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 75

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 75
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 75
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 75

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Robert S. Irwin was reared to manhood in Montgomery, county, Ind., and there made his home until he reached his majority; he then attended school in Jefferson county, and taught for three years in Tippecanoe and Clinton counties and elsewhere; in 1843 he rented a farm in Clinton county, on which he resided as a tenant for six years, and then. 1850, he bought a farm of eighty acres, under a good state of cultivation, in Twelve Mile Prairie, on which he lived until 1892, when he came to the city to live, on account of the great con- venience of natural gas, although he is yet the owner of 240 acres of excellent land. The marriage of Mr. Irwin was solemnized in Clinton county, Ind., September 24, 1840, with Miss Rebecca Gray, who was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Sarah (Douglass) Gray. The union of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Mr. and Mrs. Irwin was blessed with the fol- lowing children: Sarah M., wife of J. Boyd, a farmer of Clinton county; John S., deceased; Isaac, of Kirklin; Simon of Clinton county; Rebecca, deceased; Jane, wife of J. E. Ball, a merchant; and Robert W., an attorney. The mother of these children died December 5, 185.5 , a member of the Presbyterian church and greatly mourned by all who knew her. In 1856 Mr. Ir- win was remarried, choosing for his second help- meet Elizabeth M. Smiley, who became the mother of the following children, viz: Mary, wife of James Waite; Elizabeth, deceased; Rosa, wife of J. Gentry; William, deceased; and Clara B., wife of Charles Ward, of Frankfort. Mrs. Elizabeth M. Irwin, also, was called away from earth, dying April 13, 1878. Robert S. Ir- win is a republican, politically, and has served as township trustee two terms and as justice, of the peace four years, and has been a farmer since 1843.

Robert W. Irwin, son of Robert S. and Rebecca (Gray) Irwin, was born November 15, 1853, and reared to manhood in Jackson town- ship, Clinton county, Ind., and aided his father on the farm until 1872, when he entered the Wabash college, where he studied three years, and then engaged in farming three years; he was next employed in traveling through Indi- ana for Whitely, Foster & Kelly, of Spring- field, Ohio, five years, and then engaged in the manufacture of ax and pick handles for three years in Frankfort. March 5, 1890, he com- menced reading law with ex-Senator Kent, was admitted to the bar in December, 1890, and has been a partner with his former pre- ceptor since January, 1892. The nuptials of Mr. Irwin were celebrated in Jackson town- ship, Clinton county, September 7, 1876, with Miss Marietta Berry, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, July 29, 1854-a daughter of James and Louisa Berry-and this union has been blessed with one child, named Vernie S.

Mr and Mrs. Irwin are members of the Pres- byterian church, and are prominent members of society.

ILLIAM L. JACKSON, one of the prominent business men of Rossville, Clinton county, Ind., is a skillful manufacturer of carriages, and also an old soldier. William Jackson, his grand- father, was born in London, Eng., came to America when a boy of fifteen, running away from home, having been apprenticed to a book- seller, but not liking the business. He gained a good education, however, and was for years a school-teacher in New York state and Penn- sylvania. He was a fine penman and teacher of that art. He married a Miss Livingston, and there were born to him five children- James, David, William, Samuel and one daugh- ter, whose name is not remembered. Mr. Jackson finally moved to Pickaway county, Ohio, where his oldest son, James, was also one of the pioneers. James and his brother David built the locks on the Miami canal at Lockport. Mr. Jackson was an old man when he moved to Pickaway county, and there he and his wife died. He probably came to Amer- ica right after the Revolutionary war. He was a school-teacher all of his active life, was suc- cessful and an honorable man. William Jack- son, son of above, and father of our subject, was born in Franklin county, Pa., in 1800. He received a good common education, was a stone-cutter by trade, and became a contractor early in life. He married in 1822, in Fan- nettsburg, Franklin county, Pa., Isabel, daugh- ter of Joseph Witherow, and to them were born five children-John, Margaret J., James, Eveline and William L. He lived at Fannetts- burg. Pa., until 1836, when he went to build the abutments for the dams from No. 4 to No. 9, on the Potomac river for the canal. He

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

sickened from exposure in this work and died at McConnellsburg, Pa., January 5, 1839, at about thirty-nine years of age. He was a man of integrity and great energy and perseverance and was well known. He was reared a mem- ber of the church of England, while his wife was a devout member of the Presbyterian church. She was left with a family of five children to rear, the eldest, John, being about sixteen years of age. At the age of fourteen, before the death of his father, John was sent to Harper's Ferry with a cart and horse, for scrip. with which to pay the men at work on the dam. This money was paid out to the men, but the bank broke the day before and all was lost

at Campbellstown, Moore's bridge and Sun- down, on the Chattahoochee river. He left Atlanta November 5, in pursuit of Hood, and was engaged at Columbia, Tenn., November 28, in the battle of Nashville; then returned to Louisville, Ky., and saw no more fighting. He was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, August 3, 1865, and returned home. He was always an active soldier. His position as bugler obliged him to be at the captain's or command- ing officer's side, and he was under fire and ex- posed in every action. He was in all the actions of his battery and in all the marches and cam- paigns, except when on detail duty six months, during which time he recruited thirty-one men and was commissioned first lieutenant, but was not mustered, as there was no vacancy. He had both feet injured in a railroad collision. He served nearly three years and did his duty cheerfully and promptly.

William L. Jackson, son of above, was born at Fannettsburg, Pa., July 18, 1834, received . a good common education and was but five years old when his father died. He moved with his mother and family to Carroll county, He had been in business for himself at Dephi for three years before his enlistment and came immediately after the war to Ross- ville and established his present business. He married one year later, July 4, 1866, Sarah M., daughter of John Harrison and Catherine (Dukes) Calloway. John Harrison Calloway was an old settler and farmer. He was the father of ten children: John M., William, Leander, Benjamin D., Mary E , Isaac (died young), Martin, Sarah A., Delia C. and Laura V. Mr. Calloway was born in 1806, and died January 7, 1853, aged forty-seven years. He was a substantial farmer and reared a respected family of children. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born four children, now living, Frank W., Walter G., Delbert O., and John Herbert. Mr. Jackson is well known for his skillful work in making all kinds of buggies, spring wagons, and carriages, for the surround- ing country, and for the wholesale trade. His carriages are made in the best style and con- Ind., in 1846, and worked at his present trade. He enlisted at Delphi in August, 1862, at the age of twenty-six years, as a bugler in the Twenty-fourth Indiana battery light artillery, and was enrolled September 15, 1862, under Capt. Joseph A. Sims, being the first man to enlist in the battery. He was in the battle of Horse Shoe Bend., Ky., May 11, 1863; Mar- row Bone, Ky., July 2, 1863; they were after Morgan through Kentucky, then were engaged, October 24. 1863, at Sweet Water, Ky. He was then detailed and sent to Indianapolis to recruit soldiers to fill up the battery. He re- turned six months later and joined the battery at Red Clay, Tenn., May 2. on the eve of the Atlanta campaign. His battery was assigned to Gen. Hovey's division, Twenty-third army corps, under Gen. Schofield, and marched with this division, May 31, to join Sherman's army, and participated in the battle of Resaca, and was attached July I, to Gen. Stoneman's com- mand and engaged, July 11-12-13-14 and 17, 1 tain the best of stock. Mr. Jackson is a mem-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

ber of the G. A. R., Oliver Short post, No. 390, and has held the offices of senior and junior vice-commander, and acted for a long time as adjutant. He is a member of I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 183, Rossville, and had held all the offices, including noble grand, and has been representative to the grand lodge, of which he is also a member. He has taken an active interest in having good schools in Ross- ville and has been on the school board several years. His children are all well educated, and his son, Delbert O., is attending a busi- ness college at La Fayette. . His son, John H., is attending school at Rossville and assisting his father at carriage making. Mr. Jackson was a good soldier and is an excellent citizen, and stands high in the community. In poli- tics he is a democrat.

OWARD JENKINS, a substantial farmer of Michigan township, Clin- ton county, Ind., was born here September 23. 1842. His grand- father, Benjamin Jenkins, was a native of Vir- ginia, and served in the Revolutionary army eight years. He was a leader and steward in the U. B. church, and died in Virginia at the remarkable age of one hundred years. His son, William G. Jenkins, was born in Hardy county, Va., in I811, and saw the first railway in the United States-on the line between Baltimore and Winchester. He married Bar- bara Shafer, daughter of Adam and Rosanna Shafer, the union resulting in the birth of the following children: Harrison, Howard, Lydia, William and Ella. In 1834, Mr. Jenkins and his father-in-law, Mr. Shafer, came to Indiana together in a two-horse wagon and located in Marion county. William J. Jenkins was a charter member of Herman lodge No. 184, F. & A. M., and died May 7, 1887; Mrs. Barbara

Jenkins was a member of the U. B. church and died in March, 1894.

Howard Jenkins was educated in the old- fashioned log school-house and reared on a farm. He married Melissa Clark, daughter of Lewis Clark, a native of Pennsylvania and a miller, who came to Clinton county in its early history, bought sixty acres and now resides in Johnson township. The children born to Mr. and Mrs Jenkins are named Manda, Martin. Laura, Milford, Omer, Lydia, Bertha, Elmore, and Luther-all living. When first married. Mr. Jenkins settled on a farm of twenty acres, which he has since enlarged to 320 acres, all in the highest state of cultivation at the pres- ent time. Mrs. Jenkins is a devout member of the Christian church. Mr. Jenkins is a re- publican and has been elected, as such, county commissioner, running ahead of his ticket. Mr. Jenkins is an old soldier. He enlisted August 18, 1862, for three years, in company H, Eighty-sixth Indiana volunteer infantry, and was in the campaigns in Kentucky, Tennes- see, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. He fought at Perryville and Stone River, and was then detailed as teamster for the remainder of the war; he was at Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek, Knoxville, Mission- ary Ridge, Chickamauga, Jonesboro, Pulaski, Spring Hill and Franklin. He was honorably discharged at Nashville, in June, 1865. He now receives a pension of eight dollars per month. He is a member of Stone River post. No. 45. G. A. R., and as a citizen he is highly esteemed in the community in which he lives.

ENRY C. JOHNSON is a prosperous farmer of Union township, Clinton county, Ind., of which county he is a native. He was born August 12. 1853, and is the son of Joseph S. and Sarah

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

A. (Perry) Johnson, natives of New Jersey and of Scotch-Irish descent, Joseph Johnson was born November 17, 1806, and when a lad was brought west by his father, John Johnson, to Butler county, Ohio. John Johnson was a weaver and a farmer, settled in Butler county, Ohio, and died about the year 1850. He was the father of six children, all of whom are now deceased, and were named John, Catherine, Ann, William, Joseph S. and Mary J. The father of Henry C. Johnson learned the trade of weaving with his father, which trade he followed until 1838, when he came to Clinton county, Ind., and here entered 160 acres of land, which he had increased, before his death, October 24, 1890, to 440 acres. The marriage of Joseph Johnson took place in 1836; his wife was born July 25, 1813, and died in Septem- ber, 1882. To Joseph Johnson and first wife were born the following children: Martha, Peter S., David, Garrett S., Francis M., Henry C., John F., all living, and John, Will- iam and James, deceased.

Henry C. Johnson was well trained to his vocation of agriculture on his father's farm, on which he resided until October 10, 1875, when he married Miss Martha McAdams, who bore him five children, of whom two are living, viz: Leroy B., born September 6, 1879; and Earley O., born February 25, 1882. Those deceased were named Ida, Daisy and Arett. Mr. Johnson took for his second helpmate, March 15, 1894, Anna Cadle, daughter of James and Francis (Avery) Cadle. James Cadle was born in Mercer county, Va. (now West Virginia), March 4, 1822, and was a son of Nathan and Sarah (Neddons) Cadle. He married Miss Francis Avery October 10, 1865. This lady is a daughter of Andrew and Martha (West) Avery, natives of North Carolina, and was born May 17, 1869. Mr. Johnson is now well located on his farm of seventy acres, en- joys the esteem of all his neighbors, and with

his present bright prospects before him has much to hope from the future. In politics he is a stanch democrat.

J 'OHNSON & KERRICK .- Prominent among the successful business men of Frankfort are Messrs. Johnson & Ker- rick. proprietors of a large livery barn and sale stable on the corner of Columbia and Washington streets, their place being one of the largest and most extensively patronized of the kind in the city. They do a business second to that of no other livery firm in the county, keep on hand constantly most excel- lent stock, and in addition to their general livery business, buy and sell horses, in which their success has been of a most gratifying na- ture. Their building is well equipped in all its departments, and their aim has ever been to please the public, and how well they have suc- ceeded is sufficiently attested by the large and constantly increasing patronage which they now enjoy.

W. F. Johnson was born in Edgar county, Ill., May 31, 1859, the son of W. F. and Mar- garet (Mays) Johnson, natives respectively of Illinois and Ohio. The father died when the subject of this sketch was scarcely more than a year old, and the widowed mother, with her son and two daughters, continued to reside on the home farm in Illinois until the subject had reached the age of nineteen years, when the family moved to Rush county, Ind., where the mother still resides. W. F. Johnson was reared to agricultural pursuits, educated in the public schools and began life for himself as a tiller of the soil in Rush county, where he lived until his removal to Frankfort on the fifteenth of July, 1893. On coming to this city Mr. Johnson purchased an interest in the Porter Bros. livery stable, and, later, became sole proprietor of the business, continuing the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

same until January of the following year, when his brother-in-law, L. H. Kerrick, became his partner under the firm name of Johnson & Kerrick. In 1887 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Luna Kerrick of Decatur county, Ind. Mr. Johnson has fully demons- trated his abilities as an active and successful business man, and he enjoys a full measure of the confidence and esteem of the public. He is a member of the Masonic order and in every respect a most reputable and praiseworthy gentleman.

L. H. Kerrick, junior member of the firm of Johnson & Kerrick, is an Indianian by birth and a native of the county of Decatur. He was born October 26, 1874, the son of Nim- rod and Sarah Ann (Humphrey) Kerrick, high- ly respectable citizens of Decatur county, and grew to manhood amid the active scenes of farm life. Mr. Kerrick remained with his father, who is one of the most extensive and successful farmers of the county of Decatur, until 1894, in January of which year he came to Frankfort, and, as already stated, purchased an interest in the livery business with which he is now identified. He is well qualified to con- duct the business to which his attention is now being devoted, and since becoming a resident of Frankfort has won a conspicuous place in the estimation of its citizens.

ENRY J. KEEDY, a well known farm- er and stock raiser and prominent resident of Perry township, Clinton county, Ind, was born in Ross county, Ohio, June 9, 1832. John Keedy his grandfather, a native Germany, married Martha Hinkle, also of German birth, and set- tled in Baltimore, where he followed the trade of cabinet-making; later he emigrated to Vir- ginia, settling in Morgan county, where his his death occurred. Henry Keedy, son of the

above and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Baltimore, Md., and followed agricultural pursuits for his life work. He married Nancy Bailey, daughter of Thomas Bailey, of Virginia, to which state he had previously removed, and afterward became a resident of Ross county, Ohio, where he con- tinued to reside for a period of six years. In 1837 he moved to Clinton county, Ind., and entered an eighty-acre tract of land in Perry township, a part of which is now in possession of the subject of this mention. Henry Keedy was a man of great industry and a successful financier. He accumulated a handsome prop- erty, including 200 acres of land, and became one of the best known and popular citizens of the township of Perry. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Protestant church, in which, at different times, he held official positions, and he was chiefly instrumental in establishing a number of local congregations in various parts of the county. The following are the names of the children born to Henry and Nancy Keedy: Hannah M., Elizabeth, George W., Henry J., Matthew T., Sarah J., Harrison, Uriah (deceased), Lucinda R., Margaret; two infants (deceased) also were born to them.

The immediate subject of this mention was reared a farmer, to which useful calling he has since devoted his life, and he came to Clinton county with his parents when but six years of age. He received an education in the old log school- house, common in the pioneer period of Indi- ana, and began life for himself on attaining his majority as a farmer in Perry township. When he first came to the county the settlements were few and far between, market places were remote, and the present thriving city of Frank- fort was a mere hamlet of a few log huts. He remembers when the early settlers were com- pelled to haul their grain and other produce to La Fayette and Chicago, where they disposed

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

of the same for insignificant prices. He has watched, with interest, the gradual develop- ment of the country, and seen Clinton take a prominent place among her sister counties of the state. Mr. Keedy has a fine farm, in the cultivation of which he diplays excellent judg- ment, and he ranks among the best agricultur- ists of Perry township. Politically, he is a democrat, and as such has been active in be- half of his party's interest in a number of cam- paigns. In the estimation of his neighbors and friends he stands deservedly high, and few people of Perry township are as widely and favorably known.

William Henry Keedy, well known farmer of the township of Perry, is a native of Clin- ton county, Ind., and dates his birth from the first day of May, 1855. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah F. Wolf, has borne him two children-Pearly M., and Ennis Ray. Mr. Keedy is the proprietor of a large. well- tilled farm, and occupies a front rank among the successful self-inade men of Clinton county.

J AMES KELLY, a wealthy and promi- nent citizen of Michigantown, Clinton county, Ind., and one of the oldest settlers, is of sterling Irish descent. His grandfather, James, came to America an- terior to the Revolution. At the outbreak of that heroic struggle he cheerfully forsook his farm, and for eight years bore arms against Albion, the perfidious, in the war for Ameri- can independence; when the war of 1812 was declared, his patriotic blood was again aroused, and he was among the first to volunteer in the defense of his adopted country, and died in battle in 1813. His son, David, was but six years old when he lost his father, and, accord- ing to the law of the time, was bound out, and learned the baker's trade in Cincinnati, Ohio, then a backwoods village, composed of a few

log cabins. After completing his apprentice- ship, he married Nancy, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Whiteman, of Virginia, and of English descent. In 1829 Mr. Kelly came to Indiana and settled in what is now Clinton county, which he later assisted in or- ganizing. To the union of David and Nancy Kelly were born eleven children, viz: James, Catherine, Henry, Elizabeth, Rebecca, John Jacob, William, Mary, and two that died in infancy.

James Kelly, the subject proper of this sketch, was the seventh child born in Clinton county, and the third in Michigan township. His birth took place August 6, 1832, and this township has been his residence until the pres- ent hour. He was reared on his father's homestead and farming has been his vocation ever since. His education was acquired at one of the most primitive of log school-houses, an uncouth structure as compared with the modern brick of to-day. It had a clap-board door, a puncheon floor and greased paper for window-lights, together with rude slabs for seats. A huge fire-place occupied one end of the room, the chimney being constructed from mud and sticks. They burned small saw-logs in this fire-place-some five or six feet in length and a foot and a half in diameter, which it took all the large boys all the noon to roll on the fire. The master made the pens from the quill of a goose, and this was one of his principal tasks, as the old pioneer fathers in- sisted that their children should all write well. The teacher boarded around from house to house, not having any permanent abiding place. July 25, 1858, Mr. Kelly married Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Jane Scott -early settlers and prominent residents of the township. In 1859, Mr. Kelly settled on his present farm, comprising 270 acres, to which he has largely added and which he has so im- proved as to make it unexcelled by any other

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

in the county. The children born to Mr. Kelly by his wife Sarah were named Thomas J., John S., James S., and Iudia M. Mrs. Kelly died on December 24, 1869, and May 25, 1871, Mr. Kelly married Christina J. Fisher, daughter of David and Christina (Shields) Fisher, and by this marriage the fol- lowing children have been born: William D., Laura J., Ellis O., Daisey M., Omer T., Arta R. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are members of the Christian church, and in politics he is a populist.

ILLIAM KELLY was born in Mich- igan township, Clinton county. Ind., February 6, 1846, and his ancestral history will be found in the biogra- phy of his eldest brother, James Kelly, printed in conjunction with this notice. William Kelly first married Eunice B. Layton, daughter of Israel and Sarah (Grant) Layton, Mrs. Lay- ton was a distant relative of Gen. Grant, and Mr. Layton came from Pennsylvania, located first in Ohio and then came to Clinton county, Ind., where he followed his vocation as farmer. The children born to William and Eunice B. Kelly were named Alvin U., Lois D., Iva A .. Nora G., Perry L., Clara R. and Arthur D. Mrs. Kelly had been a school-teacher, and had also taught Sabbath-school in the Baptist church, in the faith of which she died March 18, 1879. The second marriage of Mr. Kelly was with Amanda M. Landis, daughter of Sam- uel Landis, a farmer from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Amanda M. Kelly bore her husband two chil- dren-Charles and Mattie-the latter dying at the age of five. Mrs, Kelly died in the Luth- eran faith Augest 24, 1887. Mr. Kelly chose for his third wife Mrs. Rachel Philippe, widow of George Philippe, and daughter of Jeremiah and Malinda Snider. This lady is a member of the Methodist church, while Mr. Kelly is a

member of the Northwestern Adventists' church. He is a strong republican in politics, and fraternally, he is a member of Herman lodge, No. 184, F. & A. M .; Clinton lodge, No. 165, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs; Rubicon lodge, No. 340, K. of P., and of the Grange and the Horse-thief detect- ives. His farm of eighty-three acres is one of the best of its size in the township or county. It is well stocked with all kinds of farm ma- chinery, and he has erected a modern farm res- idence, and a barn 66x40 feet, with a stone foundation, forming a basement for horses and cattle. The farm is finely situated on the Frankfort and Michigantown turnpike. He is a public-spirited gentleman and a great advo- cate of advanced education.

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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