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 87

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 87
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 87
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 87

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).

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

cum succeeded Mr. Amick, and the entire business was sold to Mr. Mecum. Mr. Roush then resumed his old position with Kempf Brothers, with whom he still remains, filling the position with the same affability and popu- larity as of yore.

The marriage of Mr. Roush took place at Frankfort, October 8, 1889, with Miss Della Winters, daughter of William J. and Hannah (Helvie) Winters, natives of Indiana and of German extraction. To Mr. Roush and his amiable lady has been born one child -- Paul Charles. Mrs. Roush is a devoted member of the Christian church; Mr. Roush is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, is a Knight of Pythias, and in politics is a republican, and both are admired for their congenial and oblig- ing dispositions.

HOMAS DOUGLASS RUSSELL, a leading farmer and well known citizen of Cyclone, Kirklin township, Clinton county, Ind., was born on his father's farm May 3, 1847, and is descended from sturdy Irish and English ancestry. His grandfather, Robert Russell, was an Ohio farmer. His father, Johnson Russell, was born July 25, ISO2, and remained at home until his mar- riage on the fifth of July, 1822. His wife bore the maiden name of Cynthia B. Downard. She was born August 15, 1805, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth Downard, of Virginia. Her father afterwards became judge of Hendricks county, Ind., and was quite an extensive land owner. He reached the age of seventy years, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell were born the following children-Elizabeth, born April 30, 1824; Ellen, who was born Decem- ber 8, 1825, and died September 14, 1840; James, who was born February 7, 1828, and died July 22, 1840; Hannah, who was born

August 12, 1830, and died in 1863; Robert, born August 2, 1833, died in 1871; William T., born March 4, 1837, died in 1876; John- son P., born November 24, 1839, was in the Civil war, and died March 9, 1862; Mary Ann, born April 13, 1841, died November 11, 1842; Jonathan Knight, born January 11, 1845, was a soldier, and Thomas D., the subject of this sketch. The parents were married in Hend- ricks county, Ind., but removed to Tippe- canoe county, and in 1829 came to Kirklin township, Clinton county, where Mr. Russell entered and purchased land until he had more than 600 acres. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Christian church, in which he served as deacon. He died at the age of sixty-six and his wife at fifty-one years.

Thomas Douglass Russell acquired his education in the common schools and remained at home until May, 1864, when he enlisted in the one-hundred-day service as a member of company C, One-hundred and Thirthy-ninth Indiana infantry, under Capt. R. D. Davidson, went from Indianapolis to Kentucky, and did guard duty over prisoners on their their way to Chicago. On the expiration of his term he was discharged, but on the twenty-fourth of November, enlisted under Capt. C. C. Mc- Dowell of company G, Twenty-sixth Indiana infantry. The troops went to New Orleans, thence to Mobile, and were present at the cap- ture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. They then went to Montgomery and Selma, Ala., and on into Mississippi, doing provost duty until November, 1865, when they were discharged at Vicksburg. Mr. Russell at once returned home, and on his father's death the following year inherited ninety-three acres of land He was married March 24, 1869, to Sarah M. Mc- Intyre, who was born in 1852, and is a daugh- ter of Richard and Jane (Nealis) McIntyre, natives of Indiana. Two children graced this union-Capitola, wife of Truman Miller, and

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Oscar. The mother died October 22, 1876, and Mr. Russell was again married in June, 1882, his second union being with Mary E. McIntyre, who was born October 4, 1860, and is a daughter of Michael and Charlotte (Lee) McIntyre. The children born to this union are Harry, Catherine and Paul.

Mr. Russell has a fine farm of 1583 acres, all under a high state of cultivation, and is ex- tensively engaged in raising fine horses, cattle and hogs. He has a commodious barn and outbuildings, which are models of convenience, and has erected a beautiful country home at a cost of $1, 500. In his business he has pros- pered, and his success is well deserved. In politics he is a republican, and has been dele- gate to the county conventions. His wife be- longs to the Christian church.

J AMES EDWARD SCROGGY, a young but successful business man of Frank- fort, Ind., and the founder of the J. E. Scroggy Manufacturing company, was born on a farm just north of Frankfort, Sep- tember 14, 1862, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Abbott) Scroggy. He gained a very fair common school education, which was sup- plemented by two years' attendance at an academy in Stockwell, Ind. At about the age of sixteen he entered the dry goods store of J. H. Barner & Co., of Frankfort, as clerk, and eighteen months later accepted a position as clerk in the clothing house of J. W. Coulter. Three years later he went to Chicago, where he was employed by a wholesale cutlery house as traveling salesman for nine months; next, he traveled for six years for the wholesale boot and shoe house of Fuller, Childs & Co., of Toledo, Ohio, and later in the same line for a prominent Chicago firm. In January, 1892, he returned to Frankfort, Ind., and

associated himself with J. A. Hedgcock in the manufacture of children's shoes. In' 1893, the J. E. Scroggy Manufacturing company was started for the production of that class of children's shoes known as " cacks, " and ladies' and gents' over-gaiters. The display of "cacks" made by this company at the World's fair was unexcelled and was awarded the medal of superiority. In July, 1894, the increasing business of the company compelled a removal to enlarged quarters on west Washington street, where Mr.' Scroggy personally oversees the practical operations of its affairs.

In 1883, Mr. Scroggy was married to Miss Lulu Pence, of Clinton county, and this happy union has been favored by the birth of two children-Marie and Greta. Mr. Scroggy is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Improved Order of Red Men, and the social position of himself and wife is one that might well be envied by any resident of Frankfort.

J ACOB H. SELLERS, the popular liveryman of Michigantown, Clinton county, Ind., is. of German descent. His father, Abraham Sellers, was born and reared in North Carolina and came to In- diana in the early days of its settlement, when Indianapolis was a village of half a dozen log cabins. He entered eighty acres of land on Fall creek, Marion county, Ind., later pur- chased 720 acres and was among the leading pioneer farmers of Marion county, which was then in a primitive condition. He married a Miss Rumple, daughter of David Rumple, formerly of Ohio, but later a pioneer and prominent farmer of Marion county, Ind. This lady died in the faith of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Sellers next married Margaret Snider, a daughter of Jacob Snider, who came from Pennsylvania and was of German ex-

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

traction. To the union of Abraham and Mar- garet Sellers was born Jacob H., the subject of this sketch.

Jacob H. Sellers was born in Marion coun- ty, Ind., December 14, 1856. He was reared a farmer, and remained at home until twenty- four years old, when he went to Indianapolis and engaged in the livery business. October 9, 1878, he married Dorothy Lynch, of Marion county, and to this happy union have been born the following children : Harley, Goldie, Merle, and Trellie and Lellie, twins. Mr. Sellers has been very successful in his business, being affable and obliging and having a well- equipped and well-stocked livery establishment, calculated to please the most fastidious cus- tomer. He also owns a pretty cottage resi- dence in Michigantown, pleasantly located. He is a stanch republican and quite active as a party man. Mrs. Sellers is equally ardent as a member of the Seven Day Adventists. Mr. Sellers is a strong advocate of education, and he and wife enjoy a high social position.

J OHN A. SHEARER, a thrifty farmer of Michigan township, Clinton county, Ind., is of German descent. His grandfather, Abraham Shearer, was a farmer of Pennsylvania, and died in that state. Hugh Shearer, son of Abraham and father of John A., was born in Pennsylvania, July 24, 1824. He left his native state in company with his mother and elder brother, and located in Ohio, where he remained until he was twenty-six years old, when he came to Indiana and stopped, as occasion required, in Howard, Tipton and Clinton counties, finally settling in Clinton county and engaging in farming, merchandising and saw-milling. He married Sarah A. Shepherd, daughter of John and Eliza Shepherd. Mr. Shearer and wife were both members of the Methodist church,

in which he was a class leader. He was also a Freemason, and with two other men founded Hillisburg lodge, No. 550, of which he was the first worshipful master.

John A. Shearer was born in Darke county, Ohio, February 1, 1852. He received a good common school education, is still a wide reader of current literature, and owns a library of 1, 500 to 2,900 volumes. He is a republican in politics and in religion a Spiritualist. He married Mary R. Tull, daughter of Newton and Delia (Gano) Tull, and to this union have been born Hugh N., Geneva E., Podge L. (deceased) and John O. (deceased). Hugh N. Shearer is well' educated, and is preparing himself for a teacher. Mr. Shearer has passed all the chairs in the blue lodge, F. & A. M., No. 550, at Hillisburg. His farm comprises ninety-seven and a half acres of fertile land, and is improved with a modern dwelling and new barn.

ARRY C. SHERIDAN, an accom- plished attorney at law, at Frankfort, Ind., was born in Owen township, Clinton county, December 15, 1858, and is the son of David F. and Mahala (Widener) Sheridan. David F. Sheridan, the respected father, was a native of Butler coun- ty, Ohio, born in 1832, and was a son of Andrew Sheridan, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, of Irish extraction. Andrew Sheridan was a saddler by trade, and this vocation he followed in Ohio until 1836, when he located in Madison township, Clinton county, Ind., and followed his trade at Hamilton until 1838, when he removed to Frankfort, made a short sojourn, and finally settled down to farming in Owen township, and passed his days in com- parative ease until his death, in 1854, at which time he was possessor of 240 acres of fertile land. His faithful wife, Jemima Perine, whom

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

he had married in Butler county, Ohio, sur- vived until 1873, when she was called away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, having borne her husband ten children, viz .: John, Frederick, Andrew J., James, David F., William A., Catherine, Mary, Margaret and Sarah. The third child here enumerated, David F., the father of Harry C., on attaining his majority, had finished an apprenticeship at the plasterer's trade, which' he ever after fol- lowed, in conjunction with farming, until his death, which occurred February 27, 1888. He was twice married, and had born to him by his first union one child, now deceased. His second marriage took place in Tippecanoe county, Ind., in 1857, with Mahala Widener, who was born in Michigan township, Clinton county, Ind., and by this union were born the following children: Harry C., the subject of this mention; Squire, Elmer E., Lillie, Kate, Jennie and Julia (twins), and Belle.

Harry C. Sheridan was reared in Owen township, Clinton county, Ind., until the age of eighteen, receiving a fair education in the district school; he then entered the Collegiate institute at Battle Ground, Ind., where he passed two years in diligent study, and then came to Frankfort; in 1879 began teaching in the district schools of Jackson township, and for three years met with abundant success. In the fall of 1881 he began a three years' course of study in law under Judge Palmer, was admitted to the bar April 4, 1882, and in the spring of 1883 began the regular practice of his profession. July 1, 1883, he formed a partnership at Frankfort with Judge B. K. Higinbottom, eminent at the time for his legal attainments, and this connection was continued for one year; following this, one year was passed in partnership with Judge J. G. Adams, and the next year with J. W. Merritt, since which time Mr. Sheridan has been in practice alone, gaining clients and adding to his reputa-

tion as the time passed on. From September, 1884, until September, 1886, he served as city clerk. Mr. Sheridan was most happily mar- ried, September 8, 1886, in Camden, Carroll county, Ind., to Miss Margaret Espy Vinnedge, who was born in Indianapolis, November 5, 1863, and who is the daughter of John A. and Ellen (Espy) Vinnedge, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Indiana. To this union two children have been born and are named Law- rence Vinnedge, born July 8, 1887, and Mar- jorie Ellen, June 29, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan are consistent members of the Pres- byterian church, and in politics he is a republi- can. Fraternally he is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a Knight Templar. As a lawyer. few hold a higher rank than Mr. Sheridan, and he and family socially enjoy the respect of the citizens of Frankfort to the fullest extent.

a APT. JAMES N. SIMS is one of the oldest and most esteemed citizens of Clinton county and has for years been an active and prominent member of its bar. He is a native of Indiana, having been born at Connersville, Fayette county, on the fifth day of January, 1817. His father, Stephen Sims, was born in Cooke county: Tenn., November 24, 1792. Stephen Sims was a son of William and Amelia (Russell; Sims. William Sims was a son of William and Martha Sims, and was born in Culpeper county, Va., May 14. 1760, his parents being of Scotch lineage. Unto the marriage of Will- jam and Amelia (Russell) Sims was born the following children: Larkin, Mary A., Joshua, James, William, Elizabeth, Sarah, Stephen, Thomas, Anna, Martha and Lewis. Of these only Martha survives. She now (1894) resides in Boone county, Ind., being ninety-five years old. The death of the mother of these chil- dren occurred in 1820, and four years later the

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

sided. While on the farm Mr. Sims gratified his natural taste for the law by a course of private reading, thus becoming well versed in the principles of the profession. As early as 1858 he was admitted to the practice of law, and while on the farm he did much legal busi- ness for his neighbors. Upon coming to Frankfort, in 1872, Mr. Sims and his brother, Capt. James N. Sims, became partners in the practice. He also became interested in the real estate business, and after remaining with his brother eighteen months, withdrew from the partnership, and since then the greater part of his time and attention has been given to his real estate business and collecting. In 1886, Mr. Sims constructed Alhambra Lake, a portion of which lies within the city limits of Frankfort. This artificial lake covers three acres, and averages from five to fifteen feet in depth. It is fed by five flowing wells, which furnish an average of one-hundred gallons per minute. The lake is well stocked with fine fish, and Mr. Sims has provided it with a bath and boating house, which renders the lake a delightful place for bathing and boating. In 1844, Mr. Sims cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay, and was a whig until the organization of the republican party; since then he has been an enthusiastic republican. He has never sought political preferment, hav- ing often declined public office. He is unas- suming, plain, jovial and popular, with a wide acquaintance.

ILLIAM SCOTT SIMS was born in Warren township, Clinton county, Ind., January 19, 1855, son of Lewis and Courtney (Scott) Sims. Until twenty-one years of age he lived on his father's farm; pursued his studies in the com- mon schools, and when seventeen began teach- ing, which profession he continued during the 41

winter of 1872-3 in Warren township. The "following spring and winter he attended school, and for three terms was a student in the Na- tional Normal school of Lebanon, Ohio, where' he obtained a knowledge of the more advanced branches of learning. In the meantime, he taught in the township of Madison, and from 1 876 to 1885 was similarly engaged in the town of Mulberry, and in the spring of 1879 spent three months in Wabash college at Crawfords- ville. In 1885, Mr. Sims was elected super- intendent of the Clinton county schools, the duties of which position he discharged in a very creditable manner for two years, and in 1887 became deputy county auditor under Wilson T. Cooper, continuing in that capacity about two and a half years. Subsequently, he held the position of deputy treasurer under William J. Barnett and W. T. Maish, and in 1891 engaged in the loan, abstract and insur- ance business, to which he has since devoted his attention.

Mr. Sims has been a member of the school board of Frankfort for four years, and during his incumbency many improvements have been made, including the addition to the first ward school building and re-building the third ward school building, also the construction of the present magnificent high school building, the finest structure of the kind in the state. In matters educational, Mr. Sims has always manifested great interest. and during his term as superintendent he did much toward sys- tematizing a uniform course of study and secur- ing teachers of well known professional abil- ity. He is clerk of the board of turnpike di- rectors, is public spirited in all the term im- plies, and all movements having for their ob- ject the public good find in him a zealous friend and liberal patron. He represents four of the largest insurance companies in the coun- try, has in his office a complete abstract of every piece of property in Clinton county, and

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

his loan and real estate business, with the two departments mentioned, is quite extensive and remunerative. Mr. Sims is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has held the highest position within the gift of the local lodge, and also belongs to the Sons of Vet- erans. On the twentieth of May, 1880, in the township of Madison, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Kyger, daughter of James and Mary A. (Smith) Kyger, to which union three children have been born-two liv- ing at this time, Merlin and Cecil. In poli- tics Mr. Sims affliates with the republican party, and he is one of the few persons that holds a life license to teach in any part of In- diana, granted by the state board of education.

0 AVID SLIPHER, a retired farmer now living in Mulberry, Clinton county, Ind., was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 28, 1814, and is a son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Flenner) Slipher. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother of Maryland, while both were of German descent. Stephen Slipher was born in 1780, and in 1802 emigrated to Ohio, locating in Butler county, where he entered 210 acres of land on the Miami river. In 1828, he came to Clinton county, Ind., and entered from the government 640 acres of land. Two years later he secured another section and moved to Clinton county and settled on this land in 1851, remaining in Ohio up till that time; upon the farm which he there developed he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1868. His wife died in 1856. They had nine children, of whom three are yet living-Emily, widow of Simeon Bryan; David and Susan. Those deceased are Daniel, Isaac, Philip, Stephen, Elizabeth and Polly.

The gentleman whose name heads this rec- ord was reared upon his father's farm and be- gan working in the fields at a very early age. His school privileges were thus limited, and his youth was not a flowery one. Having ar- rived at mature years he chose as a compan- ion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Mary, daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Mills) Scott, natives of Lancaster county. Pa. Her par- ents were of German and English descent re- spectively. Her father died in Wisconsin and her mother passed away in Ohio. Of their twelve children only two are living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs Slipher was cele- brated March 1, 1838, and has been blessed with nine children : Elizabeth, wife of David Bolyard; Martha, widow of John B. Beard; Mary, deceased; Louisa, wife of William Peters; Isaac, who resides in Missouri: Stephen, de- ceased; Clark, who is living near Frankfort; Will- iam I. : and Emeline, wife of Frank Burkhalter. After his marriage, Mr. Slipher rented a farm for four years and then came to Clinton coun- ty, Ind. This was in 1842. Here he cleared a farm, transforming the land into rich and fertile fields, and at one time he was the owner of 340 acres of valuable land. He first be- gan threshing in 1850, using horse power for the purpose, and in 1862 he bought a steam thresher, the first ever introduced in the com- munity. To the work of farming and thresh- ing he devoted his energies with good success until 1875, since which he has lived retired. In his business dealings he was successful and thereby won the capital which now enables him to lay aside business cares. Both Mr. and Mrs. Slipher are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are highly respected citizens. He is also a warm advocate of tem- perance principles and votes with the prohibi- tion party. He served as county commission - er from 1870 until 1879.

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

J OHN W. SMITH, an old soldier and native of Ross township, Clinton coun- ty, Ind., springs from an old American family of English descent. His grand- lather, William Smith, was born in Virginia, in the year 1780, was taken to Licking county, Ohio, by his parents about 1790, and married Anna Brook, in the year of 1801, in Licking county, Ohio. Anna was born in Ireland, in the year 1788, and with her parents emigrated to Ohio. William and Anna came to Ross township, Ind., in the summer of 1828, and entered and bought 480 acres of land. There were born to them: Alexander, David, Sam- uel, Thomas, John, William, James, and Archibald, Mary, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Anna, and Sarah. James and Archibald are now liv- ing in Durham, Lewis county, Mo .; Mary, Anna and Sarah are still living in Ross town- ship, Clinton county, Ind. William Smith died June 25, 1833, aged fifty years, ten months, and twenty-one days; Anna Smith, his wife, died January 20, 1849, aged fifty-two years, two months, and three days; both were members of the M. E. church; in politics he was a whig. Thomas Smith, father of John W., was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1808, and came to Ross township in 1828 with his parents: he married Rebecca Waymire in 1830, and died July 15, 1873, aged sixty-four years, six months; his wife is still living in Rossville, Clinton county, Ind. Thomas Smith owned land that is now the southeast part of Rossville, and he helped to cut down the first tree on that side of town. He was a carpenter and worked at his trade, but en- gaged in brick-making in 1850 and in 1858 en- gaged in saw-milling. He was a prominent man and a respected member of the Methodist church, held all the lay offices, was a local preacher twenty years, and was well and fa- " vorably known. His children now living are John, William, Mervin T., Marion M. and

Lydia E. Mr. Smith died in Rossville. He was a most temperate man, and much re- spected member of the Sons of Temperance. The Waymires came from Germany and set- tled in Butler county, Ohio, about 1783. William Waymire died in Ohio November 25, 1822. Harriet Waymire, his wife, died June 5, 1850, aged fifty years, at Noah Gaddis's, while on a visit to relatives in Rossville, Clin- ton county, Ind. Harriet, his wife, married William Gaddis, about 1824, in Ohio, and came to Indiana and settled in Tippecanoe county, in the summer of 1828, both dying in Ross township, Clinton county, strict members of the M. E. church.

John W. Smith, our subject, was born in Rossville, September 1, 1837, and is the old- est man now living that was born and is still residing here. His brother, William, living one mile east, is two years older. Mr. Smith received a common school education and learned farming and carpentering. He mar- ried, September 28, 1857, Martha J., daughter of Abner L. and Prudence (Cassel) Jones, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's sister Hannah, in Michigantown. After mar- rige Mr. Smith settled in Rossville and fol- lowed the carpenter and saw-mill business in company with his father and brother William. He enlisted August 8, 1862, in company I, Fourth Indiana cavalry, Seventy-seventh regi- Inent, as private, at Rossville. His service was principally guarding railroads and scouting in eastern and southwestern Kentucky. He was disabled by an accident when on a charge on a town and was ruptured, but remained until he was discharged on account of disability at Bowling Green, Ky., March 15, 1863, and returned home to Rossville, where he had left a wife and two children. He engaged in the same business he left, including brick-making. In 1869, he went to Owen township and en- gaged in the saw-mill business until 1875, when

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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