USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 27
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
ville, and then for two years was employed in the office of the Hendricks County Union, under his father. In 1882 he came to 1 Greencastle, where he worked on the Times for Mr. Neff for six months. His next service was as city editor of the Columbus Daily Re- publican. In 1884 he returned to Green- castle and bought the Times, to which he has since devoted his time. Mr. Smith is a Re- publiean in political sentiment, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ILLIAM H. MOVAY, farmer and stock-raiser. resides on section 22, Floyd Township, where he owns 175 acres of land. He was born in that town- ship, February 6. 1539, a son of Jacob and Mary (Reese) Me Vay, natives of Pennsyl- vania and Virginia, and of Irish ancestry. The parents came to Putram County in 1832, and here both died. William H. was reared a farmer, and has parsued that oecn- pation through life. On the 6th of October, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served twelve months. He participated in the battles of Chicka- saw Bluffs. Vicksburg. Arkansas Post, in the first day's fight at Major Shaffer's planta- tion, all through the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Jackson. He was mustered out December 8, 1868, at New Orleans. He re-enlisted in Company II, Eleventh Indiana Infantry, February 28, 1865, and served six months, being mustered out at the close of the war at Baltimore, after which he re- turned home. April 27, 1864, he was mar- ried in the house where he now lives to Miss Maggie A. Timmons, daughter of Will- iam and Sarah J. Timmons, pioneers of this county. Mrs. McVay was born in Ohio, April 12, 1847. They have had six children
--- Aden A., born May 13, 1865; Eva E., born May 3, 1868: Jacob R., born December 20, 1869: Giffie M., born October 6, 1874; Ova L., born May 2, 1881; Emma C., born March 4, 1872. died October 25, 1873. Mr. MeVay is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 542, at Groveland, Indiana. In politics he is a Republican. Hle is a member of the Method- ist Protestant church. His father was a sol- dier in the war of 1812; he was born January 8, 1790, and died December 28, 1878. Ilis mother was born December 27, 1794, and died December 24, 1862. They were married September 14, 1814, and were the parents of fifteen children.
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EV. JOEL VERMILLION, one of the pioneers of Putnam County, was born in l'ittsylvania County, Virginia, in 1802, a son of Birch and Nancy Vermillion, also na- tives of Virginia. He went with his parents to Kentucky when he was sixteen years old. and after living there several years, removed to Missouri, where the parents remained until their decease. They were of Welsh origin, the families coming to America before the Revolutionary war. They reared eleven sons. Joel was reared in Kentucky, and was married in that State in 1826. In 1830 he came to Putnam County, locating in Clinton Township, where he entered eighty acres of land from the Government. HIe erected a log cabin with clapboard roof and puncheon floor, and remained there until 1840, when he sold his farm and purchased 160 acres in Jefferson Township, where he lived until his decease, in 1871. His wife, for- merly Martha Shaw, was born and reared in Adair County, Kentucky, and died July 4, 1871. She was the mother of eleven chil- dren, eight of whom were sons. Mr. Ver-
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million was reared a farmer, and experienced religion while living in Kentucky. Ile unit- ed with the Old School Baptist church, and was ordained a minister at Bethel, Little Walnut Baptist Church, in Clinton Township, about 1837. Ile followed this calling for many years, or until his infirmities prevented. Ile was a very large man, weighing 240 pounds. He obtained the most of his early education by the light of the fireplace. Ile took no interest in politics, seldom attending elections, but he was strong in the faith he taught. Ile was formerly a Whig, but left that party when the Know-nothing party sprung into existence. In later life he was a Democrat.
1PHRAIM C. ADAMS, a farmer resid- ing in Marion Township, was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, Angust 6, 1535, son of John and Phobe (Preston) Adams, natives of Kentucky, and of English ancestry. His grandparents were natives of Virginia. Two of his great uneles were sol- diers in the Revolutionary war. His father died leaving a wife and four children to care for themselves. They removed to Pulaski County, Kentucky, where they resided a short time; also lived in Rock Castle County for FRAMES M. SHARP, farmer and stock- raiser, resides on section 7, Washington Township, where he owns 120 acres of land. Ile was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, November 22, 1833. son of George and Julia (Darnall) Sharp. The mother died in Kentucky, and in 1854 the father removed to this county. James M. was reared a farmer and has always followed that occupation. He to Mary M. Wright, who was born in this county in 1839. Their children are-Ben- a time, then went to Garrett County, where Ephraim remained until he was eighteen years old. He then commenced to learn the trade of turner and machinist, which he followed until about nine years ago. For several years he was foreman in an establish- ment at Greencastle, and for a time had the supervision of the chair manufacturing de- partment. Being thrown upon his own re- was married in this county March 10, 1858. sonrees so carly in life, his education was necessarily limited. March 19, 1557, he was married to Miss Serelda J. Youngman. born : ton; Julia, wife of Millard F. Ham, has one in Mason County, Kentucky, and daughter : child -- Minnie; Pauline, Dora, Eddie and
of Jesse and Amy (Dix) Younginan, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. Hler parents came from Kentucky to this connity in 1832, settling in Greencastle Township upon a farm about one mile east of Greencastle. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Adams, of whom five are living-Ella C., M. Etta, Myrtie E., Ida .1. and Sallie Amy. Mr. Adams settled upon his present farm on section 5, Marion Town- ship, in 1878, and is the owner of sixty-eight acres of well cultivated land. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, and he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity at Fillmore, Indiana. Himself and wife are worthy members of the Loenst Street Method- ist Episcopal Church at Greencastle. The parents of Mrs. Adams had twelve children, of whom four survive - Dr. Stacey Young- man, of Jasper County, Illinois; Elizabeth, widow of Allen G. Paris; Mary E., wife of Dr. Milo Wood, of Grinnell, lowa, and Ser- elda J., wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are rearing a boy named Wilbur C. Kendall, a son of John and Emma Kendall, both of whom are deceased.
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Essie M. The deceased are --- Clarence L., ! through the woods, and her father had to go Alonzo, Franklin and Ettie. Politically Mr. Sharp is a Democrat. Ile is a self-made man. having earned all of his property by industry and good management.
a great distance to trade and to do his mill- ing. He had to carry his grain on his horse with pack saddles. Mr. Howlett was the first settler north of Greencastle, and helped to clear away the brush from the place where the town now stands, and where wild animals roamed in large numbers. The Indians LEMING MCCRAY, farmer, section 21, ; helped him raise his log cabin, which was Monroe Township, was born in Bourbon built of round logs with puncheon floor and clapboard roof. They used a puncheon table County. Kentucky. February 8. 1513, son of Sammel and Rebecca (Hedges) MeCray, and stools. The first Methodist Episcopal the former a native of Pennsylvania and now class was organized in this cabin, when the door consisted of a quilt. deceased, the latter born near Frederickstown, ; Maryland, and a daughter of Joseph Hedges. Ilis early life was passed on a farm, and his educational advantages were very limited. His parents were poor and he necessarily had FROHN Q. CROMWELL, a resident of Pleasant Garden. Washington Township, was born in Clay County, this State, August 27. 1880, a son of Nicholas D. and Amelia (Marshall) Cromwell, his father be- ing the first sheriff and first treasurer of Clay County, and was judge of the Circuit Court seventeen years. He was reared on a farm and has dealt more extensively than any other man in the county in stock. Two years of his life were spent in selling goods. He is a Democrat in politics; has held the office of justice of the peace twelve years. trustee fonr years and is at present a notary public. Dur- ing the war he sent a substitute, for which he paid $$50. Mr. Cromwell was married in Putnam County in 1851. to Miss Diana E. Barnett, a daughter of John and Rachel (Ellis) Barnett, who was born April 2, 1832. She is a lady of fine qualities and refinement. Mr. and Mrs. Barnett were pioneer settlers, having immigrated to this county in 1827. The father died in Angust, 1875, at the ad- vanced age of seventy-eight years, and the mother in the same year, at the age of seventy-five years. The children of Mr. to work very hard. He came to Putnam County in the spring of 1840, settling in Monroe Township, where he was married September 1, 1842. to Miss Mary A. Howlett, daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Thomp- kins) Howlett. the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Montgomery County. Kentucky. Mrs. McCray was born in Monroe Township July 27, 1824, and is the oldest living native of the county that is now living in the county. Her parents came to the county in 1522, settling on section 21. Monroe Township. They had three children Mrs. Nancy Reeves, Mrs. McCray and Mrs. Elizabeth Bundrum. The father died in August. 1873, and the mother in July, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. MeCray have had eleven children, nine of whom are living-James M., Frances, George W., Garrett D., William, Rebecca, Emma, Charles and Jennie. John died at the age of twenty years. Mr. Mc- Cray owns 356 acres of land and devotes his attention to farming and stock-raising. Mrs. McCray remembers, in an early day, of see- ing the militia muster. The roads were blazed
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and Mrs. Cromwell are-Charles N .. John E., as a private in Company A, Seventy-eighth Granville T., Joseph W., Dewitt P'., Rella, | Indiana Infantry, and served three months. Josie and Florence. John E. is deceased. ; He was on duty in Kentucky and participated having been killed in a wreck near Indianap- ; in the engagement at Uniontown. where he, olis on the Belt Road in November, 1882. Being the engineer, he gave his life that he might be true to his cause, and thus died an indescribable death. Ile was a man of up- right purposes and sterling integrity; no purer type of goodness and manhood conld be found. The other four sons are also en- gineers by profession. Rella and Josie. two of the daughters, are teachers in the public schools of Clay and Putnam counties.
with his company, was taken prisoner, but was soon paroled and sent to Indianapolis to remain until exchanged. June 13, 1880, he was married at Greencastle to Miss Louisa Shildmyer, daughter of Henry Stillinyer, of Greencastle, and they have six children --- Ana, Emma. George Edward, Henry, Mary and Agnes. All are at home except George, who is engaged in orange culture in Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Bicknell are members of the Christian church at Greencastle, of which he is an elder. George Bieknell, the father of onr subject, was born in Philadelphia in 1796, and by avocation a farmer and black- smith. He came to this county in the fall of 1939, locating at Brunerstown, Madison Township, where he carried on farming and blacksmithing until 1854: then removed to Stark County, Illinois, where he died in 1858. His mother, Susannah ( Moore) Bick- nell, was born at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, in 1794, and came to Putnam County with her family in 1989. She died on the homestead in Madison Town- ship in 1549. Both parents were members of the Baptist church. They had six chil- dren-George. onr subject: JJacob, of Green- castle; Rachel, deceased. who married John Morgan; Mary, wife of S. O. Irwin, of this county; Susannah, wife of John Morgan, now of Knox County, Illinois, and Robert, of Pleasanton, Iowa. Robert P. Bieknell, M. D., grandfather of George, was born at Curry Mellett, England, in 1765, and immigrated to the United States in 1788. He was a member of a stage company that ran a line
EORGE BICKNELL, dealer in hard- ware and agricultural implements and manufacturer of wagons and buggies, at Greencastle, was born in Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 18, 1\23. He was reared a farmer, and educated in the common schools. When eleven years of age he was brought to this county by his parents, who located in a small place called Brunerstown. His father being a blacksmith as well as a farmer, he taught the trade to his son George, who acquired it by working at night. Upon reaching his majority he engaged in blacksmithing at Brunerstown, remaining there two years. In 1852 he came to Greencastle and associated himself with James AAllspangh. in the firm name of Bieknell & AAllspangh, which part- nership continued until 1854, since which time he has been alone. He carried on blacksmithing and manufacturing carriages, plows. ete., until 1875, when he discontinned plow making and commenced dealing in farm implements. In ISsố he added a hardware of stages between New York City and Balti- department, and now keeps a good stock of more. He died of yellow fever in Philadel- everything in his line. In 1862 he enlisted , phia in 1500. The grandmother, Rachel
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Peppers, was a native of Germany. her male ancestors being seamen. She died in Phila- delphia abont 1832. They had two children George, and Elizabeth, who married Jacob Green, of Philadelphia; both are deceased.
ERRY W. WRIGHT, farmer, section 11. Madison Township, was born in this county in 1855, son of William and 2 Thankful (Swineford) Wright. The father is one of the oldest living settlers now in Putnam County, having settled here in 1826, and still resides here. He reared a family of
ber 20, 1885, he came to Mount Meridian and embarked in the mercantile trade with his brother, which business he still follows. : Mr. Hurst owns a fine farm of 115 acres in Greeneastle Township, and is one of the lead- ing business men of the county. He also owns a good comfortable residence in Mount Meridian.
B ENJAMIN G. WYSONG, a retired farmer of Marion Township, was born in Virginia, March 5, 1521, son of Henry and Catherine Wysong, natives of six children, of whom four are living- Jesse ; Virginia, and probably of English ancestry. M., George W., Sallie Ann and Perry W. ; He was reared to manhood in his native State, Mr. Wright owns 105 acres of land in Colo- rado, and has always been a farmer. He was married in 1881, to Miss Lucy Brown, daughter of W. W. Brown, who was at one time the wealthiest man in Putnam County. Her mother was formerly Margaret Siegler. Mrs. Wright was born in that county, Sep- tember 13, 1860. and was first married December 18, 1844. to Miss Frances Spinkes, who was born in Vir- ginia, August 30, 1828, daughter of Jabez and Cynthia Spinkes. Their children num- bered nine, of whom six survive -- William II., George, Benjamin F .. Joseph W., Mary, wife of Eber Lloyd, and Martha, wife of Lionzo Smedley, superintendent of the Put- nam County public schools. The deceased are -- Sarah (., Amanda and Charles M., the latter having been a minister in the Method- AQUIRE J. HURST, member of the firm of Hurst Brothers, general merchants at Mount Meridian, was born in Green- eastle Township June 4, 1851, a son of Jef- ferson Hurst, also of this county. He was reared and educated at home, and was mar- ried December 2, 1877, to Miss Alice Detro, born in Putnam County in 1857. They had one child -- Thomas J., born March 17, 1879. Mrs. Hurst died November 16, 1880, and March 10, 1887, Mr. Ilurst was married to Alpha McAninch, who was born in Mill Greek Township in 1867. After his first marriage he was engaged in farming in Greencastle and Warren townships. Novem- ist Episcopal church, and a graduate of As- bury University at Greencastle. Mrs. Wysong died October 10, 1869, and December 14, 1870. Mr. Wysong was married to Rebecca Dicks, born July 4, 1823, in Mason County, Kentucky, and daughter of John and Mary (Patterson) Dicks, with whom she came to this county when she was nine years of age. Iler parents located near Greencastle, where they remained until their decease. They were among the first settlers of that locality. Mrs. Wysong was a teacher in the public schools fourteen years, being one of the early teachers of the county. Mr. Wysong came to Putnam County with wife and one child
William Bridges
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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in 1846, and lived in various portions of the ; gained the rudiments of learning, and the county until he settled in his present home on section 4, Marion Township, where he owns ninety-four acres of land. Politically he is a Republican, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
C. BRIDGES, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section S, Monroe Township, where he owns 120 acres of land. Ile was born in Putnam County April 26, 1860, son of Milton A. and Rebecca E. Bridges. Ilis father was reared in this county, his grandfather having removed here in 1824, where he remained until death. The father is living in Franklin Township. Our subject passed his youthful days on a farm, and has followed the occupation of farming so far during life. He was married in Parke County, this State, September 24. 1855, to Miss Lucy Ekler, daughter of James and Sarah Elder. He is a member of the Uni- versalist church, and also belongs to the Anti Horse Thief Association. Postoffice, Bainbridge.
rest was left to the rougher school and the actual discipline of life. He had. how- ever, a vast fund of information, and was well versed in the topics of the day. Ile was a clear thinker, a good reasoner, able to speak and write his thoughts with flueney and cor- rectness, and to discuss with force and ability those great themes in which men find the greatest interest. In his youth he was a merchant, serving his father as clerk in the store of the latter at Fincastle. Upon ar- riving at manhood he chose the pursuit of a farmer and trader. March 22. 1855, he married Miss Elizabeth MeKee, and to this union were born three children -- Effie, now Mrs. Corwin: Cora, now Mrs. Lee, and Frank. Mrs. Bridges died December 10, 1860, and December 31. 1861, Mr. Bridges married Miss Nannie F. Darnall, and they two shared the joys and sorrows of ahnost one quarter of a century. To this union were born four children -- Charles S., Nellie D., Samuel and Flossie. After residing several years near Morton, this county. Mr. Bridges purchased, in 1865, a large farm about two miles cast of Greeneastle, and was there es- tablished as a farmer and trader for thirteen years. In 1878 he removed to the present family home in Greencastle. During the last few years of his life his attention was turned to large purchases and sales of stock. He and his partner, Robert Lockridge, in a single year, shipped from this county to the Eastern markets more than 4,000 head of fatted cattle. In 1552 Mr. Bridges became one of the organizers of the Central National Bank of Greencastle, in which he was direct- or and principal stockholder. In 1885 he was made vice-president of the bank, and was re-elected a short time previous to his death. In 1884 he was elected school trustce
.ILLIAM BRIDGES, deceased, son of Charles C. and Rachel (Loekridge) Bridges, was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, September 28, 1833, and was the second of nine children. At the time of his birth his family were preparing to remove to the new State of Indiana, and subsequently carried out their intentions. They first settled in Montgomery County, and soon after removed to Putnam County. The only education William received was gathered from the country schools such as could be found in his day. In these he , for Greencastle Township. His constitution
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
was vigorous and robust, and the hard labor he performed had developed his frame until he was the picture of sturdy manhood. At the early age of fifty-two, in an unexpected day and hour, with the full load of life and burden of society on his shoulders, he was suddenly summoned by that pale messenger that knocks with impartial call at the door of every man, and takes no denial at his en- trance. On Saturday, the 22d of Jannary, 1886, Mr. Bridges attended a meeting of the bank officers, in their building on the southwest corner of the square. He partici- pated in what was said and done, speaking with even more force and clearness than was usual. At noon, when the meeting adjourn. 2, he was walking up the street with Mr. Love.t and his son Charles, and when about opposite Mr. Darnall's store something unusnal drew the attention of his companions, and they saw that he was sick. A few moments after- ward he sank down in the street, In! spoke no word. He was assisted by those who were with him, and other friends, as far as the house of H. S. Renick, where he was taken in, unconscious of what was done. On the following day he was brought to his home, but was past the reach of help. Conscious- ness never returned, and in just one week he quietly breathed his last and entered into rest. The funeral, one of the largest that ever honored the memory of a private citi- zen of the county, was held in College Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church the fol- lowing Monday, Dr. J. C. Ridpath officiating. Mr. Bridges possessed great strength and persistency of purpose, and whatever he de- termined to accomplish he set himself to with a steadiness and resolution rarely sur- passed or equaled. He was not unduly elated by success, but was one to whom fail- ure was extremely repugnant and humiliat- ing. Not only had he great force of will, but
he was also possessed of a broad and pro- found understanding. He was able to see the bottom of large questions, and to offer the best explanation and the best remedy for the existing state of affairs. Another striking feature of his character was his inde- pendence. He thought and acted, for the most part, on his own responsibility. Ile was strongly disposed to con.und for what he considered the truth, and was little con- cerned as to whether hit views were or were not accepted by the majority. None the less he had no disposition to enforce his principles of belief upon others by appeals to prejudice, to interest, or to odium.
R. WALLACE M. PURCELL, residing on section 5, Washington Township, was born at Pleasant Garden, February 24, 1839. He was the son of John M. and Adaline D. (Freeman) Purcell, both natives of Indiana. They resided at Pleasant Gar- den during their entire married life. The father died in 1856, aged forty three years, the mother in 1857, aged thirty six. They reared four children-Wallace V., Bruce R., Helen M. and Dove A. Bier I. enlisted in 1861, as a member of Company B, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and re-enli. ed as a veteran. Ile was wounded in the knee joint near Dal- las, Georgia, May 28, 1804, and died from the effects of the injury, July 12, 1864. Jesse Pur- cell, grandfather of our subject, came to Put- nam County in the fall of 1822. locating east of Greencastle. Heremoved to Harrison Coun- ty, Iowa, in 1856, where he died in 1867, at the age of eighty years. Thompson Free- man, the maternal grandfather, came to Pleasant Garden in 1830, where he resided thirty-two years, highly esteemed in all the relations of life. In 1862 he removed to
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Illinois, where he died in 1882, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years. Dr. Pur- cell commenced the study of medicine at Pleasant Gar ion in 1854, under Dr. R. R. Stevenson. He took his first course of lec- tures at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1856-'57, and began practice at Crescent City, Iowa, June, 1857, where he remained two years. In 1860 he returned to Indiana, and 1860-'61- '62 attended lectures in Philadelphia, gradu- ating at Jefferson Medical College in 1862. Hle immediately entered the military service as Acting Assistant Surgeon, and remained there two years. In 1864 he returned to his old home in Washington Township, and cn- gaged in private practice until 1871, when he removed to Terre Haute, where he re- mained until 1878, after which he returned to his farm near Reelsville, in this county, where he now resides (1887). He has the finest medical library, in the county, and perhaps as good as any in the State. The doctor is not a specialist in any sense of the term, but considers that the title of "Doctor" is the highest and most honorable to which the medical man may aspire. Like many masters of his profession, however, he has achieved his greatest success in surgical practice. Among his many operations worthy of notice may be mentioned one for extrophy of the bladder, drobably the only operation of the kind per- formed in the West. Also operations for stone in the bladder, cataract, abscess of the brain, strangulated hernia, and extirpation of the uterus. His greatest reputation, however, has been made as an ovariotomist, being ex- tensively known in that connection, not only in Indiana, but throughout the West. He has performed fifteen operations for the re- moval of ovarian tumors, twelve of them being successful. November 8, 1871, he re- moved an ovarian tumor weighing thirty-two
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