USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 22
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Cumberland Presbyterian church. He began life with nothing, and has had very little help. By good management, industry and economy he has accumulated a landed estate of 2,350 acres of land, well improved, and he also owns a two-thirds interest in a brick block at Bain- bridge. He has a 82,200 interest in the gravel road cast from Bainbridge.
975 EORGE B. ILILLIS, a pioneer of P'ut- nam County, was born in this county April 6. 1828, son of Abram and Eliz- abeth (l'eck) Hillis, natives of Fleming Coun- ty, Kentucky. Two of his maternal uncles were in the war of 1812. His father's ancestors were Irish. His parents came to this county from Kentucky in the fall of 1825, the mother making the entire trip on horseback, carrying one chikl in her arms. They were about three weeks on the road, camping ont wherever night overtook them. They settled on section 3, Greencastle Town- ship, where the father entered 160 acres of land from the Government. It was a dense forest, and the family necessarily endured all the hardships and privations incident to pio- neer life. The father died June 7, 1865, lamented by the whole community. He was widely and favorable known throughout the country. He was of a jovial disposition, and in consequence made many friends. Himself and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. In polities he was a Republican, and has served creditably as justice of the peace. The mother died JJanuary 2, 1885. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom nine are living --- Betsey A., wife of Christian Landes: George B .; Mary A., who married Amzi Finley; Sarah, wife of Enoch L. Foxworthy; John L .; Henry II .: James II., of Harrison County, Missouri; Abram
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T., and Margaret E., wife of William H. Mr. Elliot died in August, 1571. He was a Foreman, of Clark County, Kontneky. loving husband, a kind father, an obliging neighbor, and was respected by all who knew
John L., Henry Il. and James HI. were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion, sery- him. In polities he was a Democrat. Ilis ing their country faithfully. George B. Ilillis, our subject, has been reared to manhood in this county, and received a rudimentary education in the early pioneer schools, not having the advantages enjoyed by the young men of to-day. He wasa constant render and beenme well informed upon the general topics of the day. December 2, 1457, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliz- abeth Seobee, born April 2, 1837. in Mont-
widow still owns eighty acres of land, and resides on the homestead in Mill Creek Town- ship. Her parents were natives of Tennes- i see. Her father came to Indiana about sixty years ago and first settled in Hendricks County. Hle afterward removed to this county, settling in what is now known as Mill Creek Township. The country was then a wilderness, and he endured many hardships. Hle was the father of a large family of chil- gomery County, Kentucky, and a daughter of ! dren, of whom the following survive-Re- William and Nellie J. Scobee, the latter be- ing deceased. To this union six children have ; of Montana, Sarah E., Emma E., George 11., Maggie M. Mr. Hillis owns 330 acres of' becca, wife of L. M. Buis; Jane: Sallie, widow of JJefferson Hurst: Melissa, wife of been born -Mary J., William A., a resident , William Jackson; John, Sylvester, James ' and Brice. The deceased are-William, El- mina, Mary E. and Elizabeth. Mr. Wallace land and has been a successful farmer. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal and his wife have made the most of their prop- ; church, and in polities a Democrat. He was erty by hard work and good management. . highly esteemed by all who knew him. He is a Republican through and through in polities, and he has creditably served one term as assessor of Greencastle Township. Mrs. Hillis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
FREORGE HATHAWAY, attorney-at-law ? and abstractor, at Greencastle, is a son of Russell L., deceased, and Mary T. (Wood) Hathaway, and was born in Green- castle October 2. 1553. He graduated at RANKLIN ELLIOT, deceased, was a son of Samnel and Catherine Elliot, the former one of the carly settlers of the , law under his father, and after his county. His first marriage was with Char- Asbury University with the class of '75. While attending the university he studied graduation he was admitted to the bar, lotte Alexander, and they had six children, !and began the practice of his profes- three of whom are living. John is in Mis- | sion with his father at Greeneastle, under the souri; Hugh and Alice are in Illinois. For ; firm name of Hathaway & Hathaway. This his second wife he married Jane Wallace, partnership continued until the death of his father, which ocenrred in 1851. In 1885 he began the compilation of abstract of titles of : Putnam County, and engaged in the abstract born in Indiana, and a daughter of Enoch and Winnie Wallace, natives of Tennessee. Five of their ten children are living- - Syl- vester, Harriet, Mary E., Sarah E. and Brice. i business at Greencastle. In 1552, being one
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of the principal movers in the organization of the Building, Loan and Trust Association of Greeneastle, known as the People's Build- ing, Loan Fund and Saving Association, he was elected secretary. In 1886 he was elected secretary of the Putnam County Building, Loan and Trust Company, of which he was one of the principal incorporators. In 1886 he became a stockholder in the Greeneastle Electric Light Company, and was elected secretary and treasurer. He is a Re- publiean in politics, and in 1880 was elected justice of the peace of Greeneastle Town- ship, and re-elected in 1581, but resigned soon after his election. October 4, 1877, he . belonged to the Presbyterian church. He was was married near Rockville, Parke County, ing, as they did, with just money enough to pay for the land, they necessarily endured many hardships and privations. The father died in 1868, leaving to his family a good property, which was the accumulations of a life of toil and good management. He was the father of thirteen children, of whom the following survive --- Betsey, wife of Christian Landes; George B .; Mary, wife of Amzi Finley; John L .; Sarah E., wife of E. L. Foxworthy; James; Abram: Emma, wife of William Foreman: Henry IL. Hle was a Republican in politics, and served several years as justice of the peace. Religiously he a skillful fifer, and was frequently solicited Indiana, to Miss Alice M. McMurtry, dangh- ; to perform on that instrument on different ter of Alexander R. and Melissa ( Russell) McMurtry. She was born and reared in Parke County, and educated at the Presbyte- rian Female College at Greencastle. They are members of the Presbyterian church at Greencastle, of which he is one of the ruling elders, and Sabbath-school superintendent.
OHIN L. HILLIS, farmer and stoek- raiser, Greeneastle Township, was born
2 in this county October 4, 1834, son of Abram and Elizabeth Hillis, natives of Ken- tucky. Two of his maternal uneles were soldiers in the war of 1812. In the fall of 1825 his parents emigrated to this county, his mother coming the entire distance on horseback, riding a three-year-old colt, and carrying in her arms an infant six weeks old. They settled in Greencastle Township, in the woods, where the father had previously en- tered land. The first few weeks after their arrival they lived in an open tent while their log cabin was being built. The first year's crop consisted of a few aeres of grain. Com-
occasions. Our subject was reared in this county, receiving but a limited education in the early schools. In early life he followed carpentering, but in later years his attention has been given to farming and stock-raising. July 4, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, and was as- signed to the Army of the Gulf. He veter- anized in January, 1864. He fought at Baton Rouge, Camp Bizlen, Franklin, Port Iludson, and in numerous other engage- ments of less importance. He made quite a remarkable record. At no time was he a patient in the hospital; was not separated from his company during any engagement; and was the only man of a mess of six that returned home. Ile was honorably dis- charged January 10, 1866. He enlisted as a private and was afterward promoted to Ser- geant,and continued as such during the remain- der of his service. February 22, 1866, he was married to Miss Indiana Stoner, daughter of Peter Stoner, who was a pioneer of this county. They had ten children, seven of whom are living-Alva L., Mary, Ollie, Frank, Edgar, Bertha and Jennie. Mr.
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Hillis owns 295 acres of good land, of which 104 acres constitutes the home farm on sec- tion 29, Greencastle Township. Ile is a Republican in politics, and a member of Greencastle Post, G. A. R.
ILLIAM B. SANDY, farmer, section 6, Cloverdale Township, was born near Gosport, Owen County, this State, September 3, 1820, son of Thomas and Sarah (Bush) Sandy. His father was born in North Carolina, June 15, 1797, son of William Sandy, who came from England when a young man, and was married in North Carolina to Catherine Beck, a native of Vir- ginia. They removed to East Tennessee in 1811, thence to Washington County, Indiana, where the father remained until his decease. Ile was a farmer by occupation. The mother died in Morgan County, this State, in March, 1845, aged eighty-six years. She was the mother of eight children- five daughters and three sons. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. Thomas Sandy; was twelve years old when his parents re- i a Baptist, but previons to her death united moved to Washington County. He was married in that county, in 1817, to Sarah Bush, born in Virginia in 1757. Her father, John Bush, was born in Germany, came to America when a young man, was married in Virginia, loeating near Louisville, thence to Washington County. Indiana, where he died in 1519. Ilis wife died on the same farm. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom were boys. Thomas Sandy settled in Owen County in the spring of 1520, pur- chasing his land at the time of the land sale at Terre Haute, Indiana. He remained on that farm until his death. February 25. 1863. His wife died. April 2. 1846, and he after- ward married Mrs. Nancy (Brown) Johns. ! Beavears, and removed to Owen County in
By his first marriage were six children three sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Sandy were members of the Christian church, William B., our subject, was reared to manhood in Owen County, and educated in the pioneer log school-house. IIe re- mained at home on the farm until his mar- riage August 15, 1839, with Evelina MeCarty. She was born in Kentucky, May 1, 1819. After his marriage Mr. Sandy followed farming until the spring of 1847. when he removed to Putnam County and engaged in the mercantile trade at Clover- dale. Ile followed that business until 1554, since which time he has been engaged in farming. Mr. Sandy is one of the largest land-holders in his township. owning about 600 acres besides what he has given to his children. He makes a specialty of raising stock. Ile commenced life with limited means, and what he has was obtained by his own exertions. Mrs. Sandy died March 15, 1881. They had five children --- Aaron II., Sarah E., who married Francis M. Allee. of Jefferson Township; Thomas W., William F. and James II. Mrs. Sandy was formerly with the Christian church. January 10, 1882. Mr. Sandy was married to Mary (Gart- ner) Walden, who was born in Russell Town- ship, this county, December 27, 1839, and whose first husband was John Walden. By her first marriage were three children -Em- ily, deceased. Jesse F. and George, a resident of California. Mr. and Mrs. Sandy have one child - Beryl B. Mr. Sandy is a strictly temperance man, and in politics a Democrat, having cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk. Aaron II. MeCarty, father of Mr. Sandy's first wife, was a native of Virginia and came to Kentucky with his parents when a boy, where he married Nancy
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the fall of 1824, where he followed farming. cratie Central Committee of the Fifth Con- Since 1878 he has been living with his chil- . gressional Distriet. He was married March dren, and is at present living with Mr. 10. 1575. to Miss Elizabeth N. Boleigh, of Sandy. Ile was born April 5, 1791. His Indianapolis, Four children are the fruits wife died in Owen County January 28, 1885. of this union-Ethel, Frances, Charles and She was born January 20, 1799, and was the mother of twelve children, eight of whom were girls. Mrs. McCarty was a member of
Edna. Mr. Arnold is a Mason, being a mem- ber of the lodge, chapter and commandery, and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum. He the Missionary Baptist church, of which Mr. and wife are members of the Episcopal MeCarty is still a member. He is of Irish church. of which Mr. Arnold is warden. and his wife was of French ancestry. He has always been a farmer.
RANCIS AMES ARNOLD was born El in Ontario, Canada, February 19, 1845. the son of John A. and Elizabeth S. (Ashton) Arnold. The former is well known in Greencastle, having come to that city in 1857, and for twenty-four years dealt in boots and shoes. He is now retired from active pursuits, and resides in Kansas with his son, Hon. E. J. Arnold. Of a family of three sons and one daughter, F. A. is the oldest son. He received a good common- school education, and graduated from the Greencastle High School at the age of nine- teen. He then entered the Press office and learned the printer's trade, at which he worked at Greencastle, Indianapolis and Lan- sing. Michigan. He was also for five years an iron-molder. In 1873 he returned to Greencastle, and the year following estab- lished the Star, which he yet publishes, under the name of the Star-Press. Having no financial start or assistance, Mr. Arnold has acquired his present business and social standing, and his property, entirely by perse- verance and ability. He has taken a promi- nent part in local politics, and is a member and secretary of the Democratie County Central Committee, as well as the Demo-
LDER EZEKIEL WRIGHT resides on section 21, Madison Township, where he owns 120 acres of land. He was born in North Carolina, December 19, 1821,
: son of Amos and Elizabeth Wright, also natives of North Carolina, and of Welsh- Irish ancestry. Ilis maternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The family settled in Madison Township in 1827, where the father died in 1876, aged eighty-eight years. The mother died in 1880, aged ninety years. Their twelve children lived to be grown, and six are now living- Linnie, Ezekiel and Rhoda of this county; Nathan, a minister of the Church of Christ, now of Douglas, Kansas; Dicey, also of Doug- las. Kansas, and Turner, of Longmont, Colorado. Our subject was reared on a farm, his present farm being a part of the old homestead. IIe was ordained elder of the church in 1852, and commenced preaching, and since about 1857 has been preaching in Illinois, Kansas and Indiana. December 31, 1841, he was married to Miss Celia Wright, daughter of Levi and Nancy Wright, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1818, and died February 22, 1884. Five of their six children are living -Henry C., of Kansas, married Minerva Simms, who died, and he afterward married her sister, Lucinda; Fanny, widow of Austin
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Simms, resides with her father; Barton S., of Beman, Kansas; Levi M. and Nancy E. at home. Martha is deceased. Mr. Wright has served as township treasurer three years, and as town- ship trustee about nine years. He is a self- made man. His early education was limited to the common schools of his time. In pol- itics he is a Democrat.
HOMAS FYFFE, farmer, section 12, Monroe Township, was born in Mason County, Kentneky, October 27, 1814. Ilis father, Jonathan Fyffe, now deceased, was a native of Maryland, and an early settler of Mason County. His early life was passed on a farm, and his education was obtained in the early subscription schools that were taught in the primitive log school-house, with boards on pegs for desks, clapboard roof, puncheon floor and slab seats. The teachers were those that believed in pounding educa- tion into their pupils with ox gads. Mr. Fyffe came to this county in the fall of 1886, settling in Monroe Township, and has since resided in the county. He lived six years in Floyd Township, and in Monroe Township the remainder of the time. The country was new when he first eame, and there was but little land cleared. His salt costed one dollar a bushel. He went to Crawfordsville and In- dianapolis to mill, a distance of twenty-two and forty miles respectively. He was married January 9, 1840, to Miss Zerelda Allen, daughter of Robert Allen, now deceased, who was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky. They have had two children -- Lou B. married Jolin Q. Wilkinson and had six children Leonora, Wilbur, Carrol, Eddie and two deceased; and Mary C., who married Dr. Tuomas L. Armstrong, veterinary surgeon, of Indianapolis, and they had one child, Josie
F., who lives with her grandparents, and is quite a musician; both danghters are now de- ceased. Mr. Fyffe owns 167 acres of land, and it is conceded to be one of the best farms in the county, being well watered, good soil, and timber land. His residence is of brick, 64x 33 feet, two stories in height, each twelve feet. He is president of two gravel road companies in Monroe Township. Mr. Fyffe never seeks official honors or political distinction. Both himself and wife are members of the Presby- terian church. Mrs. Fyffe's father was born in Virginia and came to Kentucky when a young man.
동 ITRISTIAN LANDES, a pioneer of Putnam County, was born in Augusta County, Virginia, April 5, 1814, son of John and Frances Landes, natives of Penn- sylvania, and of German ancestry. He came to this county, in company with his brother Samnel Landes, in 1837, and for the first twelve years resided in Greencastle. He settled upon his present farm on section 31, Greencastle Township, in 1549, and has re- sided there ever since. He owns 216 acres of good land, which he has obtained by his own labor and management, having come here with $500 , which he used to advantage. He learned the blacksmith's trade in early life, which he followed many years. He was mar- ried October 1, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth A. Hillis, daughter of Abram Hillis, a pioneer of Putnam County. Of their twelve children ten are living -- Mary J., wife of William Butler; Willlam II., Samuel E .. Sarah E., wife of Samuel Bowen; Laura E., wife of Simpson Stoner; Alice, wife of Jonathan Houck; Albert, Flora F., now Mrs. James E. Houck, Grant and George. The deceased are- - John and James. Mr. Landes is a member of the
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Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics a Republican.
OIIN FOSHIER, farmer, section 24, Rus- sell Township, was born in Preble County, Ohio, March 22, 1822. His father, John Fosher, was born in Franklin County, Virginia, in 1786, and removed to Ohio in 1806. His mother, Elizabeth Lan- des, was a native of Pennsylvania. The par- ents removed to Russell Township in 1822, being the first settlers on Ramp Creek. The creek was named by the father, owing to the wonderful growth of ramps (wild onions) on its banks. Mr. Fosher built the first cabin, flour and saw-mill on the creek. He also built a church, which he donated to all denominations, and he was one of the first Uni- versalists here. The grandfather of our sub- jeet, Daniel Fosher, was born May 12, 1763, in Germany, coming to the United States in 1779, with his brother, who was a Hessian soldier in the Revolutionary war. John was reared on a farm and received a limited edu- cation in the carly subscription schools. When a boy he worked in his father's mill, in what was known as Blakesborough, then a village in Russell Township. January 24, 1847, he was married to Louisa M. Goslin, daughter of James and Mary Goslin, who settled in Jackson Township in 1830. They have had nine children-Jesse B., Clay, An- geline, Greeley, Parthena, Milton, William, Elizabeth and Cora. Milton and Cora are deceased. Jesse married Barilla Young, re- sides in Ladoga and has two children -- Cora M. and Claude; Clay married Josephine Stultz, lives in Russell Township, and has four children-Theodore, Orval, Katie L. and Lizzie; Angeline married Dr. Logan Stanley, of Fincastle, and their children are-Prudah,
John, William and Winmie (twins); Greeley married Belle Rogers, and resides in Russell Township; Parthena married Jnd. Linley, of Raccoon, and has three children-Nannie and two younger ones, a girl and a boy. Mr. Fosher owns 250 acres of good land, and de- votes his time to farming and stock-raising. Mrs. Fosher died December 24, 1879, and October 12, 1881, Mr. Fosher married Mrs. Louann Passmore, daughter of Samuel Glover, and widow of Archibald Passmore. By her first marriage were seven children --- Sarah, Mary, Catherine, Taylor, Nancy, Amanda and Alice. Mr. Fosher is a member of the Universalist church.
EZEKJAH IL. PERRY, farmer, residing on section 22, Warren Township, was born in Floyd County, Indiana, Octo- ber 11, 1829, a son of John S. and Sarah Perry, of Putnam County. He came with his parents to Putnamville when a little over two years of age, in November. 1831, where he was reared till June, 1845, and then re- moved with his parents to the farm where he now resides. Ile was educated in the com- mon schools, such as reading, writing, arith- metic, geography, spelling and history. The principal teachers he went to were Horatio T. Wakefield, who removed to St. Paul, Min- nesota, in 1857, and died there, and William Waynick, who removed with his parents to Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa, in the spring of 1850, and died there. Both of them were good teachers, whom he respected. He learned the potter's trade with his father, and in Sep- tember, 1856, removed to Clay County, this State, where he was engaged in farming and mining and digging potter's elay, and part of the time carried on the pottery business un- til January 23, 1871, when he returned to
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Warren Township and settled upon the old homestead, where he has since resided. Be- sides his interest in the homestead he owns his farm on section 20, Brazil Township, in Clay County, on which is an extensive coal and clay bank, the clay being the first to be used in the pottery business in the county. Sunday, June 7, 1868, at the residence of John Hendrix, of Brazil, Brazil Town- ship, Clay County, Mr. Perry was married to Miss Harriet Maria Pilant, by the Rev. Ran- som Hawley, a Presbyterian minister of Put- namville, who resides with his sons at Terre Haute. She was born in Henry County, In- diana, November 4, 1841, and died January 20, 1871. She was the mother of three chil- dren ---- Sarah Catherine, born April 2, 1564; Mary Ellen, born May 27, 1566, died Jann- ary 9, 1884. and John Stewart, born Jannary 27, 1870. She was a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Perry is a Republican. He is an extensive reader and has read the New York weekly Tribune since 1850, and the Greencastle Banner since 1366, and the Phrenological Journal and Science of Health since 1876, besides many other papers.
1862. Mr. and Mrs. Hood had nine children, five sons and four daughters. They were members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Hood was an elder. He owned 144 acres of land, although he was in limited circum- stances when he came to the county. John R. Hood, a son of the preceding, resides on section 33, Cloverdale Township, and was born in that township March 2, 1534. Ile was reared in his native township and educated in the common schools of his neigh- borhood. Ile remained at home until twenty- five years of age, and November 29. 1559, he was married to Mary C. Morgan, who was born in Cloverdale Township September 23. 1839, daughter of James I. Morgan, who was a native of Kentucky and came to Putnam County in an early day. Ile lived in Clo- verdale Township until his death. Her mother, Melinda (Dorrel) Morgan, also a na- tive of Kentucky, was the mother of eight children, seven of whom are sons. After his marriage our subject purchased and set- tled upon forty aeres of his present farm where he still resides. Hle now has seventy aeres, in a good state of cultivation. Politi- cally Mr. Hood is a Democrat, and has held positions of trust in the township. He served as assessor four years. Mr. and Mrs. Hood are the parents of seven children -.. William J., Melinda A., Naney E., Mary M .. Sarah E .. Hester M. and Inda A. They are members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Hood has served as deacon thirteen years. William J. Hood. only so" of John R. Hood, was born at the family homestead, August 7, 1860, where he grew to manhood. He at- tended the common schools of his county, and also the Central Normal School, at Dan- ville, three terme. He taught two terms of school. commencing in the fall of 1983. March 4. 1SS5, he purchased the office of the Clover-
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