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 54

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 54
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 54
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 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

William Henry Wiley, the immediate sub- ject of this mention, was born September 21, 1841, in Clinton township, Boone county, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. He

attended such schools as the country afforded, obtaining therein a practical English education, and assisted in the labor of the farm until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, at which time he entered the army as a member of company A, Tenth Indiana infantry, with which he served for a period of three years. His military experience included some of the bloodiest battles of the war, among which were Mill Springs, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign, through all of which he passed uninjured, never having been wounded or captured. Owing to exposure, he contracted the rheumatism in 1861, since which time he has, at intervals, been a great sufferer. At the termination of his period of service Mr. Wiley returned to Boone county and engaged in farming, which useful calling he still follows with success and financial profit. He owns a well tilled farm of eighty acres in Marion township, has comfortable and substan- tial buildings and is looked upon as one of the progressive citizens of the community in which he resides. He is a supporter of the republi- can party, and for the past sixteen years has been a delegate from his township to the county conventions, besides serving in other official capacities at different times. He is a member of Chickamauga post, No. 48, G. A. R., in which he has held important positions, and for some years has been prominently identified with the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Wiley was united in marriage March 14, 1865, to Eliza J. Turner, daughter of Moses and Rebecca (Presley) Turner; the children born of this marriage are here given in the order of their birth: Carrie E., born March 3, 1866; married February 7. 1894, to O. Amos; Ida V., born February 20. 1868, died January 6, 1886; Porter A., born January 3, 1870; Minnie M., born August 20, 1873, married March 20, 1893, to James Sample; Francis R., born De- cember 2. 1874, married December 31, 1893,

520

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

to George B. Jones. Mrs. Wiley departed this life on the fourth day of May, 1876, and on the 26th of February, 1879, Mr. Wiley was united in marriage to Jennie E. Baldridge; daughter of Rev. Samuel C. and Mary (Hud- dleson) Baldridge. The children born to this union were William B., whose birth occurred August 20, 1880, but died September 20, of the same year, and Charles O. Wiley, born October 3, 1882.

J ACOB E. WILE of Sugar Creek town- ship, Boone county, Ind., was born in Montgomery county, Pa., June 8, 1839, a son of Samuel and Esther (Eisenberg) Wile, who were born and married and who died in the same state, the former in April and the latter in November, 1857, the father being a blacksmith and farmer. They were the parents of twelve children, named as follows: Elizabeth, deceased; Catherine; Ma- tilda, deceased; Esther; Charles; Mary; Sam- uel; Jacob E .; Eleanor; Abraham, deceased; Sophia and Rebecca-the last named also de- ceased. The parents were Lutheran in their religious faith, and in politics the father was a democrat; he was scrupulously honest and much respected.

Jacob E. Wile worked out among strangers from eight until seventeen years of age, and then served an apprenticeship of three years at carpentering, which trade he later followed six years, three as a journeyman, and three as a contractor. He then fitted himself for teaching, and, in connection with his trade, taught school four years. September 11, 1864, he married Miss Agnes Brand, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 19, 1845, a daughter of John and Mary (Wilson) Brand, and to this marriage were born three children, as follows: Clara, now the wife of A. McKey; John W .; and Flora A., the wife of William

Boyd. Mrs. Agnes Wile, died September 16, 1876, and on November 7, 1878, Mr. Wile married Mary Roberts, who was born in Franklin county, Ind., May 7, 1852, a daugh- ter of James and Lucy Roberts, natives of England. Two children bless this union, Car- rie and Lucy May. Mr. Wile still lives on the Brand farm of eighty acres he bought four years after. his marriage, and which he has greatly improved. In politics he is a democrat, and he and his wife are highly re- spected members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

HOMAS B. WILLIAMSON, ex- county auditor and a prominent hard- ware merchant of Jamestown, Boone county, Ind , is a native of Jackson township, in the same county, was born Sep- tember 24. 1847, and is of English and Ger- man descent. His grandfather, William Wil- liamson, was born in Virginia, but early emi- grated to West Virginia and settled at Fair- mont, on the Monongahela river, seventy-five miles from Wheeling. He married Catherine Hall, of Taylor county, W. Va., and in 1849 came to Indiana and settled in Thorntown, Boone county. He was a man of means and erected a modern residence, which still stands. He died at the ripe age of eighty-six years, and his wife died at about the same age-both strict members of the Methodist church. He had served in the war of 1812. William H. Williamson, son of the above, and father of Thomas B., was born in Pruntytown, Taylor county, W. Va., and became a carpenter. At the age of twenty-one (1843) he came to Boone county, Ind., and settled two miles north of Jamestown. April 21, 1844, he mar- ried Martha A. Gose, daughter of Robert and Dicy (Jessee) Gose, a Virginia family that early settled in Boone county, Ind., on a farm

521

OF BOONE COUNTY.

of 160 acres, which they afterward increased to 320 acres. To the marriage of William H. Williamson and wife were born Marshall Gose and Thomas B. Marshall Gose Williamson attended the Thorntown academy, under the instruction of the renowned John Clarke Rid- path, now professor of history at DePauw university, but was suddenly called to the grave, December 20, 1865, at the early age of twenty years. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church, and was greatly be- loved by his friends and companions. Thomas B. was also an attendant at the same acad- emy, under the same instructor. The father and mother have both been identified with the Methodist church since before their marriage, the father having been steward, class leader and superintendent of the Sunday-school, and both devoted to church work. The father is an ardent republican. He has now retired from active business, having begun life on forty acres of land, which he afterward in- creased to 120 acres, and he and wife are liv- ing in quiet retirement in . Jamestown, re- spected and honored by all who know them.

Thomas B. Williamson commenced the pro- fession of teaching at the age of eighteen years, and taught three terms in his home dis- trict. Later, for a few years, he was success- fully engaged in stock dealing. Next, in 1874, he entered the hardware and implement business at Jamestown, in partnership with D. W. Osborn, and in this trade he has since been continuously engaged, excepting when he served as deputy county assessor, in 1873, under Andrew Stucky, and the years in which he served as county auditor. In 1878 he was nominated by the republican party as their candidate for this important position. The contest was a close one, and Mr. Williamson was the only republican elected in the county carrying his own township-it being a demo- cratic stronghold-his majority being ninety-

nine-a circumstance which speaks more loudly in his favor than words. He filled the office to the full satisfaction of the people of the county, to the honor of his party and with credit to himself.

February 5, 1885, Mr. Williamson married Mrs. Florilla K. Allen, daughter of Jacob and Eunice (Horner) Kernodle. Her father was a retired farmer, and resided in Lebanon, where he passed his latter years in comfort and ease; her mother is a member of the Presbyterian church, and the family were favorably known throughout the county. One child has blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Williamson, and is named Raymond Marshall. The parents are both members of the Methodist church, and both are teachers in the Sunday school. Fra- ternally, Mr. Williamson is a member of Hazel- rigg lodge, No. 200, F. & A. M., in which he has served as junior warden; he is also a mem- ber of Venus lodge, No. 43, of whith he is past chancellor; he is also an Odd Fellow of high rank, having attained the exalted office of chief patriarch of the encampment, which he has represented in the grand encampment. No family in the county of Boone is more honored or more distinguished than that of Thomas B. Williamson.

LAVIUS JOSEPHUS WITHAM is an honored ex-soldier and respected citizen of Clinton township, Boone county, Ind. In 1800 his grand- father, Robert Witham, emigrated from the state of Maine to Ohio. The legends all point to the Withams as of sturdy old English stock. Robert was born in 1768. Sarah Sipes was his wife, and they were married at Bullskin, Clermont county, Ohio. He bought of the Government 340 acres of land. The children born to this couple were William; Hannah. married a Patterson; Betsey, married a Todd;

522

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Samuel and James. His was a ripe old age viz., eighty-seven, and his wife seventy-eight. The father of Flavius J. Witham was Wil- liam Witham, born January 11, 1801, in War- ren county, Ohio, was reared as a farmer on his father's farm, and was married in 1823 to Mercy (Heaton) Witham, to whom were born Sarah, William H., Mary A., Rebecca, Robert, Sylvester, Ennis, Martha E. and Flavius J. He was known as a man of in- tegrity, and, while not belonging to any church, he often remarked that he was ready to die when his time should come, and his wife was noted for love of peace and harmony. Until the breaking cut of the war he was a democrat, but afterward voted the republican ticket. He died November 14, 1865. His wife Mercy (Heaton) Witham was born in the state of New Jersey, May 6, 1803. She was a great worker, and did the spinning, weaving and making the clothing for her large family. She was a loving mother, recognized by the neighborhood as a splendid type of woman- hood. She was a member of the Universalist church, and died April 30, 1879.

Flavius Josephus Witham was born in Warren county, Ohio, August 17, 1843. He enlisted August 12, 1862, in company B, Sev- enty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was placed in the twentieth army corps. He was a man that weighed 190 pounds, but was taken with the camp diarrhoea, and was com- pelled to be in the hospital most of the time. He knew what the hardships of army life meant, and in the last hospital in which he was confined. in Tennessee, thirty of his com- rades in thirty days were laid away in their last sleep. He came from the army a used up man, broken in health, and will suffer the re- mainder of his days. He was discharged January 6, 1863. On August 31, 1865, he was married to Mary L. Duvall. This union has been blessed with the following children:

Albert, born December 11, 1868; May B., born March 30, 1871; Gurley, born July 2, 1873, died April 30, 1891; Laura A., born Novem- ber 1, 1885; Leroy, born December 8, 1886, died December 29, 1886; Eva R., born Octo- ber 12, 1891. He is a farmer and has accu- mulated a property of 1914 acres, all in Clinton township. He raises a great many hogs, beside doing a general farming business. He moved on this farin in 1869 by wagon, built a house, battened it, but never plastered, and there he lived for seven years. This was moved back for a wood house, and he erected a splendid brick residence, which is surrounded by large and commodious buildings which denote a prosperous farmer. In 1858 Mr. Witham and Nick Bennett drove three cows from Clinton township to Warren county, Ohio, some 160 miles, sleeping in bushes, and barns, living on the milk. and enjoying the trip, and what now would be considered hardship was called fun by them. He was a charter member Harte lodge, No. 413. I. O. O. F., Mechanicsburg, Ind., filled all the chairs, and twice has been representative to the grand lodge. He is a member of Cyrus J. Long post, No. 561, G. A. R., Elizaville, Ind. He is an earnest re- publican and votes as he shot. An iron con- stitution and an indomitable will have kept Mr. Witham about and at work, many even of his neighbors not knowing of the suffering he has endured, as, owing to his habitsof push, pluck and constant hustling. he has not received the sympathy to which he is entitled. May he and his faithful wife live for many years to en- joy the fruits of their industry. His wife, Mary L. Duvall, was born December 25, 1846, in Warren county, Ohio, and received the common school education. She has had many of the blessings of life and is known as a faith- ful mother by her family. Her father was J. L. Duvall, who was born September 25, 1818, in Ohio, and married November 22, 1838.

MRS. JOHN B. WITT.

527

OF BOONE COUNTY.

Their children were: Agnstus, Nimrod, Rebec- ca, Lucretia, Mary, Taylor, Martha, Sarah E., John A., Jacob, Nancy L. and Ruth. He was a farmer, but with his large family his hands were tied and he never accummulated much property. His children received as good an education as he could give them. He was a man that never went to law, and of a very meek disposition, sterling integrity and would suffer a wrong rather than commit one. The mother was a good woman, and her time de- voted to the raising of her large family, so her hands as well as her heart were full. In 1866 she was widowed with six children, still at home; but she has managed to rear them all to fill good stations in life.

J OHN B. WITT. of Perry township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Union county, in the same state, May 15, 1829, a son of Daniel and Cather- ine (Messmore) Witt. Daniel Witt was born in North Carolina on Christmas day, 1806, and at the age of ten years was brought to Indiana, where he was reared to manhood.

John B. Witt was reared in Union county until twenty-three years old, when he married and for a year resided in Perry township, and then for two and a half years in Iroquois county, Ill. He next returned to Boone county, Ind .. and bought 160 acres of land in Jefferson township, lived there until 1881, then lived a year in Center township, and then, on account of his father's illness, returned to his old home, and on his father retiring to the city bought the place. The first mar- riage of Mr. Witt took place in Putnam county. Ind., to Miss Lydia Keath, a na- tive of that county, who bore him two chil- dren, Catherine and Daniel, both deceased. Mrs. Witt died in September, 1853, and on the 8th day of April, 1856, Mr. Witt married, in

Jefferson township, this county, Eleanor J. Caldwell, a native of the county, who bore him seven children, viz: Ida J., now wife of J. Hines; Charles F., of Lebanon; Catherine, wife of James Chambers of Tennessee; Nancy E .; Alonzo J .; William H .; and Elizabeth, the wife of H. Cline. The mother of these chil- dren also passed away, and Mr. Witt was next married in Lebanon, Ind., to Sarah E. Nunn, daughter of James A. Nunn, ex-county auditor. To this union have been born two boys, Daniel and James C. Mrs. Witt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and she and her husband are highly respected members of society. In politics Mr. Witt is a republican; fraternally, he is a chapter Mason. On his 160 acres of land he raises some very fine stock, notably sheep. and Poland China hogs, for which he invariably finds a good market.

Mr. Witt has led an honorable and upright life, winning the approbation and respect of his fellow-citizens and neighbors wherever he has resided, and his walk has been in the ways of prosperity and peace. His industry and good management have gained him a fair share of this world's goods, and he can now well af- ford to pass in ease the declining years of his well-spent life, in no act of which has he will- fully caused pain to a fellow-creature, but, on the other hand, left undone no act that would tend to ameliorate, as far as lay in his power, the suffering of those in distress from any cause.

J OSEPH W. WITT, one of the most enterprising business men of Thorn- town. Boone county, Ind., was born in Lebanon, the county seat of said county, April 2, 1857. At the age of one year he was taken from Lebanon by his par- ents, William W. and Lavinia C. (Haun) Witt, to a farm in the close vicinity, where

528

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

young Witt was reared to the practical duties of life, receiving, in the meantime, a good com- mon school education, which was supple- mented by a regular course of three years in the high school of Lebanon, which well pre- pared him for a higher position in the world of business activity, and at which he finished his course in 1878. Of industrious proclivities. and having a business education, he turned his attention to the business of his father, who was the owner of the City mills at Lebanon, and became general assistant in the same, which position he held until 1881, rendering invaluable aid in their management. At this date he and his brother, M. L. Witt, came to Thorntown, and both being fully qualified, purchased the Thorntown mills, which they ran for five years, at the end of which time M. L. Witt sold his interest to William B. Kleiser. The new firm were very successful, and during the four years of their co-partner- ship, built the City elevator, and for two years operated it. Mr. Witt then sold his interest in the elevator and became sole proprietor of the mill, in connection with which he built a new elevator, the handling power of which is about 100,000,000 bushels of grain annually. The capacity of Mr. Witt's mill reaches 100 barrels of flour per day, and this product is of the finest quality, the mill being supplied with the most approved modern machinery.

Witt is a republican in politics, has served as town treasurer for two consecutive terms, and has been a member of the school board for three years, being its president at the present time. Fraternally he is a member of the K. of P. and the I. O. O. F., and socially he and his wife rank among the best inhabitants of Thorntown and Boone county.

J ONATHAN E. WEST. an influential citizen and farmer of Marion township, Boone county, Ind., is of Scotch-Irish descent, but comes from American fam- ilies of long standing on both the paternal and maternal sides. His grandfather. Willis West. was born in Kentucky in 1800, was married, in that state, to Miss Dixon, reared four children -Samuel, Sally A., Ebenezer and Mary E .- and finally became a prominent farmer of Clinton township, Boone county. Ind. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Jona- than Evans, who was born in Ohio in 1803. was a farmer and a deacon the Baptist church, and died at the age of fifty-three, in Boone county, Ind. Samuel West, son of Willis. was born in 1822, and was two years of age when brought from Kentucky to Indiana, by his father. He was reared in Boone county, and here married, in 1844. Susannah Evans, the result being twelve children, born in the following order: Willis, Jonathan E., Martha J., Rosella, James (died in infancy), Mar- garet, Mary E., Samuel A., Charles J .. Susannah, Albert and Harvey. The father of this family, at his marriage. was given eighty arcres of land by his father, to which he added eighty acres by purchase, which, with the assistance of his willing help- mate, he drained and cleared, and then sold and moved to Lebanon. where he followed carpentering and kept stock for eleven years,

After thus establishing a life business, Mr. Witt was married, at Lebanon, February 17. 1880, to the amiable Theodosia Allen, who was born in Bridgeton, Parke county, Ind., September 16, 1860. They are now the par- ents of three children, Maud, Frank and Wal- ter. The happy couple enjoy now, and .ever have enjoyed, the esteem of the community in which they live, not alone because Mrs. Witt is a devoted member of the Baptist church, but that they are always ready to extend re- lief to all that seek their aid in charity. Mr. . making money rapidly; he then purchased a

529

OF BOONE COUNTY.

farm in Worth township; six and a half miles east of the city, and now has 236 acres, beside helping all his children, some of whom now reside in Kansas and Missouri and the rest in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. West are both mem- bers of the Antioch Baptist church, and rank high in the community in which they live.

Jonathan E. West was born December IS, 1848, in Boone county, Ind., was educated in the common schools and was reared a farmer. At the age of twenty-four years he had ac- cumulated $800 by his own industry and economy, and married Miss Malinda E. Wheeler, who was born December 25. 1853. the daughter of Judson and Nancy .Jones) Wheeler. The young couple went to house- keeping in an old-fashioned log cabin, but here laid the foundation of a future fortune. The husband was assisted by his father with a present of eighty acres of land in Marion township, but this he traded for eighty acres located near his present farm; he then bonght forty acres adjoining, for which he went in debt, but with the aid of his faithful wife he paid for it in due course of time, made another purchase of eighty acres, and now has a fine property comprising 200 acres. The marriage of Jonathan E. West and wife has been blessed with the following children : David J., Lillian E., Samuel J., Edgar S., Nancy, Florence, Joseph B., and Nora E., all in ex- cellent health. The family reside in a large house conveniently arranged in every respect and furnished with seven fire-places adapted to the use of natural gas. The dwelling is trimmed throughout with walnut, the natural growth of the premises. A commodious barn accommodates the live stock, and all the out- buildings and appurtenances of the farm denote the care of a practical and careful manager. Mr. West makes a specialty of live stock, but general farming is his controlling vocation. He is a stockholder in the Natural Gas com-

pany and of the Horsethief Detective associa- tion : also of the Sheridan Fair association, in which he has served as superintendent of the cattle department. In politics he is a demo- crat and is a school director, and no man in the county is more highly esteemed by his fel- low-citizens.

Judson Wheeler, the father of Mrs. West, was born in Ohio, August 23, 1825, and at the age of one year was brought to Indiana by his parents, who located in Rush county. By his marriage with Nancy Jones he became the father of four children, viz : Benjamin; Peleg, who died in youth; Mary and Malinda. He is the son of Pelag and Mary (Raridan) Wheeler and grandson of John Wheeler, a Baptist minister.

J OHN WESLEY WORLEY, a farmer and influential citizen of Marion town- ship, Boone county, Ind., was born in Decatur county, Ind., February 22, 1842, and was reared a farmer His father, Stephen Worley, was born in east Tennessee, March 12, 1809, was of English descent, and in 1830 married Elizabeth Simmons, who was born in the same state June 12, 1814. The parents came to Boone county, Ind., about the year 1852, and settled on a farm of forty acres. They were both members of the Methodist church, in which the father was a class leader. He died in the faith in 1876; his widow sur- viving until August 12, 1880.

John Wesley Worley, August 11, 1862, enlisted under Capt. William Sims in company F, Eighty-sixth Indiana volunteer infantry. The regiment left La Fayette, Ind., and went to Indianapolis; thence to Cincinnati, Ohio; thence to Louisville, Ky., and down the river to Perryville, but took no part in the battle at this point. Mr. Worley was now taken sick and did not rejoin the regiment until after the

530

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

battle of Stone River, and then joined at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge; was at Buzzard's Roost, and fought down to Atlanta. Next, he was placed under Gen. George H. Thomas, and served until mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., June 6, 1865-at the close of the war, after a service of thirty-four months. The marriage of Mr. Worley took place, in Marion township, December 13, 1866, to Miss Margaret A. Bell. They went to housekeep- ing on her father's farm, where they resided until 1869, when they settled on their pres- ent farm, which now comprises 100 acres, improved with good, substantial buildings. Their union has been blessed with one child, Mary Elizabeth, born March 28, 1871. The grandfather of Mrs. Margaret A. (Bell) Worley was William Bell, who was born in Ireland, but came to America when young, lived for a time in Delaware and then in Pennsylvania. He married, in Butler county, latter state, Martha Reardin, in 1807. - At one time he lived on leased land where Braddock was so badly defeated in 1755, and many times turned up bullets from the ground when plowing. He did some service in the war of 1812, and after living in Clermont county, Ohio, a number of years, settled in Rush county, Ind., in 1822. His son, Robert Bell, was born March 16, 1818, in Clermont county, Ohio, and married Mary J. Moore February 25, 1841, and to this union were born Martha J., August 29, 1842; Margaret A., August 7, 1844; William A., Oc- tober 6, 1846; John C., January 3, 1849 (died December 20, 1868); Mary E., April 24, 1851 (died in October, 1864); Nancy O., March 25, 1853; Anson M., April 1, 1860. Mrs. Worley and her daughter are members of the Presbyterian church, and are active in church work. Mr. Worley is a member of William Smith post, No. 130, G. A. R., at Sheridan, Hamilton county, Ind. He is of a quiet, unobtrusive disposition, attends to his

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080