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 99

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 99
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 99
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 99

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).

an Odd Fellow, having been a member of that order for forty-five years, and filled all the offices of his lodge at Danville, including no- ble grand; in political opinions he was first an old-line whig, but now is a republican. He has reached the great age of nearly eighty years. The doctor inherited longevity from a sturdy line of American pioneer ancestry and possesses an iron constitution and bids fair to reach an extreme old age. His first wife died July 23, 1849, and October 22, 1855, he mar- ried, at Centreville, Mary J., daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Herne) Bedford, and they are the parents of three children: Charles N., born November 22, 1856; George B., born May 4, 1861; and Helen E., born Janu- ary 5, 1866.

Dr. Conrad E. Harlan was born at Up- shire, Ohio, August 19, 1842. He was early deprived of the care of his mother; who died when he was seven years of age, and he lived with his grandfather, Bomebrake, until he was sixteen years of age, attending the common schools. In 1859 he came to Danville with his father and attended the Danville academy three years, but discontinued his studies on ac- count of the illness of his father, but afterward studied Latin and the sciences for one year. He soon after began to study dentistry under his father, and early evinced an aptitude in this direction, so that, at the age of twenty, he had become sufficiently skillful to be associated with his father, with whom he became a full partner at twenty-four years of age, and, since the retirement of his father, has remained in Danville in the practice of his profession alone. The doctor was a soldier in the Civil war, en- listing on May 12, 1864, at Danville, in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana vol- unteer infantry. His service was in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, guarding railroads, returning home in September, 1864. He was then a slight-built youth of twenty-one years.

952

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

On October 17, 1866, he was united in mar- riage to Annie M., born March 30, 1847, and daughter of Thomas L. and Catherine (Herne) Bedford, of Danville, and they became the parents of three children: Kate L., born No- vember 1, 1867, a graduate of the Danville high school; Edith A., born July 1, 1870, and Wilbur K., born March 5, 1876. Mrs. Harlan died January 11, 1883. Thomas L. Bedford, her father, is a resident of Danville and the father of four children: Charles H., Nelson, Mary J., and Annie M. Both the sons were soldiers in the Civil war. Dr. Harlan is an honored member of the I. O. O. F., Silcox lodge, No. 123, in which he has filled all the offices, including noble grand. He is also a non-affiliating Mason and Knight of Pythias, in which latter he has passed all the chairs, including chancellor commander. He is a member of the G. A. R., Jesse S. Ogden post, Danville, and in political opinions a stanch re- publican. The doctor is liberal in his views and is a wide reader of general literature and scientific subjects, being a patron of the lead- ing periodicals of the day and owning a library of standard reference works. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has held the offices of trustee and steward. The doctor is an entertaining conversationalist, well informed upon the general topics of the day, has been almost a life-long resident of Danville, and is justly held in high esteem for his lofty character and manly qualities. In his profession he ranks high as one of the leading dentists, his skill and knowledge of the art be- ing equaled only by the best dentists of the large cities. From his life-long experience in the work and his natural aptitude, he is able to be original in his methods, and to give his work a finished and natural appearance. Nat- urally possessing an even disposition, his gen- tleness and patience with persons of nervous temperament have always been especially grat-

ifying. His daughter, Kate L., married Ches- ter G. Scearce, and they have three children: Ralph E., John and Leland; Edith A., his second daughter, married Howard Sergeant, and to them was born one son, Robert Harlan Sergeant. Mrs. Sergeant died December 15, 1893.

APT. DANIEL F. HILL, prosecuting attorney of Hendricks county, was born in this county January 26, 1839, and is the son of Samuel and Rebecca (Homaday) Hill. Mr. Hill was born in North Carolina and settled in Hendricks county as a pioneer, in 1832, in Middle township, where he became a substantial farmer. He descended from English ancestry (the family settling in America in colonial times) and is still living in Danville, having reached the venerable age of eighty-eight years. Our subject first received a common school education, and had nearly completed his course at Wabash college when it was interrupted by his enlistment. He was mustered into the United States service at In- dianapolis, Ind., August 31, 1861, for three years, as private, and on the organization of company I, Eleventh regiment, Indiana vol- unteer infantry, was promoted sergeant under Capt. Isaac Elston and Col. Lewis Wallace. He served in this regiment two years and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, on ac- count of disability. He returned home and remained until partly recovered, and then en- listed in the One Hundred and Thirty-second regiment, was commissioned adjutant, and served one hundred days. He then enlisted at Indianapolis, Ind., in company G, One Hundred and Forty-eighth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, was commissioned captain, served until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, in Sep- tember, 1865. He was in the battles of Fort

953

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

Heinman, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and Corinth, at which latter battle he was taken sick with typhoid fever, was taken to a field hospital, and was in military hospital at Corinth and field hospital at Pittsburg Land- ing, and for five weeks was near death and for three weeks was delirious. He was furloughed home for ninety days, and on reporting at In- dianapolis, was discharged on account of disa- bility. Capt. Hill was severely disabled by this attack of typhoid fever, his left leg being permanently_swollen and afflicted with vari- cose veins. While with the Eleventh Indiana he was on many hard marches, notably that from Crump's Landing to Adamsville, Miss., which was a night march of sixteen miles in the rain and mud, the soldiers suffering much from cold and exposure and fording the creeks. The next day after, on Sunday, April 6, 1862, they went into the battle of Pittsburg Land- ing. The night before the surrender of Fort Donelson, in February, 1862, Gen. Wallace ordered the brigade not to build fires, as they were in plain sight of the rebel artillery and at short range. The ground was covered with snow and the night was intensely cold, and Capt. Hill and his comrades came near freez- ing-four of them had but one blanket with which to cover themselves. The long night finally came to an end, with many a soldier dead from exposure.

After his return home Capt. Hill engaged in the mercantile business at Pittsboro, Ind., and was then station agent ten years on the I., B. & W. R. R. During this time he read law and practiced in the justice courts, and was admitted to the bar of Danville in 1872, and has since practiced law successfully in his town. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1892, and still fills this office, and is a vigor- ous prosecutor of the criminal element, stand- ing high at the Hendricks county bar. Fra- ternally he is a Mason of the Western Star

lodge, Danville, and has been secretary and steward. He is also a member of the G. A. R., Jesse S. Ogden post, Danville, and has filled the offices of adjutant and post com- mander. Politically he is a republican. The captain was married, November 28, 1867, at Pittsboro, Ind., to Sarah J., daughter of Joseph M. and Mary (Bradshaw) McVeigh, and to this union has been born one son, Harry E. The captain and wife are consistent meinbers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Capt. Hill is one of the honored citizens of Dan- ville. As an attorney he has been connected with many of the important cases of Hendricks county. He was an active soldier, and took part in all the marches, battles and skirmishes of his regiment, and was prompt to do his duty.

J AMES E. HUMSTON, ex-county re- corder of Hendricks county, Ind., and an old soldier, springs from an old Revolutionary family, the first of whom we have any record having been Edward Hum- ston, grandfather of James E., our subject. This gentleman was a native of Tennessee, served in the patriot army during the war for American independence, and later came to Indiana and settled in Lawrence county, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His son, William M. Humston, the father of James E., was also born in Tennessee and was a young man when he settled in Indiana. Here he was married, in Hendricks county, to Miss Levina Glover, and passed the remainder of his days in Lawrence county, where were born to him the following children: James E., Sam- uel R., Susan M., Laura, Emma, William B. and Sarah. William M. Humston was a sub- stantial farmer and died in the faith of the Methodist church, in which he held the office of steward.

954

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

James E. Humston was born August 13, 1844, in Lawrence county, Ind., received a good common-school education, and at the age of eighteen years enlisted at Bedford, Ind., for three years, in August, 1862, in company A, Sixty-seventh Indiana volunteer infantry, Capt. I. A. Sears and Colonel Frank Emer- son. He took part in the battle of Munfords- ville, Ky., Bayou Bluffs, the second and third engagements at Vicksburg, battles of Black River, Arkansas Post, Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines, and Blakely, Ala., and was honorably discharged, as corporal, at Galveston, Texas, August 19, 1865. Mr. Humston was an active and willing soldier, and participated in all the marches, skirmishes and engagements in which his regiment took part, with the exception of one battle on Red river, which took place while he was a prisoner. He was first cap- tured at Munfordsville, Ky., September 17, 1862, but was exchanged the next day; his second capture was in Louisiana, when he was held for six weeks at Alexandria, where he. suffered greatly from chronic diarrhea, bad food and water. On returning home, Mr. Humston attended for some time the high school at Bedford, Ind., and after there finish- ing his studies taught school in Lawrence county in 1867-8, and one term in Hendricks county. In 1868 Mr. Humston was united in wedlock with Philistia T., daughter of James and Eliza J. (Faulkner) Woods, and this union has been blessed by the birth of six children, named as follows: Ora M., Everette E., Leonis M., Orville R., Clio and Hallie H. In politics Mr. Humston is an ardent republican; and for five years served as assessor of Frank- lin township, Hendricks county, where he set- tled in 1870, and resided on eighty acres of land until 1890, when he was elected recorder of Hendricks county, for four years, and re- moved to Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Humston are members of the Methodist church, and

fraternally he is a member of Jesse S. Ogden post, No. 164, G. A. R .; he was also senior vice commander of Reuben Masten post at Amo, and has always stood high in his com- munity as a good and useful citizen.

EORGE M. BONE, the leading pho- tographer of Danville, Hendricks county, Ind., and the proprietor of the old Craddock gallery, which has been well known for years, was born in Car- rol county, Ind., October 4, 1860, and is a son of Andrew Bone, an old settler of Carroll county, now deceased. George M. received his education in the district school, attending until his twenty-fourth year and obtaining a good common education. He learned the photographic art of P. Ganson, a first-class photographer of Logansport, Ind., and began business in Enfield, White county, Ill., where he remained five years and established a good business. In 1888 he married Adaline, daugh- ter of J D. Wiseheart (deceased), a successful farmer of Putnam county, Ind. Mr. Bone came to Danville, Ind., in October, 1893, and purchased the gallery of J. W. Pendergast, and is now getting his share of the business in this line. Mr. Bone is askillful artist, enlarges pictures, does hand and crayon and bromide work, and all his work shows the true artist. He is a man of integrity and high-standing, and, besides his accomplishments as an artist, is equally accomplished as a gentleman. He and his wife are devoted members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, to which they give their support by every means in their power, and, socially, they enjoy to the full the highest regards of their fellow-townsmen. Mr. Bone is an ardent republican, but has never been an office-seeker, being content with per- forming his duty to the party by the exercise of his franchise in its favor.

955

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

J OHN I. KEENEY is the son of Moses Keeney, who is ,one of the old settlers and for many years was a leading herds- man of Hendricks county and built the first livery stable within its limits. Moses Keeney, great-grandfather of John I., was a farmer of Pulaski county, Ky., and, it is be- lieved, came from Scotland, when a boy, with his father. He reared a family of seven chil- dren, of whom Alva, Abner, George and Hiram are remembered. He lived to be about seventy years old, had a farm of about 400 acres, and was a slave owner and a man of prominence. George Keeney, grandfather of our subject, was born in Pulaski county, Ky., and married Susan Hughes, and to them were born seven children: Moses, Alva, William, Thomas, Henry, Elizabeth and Mary-three born in Kentucky. In 1829, he came to In- diana and settled on 160 acres in the woods, three miles west of Ladoga, Montgomery county, and within three miles of the settle- ment of the Miami Indians. His children were small and he cleared but little land, and about six years later he sold out and entered more land, which he partly cleared, and then moved to Carroll county and bought a farm of 120 acres, and here died. Mr. and Mrs. Keeney were members of the Baptist church. He was a very hard-working and industrious man, re- spected by all, and was never sick in his life until on his death bed.

Moses Keeney, father of our subject, was born July 5, 1823, in Pulaski county, Ky., was but seven years old when brought by his parents to Indiana and can remember but little of the journey. He received no education, as there were no schools in his settlement, but he early learned to work. When he was but thirteen years of age he lost his father, and he then began driving cattle at twenty-five cents per day, but he found that he could get one dollar per day riding race-horses-animals he

had already learned to handle. He traveled through Indiana and Ohio, and earned $365 in one year, much of it by extra riding, and then he returned home and gave his earnings to his mother. He located in Danville in 1840, and followed the race-track until 1844. He mar- ried Ann J. Irvin, daughter of John and Sarah (Matlock) Irvin, and to Mr. and Mrs. Keeney have been born three children: John I., Carrie and Maggie. Mr. Keeney teamed from Indianapolis to Danville in the freight business ten years, and then built the first liv- ery stable in Danville, and, in fact, has since built every livery barn in the city. He has been engaged in breeding, rearing and hand- ling fine blooded horses, and is well known in this line in this part of the state, as he has visited the county and state fairs for years. In politics he has been a republican since Lin- coln's proclamation; in religion he and wife are Methodists. In early days he was a great hunter of turkey and wild deer, and has a good record in this line.

John I. Keeney is one of the prominent citizens of Hendricks county, and the oldest liveryman in Danville, except his father. He was born March 21, 1849, in Danville, and learned horse-dealing and the livery business of his father, dealing in race-horses chiefly. He married, in 1872, Mattie A., daughter of Nelson and Mary J. (Funk) Green, Mr. Green being a Methodist minister.

ENRY H. UNDERWOOD, one of the prominent horse-dealers of Dan- ville, Hendricks county, descends from an old colonial Virginia family. Nathan Underwood, his grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, married, and then moved to Kentucky, and settled in Shelby county. Na- than and wife were the parents of twelve chil- dren, viz .: Mary, John, Nathan, Obediah,

956

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Betsey, Hannah, Zenitha, Harrison, James, Joseph, Angeline, and Phoebe. Nathan Un- . derwood was a farmer and died in Kentucky an aged man. Joseph Underwood, father of our subject, was born in Shelby county, Ky., August 10, 1821, received a common educa- tion for his day and became a farmer. He married at the age of nineteen years, in Ken- tucky, Permelia Doss, daughter of Aaron and Mary Doss, who died January 9, 1886, and to them were born three children: James M., Caroline P., and Mary. In 1841, when he was about twenty years old, he came to Put- nam county, Ind., and settled in Floyd town- ship on a small farm of eighty acres, but by in- dustry and thrift he accumulated 400 acres. He settled in the green woods and cleared his land from the heavy timber. He was a typi- cal pioneer, a large and strong man, tall and well built, and weighed about 190 pounds. His first wife died, and he married Lucretia, daughter of William and Jane Harris, the former of whom was a pioneer of Putnam county, Ind. To Mr. and Mrs. Underwood were born four children: William N., Eliza J., Henry H., and Levi (who died at one year of age). Mr. Underwood was a stock-raiser and a hard-working self-made man. He and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist church, and in politics he was a democrat. He was a prominent farmer, well known for his sterling integrity of character and peaceable disposition. He never had a law suit in his life, and was much respected in his township.

Henry H. Underwood was born January 20, 1855, on his father's farm in Putnam coun- ty, received a good common education in the district school and learned farming and stock raising. He began trading in stock when only twenty years of age, had done a good deal of business by the time he was twenty-one years of age, and has followed this business success- fully since. He married, September 27, 1882,

Laura E., daughter of Jacob F. and Eliza (Cassity) Kurtz. Jacob F. Kurtz is a pioneer farmer of Marion township, and he and wife have two children, Edward M. and Laura E. Mr. Kurtz is also a self-made man, owning 200 acres of land, and is a man of high char- acter. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Under- wood settled at Groveland, Putnam county, Ind., and remained there ten years, and Mr. Underwood engaged in stock dealing. In March, 1892, they settled in Danville, where he engaged in the livery and stock business in com- pany with John W. Ader, the firm-name being Ader & Underwood. They have been doing a successful business, buying and shipping horses, are well-to-do and favorably known, and are now members of the firm of Barnhell & Co., undertakers and liverymen. In politics Mr. Underwood is a democrat, and fraternally he is a Mason of Groveland lodge, No. 542; he is also a K. of P. of Bainbridge lodge, Putnam county, Ind. Both Mr. and Mrs. Underwood are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. They have one child, Floy, born May 12, 1885. Mr. Underwood is very popu- lar is his business, is the soul of honor, and is highly respected by all who know him.

R. THOMAS J. ADAMS, one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and one of the older and respected physi- cians of Hendricks county, Ind., was born September 22, 1837, in Center township, near Danville. He is the son of Solomon and Nancy (Griffith) Adams. He received an academic education at Thorntown and began the study of medicine with Dr. Lockheart of Danville, as preceptor. He taught school in Tipton, Boone and Hendricks counties for sev- eral years, and enlisted, January 2, 1864, at Danville, in company I, Ninth regiment Indi- ana cavalry, for three years or during the war,

957

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

his commanding officers being Capt. William Robbins and Col. Jackson, and he served until honorably discharged in September, 1865, at Indianapolis, on account of the closing of the war. On the organization of his regiment, he was appointed hospital steward and served in that capacity until discharged, but during six months of this period acted as surgeon, his . superior officer being away. His regiment took part in many heavy skirmishes on Hood's campaign, being in the battles of Columbia, Franklin, Nashville and many others, in which Dr. Adams cared for many wounded, especially at the battle of Nashville, remaining behind to assist in gathering up the wounded and in placing them in ambulances to be taken to hospital, and then rejoined his regiment. His regiment met with severe losses, but Dr. Adams escaped without wounds and with no sickness.

After his service he returned to Hendricks county; then attended medical lectures at Rush Medical college, Chicago, in 1865-6 and in 1869-70, when he graduated. He had meantime practiced medicine at North Salem, beginning in March, 1866, and has since practiced in this town and through- out the surrounding country, and has been more than usually successful. The doctor is a member of Hendricks County Medical society, and possesses a valuable medical library; he is a patron of the leading medical periodicals of the day, and keeps up with the times. He is a member of the G. A. R., Joseph Fleece post, No. 383. at North Salem; has been commander and is now adjutant; also a member of North Salem lodge, No. 142, F. & A. M., and has held the offices of master and secretary. He married, in April, 1867, Mary A., daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Davis) Fleece, and to Dr. and Mrs. Adams have been born seven children: Galen, Beula, Percy and Herman (both deceased), Una, Herbert and Earnest.

Dr. Adams comes from a family of soldiers, four of the Adams brothers having served in the Civil war. (See sketch of Judge Adams, of Lebanon, Ind.) Solomon Adams, father of our subject, came from Nicholas county, Ky., in the twenties, married in Switzerland county, Ind., and soon after marriage settled in Hen- dricks county, where he was one of the early pioneers. The doctor and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian church, and, socially, move in the best circles of Eel River township.

EORGE H. DUNCAN, of Eel River township, Hendricks county, Ind .. is an old soldier and an honored citi- zen. He was born January 10, 1846, in Jackson township, Putnam county, Ind., son of James and Anna (Proctor) Dun- can. He received a common education and was reared to farming, and when seventeen years, six months of age, he enlisted at Green- castle, Ind., in July, 1863, in company I. One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment, Indiana vol- unteer infantry, under Capt. William H. Al- lison and Col. (afterward Brigadier General) John R. Mahan. Mr. Duncan served eight months in eastern Tennessee, and was honor- ably discharged at Indianapolis, February 25, 1864; he then returned home and enlisted at Terre Haute, Ind., in company K, Thirty- third regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, under Capt. Henry C. Johnson and Col. James Burton, served six months, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, in July, 1865, on account of the closing of the war. This serv- ice was in North Carolina. He joined his regiment at Raleigh, N. C., the day before the surrender of Gen. Johnston, and marched from there to Washington, and was present at the grand review. After his service he came to the vicinity of North Salem, Ind., and then took a trip to central Missouri, remaining

958

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

three months, and again returned to Eel River township. . He married, February 25, 1866, Nancy, daughter of William and Catherine (Zimmerman) Davis, and to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were born two children: Elmer C. and Lula C. In 1869 Mr. Duncan bought a farm of eighty acres in Eel River township and farmed until 1882, when he engaged in the manufacture of drain tile, in which he con- tinued until recently, did a successful business and supplied the surrounding country with his product. . Both Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are members of the Christian church, and Mr. Duncan is commander of Fleece post, No. 383, G. A. R., of North Salem, and is a stal- wart republican.

Mr. Duncan is of Scotch descent. Henry Duncan was a pioneer of Garrard county, Ky., from Virginia. James Duncan, father of our subject, was one of the first settlers of Putnam county, Ind., coming as early as 1829. He was the father of eighteen children, by two marriages; by his first wife there were born to him-Coleman C., William, Mary, Annie, James, Miranda, Amanda, George, John, Nancy and Katurah, and by his second wife -Amanda Dean-he was the father of seven children-Ruth, Benjamin, Bell, Elmer, Della, Charles and Minerva R. James and Jolin were soldiers in the Civil war; James in com- pany H, Eleventh regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, and John in the One Hundred and Forty-second regiment, Indiana volunteer in- fantry.

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