USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 44
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
two children- Ethel and an infant daughter. Mary married William Ferrand, of Monroe Township, and has three children -- Lawrence, Lillie and Dora. Robert married Annie Henry, lives in Greencastle Township, has one child -- Clarence. Mr. and Mrs. Scobee are members of the Christian church.
INOCH DICKS. farmer and stock-raiser, Marion Township, was born in Mason County, Kentucky, September 18, 1820, son of John and Mary Dicks, also na- tives of Kentucky. ITis paternal ancestors were of German deseent, and his maternal of Irish ancestry. In 1835, he immigrated to this county with his parents, who settled near Greencastle, where the father purchased 160 acres of land about one mile north of that city and remained there until his death, which occurred a few years after his arrival in the county. He had been twice married, and reared a large family of children, of whom the following survive-Giles, a resident of Lebanon, Indiana; Ruth, now Mrs. Borland, of Danville. this State; Rebecca, wife of Benjamin G. Ivysong, of this county; Enoch; Naomi. who became the wife of Mr. West, of Effingham, Illinois; Virginia, who married Franklin Darnell, of Danville; Caroline, now Mrs. Beadell, of Boone County, this State; Newton, a resident of Putnam County, and Angeline, wife of Robert Hervey, a resident of Danville; Enoch has been a resident of this county since his fourteenth year. IIe has always been a farmer with the exception of about eight years spent in the drug busi- ness, at Fillmore. He is now the owner of eighty-five aeres of excellent land in Marion Township. He started in life with compara- tively nothing, and all he has he has made by his own efforts. November 16, 1843, he
was married to Miss Catherine Bridges, born May 5, 1825. in Fleming County, Kentucky, and a daughter of Hon. Moses T. Bridges, of Putnam County. To this union have been : born six children, four of whom are living - Hiram W., Moses 1., Florence and Mollie, who married William Sillery, of this county. The deceased are-Dr. John A. and Newton E. Mr. Dieks has had many severe experi- ences of pioneer life, and has always been a hard-working, industrious man. Himself and wife have been members of the Method- ist Episcopal church from their childhood; but a short time since, the church at Fillmore, where they were communicants, was discon- tinued, and since that time they have united with no other. Politically Mr. Dicks affili- ates with the Democratic party.
AMES SIMPSON HARLAN, farmer and stock-raiser, resides in the southern part of Clinton Township, where he owns 130 aeres of land. He was born in this county June 24, 1834, and has lived here during the greater part of his life. His parents were Jacob and Rebecca Harlan, the former born in England. in 1802, and the latter was born in Ireland in 1806. They had nine children, and all are now living- Matilda, Nancy, Barbara, Sarah, Lucinda, Melissa, James, William H. and Elizabeth. One child is living in Arkansas, five in Put- nam County, one in Missouri, and two in Iowa. James S. was married August 10, 1856, to Miss Rebecca Star, daughter of Michael and Anna Star, of Clinton Town- ship. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, only five of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Harlan have ten children-James H., George A., Alice A., Martha, Jacob, Thomas, Mary, Laura, Serena and Katie. Alice
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BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHIES.
inarried Alfred Carmichael, son of Hiram and Myra Carmichael, and they have five children-Alice, James II., Stella, Wilbur (deceased) and Minnie Bell. Mary married Samuel Blacketer, and they have one child- Nellie. Both of Mr. Harlan's grandfathers served in the Revolutionary war. Both of his brothers were in the Union army during the late war: one was wounded in the hand; the other was captured and held a prisoner for nearly a year. Mr. Harlan has held the office of supervisor ten or twelve years, and was also assessor two or three terms. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, and himself and wife are members of the Campbellite church.
MOS HI. HORN, M. D., a practicing physician at Putnamville, was born in Cloverdale Township, January 13, 1858. son of John and Celia Horn, natives of North Carolina, where they were married, and came to this county in an early day. They located on section 36, Cloverdale Township, where they lived until the death of the father. The mother now resides at Cloverdale Village. Dr. Ilorn was quite young when his father died. Ile remained at home on the farm un- til about twelve years of age, then went to Hendricks County to live with a brother, where he attended Amo Academy one year. He then returned to his home. He com- menced teaching school when fifteen years of age, and taught several winters, attending school during the summer. While his time was occupied in this manner his leisure hours were spent in reading medicine with Dr. Bence, of Greencastle. In September, 1850, he entered the medical department of the Virginia State University, graduating as M. D. in 1881. After his graduation he com- menced practice at Coal Bluff, Vigo County,
and in 1883 he removed to Owen County, remaining one year, thence to Putnam Conn- ty, in 185-4, where he has a large and luera- tive practice. In polities he is a Democrat.
B ENJAMIN CHAMBERLAIN, de- ceased, an early settler of Cloverdale Township, was born in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, September 11, 1750. Ile was married in Vermont, February 10, 1807, to Rosanna Amsden, who was born in Dana, Massachusetts, February 22, 1786. He was a miller by trade, as was also his father. Hle came to Putnam County October 25, 1839, locating in Cloverdale Township, where he entered land upon which they lived until their decease. The father died March 16, 1850, and the mother August 26. 1860. They were members of no church, but were of the Universalist faith. They were the parents of five children, four of whom were boys. Mr. Chamberlain was for many years a prominent Mason. and took the Royal Arch degree.
TACY REEVES, farmer and stock- raiser, resides on section 14, Washing- ton Township, where he owns sixty-three aeres of land. He was born in Campbell County, Kentucky, June 16, 1833, son of John and Elizabeth (Dicks) Reeves, also na- tives of Kentucky, and of German-English ancestry. They removed to this county in 1833, settling three miles north of Green- castle, where the parents remained until their decease; the father died in 1583, aged seven- ty-three years, and the mother also died in 1SS3, at the same age. They reared ten children, eight of whom are still living, Stacy
520
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
being the third child. He was reared on a farm and has followed that ocenpation all his life. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-eighth Indiana Infantry, serving six- ty days. He was taken prisoner by Johnston, and when paroled came home. He has never been well since his army experience, but after a partial recovery he resumed his farm work. He was married in 1855 to Miss Frances Bittle, who was born in this county and died in 1864, leaving three children-William, Oliver and Alice. In 1876 Mr. Reeves mar- ried, in Hendricks County, Mrs. Sarah Carver, who married for her first husband William Carver, and had one child ---- Clara. After Mr. Carver's death she married Mr. Reeves. Her maiden name was also Reeves. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves have two children-Gracia B. and Hilda N. Mr. Reeves is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Grand Army of the Republic. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Reeves started in life a poor man, and received only a rudimentary education in the subscription schools.
ETER BOWERS, farmer, section 30, Franklin Township, was born in Davie County, North Carolina, March 25, 1822, son of David and Catherine Bowers, the former born in. 1797 in North Carolina, and the latter in the same State in 1804. They had seven children, six of whom are living-two in this county, two in Montgom- ery Connty, and two in Kansas. Mr. Bowers was married, November 20, 1849, to Miss Mary Gnilliams daughter of Edgecomb and Anna G. Guilliams, natives of Tennessee. Her parents had eight children, three of whom are living at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have had four children-Milton T., born August 23, 1852; Anna C., born Feb-
ruary 18, 1856; John D., deceased, born Jan- uary 17, 1858; Clay, born November 26, 1870. Milton married Sarah Burket, a daugh- ter of Benton and Rebecca Bnrket, and he lives on section 20. Anna married David Brother, and their children are-Gertrude, Ida and Jessie. Mr. Bowers' paternal grand- father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was once taken prisoner by the " Red- coats " and retained a few months, then suc- ceeded in making his escape. Mr. Bowers was educated in the primitive log school- house, with puncheon floor and door, clap- board roof, greased paper for windows and a mud-and-stick fireplace. Politically Mr. Bow- ers is a Democrat, and Mrs. Bowers is a member of the Christian church.
- ILLIAM R. MCELROY, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 33, Washington Township, where he owns 216 acres of land. He was born in this county May 26, 1841, son of William and Martha (Charlott) McElroy, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch ancestry. They came to this county in 1837, settling in Madison Town- ship, where they remained until their decease, the father dying in 1870, aged seventy-eight years, and the latter in 1875, aged seventy- nine years. They reared ten children, seven of whom are living. The father was a shoe- maker by occupation. Our subject was reared to the occupation of farming, but was engaged in the mercantile business about twelve years. In 1861 he enlisted in Com- pany A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, serving until March 12, 1863, and was discharged on account of disability. In 1865 he was mar- ried in this county to Miss Mary Barnett, danghter of David and Ellen Barnett, pio-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
neers of Putnam County, who was born in 1847. Six of their eight children are living -Cora F., Paul, Martha C., David F., Ralph E. and Jessie L. The deceased are Sallie E. and William N. Mr. McElroy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a Democrat. ITe has made his own way in the world, never having a dollar given him except a pension of $4 a month. He has two, of the best horses in the county, one black horse, Clydesdale, four years old, weight, 1700 pounds, and one half Clydesdale and half English Suffolk. Ile has never failed to take a premium on these fine horses. He took a premium over thirteen others in 1880.
EORGE R. WEMS, proprietor of the Cloverdale harness shop, engaged in business at that place in September, 1886. Ile carries a stock that is usually found in the trade. He was born in Greene County, Tennessee, June 5, 1563, a son of Robert and Jane A. Wems. natives of Ten- nessee. The father was a farmer, and had two children. The mother died when our subject was six years old, and when he was seven years old he came to Putnam County, where he received a common school ednea- tion. He followed farming until 1886, when he engaged in his present business. He has always been industrious, and what property he has was earned by hard labor.
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with the exception of a short time spent in Illinois. Mr. Chamberlain is a Universalist in religious belief; is also a celibate, having never married. He studied medicine under Dr. J. MeGinnis three years, then went to Indianola, Vermillion County, Illinois, and practiced one summer. IIe also learned the book-binder's trade at Battleboro. Mr. Chamberlain is a man of marked ability, and is ingenious to an unusual degree. He is greatly respected by all who know him.
EORGE P. SHOPTAUGH, superinten- dent of the Putnam County Infirmary. was born in this county September 10, 1837, son of Jacob and Mary Shoptaugh, natives of Kentucky. His father's ances- tors were German. About 1528 his father removed to Putnam County with his family and settled on scetion 18. Marion Township, where he entered 223 aeres of land. Hle first erected a rude log cabin in which to shelter his family, and there cultivated a good farm, reared a family, and remained there until his death. He was the father of thirteen chil- dren, seven of whom survive -- William 1., Henry S., George P., Benjamin F., Mary, Ella and Sophia. Being a pioneer, he was obliged to undergo many hardships and tri- vations. He was very highly esteemed by all who knew him. George P. Shoptaugh was reared to manhood in this county and received only a limited education. Noven- ber 23, 1866. he was married to Lucy W. Chism, born February 22, 1544, in Mort- gomery County, Kentucky, and daughter of Samuel and Sarah Chism, who came to this county in 1852. settling in Monroe Town- ship, where they remained until their de- cease. Mr. and Mrs. Shoptangh have had
OSEPHI W. CHAMBERLAIN, an early settler of Cloverdale Township, was born at Chesterfield. New Hampshire. Octo- ber 22, 1819. and was twenty years of age when he came to this county with his par- ents. Ile has since lived in the county ; three children, two of whom are living-
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Henry F., a student at De Pauw University, and Sophia E. Mr. Shoptaugh served as assessor of Marion Township four years. In 1870 he received his present appointment, and was re-appointed yearly until 1881, in which year he gave up the position. In 1886 he was again appointed and is still serving. HIe is a Democrat in politics, and was for- merly a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
LONZO E. CHAMBERLAIN, farmer and stock-raiser, Cloverdale Township, was born in that township March 7, 1847, son of Benjamin A. and Margaret M. (Ingram) Chamberlain. Benjamin A. was born in New Hampshire, December 27, 1811, and came with his parents, Benjamin and Rosanna (Amsden) Chamberlain, to Putnam County. Ilis father was born in New Hamp- shire, and his mother in Massachusetts. They were married in Vermont, and settled in this county in 1839, locating on section 35, Cloverdale Township, where they lived until their decease. The father died March 16, 1850, aged sixty-nine years, six months
and five days, and the mother August 26, 1860, aged seventy-four years, six months and four days. They were the parents of five children-four sons and one daughter. The father was a Universalist in religious belief, and a farmer by occupation. Ile was of Scotch-English ancestry, and the mother of English descent. Benjamin A. Chamber- lain, the father of our subject. was married in 1846 to Margaret M. Ingram, a native of Tennessee. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed it until his death. The mother died September 18, 1857, aged thirty-one years, five months and eighteen days. She had four children, three sons and one daughter. The father afterward married, and died JJuly 26, 1876. He was a Democrat in politics, and held the office of township trustee. Alonzo E., our subject, was reared in Putnam County, and received a common-school education. IIe was married, March 21, 1868, to Almira J. Cline, born in Cloverdale Township, October 30, 1846, a daughter of Nicholas and Lu- cinda Cline. They have had three children -- William L., Mattie E. and an infant unnamed, now deceased. Mr. Chamberlain owns 175 acres of land, all lying in Cloverdale Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain are mem- bers of the Old Baptist church.
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