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 36

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 36
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 36
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 36

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life well worthy of emulation. The follow- ing interesting notes are abridged from the HISTORY OF THE GILL FAMILY.

About the year 1718, some peasants, or fishermen, found an infant lying. upon the shores of one of those seas that lash the coast of Ireland. The child was wrapped in rags, had the gill of a fish in its mouth and was lying within easy reach of the rapidly approaching, resistless, and merciless tide. * *

* Since the gill of a fish had been found between its lips, they at once called it Gill, to which the name of John was prefixed. The blood of this child has run in the veins of more than 10,000 Ameri- cans. Their number is beyond calculation, and the names of thousands of them beyond the reach of the historian. * # * * This lad, John Gill, in 1732, was learning the weaver's trade in Ireland, but on account of a quarrel between himself and master, he fled from the Emerald isle, secreted himself on a boat bound for the new world, and landed in New York harbor. In 1748 he married a Miss Duncan, of Scotch descent. Thomas Gill, son of the above and grand- father of Mrs. Martha A. (Gill) Kibbey, was born in 1765. He was a captain in the Revo- lutionary war and was noted for his bravery in battle. He married Hannah Criswell in 1785. They settled in South Carolina, but later moved to Kentucky. Thomas and Hannah (Criswell) Gill lived to a ripe old age and died in Crawford county, Ill., in 1857. Samuel C. Gill, son of Capt. Thomas Gill, the Revolutionary soldier and grandson of the Irish waif, was born in the state of South Carolina November 22, 1783. The boy early became inured to farm labor. The plow was made with the wooden mold board. He married Sarah Malone Septem- ber 23, 1807, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Malone. All their worldly possessions

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

they placed on a pony and emigrated to Bath county, Ky., settling on Licking river. He bought the only mill in the vicinity for fifty dollars, made a good dam, and put in new and better machinery. Later he attached a saw-mill, and supplied the whole country, for a radius of fifty miles, with sawed timber. He. made numerous trips into Indiana and entered large bodies of land in Boone, Put- nam, Montgomery and Hendricks counties, as well as in Douglas county, Ill., thus lay- ing the foundation for a large fortune, especi- ally for his children. Samuel C. Gill was highly respected by the people of his county, and they often honored him with their confi- dence by electing him to some county office. He served as justice of the peace for nearly a quarter of a century. By virtue of the office and according to the law (he becoming the oldest justice) he also filled the office of sheriff. He lived an honest and upright life, and although he was not identified with any religious sect, he aided liberally in building churches and paying preachers. The wife was a consistent member of the old Iron- side Baptist church. She was loved for her many charities and her hospitable disposition. She died, as she had lived, December 22, 1847. On November 1, 1849, he married Elizabeth Reed. The old people lived happily together for many years. About the year 1845 he sold the mill and farm, and died in Fleming county, Ky., November 23, 1854.

ILLIAM A. KUSER .- Among the respected citizens of Boone county who served their country bravely and with credit during the great Civil war, and whose record well deserves preservation in history, is William A. Kuser, the subject of this sketch. The founders of his family in America were pioneers in the

great Keystone state and descended from that race who are noted for their steadiness and in- dustry-the Germans. Daniel Kuser, the father of our subject, was one of the oldest railroad engineers in the United States. Be- fore steam was applied on the B. & O. rail- road, he hauled freight on this line with'horses. He finally settled in Frederick county, Md., and in the fall of 1856 moved with his family to Indiana and settled on land in Marion coun- ty. He had married, in Maryland, Christina Fisher, and to them were born five children -- Samuel, William A., Cornelia E., Rebecca and Mary. C. Mr. Kuser passed all the re- mainder of his days in Marion county and died at the age of seventy years. In political opin- ions he was a stanch democrat. He was an industrious and honorable citizen.

William A. Kuser was born in Frederick City, Md., February 5, 1840, received the edu- cation of the common schools and was about sixteen years of age when he came with his father to Indiana. He worked with his father until 1862 on the farm, and on July 19, he of- fered his services to his country and enlisted at Indianapolis, Ind., in company G, Seven- tieth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, under Capt. Parker S. Carson. He was in the battle of Russellville, Ky., September 30, 1862; Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864; Golgotha, Ga., June 15, 1864; Dallas, Ga., in June, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., July 3, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864; siege of Atlanta, Ga., July -August, 1864; Savannah, Ga., December 21, 1864; Lottenville, N. C., February 6, 1865; Arrysboro, N. C., March 16, 1865; Benton- ville, N. C., 1865, and in many skirmishes, some of them so severe as to be really battles. He was in Sherman's famous march to the sea, and endured all the hardships and vicissitudes in this greatest march in history. Mr. Kuser was neither sick in hospital nor wounded and

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did not ride a day in an ambulance during the war. He was always on active duty and at his post, and took part in every battle and skirmish of his regiment. Ex-President Har- rison was the colonel of his regiment when it left Indianapolis, and while on Sherman's march to the sea he was commissioned briga- dier-general. Mr. Kuser was on the return march and in the grand review at Washington. After the war he returned to Marion county, Ind., and resumed farming, and on December 6, 1865, married Rachael E., daughter of Richard and Frances (McLain) Hogland. To Mr. and Mrs. Hogland were born three chil- dren-James, Mary A., and Rachael E. Mr. Hogland moved to Boone county in 1870, and settled on eighty acres of land in Center town- ship. He died March 15, 1876, aged sixty- three years. In politics he voted the democratic ticket, and he was a member of the Baptist church. He was a man of good character and very industrious. After marriage Mr. Kuser resided in Marion county, until 1870, when he came to Boone county and settled on a farm of sixty-four acres where hestill lives. He has always voted with the democrats. He and wife are members of the Christian church. Mr. Kuser is a veteran soldier, who has a splendid military record. He did his duty cheerfully and faithfully, and has faced rebel bullets in many a hard-fought battle field. Few soldiers, if any, in this county have a better military record, than this quiet and respected citizen of Center township.

HARLES CLAY LAFOLLETTE, one of the firm of Buckles & LaFol- lette, undertakers and furniture deal- ers of Thorntown, Boone county, Ind., was born in Shannondale, Ind., Septem- ber 19, 1867, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah E. (Young) LaFollette.

Charles Clay LaFollette was reared on the home farm until eighteen years of age, receiv- ing, in the meantime, all the advantages that the country schools of his district afforded. At eighteen he entered Wabash college, where for one and one-half years he devoted his most assiduous attention to study, and then returned to the home farm. Being now past twenty- one years old, he entered the Commercial col- lege of Indianapolis, where he concluded his studies in June, 1890, and then again returned to the home farm, on which he remained until October, 1792, when he came to Thorntown to assume the responsibilities of business life. Here he followed the grocery trade until April, 1893, when he sold out and bought an interest in the furniture and undertaking establishment of Buckles & Binford, and, under the firm style of Buckles, Binford & LaFollette, the business was carried until Sepetmber, 1893, when the partnership was dissolved, and since then the firm has been known as Buckles & LaFollette. This enterprising firm carry a large and well selected stock of household furniture and of undertaking supplies; their stock is neatly arranged, and both members of the firm are gentlemanly and pleasant to deal with.

Mr. LaFollette was happily married at Thorntown, September 17, 1893, to Miss Emma Campbell, a native of Boone county, Ind., born February 4, 1867, a daughter of Joseph and Cynthia (Ball) Campbell, who are now living in Thorntown, in retirement. Mr. LaFollette is a member of the blue lodge, F. & A. M., and of the grand lodge and encamp- ment of the I. O. O. F., and also of the grand lodge of the K. of P. He has been prepared for his business by graduating from the Indiana Embalming college. He and wife are Presby- terians in their religious belief, and both enjoy an enviable position in society. In his politics he is an ardent democrat.

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

EVI LANE is one of the most hon- ored and respected citizens of Leb- anon. He has for many years been connected with the office of circuit clerk, holding this office personally for several years, and was deputy under the second clerk of the circuit court-Samuel S. Brown-the first clerk of this court for Boone county hav- ing been David Hoover. Mr. Lane descends from sterling English stock. His grandfather, James Lane, came from England at the age of fourteen years, having run away from his par- ents, who lived in the city of London. He shipped on board a vessel for America, and at New York was apprenticed to pay his passage money. At the age of eighteen he was drafted into the colonial army and served throughout the Revolutionary war. He married in Vir- ginia, and, with his wife, shortly after moved to Grainger county, Tenn., in which state Mr. Lane was one of the pioneers. He cleared up a good farm on Flat creek, and here passed the remainder of his days. To Mr. Lane and wife were born four children-William, James, Edward, and one daughter. whose name is not remembered. He was a member of the Bap- tist church, and well known throughout the county as a man of sterling worth. He reached the great age of eighty years. William Lane, his son, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia, December 2, 1787, was taken to Tennessee by his parents and grew up among the pioneers of that state. He became a farmer and married Sarah Haines, who was born February 14, 1782. She was the daugh- ter of David Haines, who was of Irish stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Lane were born the follow- ing children: Polly, Addison, Josiah C., Louis, John, Ruth, Levi, Ann, Rhoda, and one who died an infant. They are all deceased except our subject, and all left families. Wil- liam Lane was a substantial farmer, owning 200 acres of land. He was appointed by the

·state legislature justice of the peace, and served continuously for forty years, his judgment being respected by all who knew him. At an early day he served as a soldier in the Indian troubles. He died on his farm February 19, 1845, aged sixty-eight years. He was a man of honorable character and a typical American pioneer.

Levi Lane, his son, was born July 9, 1815, on his father's farm in Grainger county, Tenn., twenty-two miles north of Knoxville. He was reared a farmer and left home at the age of twenty-five years. He had received a good, common education for his day, and taught a subscription school two winters. In 1840, the day after the election of William H. Harrison to the presidency, he left his old home for Boone county, Ind. His brother, Josiah, ac- companied him. He was a man of family and had already settled in Boone county, and had been home on a visit. Levi Lane had just taken an active part, for his age and position, in the famous "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" cam- paign, in which the excitement had run very high, the war cry being "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." On the first day of the journey, the brothers passed the famous chestnut tree where the three states-Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky-meet. Here had been held a polit- ical rally and the flag still waved in shreds from the top of a tree. The woods near by were filled with cider barrels, from which the hard cider had freely flowed to quench the thirst and cause the enthusiasm in the celebrated campaign. Mr. Lane came directly to Leb- anon, making the journey of 400 miles on horseback, in three weeks, arriving here in November. Four brothers of the Lane family settled in Boone county, three of them-Addi- son, Josiah C., and Lewis came from Putnam county, Ind., where they had settled between 1830 and 1832. They are now deceased. In the May following his arrival, in 1840, Levi

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Lane and his brother Addison and family rę- turned to the old home in Tennessee for a visit.

Levi Lane returned to Lebanon in Septem- ber, 1841, and from that time remained per- manently. On the next day after his arrival in September, 1841, he entered the office of county clerk as deputy and continued in this position two and one-half years. Mr. Brown, the clerk, being succeeded by John Christman, who resigned his position, Mr. Lane was elected to fill his unexpired term and served by appointment and election six and one-half years. He was then deputy under subsequent clerks until the present time, with the excep- tion of eight years. During this long period of more than forty-five years, he has made more court records than any man in the state of Indiana; has issued more marriage licenses, as he has served in the clerk's office for a longer period than any other man in the state. His records are accurate and very legible and now of great value.

Mr. Lane married August 23, 1842, Phe- riba Hayes, daughter of Charles Hayes, of III- inois. To Mr. and Mrs. Lane have been born ten children-Henry S., now of Chicago; Clara L., Empson, Willard W., Samantha E., de- ceased; Joseph B., Nellie L., Albert L., Mor- ris E. and Georgianna, who died an infant, all born in Lebanon, and this is the proper order of their birth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lane are members of the Methodist church, of which he is one of the trustees and also steward, and for forty years has been secretary of the quar- terly conferences and board of stewards. Po- litically he is a stanch republican: he was a strong Union man during the war, in which he had two sons-Henry S. and Empson T. Henry S. was in an Indiana infantry regiment and served during the war. He was in the battle of Pittsburg Landing and in the gun- boat service, and hospital steward and pay-

master's clerk. Empson T. was in an Indiana regiment and in seven skirmishes. Mr. Lane is one of the best Union men in the county and is universally respected. He has been so long connected with the clerk's office that the people of the county feel that his supervision of the records is almost necessary for their accuracy.

J OSEPH MALCOLM LANHAM, farmer of Marion township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Virginia, January 1, 1832, and was reared on the home farm. His great grandfather came from Ireland to America in colonial days and settled in Vir- ginia, where his son, William, was born. Pleasant, son of William, was born in Bote- tourt county, Va., and married Jane McCowen. daughter of James and Cynthia (Castor) Mc- Cowen, and to this union were born thirteen children; of whom Joseph M. was the sixth in order of birth.

Joseph M. Lanham, at the age of twenty- three, came to Boone county, Ind., on a visit. and was so well pleased with the country that he decided to make it his home; but he re- turned to Virginia for a year, and then came back to Boone county, and February 3, 1857, married Mary E. Wright, who was born March 9. 1836, a daughter of John C. and Johanna (Norris) Wright. Mr. Lanham worked in a sawmill for a year after his marriage, and then cleared forty acres of heavily timbered land, taking in payment for his labor forty acres of similar land. This he later sold, and purchased forty acres in Marion township. To the mar- riage of Mr. Lanham have been born the fol- lowing children: William P., born December 31, 1857, and married to Alice Price; George H., born March 20, 1860, and died at eighteen; John F., born May 27, 1862, and died when young; Johanna, born September 26, 1864,

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

and married to William Bush; Amanda, born January 18, 1867, and married to A. P. Pop- ino; Frederick, born August 23, 1869, and married to Cordie P. Jones; Mollie E., born January 7, 1872, and married to William Kin- cade; Copeland, born April 27, 1874; Pearl, born August 17, 1876, deceased; Cassius, born February 10, 1879; Empson, born Novem- ber 28, 1880, and died June 27, 1882; Olga, born June 27, 1882.

Mr. and Mrs. Lanham prospered in their farming, and when he had added twenty acres to his original forty, sold out, and bought sev- enty-nine acres on the east side of his present farm. About 1879 Mrs. Lanham's father died, and the farm, by inheritance and purchase, was increased to 159 acres. This farm is well tilled and has some 600 rods of tiling, and some fifteen acres reserved for timber. Mr. Lanham has some fine trotting horses and has made raising sheep a specialty, Shropshire strain being his favorite, it being short- legged, heavily-bodied, and the leading animal for mutton. His dwelling cost $1,000, and his out-buildings are substantial and commo- dions; he takes great interest in good roads and has contributed liberally toward their construc- tion, and has a splendid gravel road at his very door. He is a stockholder in the natural gas company, and uses the gas in his tasty dwell- ing. He and wife are members of the Method- ist Protestant church, and their upright walk in life proves the sincerity of their faith. In politics Mr. Lanham affiliates with the peo- ple's party. He is much respected by his neighbors, and his family enjoy a large share of this respect. Mrs. Lanham has three brothers who served in the late war, as follows: Robert, was killed at Kenesaw Mountain; Will- iam, served without injury until the close of the war; Franklin, lost the fingers of his right hand. All three were in the Fortieth Indiana volunteer infantry.

EORGE LYSTER, insurance and real estate agent and general financier, at Thorntown, Boone county, Ind., was born in Johnson county, Ind., February 12, 1865, a son of Peter V. and Mary J. (Deer) Lyster, who were both born in Kentucky, but were married in Johnson county, Ind., of which county their parents were pioneers and their fathers farmers. Peter V. and Mary J. were members of the Christian church and were highly respected by their neighbors, and in politics Peter V. was a democrat. In 1873 this family came to Boone county and located in Sugar Creek township, where the father followed farming until his death, which occurred in January, 1887. Mrs. Mary J. Lyster is now residing in Thorntown. To this worthy couple five chil- dren were born, as follows: Alonzo, deceased; Riley, a stock dealer in Thorntown; Cornelius, Amanda and George.

George Lyster was educated in the grad- ed schools of Thorntown, and he remained on the home farm until 1889, when he went to Anderson, Ind., and for a year was engaged in the insurance business; then he returned to Thorntown and established an insurance and real estate agency, in which he has prospered most satisfactorily ever since. He is also secretary of the Thorntown Building and Loan association, and Business Men's Protective and Savings association, and also does an in- dividual loan and collecting business. He was married, in Boone county, December 15, 1891, to Miss Myrtle Cox, who was born in this county August 12, 1868, a daughter of George and Melisia (Gregory) Cox, and to this congenial marriage one child has been born, named Lloyd. Mrs. Lyster is in religious faith a Methodist, while Mr. Lyster is a member of the Christian church; in his politics he is a democrat; fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, a Red Man, and an Odd Fellow, being in the

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encampment and having taken the Rebecca degree of the last named order. He owns a neat and pleasant home, and his social and business standing is of the best in Thorntown.

a EORGE W. LEWIS .- The grand- father of the gentleman for whom this sketch is prepared was Charles Lewis, a Virginian by birth and an early settler_ of Montgomery county, Ind., to which part of the state he moved from Ken- tucky in pioneer times. Later he became a resident of the county of Boone, and entered a large tract of government land in Jackson township, the greater part of which he cleared and brought into a successful state of cultiva- tion. He reared a family consisting of the following children: George W., Benjamin F., Fielding, Charles, John and Sallie, and de- parted this life in 1856. " Fielding Lewis, father of the immediate subject, was born Oc- tober 23, 1807, in Kentucky, and came with his parents to Indiana when a young man. He married Tabitha Davis, daughter of John Davis, one of the pioneers of Boone county, and became the father of the following child- ren, namely : Charles L., John W., Priscilla, Nancy E., George W., Alfred, James, Thomas, Hubbard L. and Mary J. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Lewis settled on the farm in Jackson township where his son George W. now resides, and with the exception of about three years continued to live on the same until his death, which occurred on the ninth day of December, 1859. Mrs. Lewis survived her husband nearly twenty years, departing this life August 15, 1879. Fielding Lewis was widely and favorably known throughout Jack- son and adjoining townships, and occupied a conspicuous place in the estimation of his fel- low citizens. He was a man of many excel-

lent qualities, a good neighbor, and in his death, which was mourned by the entire com- munity, Boone county lost one of its substan- tial and well-to-do citizens.

George W. Lewis was born in Missouri June 13, 1844, and while a mere boy was brought by his father to Indiana, since which time he has been an honored resident of Boone county. His youthful years were spent on the home farm, where he early beeame accustomed to hard work, and learned to appreciate the true dignity of the agriculturist's vocation, and in such schools as the country afforded he ac- quired the rudiments of a practical English education. At the breaking out of the late war he tendered his services to his country, and during the dark days of the rebellion did valiant service in many campaigns as a mem- ber of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Indi- ana volunteer infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment, April 2, 1864. On leaving the army Mr. Lewis returned to Boone county, where he has since resided, actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he carries on successfully, being at this time one of the leading farmers and representative citi- zens of the community in which he lives. He is an ardent supported of the republican party, the principals of which he has always believed to be for the best interest of the country, and he is to be found working with might and main for the success of his ticket in every po- litical contest. Hubbard Lewis, brother of George W., is a native of Boone county, Ind., born on the old home farm in Jackson town- ship, August 10, 1852. His early life, spent amid the rugged duties of the farm, was com- paratively uneventful, and he has passed his days in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. He is one of the substantial citizens of Jack- son, takes an active interest in everything per- taining to the good of the public, and is a

Bent Mikey.

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

recognized worker in the republican party, with which he has been affiliated ever since attaining his majority.

EN. F. McKEY, the editor of the Pioneer, at Lebanon, Boone county, Ind., was born in Montgomery coun- ty, Ind., December 5, 1857, and springs from an old colonial family of Scotch- Irish extraction. His father, Jefferson C. McKey, was a native of east Tennessee, born near Knoxville, and was quite young when he came to Indiana and located in Montgomery county, where he followed farming and also his vocation of carpenter and builder. In 1856 he married, in that county, Miss Sarah A. Sering, daughter of George A. and Nancy Sering, the former of whom came from a family of prominent farmers in Union county, but later became a citizen of Boone county, where he passed the last years of his life. Jefferson C. McKey is now a citizen of Boone, and resides in Lebanon.

Ben. F. McKey, in 1865, came to Boone county with his father, who settled on a farm. He attended the district schools of the county and worked on the farm until March, 1870, when the family moved to Lebanon, where Ben. F. attended the public schools for three years, and in 1883 entered the Pioneer office. as an apprentice under Ben A. Smith, who paid him the munificent sum of one dollar per week. He then went to Covington, Ind., with a Mr. Smith, and for two years worked on the People's Friend, and being attentive and industrious, had by this time become thoroughly acquainted with his trade. In 1876 he returned to Lebanon, worked for some time on the Democrat, a newspaper venture which found an early grave, and then went with Mr. Smith to Laurel, Franklin county, where he worked on the Review for a year.

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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