USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 28
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pounds from Miss Rachel E. Wigginton, near Terre Haute. This young lady became his wife January 1, 1873. She was born near Louisville, Kentucky, September 28, 1845, and was the danghter of William and Nancy Wigginton, natives of Virginia. To this union there have been born six children-Po- cahontas, Nellie D., Charles F., Mary R., Leta R. and Bertha E.
- ILLIAM NEWNAM, a retired farm- er of Filhaore, was born in Rocking- ham County, North Carolina, May 5, 1819, son of Edward and Anne Newnam, the former a native of Delaware and the lat- ter of North Carolina. His father was a vol- unteer in the war of 1812, and as he was ready to take the field peace was declared. When he was ten years of age he removed with his parents to Pulaski County, Kentucky, where he was reared to manhood on a farm, and received a rudimentary education in the early log cabin school-house. To his parents were born eight children, of whom four are sup- posed to be living-Melinda, Louisa, William and James. William was married in Ken- tucky, June 6, 1844, to Miss Rachel Gasti- nean, who was born in Pulaski County, that State, August 26, 1827, a daughter of Joab and Sarah (Hayes) Gastineau, natives of Vir- ginia. Hler maternal grandfather, William Hayes, was a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Newnam have had seven children, five of whom are living --- Elizabeth, wife of James A. Hope; Mary E., wife of Drew W. Allspaugh; John M., James II., and Fannie, wife of William P. Ledbetter. The deceased are Sarah A. and Martha. John M. is a pas- senger condnetor on the Vandalia Railroad, and James Il. is traveling salesman for Murphy, Hibben & Co., wholesale dry goods
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
merchants. of Indianapolis. Mr. Newnam came to this county with his wife and three children in 1551, locating in Marion Town- ship. and has been a resident here ever since, with the exception of eight years spent in Hendricks County. He began life a poor man, having made his household furniture himself, to begin housekeeping with. He now owns 284 acres of land, and it is con- ceded to be one of the best farms in the ! connty. Himself and wife are members of the Christian church, in which he has served as trustee, and both are respected members of society. Politically Mr. Newnam affili- ates with the Democratic party.
BSALOM F. WRIGHT, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 22, Floyd Township, where he owns 130 aeres of land. He was born in Union County, Indi- ana, October 18, 1824, son of Enoch and Mary (Eggers) Wright, natives of North Carolina. They came to Union County, In- diana, in 1810, where they remained until 1834, when they removed to Putnam County. Indiana. and lived there until their decease, the father dying in January, 1859, and the mother in August. 1578. They reared a family of nine children. Onr subject came to this county in 1834, and is now on the farm the father had previously entered from the Government. From 1844 until 1862 he followed the carpenter's trade. In February. 1865, he enlisted in Company C, One Hun- dred and Forty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and served until September of the same year. then returned home. October 14, 1849, he was married to Mary Chatham, daughter of J. W. and Sarah (Jones) Chatham, who came to this county in January, 1841. She was born in Decatur County, this State, June 24,
1827. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have had nine children- Josephine B., wife of II. W. Minter, has two children -- Elma and Roy; Franklin P. married Bediel Hunt, and their children are -- William W., Essie M. and Franklin O .; Edgar A. married Lavina Blakeslee and has one child -- Fred; Omar C. married Annie Griffman: Robert is teaching school near Terre Haute, this State; Ilattie B. married HI. C. Ridpath and has one child -Evert C .: Julia A., attending the normal at Terre Haute; Carrie M., and an infant deceased. Mr. Wright has held the office of justice of the peace, assessor, and enrolling officer during the late war. In politics he is a Republican. He had nothing when he began life for himself, and got his first start by working at the carpenter's trade. He bought and sold lands before there were any railroads in the county. His grandfather was drafted in the war of 1812 and served three months.
D UDLEY ROGERS, M. D., of Green- castle. was born in the vicinity of Bloomington, this State, September 29, 1825. He was educated at the Indiana State University, at Bloomington, but a full course was interrupted by his volunteering as a sol- dier during the Mexican war. He became a member of Company A, Third Indiana In- fantry, under Captain John M. Sluss, and served as Corporal. His regiment was com- manded by dieneral Taylor thirteen months, and participated in the battle of Buena Vista. After being discharged from the service at New Orleans he returned to Bloomington, where he was employed on the Lonisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad as civil engineer. One year later he began the study [ of medicine, under Drs. Maxwell and Mc-
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Pheeters, at Bloomington, remaining with them one year. He then went to Charleston. Indiana, and studied under James S. Athon, graduating at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in the spring of 1852, after taking the pre- seribed course of lectures. In May, 1852, he located at Martinsville, this State, where he practiced two years, then removed to Spencer, remaining until 1861. During that year he volunteered in Company HI, Four- teenth Indiana Infantry, and when the com- pany was organized he was chosen First Lieutenant, and commissioned by Governor Morton. The following December he was commissioned Surgeon of the Fifty-ninth Indiana Infantry, with the rank of Major. He served as such until 1864, then resigned. The last two years of his army service, by virtue of his rank and acting commission, he ! served as Brigadier Division Surgeon. In December, 1864, he located at Greencastle, but in January, 1865, by the solicitation of Colonel Thompson, he was called to the pro- examine drafted men, and served until the war closed. In June, 1565, he returned to ! Greencastle and engaged in the practice of his profession. From the fall of 1565 until the summer of 1868 he was deputy revenue --- collector for Putnam County. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1866 he was one of the incorporators of the Greencastle Street Rail- way, of which he became sole proprietor in 1872. In 1880 Mr. Rogers was elected cor- oner of Putnam County, serving two years, and in 1882 he secured the appointment of president of the examining board of pensions for Putnam County, and still holds that posi- tion. February 13, 1855, he was married, near Connersville, Indiana, to Miss Harriet Barwick, daughter of Seth and Eliza J. (Darnall) Barwick. They have two living children-Ralph, a traveling salesman for the father of our subject. James Burnside, has
furniture house of Bubb & Ripp, of Milwau- kee, Wisconsin, and Erastus Wilbur, a clerk in the Commercial Hotel at Greencastle. Horace A. died in 1863, aged six years, and two children died in infancy. Mr. Rogers is a Master and Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the lodge and chapter at Green- castle. Ile is also a comrade of Greencastle Post, No. 11, G. A. R. Mrs. Rogers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ATTILLIAM A. BURNSIDE, farmer and stoek-raiser, seetion 29, Russell Township, is a native of that town- ship, born March 17, 1839, a son of James and Eliza C. Burnside, the former born in Kentucky, in 1799, and the latter in South Carolina, July 13, 1803. They had eight chil- dren, all of whom are living, one in Illinois and seven in Indiana. Two daughters and our subject are umnarried and live on the vost office at Terre Hante. this State, to ; homestead with the father. His grandfather
was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, serving seven years, and his grandmother was a prisoner with the Indians during the same period. His paternal grandfather gave efficient aid in the war of 1812, but did not enlist. His uncle, Robert Burnside, enlisted in the war of 1812, but his father, thinking him too young to serve, hired a substitute to take his place. Three brothers of our sub- jeet, John, Samuel and Daniel, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion; John and Samuel enlisted in the sixty days' service, and both were captured at Uniontown, Kentucky. Samuel again enlisted for three years and served until the close of the war. Daniel served three months, participating in the bat- tle at Richmond, Kentucky, where he was slightly wounded in the right arm. The
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
been a member of the Associate, now United Presbyterian, church over sixty years, one daughter and one son being members of the same church.
Evert M., October 26, 1875. Mrs. Hurst died April 26, 1877, and March 2, 1881, Mr. Hurst was married to Alice N. Albin, bora in Jefferson Township, this county, October 22, 1857, a daughter of Thorton P. Albin. After his first marriage he bought and shipped stock, following that occupation until 1880, AMUEL T. JONES, farmer, section 4, Jefferson Township, was born in Green- castle Township. November 7, 1826, a son of Benjamin Jones, now deceased. Ile came to this township in 1837 with his par- when he engaged in his present business. Mr. Hurst is the present postmaster of Mount Meridian, having held that office several times previous to his present appointment in 1984. Ile owns 121 acres of land lying in Green- ents, where he was reared and educated. July ; castle and Warren townships. In the fall of 25. 1862, he enlisted in Company A. Seventy- 1856 Mr. Hurst sustained a severe loss in eighth Indiana Infantry, serving until the the burning of his residence, only partly following September, when he was taken covered by insurance. In the spring of 1887 prisoner at Uniontown, Kentneky. After , he built a fine residence. In 1578 he united being paroled he returned to his home in with Temple Lodge. No. 17, A. F. & A. M .. Putnam County, where he has since resided. ! at Greencastle, and is still a member. Mr. Jones is a stausch Republican. and has held positions of trust in his township. He was township trustee seven years and assessor two years. He received the nomination of GEORGE W. SUTHERLIN. farmer and stock-dealer, resides on section 6, Jack- ES. son Township, where he owns 376 aeres of land. He was born in this county Sep- tember 2. 1883, son of George and Elizabeth (Miller) Sutherlin. natives of North Carolina, real-estate appraiser, but he was defeated, owing to the county being largely Demo- eratic. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is now serving as tris- tee. He is a strong believer in prohibition. : He has never married, never having found , the former of Scoth-Irish descent and the the lady of his choice.
latter of English ancestry. They came to ! Indiana in 1815, first settling in Orange County. In 1821 they removed to this county, where the father died in 1841, aged ILLIAM HURST, senior member of : fifty-four years, and the mother May 11, 1877,
the firm of Hurst Brothers, general merchants, Mount Meridian, Indiana, was born in Greencastle Township. April 3, 1848, a son of Jefferson Hurst, also of P'ut- . nam County. He was reared on a farm and educated in the commnon schools. He re- mained at home until his marriage, which ocenrred February 5, 1874, to Martha A. Dorsett. To this nion one child was born : children- - William II., Mary E., Mattie M.
aged eighty-six years. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are living. George W. was the tenth child. He was reared a farmer and has always followed that occupation. He was married in this county September 17, 1857, to Harriet J. Jeffries, who was born in this county June 2, 1839, and died October 15, 1873. They had four
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and Laura O. Mary E. married James M. Oou-ley and has one child - Abna M. Mattic M. married William F. Davis and has one child --- Alda L. Mr. Sutherlin had limited advantages for education, the school being four miles away. Ile was drafted during the war and paid 81,000 for a substitute. In polities he is a Democrat. He is a self-made man and highly esteemed in his community.
AMES ANTHONY CURTIS, of the firm of Renick & Curtis, carriage manu-
associated with the Ronick brothers they were all young men just starting out in life. Their business has been conducted harmoni- onsly, and in their partnership of thirty years not a jar has occurred to mar their Jong con- tinned friendship or affect their confidence in each other. The Renicks commenced their business in Greencastle in 1851 on a site that is now occupied by St. Paul's Catholic Chirch on Washington street, and conducted their business there over thirty-six years. They have been very successful. Mr. Curtis has been three times married. His first wife whom he married at St. Louis, Missouri, Sep- tember 15. 1857, was Miss Susan Lewis, who died at Greencastle April 24. 1860. Ilis second wife. Eliza Jane O'llair, whom he married at the brick chapel in Patnam Coun- ty, September 22, 1SGB, died at Greencastle March 4, 1569, leaving two children- - Alfred S .. superintendent of the brick works at Oak Alley, this county, and Jennie E., still at home. April 4, 1572, he was married to Miss Selina G. O'Hair, a sister of his former wife, and daughter of Captain James E. M. ('Hair, of this county. They have no children. They are members of the College Avenne Methodist Episcopal Church at Greencastle, and Mr. Curtis is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 17, 1. F. & A. M .. of Greencastle.
15 facturers at Greencastle, was born in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, January 15, 1834, son of Andrew and Mary (Stillwell) Curtis. Ilis father was born at Wallingford. Connectient, in 1802, of English ancestry. He was a carriage-maker by trade, and in early life settled in New York City. In 1831 he removed to Cincinnati, thence to Hamil- ton, where he worked at his trade until 1852. then removed to Indianapolis, where he worked at carriage-making nearly thirty years. He died in 1881 at the age of seven- ty-nine years. Politically he was a Republi- can, and while living in Indianapolis held the office of justice of the peace twelve or fifteen years. His mother was born in Steubenville. Ohio, in 1518, of German ancestry. She was married to Mr. Curtis at Cincinnati in 1533. She survives her husband and resides at Indianapolis. James passed his boyhood ELIX G. ALBIN, farmer and stock- raiser, resides on section S. Monroe Township. where he owns ninety-six acres of land. He was born in this con- ty December 4, 1845. son of Joseph and Rosanna (Sheeks) Albin, natives of Kentucky and of German-English ancestry. They re- moved to this county in 1832 and remained under the parental roof and learned the trade of carriage-maker with his father. In 1855 he came to Greencastle and worked as a journeyman for the firm of G., II. & R. Renick. Two years later he purchased Hen- ry Renick's interest, and the firm became Renick, Curtis & Co. In 1886 Robert Ren- ick retired from the firm, changing it to here until their decease. They were the parents Lenick & Curtis. When Mr. Curtis became : of fourteen children, of whom Felix was next
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY
to the youngest. His early life was passed at farm work. In 1562 he enlisted in Com- pany C, Sixth Indiana Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, was all through the Atlanta campaign, the Stone- man raid, the battle of Nashville, and many others of less importance. August 24, 1875, he was married to Miss Joann Farrow, dangh- ter of James R. and Catherine (Nelson) Far- row, who was born in this county, April 24, 1850. Her parents are natives of Kentucky and are living near Mr. and Mrs. Albin. To this union have been born two children --- Deloss F., born May 30, 1876, and James S., born May 3. 1552. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, aul in poli- ties Mr. Albin is a Republican. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, for which the mother received a pension. The father died in 1868, aged sixty-three years. Post- office, Brick Chapel.
LILAH WALLACE, deceased, was born March 22. 1811. in Anderson County, Tennessee, son of David and Elizabeth Wallace. He was reared to manhood in his native State, and was married there in March, 1834, to Melvina Manley, born October 6, 1813. in Tennessee. Her parents were Wil- son and Louisa Manley, of the same State. They have had eleven children, of whom ten are living - - Amanda, wife of Leonard Shaw; John, James, David, Elizabeth; Lonisa, wife of Homer W. Sandy; Nancy, wife of Samnel McCollum; William; Ellen. wife of Richard Brown, and Serekla. Mr. Wallace and fam- ily came to Indiana, locating first in Morgan County, where he lived a short time, then moved to what is now Hendricks County. Ile settled in the woods, built a log cabin
and then began the work of clearing a farm. IIe had only $100 when he came to Indiana, but at his death he was worth quite a large property. Hle died July 12, 1884, lamented by all who knew him. He was a kind and loving husband and father, and an obliging neighbor. Ile was a strictly honest man, and dealt justice to all. His wife removed to Mill Creek Township after his death, where she has since made her home. She belongs to the Society of Friends.
B. SMITHI, farmer, resides on section 21. Washington Township, where he owns twenty acres of land; he also owns 158 acres in another locality. He was born in this county August 25, 1835, son of John W. and Elizabeth (Crowder) Smith, na- tives of North Carolina and of German- English ancestry. They came to Putnam County in 1835, where the parents remained until their deccase, the father dying in 1885, aged seventy-two years, and the mother in 1876, aged sixty-three years. They reared four children, two of whom are living-Am- brose HI., of Parke County, this State, and L. B. John W. was a soldier in the late war, having enlisted in 1861 as a member of Company A. Twenty-seventh Indiana In- fantry, serving three years. He was with General Banks through all his hard-fought battles, and was never injured except by fall- ing from a horse. He was over forty-five years old when he enlisted. Our subject was married in Clay County, to Miss Louisa Murphy, who was born in Clay County in 1849. They had eight children --- John M., Florence, wife of D. F. Reel; Jennie, wife of A. D. Chene; Lney, now Mrs. John A. Huff- man; Charles S., Annie L., Alice M. and Martha E. Maggie H. is deceased. Mrs.
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BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHES.
Smith died in 1878, and in 1881 Mr. Smith was married at Greencastle to Marilda, daugh- ter of Dr. II. P. and Mary Allen, of Bowling Green, who was born in this county in 1856. To this union two children have been born- Harry J. and Frank O. Mr. Smith's educa- tion was limited to the subscription schools of his time. Ile is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 47, A. F. & A. M., at Greeneastle, and in politics is a Republican. When he started in life for himself he went in debt 8350 for a house and lot. He worked for one man, buy- ing timber, handling from $20,000 to $50,000 each year, for seventeen years, commencing with a salary of $600 a year, and the last year he received 81,200 and all expenses paid. Postoffice, Reelsville.
F. CULLY, physician and surgeon at Bainbridge, was born in Newark, New Jersey, July 4, 1552. a son of Mathew and Mary A. Cully, the former a native of Ireland. His father was killed in the late war, and his mother died when he was six years old. The doctor came to this county from New York at the age of eight years, finding a home in the family of John and Eliza Allen, who proved true friends to him, and to whom he attributes in a great measure his success in life, as they well performed the part of parents toward him. The doctor was married in 1855 to Miss Ella F. Darnall, of this county, daughter of Samuel and Maria Darnall, pioneers of Putnam County: her father is deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Cully have one child -- Lily. The doctor is a mem- ber of the Christian church, and in politics a Democrat. Ile began reading medicine under R. F. Stone in 1876: in 1878-79 attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, graduating from there in | fives of Kentucky, who came to Putnam
1880, and immediately began the practice of medicine in Bainbridge. He has a large and lucrative practice, and keeps on hand a well selected stock of medicine. He also has an excellent medical library and is a close student.
ATHANIEL S. STRAUGHAN, a pio- neer of Putnam County, and a resi- dent of Marion Township, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, April 12, 1810, son of John and Obedience (Scott) Stranghan, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. Ilis paternal ances- tors were German, and his maternal ancestors were Scotch-English. The paternal grand- father, John Stranghan, was a Revolutionary soldier. and his son John, the father of our subject, was a soldier in the war of 1>12. In 1831 the parents and eight children removed to this county, where he died in 1>35. Our subject came to the county one year after his parents' arrival, and located in Marion Township, having entered cighty acres of land from the Government, on seetion 12. Ile first built a good hewed-log cabin, which was a little better than the average log cabin, for which he was called somewhat proud by his neighbors. He afterward sold this land, and then made several removals. October 14. 1>30, he was married to Miss Polly Brewer, of Kentucky, and of their six children, three are living-JJohn W., Naney J., wife of John W. Dunlavy, and Margaret A., wife of Thomas Phillips. Mrs. Straughan died March 25. 1873, and JJanuary 10, 1874, Mr. Straughan was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Barnard, whose first husband was the late Thomas Barnard, of this county. Her parents were Morris and Charity Woods, na-
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HISTORY OF PUTAAM COUNTY.
County in the fall of 1851. settling in Floyd medicine until 1>60, then began to practice Township, where they lived until their de- at Fillmore, this county. The doctor has had cease. They had a large family of children, no pecuniary assistance, having defrayed the of whom seven are living -- Nancy, wife of ; Peter K. Duncan; Mary: Julia A., widow of John Peret. of Missouri; Jane, wife of How- ard leavin; Philip; Melvina, who married George C. Nichols, and Ellen, wife of Will- iam Leap. Mr. and Mrs. Straughan are mem- bers of the Baptist church. Mr. Straughan helped to build the first Baptist church in Marion Township, and has served as dea- con in that church for nearly half a century. Upon his arrival in this county he had just 84 in money. All that he has he has earned by bard labor and good management: and he is now enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. In polities he is a Democrat, and served as township trustee five years. He has twice been elected justice of the peace, but refused to serve.
IONZALVA CORDOVA SMYTHI, M. D., of Greencastle, was born in the vicinity of that city, October 31, 1436, the youngest son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Sill) Smyth, natives of Kentucky, the for- mer of Irish-Scotch ancestry, and the latter probably of Welsh origin. They were farmers and came to Putnam County in 1826, locating on land they purchased near Green- castle, where the father died in 1861, aged sixty-three years, and the mother in 1856, aged fifty-two years. The father was a inem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and the mother of the Baptist. They were the par- ents of nine children. The doctor was reared a farmer until his eighteenth year, when he began to attend the Asbury (now DePanw) University. at Greencastle, where he gradu- ated with the class of 1858. Ile then studied
expenses of his education by teaching. In Angust, 1862, he was commissioned Assist- ant Surgeon of the Third Indiana Infantry, and in June, 1863, was promoted to Surgeon of the same regiment, serving until the close of the war. He was with his regiment at the battle of Helena. Arkansas, the capture of Little Rock, the expedition with General Steele, on Red River, and the engagement at Jenkins Ferry and Mark's Mill. Arkansas. At the last engagement the regiment was captured by the Confederate forces, and were held as prisoners at Camp Tyler. Texas, un- til the close of the war. He then returned to Putnam County, and in 1865 located at Greeneastle, after having attended : full course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He received the adeundem de- gree of M. D. from the Long Island Hospi- tal Medical College at Brooklyn, New York. In 1879 he was elected to the chair of prin- ciples and practice of medicine by the trus- tees of the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Indianapolis, and he filled that place six years, and during the last year was dean of the faculty. Ile resigned his posi- tion on account of his increasing practice at Greencastle. Ile has been three times married. His first wife, Miss Maggie Allen, whom he married at Greencastle in Febru- ary, 1860, died in February, 1870. She was a daughter of Joseph Allen. In January, 1872, he married Miss Janie Frances Black, danghter of Andrew Black, living near Greencastle, who died in November, 1874. His third and present wife, whom he mai - ried in February, 1876, was Miss Jennie Hartley, daughter of M. Hartley, of Green- castle. Their three children are - - Winona, Arta and Roxana. Mrs. Smyth is a member
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