USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 15
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 15
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 15
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 15
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 15
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 15
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 15
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In 1852 he moved to Greencastle, Indiana, in order to give his daugh- ters the benefit of a higher education in the university there. In 1856 he moved to Bell county, Texas; but owing to the border troubles on account of slavery he returned to this state two years afterward. At the breaking out of the great civil war he was living at Sugar Grove, Indiana, traveling the Williamsport circuit, where the young men of the Sugar Grove Institute,
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who were enlisting in the war, without his knowledge secured a commission for him as chaplain of the Fortieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and while in this patriotic service he died, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was one of those characters in church history who accomplish more than any other sin- gle agency in forming the beliefs and habits of pioneer peoples. He will be long held in sacred remembrance by his descendants, and also by many others. His venerable widow is yet living, at the ripe age of eighty-eight years and still in the possession of all her faculties excepting that of sight. Her family, the Truitts, were of English stock. Samuel Truitt, the founder of the family in America, was the only son of John Truitt. Samuel was born in England, about 1730, and came to America in 1750. He married Mary Collins and settled near Flemingsburg, a point near Dover, Delaware. His wife was born about the year 1733, and died in Kentucky, at the home of her son, Saxagotha Truitt, about the year 1835, aged one hundred and two years, six months and twenty days. To Samuel and Mary Truitt were born the following children: John, born October 2, 1753, who died November 7, 1821, lived near Dayton, Ohio; Sallie, born June 25, 1755, married Joshua Dibstee, and moved to Fleming county, Kentucky; Collins, born February 19, 1757, settled in Ohio, near Xenia or Dayton; Jesse, born March 3, 1759; George, born April 18, 1761, married Millie Prater, and after her death wedded Mrs. Nancy Gibbs: he died near White Oak, Greenup county, Kentucky, April 10, 1842, at the residence of his son Samuel; Eliz- abeth, born May 13, 1763, married David or William Gault, and resided in Cincinnati; William, born October 21, 1765, lived in Fleming county, Kentucky; Mary, born October 26, 1767, married Thomas B. Ach, and resided in Lewis county, that state; Samuel, born September 23, 1769, lived at South Bend, Clermont county, Ohio; Joseph, born January 12, 1772, lived in Illinois; Jane, born January 24, 1774, and died October 20, 1848, unmarried; Saxagotha, born October 17, 1776, married Holland Jiner, in North Carolina, and resided in Johnson county, Missouri, and in Kentucky; Lina, who married and had a family; and Rachel, born January 15, 1780, died October 13, 1786, killed by cows.
The children of George and Millie (Prater) Truitt were: Rachel, born in Delaware in 1785, married Horatio Burris about 1803, and had one child, Luia by name, who was killed by a train of railroad cars April 6, 1863, at Portsmouth, Ohio; Mary; Samuel, who married Mary Gibbs in 1818, and made his home in Lewis county, Kentucky; Joshua, who married Susan Stout, and lived in Adams county, Ohio; Sylvester, who died in New Orleans, unmarried; Betsy, who married Jacob Worley and died at Quincy, Illinois; Nicy, who became the wife of Joseph Worley and died near Portsmouth, Ohio; Simon, who married Rebecca Murphy, October 16, 1828, in Adams
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county, Ohio, and died at the mouth of the Kinniconick, in Kentucky, December 16, 1844; Sinai, born March 12, 1804, married James A. Baird, a Presbyterian minister, March 4, 1823, and died at Sandy Springs, Ohio, July 17. 1863; Jabez, born January 17, 1808, married Susannah Worley, June 8, 1837, and died at Emporia, Kansas, May 9, 1874, a twin of George Truitt, who married Mary Ann Worley, January 24, 1834, in Scioto county, Ohio, and died at Quincy, Kentucky, July 3, 1860; and Millie, born January 15, 1811, and married Allen D. Beasley.
Allen D. Beasley's children were Sarah E., Margaret A., Susan, George F., John W. and Alfred E.
HON. WILLIAM L COX.
Mr. Cox, who is a prominent member of the bar of Indiana, located at Oxford, is a native of Monroe county, Indiana, born July 28, 1838, a son of Rev. John Bridgman and Barbara (Ledgerwood) Cox. His father was born in Jacksboro, Tennessee, October 5, 1813, and came with his parents, when a child, to Monroe county, this state, where he was educated and entered the ministry, spending his life in the service of the Baptist church and always retaining his residence in Monroe county; his death occurred October 20, 1892, at which time he was in possession of considerable property, including a farm of two hundred and eighty acres. His wife, also a native of Tennessee, died in Monroe county, this state, in March, 1845, at the age of thirty-four years. They had six children, of whom four are living: George W .; Mary A., deceased; William L. ; Isaac Hays, deceased; Nathaniel D .; and Martha M. For his second wife the father of these children married Miss Martha Moser, a native of Monroe county, and by the latter marriage there were ten chil- dren, namely: Louisa, Rachel J., James F., Lewis M., Emily A., Henry C., Oliver F., Douglas, McClellan and Thomas W., all residents of Indiana.
William L. Cox was educated in the public schools of his native county and at the University of Indiana, at Bloomington, and taught school until 1864, when he was elected county superintendent of schools, and early in life began his preparation for the legal profession. He studied law three years in the office of Judge William H. Bainbridge, at Nashville, Indiana, remaining there from 1864 to 1867, and in 1867 he was elected clerk of the circuit court. In 1885 he was appointed special examiner in the United States pension bureau, in which capacity he visited several of the northern states. His first services were in Washington, D. C .; six months were spent with headquarters at Boston, and a like period at Topeka, Kansas. He remained at Wichita, Kansas, two and a half years, and then went to Co- lumbus, Indiana, in 1889; and, retiring from the road, re-engaged in the
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practice of his profession in that city. From 1867 to 1875 he was clerk of the circuit court in Brown county, this state. He remained in Columbus from 1889 to 1895, when he went to St. Louis, and was in the south until May, 1897, when he came to Oxford.
Mr. Cox has had a varied and busy life. His experience in the employ of the government as special pension examiner probably gave him a deeper insight into human nature than all the rest of his professional career. Despairing applicants for Uncle Sam's bounty very improperly regard the "special " as a spy placed upon their track to prevent their obtaining their "just deserts;" yet the examiner oftener aids the applicant in completing an otherwise hopeless case.
Mr. Cox is descended from typical southern stock. His ancestors were representatives of the intelligent and educated people of the south in ante- bellum days. His paternal grandfather was a North Carolinian, a soldier in the war of 1812, and he died about 1840, at the age of seventy years. His wife also was a native of North Carolina, and departed this life at about the same age as did her husband. The only one of his grandparents whom Mr. Cox remembers was his maternal grandmother: She was a lady of extraor -. dinary intelligence, tall and stately, with black eyes, and was a descendant of Scotch ancestors. She died in 1865, at the age of eighty years. Though he remembers but little of his mother-being but seven years of age at the time of her death-he does remember her amiable and lovable disposition and her devotion to her family. His father was even-tempered, and firm in his convictions of right and wrong; and of both his parents Mr. Cox speaks in terms of great filial affection.
Mr. Cox, our subject, was married, in October, 1866, at Indianapolis, to Miss Permelia, daughter of Eli and Mamre Ann Bartholomew, born in Con- necticut, and later residents of Trumbull county, Ohio, in which county Mrs. Cox was educated, graduating at Farmington Academy. Her parental home was at Vienna. For some years she followed teaching prior to her marriage, and altogether she is a finely educated and accomplished lady. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have four children, namely: George W., born December 19, 1867, is now bookkeeper in the office of the St. Charles Car Company, St. Charles, Missouri; Nathaniel Eli, born March 5, 1872, is a traveling sales- man for the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, of St. Louis, Missouri, his residence being at Creston, Iowa; Will Fuller, born January 7, 1877, is now with the Sandia Mining Company in Peru, South America; and Pliny E., the youngest, was born January 20, 1884, and is a student in Oxford schools. All the children were born in Nashville, Indiana; and while they have wan- dered far from their parental home no two of them are residents of the same state.
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In politics Mr. Cox is a Democrat, and he has always taken an active interest in public affairs. For thirty years he has been prominently identi- fied with the Masonic fraternity, having attained to the rank of Royal Arch Mason, and in that order he has filled various positions, among which was that of worshipful master, and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
SIMON U. DOBBINS.
The efficient sheriff of White county, Indiana, is one of the most widely known and popular men in this part of the state. He is a product of White county, having been born at Palestine, April 14, 1852, and has passed his entire life here. The house in which he was introduced to the world now does duty as a stable. He is possessed of great force of character, is zealous and ardent in whatever he undertakes, and his example and precepts have been a power for good in the community. He lives in Monticello, where his principal business interests are centered, but he is widely and favorably known throughout this part of the state. He is a son of John and Catherine (Umstott) Dobbins, and is an offspring of Irish stock. Two brothers of that name emigrated from Ireland to America at an early day, and from them are descended the numerous family of Dobbins in America.
John Dobbins was a native of Virginia. He learned the trade of a black- smith, and conducted a shop in connection with his farm. He moved to White county, Indiana, in 1837, at a time when the country was in its infancy as regards civilization, and by his industry and integrity helped to establish those principles which have culminated in the present attractive and wealthy community. He improved a farm and on it built a blacksmith shop, where he improved his spare time in doing work for the neighboring farmers, thereby adding to his income. He married Miss Catherine Umstott, also a native of Virginia, who passed to her reward at the age of fifty-five years. John Dob- bins reached the more advanced age of seventy-two years and eighteen days, his demise being mourned as a public loss. The children born to them were: Susan E. (Mrs. Samuel Jones); Mary A. (Mrs. George W. Lear); Jennie K. (Mrs. J. B. Birch); Simon U., subject of this sketch; Harriet A., who married Luke Rogers, and is now deceased; Sarah C., who married John Hemphill,. and is deceased; John W. and Martin M., killed in the battle of the Wilder- ness; and Samuel P.
Simon U. Dobbins was brought up to habits of industry, and in early life was inured to all the duties of farm life. Here he formed habits of industry which have characterized his after life, while lessons of economy were instilled into his youthful mind, which, if put to practical application,
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would have made him a man of independent fortune. However, generosity is one of the leading traits of his character, as many grateful recipients can testify, and while he is now in comfortable circumstances his generous impulses and his desire to be of service to suffering humanity have prevented him from hoarding up his earnings and becoming wealthy, as a man of dif- ferent temperament would have done. During his boyhood he was expected to herd cattle, and consequently had little opportunity to secure an educa- tion. The occasional short term of winter school which he attended enabled him to obtain but little knowledge from that source, but he was an intelligent and observant lad, and he managed to store his mind with an unusual amount of practical knowledge, which was supplemented by a term in school when he was twenty years old. He had been deprived of educational advantages so long that he fully appreciated the importance of improving this chance, and made wonderful strides. He then continued farming until 1875, when he engaged in the general merchandise business at Wolcott, this county. He continued in that line of business until 1894, when he was chosen to serve the county in the capacity of sheriff, in which office his term expired November 22, 1898. He deals in real estate and has done consider- able auctioneering. He is now associated with Dean Brothers & Lincoln of Chicago, in the capacity of traveling salesman.
At the outbreak of the civil war Mr. Dobbins was most desirous of entering the army, but being merely a boy they would not take him, and he had to content himself with helping his father recruit the different companies. It was a pleasure to him, and he spent a good deal of time, working both night and day, in getting recruits together.
Mr. Dobbins has been three times married. His first wife, Mary E. Barnes, was from Monticello, and she died in 1880. She left four children: Jessie, Mrs. Robert. Nordyke; Frank; Lina; and Daisy, Mrs. Harry Bardoff. In 1882 he was united to Mrs. Ellen McAnally, formerly Ellen Murdock. She died three years later, leaving one child, Nettie, who lives in Wolcott. The present Mrs. Dobbins was Miss Mary A. Dyer, to whom have been born four children. Josie died at the age of two years, and the three living are Homer, Clarence and Chauncey.
In politics Mr. Dobbins is a stanch Republican, one who is well posted on all the important questions of the times and has not formed his opinion without deep thought. He is a very popular man in the county and has held a number of positions in the gift of the people, at one time acting as justice of the peace. He was not particular to be nominated for office, but his friends knew his worth and that the party interests would not suffer in his hands, and for that reason he carried the day. He has been a prominent man in the county, as was his father, and in the discharge of his duties has
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been careful, fair-minded and fearless. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is an honored member of the Christian church. Among his other accomplishments he has the gift of high oratorical and literary powers, and has traveled all over this section lecturing. One of his most popular and profitable lectures is " From the Cradle to the Jail," a composition which is replete with wit, humor and information, and which has been given before many an enthusiastic audience.
JESSE GRIMES.
Jesse Grimes, deceased, late a resident of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, August 2, 1817, a son of Felix and Susan (Bryant) Grimes. In his boyhood he received a common-school education, and followed agricultural pursuits during life. February 14, 1841, he mar- ried, in Fayette county, Miss Rebecca Riley, who was born September 14, 1820, in that county, a daughter of James and Nancy (Hogan) Riley. After living in their native county until 1843, Jesse Grimes and wife emigrated to Whitley county, Indiana, and lived there four years, on land which James Riley, his father-in-law, had given them. After partly clearing this land, Mr. Grimes moved, in 1847, to Tippecanoe county, locating near Clark's Hill, on rented land, and two years later he rented a piece of land in Mont- gomery county, lived there three years, and in 1854 settled on the present farm, which then consisted of three hundred and sixty acres, partly improved. He continued its improvement and prospered well, during his life owning as high as a thousand acres of land. Politically, he was a Republican. Both himself and wife were exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a hard-working man, straightforward in his manner and in his dealings, and was a good, practical business man. He was from an old family in Virginia who were of German origin. The children in his father's family were John, Jesse, Felix, Henry, Absalom, Catharine, Mary and Rebecca.
Jesse Grimes and wife reared a number of children, in an excellent manner, who are now highly respected citizens, all members of the agricult- ural community, and who own altogether about fourteen hundred acres of land. The children are: Johnson, born December 5, 1841 ; Sylvester W., September 26, 1843; Simeon, March 2, 1845 ; James R., July 10, 1847 ; Mary J., April 15, 1849 ; Lawson C., July 13, 1851 ; and William F., February 6, 1854.
Lawson C. Grimes is a substantial farmer and respected citizen on the line between Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties. He received a common- school education and also advanced training at the Battle Ground Collegiate
Jesse Princes. wed.
L
Mrs. Jesse Crimes.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Institute for a year, and his occupation during life has been that of farm- ing. He was married December 21, 1882, to Anna Catherine Kessler, a daughter of John and Margaret (Chizum) Kessler. After marriage he settled on his present farm. He inherited one hundred and sixty acres from his father, to which he has added, by his economical industry, until he owns two hundred and forty acres, all fine farm land. His pleasant residence which he now occupies he built in 1882, and, as the premises are beautifully finished, his home is attractive. His children are Clarence H., born April 1, 1884; Jesse Leo, November 26, 1887; and Margaret M., March 17, 1891. Politic- ally, Mr. Grimes is a Republican, and in religion Mrs. Grimes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He stands high as a citizen, being an intelligent and honorable business man.
William F. Grimes is also one of the solid and representative citizens of the agricultural community of Lauramie township. He was born in Mont- gomery county, received a common-school education and for a time attended the Battle Ground Collegiate Institute, since which time he has been engaged in farming. December 24, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie McIntyre, of Lauramie township, where she was born August 22, 1860, a daughter of Frank B. and Frances L. (Wright) McIntyre. After his marriage he settled on his present farm. He inherited two hundred and twenty acres from his paternal estate, and to that he has added by purchase until he now owns four hundred and sixty acres, all good agricultural land. In his politics he is a Republican, and religiously Mrs. Grimes is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church. Their children are Florence Rebecca, born December 22, 1892; and Frank H., March 25, 1899.
James Riley, referred to in the first paragraph, was born in Prince Will- iam county, Virginia, a son of Abraham and Martha (Price) Riley. Abraham Riley died in the Old Dominion, when his son James was very young. The latter went to Fayette county, Ohio, when about seventeen years old, mar -. ried there, and settled on land as a pioneer. In 1843-4 he moved to Whitley county, this state, where he bought land for himself and forty acres for each of his children,-Johnson, James, Angeline and Rebecca; these children were by his second marriage. Formerly he had married Sarah Waugh and had one child, named Sarah. James Riley died in Whitley county, aged about seventy-three years, in 1860. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, in which he was engaged in a skirmish with the Indians. His company was stationed at Fort Wayne. His father, Abraham Riley, was a soldier in the' Revolutionary war. In his religion James Riley was a member of the Methodist church, and served in that body as a class-leader; he was a fervent Christian. Politically, he was a Republican. A man of high and strict moral principles, he was greatly esteemed. 9
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Returning now to the family of Jesse Grimes, we add that his son Sylvester W. was a private in Company I, Eighty-sixth Regiment of Indiana Infantry, having enlisted for three years, and he died at Lebanon, Kentucky, January 22, 1863.
Șimeon Grimes, another brother, was born in Whitley county, this state, received a common-school education and has always been a farmer, now owning two hundred and forty acres of fine farming land, and is a good, practical business man. Politically, he is a Republican.
FRANK B. HUMSTON.
The gentlemanly and efficient clerk of White county is one of the most esteemed and highly respected citizens. Aside from his natural qualifica- tions, his whole business training, which has been clerical work in very responsible positions, has especially fitted him for this place, and an exami- nation of the books in the county clerk's office will convince the most doubt- ing of his thoroughness and efficiency. He was born in New Albany, Indi- ana, June 6, 1864, and has been a resident of this county for the past twelve years. His father, William J. Humston, is a native of Lawrence county, and follows the vocation of an agriculturist, although most of his life has been passed in railroading. He married Miss Mehala Smith, also of Lawrence county. Four children were born to them, -Frank B., the sub- ject of this sketch; Kate, the wife of Charles N. Lindley, a Quaker of Washington county; and Mabel and John, both at home.
Frank B. Humston spent his early years on a farm, and helped with such work as usually falls to the lot of a farmer lad. He attended the common schools until he was seventeen, and then, finding no aptitude for farm work, he entered the employ of the Adams Express Company as mes- senger boy. As he was too young to give a bond he was kept at extra work and continued with them until he was twenty years old. He then received the appointment of bill clerk at Monon, having charge of through freight. Three years later he was appointed agent at that place, and a number of years later was made general freight and passenger agent of the Bedford Belt Line in Lawrence county. He remained there one year and then returned to his old position at Monon. While acting in this capacity he was nominated to the office of county clerk of White county, to which office he was elected in the fall of 1894, taking the office July 7th of the following year. The county is Democratic, and he is the first Republican elected to that office in twenty years. He received a majority of three hundred and fifty, showing how well he stands in the county.
He was united in matrimony to Miss Minnie B. Thacker, a native of
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this county. He is a member of a number of fraternal orders, among them the Knights of Pythias, the lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Masonic order, in which he is a Knight Templar. He was extremely popular as a railroad employe and received letters from the officials of the road congratulating him on his election, while expressing regret that he must leave their employ. They made very complimentary mention of the character of his services, and expressed the desire that he might return to their employ at any time.
GEORGE K. HUGHES.
Mr. Hughes is one of the most prosperous and prominent business men of Monticello, White county, Indiana, where he has a store whose stock is not excelled in this section. He was born on the parental farm in Liberty township, November 3, 1852, and is a son of John and Emeline (Morgan) Hughes. His father, who is a successful and highly esteemed farmer of Lib- erty township, was born in Pennsylvania in June, 1828, and came to this county eighteen years later., He is a man of sterling worth, and has brought skill to the aid of agricultural art, receiving his reward in the success which has attended his efforts. He was united in marriage to Miss Emeline Mor- gan, a native of Tippecanoe county. Nine children have blessed their union, and a remarkable feature is that in all these years there has been no death in the family. The children are George K., our subject; Rosa; Merrill M., of Buffalo, Indiana; Logan, a successful farmer of this county; Elmer, of Mon- ticello; Charles, of Liberty township; Samuel, who lives on the farm; Nellie; and Perry.
George K. Hughes was reared to manhood on the farm on which he was born. He became familiar with the work incident to farm life, as it was his duty to help with such work, even when attending the country schools. He received a fair education, but not finding agricultural life suited to his require- ments he left the farm on August 4, 1873, and entered the store of his uncle, Roland Hughes, at Monticello. This was a general store, but our subject knew practically nothing of business, aside from his experience on the farm. He remained with his uncle as clerk for a period of twenty years, developing a shrewdness and business acumen possessed only by first-class merchants. He was thoroughly conversant with every detail of the business, and was ac- counted one of the most popular clerks here. In August, 1893, he launched his own craft in the mercantile world, and is meeting with a flattering suc- cess. He has one of the best appointed stores in the place, and handles dry goods, shoes and furnishing goods. His close application to business, with his reputation for fair and honest dealing, has brought to his counters the
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