USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 31
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out some of the best cabinet work in the county. His house and the house of his County. Politically he was formerly a Whig, sons are well furnished with articles made ; but became a Republican upon the organiza- with his own hands. He made a very beanti- ; tion of that party. His devotion to Repub- ful stand, inlaid with different materials. lican principles in their broadest sense was worth $50, after he was seventy years old. intense, and during the war gave evidence of He was reared a Democrat, but has voted the
his attachment to the Union by the firm and
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HISTORY OF PUIMAM COUNTY.
decided stand he took in its favor. He served . third year, was reared in Greencastle and re- as trustee of his township several years. Mrs. ceived a common-school education. When Allee is living with her son on the ol home- : fourteen years old he began to work for wages stead. She was the mother of eight children ; in a woof-carding factory, which was owned -Francis M., a resident of Jefferson Town- shi,; Samuel R. resides at the family home- stead. William II .: Julia married John Vermillion, and resides in Jefferson Town- Finess several years. In 1858 he was elected ship; Amanda, wife of A. M. Sandy. lives in Cloverdale Township: Eliza married Ben -; jamin O. JJoues.
by Fis father and John S. Jennings, and worked there eighteen years. He then be- came their successor, and carried on the bus- sheriff of Putnam County, serving one term. In 1861 he was one of the first to offer his services as a volunteer to suppress the Re- bellion. He enlisted as a private in a com- pany known as the Asbury Guards of the Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, a majority of MOLONEL JOHN RILEY MAILAN, the company being students attending Asbury
Unversity at Greencastle. When the com-
a retired business man of Greeneastle, was born on a farin near Flemingsburg, pa .: . was organized Mr. Mahan was chosen Kentucky. February 7, 1824. the youngest of Captain, and was so commissioned by Gov- four children of Isaac an! Margaret ( Knighti , er. v Morten. Soon after, while the regi- Mahan, natives of Maryland, of Scotch-bish ; mert was at Camp Vigo, Terre Haute, he and German ancestry. The father emme to ; rec ived the commission of Lieutenant-Colo- Patnam County, with his family, in 1826. ; nel :" the Fourteenth Regiment, and served and located at Greencastle, where he was en- ; in thit enpacity nutil the spring of 1562, griged in contracting and building until 1839. when he was taken siek with pneumonia, and Hle then carried on the drug business until . obliged to resign his commission. During a 1865, when he retired from business, and garden of his service he was Chief of the died at Greencastle July 1. 1877, while living st. ffer General Lander. Hereturned to Green- was inured by Governor Morton to take commaist of the Fifty-fifth Regiment Indiana Infantry og Colonel. He took this regiment gagement at Richmond. The term of service of the Fifty-fifth expiring in September of that year he accepted the command of Camp Morton, at Indianapolis, and remained in charge until the spring of 1863, when, by order of the Governor, he took command of Camp Carrington, at Indianapolis. There he organized the One Hundred and Fifteenth, One IEnndred and Sixteenth, One Hundred and Serentrer th and One Hundred and Eighteenth with bis son, John R., aged eighty-two years. "castle, end In fore fully recovering his health, In jolities he was formerly & Whig, but in later years an ardent Republican. In 1986 he was elected on the Whig ticket to the Lower House of the Indiana Legislature to ; to the field in Kentucky, and was in the en- represent. Putnam County. He also served as justice of the peace several years. The mother of our subject was of English-German ancestry. She married Mr. Mahan in Ken- tueky, where they were both taken by their parents when children. She came to this county with her family in 1526, and died at Greencastle, October 20, 1572, at the resi- i dence of her son, aged nearly seventy-four years. Both were members of the Presby- terian church. John B. Mahan, from his : Regiments, Indiana Infantry, and they, with
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
a battery of artillery and a squadron of eav- alry, formed a brigade, with which be was ordered to the field, with full power of a Brigadier, being such by brevet, and was on duty in Tennessee, under Generals Burnside and Wilcox. The term of service of the brigade expired in the spring of 1864, and the Colonel closed his army career. After regaining his health he was engaged in gen- eral trading at Greencastle until 1887, when he retired from business. He was married at Greencastle in February, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Grooms, daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Walls) Grooms. The father was a native of Virginia. and of English-German ancestry. In the days of Daniel Boone he was taken to Kentucky by his parents, who settled near where Lexington now stands, and where his father was killed by the Indians in early life. He was a shoemaker by trade, but in after years was a drover, purchasing live stock, which he drove to market at Rich- mond and Raleigh. He came to Putnam County in 1846, and located on a farm in the vicinity of (ireencastle, but soon after removed to Indianapolis, where he died in 1858, aged sixty-seven years. The mother of Mrs. Ma- han was a native of Maryland, also of English- German ancestry. She was married in Kentucky, and died at Mount Sterling, that State, abont 1830, aged about thirty years. Both were members of the Baptist church, but in later life the father became a member of the Christian church, and was an elder at the time of his death. Mrs. Mahan was mostly reared at Lexington. After the death of her mother she went to live with an annt. She attended the common school and com- pleted her education at Mrs. DeForest's Ladies Seminary. at Lexington. In 1840 she came to Greencastle with her brother, Ansel Grooms, riding the whole distance from Lexington on horseback. Mr. and Mrs.
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Mahan are members of the Presbyterian church at Greencastle. They have no chil- dren. Mr. Mahan is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 47, A. F. & A. M., and of Green- castle Post, No. 11, G. A. R.
ALVIN HURST, farmer and stock- raiser, section 36, Marion Township, was born in this county December 10, 1837, son of George and Elizabeth Hurst. ITis father was a native of Virginia, and was married in Indiana to Elizabeth Iibbs. Ile came to Putnam County with his brother, David Ilurst, in 1822. and entered large tracts of land in Marion, Jefferson and Mill Creek townships. He settled in Jefferson Township, where he remained until his death. which occurred in 1865. ITis wife survives him, and resides in Jefferson Township. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom six are living-Burton, Isom, Jesse, Calvin, Marion and James. All was woods when the father settled here, and he helped to cut the timber from the present site of Greencastle. He endured many hardships and privations. and was always industrions. He favored public improvements, and was ready to lend assistance to any enterprise that would bene- fit the community. In his demise Putnam County lost one of its best citizens. He was a Democrat in polities, and a member of the Old School Baptist church. Calvin Hurst was reared to manhood in this county, and received a common-school education, such as the country then afforded. January 19, 1861, he was married to Miss Eliza J. Broadstreet, and to this union four children were born, two of whom are deceased. The living are --- Jerusha M. and Emery E. Mrs. Hurst died October 29, 1878, and July 4. 1880, Mr. Hurst was married to Miranda J. Chandler,
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HISTORY OF PUTNUMI COUNTY.
and their children were- Alva R. and Oflie ! children, four living . John. Levi, Elizabeth E. The second wife died February 4, 1887. and Rosamm. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley are Mr. Hurst settled upon his present farm highly respected members of society. about 1874, and owns 215 acres of good land. Forty acres he received from his father's estate, and the rest he has made himself. In polities he is a Democrat.
QUIRE A. COX, a pioneer of Patnan County and a resident of Marion Town- ship, was born in Pulaski County, Ken. tucky. Jannary 25, 1815. son of Jacob and Frances Cox, natives of Virginia. Several ESSE W. STANLEY, farmer and stock- raiser. Marion Township, was born in Wayne County, Indiana, March 23, 1882, win of Jeremiah and JJemima Stanley, the of hi paternal ancestors were soldiers in the ! Revolutionary war, and some of his maternal ancestors served in the war of 1812. He is of English-Welsh descent. his ancestors hav- father a native of North Carolina and the ; ing inmigrated to AAmerica prior to the Rev- mother of Pennsylvania. His father's an- volution, settling in Virginia. He was reared cestors were English. He was only two years to manhood in his native county, and re- ceived a limited edneation in the carly schools of l's time. He was but two years old when his mother died, and only fifteen when his father cjed. He was thus carly thrown upon his own rc onreces. In the fall of 1835 he restoved to this county, and for the first seven years lived in Franklin Township. He then located on scetion 11, Marion Township, where he has since resided, and where he owns a good farm of 127 aeres. He was first married August 1, 1839. to Nancy W. Harrah, a na- tive of Kentucky. She came to Putnam County with her parents in an early day. To this union was born one child Currilda F., now deceased. . Mrs. Cox died January 23, 1842. and March 28, 1844, Mr. Cox married Cynthia A. Vermillion, born February 14, 1528, a daughter of Isaiah ant Tillitha C. Vermillion, who settled in Monroe Township, five miles north of Greencastle, in 1823. Mrs. Cox is now the oldest living native of Putnam County residing in the county. They have had three children, all of whom are de- ceased -- Currinda and two that died in in- fancy. Mr. Cox is a self-made man. All of age when his father died, and six years old when his mother died. His parents were early settlers of Indiana. After their de- mise he was reared in the family of John Estep. his maternal grandfather, in Wayne County, with whom he lived until he reached his majority. He was educated in the com- mon schools of his time, and his occupation has been principally that of farming. March 15, 1857, he was married to Miss Rosanna Parks, born in Wayne County January 14, 1833, and danghter of Curtis and Nancy Parks, natives of Ohio. The mother died when she was fifteen years of age. Her father is now in his eighty-fourth year, and has lived upon one farin fifty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley have had six children, five living - - Miron E., William D., John L., Murrey C., Frank F. and Lizzie A. The latter died March 17, 1887. She was the wife of John H. Girten, of Putnam County. Mr. Stanley settled upon his present farm on section 8, Marion Township, in the fall of 1865, and owns forty acres of good land. To the parents of Mrs. Stanley were born eleven
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
that he has he has made by economy. perse- verance and goed management. He has never served as a witness for or against his neighbor in a law-suit. and has never served on the grand jury. His word is considered as good as his bond. In polities he affiliates with the Republican party, but has never sought official positions, His wife is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both are respected members of society.
TEPHEN BENNETT VAN CLEAVE. proprietor of the Vine street and South End meat markets, at Greencastle, was born near Shelbyville, Shelby County. Ken- tucky. May 15. 1821. He was reared on a farm and had but limited school advantages. When in his twenty-first year he left his na- tive State and came to Indiana, which was then a Territory, loeating at Columbus, where
& Son: Heury Douglas, of Greencastle, and Mary Margaret, who was married October 1, 1873, to W. B. Kindall. Both are members of the Missionary Baptist church, and Mr. Van Cleave is a member of Putnam Lodge. No. 45, J. O. O. F., of which he is past grand. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Allen) Van Cleave, were natives of Virginia, and removed to Shelby County, Kentucky, about : 1810. where the father died in 1846, aged sixty-three years. His mother came t) Greencastle In 185%, where she died in 1961, at the house of her son Jesse, aged seventy- two years. Both were members of the Mis- sionary Baptist church.
M. WRIGHT. farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 27, Floyd Township. where he owns 200 acres of land. He was born in that township May 20. 1511. com he engaged in farming until 1548. He was : of Martin and Leah (Chadwick) Wright, na- then engaged in butchering for a few years, tives of North Carolina. They removed to and in 1855 came to Greeneastle, where for i Putnam Connty in 1>35, where they remained thirty-two years he has carried on butcher- ing, and sixteen years of that time has occu- pied his Vine street market. In the fall of , been a farmer. He was married January 3. 1856 he opened his branch market at South
until the decease of the father. Our subject passed his early life on a farm and has always 1865, in this county, to Miss Amanda Chat- End, Greencastle. November 4, 1841, he : ham, who was born in this county in Novem- was married, at Columbus, to Miss Elizabeth : ber, 1543, a daughter of J. W. and Sarah Abbott, daughter of James and Nancy (Jones) Chatham, and they have had three (Brent) Albett, of Newcastle, Henry County, children Ulysses A. Ollie A. and Birdie L. Kentucky. She was born in Newcastle, but Mr. Wright is a Republican in politics. Feb- after her eleventh year she was reared by a ruary 15, 1565, he enlisted in Company C. sister living near. Columbus, Indiana. Mr. One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana In- fantry, serving seven months. He was mus- and Mrs. Van Cleave have had seven children --. Tilton Allen, of Chicago, Illinois; Albert 'tered out and discharged at Indianapolis. His 1 Newton, who assists his father; Joseph Law- education was limited to the subscription schools of the early day, but he has good son, of Greencastle; Stephen Bennett, Jr., Charles Thomas, who is associated with his practica! sen-e and a fund of general informa- father under the firm name of Van Cleave tion. He had about forty acres of land to
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
start with, and has made all the rest of his property by hard work and good manage- ment. He has a fine honse, costing $1,300. Postoffice, Coatesville.
ANE B. FRAKES, was born in Lan- caster, South Carolina, January 6, 1810. Her parents were Andrew and Esther Spratt, of Irish ancestry. They had seven children, only two of whom are living. Mr. Spratt was three times married, our sub- jeet's mother being the first wife. By his second marriage there was one child, and by the third two children. The names of the ; children are as follows --- Laura, James, John, Jane, Pinckney, Samuel, Hettie, Mary, Cath- erine and Pink. Mrs. Frakes lived in South Carolina until nineteen years of age. In 1829 she was married to Thomas R. Frakes, son of Joseph and Hannah Frakes, and after marriage they removed to Kentucky for two or three years, thence to Putnam County, where Mrs. Frakes has lived fifty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Frakes had six children -- - Sam- uel M., bora January 22, 1830; Joseph D., born July 8, 1832: Elizabeth, deceased, born May 8, 1836; Phebe T., deceased, born November 11, 1832; James Il., born November 22, 1841; Andrew W., born September 3, 1846. Samuel married Mary Tarrow, daughter of Richard and Mary Tarrow, and they had twelve children, all living in Iowa. Joseph married Rebecca Gilky, daughter of John and Sarah Gilky, and they have one son living in St. Louis, Missouri. Elizabeth married William Jenkins, and has been dead twenty years. Phebe married John, son of John and Sarah Gilly, and died leaving four children. James II. married Susanna, daughter of William and Ant Wolverton, and they have twelve
children: they are living in Missouri. Charles married Catherine, daughter of Harrison and Panlina Allen, and they have four children; they live in Monroe Towaship. Mrs. Frakes has twenty-three grandchildren and twenty- one great-grandchildren. Her early ednca- tional advantages were very limited, but she has given her children the best advantages possible for her to do. Mr. Frakes died April 29. 1858. Mrs. Frake- and most of her children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
STEPHEN LATHAM, farmer and stock- raiser, section 10. Madison Township. owns 192 acres of land in a good state of cultivation. He was born in Madison Township September 3, 1830, son of Jesse and Sarah (Cole) Latham, pioneers of this county. The family came to Indiana in 1520, settling on Kel River, Clay County, where they remained one year; thence to this county, where the parents lived until their decease. The father died Angust 10, 1575, aged eighty-six years, and the mother in 1865, aged sixty-four years. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living Matthew, of Washington Territory; Marga- ret Carpenter; Rebecca Helton; William, of this county: John, of Missouri; Elizabeth Lineingburger, of Illinois, and Stephen. The latter was married in this county in 1857 to Miss Elizabeth Heady, daughter of Emri and Elizabeth (Slavens) Heady, a native of this county, and they have had seven children, of whom six are living -_ Sarah E., wife of The- odore Key, of Putnam County: John W., also of this county: Mary B., James A., Elia. Asa and one that died in infancy. Mr. Latham commenced life with nothing but a
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
horse and saddle, but being industrious and a good manager. has been successful. Post- office, Greencastle.
Kentucky. Joel Shields lost his father by death when only seven years of age, and being the oldest of the family of three chil- dren remained at home to assume the great responsibility of the care of the family. His brother, William Shields, had served as sur- veyor and reeorder of Putnam County for many years. In the death of Mr. Shields Putnam County lost one of her most useful citizens. Edward W. Shields, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in this county, and received a common school edu- cation. He was married October 1. 1879, to Miss Phoebe M. Tharp, who was a native of Iowa, and reared in Indiana. She died March 8, 1881. From his twenty-first to his twenty- sixth year Mr. Shields was in very poor ; health, which at one time was thought serious;
DWARD W. SHIELDS. farmer and stock-raiser, Marion Township, was born in this county November 13, 1840. son of Joel and Mary (Suoddy) Shields, His father emigrated to Owen County. this State, in 1520. and remained there until 1539. His parents were married Jannary, 1540. They then removed to Putnam County. Joel Shields settled with his family on section 25, Marion Township, where he entered a piece of land and also purchased land. He had about 320 acres, situated in a dense forest. Some time previous to his removal here he , but during the last few years he has been brought seven men from Owen County and much improved. He owns 570 acres of good land in Putnam County. He is a member of the Christian church, and in politics a Re- publican. He has been success ful as a farmer, and resides on section 24. they cleared thirty acres of timber, and put np what was then called a shanty. A neigh- bor had previously set out one and one-quarter acres of trees for an orchard. Like all pio- neers he endured hardships and privations. Ile was the father of five children. of whom four survive . Edward W., Mary A .. wife of George II. Johnson, of Hendricks County: FTALEXANDER DANIEL, retired farmer, resides on section 25, Floyd Township. where he owns tid acres of land. He was born in North Carolina October 22, 1520, son of Cuthbert and Catherine (EDer) Daniel. the former a native of Virginia and of Welsh ancestry, the latter a native of North Caro- lina and of German avesstry. They removed to this county in 1936, where they passed Amanda M .. wife of John S. Hunter. of this county, and John J .. of Clark County. Kan- sas. Susan T. is drecased. The father died December 28. 1867. aged sixty-seven years. In polities he was a Republican, and before the war a Whig. He was an honest, hard working pioneer, and respected by all who know him. Joim Snoddy. the maternai grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in most of their lives. His mother died when the Revolutionary war. Fergus and Almer he was quite young. His early life was Shoddy, son of John Shoddy, were soldiers passed on a farm and he has always followed in the war of 1812. The Shields family are . the occupation of a farmer. He was married of Scotch-Irish descent, and immigrated to in this county in 1546 to Ennox J. Randall. America previous to the Revolution, settling who was born in Putnam County in 124, in Virginia. They subsequently removed to , daughter of William and Nancy ( MeRey-
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
nolds) Randall, pioneers of this county. Three of their six children are living-Mary M., wife of George Iliggins, of Missouri; Nancy, wife of Cyrus Phillips, of La Fayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and Thomas M., who married Josie Evans, of this county. Mrs. Daniel died in 1865, and in 1866 Mr. Daniel married Mary A. Higgins, who was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, January 2, 1830, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Higgins, pioneers of Hendricks County and formerly residents of Kentucky. To this union two children have been born-Joseph A. and Alilian. Mr. Daniel is a Republican in politics, and has served two years as town- ship trustee. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and his wife and daughter belong to the Christian church. He started in life poor and has made all of his property himself. Postoffice, Fillmore.
ENRY BOWEN a pioneer of Marion Township, was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, February 17, 1818, son of Richard and Elizabeth Bowen, also na- tives of Virginia. His paternal ancestors came from England previous to the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, James Bowen, was a a Revolutionary soldier, and was present at the capture of the British army under Lord Cornwallis. When he was eighteen years of age he came to Putnam County with his parents, who settled on section 33, Marion Township, where the mother died in 1861. The father survived a few years longer. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five are living-Dabney, of Platt County, Missouri; Sarah, wife of John Kearns, of Buchanan County, Missouri; Charles, re- siding in Wisconsin; James, of Pendleton County, Kentucky; Wesley, of this county,
and Henry. Richard Bowen was among the early pioneers of Marion Township, and like other settlers had to undergo many hardships. Ile was a member of the Baptist church, and in politics a Republican. He was widely known, and respected by all who knew him. November 23, 1843, Henry was married to Rachel Hibbs, who was born April 24, 1824, in Tennessee, and daughter of Samuel and Rosa Hibbs, with whom she came to Putnam County in an early day. Her parents were among the pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen have had eight children, six sur- viving-William J., Nancy, wife of S. P. Vaughn, Samuel, Henry Clay, Thomas W. and Daniel S. Mr. Bowen settled upon his present farm on section 29. Marion Township, in 1844. Ile owns a good farin of 250 acres of land, and has been fairly successful. He is a self-educated man, not having attended school more than six months in his life. IIe possesses a large fund of general information, and is well versed in the general topics of the day. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is at present serving as trustee and steward of that church; has also been class-leader. In politics he is a Republican, and has served as school director with satisfaction.
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RANCIS M. ALLEE, son of John and Lucretia (Puitt) Allee, and a prominent farmer of Jefferson Township, was born in that township November 5, 1839. IIe was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools of the county, and also at Greencastle. Ile remained at home until his marriage, November 17, 1860, with Sa- rah E. Sandy, born in Owen County, this State, March 4, 1845, a daughter of William B. Sandy. After his marriage he followed
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
farming, and still continues that occupation. lle also gives considerable attention to stock- raising. When he commenced he had 160 acres of land given him by his father. He has since added to that until he now has 600 acres of well cultivated land, and good, com- fortable buildings. He is a Republican in poli- ties, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, being twenty-one years of age the day before the election. He served four years as trustee of his township. and has held other positions of trust. Mr. and Mrs. Al- lee have had eight children . Lucretia E., William U., JJuliette F., Sarah Jen tette, Lizzie R., Amanda M., Herbert S. and Daisy M. Lucretia, William and Lizzie are de- ceased. Mr. Allee joined the Masonic fraternity in 1859, and is a member of Clo- verdale Lodge, No. 322.
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