A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 43

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 43
USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 43

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).

He reared twelve children, of whom Matthew R. Shields, father of our subject, was the youngest. Matthew R. was born in the county of Butler about 1821, grew to manhood on the farm, married Martha A.

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Lyon, whose family was identified with the early settlement of the northwest portion of Cincinnati, and contributed some of its suc- cessful early business men. The father was a farmer and civil engineer, having served the county of Butler for several years as county surveyor, and was honored with a like position in Franklin county, Ind., where both parents are still living, as are also a brother and sister of Dr. Shields-a brother having died at the age of seven years.

a ARLTON E. SHIPLEY, lawyer, of Muncie, was born in Philadelphia, March 22, 1827, and is the son of Will- iam and Abigail (Lynde) Shipley. His mother was a native of Jefferson county, N. Y. His father was born in Chester county, Pa., on Christmas day, 1798. He was a wholesale and retail hardware merchant in Philadelphia till about 1841, when he engaged in the manufac- ture of iron in Northumberland county. He died in Delaware county, Ind., in March, 1854. The Shipley family is of English descent. Carl- ton Shipley attended a Friends' school in Phila- delphia until he was fourteen years of age. Two years later, in 1843, he emigrated with his father's family to Muncie. In the following year he became a clerk in the store of Charles F. Willard, where he remained for about four years. In 1848 he engaged in teaching a dis- trict school in Randolph county, but aban- doned it after one term's practice. In the fall of 1849 young Shipley became a druggist's clerk, and remained in that situation two years. While a clerk, he commenced to read law, and on leaving the drug business entered the office of Hon. J. S. Buckles. In the spring of 1852 he was admitted to the bar. In October of the same year he was elected district attorney of the common pleas district, composed of

Hamilton, Tipton and Howard counties; and, removing to Tipton, he entered upon the duties of the office in connection with his practice. Ill health compelled his return to Muncie in December, 1854. There he resumed the duties of his profession. In 1865 the legis- lature elected him one of he three directors of the Northern Indiana penitentiary at Michigan City, in which position he served one term. He was a member of the city council for about six years. In 1864 he was a candidate for nom- ination before the republican state convention for the position of reporter of the supreme court of the state, but was defeated. In 1873 he was candidate for the office of judge of the twenty-fifth judicial circuit, but was defeated by Gen. Silas Colgrove. Mr. Shipley has identified himself with the growing interests of Muncie and Delaware county, giving efficient aid in various public enterprises. In 1869 he helped to organize the Lafayette, Blooming- ton & Muncie railroad, canvassing the county to secure the levy of the tax to build it, and for one year was a director of the company. Mr. Shipley became a Free Mason in 1849 and has taken all the degrees to and through those of the commandery. In Tipton, he was master of Austin lodge, No. 128; and he held offices in the Muncie chapter and Muncie comman- dery. His family attend the Episcopal church, but he is not connected with any relig- ious body. A democrat at the breaking out of the Civil war, he has since been identified with the republican party. He now has a strong disposition to be independent in pol- itics.

Mr. Shipley was united in marriage, March 22, 1852, to Miss Clara Jackson, of Delaware county. They have three children. Mr. Shipley is devoted to his profession, and being endowed with capacity and force is well fitted for his work. He is a close student, a clear, profound thinker, and an able counselor.

6.6. Shipley

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Mr. Shipley has other claims upon the public esteem than those of intellectual worth. He never encourages litigation; if a client has no grounds for a case he tells him so.

DOLPH C. SILVERBURG, promi- nent as a member of the Delaware county bar, was born in the city of Natchez, Adams county, Miss., Sep- tember 15, 1855, son of Herman and Regina (Wise) Silverburg, both parents natives of Bavaria, Germany, in which country their an- cestors for many generations had lived. Her- man Silverburg was, for many years, engaged in mercantile pursuits; he desired that his son should obtain a good education, accordingly young Adolph was sent to the public schools and was also given private instruction by com- petent preceptors, who spared no pains in his literary training. At an early age, he announced his intention to become a lawyer, and after a course of reading became a student of the Law school of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he pursued his professional studies with enthusiastic zeal for some time. The instruccion received at this well known institution was supplemented by a course of private reading in the office of Long, Kramer & Kramer, of Cincinnati, and in December, 1877, he came to Muncie, Ind., and was duly admitted to the Delaware county bar. In 1878 Mr. Silverburg went to Dakota territory, where he practiced in the circuit, district and United States courts, and one year later located in Kansas, first in Galena and afterward at Columbus, in the latter of which he served as judge of the police court for one year, and for two years was clerk of the district court. After this varied experi- ence, during which period he embraced every opportunity to study law in the various states and note its operations among different classes

of people, he returned to Muncie in 1883, and has since practiced his profession in this city with Hon. R. S. Gregory. The firm of Greg- ory & Silverburg is one of the best known and most successful law partnerships of Muncie, and has a large and constantly increasing prac- tice in the courts of Delaware and other coun- ties of central Indiana. They are the local attorneys of the L. E. & W. R. R. company, the Delaware County bank, and various other corporations.

In his profession, Mr. Silverburg has achieved success such as few lawyers attain in a much longer practice. Possessing a clear and analytical mind, he takes a just pride in his chosen calling, and feels that any distinc- tion he may hope to achieve must be through its channels. Although a comparatively young man, he has already won a conspicuous place among the successful attorneys of the city of his adoption, and by adhering to his profession, he has before him a future of great usefulness and promise. Politically Mr. Silverburg is a supporter of the democratic party, and fra- ternally is a member of the Masonic order, and K. of P., and his name appears upon the char- ter of the Gray club. He is president of the Muncie Building & Loan Fund association, much of the success of which enterprise is due to his wise counsel and skillful management. Mr. Silverburg was married, in 1885, to Miss Flor- ence C. Asher, daughter of Maj. S. M. Asher, chief deputy collector of internal revenue for the district of Louisiana-a union blessed with the birth of one child, Shelton G. Silverburg.

J OHN A. SINGLETON, superintendent of the City Electric plant of Muncie, Ind., is a son of James L. and Eliza (Hampton) Singleton, and was born near Versailles, Ky., July 29, 1859. At eight

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or nine years of age he was taken from the home plantation to the state of Missouri by his parents, and lived in Liberty, that state, until 1871, when the family came to Indiana and settled on a farm south of Muncie. At the age of thirteen, however, he went to Lexing- ton, Ky., where he served an apprenticeship of three years with Wood Bros., as carpenter, and about 1875 returned to Muncie, Ind., and here received the best wages paid, on account of his proficiency. He next had charge of the finishing room in the handle factory of James Boyce & Co. for about four years, and the first year after James Boyce started his electric plant, Mr. Singleton was placed in charge of the power house, which position he held four years. He was then called to Winchester, Randolph county, where he had entire charge of the electric works, including power plant, lines, extension of the system, etc., and before the expiration of his term of engagement for one year doubled the number of incandescent burners. In February, 1892, he was appointed, as superintendent for the city of Muncie, to act, with the superintendent of the Western Electric Light company of Chicago, in con- structing the present system for Muncie's electric illumination. In this task he was en- gaged four months. The result is a power house at the corner of Wysor and Madison, with a 210 horse power boiler, and 200 horse Atlas engine, three dynamos of fifty-eight ca- pacity each, twenty-four miles of line on 1, 000 poles, and 140 lights of 2,000 candle power each. Of this immense work he was given entire charge, and has two linemen and one engineer under his supervision. The result of his work is well understood.

Mr. Singleton has twice been married, his first wife having been Nancy J. Triplett, whom he wedded in 1877, and who bore him four children-Minnie L., Nellie, Walter and James Ray. This lady died in 1885, and in 1887

Mr. Singleton married Miss Sally V., daughter of Jasper North and his wife Nancy, of Muncie. Mr. Singleton has always been persistent in his profession, and faithful in every position he has filled, and his reward has been fully deserved.

A NDREW J. SLINGER, a prominent citizen of Muncie, was born in Tippe- canoe county, Ind., January 20, 1834. His father, Thomas J. Slinger, was born in Brookshire, England, married Nancy Fink, a native of Berks county, Pa., and in 1832 located in Lafayette, Ind., and engaged in the distillery business, which he had pre- viously learned in his native country. He died October 15, 1838, and subsequently, in 1842, his widow married Benj. Runyon, a farmer of Montgomery county. Mr. and Mrs. Runyon removed to the county of Henry in 1846, and resided there until their respective deaths in 1876 and 1877.

Andrew J. Slinger remained with his step father until his sixteenth year, at which time he went to Indianapolis, where he served a three years' apprenticeship at house painting and graining with Samuel S. Rooker. After be- coming proficient in his chosen calling, he began working at the same at New Castle, where he remained from 1852 until 1861, in June,of which last named year he entered the army as member of the regimental band of the Thirty-sixth Indiana infantry, serving in that capacity for a period of seven months, when the order came to discharge all regiment- al bands. Mr. Slinger received his discharge March 6, 1862; at Nashville, Tenn., and, returning home, assisted in recruiting company I, Sixty-ninth regiment, upon the organization of which he was elected first lieutenant. His regiment first went into Camp Wayne, near

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Richmond, Ind., thence was ordered to Rich- mond, Ky., where it received its first baptism of fire, and, with the rest of the Federal force engaged, suffered defeat at the hands of the Confederate general, Kirby Smith. The regi- ment to which Mr. Slinger belonged was nearly all taken prisoners, but quite a number succeeded in making their escape, omong them being Mr. Slinger. After the regiment was duly exchanged and recruited, it was ordered to Camp Memphis, Tenn., and pro- ceeded along the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers under Gen. Sherman to Vicksburg. Mr. Slinger participated in a four days' battle in the attempt to reduce Vicksburg, but, being repulsed, the regiment was compelled to abandon their position and retreat northward until the mouth of the Arkansas river was reached. Proceeding up the river named, the command invested Fort Hindman, or Arkan- sas Post, January 11, 1863, which surrendered after a hard fought battle, seven thousand prisoners falling into the hands of the Feder- als. Later the Sixty-ninth was engaged in the vicinity of Vicksburg and assisted in dig- ging the famous canal. Afterward, the Union force moved across the country, through Lou- isiana, to the Mississippi, twenty-five miles below Vicksburg, where they made a stand until joined by the fleet which successfully ran the blockade. The force then proceeded down the river to Grand Gulf, where a naval engagement lasting four hours was fought, during which time seventy-five guns of the enemy were silenced and their force surren- dered. The troops were then transferred across the river to the Mississippi side, and marched up the bluff to Thompson Hill, or Port Gibson, and there engaged Pemberton's army from Vicksburg. the battle lasting from 2 A. M. to 7 P. M., resulting in a complete de- feat of the enemy. The Federal forces fol- lowed up their advantages and came up to the

enemy at Champion Hill, in the rear of Vicks- burg, where a fierce battle was fought, the enemy retreating to Black river, where they attempted to cross but only partially succeed- ed, three thousand of them falling into the hands of the Union troops.

Mr. Slinger subsequently took part in the charge in front of Vicksburg May 22, 1863, after which, his regiment was ordered to Black river to guard the rear of the Union army, and there remained until the time of the surrender of the city. At Port Gibson, Mr. Slinger re- ceived a severe wound in the head, which resulted in a serious impairment of the brain, rendering him totally blind for the greater part of six months. On account of this disability, he resigned his commission July 8, 1863, and returned home. September, 1864, he veter- anized in the Twenty-fifth Indiana, which at once proceeded to Mobile, in the siege of which Mr. Slinger was engaged for thirteen days, or until the surrender of the place. Sub- sequently the regiment was ordered to Mont- gomery, Ala., and, after various other move- ments, was discharged November 26, 1865, Mr. Slinger having spent over three years in the service. As already noted, he was first lieutenant of the company which he assisted in raising, and afterward became captain. On leaving the army, he came to Muncie, to which place his family had removed in Jan- uary, 1864, and he at once engaged in house and sign painting and contracting, which he continued with success and financial profit until his retirement from active life a couple of years since. He was sheriff of Delaware county from 1875 to 1877, and since 1891 has not been actively engaged in his trade. Mr. Slinger was married in Henry county, Ind., October 12, 1854, to Miss Lindamire Need- ham, of Henry county, who has borne him four children: Thomas J., house and sign painter; Monroe, died in 1882; Frank, de-

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ceased at the age of twenty-five in St. Louis, Mo., at which place he held the responsible position of chief clerk in the Star & Anchor line of steamers; Ella, wife of O. F. Davis, commission merchant of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Slinger are members of the Christian church of Muncie and are highly respected and most estimable people. He is a republican in politics, and for disabilities received while in the service is being remembered by a grateful country with a liberal pension.

Thomas J. Slinger was born in New Cas- tle, Henry county, Ind., August 1, 1855, and is the son of Andrew J. Slinger. He attended the schools of Muncie, Ind., and at the early age of sixteen learned the trade of painter with his father. He became deputy sheriff of Delaware county under his father in 1875, and was married January 25, 1876, to Miss Emma Templer, daughter of J. N. Templer. Three children were the happy fruit of this marriage: Eddie, Mabel and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Slinger are active members of the Christian church. He is also a Knight of Pythias, and in politics is a republican.

a PHRAIM SMELL, now living retired from active business in the pleasant city of Muncie, Ind., was born in Mo- nongalia county, W. Va., February 12, 1836, a son of Philip and Rebecca (Doolittle) Smell, natives of West Virginia, who removed · to the state of Indiana in the spring of 1855 and located in Henry county. In the spring of 1857 they removed to Delaware county, and located on a farm in Hamilton township, but soon afterward settled in the town of Muncie, where Mr. Smell followed his trade of wagon maker for many years. He and wife were con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Muncie, good people, who became

the parents of three children, two of whom are living, Maxwell, of Centre township, and the gentleman whose name introduces this biogra- phy. Ephraim Smell was reared in his West Virginia home until the age of eighteen years, and there obtained his education. He accom- panied his parents to Indiana and assisted in the farming, but in 1862 moved to Muncie and began the manufacture of pumps, forming a co- partnership in the business with a Mr. Puck- ett. The firm, thus constituted, contin- ued four years, when Mr. Smell bought the entire interest, which he successfully conducted until 1891, when he retired from active life, and is now spending his latter years in the en- joyment of that rest and quietude which only those who have successfully encountered the activities of business life know how to appre- ciate.

Although Mr. Smell is not actively engaged in business he has not by any means given up his interest in what is transpiring about him, as he is now trustee of the Bell Stove works, representing the Citizens' Enterprise company in the same, which latter organization has always had his hearty support, and in which he is a member of the advisory board. Mr. Smell has large property interests, which he manages with wise judgment and careful dis- crimination. Politically, Mr. Smell is a dem- ocrat, and has served two terms in the city council, representing the First ward from 1876 to 1880, and in 1886 he was elected trustee of Centre township, serving acceptably until the end of his term. He is a man of social in- stincts, belonging to the Delaware lodge, A. F. & A. M., Muncie chapter and commandery, K. T., and also to the I. O. R. M. In 1853, Mr. Smell was united in marriage to Miss Martha Martin, daughter of Stephen R. Mar- tin, of Delaware county, but she died June 26, 1868, leaving the following children: Ida, John, William and Mackie. His second mar-

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riage was with Miss Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Stephen Miller, of Camden, Delaware county, and at her death she left two children, Herbert and Philip. His present wife was Mrs. Eliza Moom, daughter of Oxley Ricker, of Delaware county. He and wife are mem- bers of the High street Methodist Episcopal church, in which he holds the position of stew- ard, being an active and valued member.

ON. MARCUS C. SMITH, retired business man of Muncie, and one of its most distinguished citizens, was born at Connersville, Ind., April 11, 1825. He is the son of Hon. Oliver H. Smith and his wife Mary (Brumfield) Smith. Oliver H. Smith came from Pennsylvania to Indiana in 1817 and located, first, at Risiing Sun. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1820, and settled in Connersville the same year. He filled numerous positions of public honor and trust, and in 1836 was elected United States senator from Indiana.

Hon. Marcus C. Smith, in 1859, at the age of fourteen years, was taken by his father to Alexandria, D. C. (as it then was), to attend a school somewhat famous at that time, under the charge of Benjamin Hallowell, a distin- guished mathematician and astronomer of that day. Remaining there two years, he entered Asbury university, Greencastle, Ind., and after three years spent at that institution, he en- gaged in the study of law in his father's office. He was licensed, according to the legal custom, in 1846, and began to practice; but, his health failing, he entered into active business, prac- ticing law only on special occasions. In 1847, he moved to Yorktown and assumed the man- agement of his father's property there, consist- ing of two grist mills, a saw mill, carding and fulling mill, beside a large amount of landed

estate. In 1851 and 1852 the Bee Line rail- road was built from Bellefontaine, Ohio, to Indianapolis, Ind., largely by his father's influ- ence and aid, and large quantities of timber, for sleepers, ties and bridges, were furnished from the land and the saw mill of the latter, under the directions of his son. They also had a store at Yorktown, and, in addition to the other business, stock buying was largely car- ried on.

Mr. Smith came to Muncie in 1859, and has resided here ever since. His busines dur- ing this time has been varied and somewhat extensive-chiefly stock dealing, buying grain and seeds, attending to his farming interests, etc., handling, some years, from 8,000 to 10,000 bushels of flaxseed, raised in Delaware county. He has owned 300 acres of land in this county, but at present has but about 200 acres. He has, from time to time, been chosen to fill important public positions. In 1854, he was elected as the representative of Delaware county in the Indiana legislature; from 1869 to 1877, he served as mayor of the city of Muncie; and, in 1878, was elected state senator for the counties of Delaware and Madison, his term expiring in 1882, and in the fall of the same year was re-elected for a term of four years. Like his honored father, he was in former times a whig, and, since the rise of the republican party, has been an active member and ardent supporter of the principles and measures of that organization.

In 1852, Marcus C. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Mary C., daughter of James L. Russey (formerly of Muncie). They are the parents of eight children, all of whom are now living save one, and five are married: Oliver H .; Mary Caroline, the wife of Oliver T. Boaz, now residing in Pittsburg, Kan .; Lætitia A., now wife of Dr. Chas. W. Smith, of Selma; Marcus C., Jr., living in Kan .; Margaret H., wife of H. H. Highlands; James

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R., at home; Jennie Love, at home, and May Love, deceased.

Marcus C. Smith has been for many years, and still is, a prominent and valuable member of society, enjoying the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens in a high degree. Al- though he and his worthy companion are not church members, they respect and uphold the religious interests of society, and are liberal and sympathetic, and active in lending a ready hand in aid of the unfortunate and distressed. Hundreds of unfortunates in Muncie, as well as elsewhere, to-day bless the names of Marcus C. and Mary C. Smith as benefactors, and many a poor lad owes to their munificence his first educational advancement-they being among the foremost and most liberal promoters of general education.

J OHN HENRY SMITH, one of the lead- ing manufacturers of Indiana and pro- prietor of the large and extensive bent wood works of Muncie, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in the town of Freedom, Beaver county, on the 23d of April, 1843. His father, Andrew Smith, was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, August 3, 1813, and immi- grated to the United States in 1831, locating in Pittsburg, Pa., where he followed the trade of cooper, and where he afterward was united in marriage with Miss Barbara Heffner. Sub- sequently, about 1842, he located at the town of Freedom, Beaver county, where for three years he was engaged in the hotel business and where his death afterward occurred. To Andrew and Barbara Smith were born three children, two sons and one daughter, namely: Jacob, John H. and Lizzie Smith. John Henry Smith was but two years of age when his father died, after which event the mother engaged in the grocery business at the town of

Freedom, in the schools of which place John H. received a good education. On quitting school he assisted his mother until his sixteenth year, when he went to the Economite commu- nity at Economy, Pa., where he learned the cooper trade, which he followed at that place for about three and one-half years. In the meantime he attended night school. Leaving Economy, on the discovery of oil in Pennsyl- vania, he joined the influx to the oil region, and for one year thereafter was engaged in coopering, returning at the end of that time to Freedom, at which place he erected a shop. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in the Seven- teenth Pennsylvania cavalry, which was as- signed to duty in the army of the Potomac, serving first under Gen. Killpatrick and after- ward with Gen. Sheridan, and participating in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Hanover C. H., Trevilian Station, Brandy Station, Old Church Tavern (where he had his horse shot under him), Winchester, Cedar Creek, Sailor's Creek, the campaign in front of Petersburg, and was present at the final surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, Pa., in August, 1865. On returning from the army, he resumed business at Freedom and contin- ued it until his removal to Indiana in the year 1870. At Bluffton, he engaged quite exten- sively in the manufacture of tight barrel staves, which he continued until 1873, at which time he erected another factory at the town of Auburn, which he conducted until he disposed of his entire interests in both establishments to the Standard Oil company, in 1876. In that year he bought a small bent wood works at the town of Bluffton, which soon became one of the leading manufacturing establish- ments of the place. A larger building was erected two years later, and supplied with the latest improved machinery for the manufac- ture of all work in that line. In two years'

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A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 43

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474