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 51

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 51
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 51
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 51

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Mr. Steed is a republican, and the family is one of the most highly respected in Marion township.

EORGE STEVENSON, one of the very intelligent agriculturists of Union township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Warren county, Ohio, Octo- ber 10, 1824, the son of Henry and Phoebe (Foote) Stevenson, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Virginia. Henry Stevenson came to America in 1810 and first located in Warren county, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming until 1832, when he came to Boone county, Ind., where his death oc- curred in 1843, and that of his wife in 1882. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are still living, viz: Leonidas, George, John, Thomas, Eliza, William and Amos; the deceased were named Isabelle and Mary.

George Stevenson, whose father was a well-to-do farmer, naturally chose that voca- tion, to which he had been carefully trained, as his life pursuit, and he has developed into one of the most successful in Union township. Although his early school advantages were somewhat limited, he has improved himself by a wide range of study and by extensive travel, supplemented by a close observation of men and things. In 1867 he visited Europe and made a tour of Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland-including a prolonged stay at Rome, as well as at the exposition at Paris in 1867. In 1872 he made the tour of England. Ireland and Scotland, taking in all the leading cities. He he has long been considered one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Union township, and he has also an extensive experience as a traveling salesman, handling every kind of farming implement and and ma- chinery for a large manufacturing concern.

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OF BOONE COUNTY

In politics Mr. Stevenson is a democrat, and has served as assessor of Union township for eight years, as trustee for four years, and in 1891 was elected county commis- sioner of Boone county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity in good standing, but is now non-affiliating on account of his ad- vancing years. Mr. Stevenson was first mar- ried September 5, 1843, to Sarah Johns, daughter of Jacob and Harriet Johns, and to this union were born the following children: Harriet, wife of H. W. Nicholas; Nancy E., deceased; Ora; Sada, deceased; and Frank- lin, deceased. The mother of this family died March 3, 1860, and Mr. Stevenson's second marriage was in September, 1862, to Jane Gregory, daughter of Peter and Phœbe (Carroll) Gregory, natives respectively of New Brunswick and New York, and this union was blessed with eight children, of whom three died in infancy, and two-Eva and Genoa-died after reaching maturity; and three-Albert P., Charley A. and George E .- are still living. Mr. Stevenson, being one of the oldest residents of the township, is greatly revered, and his family are all highly esteemed throughout the neighborhood.

S AMUEL M. STORM .- The foremost merchant in the village of Elizaville, Boone county, Ind., is Samuel M. Storm. His father's mother was Lovina Hopper, who was born in Kentucky, and who was brought to Indiana when about ten years of age. She lived to the ripe age of eighty-four years, dying in 1892. The father was Conrad Storm, who was born in Jefferson county, Ind., and was married, about 1853, to Miss Leah Woodfill. This union was blessed with the following children: Mary, Annie, Catherine, Ida, Samuel M. and James. He received a common school education, and most

of his life was engaged in the lumbering busi- ness. He died in 1868. Mrs. Leah (Wood- fill) Storm was next married, in the year 1871, to James Epperson, and the names of their children are as follows: Jennie, Willie, and an infant (deceased). They moved to Hamilton county, Ind., in the fall of 1886, and are mem- bers of the Methodist church.

Samuel M. Storm was born December 9, 1.864, in Decatur county. Ind. When Samuel was only three years of age his father died, but he lived with his mother till he was ten years old, when he left home and went to Jef- ferson county. Ind. His time was occupied on a farm, at $3 per month, until he was twelve years of age, and his opportunity for receiving an education was very limited, still he im- proved every day when he had a chance to at- tend school; being considered a good hand for his age, he thereafter received $10 per month for farm labor, but he became dissatisfied on the farm, and came to Boone county, and learned the trade of a carpenter. He was married March 30, 1886, to Mrs. Nancy A. Underwood, whose maiden name was Griffin. Her first husband was killed while blowing out stumps by dynamite. Mrs. Nancy ( Under- wood) Storm was born March 15, 1862, is a most estimable lady and a member of the de- nomination of Baptists. Mr. Storm worked at the carpenter business, then milling, and was clerking in a grocery for two winters, where he learned the business thoroughly until he had it well in hand. Being of an inventive turn of mind, he succeeded in getting a patent Septem- ber 6, 1892, on a fence, and then engaged in selling territory for the use of the same. He succeeded in trading $2,500 of territory for a general stock of goods at Dover, and in Sep- tember 23, 1893, he moved his stock to Eliza- ville, Ind. He has a good commodious busi- ness room, centrally located, and from the first has done a good business, with better pros-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

pects ahead. Politically he is a stanch repub- lican, an influential member in the Baptist church, a member of the K. of P., and belongs to lodge No. 45, Lebanon, Ind. He is also a worthy member of Boone lodge, No. 9. F. and A. Masons. He is a young man, full of push and energy, has placed his aim high, and al- ready ranks among the most valued of the in- fluential citizens of Clinton township. He is really in every sense of the word a self-made man.

J OHN WALTER STOKER, of Marion township, Boone county, Ind., is de- scended from revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather on the mother's side having served with distinction in that struggle; he also took part in the disastrous expedition which resulted in the defeat of Gen. Braddock. Tyre Stoker, the father of John W., was born February 26, 1818, near the city of Lexington, Ky., and when six years of age was brought by his mother, then a widow, to Boone county, Ind., where he grew to manhood. He was a true type of the skillful western hunter of the early times, and relied largely upon his trusty rifle for much of the provision with which his table was supplied. He married, July 23. 1840, Sinia Leatherman, and began farming for him- self upon a tract of twenty acres, which he cleared and which was his home for a period of eighteen years. Previous to his marriage he learned the gunsmithing trade, in which he ac- quired great skill and proficiency, but did not work at it for any great length of time. His first start in life was when he purchased a two- wheeled cart and yoke of oxen, which small beginning proved the foundation of his subse- quent success. He purchased real estate in Hendricks county, and later bought land in Boone, and at the time of his death was the possessor of a very comfortable competence.

He died at the age of seventy-five, and his wife was called to her reward at the age of fifty-six; both were laid to rest in the old Mount Tabor cemetery. Mrs. Sinia Stoker was born April 20, 1825, in Indiana, was early left an orphan, and until her fifteenth year made her home in the family of Enoch and Nancy Davis. The following are the names of her children and dates of birth: John W., December 11, 1841 ; William J., July 14, 1843; Mary. August 20, 1845, died August 26, 1847; Sarah J .. February 29. 1848; James N., Octo- ber 12, 1849; Nancy, April 7, 1851; Benja- min L .. January 22, 1853; Asenath, January. 15, 1855: Christine, June 12, 1857; Frederick, April 14. 1861, died February 25, 1862; Nellie, November 5, 1864, and Narcissus, October 5, 1866.

James W, Stoker was born December II, 1841. in Boone county on the banks of Eel river, and until his twentieth year remained under the parental roof. He was educated in the common schools, and in November, 1862, entered the army as a member of company F, Fifty-fourth Indiana infantry, with which he served until 1864, his military experience, in the meantime, embracing considerable active service in the southwestern campaign, includ- ing the battle of Ball's Bluff, the operations around Vicksburg. and minor engagements. He suffered severely from a sun stroke, but was not otherwise injured during his period of enlistment. August 2. 1866, Mr. Stoker and Rebecca A. Trotter were made man and wife, the latter born October 4. 1845, daughter of James D. and Sarah J. (Harden) Trotter. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stoker has been blessed with thirteen children, namely : Sarah A., born October 27, 1867; Sinia J., born April 12, 1869; Iva E., July 2, 1870; Rebecca E., November 29, 1871, dicd July 25, 1876: John T., July 3, 1873: Mary A. May 31. 1875; James F., October 31, 1877;

Patsy Swope

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

Charles B., January 15, 1879; William B., January 14, 1880; Thomas A., March 8, 1881, died August 8, 1882; Emily C., October 27, 1885; Ollie C., December 5. 1886, and Martha A., March 5, 1888, died February 5, 1889. At the time of his marriage Mr. Stoker's financial condition was not the most promising, and, for sometime thereafter, he farmed for a part of the proceeds. From his wife's father he inherited a small piece of land, which he sold to advantage and invested the proceeds in the eighty-acre farm where he is now living and of which he has made a well cultivated and valuable place. He has met with some discouragments in life. all of which he has succeeded in overcoming, and is now in very comfortable circumstances. financially being one of the well-to-do farmers of this community. He was one of the promoters of the present excellent gravel road system of Boone county, is a consistent church member and a democrat in politics.

J ACOB C. STUCKEY, one of Boone county's commissioners, serving on his second term, is a native of Ohio and was born in Fayette county. April 18, 1834. His parents were John and Mary J. (Coyner) Stuckey, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively and of German descent. They were among the early pioneers of Fay- ette county, Ohio. The father was three times married and was the father of seven children, viz: Eliza J., and Jacob C., our sub- ject, by the first marriage, and Elizabeth. Samuel W., John D., Matthew F., and Isabelle by the second marriage.

J. C. Stuckey was reared on the farm and educated in the district schools of the vicinity until about nineteen years old, when he at- tended the Ohio Wesleyan university for some time, and then engaged in teaching school for

several years. In 1858 he went to Louisa county, Iowa, and taught school four months the following winter, then returned to Ohio and in the fall of 1859 came to Boone county, Ind., and settled on the same farm on which he now lives, which farm his father had pre- viously purchased. On August 21, 1862, he married Elizabeth E., daughter of 'Squire and Mary (Piper) Long. Mrs. Stuckey was born in Boone county, Ind., August 17, 1838, and is one of six children, viz: Samuel S., deceased; James C .; Joseph R., died in infancy; Joseph R .; Elizabeth E .; and Squire G., deceased. Six children also were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stuckey, viz: Mary B., born July 2, 1863 married William A. Smith and died May 28, 1887; Ella J., born September 27, 1865, mar- ried Perry H. Binford and lives in Boone county; John R., born June 16, 1867; Myrtle A., born January 26, 1870; Emma E., born December 25. 1871 and died April 13, 1888: Samuel L., born June 30, 1879. The Stuckey family are old residents of Washington town- ship, if not altogether pioneers, and each year added to their residence here, adds to the re- spect in which they are held by the com- munity.

J OSEPH MARION SWOPE, a repre- sentative farmer and popular citizen of Boone county, Ind., of which he is a native, was born on the tenth day of October, 1842. His father, Ebenezer H. Swope, was born in Estill county, Ky., in the year 1812, and there married, in 1830, Lucinda Robertson, whose birth occurred in ISIo. Mrs. Swope was the daughter of Jesse Robert- son, who lived to the advanced age of ninety- six years, and Sarah Robertson, whose maiden name was White. These parents moved to Indiana in 1836, locating in Putnam county, and in the spring of 1840 changed their resi-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

dence to the county of Boone, settling a short distance south of the town of Elizaville. Eb- enzer Swope was a farmer and became a suc- cessful man, accumulating a handsome compe- tence, including a well-cultivated place of 220 acres, beside valuable personal property. He dealt very extensively in live stock in connec- tion with farming, and was a man of strict pro- bity, his word always being considered as good as his bond in the community where he resided. He was an ardent republican in his political faith, and his death, which occurred on the second day of September, 1881, was an event greatly deplored by the people of Clinton township. Mrs. Swope departed this life March 20, 1893, and like husband was greatly missed in the community where she resided so many years. The following are the names of the children of Ebenezer and Lucinda Swope: Lewis, born February 7, 1833, died in 1860; Elizabeth, born August 21, 1835; Sarah A., born October 13, 1837, died in 1860; Jonathan, born August 11, 1840, and Joseph the subject of this sketch, the date of whose birth is given above; Jesse, born November 10, 1844; Mary (Brenton) Swope, born January 7, 1847; Serrilda A. (Perkins) Swope, born September 6, 1851, died in 1879. The father of Eben- zer Swope was Joseph Swope, who was born in Virginia in 1784, and whose death occurred May 26, 1877, at the advanced age of ninety- three years. He served as an officer in the war of 1812; married, in his native state, Mary Hines, who was born on the fifteenth day of July, 1782, in the Old Dominion. Joseph Swope and family moved to Kentucky about the year 1810, and the death of his wife occur- red in that state. The following are the names of their children: Andrew, William, Eliza A., Ebenezer H., Helena D. and Cath- erine S. The mother dying. Joseph Swope afterward married Julia A. Robertson, who was born July 27, 1801, in Kentucky, and whose

detah occurred at the age of eighty-three years. Joseph M. Swope, whose name appears at the head of this mention, was reared to agri- cultural pursuits in his native county and re- mained under the parental roof until the break- ing out of the great rebellion, when he aban- doned the peaceful work of the farm and went forth to do battle for the national honor. The story of his military experience, briefly epito- mized. and his character as a soldier, is best set forth by the pen of his captain, Felix Shumate, in the following article, which is certainly a most honorable tribute to a most worthy de- fender of the flag:

" Joseph M. Swope was a citizen of Eliza- ville, or near there, when the war of the re- bellion broke out, of good family, with only a common school education, and only eighteen years of age. He was more than the average in intellect, and a true type of the western sol- dier. Boy as he was, he enlisted in my com- pany-I, Tenth regiment Indiana volunteers- September 18, 1861, at Lebanon, Ind., and in three days was in front of the rebel army in Kentucky. He held the position of private soldier, preferring that to any promotions, which were offered him on several occasions. Jo, as the boys learned to call him, was honest and conscientious, and made a true soldier in every sense of the word; was never under ar- rest, never in the hospital, and never attended sick call while in the service; made every march his company made, was in every skir- mish and battle his company was in, including Mill Springs, Ky., Perryville and Rolling Fork, Hartsville, Tenn .. Hoover's Gap, Corinth, Miss., Chickamauga, Ga., Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Adairsville, Kingston, New Hope, Chattahochce Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Lost Moun- tain, Atlanta, Utah Creek, and all the skir- mishes on Sherman's celebrated campaign in 1864.

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

" I want to mention a few acts of bravery performed by Mr. Swope. Early in 1862, at the battle of Mill Springs, his first baptism in battle, I discovered that he had the peculiar qualities for a good soldier. At Tulahoma, Tenn., in June, 1862, Jo, with one or two other members of his company, distinguished himself, in the heat of battle, by giving me some valuable information as to a flank move- ment of the enemy. Also at Perryville, Ky., 1863, while my company was making a night attack, he, in company with his comrades, per- formed a deed which gave the brigade com- mander very valuable information as to the po- sition of the enemy. At Chickamauga, Ga., Jo behaved himself most gallantly, and on Sun- day, the twentieth, he performed services that were scarcely equaled in the annals of the war. He was detailed, with Wiley Howard, to assist the wounded back to the surgeon in the rear, and so well did they do that duty that all the wounded of my company were saved and got back to Chattanooga, and notwithstanding the fact that the army was much broken and scat- tered and many changes made in the lines, he came off the field that night with the remnant of his company.

** At Kenesaw Mountain, he distinguished himself by standing out in a storm of shot and shell, and greatly encouraged his comrades who were feeling blue. At Utah Creek, to the right of Atlanta, when we had charged up close to the rebel works, and were short of ammu- nation, and it looked to be just as hazardous to go backward as forward, there came an order to send a man after ammunation. Well, the orderly sergeant raised up, and said to the boys . I don't feel like detailing a man to go-to death; will any one volunteer to go?' After a brief pause the answer came from Joe . I will go,' and go he did, and although his comrade that was helping him was knocked senseless by a shell in front of him, Joe returned to the | Swope have been born four children, as fol-

company with the box of cartridges. I could write more, but my health forbids."

After the war Mr. Swope attended school for some time, and then began farming, on rented land, teaching for several years during the winter seasons. His first purchase of real estate consisted of twenty acres, to which he made additions from time to time until eventu- ally he became the possessor of 384 acres, which, under his successful labors and manage- ment, have been brought to a high state of cultivation. In addition to general farming Mr. Swope is one of the most successful herd- ers of short-horned cattle and fine hogs in Boone county, and in every department of agriculture he is an authority. For five years he was engaged in the hardware trade in Leb- anon, and at this time he is a stock-holder in the Natural Gas company and uses that match- less fuel in his present home. He is an active member of the G. A. R. and the Masonic fraternities, affiliates with the republican party, is an ardent friend and liberal patron of all public enterprises having for their object the moral and material well being of Boone coun- ty, and to him, as much as to any one man, is the county indebted for its present excellent system of gravel roads. Mr. Swope's home is a model in its various appointments, his build- ings being of modern architecture, well supplied with all that can make life pleasant, and the general appearance of his place bespeaks the wide-awake, intelligent and tasty farmer and broad-minded man of affairs. Mr. Swope was united in marriage September 17, 1871, to Miss Patsy Garrett, who was born in Mont- gomery county. Ky., May 25, 1854, the daugh- ter of Benjamin F. Garrett. Mr. Garrett, also a native of Kentucky, was born in the year 1838 and there married Sarah Gillmore, whose birth occurred in Nicholas county of the same state in 1828. To the union of Mr. and Mrs.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

lows: Ora, March 31, 1873; Alva D., born May 28, 1875, died October 14, 18So; Edith, born February 1, 1877; and Harlan, born April 20, 1879, died August 12, 1881.

ATHAN SWAILS, farmer of Perry township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Decatur county, in the same state, March 17, 1829. His parents were Nathan and Catherine (Barns) Swails, natives respectively of Kentucky and Mary- land, who had a family of ten children, named Robert A., William A., John F., Nathan, James H., Josiah. Marshall, Marion, and two infants that died unnamed. Of the others, Nathan and Josiah only survive. Nathan Swails worked on the home farm until he reached his majority, and then farmed on his own account until his enlistment, in 1861, in company E, Seventh Indiana volunteer infan- try, for three years. He served, however, for eleven months only, when he was discharged on account of disability. In 1863 he again tried the fortunes of war and enlisted in com- pany A, One Hundred and Twenty-third Indi- ana volunteer infantry, again for three years. After doing good and faithful service until the close of the conflict, he was honorably dis- charged at Indianapolis in September, 1865, when he returned home and resumed farming. As a reward for his gallantry while in the serv- ice, he now receives a pension of $10 per month. In 1877 he came to Boone county and settled on the sixty-acre farm his father had given him. and here he has ever since re- sided. He was married, in 1850, to Eliza Lawrence, who bore him two children, viz: Anna B., wife of A. Clingenpeel, and Ander- ville L., deceased. His wife died in 1856, and in 1858 he married Elizabeth Burns; to this union there were also born two children- William H., of Decatur county, and Mary

Frances. The second Mrs. Swails died in 1860. In 1867 Mr. Swails renewed his matri- monial obligations by marrying Mary E. Rob- ertson, who was born in Bartholomew county, Ind .. and is a daughter of James and Minerva (Davis) Robertson, and this marriage has been blessed by the birth of five children, viz: James W., John B., Lulu M., Oscar B. and Effie M. The first-born of this union was early called away. Mr. and Mrs. Swails are Bap- tists in their religious faith, and in his politics Mr. Swails is a republican. He has a neat and well cultivated farm of forty acres, is indus- trious and progressive, and has won the esteem of the citizens of Perry township through his close attention to his own affairs and his non- interference with the affairs of his neighbors.

0 ENNIS M. THRELKELD, now one of the most thriving farmers of Jeffer- son township, in the county of Boone, Ind., was born in Shelby county, Ky., November 20, 1831. He is the son of George and Sarah, descended remotely from Scotch ancestors. George Threlkeld was also a native of Shelby county, Ky., and was a son of John Threlkeld, a native of Cul- peper county, Va., and a son of John, also a native of the same county of the "Old Domin- ion." The elder John Threlkeld was a son of Christopher, who came from Scotland to America in the colonial days and settled in Virginia. George Threlkeld was born in 1806, came from Kentucky to Indiana in 1833, and located in Boone county, entering 160 acres of wild land during the administration of Andrew Jackson. He survived until 1890, when he passed away, venerated and honored by all who knew him. His children were ten in number and were named: Dennis M .; Eliza- beth, wife of Thomas Riner; Mary M., wife of Charles Custard; Patsy A., married to Jacob

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

Bowman; Nancy P., now Mrs. Gregg Swazey; Sarah, wife of Joseph Beck; John H .; George S .; Rhoda, now the wife of Curtis Hardy, and Joseph A.

Dennis M. Threlkeld was brought up to the stern realities of farm life, and the lessons learned on the home farm have not been un- availing, as the thrifty condition of his present farm fully indicates. April 12, 1866, he mar- ried Parmelia J. Higgs, daughter of James and Paulina (Ransdell) Higgs, natives of Indiana but of Turkish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Threlkeld have not had born to their union any children, but have reared three orphans, who have filled the household with the sunny joy of their youth and also filled the paternal and maternal void. Mr. and Mrs. Threlkeld are strict Baptists in their religion, and gladly assist in the support of their church and Sun- day-school, and the cause of education when- ever called upon. In politics Mr. Threlkeld is a democrat.

J W. TROUTMAN, of Jackson township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Som- erset county, Pa., August 6, 1817, and is the son of Benjamin and Katy Troutman. His paternal ancestors came orig- inally from Germany, in which country his great-great-grandfather, William Troutman, was born. The latter came from his native country many years ago and settled in Berks county, Pa., where his death afterward oc- curred. Peter Troutman, son of the above William and the grandfather of J. W., was born in the province of Baden, Germany, and came with his father to the new world before the war of independence, in which struggle he took an active part in the army of Gen. Wash- ington. He married and reared the following children: Benjamin, Jacob, John, Elizabeth, Rachel, and Phonie. Peter Troutman was by

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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