors of war. To this union have been born four children, viz .: John K., a daughter; Henry Utz, daugh- ter; Charles and Custis; the last named died at the age of two years. Mrs. Nancy Pinnell departed this life when her daughter (Mrs. Black) was quite small, and the following obituary notice, taken from the Lebanon Pio- neer of April 21, 1892, gives a succinct ac- count of the life of Mrs. Black's father: "James Henry Pinnell was born in Virginia, May 16, 1816, and died at his home in this city on Monday, April 18, 1892. From Virginia the deceased moved to Henry county Ky., here he grew to manhood's estate, and married a Miss

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Wilhite, who bore him five children: John W. Pinnell, of Somerset, Ky .; R. I. and James E. Pinnell, Mrs. John S. Black and Katy, the first wife of our townsman, Henry C. Ulin. His first wife died in 1885 and Mr. Pinnell came to this county the following year, locat- ing in Harrison township. Here he married Mrs. William Higgins, mother of Borton S. and William Higgins, and, by her last mar- riage, of Julius W. Pinnell, who still survives. When Mr. Pinnell first came to Boone county, Harrison township was almost a wild waste of untillable swamp land. With that indomita- ble energy which has always characterized the man, he set about to improve it. It was al- most a life work, but he accomplished the task, and recently turned over to his children about 800 acres of the finest farming land in Boone county, retaining for his own use some 200 acres.

" Mr. Pinnell, in politics, was an ardent ad- vocate of the principles of democracy, believ- ing that those principles stood for the greatest good to the greatest number of people. He never served the people in public office except as trustee of Harrison township. Religiously he was a member of the Christian church and supported heartily the faith of that denomina- tion. In the death of Mr. Pinnell the com- munity loses a good man-a man of strong principles and noble impulses-an honest and upright citizen. Mr. Pinnell's illness dates back to last Thursday, when he caught a se- vere cold attending the funeral of his little grandchild, Ruth Pinnell. He was in feeble condition and rapidly grew worse until the end came, Monday forenoon, at 10 o'clock. The funeral was conducted Wednesday A. M., at 10 o'clock, by Elder E. L. Lane, after which the burial took place at Rodafer cemetery [Lebanon]. On Mr. Pinnell's first coming to Boone county, he purchased 240 acres of wild land, which he increased by his own efforts to

1,250 acres. He was a most successful farmer, owing to his profound knowledge of practical agriculture, gaining the respect of his neigh- bors, not only for this, but for his upright con- duct in all his business transactions and his strictly moral walk through life."

Mr. and Mrs. Black are devoted members of the Christian church, whose interests they have always sustained by every means in their power, financially and otherwise. In politics Mr. Black is democratic; he has filled the office of township trustee, but has declined to as- sume the duties of other civil offices, having already performed his duty in full for his fel- low citizens of Boone county. His first pur- chase of land in Boone county was a tract of 120 acres, but now, by hard work and the ex- ercise of the sound judgment for which he is noted, he owns 200 acres.

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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