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 29

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 29
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 29
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 29

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

1888, to Narcissa Stoker, and to them have been born three children, now living: Hazel E., Madgie F. and Maggie E. Mr. Fraser came to Lebanon in the spring of 1888 and engaged in the blacksmith's business. In 1891 he bought out the photograph gallery of Jas. A. Schroy, having learned the business in Canada with his brother, F. J. Fraser, and was first in business with him for about one year. He was a very skillful photographer. Mr. Fraser attends to all branches of a photo- grapher's business at very reasonable prices and is successful in his profession. Fraternally he is a K. of P., of Lebanon lodge, No. 45. Politically he is a republican. Mr. Fraser is an honorahle citizen and respected man and owns his residence, two lots and gallery-the latter being well fitted with fine instruments.

A MANDA M. FRAZEE, of Perry town- ship, Boone county, Ind., was born in Lewis county, Ky., November 14, 1834, a daughter of John N. and Ma- tilda (Howard) Doyal, and a sister of Mr. D. D. Doyal, of whom full mention is made on an adjacent page. Mrs. Frazee was but six years of age when her parents came from Kentucky and settled in Boone county, Ind., and here she was reared and educated. July 1, 1852, she was married, in Perry township, to Aaron Frazee, who was born March 2, 1830, in Rush county, Ind., a son of Moses and Rebecca (Rigdon) Frazee, natives of Ohio. In 1848, Aaron Frazee came to Boone county and bought a farm of forty acres, but just across the line in Hendricks county, later added to its dimensions, and resided on it one year, and then moved to the village of New Brunswick, Boone county, where he engaged in general merchandising until 1861, when he enlisted in company A, Eighty-sixth Indiana volunteer in- fantry, and was commissioned captain of the

company. He served gallantly with his com- mand until 1863, in all its engagements and marches, when ill health compelled him to re- sign and return to his home. He then re- moved to Indianapolis, where he carried on a successful grocery trade until his death, which occurred January 16, 1869, his remains being interred in the Howard cemetery, Perry town- ship, Boone county. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Frazee is a devoted Baptist. He was a republican in poli- tice, was a Freemason, was a successful busi- ness man, and was universally respected for his integrity and unblemished character. He had born to him five children, who were named as follows; Dora, deceased; Emma, wife of A. J. Smith, a clothier at Lebanon; John M., J. E. and Charles G. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Frazee, with her three younger children, retired to the home farm of eighty acres she had inherited from her father, and here she still resides, honored by the citizens of Perry township for her sterling worth and christian piety.

AL GAULT, editor and proprietor of the Zionsville Times, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, June 23, 1856, son of Daniel and Nancy (Crouch) Gault, natives of Ohio, and of Eng- lish and Scotch lineage respectively. Daniel and Nancy Gault were married in their native state, thence emigrated, 1858, to Macon coun- ty, Ill., where they resided until 1888, at which time they removed to their present place of residence in southeastern Kansas.

Cal Gault is the sixth of a family of seven children born to the above parents. His early education was acquired in the common schools; later he pursued his studies at the high school of Macon, Ill., in which town he began learn- ing the printer's trade when only thirteen years

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

of age. He soon acquired proficiency as a printer, to which calling he has devoted his life, and, since 1875, has been identified with journalism on his own responsibility. In that year he purchased the Boswell Leader, which he conducted for two years at Boswell and then removed the office to Colfax, where for some time the paper was regularly issued under the name of the Colfax Chronicle. Mr. Gault next established the Thorntown Saturday Leader, which he conducted until 1879, at which time he became proprietor of the Zions- ville Times, his present paper. The Times has a good circulation and flattering advertis. ing patronage, and the character of its me- chanical and literary make-up shows its editor to be thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the printer's profession. Mr. Gault is the possessor of valuable property near Zionsville and he has been an important factor in pro- moting the interests of the town. He was married April 20, 1876, to Miss Laura M., daughter of Dr. L. C. and Sinai C. Buckles, a union blessed with the birth of three children : Roy C., Lewis D. and Frank E. Gault.

ILLIAM A. GILLASPIE is one of the leading citizens and farmers of south Harrison township, Boone county, Ind., and is of sterling Irish descent, his great-grandfather and grandfather having come from the Emerald Isle at a very early day and having settled in old Virginia. Francis C., the father, was born in Virginia, but when a small boy was taken to Kentucky (March 22, 1818), where he grew to manhood, became a wealthy farmer, and married Sarah A. Shrout, daughter of Abram and Sarah Shrout, the former of whom was also a farmer in good circumstances, and both parents mem- bers of the Christian church. In 1850, Frances C. Gillaspie came to Boone county, Ind., and

bought ninety acres of land near Jamestown, in Jackson township, and this tract, by good management, he soon augmented to 400 acres, being a most excellent farmer as well as finan- cier. There were born to these thriving pa- rents the following children: Mary A., William A., Sarah E., John W., George A. and Fanny (twins), Simon A., James W., Nettie F., and Jesse O., all of whom received a good educa- tion. Mr. Gillaspie was an ardent friend of public instruction and was much honored by his fellow-citizens. He was first a democrat in politics, but later became a greenbacker, and at all times held the confidence of his neigh- bors, whom he served three terms as township trustee and also one term as county commis- sioner; he also aided in the construction of the county court-house. He was a trustee in the Christian church and a member of the build- ing committee, and in every way was promi- nent and active in advancing its interest. He died at a good old age, sincerely mourned by his widow, who now lives in Lebanon, and by his children and a host of admiring friends.

William A. Gillaspie was born in Bath county, Ky., August 13, 1846, on his father's farm, and in 1850 was brought through to Boone county, Ind., in a large wagon, traveling, of course, overland. Here he grew up on the home farin and received a very good common- school education. He married Georgia Young, daughter of Fletcher and Elizabeth (Jones) Young. The great-grandfather of Miss Young was also a native Ireland and an early settler in America, and her grandfather a well-to-do farmer of Bath county, Ky. Fletcher Young came from Kentucky to Montgomery county, Ind., while he was still a young man, but after- ward moved to Boone county and here bought a farm of forty acres, which he has doubled in size by his own industry, and now owns a fine farm of eighty acres. He is a democrat, and formerly took much interest in politics, having

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served as trustee of Harrison township and as assessor. To Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Gillaspie has been born one child, Claude, who has at- tended Danville Normal college two terms, and is now a well-to-do-farmer of his native town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Gillaspie are devoted members of the Christian church, which they aid liberally with their means, and in which Mr. Gillaspie is a deacon. In politics he is a democrat. He is the owner of a farm of eighty-three acres of well-improved land in Harrison township, which through skill and hard work he has developed from an original tract of forty acres. His farm is well ditched and fenced and improved with a comfortable and tasty dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Gillaspie stand very high in the esteem of their neigh- bors as Christians, and Mr. Gillaspie is re- garded as one of the reliable and most thrifty farmers of the township.

J OHN J. GOLDSBERRY, one of our most prominent pioneers and respect- ed citizens, of Washington township, Boone county, Ind., comes paternally from sturdy German ancestry and an old colonial Virginia family. Thomas Goldsberry, grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia, was a soldier in the Revolutionary. war, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Putnam, a relative of the famous Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame. This family were of old English Puritan stock, and among the very earliest settlers of Massachusetts and Connecti- cut. General Rufus Putnam, brother of Israel, was the founder of Marietta, Ohio -. the first town settled in that state. The grand- father of our subject, Thomas Goldsberry, and wife were the parents of the following children: Jacob, Thomas, Susan, John, Mary, Matilda. Peter, Abraham, Isaac and Eliza, all born in

Virginia or Ohio. Thomas Goldsberry moved at a very early day, probably after the Revolu- tionary war, to Harper's Ferry, Va., and set- tled on Hogg Point, where he made a farm. His brother owned and kept the ferry at that time and was killed by lightning. Mr. Golds- berry was also a pioneer in Ross county, Ohio, in the earliest days of its settlement, and here had a good farm and also kept a tavern at Chillicothe, where the old pioneers stopped on their way to the new settlements of Ohio. Here the celebrated Indian chief -- Willee Way --- was killed by a man named Wolf, in revenge for the murder of his brother, who was killed by the Indians in Kentucky. Mr. Goldsberry built a grist-mill about two miles from old Chillicothe, on the north fork of Paint creek. This was one of the first mills in that part of Ohio. Mr. Goldsberry later sold the mill and bought 400 acres of land, which he farmed awhile, and then, in 1831, emigrated to Indiana, settling in Boone county, on Sugar or Brush creek, two and one-half miles northeast of Thorn- town. He entered and partially cleared 160 acres of land, upon which he built a log cabin. About 1840 he sold this farm and lived with his son near La Fayette, where he died, in the fall of 1840, of erysipelas, having reached nearly eighty years of age. Mr. Goldsberry was an honest hard-working pioneer, who was noted for his generous hospitality. The latch-string of this old-fashioned pioneer's home always hung out. All of his children married and reared families. His son Peter represented Tippecanoe county in the Indiana state legisla- ture in 1852. Prior to this, in 1840, the family went to Chillicothe, Mo., but in a short time they returned to Indiana and settled in Boone and Tippecanoe counties, Ind. The aged widow of Thomas Goldsberry died in Tippe- canoe county, at which time she had living ten children, fifty-three grandchildren, and five great-grand children. The fifth genera-

OF BOONE COUNTY.

tion from Thomas Goldsberry and wife are now being reared in Indiana.

Thomas Goldsberry, son of above and father of our subject, was born at Harper's Ferry in 1800. He was reared a farmer, and married in Ross county, Ohio, Elizabeth Landsaw, of that county, and to them were born eight chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. The re- maining six were William, John, Mary, Sarah, Jacob, Susan. The first three were born in Ohio and the last three in Indiana. Mr. Golds- berry, in 1831, moved to Tippecanoe county, Ind., where Sarah was born, and in the fall of that year he moved to Boone county, and entered 118 acres of land in Sugar Creek and Washington townships. He cleared this and erected a hewed log house, where he died August 4, 1860, at sixty years of age. He was a great hunter and, as deer and wild turkey were plenti- ful, he abundantly supplied his table. He was a shoemaker by trade, made a good living and was a substantial citizen. He was a democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist church, in which he was a class- leader and steward, and he was always a liberal supporter of his church. The itinerant Metho- dist preacher of those days made his home at his house. He was held in kindly esteem by all who knew him, and reared a good family.

John J. Goldsberry was born in Ross county, Ohio, on his father's farm, February 5, 1827, and was about four years of age when brought to Tippecanoe county, Ind .- Grandfather Golds- berry with a large ox wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, and his father with an ordinary wagon drawn by two horses. The men and larger boys walked, and the women and small chil- dren rode when tired. They camped at night by the roadside, built a brush fire and made coffee, and had a simple meal, sometimes gar- nished with game-gray squirrel being plenti- ful. They slept in blankets around the camp- fires Indian fashion, and in the wagons, and

without accident this hardy pioneer family made their way over the rude roads, fording the streams. It was early fall and the forests supplied plenty of mast, which, with the wild pea vine, provided plenty of food for the stock. John J. Goldsberry learned to spell by attend- ing the spelling schools, where the young pio- neers strove to spell one another down, and where he became an expert and mastered every word in the spelling book, often being at the head of his class. He learned but little arith- methic, and not that little until he was twenty- two years of age, when he studied five days, and mastered enough to attend properly to all matters of business in his line. His school- teacher was Joseph A. Caldwell, an uncle from Virginia, a man of good education. He was at one time commissioner of Boone county, and justice of the peace. He was the only man in his part of Boone county who took a news- paper in 1833, and these newspapers, greased, served as windows in many a log cabin of the pioneer. The young men came to school dressed in buckskins, and on Christmas day demanded that Mr. Caldwell treat them to whisky, and, to force him to do so, locked him out of the school house. As it was a sub- scription school and owned by Mr. Caldwell, he promptly sent a young man for an ax, and with the sturdy strokes of a backwoodsman soon cut the door into kindling wood. Many of the young men were full grown, but he ordered them to their seats, and he had no fur- ther trouble with them. His newspaper was the old "New York Weekly Herald," and was the wonder of the neighborhood. The pioneers would gather at his home and have him read to them by the light of a hickory bark torch.

At the age of fourteen years Mr. Golds- berry began to work out for twelve and one- hall cents per day, and when able to do a man's work he received $6 per month. At the age of twenty, his father remarrying, he

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left home and learned the carpenter's trade, re- ceiving $15 per month and board, which were good wages for an apprentice. At the age of twenty-one he began to work for himself at his trade, when twenty-two years old he began contracting and laid up money, and in 1858 bought forty acres of land in Washington township, Boone county, ten acres of which were in cultivation, for $750. October 15, 1859, at the age of thirty-two, he married, in Boone county, Josina Hebb, of Grafton, Va., and to them were born four children : Joseph L., Clement L., Josina and Belle-the three last named all deceased. This wife died seven years after marriage, March 11, 1866, and Mr. Goldsberry married, in Fayette coun- ty, Ohio, his present wife, Hannah Maria, daughter of Amos and Ann (Lease) Golds- berry, of the same original stock, but distant- ly related, the grandfathers of Amos and our subject being third cousins. Mr. and Mrs. Goldsberry have three children living : Anna B., Alma May, and Amos A., all born on the farm in Washington township, Boone county. Mr. Goldsberry added gradually to his farm until he now owns 218 acres of fine land, 200 acres being in cultivation, without any lien on it whatever. It is improved with a substantial residence 'and farm buildings, and more tile than any farm of its size in his township. In religious opinions, Mr. Goldsberry is very liberal, believing in every man's worshiping God according to the dictates of his own con- science. In political opinions he was a dem- ocrat, but is now independent. He has al- ways been a friend of learning and has given all his children good educations. He has held the office of school-director for many years, and built the first brick school-house in Wash- ington township.

Mr. Goldsberry is a Mason, a member of Thorntown lodge, No. 114; is also a member of the Farmer's Alliance, of which he was an

elector for three years. He was also one of the original grangers of Boone county. Originally he was a stanch democrat and be- lieved in pure democracy as taught on the principles established by Thomas Jefferson. In these later and more degenerate days, "Uncle John " is very liberal in his political views. In 1894 he was foreman of the Boone county grand-jury, which did effective work. Mr. Goldsberry is a man of patient industry. Throughout his long life of sixty-seven years he has been afflicted with a white swelling, from which he has suffered great pain, and which has caused lameness, but his grit and stamina have enabled him to work on his farm, and he has probably done as much work as any other man in Boone county. He stands very high as an honored citizen, and is a man of great intelligence, and a versatile conver- sationalist. He has been a wide reader, and his active mind is well stored with solid in- formation. He relates in a very interesting way many anecdotes of pionter life. He is very active in politics and attended all the early conventions. He was a subscriber for the first newspaper published in Boone county, "The Pioneer." "Uncle John " says that the first church building in his township was a Union meeting house, and his mother wove cloth and sold it to pay for the sash for the windows. We might fill this large volume with "Uncle John's " reminiscences, but want of space forbids.

EORGE GOOD, of Marion township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Columbia county, Pa., December 19, 1830, the son of Jacob and Mary H. (Helfrich) Good, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Jacob Good came to Indiana in 1837 and settled on a small tract of land in Hamilton county, where he passed the

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

remainder of his days, dying in 1873. His first wife died in about 1839, the mother of thirteen children, of whom five are still living, viz: Michael, George, Peter, Mary, and William. Those deceased are John, Jacob, Catherine, Sarah, Lydia, Elizabeth and two that died in infancy. Of the second wife and her family no record has been furnished the publisher.

George Good was reared on his father's farm, but at the age of seventeen was appren- ticed to a shoemaker, and served four years, and this trade he has diligently followed most of the time since. excepting when his public duties have claimed his attention. He is a democrat in his politics, and has been very popular with his party, who have honored him with several positions of trust. For six years he has been a notary public. for eight years a justice of the peace, and in 1890 was elected trustee of Marion township, and has always merited the confidence reposed in him. He has been three times married, his first union having been consummated in February, 1854, with Arminda Redman. the daughter of Hiram and Sarah Redman; to this union were born four children, viz: Mary H . wife of Isaac Wallace; Sarah E., married to Vincent Buzan, and Calvin and William, both deceased. Mrs. Good was taken away in April, 1865, and the second marriage of Mr. Good was in 1866 to Lizzie Illyes, daughter of Philip and Mary Illyes, who bore him two children-Samuel A , and Albert E .- and died in 1879. July 21, 1887, Mr. Good married his present wife, who bore the maiden name of Alice Wynekoop-daugh- ter of William Wynekoop, and this marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children- George G. and Eunice M. Mr. Good' is a consistent member of the Christian church, and fraternally is a member of Fidelity lodge, No. 309, F. and A. M. His social standing is most excellent, and his integrity is beyond reproach or impeachment.

ATHANIEL GRAYBILL, one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Jackson township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Ohio, May 30,

1835. His grandfather, Daniel Graybill, came from Germany prior to the Revolution- ary war and settled in Virginia, where he be- came extensively engaged in agriculture and prominent as a citizen. His son, also named Daniel, was born in Virginia, November 13, ISIO, and there married Miss Elizabeth Frankenbarger, who was born December 2, 1811, and was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Frankingbarger. Some years after marrying, Daniel and wife moved to Ohio, where they lived five years, and then came to Montgomery county, Ind., and bought eighty acres of land in the wilderness, but by thrift and industry added to this farm until it comprised 330 acres, which Daniel brought to a high state of cultivation. He was a progressive farmer and owned a saw- mill, a grist-mill and a threshing machine, and was the first man in his county to run a separator. He was also an excellent me- chanic, and there were few inplements on his farm that needed outside assistance for re- pair. He was an honored citizen of his town- ship, and passed away February 13, 1890, having lost his wife February 6, 1873.

Nathaniel Graybill after coming to Indiana, necessarily assisted his father in cleaning up the wild farm land. At this he labored until eighteen years of age before he was given an opportunity to attend the proverbial log school- house, where he laid the foundation on which he afterwards built up a solid structure of practical knowledge. When he had attained the proper age, he married Miss Harriet, daughter of Lazarus Tilley, a farmer. Mrs. Graybill, who was a devout Methodist, died within a few years after her marriage, leaving one child, Mary Florence, also deceased. For

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his second spouse Mr. Graybill selected Miss Nancy J., daughter of Daniel H. and Lucinda (Service) Cox, of Montgomery county. Mr. Graybill was thirty-four years of age when he came to Boone county, and in the same year, 1869, bought eighty acres of his present farm, which was then without improvements, with the exception of a log cabin; this farm now comprises 1 24 acres and is one of the handsomest and best improved farms in the county, is well fenced, thoroughly drained, and contains some of the most substantial as well as ornamental buildings, including residence and barns, to be found in Jackson township. Beside raising all the crops common to this climate, Mr. Graybill devotes his attention largely to stock breeding, and is the owner of a fine stud. In March, 1893, he bought from Sam Davis the famous stallion, Patrol, which now stands the season at Ward, at one of Mr. Graybill's barns.

Patrol is a dark brown 16 hands and one inch high, and weighs about 1,200 pounds. He was [oaled in the fall of 1888, bred by Harry Gilman, Versailes, Ky. Sired by Shaw- mut, 964. (Record 2:26.) First dam, Hat- tie W. by Henry Hall; 2nd dam, a fast road mare. Shawmut, 964, is son of Cowing's Henry Clay, 2:29; sire of Green Mountain Maid, dam of Elaine, 2:20; Dame Trot, 2:22; Mansfield, 2:26; Stom, 2:263; Antonio, 2:283; and three more. Also dam of the great Elec- tioneer, sire of Sunol, 2:103; Palo Alto, 2:12} Manzaneta, 2:16; and seventy-six others. Dam Heroine, sister of Volunteer, sire St. Julien, 2:11}; Gloster, 217, and many others; and Sentinel, sire of Von Arnina, 2:193, and eight more. Also the dams of Consul, 2:223; Quar- termaster, 2:23; Lelah H., 2:243, and others by Hambletonian, Io. Dam, Lady Patriot by Young Patriot. Patrol is perfectly broken to harness and it is an easy effort for him to show a 2:40 gait. Both in breeding and individual conformation he is the kind to stand the severe

strain of stud or track. His sire comes of one of California's aristocratic families of horses, that are trotters, get trotters, and "breed on" in the line of the 200 mark. His long neck, soundness and intelligence should make him a sire of fashionable roadsters.

Mr. and Mrs. Graybill are members of the Baptist church, of which church Mr. Graybill is a moderator. In politics he is a democrat, but is no office seeker. He is a member of the · Horse Thief Detective Association, and he and family rank socially among the foremost resi- dents of Jackson township.

AJ. BENJAMIN M. GREGORY .- Conspicuous among the early pio- neers and representative men of Boone county, Ind., is Major Ben- jamin M. Gregory, who was born November 23. 1829, in Allegany county, N. Y. His parents, Peter and Phebe (Carroll) Gregory, were early pioneers of Boone county, settling in Eagle township as long ago as the year 1832, and remaining where they originally located until their respective deaths. Peter and Phebe Gregory had a family of nine children, whose names are as follows : James C., Mary A., Lorena S., Benjamin M., Jane, Lewis W., John P., Emily and Martha.

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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