USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 36
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
Mr. Alvey was married August 10, 1861, to Miss Mary Updike, daugh- ter of Morris and Nancy (McCormick) Updike, of this. county. Mr. Updike entered sixty acres of land here in 1818, and subsequently purchased one hundred additional acres, in the northern part of Brookville township. They were natives of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and were the parents of nine children: Sarah Jane, deceased; Katie Ann, deceased; Margaret, deceased; John, deceased; William, deceased; Lizzie, wife of Benjamin Gage; Mary, wife of our subject; Nancy, wife of George Morris; and Lydia, deceased. Of the children who were born to Mr. and Mrs. Alvey, Alonzo married Miss Mary Stewart and has five children,-Earl, Raymond, Bryant, Blanche, and Druzilla; Nancy, deceased, was the wife of Butler Smith, of Greensburg, Indiana, and the mother of four children,-Mary Ethel, Edna May, Ruth and Joseph; Margaret Elizabeth is dead; Tempa is the wife of Clifford Holwell, of this township, and is the mother of one child, Hobart; Albert Elsworth comes next; then William Edward, who lives at home, Sarah Ann Ware, who has recently borne him a daughter, unnamed at the time of this writing (November, 1899); Minnie Belle is the wife of Vaughn Crocker, of Fairfield, Indiana; Morris married Louisa Vernon, of Mount Car- mel, and has three children, -Lelia, Charles and Glen.
MRS. . OLIVE WILLIAMS.
Mrs. Williams is a well-known and highly respected lady of Milton, Indiana, and is a representative of two very prominent and highly honored pioneer families of this state. She is a native of Wayne county, born near Milton, February 20, 1824, and is a daughter of Eli and Elizabeth (DeCamp) Elwell, both natives of New York, the former born in Dutchess county, Sep-
836
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
tember 1, 1789, the latter in Onondaga county, May 3, 1804. The Elwell family was founded in New England at an early day in the history of this country. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Williams, Silas and Rohama Cora DeCamp, were born, reared and married in New Jersey, whence they removed to New York state, and from there made their way west, crossing the mountains to the Allegheny river, where the grandfather constructed a boat, in which they proceeded down that stream and the Ohio river to North Bend, Ohio, where he sold his craft to General W. H. Harrison. This was about 1820. From Cincinnati he came to Brookville, Indiana, and later went to Connersville, where, as a millwright, he erected the first mill. After living many years at that place, he removed to St. Joseph, Indiana, where he owned and operated a farm. There both he and his wife died. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church, and her mind was almost constantly on heavenly things. They reared a large family of children, three of whom remained in the east. Those who came west were: Charles, Israel, Harriet, Christian, Maria, Elizabeth and Harry.
Eli Elwell, Mrs. Williams' father, received a liberal education, and at an early day went to Virginia, where he engaged in teaching school for three years. Returning to his old home in New York, he remained there until 1820 and then came west by means of a horse and carryall. After stopping for a short time with an uncle, Mr. Gage, in Ohio, he came to Wayne county, Indiana, where he purchased a tract of land three miles south of Milton, upon which a two-story log-house had been built and other improvements made. He taught one term of school here, but gave the greater part of his attention to the further improvement and cultiva- tion of his farm, and remained on the old homestead until a few years before his death, when he retired to Milton. Three years after coming to Wayne county, he married Miss Elizabeth DeCamp, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: Olive, now Mrs. Williams, of this sketch; Emma E., wife of H. Marvin, died June 18, 1899; Hulda, wife of J. Murphy; Laura, who married F. Ferguson and died March 12, 1855, leaving two children; Horace, a farmer of Rush county, Indiana; Savana, wife of C. Miller; and Hiram, a farmer of Wayne county. The father died in 1885, aged eighty-six years, the mother, July 30, 1887, aged eighty-three. He was an able financier and shrewd business man, and in connection with farmning speculated in securities and bought and sold notes. He prospered in his undertakings and accumulated a fine estate. In religious faith he was a Universalist, and in political sentiment was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was an influential worker in his party's interests, but never cared for official honors.
Mrs. Williams was reared on her father's farm, and was educated in the
837
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
country subscription schools. In 1842 she gave her hand in marriage to . Thomas Williams, who was born in Washington township, Wayne county, January 13, 1820, a son of Joseph and Charity (Adams) Williams, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively .. In early life Joseph Williams came to Indiana with his father, who was a member of the Society of Friends, and who died near Brookville. There Joseph Williams became acquainted with Charity Adams, to whom he was united in marriage. They continued to make their home in Brookville until after the birth of two of their children, and about 1814 came to Wayne county, where Mr. Williams
entered land and improved a farm. After all his children had married and left home he sold that place to a son and removed to Fairview, Rush county, where his death occurred. He was a local minister of the Methodist church, was well and favorably known, and highly honored by all men. His children were: Wesley, a resident of Hancock county, Indiana; William, a Methodist minister, now deceased; Deborah, who first married a Mr. Pettigrew, and secondly a Mr. Hardin; Mary, wife of John Howard; Thomas, who was the husband of our subject; James, a successful farmer, now deceased; Joseph, a farmer, also deceased; Mrs. Rachel Hart; and Polly. The widow of James resides in Milton, while those of Wesley and Joseph live in Hancock county.
Thomas Williams grew to manhood in Washington township, Wayne county, where he was married, and then removed to Rush county, where he and his wife began their domestic life in a log cabin, which in later years was replaced by a commodious brick residence. He made many other substantial improvements upon the place and to the original purchase added more land until he had four hundred acres of the best farining land in the county. In 1864 he rented his farm and moved to Knightstown, where he engaged in the marble business for four years. At the end of that time he located on the Elwell homestead, in Washington township,' Wayne county, which he con- ducted for ten years, and he spent his last years in retirement in Milton, only looking after his investments. He was an upright and reliable business man and met with well deserved success in all his ventures. He commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, either in busi- ness or social life, and in his death, which occurred December 2, 1889, the community realized that it had lost one of its most valuable and useful citi- . zens. In religious faith he was a Methodist and was an active worker in the church and Sabbath-school. Politically he was a Democrat, and while a resi- dent of Rush county filled a number of township offices of honor and trust, including that of township trustee.
To Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born the following children: Samantha J. died March 12, 1861, at the age of eighteen years; Olinda E., who mar- ried Lewis Hinchman, of Knightstown, now deceased, has one daughter,
838
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
Florence, who married Lieutenant Ham, and they reside in Cuba; Parintha is the wife of Dr. David Miller, of Franklin, Indiana; Charity C. died at the age of six years; Eliza E. became the wife of James B. Payne, of Franklin, who died May 27, 1889, and left three children: Alice is the wife of Morris Moore, of Emporia, Kansas; and Albert, who married Lizzie Beeson, now owns and occupies the old homestead farm. Mrs. Williams also is a faith- ful member of the Methodist church, and at her pleasant home in Milton she is surrounded by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, who appreciate her sterling worth and many excellencies of character. She now devotes a considerable portion of her time to reading.
ABRAHAM S. CARTER.
Among the oldest citizens of Fairfield township, Franklin county. Indi- ana, both in age and length of residence, are Mr. and Mrs. Abraham S. Carter.
Abraham S. Carter was born in New Jersey, January 10, 1817, son-of Abraham Carter. Abraham Carter was born in Pennsylvania, July 12, 1776, and died in Indiana, April 23, 1850. He was reared a farmer, but on going to New Jersey turned his attention to the pottery business. Four times he was married, and his children numbered nineteen. His first wife, whom he married in Pennsylvania, was Phœbe Malin. She died in 1814. His second wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Mrs. Margaret Parris, nie Hitchner. She was born February 28, 1791, and died June 1, 1834. For his third wife Mr. Carter married Mrs. Lucy C. Smith, who died November 17, 1848. His fourth wife was Esther Brown by maiden name. She died in June, 1884. At this writing, in 1899, only four of Mr. Carter's children are living. It was in 1821 that Mr. Carter emigrated with his family to Indiana and settled in Bath township, Franklin county, where he lived till death. He was an industrious and respected citizen. Of the family history of generations back of him little is known except that his father was a Revo- lutionary soldier and fought valiantly for independence.
At the time the Carter family removed to Indiana, Abraham S., the direct subject of this sketch, was a child four years old. He grew to man- hood at the homestead in Bath township, and January 28, 1841, was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Templeton, daughter of David Templeton, a pioneer of Franklin county, the date of her birth being October 28, 1816. The fruits of their union were four children, only one of whom is now living, Margaret Jane, who was born June 25. 1859. She is the wife of William Harbine, son of Jeremiah Harbine, a pioneer of Union county, Indiana. Mrs. Harbine and her husband reside at her father's homestead and are car- ing for her parents in their declining years. Mr. and Mrs. Carter's children
839
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
who have passed away were: Martha Indiana, who was born June 30, 1843, and died at the age of nineteen years; Henry Clay Carter, who was born September 13, 1845, died January 10, 1871; and one that died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are devoted members of the United Brethren church.
JAMES T. FISHER.
James T. Fisher, who resides on section 22, Jennings township, Fayette county, Indiana, is a self-made man and one of the well known citizens of the township. The Fisher family is of Irish origin. Their history can be traced back to the early settlement of Virginia, Winchester, in that state, having been their home for many years. The paternal grandparents of James T. Fisher were Thomas and Margaret Fisher. It is said that Fisher's Hill, which was the scene of one of the important battles of the war of the Rebellion, in which General Sheridan defeated the Confederates under Gen- eral Early, was so called in honor of Thomas Fisher. Thomas Fisher lived and died in Virginia. His son, Samuel Fisher, the father of James T., was one of a family of six brothers and was born on the old Virginia homestead, November 13, 1808. ' In that state he grew up, and was there married to Mary Ann Maloney, who was born April 11, 1811. After marriage he moved to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he died in July, 1849, leaving a widow and one child, James T. Mother and child at once went back to Virginia, and in December she gave birth to another son, Jonathan Samuel. After a year spent in her native state she returned with her children to Penn- sylvania, where for a short time they made their home with her husband's brother, and then came to Union county, Indiana. A few years later the mother went to Xenia, Ohio, where she lived with her half brother. At Dunlapsville, Union county, Indiana, she married Joseph Dungan, who died a few years later. She spent the latter years of her life with her younger son, at Muncie, Indiana, where her death occurred in 1895, at the age of eighty-three years.
James T. Fisher was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1839, and was ten years old when his father died. At the time he accompanied his mother to Indiana, as already recorded, he was a small boy. Here he found a pleasant home with his uncle, B. F. Maloney. When young Fisher was fifteen Mr. Maloney, wishing him to . remain, offered him as compensation from that time until he was eighteen the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars. The proposition was accepted. At the age of eighteen the young man's serv- ices were still desired. his uncle being loth to have him leave. A new propo- sition was made and accepted, namely: James T. was to remain until he reached his majority and his uncle was then to give him five hundred dollars. The uncle, however, did not live until that time, but in his will he made provis-
840
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
ions for his nephew, who remained in the family according to agreement. Thus at the age of twenty-one the subject of our sketch found himself the posses- sor of five hundred dollars. Four hundred dollars of it he loaned out at a high rate of interest, but the person to whom he loaned it proved to be irre- sponsible and the result was a total loss of that amount. The other hundred he invested in a horse. He soon after traded horses and received in the bar- gain a watch valued at twelve dollars which he had the misfortune to have stolen from him. This was a dear experience, but a valuable one. While with his uncle he was employed in farm work, and afterward he continued in that line, being employed by the month for some time. He remained in Union county until 1866, when he became a resident of Fayette county, where he has resided since that date, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His present farm, in Jennings township, he purchased in 1895, of William Rudy. It was originally owned by Henry Scholl, who made the first improvements upon it. In connection with his farming operations, Mr. Fisher is engaged in buying and selling live stock, and is doing a prosperous business.
At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Fisher married Miss Mary E. Hill, daughter of Israel Hill, a pioneer of Union county. The fruits of their union are nine children, fonr sons and five daughters, all of whom are living: Benjamin F., Emma, Harriet, Samuel, George, Alice, Clara, Alpha and Frederick. All except the eldest were born in Fayette county.
Mr. Fisher is one of the representative men of his township. Following in the political footsteps of his ancestors, he supports the Democratic party and is enthusiastic for its success. He served most acceptably as township trustee for a period of seven years.
FRANK E. SEAL, M. D.
This well and favorably known physician and surgeon of Mount Carmel, Franklin county, was born in Brookville township, June 11, 1859, a son of Henry H. and Lydia (Myers) Seal. He is of French descent on the paternal side of the family, though several generations have come and gone since the founder of the name in the United States left the shores of the Old World. The great-grandfather of the Doctor, James Seal, of Virginia, was the colo- nel of a regiment during the war of the Revolution, and was one of the first settlers of Franklin county, Indiana, where he died.
His son William, a native of Virginia, married, in that state, Eliza Owens, and at an early day they removed to this section. He became a well-to-do fariner, and built a distillery, one of the first erected in this state. It was constructed of brick, and is still in a fair state of preservation, though it has not been in use for many years. A corn-inill was attached to this dis- tillery and a thriving business was once transacted here. The products of
841
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
the plant and of his farm were shipped, to some extent, on flatboats to New Orleans and intermediate points. Only two of the six children of William and Eliza Seal survive, namely: Henry H., who is eighty-seven years of age; and John, the next son, now four-score years of age. William lived to be over seventy years old; and Mrs. Hannah Attenborough, Mrs. Harriet West and Mrs. Eliza James have passed away.
Henry H. Seal is one of the honored citizens of this county, within whose boundaries he has always lived. He has made a specialty of raising hogs and sheep, and is the owner of four hundred acres of finely improved land. For thirty years he has occupied the office of justice of the peace and in his political convictions he is a strong Democrat. He holds to the views of the Universalist church, and is liberal in all his judgments. His wife was a daughter of John Myers, a shoemaker by trade, who came here from Penn- sylvania at an early day. His eldest son, Gideon, died at the age of eighty- six years, and Eli lived to be eighty-one. Lydia, Mrs. Seal, departed this life May 27, 1896. The younger children were: John, William, Sylvester, Mrs. Ruth Littlejohn and Mrs. Jane White.
The children born to Henry H. Seal and wife are named as follows: John, who was sheriff of Franklin county and died in July, 1896; Ira, of Brookville; Mrs. Harriet Shafer; Mrs. Eliza Murphy; Jennie, wife of Dr. Wesley Holden, of Thorntown, Indiana; Sylvester, who is managing the old homestead; James H., also a farmer; Martha Eldora, wife of Willis Stout; Frank E., of this sketch and three others, -William, George and an infant son-who are deceased.
The early years of Dr. Seal were passed on his father's farm, and the rudiments of his education were acquired in the common schools. When he was in his twentieth year he commenced medical studies under the precep- torship of Dr. D. D. Linegar, of Whitcomb, Indiana, and Dr. E. W. Jenkins, of Mount Carmel. At the end of three years he entered a medical college, and attended two courses of lectures, after which he practiced for a period with Dr. Jenkins. Returning then to the Eclectic Medical Institute, at Cin- cinnati, he pursued a full course, and was graduated in June, 1882. The next six years were spent by him at Whitcomb, where he successfully con- ducted a practice, then being appointed by President Cleveland to be the resident physician at Leech lake Indian reservation, near White Earth Agency, Minnesota. He remained at that point until his term of office expired, in 1892, and during the following year he had the privilege of staying in Chi- cago and attending the World's Columbian Exposition as often as he desired. In the autumn of 1894 he located at Mount Carmel, since which time he has been actively engaged in practice here, success attending his labors. In 1882 he took a post-graduate course in the Presbyterian Hospital, in Chicago, in
842
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
order to more thoroughly familiarize himself with certain difficult operations- and recent methods in the treatment of disease. He is an earnest student, endeavoring to keep posted in modern discoveries in the science of medicine, and neglecting no means to that end.
In 1882, the marriage of Dr. Seal and Miss Dora Quick was celebrated. She is a native of this county, born October 14, 1861, her parents being Warren and Susan (Robinson) Quick, both of whom were likewise born in this county. The father was a successful lawyer, formerly of Brookville. and later of Missouri, in which state his death took place. He had attained a high position at the western bar and was strongly mentioned for a judge- ship at the time of his demise. His family returned to this state and have since resided in this county. Kate, the only sister of Mrs. Seal, died unmar- ried. To the union of the Doctor and wife two children were born, -Mabel, July 4, 1883; and Lloyd, January 28, 1886.
Dr. Seal is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Knights of Pythias. He uses his ballot in favor of the nominees of the Democratic party, and takes a lively interest in the political affairs of the country at large.
JOHN W. SMITH.
John W. Smith was born in 1816 on the old homestead upon which he now resides, in a small house which formerly stood there. His father, David Smith, was a native of Pennsylvania and moved to Ohio, coming later to Franklin county, Indiana, and settling on the farm now occupied by our subject, near Whitcomb. He took up his residence here on December 17, I815, and here he made his home until his death, in 1844; at the age of sixty- two years. He had served through the war of 1812, with the rank of cap- tain. He was an upright, Christian gentleman and a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Margaret Crooks, a daughter of William Crooks, of Kentucky. Her parents moved to Butler county, Ohio, when she was small, and she was married in that state. She became the mother of twelve children, of whom five are living.
Mr. Smith passed his boyhood on the old homestead, and when twenty- nine years of age purchased it, so that it has been his home continuously since childhood. He assisted in clearing off the forest and breaking the sod on a large portion of this land and has become attached to its broad and fertile acres by years of association. June 9, 1853, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Hannah Miller, a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Hatfield) Miller, of Blooming Grove. The father of Mrs. Smith died at the age of seventy-six years and the mother at sixty-three. Abraham Miller was a native of Maryland. His children were: Isaac, William, John, Abraham, Hannah (wife of our subject), Emily (deceased), Mary, Lucinda (deceased),
843.
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
and Simeon. To Mr. Smith and his wife have been born six children, of whom Laura, Frank and Amy are living, and William, Margaret and Mary are dead. Frank is deputy internal revenue collector of the sixteenth dis- trict of Indiana and resides at Lawrenceburg. He was married September 14, 1898, to Miss Clara, daughter of Reverend' Henry Wood, and they have a son, Robert Wood. Mr. Smith is a man of generous impulses, quiet and unassuming in his charities and a faithful member of the Methodist church. In politics he is a Republican and cast his first vote for William Henry Har- rison in 1841.
ELI H. THURSTON, M. D.
Occupying a high place among the medical fraternity of Wayne county,. Dr. Eli H. Thurston has been successfully engaged in practice at Hagerstown for just twenty years. He is much esteemed as a citizen who never fails to manifest a deep interest in all local affairs of moment, his influence being relied upon at all times and under all circumstances by those who are arrayed under the banner of progress and patriotism.
The parents of the Doctor were William and Delilah (Miller) Thurston. The father was born in Virginia in 1804, and when he was a small boy he accompanied his family to Ohio. The journey to Miami county, where they located, was by way of the Ohio river to Cincinnati. The senior William Thurston, grandfather of our subject, was a miller by occupation, and this calling was adopted by William, Jr., who became an expert under the old system of milling. In the course of his career he lived at various places in the Buckeye state, and at one time operated a mill belonging to Governor Morrow, of Ohio. His death took place at Greenfield. that state, in 1873, and two years later his widow, who was a native of the same state, departed this life at Hagerstown, Indiana, at the age of sixty-seven years. They were the parents of nine sons and two daughters. Two of the sons died in child- hood; Jacob, who had learned his father's trade in youth, later devoted his life to the medical profession, and was a successful practitioner for many years, or until his death in Springfield, Ohio, some years ago; John M. is a prominent business man of the city just mentioned; George W. is a miller; David M. is an engineer; Dr. Joseph M. is a leading physician of Richmond, Indiana; James M. resides in Wheeling, West Virginia; Sarah Catherine died at the age of twenty-three years; and Martha is the wife of William C. Brant, of Ellensburg, Washington.
The birth of Eli H. Thurston, the youngest of his parent's children, occurred in Clinton county, Ohio, September 11, 1848. When he was ten years of age the family settled in Fayette county, same state, and there he received his chief schooling. When but twenty he commenced the study of medicine under the tutorship of Dr. J. E. Roop, of Warren county, Ohio,
844
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
and the following winter he attended lectures at the Physio-Medical Institute in Cincinnati. In the spring of 1869 the ambitious young man opened an office at Goodhope, Fayette county, Ohio, but in the ensuing fall he returned to college and graduated in the class of 1870. For a few months thereafter he practiced in Sabina, Clinton county, Ohio, but in September of the same year he became a partner of Dr. Benjamin Pucket, of Winchester, Indiana. At the end of two years he returned to the Buckeye state and practiced in Ross county until November, 1874, when he came to this county. For about five years he was located in Jacksonsburg, and since the spring of 1879 he has resided in Hagerstown. For the first seven years he was associated with his brother, Dr. Joseph M., now of Richmond, and in this way, as in no other possible manner, was he enabled to reap the benefits of the elder physician's ripe experience and erudition. He has gone steadily onward in his profession, studying and working and striving to keep abreast of modern thought and discovery in medical science.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.