USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
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WILLIAM H. COOK.
Numbered among the most enterprising business men of Richmond, Wayne county, is William H. Cook, whose whole life, since he was a child, has been spent in this immediate vicinity. A native of Preble county, Ohio, born May 9, 1843, he received his education in the public schools of Wayne township, this county, and finished his studies in the high school. Remain- ing at home until he reached his majority he then engaged in farming and ·other pursuits on his own account. For some eight years he made a good income from the burning of lime near Cox's Mills, north of Richmond. Sub- sequently, he was one of the leading dairymen in the neighborhood of Rich- mond, and during a period of about twelve years was prominent among those ·occupied in this line of business in the county. A few years ago he became financially interested in the milling business, and in partnership with J. C. Boyd, under the firm name of Cook & Boyd, he has operated the old Cox Mill, previously mentioned. Having met with gratifying success in his busi- ness ventures thus far, Mr. Cook embarked in a totally different enterprise in 1893, when, with Messrs. Wood and Swegman, he established a cold-storage business on South Fifth street, Richmond, the style of the firm being Cook & Company. This, too, has been a success, in every point of view, and no little credit is due Mr. Cook for the sound business sense and foresight that marks all of his investments and transactions. Since he attained his major- ity he has been more or less engaged in buying and selling live stock, ship- ping to the city markets. Thus it may be seen that his life has been a very active and busy one, that he has not deemed it prudent to risk everything upon one venture and that his branching out into new lines of business has been very beneficial, in a general way, to the local public. In politics he uses his ballot in favor of Republican nominees and principles.
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In tracing the ancestry of William H. Cook we find that he is a grand- son of Seth and Ruth (Cook) Cook (distant relatives) and that they were natives of South Carolina. At an early day they removed to Warren county, Ohio, and in July, 1825, they became residents of Wayne county, Indiana. Settling upon an eighty-acre tract of land which he bought, it being situated four miles northeast of Richinond, Mr. Cook gradually increased the size of his farm and purchased others, until he owned several hundred acres. A fine business man and financier, he was of great benefit to the railroad then being constructed from Dayton to Indianapolis, and by personal work and effort he secured large subscriptions to the enterprise, thus securing its suc- cess. In his zeal for this factor of civilization he made numerous speeches at towns along the proposed route, and it was while he was thus employed that he contracted the severe cold which resulted in his death, at the age of sixty- one years. However, he lived to see the road completed as far as New Paris and to ride a short distance on the line. In religion he was an ortho- dox Friend, and was always present at meetings in the Richmond church. His wife, who lived to be eighty-eight years old, lacking twelve days, con- tinued to reside on the old homestead, now owned by her grandson, John Cook. She was a niece of John Townsend, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, who reached the one hundredth anniversity of his birth, and died in Wayne township, while his wife, Elva, lived to be past a century old. Three of the eight children of Seth and Ruth Cook died when young, and the others were Amos; Isaac, who lived on a farm adjoining the old homestead, and died at about fifty-five years; Elijah, who managed the old homestead and. is succeeded by his son John, as previously stated; Elizabeth, widow of Rob- ert Commons, a farmer, is making her home with her children; and Mary, who died at the age of about fifty-nine years and who had married Samuel Crampton, of the vicinity of Portland.
Amos Cook, the father of William H., of this sketch, was born in War- ren county, Ohio, near Waynesville, July 29, 1819. When he was grown he carried on a farm in Preble county, Ohio, belonging to his father, for two years, and over a half a century ago he became the possessor of his fine homestead in Wayne township, this county. He had received from his father nearly six hundred acres of land, and his three farms comprised. respectively, sixty, eighty and one hundred and sixty acres. On his home farm there were large quarries, and for years he burned lime extensively, receiving good prices for the product. At New Paris, Ohio, he was similarly occupied, and the output of lime thus treated amounted to about thirty thou- sand bushels a year. Politically he is a strong Republican, and religiously a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. For thirty years he has been connected with this denomination, and he belongs to the First church of
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Richmond. For years he was a local preacher, and still occupies the pulpit occasionally. Though he was reared as a Friend, he was turned out of that church because he was married by a 'squire instead of in the customary manner of the sect.
March 30, 1842, Amos Cook and Miss Lydia Wright were united in mar- riage, and after forty-six years of happy companionship Mrs. Cook passed to the better land, October 19, 1888. She was born in Wayne township, in 1 823, and was a daughter of Jonathan and Lydia Wright, who were cousins. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook, William H. is the eldest. Syl- vester lives with his father on the old homestead, and attends to its manage- ment. He first married Lydia, daughter of David P. Groves, of Richmond, and later Mary Pyle became his wife. He has two children: Lawrence, a student in the Richmond high school; and Anna, who is at home.
William H. Cook chose for his wife Miss Angeline Cox, of Wayne town- ship, their marriage being celebrated, in 1864, at the home of her father, Robert Cox. Lillian, who is at home, and Leslie R., a farmer, are the only children of our subject and wife.
OLIVER M. THORNBURG.
The expression " the dignity of labor" is exemplified in the life record. of this gentleman, who without reserve attributes his success to earnest work. He is a man of strong force of character, purposeful and energetic, and his keen discrimination and sound judgment are shown in his capable management of one of the largest farms in Fayette county.
Mr. Thornburg is still a resident of Posey township, where he was born August 31, 1852, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. His paternal grandfather, Henry Thornburg, a native of North Carolina, moved to Warren county, Ohio, in 1814, and six years later to Wayne county, Indiana. In March, 1822, he took up his residence in Posey township, Fayette county, where in the midst of the forest he devel- oped a farm, at the same time devoting a part of his attention to the manu- facture of wagons, plows, etc., for the early settlers. On his arrival here he was in limited circumstances, but, prospering in his undertakings, he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, and upon that farm he spent the remainder of his days. Politically he was a strong Whig and religiously he was a member of the Society of Friends. His children were as follows: John, who died in April, 1831; Elizabeth, who married S. Wilson and died in Iowa; Mrs. Eunice S. Charles, who is now living in Henry county, Indiana; Milton, the father of our subject; and Mrs. Hannah Macey, who died in Iowa.
Milton Thornburg was born in North Carolina, July 4, 1812, and was a
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mere child when brought by his parents to this state, where he was reared amidst pioneer scenes. Although he received only three months' schooling during his entire life, he was a very intelligent man and a born financier. He early became familiar with the occupations of farming and stock-raising, and with the first money he earned he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land in Madison county, paying for the same in silver. This tract is now owned by our subject. The father had charge of the home farm. In 1833 he went to Kentucky, where he bought a herd of shorthorn cattle, being the first to introduce that kind of stock in this part of Indiana. He also erected and operated a sawmill, run by water power. After the death of his parents he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead and added to it other land. In 1871 he moved to Wayne county, where he pur- chased a fine homestead and a small tract of land near Cambridge City. He was also a large stockholder in the First National Bank of that place and was a director in the same for many years. He engaged in loaning money on farm mortgages, and in all his undertakings met with marked success, so that at his death he left a large estate. He was an old-time Abolitionist and a Whig in politics, but was not strictly partisan. By birthright he was a Quaker, but as he married outside of the church and refused to go before that body and say he was sorry for what he had done he was consequently turned out of the church. It was on the Ist of February, 1835, at Knights- town, that he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Charles, a native of Wayne county, and they became the parents of the following children: John C., born January 18, 1836, died November 18, 1866, leaving a wife and three children; William, born June 27, 1838, died May 4, 1841; Elvira, born October 29, 1841, died November 25, 1843; Thomas, born October 4, 1843, died February 9, 1866; Emily, born August 8, 1846, died February 5, 1872; and Oliver M., our subject, completes the family.
During his boyhood Oliver M. Thornburg attended the common schools, and under the able direction of his father obtained an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. He came into possession of the original homestead of the family, which is pleasantly situated in Posey township, two and a half miles south of Dublin, and has ever given his attention to farming and stock- raising. In his home farm he now has six hundred and seventy acres, besides a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Madison county, and as his wife also has two well improved farms in Fayette county he has under his control fifteen hundred acres. He makes a specialty of stock-raising, keeping horses, cattle and hogs, but gives most attention to shorthorn cattle, of which he.has a large herd. Some seasons le disposes of more than three car-loads. He gives strict attention to his business interests and is acknowledged to be one of the most energetic, progressive and successful men of his community.
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His farms are all under a high state of cultivation and well improved. His beautiful home is a two-story frame residence of modern architecture and is supplied with all modern conveniences, including furnace for heating it. It is situated on a high mound, surrounded by forest and ornamental trees and shrubs, so that it is one of the most attractive places of the locality. Every- thing found upon a model farm can be seen upon his place, including all improved machinery, for facilitating and making work easy, and also a machine, run by steam power, for cutting and grinding feed. In his political affiliation Mr. Thornburg is an ardent Republican.
On the 30th of September, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma B. Ferguson, a lady of culture and refinement, who was born August 29, 1859, and they have become the parents of four children: Bertie, born August 9, 1876, died September 11, 1877; and Oliver Ray, born November 13, 1879; Linville Parke, born March 15, 1881, and Eva Pearl, born August 5, 1892, are all at home.
The Ferguson family is of Scotch origin and was founded in Virginia in the early part of the seventeenth century. Some of its members afterward moved to Wilkes county, North Carolina. They were supporters of Jeffer- son and Jackson, and down to the present time its representatives are all strong Democrats, while in religious faith they are Baptists. Linville Fer- guson, Mrs. Thornburg's father, was born in North Carolina, August 17, 1815, and was only about six months old when with his parents, Micajah and Frances (Isbell) Ferguson, he came to Indiana, in 1816. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Ferguson. His mother was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, July 2, 1781, a daughter of Thomas and Discretion (How- ard) Isbell, whose ancestors emigrated from England and settled in North Carolina. Thomas Isbell joined the Continental army at the age of eighteen years and served for five years in the war of the Revolution. The Isbells were opposed to Jefferson and Jackson in politics. To Micajah and Frances (Isbell) Ferguson were born the following children: Matilda, wife of Joel Hiatt; Horton, who married Martha Hunt; Linville, father of Mrs. Thorn- burg; Salena, who first married C. Saxton, and, second, Joseph Caldwell; Savanna, wife of J. B. Loder; Livingston, who first married Elizabeth Gil- land and, second, Ursula F. Carver; Finley, who first married Laura Elwell and, second, Anna Armstead; Sanford, who was born May 29, 1828, and died February 25, 1833; Kilby, who married M. J. Sinks; Jane, who died December 8, 1841, aged eight years; and Olive, who died in February, 1854, aged nineteen years.
Linville Ferguson was reared amidst the hardships and privations inci, dent to frontier life, and his educational advantages were meager, on account of poor school facilities in this region at that time. He assisted his father in
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improving and cultivating the farm and also in the shop, the father being a wheelwright by trade. After attaining his majority he commenced carpen- tering, which occupation he followed for several years. On his marriage, in 1838. he located on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of heavily tim- bered land in Posey township, Fayette county, given him by his father, and in its development showed his strength and great endurance, as he labored early and late to make for himself and family a home. Early in life he began giving some attention to stock-raising, at first making a specialty of hogs, and for a time was a member of a pork-packing firm at Connersville. He also exported cattle for forty years, and was a large stockholder and one of the organizers of the National Bank of Cambridge City, capitalized at one hundred thousand dollars. He was connected with that corporation for twenty-three years and served as its president fifteen years. He was a, recognized leader of the Democratic party in this community and was called upon to fill a number of offices of honor and trust. He served as township trustee, by appointment, ten years, and after the election law was passed he was elected to the same office for ten years. He was county commissioner for a number of years, and two or three times made the race for state repre- sentative, but was defeated, as his party was in the minority. In all his undertakings he has met with excellent success, with the exception of the implement business at Milton, where he lost money, and he has accumulated a handsome fortune, much of which he has already given to his children. In 1883 he purchased eight acres of land and erected thereon a pleasant resi- dence, overlooking the city of Milton, where he is now living retired, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years, and is enjoying a well earned rest. In 1838 Mr. Ferguson married Miss Elizabeth Loder, a daughter of John Loder, who was born in Essex county, New Jersey, August 10, 1780. In 1797 her father went to Cincinnati, where he worked at the cooper's trade, and after making one or two moves finally settled near Hamilton, Ohio. On the 25th of September, 1806, he married Isabel Ringland, who was born May 31, 1785, of Irish ancestry. After the birth of three children, near Hamilton, Ohio, they removed to Fayette county, Indiana, in 1815. Here Mr. Loder purchased land, and while clearing and improving his farm he also worked at his trade. He died June 23, 1868, his wife in 1863, and the remains of both were interred in Bentonville cemetery. Their children were: James R .; Harriet C., wife of James McCulloch; Mary J., wife of H. Short- ridge; Sarah, wife of Temple Beeson; Elizabeth, mother of Mrs. Thornburg; and Amanda E., wife of G. Wright. To Linville and Elizabeth (Loder) Ferguson were born the following children: Oliver, a trader of Milton; Savanna, wife of L. Munger; Elmer, who died at the age of twelve years; Emma, wife of our subject; and Charley, who resides on the old homestead.
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WILLIAM H. BERRY, M. D.
The history of Franklin county would be incomplete without mention of this worthy representative of one of its most honored pioneer faimlies. His entire life has been spent in Brookville, where he was born on the 12th of October, 1840. He pursued his literary education in the public schools of the city and in Brookville College, but put aside his text-books in 1862, in order to respond to his country's call for aid, enlisting on the 5th of August of that year as a member of Company B, Fourth Indiana Cavalry, with which he served until May 1, 1863, when he was discharged on account of illness.
Determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he began preparation for the profession under the direction of his honored father, Dr. George Berry, and subsequently continued his studies in the Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1867. He then opened an office in Brookville, and is now the second oldest practitioner in the city. He has a large general practice, receiving the patronage of many of the best families of the city and vicinity. Devoted to the noble and humane work which his profession implies, he has proved faithful and has not only earned the due rewards of his efforts in a temporal way, but has proved himself worthy to exercise the important functions of his calling, through his ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal in behalf of his fellow men.
On the 26th of June, 1873, Dr. Berry was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Linck, of Brookville, Indiana, and unto them have been born four children: Charles, of Muncie, Indiana; and Blanche, Ethel and May, at home. In his political connections the Doctor is a stanch Democrat. He has been a member of the school board of Brookville for twenty-one consecu- tive years, and no man in the city has done more to promote its educational interests. He labors most earnestly for the upbuilding of the schools and the uplifting of the standard of scholarship, and Brookville to-day is the pos- sessor of schools of which all of her citizens are justly proud. Socially the Doctor is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for some years has been a member of the Knights of Honor. In manner he is free from all ostentation and display, but his intrinsic worth is recognized and his friendship is most prized by those who know him best, showing that his character will bear the scrutiny of close acquaintance. He is a generous- spirited, broad-minded man and is held in the highest regard in the county of his nativity.
MATT. SHEW.
Matt. Shew was born in Canada, December 22, 1851, and began busi- ness in Cambridge City, in 1891.
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SPENCER WILEY.
In the death of Spencer Wiley, Franklin county lost one of her noblest citizens, - one whose life was filled with good deeds unostentatiously per- formed, and duties faithfully executed. In time of war and peace alike, he was the ideal citizen, - patriotic, alive to the best interests of his country and community, and zealous for their welfare.
Belonging to one of the pioneer families of Indiana, Spencer Wiley was born on the site of the present city of Clarksburg, Decatur county, October 24, 1824. His parents were James and Elizabeth Wiley, natives of Fred- erick county, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina, respectively. Both had removed to the north with their parents when they were children, and for the extremely long period of sixty-two years they pursued the journey of life together. In 1830 James Wiley and family removed to this county and made a permanent settlement on the banks of the Whitewater river, about three miles west of the present town of Metamora. There Mr. Wiley improved a farm and spent the rest of his days. His death occurred in 1872, he outliving his devoted wife but a few months, as she passed to her reward in August of the preceding year. They reared to maturity four sons and a daughter, and each one of the number was over three-score years of age at death. One child, Jerome, at the age of about four years, wandered into the forest during the early part of the family's stay in Decatur county, and was lost. The others were named in order of birth: John, Jerome (the sec- ond of the name), Spencer and Olive Elizabeth.
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The boyhood and youth of Spencer Wiley were quietly passed under the parental roof, where he was trained to be a good citizen and industrious business man. In 1848 he was married, and at once located with his bride upon a farm in Laurel township, Franklin county, his homestead being beau- tifully situated on the banks of Salt creek. As time passed he made sub- stantial improvements upon the place, which became known as one of the most desirable in that locality. Starting out a poor man, he became well- off in this world's goods by the exercise of the good common sense with which he was endowed, and by strict attention to business.
When it became evident that the war of the Rebellion was not to be settled by a few days of fighting, but that a real, serious contest, perhaps of years, had been entered upon between the north and south, Mr. Wiley hast- ened to offer his life and services to his country and the cause in which he earnestly believed. Enlisting as a private in Company B, Thirty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, August 21, 1861, he was soon made a corporal and later a sergeant. During the entire period -- three years and three months-of his army life he was actively engaged, taking part in many
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of the important battles of the war, with the Army of the Cumberland, includ- ing Stone river, Chickamauga, Lookout mountain and others of equal rank. He seemed to lead a charmed life, for, although he was in the forefront of battle upon many an occasion, the bullets of the enemy always passed him by. Upon the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged, and reached his home about the Ist of November, 1864. Two of his faithful friends and comrades, members of the same company and regiment, were John and George Hoffman (twins), brothers of Mrs. Wiley. George's life was sacrificed to his country, his death occurring near Bacon Creek, Ken- tucky, in 1862. John is now a resident of Rushville, Indiana.
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On the 3d of December, 1848, Mr. Wiley married Miss Henrietta, daughter of Daniel Hoffman. She was born at Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1830, and was but three years old when, in 1833, the family removed to Camden, Preble county, Ohio. In August, 1839, they emigrated to Franklin county, Indiana, and settled upon wild land, in Salt Creek township, which Mr. Hoffman entered from the government. He cleared away the forests and developed a fine homestead, where he and his estimable wife resided as long as they lived. He entered the silent land October 19, 1874, at the ripe age of four-score years, three months and twenty-eight days. His devoted wife did not long survive him, as she died February 14, 1875, at the age of sixty-nine years, eight months and twenty-seven days. They had lived happily together, sharing each others joys and sorrows, for half a century, and even death did not long sep- arate them. All of their five sons and four daughters attained mature years, and in 1899 one of the sons and three of the daughters survive, namely: John, already mentioned; Mary, wife of James Harley, of Laurel township, and Mrs. Emeline Ward, of Lee county, Illinois. The third surviving daugh- ter is Mrs. Wiley.
Mr. Wiley was a man of wide information and general knowledge, gained partly from observation and experience and partly from study and reading. Prior to his marriage he traveled quite extensively, and during the gold excitement in the west he visited the Pacific coast, spending some time in the gold fields and other places of interest. In his views he was broad- minded and liberal, according to others that freedom of opinion which he claimed for himself. His generosity and kindness of heart toward all man- kind led to frequent acts of charity and service toward those who were unfortunate, and many a person thus timely aided remembers him with gratitude and high esteem. Mr. Wiley passed to the better land December 31, 1888, mourned by all who had known him. His widow, after living for three years more on the old homestead where the two-score years of her married life had been happily spent, then removed to Metamora, where she 46
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