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 79

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 79
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 79
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 79

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A LEXANDER IRWIN McCONNELL, who devotes his time and attention to farming in Kirklin township, springs from' sturdy Scotch ancestry. His grandfather, Alexander McConnell, was also a farmer and lived on land near Dayton,

Ohio. The National Soldiers' Home now stands on a part of the old place. Mr. Mc- Connell was a soldier in the war of 1812, was a Jeffersonian democrat, and was a Presby- terian. His children were Robert, James I ... , Alexander and Jefferson. James Lindsay Mc- Connell was born near Dayton, Ohio, Febru- ary 24, 1797, and lived at home until his mar- riage with Mary (Irwin) Nesbitt, who was born in Ohio in 1803. Six children graced their union-James, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Mary J., Alexander I. and one who died in infancy. The home farm comprised 204 acres near Thorntown, Boone county, Ind., which Mr. McConnell entered from the government at $1.25 per acre, obtaining the necessary money by selling his store at Thorntown. He was a hard-working man and was highly respected by all who knew him. He and his wife held membership with the Presbyterian church, in which for forty years he served as elder. In his political views he was a republican. On the twenty-first of August, 1876, he was called to the home beyond, and his wife passed away March 6, 1848, leaving a good example to the children.

Alexander I. McConnell acquired his edu- cation in the public schools and the Thorn- town academy, and when not yet seventeen years of age enlisted, on the fourteenth of March, 1865, in company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Indiana infantry, under Capt. Joseph B. Hobb. From Camp Carrington at Indianapolis they were sent to the Shenandoah valley in Virginia, where Mr. McConnell was detailed to herd the cattle belonging to the government, and there remained until honor- ably discharged August 4, 1865, and im- mediately after his return he resumed work on the farm. On the eleventh of November, 1867, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Mc- Connell and Mary E. McKensey, who was born August 11, 1848, in Clinton county, Ind.,

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

and is a daughter of Alfred and Sarah A. (Reese) McKensey. Mr. McConnell had sixty-eight acres of land given him by his father, and in 1878 traded this for eighty acres in Marion township, which he made his home until 1885, when he bought sixty-four acres on section 4, Kirklin township. He has drained the place, which is also well fenced and is sup- plied with all modern improvements and con- veniences, and through his earnest efforts his land is transformed into a very valuable tract. In 1893, Mr. McConnell was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the twenty-ninth of September, at the age of forty-five. She was a member of the Chris- tian church of Cyclone, and an earnest chris- tian, whose loss is felt throughout the com- munity. Mr. McConnell belongs to the same church. In politics he is a republican, and has served as a delegate to the county con- ventions, but has never been an aspirant for office, perferring to devote his time and at- tention to his business interests, in which he has met with fair success.

J AMES McDAVIS, one of the most prominent citizens and farmers of Madison township, Clinton county, Ind., was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, October 17, 1821, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Sweet) McDavis, natives respectively of Vermont and New York. William McDavis was born May 20, 1799, and Elizabeth (Sweet) McDavis was born June 28, 1798. When James was five years old his father moved into a hotel at Princeton, where the family lived three years, then removed co a hotel at Bethany, where the father died one year later at the early age of thirty-one years, leaving a wife and four children, of whom Jaines was the eldest. The mother continued

in the hotel until her family were grown to maturity, when she died, in October, 18;4. The father lived at his birth-place until nine- teen years old, then emigrated to Butler county, where he lived and died as before stated. The parents were of Scotch-English ancestry. Mr. McDavis served a few months at blacksmithing and carpentering, and was very skillful in the use of tools and made most of his own repairs. He at one time kept a general store and dealt in agricultural implements at Hamilton village. He also traveled over a great portion of the United States.

James McDavis came to this county in 1843 and settled in Madison township, about one mile north of Mulberry, where he leased some land of James R. Elliott, on which he lived eleven years. In 1854 he left the farmi for two years and purchased forty acres of his present farm and soon afterward purchased sixty-two acres where he now lives, to which he has added from time to time until he now owns 132 acres. He came to this county with only three dollars in money in his pocket, and all he owned, including horses and wagon, were not worth more than $150. He was first married August 20, 1843. in Butler county. Ohio, to Miss Martha Fleming, daughter of John Fleming, who was born in said county December 14, 1822. Miss Fleming's parents died when she was ten years of age, and she was left to care for herself when very young. Her death occurred September 10, 1865, and she was buried at Dayton, Tippecanoe county, Ind. She left three children-Frances E., born April 21, 1847; Jessie A., born July, 24, 1860; Elizabeth A. was born September 14, 1851, and died at the age of six months. Frances E. was married, and died July 14. 1874, leaving two children-Frank and Cal- vin. Jessie A. was married to John Mattox and is living in Ross township. Mr. McDavis was married the second time March 26, 1867,

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

to Martha L. Lindley, daughter of Dodd and Sarah (Skillman) Lindley, the former born in the state of New York in 1796, and died in 1846 in Butler county, Ohio; the latter born in 1801 near Trenton, N. J., and died in the same county in 1856. Mrs. McDavis was born in Butler county, Ohio, August 25, 1833, where her parents were also married. Mr. and Mrs. McDavis have one child, namely, James, who was born September 14. 1871, and is one of the representative young men of his township and has taken for his life partner Miss Leonora Jacoby. Mr. and Mrs. McDavis are rearing an orphan girl named Ella Hamilton, whose parents died when she was but eleven years of age. Mrs. McDavis was reared a Baptist. Mr. McDavis is a Uni- versalist and politically is a republican. He is president of the Dayton Gravel Road company and a director in the Farmers' Fire Mutual in- surance company, of Clinton, Carroll and Tip- pecanoe counties.

ILLIAM H. McGUIRE, M. D., one of the most prominent medical practitioners in the city of Frank- fort, was born in Carroll county, Ind., June 11, 1847, and is the son of John and Sarah (Michaels) McGuire, natives of North Carolina and Virginia respectively and of Scotch-Irish extraction. The birth of John McGuire, the father of the doctor, took place July 30, 1818, and the parents of John were Elias and Elizabeth (Crowl) McGuire, who were also natives of North Carolina, from which state they removed to Butler county, Ohio, and thence in 1837 to Carroll county, Ind., where they passed the remainder of their days. They were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in this faith reared their family, who were born and named in the following order: Isaac C., de-

ceased; Daniel, deceased; William, of Cly- mers, Ind .; John, father of Dr. Wm. H .; Susan, Lavinia and Sarah, all three de- ceased; Elizabeth, wife of J. Tucker of Kansas. John McGuire came to Indiana with his parents and with them made his home, assisting in the care 'of the farm, un- til his marriage at the age of twenty-eight, when he engaged in farming on his own ac- count in Carroll county, and followed this honorable vocation until his death, May, 10, 1891. His marriage took place, however, in Clinton county, Ind., September 3, 1846. Mrs. Sarah (Michaels) McGuire is a daughter of William and Susanna (Neher) Michaels, who were both natives of Virginia and resided in Augusta county when their daughter was born. To the marriage of John and Sarah McGuire ten children were born, viz: William H., the subject of this sketch; John J., a stone cutter of Logansport, Ind .; Elisha H., farmer of Logansport; Samuel, deceased; Elias, farmer of Logansport; Susanna, wife of William Koble of Logansport; Sarah, deceased; E. Jasper, of Logansport; Mary, deceased. and Ella, wife of Charles Taylor, of Winamac, Ind. The mother of these children died Aug- ust 9, 1894.

Dr. William H. McGuire received his pri- mary education in the district schools; this was supplemented by a course of study in Wabash college for a year. This was followed by a course of study in medicine under Dr. F. A. Schultz, at Delphi, Ind., beginning in 1870, and this in turn was followed by graduation from the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincin- nati, January 27, 1874. His first three years of practice were with his former preceptor, Dr. Schultz, and then in June, 1877, he set- tled in Frankfort. During his residence in Delphi the doctor became as popular as a democratic politician as he did as a physician, and in 1876 was elected coroner, the duties of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

which office he filled most satisfactorily to the public and with credit to himself until his re- mnoval to Frankfort. Here, in 1881, his polit- ical acumen and sagacity having been at once recognized, he was elected by his party as city treasurer, and for two years ably performed the duties of that office, at the same time mak- ing a most enviable reputation as a medical practitioner. Having given ample evidence of his superior abilities as a public officer, and having served as the first democratic treasurer of Frankfort, he, from 1884, until May, 1886, was selected as chairman of the county central committee and served in a most acceptable manner. He then resigned, and in December of 1885 was appoined special examiner for the United States pension bureau. After remain- ing in the pension office for two months, he was transferred to Bloomington, Ill., and ten months later to White Hall, in the same state, where he remained until May 30, 1888, when he was recalled to Washington, where he was on duty until September of the same year, and was then assigned to duty at Spring- field, Mo., at which point he resigned in April, 1889, and returned to Frankfort, Ind., where he has since been enjoying a lucrative general practice, and has, beside, been secretary of the board of examining surgeons for pensions since September, 1893.

The first marriage of Dr. McGuire took place in Clinton county, Ind., September 6, 1868, to Miss Mary J. Logan, a daughter of David Logan and born in Franklin county, Ind., February 22, 1844. To this union were born five children, named as follows: Lenora May, deceased; Candace L., wife of George U. Scroggy, of Chicago, Ill .; Willie F., de- ceased; Arthur L. C., of Frankfort, Ind., and an infant, deceased. The mother of these children died March 12, 1878, and the doctor next married, October 22, 1878, Miss Floretta Pence, who was born in Clinton county, Ind.,

February 27, 1846, and is a daughter of Wes- ley Gaskill. Mr. and Mrs. McGuire are mnem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally the doctor is a Freemason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the I. O. R. M. and a K. of H. He is a most faithful adherent of his party, is the owner of some valuable real estate in Frankfort, is eminent in his profes- sion, and is universally respected by his fellow- citizens.

ORDECAI B. McKINSEY, a prom- inent citizen of Clinton county, Ind., and for a number of years an able and acceptable minister of the Christian church, is descended paternally from Scotch ancestry and traces his family history back to his grandfather, George Mckinsey, who came from the old world in colonial times and served for seven years in the war of the Revolution. George Mckinsey settled origin- ally in South Carolina, where he engaged in farming until about the year 1808, when he migrated to Warren county, Ohio, his death occurring in the latter state a number of years ago. His son, Nehemiah, father of the sub- ject, was born in South Carolina in 1795, and appears to have inherited the martial spirit of his father, as he served with distinction in the war of 1812 under Gen. Harrison. In 1816 he located near Vincennes, Ind., and in 1822 moved to Montgomery county, where he made his home until his removal to the county of Clinton in the year 1830. In the latter county he became the possessor of a valuable tract of land, consisting of 320 acres, the greater part of which he improved and upon which the re- maining years of his life were passed. His wife, Catherine Elliott, to whom he was mar- ried at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1816, bore him nine children-Andrew J., George E., Urban C., Joab, and Mordecai B., living; those deceased

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

are Abraham, Wesley, Samuel and Eliza. After a married life of fifty-eight years, Nehe- miah and Catherine Mckinsey died December 19, 1874, and October 5. 1875, respectively.

Mordecai B. Mckinsey is a native of Clin- ton county, Ind., and dates his birth from the nineteenth day of August. 1833. Like the majority of country boys, his early years were spent in the routine of farm labor; but he at- tended the common schools, where he acquired a fair English education, which was afterward supplemented by a course of study in the high school of Frankfort. When but sixteen years of age he began teaching, and followed that profession successfully during the winter sea- son for a period of fifteen years, farming and attending school in the meantime. On the twenty-first of May. 1854, Mr. Mckinsey was married to Mary A. Young. after which event he went to Nebraska, where. for about seven years, he followed farming not far from the city of Omaha. He returned to Clinton county in the year 1861, and here resumed agricultual pursuits, which he followed until 1865, in March of which year he enlisted in company K, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged August 4 of the same year. Returning from the army. he again re- sumed farming and was thus engaged until 1871, but in the meantime he yielded to an inclination of long standing and entered the ministry of the Christian church. He was formally ordained to ministerial work in 1869, and since that time has been a faithful preacher of the Word in various parts of Indiana, prin- cipally the counties of Miami, Cass, Fulton, Hamilton, Clinton, Boone, Montgomery, Fountain and Delaware, in all of which he has done good work, strengthened old congre- gations and organized new churches. At this time he is preaching at four different places, and still sustains his reputation as an able and

successful exponent of the teaching of the church with which he is identified. During the year 1889-90 his specific work was that of evangelizing and building up and organizing congregations in destitute places, a duty for which his well-known abilities peculiarly fitted him.

His first wife, of whom mention is made above, bore him one child and died on the nineteenth day of August, 1855. Mr. Mc- Kinsey's second marriage was solemnized October 8, 1863, with Martha Troutman, daughter of Greenup and Mahala (Shoe- maker) Troutman, a union severed by the death of Mrs. Mckinsey on the eighth of October, 1880, it being their marriage anni- versary. The following children were born to the above union: Maud and Madge, twins, whose birth occurred November 12, 1866. Maud became the wife of Edward Spray, and Madge married Burke Beard, an attorney of Wolcott, Ind. Mr. Mckinsey married his present wife, Mary J. Ewan, on the ninth day of February, 1885, and one child has blessed the union: Mordecai B., whose birth occurred June 13, 1888. Mr. Mckinsey is, a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, belonging to subordinate lodge and encampment, in both of which he has held important official positions. He also belongs to the G. A. R , and in politics affiliates with the republican party.

ARIUS MCKENZIE, one of the hon- ored veterans of the late war and an influential citizen of Kirklin township, Clinton county, is of Scotch descent. His grandfather, Rutherford Mckenzie, was born in Virginia, and in 1827 came to Harri- son county, Ind., where he built a cabin and opened up a farm. He was a Methodist and a democrat, and died at the age of seventy.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

His children were William, John, Sarah and Alexander. Alexander McKenzie, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1821, and became a shoemaker, and also manufac- tured ax-handles. He married Phebe Haines, who died in 1847, and afterward wedded Mrs. Matilda (Rice) Whitehead. He belonged to the Methodist church, and was an honorable, upright man. During the Mexican war he served as a member of the Second Indiana infantry under Captain Kimball, Colonel Bowles and Jefferson Davis, who was brigadier general. His children were Elizabeth, Sam- uel, Darius, Mary, Rebecca, Lucy, John and Hannah.

The gentleman whose name heads this record was born in Harrison county, Ind., De- cember 20, 1840, and was eight years of age at the time of his mother's death. When a lad of twelve he left home and began to earn his own living, working as a farm hand. After his father's second marriage he returned home, and during the winter attended school, while in the summer he worked for Jonathan Peters, and afterward for his uncle, John Mckenzie, who took a great interest in him and gave him a share in the crops. With him Darius lived for three years, when, on his uncle's death, he worked for Jonathan Hancock, who proved a warm friend.

In 1861, Mr. Mckenzie entered his country's service, enlisting at the first call for volunteers, but the quota was full, and not until the call for three-year men was issued could he go to the front. The Seventeenth Indiana then en- listed as a body with Col. Milo S. Hascall, Lieut. Col. J. T. Wilder, Maj. Gorham and Capt. Clenny, in command of company K. From Indianapolis they went to Cincinnati, where they received supplies and then took the train to Parkersburg, Va., whence they marched to Charleston. Two years later they returned to Parkersburg and then went to

Oakland, Md. They took part in the en- gagements at Laurel Hill, Rich Mountain, Philippi and Beverly, and built breast-works across the Cheat River valley. The enemy also built breast-works, and as they did not advance, the Union forces began the attack and succeeded in capturing the drawings of Gen. Lee's campaign. Later they defeated the troops of Stonewall Jackson, then met the enemy at Greenbrier Bridge, and later returned to Webster, Va., and went by the way of Cincinnati to Louisville, where they arrived in February, 1862. The army under the com- mand of Gen. Buell marched to Nashville. where they joined Thomas' corps and pro- ceeded to Pittsburg Landing. They were in the long siege of Corinth, and then went to Stevenson, Ala. Gen. Bragg was driven from Perryville after a severe battle. Under Col. Wilder, who was placed in command of the brigade, the troops saw hard service. Need-

ing new supplies, they asked for the Spencer gun, and offered to have its price deducted from their pay, but this was not done. Being well equipped, they started after the enemy, which they met at Hoover's Gap, where they were closely followed by the infantry under Gen. Thomas, and there the enemy, largely superior in numbers, were driven back. Or they went to Chattanooga and to Ringgold, Ga., where Gen. Wilder's command led the way, and at Rockface Spring a hard battle was fought. The Union forces fell back to Chickamauga, where Wilder's brigade was dismounted, and joined the infantry. In order to destroy Rosecrans' supplies, they crossed the Tennessee river and accomplished their task. They forced the rebels into battle, and Farmington and eight hundred prisoners and all the artilery were captured. Going to the rear of Bragg's army, they destroyed his sup- plies, and took part in the battle of Mission- ary Ridge.

785

OF CLINTON COUNTY.

In the latter part of 1863, the president de- clared that all soldiers that had served for two years, on re-enlisting, could have a thirty days' furlough. This Mr. Mckenzie and his comrades did. He was mustered out January 1, 1864, and the same day joined the veteran service. After the furlough, the troops went to Ringgold, Ga .; then went on the march to Atlanta, taking part in the battles of Resaca, Dalton, New Hope Church and others. They were in the siege of Atlanta, and followed the Confederate" troops to Rome, Ga. On the 28th of October, Mr. Mckenzie was shot in the right arm by three minie balls and received a severe wound in the right side. He was then captured, and his clothing and all valua- bles taken from him. He received rough treatment, but at length his wounds received attention and his arm was amputated; yet they had little care and he suffered terribly. At length, in talking to a little colored boy, he found that from a certain Col. Young he might possibly obtain help, and this hope was fulfilled. The colonel tenderly cared for him and sup- plied him with comforts, while the good man's wife supplied him with ample food. After- ward he was sent to a rebel prison, where he remained until the close of the war, when the prisoners were exchanged. He had neither clothing nor food, and in consequence suffered greatly. The experiences of those days will never be forgotten, and the tale is almost too terrible to tell. At length, on reaching the Union lines, he was sent to a hospital con- ducted by ladies from Indiana, and afterward went to Benton Barracks, where he received orders to go home. On again going to Indi- anapolis he reported to the hospital surgeon, and there remained until September 13. 1865, when he was honorably discharged.

Mr. Mckenzie was at that time without money, and in order to gain a living sold ballads written in honor of the soldiers. About

this time Gov. Morton took and interest in him, and urged him to attend Bryant & Stratton Business college, and board at the city hospi- tal, which he did. He afterward successfully engaged in selling books for Col. Straight, and in 1867 established a grocery store in Kirklin, in partnership with John Harding, whom he bought out a year later. Since that time he has carried on general merchandising and is doing a large and profitable business. He also owns 340 acres of rich land and the Mc- Kenzie Hotel.

In politics, Mr. Mckenzie is a stalwart re- publican. He served for eight years as town- ship trustee, and when running for county treasurer reduced the democratic majority from Soo to 160. He was married October 28, 1872, to Jemima McIntyre, who was born Au- gust 10, 1841, and is the daughter of Richard and Sevena McIntyre, of Ohio. They have a daughter, Ethel, born May 4, 1880. The parents are members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Mckenzie belongs to Kirklin lodge, No. 299, I. O. O. F. In his business he has prospered, overcoming the many difficulties and obstacles in his path and working his way upward to success. He was a faithful and honored soldier, and upon southern battle fields, among the boys in blue, there could be found none truer than he.

J OHN T. McQUINN, a farmer of enter- prise, residing in Forest township, Clin- ton county, Ind., is a native of Johnson county, Ind., and was born February 18. 1842. His grandfather, Ezekiel McQuinn, was born in Virginia September 2, 1767. He was twice married, and to his first marriage were born six children: Ruth, Susannah, Elizabeth, Catherine, James and Isaiah. His wife died while yet a resident of Virginia, and later Mr. McQuinn moved to Kentucky, where

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

he married Elizabeth Coons; who bore him seven children, viz .: Strather, Sarah, John, Willis, Martin, Jephtha and Newton. In 1834 he moved to and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Johnson county, Ind., at Nineveh, and he and wife were members of the old Baptist church society that erected their house of wor- ship on a corner of his farm. Jephtha Mc- Quinn, son of Ezekiel and father of John T., was born in Kentucky August 10, 1818, at the age of sixteen came with his father to the new home in Indiana, and in 1840 married Luzina Chappell, daughter of John and Mary (Mus- selman) Chappell, to which union were born the following children: John T., Mary E. and Rebecca A. The mother of these children died when John T. was but eight years of age, , and the father then married Elizabeth Mus- grove, daughter of Nathan and Rebecca (Chappell) Musgrove, the offspring of this mar- riage being William N., Newton A., Ira W., Levi and Silas H. The parents are still living in Johnson county on a farm of 145 acres.

John T. McQuinn has always lived on a farm. He married Sarah C. Crim, daughter of John and Mary (Adams) Crim, both living in Boone county, Ind. The children born to John T. McQuinn are seven in number, viz .: Oscar M., Truda B., Mary L., Charles E , William A., Dezza B. and Annie C. Mrs. Sarah C. McQuinn died October 26, 1891, a pious member of the Christian church, mourned alike in the home circle and by a host of lov- ing friends. Mr. McQuinn has a fine farm of 133 acres, in a good state of cultivation and improved with a new dwelling of good size and convenient in all respects. He is a progres- sive citizen and much respected by his neigh- bors. His son Oscar, now twenty-one years of age and single, possesses much of his fath- er's spirit of enterprise, and has already shown himself to be a farmer of shrewd judgment and foresight.

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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