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 62
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a APT. WILLIAM H. MURRAY, ex- auditor of Delaware county, is the second son of Cornelius B. and Lu- cinda (Burroughs) Murray. The father is a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., and the mother was born near the town of Pendle- ton, Madison county, Ind. Cornelius and Lu- cinda Murray were married in the year 1836, in the county of Randolph, Ind., to which part of the state Mrs. Murray's parents had previ- ously removed. About two years later (1838) they settled upon a farm near Blountsville, Henry county, where, on the 1 1th day of Janu- ary, 1840, William H. Murray was born. Mrs. Murray departed this life in 1873, after which Cornelius B. Murray moved to Hagers- town, Wayne county, where he still lives, aged eighty-two years.
William Murray, grandfather of Capt. Will- iam H., was of Irish parentage and a native of Pennsylvania. His father, great-grandfather of William H., was a native of Ireland, came to America in the time of the colonies and fought valiantly in the struggle for American independence. William H. Murray was reared upon the home farm near Blountsville up to eighteen years of age, receiving the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of that period. His father having given him freedom to do for himself at the above age, he first sought higher educational attainments with the object of entering the teacher's pro-
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fession in view. For some time he was a stu- dent in the Blountsville academy, where he pursued his studies until the breaking out of the rebellion, at which time, in 1861, July 14, he laid aside his books and entered the service of his country as a member of company K, Nineteenth Indiana volunteers, with which he served during the war, re-enlisting January 1, 1864. Entering the army as a private and passing up through the various grades of non- commissioned officers, Mr. Murray, on the 2d of July, 1863, was promoted second lieutenant of his company for gallant conduct at the bat- tle of Gettysburg, and the following year was commissioned a first lieutenant. By reason, however, of his regiment consolidating with the Twentieth Indiana volunteers, he was never mustered in with said rank of first lieu- tenant, but at the close of the war he received a commission as brevet captain from Gov. Morton, of Indiana.
It would far transcend the limits of a sketch of this kind to give in detail an account of Capt. Murray's military career, as he saw much active service and participated in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, among which may be mentioned Lewinsville, Rappa- hanock Station, Second battle of Manassas or Bull Run, and South Mountain. In the engagement last named he was dangerously wounded in both hips by a minie ball, disabling him to such an extent that he was compelled to remain for two months at the hospital at Middletown, Md. As soon as he was able to travel, he returned home, but after a short time rejoined his command in time to take part in the battle of Fredericksburg, fought on the 12th and 13th days of December, 1862. Subsequently, on account of his wound, he was placed on detached duty until more fully recovered, serving as clerk in the quarter- master department, in preference to again entering the hospital. Hero-like, and without
being reported for duty to his company, and with a musket borrowed from a disabled sol- dier, he voluntarily rejoined his regiment to help fight the great battle of Gettysburg, in which he took part from the firing of the first gun until the retreat of the enemy, displaying such praiseworthy conduct that at the instance of his lieutenant, Col. W. W. Dudley, he re- ceived his first promotion, as above noted, of second lieutenant. Subsequently he accom- panied his command throughout the opera- tions of the army, took part in a number of engagements, including the battle of the Wilderness, where he was again severely wounded in the right leg on the first day of that terrible conflict, May 5, 1864. Having been removed to Washington on account of his wound, he was furloughed home for sixty days, and at the expiration of that time was granted an extension. Finally recovering suf- ficiently, he returned to the front, joined his command near Yellow Tavern, and took part in the siege of Petersburg. He remained at his post until September 14, 1864, when, by reason of physical disability caused by his various wounds, he was honorably dis- charged from the service. Returning home, he settled in Selma, Delaware county, and on February 16, 1865, was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Orr, daughter of Hon. James Orr, of Liberty township, alternately pursuing the vocations of farming and teaching in the pub- lic scools until April, 1870, when he engaged in the mercantile business at the town of Selma, where he conducted a very successful business until October, 1878, at which time he he was elected auditor of Delaware county, discharging the duties of that position in a highly creditable manner for a period of four years. At this time Capt. Murray is living a life of retirement on his beautiful farm in Lib- erty township. He still owns business prop- erty in Selma and Muncie, and his life has
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been one of great activity. In the language of another, the following is a brief statement of his standing in the community since early boy- hood: "An industrious, studious boy; an ambitious, self educated youth; a patriotic, valiant soldier; an earnest, successful man of business, an efficient, faithful servant of the public; liberal and enterprising beyond his means; happy in his domestic relations, he is a genial associate and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends." Mr. and Mrs. Mur- ray are the parents of the following children: Lulu M., James O., Don P., Maggie, Arthur L., Edna K. and Robert F. Lulu M. is the wife of John E. Reed, deputy clerk of the Del- aware circuit court; James O. is a successful merchant, and Don P. recently graduated with high honors from the Medical college of Indiana, and is now a physician with a lucra- tive practice. The other four children live at home with their parents.
ON. JAMES ORR was born near the town of Omagh, county Tyrone, Ire- land, February 25, 1815. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Jamison) Orr, both members of very large families, the ancestors of which lived in the Emerald Isle for many generations. They were protestants, and were active for many years in their oppo- sition to the prevailing church of Ireland. Mr. Orr's parents were substantial farmers, and leading members of the Presbyterian church of the town where they resided. In the year 1821, James Orr and family, consisting of the wife and six children, emigrated to the United States, taking ship at Londonderry, Ireland, for St. John, New Brunswick, thence to Balti- more by water, and from the latter place, moved in wagons to West Virginia, locating at what is known as White Sulphur Springs,
Greerbrier county. They lived in what is known as the "Tuckahoe Draft" during the winter of 1821, and the following year moved to Monroe county, the same state, where they resided for a period of five years. The life work of Mr. Orr, Sr., was that of farming, but he added to his income by teaching school, having been a man of good mental attainments and education. The family moved to Ohio in 1836. locating in Greene county, near Xenia, where they remained until 1838, at which time Mr. Orr moved to Delaware county, Ind., selecting a home in what is now the township of Delaware. As noted above, the family of James and Elizabeth Orr consisted of six children. The eldest, Joseph, married in Greene county, Ohio, Mary Hopping, and died, on his farm in Liberty township, Delaware county, Ind., in March, 1881; his wife died August 26, 1885. The second child, Margaret, married Robert Dean, a prominent citizen of Greene county, Ohio, and died there in 1859, her husband departing this life a short time previous to that date. The second son, Samuel Orr, a farmer by occupation, was lieutenant colonel of the Eighty-fourth Indiana infantry during the late war, and also represented Dela- ware county three times in the state legislature as a whig. He was twice married, his first wife having been Jane Moore, of Xenia, Ohio, and his second wife, Mrs. Jane Morrison, whom he married in Muncie, Ind. ; he died November 19, 1876. Hon. James Orr is the fourth in order of birth, after whom came Martha, wife of John Jones. She moved to Kansas with her husband many years ago, in which state they both died. The youngest member of the family, William Orr, died when a young child at the family home in Virginia.
Hon. James Orr passed his youthful years in Virginia and Ohio, and grew to manhood possessed of a vigorous constitution and great bodily strength. He was early taught the
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principles of industry, perseverance and econ- omy, which made him so successful in all his undertakings in after life; in 1836 he moved with his parents to Greene county, Ohio, thence, in October, 1837, came to Delaware county, Ind. He remained here but a short time, returning, in the fall of the above year, to his former home in Ohio, where, on the 11th day of January, 1838, he was uuited in mar- riage to Julia Ann L. Hopping. Within a short time after his marriage, Mr. Orr returned to Delaware county, and has been an honored resident of the same every since and one of its most substantial and well known citizens. Agriculture has been his life work, in which useful calling his success, always very en- couraging, has placed him in the front rank among the representative farmers of Delaware. He has, at different times, been called to fill prominent official positions, having been elect- ed commissioner of Delaware county in 1844, and served five years. In 1853 he was elected representative to the general assembly from this county, re-elected in 1861, and in 1871 was elected joint senator for the counties of Delaware and Madison, in which body he served two sessions. Politically, Mr. Orr was a whig until the organization of the republican party, since which time he has been a stanch supporter of the latter. In religion Mr. Orr is a member of the United Presbyterian church, in which he is highly respected and in which he has held different official positions. Mrs. Orr, who is remembered as of most excellent Christian character, departed this life on the 30th of April, 1869; she bore her husband eight children, namely: William, James D., Margaret J., Samuel, Joseph N., Charles M., Elizabeth M., and Mary R .; of these, five are yet living.
William, the eldest son, was born in Dela- ware county in the year 1838, received a liber- al education and began teaching school at the
early age of fifteen. While still young, before attaining his majority, he began taking an active interest in political matters and acquired considerable reputation as a campaign speaker. He began the study of law in 1868 with Thomas J. Sample of Muncie, finished his legal course at the Indianapolis Law school, after which he began to practice his profession in partnership with his preceptor. At the breaking out of the war he entered the army, enlisting in the Nineteenth Indiana volunteers, -being made lieutenant of company K. He participated in a number of battles in which his command was engaged, was shot through the lungs at Antietam, the effects of which necessitated his retirement from the service for a time. After being sufficiently recovered, he rejoined his command, from which time until the close of the war he took part in a number of active campaigns and bloody battles. He was commissioned second lieutenant in July, 1861, promoted first lieutenant August 23, 1862, became captain of his company Septem- ber 18, 1862, was made major August 4, 1864 and upon the consolidation of the Nineteenth with the Twentieth regiment was appointed colonel Col. Orr was married November 18, 1862 to Margaret J. Small, who bore him one child, a daughter, wife of Charles P. Camp- bell of Chicago. Margaret J. Orr, married William H. Murray, who lives near Selma. James D. Orr, second son of subject, was born April 5, 1841. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, served in the late war in the One- hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana infantry, and married December 20, 1864, Mary L. Baldridge, who bore him two children: Mary A., and Julia M. James D. Orr died in the year 1876. Samuel Orr, born November 3, 1846, married Mary Jane Goings August 6, 1868; his wife died in February, 1884; he died in 1871, Joseph N. Orr was born February 18, 1849, married Miss Mamie Simmons, who
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bore him three children: Bertha, James G. and Nellie. He is a prominent merchant of Sel- ma, where he has carried on an extensive business since 1871. Charles M. Orr was born August 3, 1850; married July 15, 1875, Kate Sayers, and is now in the United States postal service. Elizabeth M., born April 20, 1853, married Dr. Fertich of Dunkirk, Ind., and is the mother of six children. Mary R. Orr was born August 9, 1857, married Lewis S. Sparks March 30, 1875, and has three chil- dren.
Hon. James Orr married for his second wife, June 30, 1870, Miss Martha J. Camp- bell, daughter of Samuel G. and Elizabeth Campbell, old citizens of the town of Selma.
R. CLARK SKIFF (deceased) .- Many of the brightest minds and the leading thinkers of the last century have been found in the medical pro- fession, and in the life of Dr. Skiff could be found an example illustrating these facts in a local sense in the practice of his profession in Delaware county, Ind. His birth occurred near Wilmington, in Clinton county, Ohio, January 16, 1826; son of John and Lucretia Skiff, natives of New York state. The boy- hood days of Dr. Skiff were passed upon the farm in his native commonwealth, where he was a student in the common schools. He began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Hubble, of Amelia, Ohio, at which place he practiced his profession for some time, having attended lectures and graduating from the Eclectic Medical institute, of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1854 Dr. Skiff located at Selma, Ind., where he established an extensive prac- tice and made for himself a reputation that lives beyond his death. He was a man gen- erally well appreciated, and his friends were
numerous. The practice of medicine, which he loved, he continued until forced, by failing health, to abandon it. He was an active member of the Medical association; kept fully abreast of the profession, and was always re- garded as a true physician. In politics, Dr. Skiff was an earnest republican, and a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows societies. His first marriage was with Miss Catherine Smith, of Clinton county, Ohio. Mrs. Skiff died in 1853, leaving a son, John Skiff, now of Lebanon, Ind. November 18, 1855, Miss Louisa Moore became the wife of Dr. Skiff. To this marriage relation, there is one son, Charles Eberle, an enterprising farmer of Lib- erty township, this county. Mrs. Skiff is the daughter of William J. Moore (one of the early settlers of Delaware county), and was born in Liberty township, this county, Janu- ary 13, 1837. She resides at Selma, and has a comfortable home. Mrs. Skiff is a promi- nent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is regarded as a woman of rare worth throughout the community. Dr. Skiff united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1880 and lived a devoted christian the remain- der of his life, an untiring worker in the church. The death of Dr. Skiff occurred October 12, 1888.
a® ILLIAM HENRY WILLIAMS, township trustee and leading citizen of the town of Selma, is the son of the late gallant Col. Samuel J. Williams, who was killed in the late war while leading his regiment, the Nineteenth Indiana, in the battle of the Wilderness. Col. Will- iams was born in Montgomery county, Va., and while quite young, was brought by his parents to Delaware county, Ind., where he grew to manhood. Reared on a farm, his
DR. CLARK SKIFF.
+
MRS. LOUISA SKIFF.
COL. S. J. WILLIAMS.
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early educational training embraced the studies usually taught in the common schools of that period, but he obtained his principal knowledge of books by private study and wide reading after attaining his majority. At the early age of eighteen, he was united in marriage with Lorena Davis, who at that time was but seventeen years old, to which union one child, Lorena, wife of Luther Harris, of Muncie, was born. Mrs. Williams dying, Col. Williams afterward, when twenty-two years of age, was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Shroyer of Delaware county, who bore him five chil- dren, the subject of this mention being the oldest in point of birth. The next oldest child, Parthena, was born in 1854 and married W. P. Dunkle, a carpenter and builder of Selma; Mary E., was born in 1856, married A. C. Martin, and is the mother of six chil- dren, five of whom are living; her husband died in January, 1891; Samuel J., the next in order of birth, is general freight agent of the M., K. & T. R. R., with headquarters at Par- sons, Kansas. The youngest member of the family, Cassius, was born in 1860, and de- parted this life in the year 1874.
In 1855 Col. Williams located in the town of Selma after the completion of the railroad, and engaged in the warehouse and stock ship- ping business, continuing the same until the breaking out of the great rebellion, when he recruited company K, Ninteenth Indiana vol- unteers, and entered the service of the country as captain of the same. For gallant and meri- torious conduct on a number of different bat- tle fields, he passed through different grades of promotion, including that of major and lieu- tenant colonel, and finally became colonel of the Nineteenth, and as such fell, as already noted, at the head of his men in the battle of
the Wilderness. Col. Williams was a brave and gallant soldier, and in the civil walks of life was honored and respected by all who knew him. Williams post, No. 78, G. A. R., of Muncie, Ind., was named in his honor, also Col. S. J. Williams post, No. 267,G. A. R., of Selma, Ind. He was an active member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and originally supported the democratic party,cast- ing his first presidential ballot for Franklin Pierce. He was always opposed to the insti- tution of slavery, however, in consequence of which he changed his political views and be- came a republican on the organization of that party, and supported its principles until his death.
William Henry Williams was born in Del- aware county, Ind., August 3, 1853. He married March 12, 1872, Joanna Fielder, who has borne him six children, namely: Myrtle, Willie, Samuel Claude, Iva Pearl, Anna Fern and Pansy. Mr. Williams has always been a citizen of Liberty township, and for some years followed agricultural pursuits in connec- tion with the manufacture of brick, in both of which occupations he was very successful. During President Arthur's administration he was in the United States mail service for thir- teen months. He is now in the employ of J. N. Orr, of Selma. He was elected trustee of Liberty township in 1891, since which date he has discharged the duties of the position with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people of his township, irrespective of party. Politically, he is a republican, and fraternally is identified with the I. O. O. F., belonging to lodge No. 189, Selma. The Methodist church represents his religious creed, of which denom- ination both he and wife are active mem- bers.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
ILLIAM F. ANDERSON, a promi- nent farmer and stock raiser, and one of the large land holders of Monroe township, was born in Miami county, Ohio, January 21, 1854, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Smith) Anderson. His paternal ancestors were early residents of Vir- ginia, in which state his grandfather was a planter and large slave holder. Joseph and Mary Anderson had a family of eight children whose names are as follows: Maggie, wife of Charles Malcolm; David H .; John W .; James J .; Charles E .; Joseph H .; and Sallie, wife, of H. H. Youngs; and the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.
William F. Anderson spent the years of his youth and early manhood in his native state where he was raised on the farm, and in April, 1875, became a resident of Delaware county, Ind., settling in the township of Monroe, where he now has a beautiful farm, consisting of 300 acres of good land, upon which are some of the best improvements in the township. Mr. Anderson has made a suc- cess of farming, and the comfortable com- Mr. Bartling passed the years of his youth and early manhood in his native state, and in the spring of 1864, became a resident of Dela- ware county, purchasing a beautiful farm in the township of Monroe, upon which the re- maining days of his life were passed. He early chose agriculture for an occupation, and followed that useful calling all of his life, and such was his success, that, without any assist- petence which he now enjoys is largely the result of his own well directed efforts, and through real estate received by marriage. He received his education in the schools of his native state, was a teacher for some time, and having always been a reader and observer, is now one of the well informed men of the com- munity in which he resides. The father of Mr. Anderson died August 3, 1886, and his ance in a financial sense, he succeeded in
widowed mother still resides in Miami county, Ohio. December 23, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of William F. Anderson and Martha Clark, the issue of which union is two children, namely: Charles E., and Anna B. Mrs. Anderson's parents were natives of Vir- ginia, and members of the Roman Catholic church. She had two sisters, namely: Mary J., wife of Thaddeus Tuthill; and Julia A., who died February, 1876.
J OHN D. BARTLING .- Few of the deceased residents of Monroe township are held in more grateful remembrance than the late John D. Bartling, who, for a number of years, was a well known and highly respected citizen of the county of Dela- ware. Mr. Bartling was a native of Ohio, born in Hamilton county, the son of William and Christina Bartling, who came to the United States from their native country, Ger- many, many years ago.
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accumulating a fair share of this world's wealth, owning a farm in Marshall county, Ind. Mr. Bartling responded to the country's call for volunteers at the breaking out of the rebellion, enlisting July 8, 1861, in company E, Eighth Missouri volunteer infantry, with which he shared the vicissitudes and fortunes of war for a period of three years. During his term of service he was with his command in a number of campaigns and participated in eleven hard fought battles, in all of which his conduct was that of a brave and gallant soldier, and against his military record no breath of suspicion was ever known to have been uttered. He received an honorable discharge July, 1864, in the city of St. Louis; from which time until death his life was devoted to the peaceful pursuit of his chosen calling.
Mr. Bartling was married November 16, 1869, to Mrs. Rachel Armitage, the fruits of which union were three children, namely: Effie M., wife of J. R. Stipp; Laura L. and Addie F. Mr. Bartling's death, which oc- curred on the 4th day of June, 1878, was felt as a great loss to the community, and he was followed to his last resting place in the Tom- linson cemetery by a large concourse of sor- rowing friends and neighbors. He was a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., a most worthy and conscientious citizen, and every laudable en- terprise that had a tendency to elevate and improve the community found in him a zeal- ous friend and earnest patron. In his imme- diate family he is remembered as a fond and loving husband, a kind father, and the influ- ence of his example is the richest heritage to a grateful posterity. Mrs. Bartling's maiden name was McDonald, and she was born in Champaign county, Ohio, September 16, 1833. She now owns eighty acres of land in Monroe township, where she lives in quietude, enjoy- ing the esteem and respect of a large circle of acquaintances and neighbors.
BSALOM BROWN is a native of Delaware county, Ind., and the eld- est son of Joel and Diana (Gibson) Brown. He was born in the town- ship of Monroe, December 18, 1841, and grew to manhood on the farm, and with the excep- tion of the time spent in the army has ever since followed the pursuit of agriculture in the county of his nativity. He entered the service of his country December, 1863, as a member of company G, Ninth regiment Indiana caval- ry, and took part in some of the bloodiest battles of the southwestern campaign, in- cluding the first engagement of Lawrence, Tenn., Franklin (where he received a severe wound in the left side), and Nashville. Owing to disability occasioned by the wound he was for three months compelled to remain in the hospital, and on the 4th of July, 1865, was honorably discharged from the service. From the effects of disability received while in the army Mr. Brown has never entirely recovered and he is now remembered by a grateful country with a pension amounting to $12 per month. After his discharge, Mr. Brown returned to Delaware county and resumed his chosen calling, and is now one of the well known and successful agriculturists of Monroe township. He is a highly respected citizen and belongs to that large and influential class who in a quiet way do much for the moral well being of the community.
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