USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 28
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 28
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 28
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 28
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 28
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 28
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 28
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On the 4th of October, 1865, Mr. Cheesman married Mary E. Swaney, a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Furey) Swaney, who were, respectively, of Irish and Scotch ancestry. Mrs. Cheesman was born at Bellefonte, Pennsyl- vania, and is one of twelve children. Her mother was lost in the fearful
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"Johnstown disaster", of 1889, being a passenger on the ill-fated railroad train which was overwhelmed by the rushing flood. The only child of our subject and his estimable wife is Mary, wife of Kemper Aherns, of Attica, Indiana. She was born March 17, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Cheesman are active members of the Presbyterian church, and are always ready to lend a helping hand to the poor and needy.
JOHN C. WEBSTER, M. D.
One of the prominent physicians of Indiana, for more than twenty years Dr. Webster has been a member of the Tippecanoe Medical Society, in which he has served as president, and, in addition to this, he belongs to the Indiana State and American Medical Associations. During President Arthur's administration he was one of the Tippecanoe county board of pension exam- ing physicians and surgeons, and in the same capacity served four years under President Harrison. The Indiana state board of medical registration and examination of would-be medical practitioners was instituted April 29, 1897, and Governor Mount appointed Dr. Webster as a member of this board. That year he acted as president of the same and is still connected with the board. He was also president of the special state board which ex- amined applicants to the medical department of volunteers in the late Span- ish-American war. His high standing as a physician and the authoritative weight of his opinion are plainly evinced by the numerous instances in which he has been publicly referred to and consulted.
Dr. J. C. Webster is an only son, and when, at the age of barely twenty years, in his youthful enthusiasm, he determined to enlist in the Union army and offer his life, if need be, in the noble cause of patriotism, it was a trying ordeal for his family; but they nobly gave him up, and with pride and anxi- ety followed him in spirit through the long, dreadful years of carnage on southern battle-fields.
It was on October 15, 1861, that he enlisted as a private in Company G, Fortieth Indiana Infantry, and upon being mustered in on the 30th of December he was made assistant sergeant. Ordered to Bardstown, Ken- tucky, he remained there on duty until February 6, 1862, when his regiment was attached to the Twenty-first Brigade, Fifth Division of the Second Army Corps, Army of the Ohio. Eight months later his regiment was transferred to the Second Brigade, First Division of the left wing of the Army of the Cumberland, and in January, 1863, it became a part of the Second Brigade, First Division of the Twenty-first Corps. In October, 1863, the regiment became a part of the First Brigade, Second Division, Fourth Army Corps, and continued there for a year. On the 7th of February, 1862, Dr. Web-
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ster's command was started on a march to Nashville, Tennessee; there they were ordered to reinforce the Army of the Tennessee, and after participating in the battle of Shiloh went in pursuit of Bragg, following him from August 21 to October 15, and going from Louisville, Kentucky; and after fighting in the engagement at Perryville they returned to Nashville, arriving there on Christmas day. No time was lost, for they were ordered on toward Mur- freesboro, and were participants in the Lauverne fight, December 26-27; the battle of Stone river, December 30-31 and January 1 to 3. From that time until the following June they were stationed chiefly at Murfreesboro; from the 24th of that month up to July 8 they were in the Tullahoma campaign, including the engagement at Liberty Gap June 25-27; next were in the Chickamauga campaign from August 16 to September 22.
Young Webster was in the siege of Chattanooga, September 24 to November 23, and was actively engaged in the battles of Chattanooga, Orchard. Knob and Mission Ridge; at the last named being wounded while leading his company in a gallant charge up the famous ridge. In the Atlanta campaign the following summer he took part in the battles of Tunnell Hill, May 7, 1864; Buzzards' Gap, May 6; Rocky Face Ridge, May 8; Resaca, May 13-15; Adairsville, May 17-18; Cassville, May 19-22; was in numerous encounters with the enemy near Dallas, New Hope Church, Pumpkinsville creek and Altoona Hills; in operations at Pickett's Mill, Marietta and Kene- saw Mountain, June 9-27, the latter including Pine Hill, June 11-14; Lost Mountain, June 15-17; Muddy Creek, June 17, and Pine Knob, June 19. In the assault of Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, our hero was wounded in both legs by gunshots, while he was leading his company in the van of a storming party. Deeply to his regret, these wounds closed his army career, for it was found that he was too greatly disabled for further service, and he was granted an honorable discharge, October 14, 1864. To the gallantry and faithful- ness to duty of such men this nation owes its existence and preservation, and too much honor cannot be paid them. For over a quarter of a century the Doctor has been identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, and in 1890 he became a member of the Indiana Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. A Knight Templar Mason, he has borne an active part in that fraternity, as well.
One of the early pioneers of Tippecanoe county was William Webster, the paternal grandfather of our subject. Born near Newmarket, Canada, and of English ancestry, William Webster entered five hundred acres of land in this county, about 1825, and locating in Randolph township, resided there until his death, many years later, at a good old age. Of his two sons and four daughters, Elijah was the Doctor's father. He also was born in Canada, and passed his whole life, after the year 1825, in this county. He 16
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was occupied in farming on a large scale, and was prosperous and highly respected. For his wife he chose Nancy, daughter of William Stewart; another pioneer of this region. The young couple settled near Sugar Grove, and there reared their five children, a son and four daughters.
Dr. J. C. Webster, as already stated, was their only son. His birth took place on the old homestead in Randolph township, September 29, 1841, and his primary education was such as the district schools afforded. Subse- quently he attended the Sugar Grove Institute, and began his medical studies under the tutelage of Dr. John Simison, of Romney, Indiana. His ambi- tious plans were set aside about this time for the duty which he felt para- mount to all others, the duty which he owed his beloved country, and when he returned home, broken down in health, some time elapsed ere he was able to take up the broken strands of life. His medical education was com- pleted in Rush Medical College, Chicago, by his graduation there February 2, 1870. Immediately thereafter he located in Romney, Indiana, where he practiced for ten years. Since 1880 he has been successfully engaged in practice in Lafayette, his reputation for skill and general efficiency and thor- oughness in his profession growing steadily as the years roll by. Politically, he has been an interested witness of the success of the Republican party principles and policy, giving his own influence to aid in the grand result.
In 1876, Dr. Webster married Sallie M. Jones, daughter of the late Dr. Stephen Jones, a distinguished citizen of this county, for years noted as an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. Dr. Webster and wife have but one child, Mary E.
WILLIAM H. HERSHEY.
William H. Hershey, of Perry township, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this county, and is ranked as one of its substantial and highly respected citizens.
Jacob Hershey, the grandfather of William H., was born in Maryland, the son of German parents. He was a farmer, owned a good farm and a comfortable home, and reared a large and highly respected family. His children were John, Henry, Joseph M., Quincy, Catherine, Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. Carson, Mrs. Specard, Mrs. Reader, Mrs. Horner, Jacob and Hannah. The last named died in Maryland. Grandfather Hershey was .blind for many years before his death.
Joseph M. Hershey, son of Jacob and father of William H., was born in Washington county, Maryland, where he grew up, and when a young man learned the trade of potter. He was married in his native state, June 18, 1833, to Maria Witter, and to them were born a large family of children, five
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of whom died young. Of the others we record that the eldest was born in Washington county, Maryland, and the others in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Lorena C., born June 28, 1834; Frances M., February 13, 1839; William H., February 6, 1841 ; Indiana C., February 27, 1845; Lafayette G., February 13, 1850, died at the age of sixteen years; David C., September 13, 1852; and Laura C., October 24, 1854. In 1834 Mr. Hershey, accompanied by his wife and their first born, made the journey to Indiana in a two-wheeled vehicle called a gig. He had previously purchased land in Tippecanoe county, consisting of one hundred and eighty-four acres, in section 16, Perry township, covered with a dense forest and with no improvements whatever. He cleared his land, erected substantial and comfortable buildings for those times, and in time purchased additional land, making a fine farm of four hundred and twenty-four acres. Here he lived and prospered, and was well known both as a farmer and minister .. He had joined the United Brethren church when a very young man, and began to preach the gospel when about nineteen years old. As one of the pioneer ministers of his church in Tippecanoe county he was a potent factor for good, and it was largely through his efforts that the United Brethren church was established here. He was also one of the founders of the St. Joseph conference. He preached all over northern Indiana, making his trips on horseback, and was one of the best known of the pioneer minis- ters of his denomination. In 1871 he moved to Dayton, Indiana, and there made his home. His first wife died February 3, 1875, and for his second * wife he married Mrs. Arbelia Markwood, widow of Bishop Markwood, of the United Brethren church .. In 1877 Mr. Hershey went to Virginia, where he lived one year, there continuing his ministerial work, and at the end of that time returned to Indiana. He afterward made several trips to Virginia. His first work in the ministry was as a circuit rider in Maryland and Virginia, that being before he first came to Indiana, and both in the east and in pioneer Indiana his earnest efforts were crowned with success. Politically, he was in early life an old-line Whig. Later he identified himself with the Republican party, and was a strong Union man. He was twice elected to the Indiana state legislature, in 1863 and 1865, and as a member of that honorable body discharged his duties with much ability and credit to himself and his constituents. In all matters he was a man whose judgment was much respected by the people, and in various ways his history was closely linked with that of Tippecanoe county. For eight years he was a justice of the peace in Perry township, and he was a member of the board of county commissioners three years.
William H. Hershey, the immediate subject of this review, as already stated, is a native of the " Hoosier" state, and was ushered into life Feb-
1
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ruary 6, 1841. His early education was received in one of the primitive log school-houses of Perry township, Tippecanoe county, and he was brought up a farmer. August 10, 1862, he enlisted, at Lafayette, Indiana, as a private in Captain Charles A. Maylor's company, the Sixteenth Light Artillery, for three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, Indiana, July 7, 1865, on account of the war being over. His services were mostly on the fortifications of Washington. During his service he escaped wounds, was sick and in hospital only a short time, and made a record as a brave, true soldier.
He is one of the few men now living who were in Ford's theater, Wash- ington, when John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln. He was attend- ing the play with four of his comrades, and his seat was in the front row of orchestra chairs, nothing between him and the stage. He saw the president and party enter and seat themselves in the box. The play ceased and the band played "The Star Spangled Banner " in his honor. The president's box was at the right of Mr. Hershey and in plain view. Mr. Hershey saw Booth between the scenes as he came on the stage, looking through a door. Soon afterward he heard the shot, and, looking toward the president's box, saw Booth rush around the president and jump from the box. His spur caught in the flag which draped the president's box, and he fell. Major Rathburn, who was in the president's box, seized Booth by the arm; Booth struck the major across the hand with a knife, and, springing to the stage, exclaimed " Sic semper tyrannis," and fled through the scenery without facing the audience or making any stop. The cry, "The President is assas- sinated!" immediately arose and the audience began to rush out. Mr. Her- shey passed out as the guards were bearing the president down the stairs, and was near enough to touch him. The scene is indelibly impressed upon his mind. The excitement was tremendous. Mr. Hershey, being stationed at Arlington Heights, well knew that the bridge would be closed to travel to prevent the escape of the assassin. He and his comrades made haste to cross the Georgetown bridge; the command to halt everyone reached the guards, and he and his companions were the last to cross over that night.
After the war Mr. Hershey returned to Tippecanoe county and resumed farming, and has been interested in farming operations ever since. He owns the Hershey homestead, two hundred and fifty acres, which, under his man- agement, has been greatly improved. For some time past, however, he has resided in Dayton.
Mr. Hershey was first married in 1867, in Tippecanoe county, to Miss Frances Ketrow, who died October 29, 1872, leaving three children, -Alvin O., Sylvester J. and Elva T. His second wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Morrison, he wedded April 27, 1873. She was born in Lafayette,
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Indiana, October 3, 1852, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Fineral) Mor- rison, natives of Ireland, who, after their marriage, came to this country and settled at Lafayette, Indiana. In the Morrison family the children who grew to maturity were Levina, who married Joshua Gard; Ella, who became the wife of Alfred Whistler and died at the age of twenty-seven years; and Elizabeth, wife of William H. Hershey. Mr. Morrison went to California in 1852, as a gold-seeker, making the journey overland, and about a year after his return to Indiana died of consumption. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Catholic church. By his present wife Mr. Hershey has the fol- lowing named children: William L., Harry E., David C., Victor and Florence L. Mr. Hershey adheres to the religious faith in which he was reared, that of the United Brethren church, Mrs. Hershey also being a mem- ber of the same, and politically he is a Republican.
GEORGE N. DUNN.
George N. Dunn, of the firm of Chilcote & Dunn, attorneys at Rensse- laer, is one of the younger lawyers of the Jasper county bar. He is a native of Massachusetts, born October 19, 1871, a son of Isaac D. and Nancy B. (Coffin) Dunn. His father is a native of Cumberland county, Maine, and his mother is a native of the Bay state. Isaac D. Dunn is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Kankakee township, this county, where he has re- sided ever since 1873.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm, form- ing those habits of industry and probity which are essential to true and lasting success in life. He graduated at the high school in Rensselaer in the class of 1890, and for the first year after that was employed in the Citizens' State Bank, of the city. In 1895 he graduated at the De Pauw University, at Greencastle, this state, receiving the degree of Ph. D. In 1896 he gradu- ated in the law department of the university at Indianapolis, and on January I, 1897, began the practice of his chosen profession at Rensselaer. His in- herited capacities and his acquired qualifications assure him success in his noble calling.
RUFUS PRIBBLE.
A veteran of the Mexican war and a life-long resident of the section of Indiana in which he now dwells, Rufus Pribble is one of the pioneers of western Indiana, and few men are better known hereabouts than he. It has been his good fortune to travel extensively and to see much of this wonderful country; and it would be hard to find a man better posted and more enter-
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taining as a conversationalist. His experiences in life have been very diver- sified and full of interest at some periods, but many decades have been spent by him in the quiet routine of agriculture, in which calling he has been pros- pered.
Bernard Pribble, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1785 and grew to maturity in that state. He then went to Kentucky, where he met and married Amelia Carr, and soon afterward the young couple removed to Circleville, Ohio. For many years Bernard Pribble was engaged in flat- boating down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, this being prior to the era of the steamboat. He made no less than thirteen trips to New Orleans on flat- boats and each time returned the whole distance on foot! After coming to Fountain county, Indiana, he made about as many more voyages to the Crescent City, taking provisions and supplies, for which he found a ready market in the south. He established a ferry at Portland, Indiana, and, it being on the regular route of emigrants going westward, he derived a good income from this source. He owned and operated the ferry until his death, in 1839, and his heirs then managed it until the building of a bridge across the Wabash at Covington diverted the travel to that point. Bernard Pribble bought and improved land on both sides of the river, and was noted for his energetic business methods. His wife survived him some fifteen years, and eight of their children grew to maturity. Two of the five sons and one of the three daughters are yet living. Silas, the eldest, is a resident of Prairie du Chein, Wisconsin. Gabrielle, the daughter, is the widow of Charles Hansicker.
Rufus Pribble was born at Portland, Fountain county, only about half a mile from his present home, September 24, 1828. At the age of sixteen years he went to Covington, Indiana, and there learned the tailor's trade, which business he followed for ten or twelve years. In 1846 he enlisted in Company D, First Indiana Volunteer Infantry, his captain being Robert M. Evans. This was one of the three regiments which this state raised for the Mexican war, and Mr. Pribble served for a year, the whole term of his en- listment. After his return home he resumed work at his trade. In 1850 he went to California with the gold-seekers, and after crossing the Missouri river was one hundred days on the trip across the plains. Upon arriving in the Golden state he at once went to Coloma, where Captain Sutter's employe had first discovered gold, and in fact he worked in the identical race where the precious metal had first been found. He and his companions made about sixteen dollars a day, but at the end of a week concluded to search for more profitable diggings. They went thence to Nevada City and worked at various places, but chiefly at Stony Point, on the north branch of the middle fork of the American river. After an absence of three and a half years Mr. Pribble
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returned home, by way of the isthmus of Panama. He then made his home for many years on the old farm which had been the scene of his boyhood days, and the rest of his life .he has either resided in West Lebanon or on his farm in Pike township, Warren county, where he is to-day. Always very fond of travel, he was one of the "Pilgrims" so often referred to in this work, who in the fall of 1891 made their memorable tour through the west- ern states, having a most enjoyable time. Mr. Pribble then visited the iden- tical spot where he had delved for gold forty years before and found men working the same mine and even the same shaft that he had formerly used. He has been a patriotic citizen and has given his allegiance to the Repub- lican party since Lincoln's first election.
In 1856 Mr. Pribble married Prudence Porter, who was born twenty years before in a cabin only a few rods distant from her present home. Her father, Elias Porter, passed away many years ago, but her mother, now in her eighty-fourth year, lives with her. One son and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pribble: Florence, who married Frank McBroom and is deceased; Bertha, who is the wife of J. W. Rhodes and resides in Chicago; and William, the only son, who married Miss Laura Lake and lives on the old homestead, which he is managing with ability.
HENRY WOODHAMS.
Warren county has been peculiarly fortunate in her citizens of for- eign birth, who are almost without exception intelligent, enterprising and progressive men and loyal to the country of their adoption. Among the representative farmers of Warren county is found the subject of this sketch, whose birth-place was near Alfirston, Sussex county, England, the date of his birth being July 8, 1841. His parents came to America in 1851, on a sail- ing vessel which consumed six weeks in making the voyage. They landed at New York city, whence his father came to Indiana and located at Lafay- ette, residing there some two years, engaged in the mercantile business. He then removed to Warren county, Indiana, where he followed farming for two years, and from there went to Benton county, same state, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land near Pond Grove. At this place the parents are still residing. His father, George Woodhams, was married to Miss Anna Brooker, and their children were: Herbert (deceased); Alfred; Philip, now of Colorado; Frederick, of Benton county; Anna (Mrs. John Foster), deceased; Henry; Ellen (Mrs. J. H. Bartindale); Mary (Mrs. Henry Foster); Clement, Louisa, Thomas and Edwin (who died young).
Henry Woodhams remained upon his father's farm until twenty years of age, when the civil war broke out and with many of his young compan
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ions he offered his services to the government. He enlisted September 18, 1861, in Company D, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and was mustered in at Indianapolis. His regiment was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, and the first engagement in which he took part was at Corinth. Other battles in which he saw active service were those of Salt river, Perry- ville, Tullahoma, Hoover's Gap, Buzzard's Roost, siege of Atlanta, and other less important conflicts. He was honorably discharged at Indian- apolis, September 24, 1864, and, returning to his father's house, began work- ing out on a farm, where he remained for three years. The following three years he lived on a rented farm in Benton county, subsequently coming to Medina township, Warren county, where he rented land and four years later purchased the farm he now occupies and where he has resided since 1874. His land comprises one hundred and thirty-three acres and is situated on sections 14 and 21, four miles east and one mile south of Pine Village. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising and has been very successful in all his undertakings.
In politics Mr. Woodhams has always been a Republican and a leader in his party. He was elected county commissioner of Warren county in 1894 for a term of three years, at the expiration of which he was re-elected by a majority of over nine hundred votes. He has proved an able and popular official and since filling that office he has been instrumental in reducing the county debt many thousands of dollars, earning the gratitude of his fellow citizens and demonstrating his ability as a financier.
The marriage of our subject took place September 5, 1867, Miss Lucy C. Turman becoming his wife. Of this union six children have been born: Minnie, who is teaching school; Thomas, a farmer in White county; Daisy, the wife of William Clawson, a farmer in Warren county; Annie, living at home; Nellie and Carrie, both pupils in the Oxford high school.
Mr. Woodhams is a self-made man in the strictest sense of the word, having had but few opportunities for an education and having attained his present position by his industry, perseverance and individual merit. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, holding place in Otterbein Lodge, No. 605; and is also a member of Otterbein Post, No. 206, G. A. R., and is a supporter of the Methodist church.
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