USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware county, 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 42
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0 AVID HENRY HARRISON SHEW- MAKER was born November 16, 1840, in Harrison county, Ind. His father, Tandy Shewmaker, was a native of Kentucky, and his mother a native of Virginia. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812 and belonged to the famous cavalry of Col. Dick Johnson, taking part in the battle of the Thames, in which the noted chief Tecum- seh was killed. In 1820 he came to Indiana and settled in the wilderness of Harrison coun- ty, where he cleared and improved a farm. There he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1872, when he died at the advanced age of ninety-four years. D. H. H. Shewmaker worked on the farm with his father until the outbreak of the rebellion, when he was enrolled a member of the Third Indiana cavalry-a part of the army of the Potomac. He was mustered into service with his regiment June 22, 1861, and took part in the battles around Richmond, under Gen. McClellan; also the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. During the Gettysburg cam- paign he received a severe gunshot wound, from which he never recovered. He did not permit this injury to interfere with his service to the Union, however, and followed Grant in his victorious campaign against Petersburg and Richmond, taking part in all general en- gagements, beside numerous skirmishes. His
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regiment, which was a part of Gen. Phil. Sheridan's famous cavalry, was commanded by Col. Geo. H. Chapman, of Indianapolis, who was afterward elevated to the rank of briga- dier general. At the close of the war Mr. Shewmaker returned to his home, and, in 1865, married Miss Nancy Abigail McRea, daughter of Franklin and Rachel (Sands) McRea. They are the parents of three chil- dren, named, respectively, Della, Emma and Walter, all now living to bless the home circle.
At the age of sixteen years Mr. Shewmaker taught his first school, and, with the exception of the time spent in the army, has since de- voted his time and talents to that profession. Beginning in the district schools of the county, he has steadily advanced to the front as a teacher. He was principal of the graded schools at Elizabeth, Harrison county, Ind., for four years and taught one term at York- town, in Delaware county, where he organized the graded schools. In 1874 he was appointed principal of the Jefferson school at Muncie, a position he filled with eminent ability for a period of eight years. For one year he held the position of principal of the Muncie high school, and afterward became principal of the Washington schools, which position, by suc- cessive reappointments, he has held for ten consecutive years. He has displayed great tact in school government, studying carefully the dispositions of his pupils and endeavoring to control them by kindness rather than by hard measures. It is a fact worthy of note that only two suspensions have occurred in the Washington building during the period of his incumbency as principal. He is enthusiastic in the cause of public education, and devotes a great deal of his time to the encouragement and assistance of teachers' institutes throughout the county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and unites the virtues of a christian gentleman with his ability as a teacher.
Politically Prof. Shewmaker has ever been an earnest supporter of the republican party and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. He was nominated and elected a member of the common council of Muncie in the spring of 1888, re-elected in 1890, and retired from the position in 1892, and to his untiring efforts is largely due the credit of the successful prosecution and com- pletion of the first street railway in Muncie. In the spring of 1889, in partnership with his son-in-law, H. Marsh Jackson, Prof. Shew- maker embarked in the retail drug trade, which he carried on until the fall of 1889. In 1880 he had charge of the United States cen- sus enumeration in the city of Muncie and did the entire work in the gathering of the statis- tics, but in 1890, owing to the increased popu- lation, was assisted in the work by several enumerators. In Masonic circles Prof. Shew- maker has filled official positions in the local lodge. His name also appears as one of the organizers upon the charter of Williams post, No. 78, G. A. R.
EONARD SHICK was born in Mus- kingum county, Ohio, April 27, 1827, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Kline) Shick, the former having been born in Bucks county, Pa., in 1796, and the latter in Virginia, in 1816. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Shick were married in Muskingum county, where they engaged in farming and remained until 1851, when they removed to Blackford county, Ind., where Mr. Shick engaged in the mercantile business, following it for two years. At that time they returned to their old home, but three years later removed to Knightstown, Henry county, Ind., where for the following three years Mr. Shick was engaged as keeper of the toll gate. The family then moved to
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Cambridge, where, again, Mr. Shick engaged in keeping the gate, remaining one year, at which time he located at Muncie and remained one year. His next removal was to Mont- pelier, Ind., where he started a general mer- chandise store, but finally removed to Hart- ford City, where he and his wife spent their last days, the former dying in January, 1885, and the latter in 1887. They had been mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Shick was a democrat, and a straightforward, careful, business man. Nine children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Shick, as follows: John, a resident of Hartford City, Ind .; Elizabeth J., of Hartford City; Cathe- rine, of Red Key, Jay county; Leonard, whose name opens this sketch; Maria and Henry, deceased; Nancy, wife of S. Brough; Jacob K., of Hartford City; and William, a retail mer- chant of Muncie.
Leonard Shick was reared on the home farm until he had arrived at his majority, at which time he engaged in the tinning business in Hartford City, continuing there two years. Not being altogether satisfied, he took a course of two months under John Davis, of Wabash, where he learned the finer points of his trade. From there he went to Winchester, where he worked for three months under instruction, by which time he had become a thoroughly com- petent workman, and in 1853 came to Muncie, where he engaged in journey work for George Divon. Here he remained for a year and a half, when he bought the business from his employer and carried it on for the two follow- ing years. Selling the shop, he then engaged in work on a farm in this county for one season, but subsequently went back to journey work, engaging with Patterson & Sample for six months, at the end of which time he bought the tinning portion of the trade of his employ- ers, worked it four months alone, and then took in Job Swain as a partner, with whom he car-
ried on business for the six succeeding months, and then sold and went to Lafayette. At the latter place Mr. Shick followed his trade for three months, when he went to Annapolis, where he remained two months, and then, re- turning to Muncie, entered the stove and tin- ware trade with his brother, William Shick. This firm continued for some time, but was finally bought out by John Burt, and Mr. Shick went into a general tinning business, remain - ing in the same for a few months. He then bought a half interest in the same trade and engaged in it for one year, when he and his partner combined queensware and hardware, selling these two commodities for two years, at which time the queensware department was closed out, and a more complete stock of hard- ware was added. After ten years Mr. Shick bought out his brother's interest and took his son as a partner, the latter carrying on the business for five years, when he sold it to Martin, Young & Kessler. Mr. Shick then bought a farm of 190 acres, to which he has since devoted his entire attention, moving into his farmhouse Novem- ber 28, 1890.
Mr. Shick was married in this county, February 13, 1853, to Psyche Jewel, a native of this county, daughter of Zeigle and Rachel (Hobaugh) Jewel, and five children were born of this marriage, as follows: Charles, of Mun- cie, Ind .; Eldora, who married Eli Hoover, a wholesale and retail dealer in cigars and tobacco in Muncie; Kate, died August 2, 1876; Carrie, died September 19, 1864, and Ger- trude, wife of Quince Walling, superintendent of the water works of Muncie. Mrs. Shick died March 10, 1886, and her remains rest in Beech Grove cemetery. Mr. Shick again married, April 1, 1889, in Muncie, his second wife being Louisa Turner, born in this county, and daughter of Ephraim and Martha (Bal- bridge) Turner, natives of Tennessee and Henry county, Ind., the former born in 1828,
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the latter, May 30, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Tur- ner were married in Delaware county in 1849 and became the parents 'of nine children, four of whom survive. Two children have been born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Shick- Lylah Arminell, born December 29, 1889, and Leonard Turner, born May 18, 1891. Mr. Shick and wife are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Shick is a trustee. Politically Mr. Shick is a republican, a prominent and well known man in his neighborhood. He is proprietor of the Shick book store, his son Charles being the efficient manager of the same.
a HARLES A. SHICK .- The business interests of Muncie, Ind., are well looked after, and among the success- ful and judicious men who manage the affairs of the pleasant little city may be mentioned Charles A. Shick, who was born in Delaware county, Ind., January 20, 1854, a son of Leonard Shick, whose biography ap- pears above. Mr. Shick was educated in the city schools of Muncie, and this instruction was supplemented, in 1875, by a course in the Miami Commercial college, which he attended for six months. Following this he engaged in the hardware business with his father, in this county, until the retirement of the elder Mr. Shick from business, when Charles went on the farm for a period of four years, and then engaged in the book business. He now han- dles all grades of books, stationery, art mate- rials, wall papers, etc., and is carrying on a very successful trade. Mr. Shick was married in this city, January 2, 1881, to Miss Mary E. Brundage, who was born in Mercer, Ohio, No- vember 26, 1857, a daughter of W. S. and Sarah J. (Dickerson) Brundage, natives of Ohio, of German descent. Two children, Leonard
and Cornelia, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shick. In politics he is a republican, ready to uphold the principles of his party on all occa- sions, and is a member of the fraternal orders of I. O. O. F. and Junior Order of American Mechanics.
RTHUR L. SHIDELER, a rising attorney and prominent young busi- ness man of Muncie, Ind., was born in Grant county, Ind., February 25, 1860, a son of John W. and Caroline M. (Dol- man) Shideler, natives of Grant county, where the mother died. Mr. Shideler, Sr., came to Muncie, Ind., in October, 1873, and engaged in business, but died in Indianapolis in the year 1888. Arthur L. Shideler came to Mun- cie with his father. He received his education in the Jonesboro Normal school, and in the Muncie high school, after which he engaged as clerk in George W. Stephenson's dry goods house, of which, in 1882, he was admitted as a partner. In the fall of 1883 Mr. Benjamin F. Bratton bought the interest of Mr. Stephen- son, and the firm of Bratton & Shideler con- tinued the business until March, 1889, when they disposed of the stock. At this time Mr. Shideler took up the study of law, and after becoming proficient in the profession was ad- mitted to the Delaware county bar in Novem- ber, 1890, and at once entered upon the active practice in Muncie, which he continued until 1893, when he became bookkeeper of the Merchants' National bank of Muncie, or- ganized in March of that year. Politically, Mr. Shideler is a democrat, and as such was elected city clerk in 1890, overcoming a de- cided republican majority. He served in this capacity until the fall of 1892, and was then the democratic candidate for prosecuting at- torney, but failed of an election owing to the
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great majority of the opposition. He is a member of the I. O O. F. and of the order of Red Men, also being secretary of the Gray club and a member of the Citizens' Enter- prise company. Mr. Shideler was married, in 1879, to Miss Flora E. Jones, daughter of William W. Jones of Centre township, Dela- ware county, and is the father of three inter- esting children, Fred W., Helen R. and Caroline M. The family is one which is highly regarded in the city of Muncie. In his busi- ness and professional life Mr. Shideler has shown commendable zeal, and owing to his determination to adhere to his chosen calling the future is fraught with much that is encour- aging and promising. He is progressive in all that the term implies, takes a lively interest in the growth and development of his adopted city, and is justly entitled to prominent men- tion among its enterprising and intelligent professional men.
0 R. EDGAR A. SHIELDS is the old- est son of Matthew R. and Martha A. (Lyon) Shields, and was born in But- ler county, Ohio, July 9, 1853. His parents moved across the state line into Frank- lin county, Ind., while Edgar A. was a boy, and he attended the common schools of that county until he was nineteen years of age. He entered the State university at Blooming- ton, Ind., in 1872, and in four years completed a classical course therein, graduating with the scholastic degree of A. B. in 1876. In the same year he entered the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, where he pursued a comprehen- sive course of three years' study; however, he did not apply for graduation, but in 1879 en- tered Jefferson Medical college at Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated from that institution in March, 1880. In graceful recognition of Dr.
Shields' scholarly attainments and devotion to science, his old alma mater, the State univer- sity, fittingly conferred upon him the degree of A. M. in 1883. The doctor entered upon the practice of his profession for a brief period near Cincinnati, Ohio, but came to Muncie in the fall of 1881, where he located permanently, and has since enjoyed a lucrative general prac- tice. In co-ordinate lines of professional work, Dr. Shields was chosen pension examiner and served as secretary of the pension board during President Cleveland's first term, and ,is now president of the board of pension examiners, having received the endorsement of Williams post, G. A. R., of Muncie for the place. He also holds the position of examiner for the fol- lowing life insurance companies: New York Life, Equitable, Mutual Life, Connecticut Mu- tual, Ætna, Northwestern Mutual, Manhattan, National and Travellers.
Dr. Shields was married, in 1880, to Miss Fannie May Barbour, daughter of Samuel W. and Ada (Hinckley) Barbour, of Oxford, Ohio. In politics the doctor, like his ancestors for two generations, is a democrat, and is frater- nally a Mason and a Knight Templar in Mun- cie commandery. The paternal grandfather of the doctor was James Shields, a native of the north of Ireland, and received a liberal educa- tion in the Glasgow university of Scotland. He came to Ohio shortly after it became a state, and settled in Butler county. He served twenty-one years in the Ohio legis- lature, was elected to congress and died during his term of service in that body. He was one of the principal promoters in securing the location of Miami university, and served on its board of trustees for years.
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.
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