USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume II > Part 10
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father's farm during his youth. He married Amanda Ellen Chambers in 1866, who was born in Monroe coun- ty, Indiana, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Chambers, who were early settlers in the county where the subject's wife was born. They remained there sev- eral years then came to Highland township, Greene county, Indiana, where they spent the remaining days of their lives, both dying there.
The subject and his wife have two children: Alice, who is the wife of Otto O'Neal, lives in Washington township, on a farm, and they have one child, Ivan ; Wilbur M., the subject's second child, who married Ber- tha Arthur, lives with his father and assists in conducting the affairs of the old place.
The subject has one hundred and fifty-five acres in the home place, having secured it when it was wild and unimproved, but he has spent years in making various needed improvements until he now has an excellent farm upon which stand many good buildings.
Mr. Stalcup is a well read man, keeping up on polit- ical and current events. He is an independent voter, pre- ferring to cast his ballot for the best candidate rather than for any particular party. He has been a constable. also supervisor of his home county. He is a member of Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. and Mrs. Stalcup are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church at Hick's chapel. and they are a well respected family in the neighborhood.
William T. Stalcup is the son of Thomas and Eliza- beth Stalcup, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Tennessee. They married in the last named state and came to Greene county. Indiana, in the early
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thirties, settling in Washington township, where they took up government land on which they spent their lives.
Thomas Stalcup was a soldier in the war of 1812, and he was granted eighty acres of land for his services to the government. They had eleven children, namely : Hance, James, Solomon, Elizabeth, John, Rebecca, Cath- erine, Susan, Andrew, William, subject ; Joseph, Thomas Stalcup died in September, 1860. His wife died some years before. She was a member of the Baptist church.
ELMER T. SHERWOOD, M. D.
I am one of the sixty-two living descendants of Dr. W. F., James S. and Benjamin S. Sherwood, three broth- ers, who emigrated from Livonia, Washington county, Indiana, to Linton, Greene county, Indiana. Dr. W. F. Sherwood came to Linton in 1848, James S. Sherwood in 1851 and Benjamin S. Sherwood in 1854. The great ma- jority of these descendants still live in Linton. It is very evident that aside from whatever influence they may have wielded or assisted in shaping the course and destiny of the country, these three brothers were very successful in leaving their imprint on the community, and it was long known that Linton without a Sherwood would have been like love without a sweetheart.
I was born August 1, 1859, as the third son of Dr. William F. Sherwood and Catherine (nee Ingersoll) Sherwood. At the time of my advent into the world the nation was about to pass through a great crisis, the end
Öner Isherwood
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of which none could foresee-whether it was to continue as one and inseparable or a divided nation. And there be- ing many southern sympathizers in and about Linton, the agitation and conflicts were greater than in the average northern home, and though young, there were many flash- light impressions of war made upon my memory. After the close of the war and up until father's death in 1873 I followed the course of most boys, occasionally visiting schools while attending the swimming holes and rabbit hunting. At father's death I was fourteen. Then it be- came necessary that I assume greater responsibility. It was then I took part in farming. Our farm then com- prised that portion of North Linton lying between A street North, on the south and Fourth street East and Fifth street West, and bounded on the north by the divid- ing line between H and I streets. As the soil was never rich, our crops were never very phenomenal, and the time divided between the schools and the farm was neither very successful, and soon I discovered that I had not been cut out for a farmer, and determined to seek some other mode of life. It was, perhaps, due to the fact that I was proud of the memory of my father and the great success that he had achieved in medicine that led me to take up that pro- fession. I entered the office of Dr. B. A. Rose, my pre- ceptor, April 12, 1880, and continued with him two years, during which time I attended two terms in the Missouri Medical College, now known as the Washington Univer- sity, St. Louis, Missouri. I graduated there in March, 1882, and located in Linton, and have continued the prac- tice of medicine for twenty-six years, and as to my becom- ing a great physician my sincere opinion is that I have not
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achieved such great success. However my opinion may differ from others. there is one pleasure in the happy re- flection in all these years that I have labored to relieve suffering humanity-there are many yet to whom I ad- ministered and relieved their suffering in the very begin- ning of my professional career who still have implicit con- fidence in my ability. And in these many instances the practice of medicine ceases to be irksome and becomes a labor of love where necessity requires.
The science of medicine and the healing art. the no- blest profession known to man. is sufficient to inspire one to high ideals were it limited to the necessity and welfare of humanity. But my enthusiasm and zeal in medicine lessened after delving into its mysteries and learning the methods of so many who practice it to commercialize and bring the practice of medicine to the level of a trade, like in the competitive systems, in order that they may attain the American standard of greatness-wealth. But there is still hope that some day the human family will gain knowledge. Already Christian Science. the other extreme. which should have no place in the human intelligence and makes unnecessary sacrifices of human lives, is beginning to even things up. Time and knowledge bring about all necessary reformations, therefore we need not despair. even if it requires the sacrifice of some human lives. and I am glad to live in this age when the science of medicine is making such great strides in the direction of perfection.
In 1900 I established the Elk Horn drug store in Linton. the success of which has been a source of much pride and pleasure. And. no doubt. the public's unquench- able desire to swallow the many worthless cure-alls has
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contributed much to the Elk Horn's financial success and will likely continue, as intellectual revolutions are very slow.
Man's success in life is only comparative. Nor do those who judge use the same standard of comparison. and there is always an element of uncertainty when put in the balance of the whole. Yet there are positive con- victions of success one may have of self to which no standard of comparison will apply. and I doubt if there could be much added at this happy moment to the con- victions of success which I have achieved when I married Hattie Price. September 28, 1882. Her intelligence and no- bleness of character have added much to the pleasure and happiness and success of the more than twenty-five years of married life. And the children which came to bless our home have always been a pleasure. We were most unfor- tunate to lose four children in infancy, but the three re- maining-Ethel. Edith and Elmer William-have been such a source of happiness! Ethel is the first lady gradu- ate of the Linton high school to complete a course in the Indiana University. In fact. she was the first lady born in Linton or Stockton township to complete a college course. At the age of twenty-one she graduated with credit at the Indiana University. Edith. the second daughter. is nineteen years of age and is a sophomore in Indiana University ( 1908). Elmer William at twelve gives evidence of great prospects. Like most parents, we are proud of our children. Their happiness is our happi- ness, and it is our purpose to prepare them by education to become good and proficient citizens that they may not only be a joy to us, but that they may be a benefit and help
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to mankind and the world be better that they lived. He who can say "wife." "children" and "home" with an ever- increased pleasure has attained the acme of happiness, for here is the place and now is the time to be happy. For. after all, what is success but happiness? What would wealth or fame be without friends or loved ones ?
I have always affiliated with the Republican party. believing the principles of Republicanism, when inculcated into government affairs and honestly administered. would result in the greatest good to the greatest number. I think every citizen should be interested in the welfare of the government and should ally himself with the party which he thinks will best conduct the government to pro- mote the welfare and happiness of the people.
My first venture in joining secret orders was in 1880, when I joined the Master Masons, since which time I found the secret paths which lead up to and through the doors of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, the Ancient Arabic Order of No- bles of the Mystic Shrine, Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank. Knights of Pythias, and am at present lieutenant- colonel of the Sixth Regiment, Indiana Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias ; also belong to the Order of Ben-Hur. Modern Woodmen of America, No. 866, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, from none of which have I ever had cause for regrets. The associations have ever been pleasant, and I hope may continue so.
Man usually does not see the great changes which time and age bring to himself, and perhaps this is true more so when he has lived all his days in one locality where still arises in his mind the pictures of the paths
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which lead to the fields, the woodlands and streams along which, with happy companions, happy days were spent. There ever come the thoughts of youth, and only by the changes in the material things of his surroundings is he brought to realize age. And so it is with me.
As I look back over the nearly half century of fleet- ing years and see the wonderful changes wrought by man in and about Linton, the wonder is that the transformation has been so easily accomplished.
When in our mind we see the original thirteen homes, to which have been added more than two thousand, in the fields where the flax grew and the corn waved, in the meadows where we gathered the daisies and violets, no stand the hundreds and thousands of homes ; when we re- member the less than one hundred inhabitants who tread the streets of the silent village and the now more than ten thousand who race up and down the paved thorough- fares of the busy city ; when again we see the old pioneer farmer in his homespun jeans and by his side his wife in homespun linsey and hand-made shoes, while lagging be- hind come the barefoot boy and girl; when again we can hear the call of the wild turkey in the trees on the banks of the stream which one time coursed its way where part of Linton now stands; when I think of having eaten bear meat killed within three miles of Linton, where the scream of the wildcat was heard, the wild hog roamed and deer were common-then I awake from the reverie and look out upon Linton, the great, thriving metropolis, with its fifty-thousand-dollar residence, Grand Opera House, big hotels and thousands of pretty homes, with its miles of paved streets, over which throngs of busy people come
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and go, and we marvel at what the master mind and hand of man can do.
We can well remember when many of the inhabit- ants of Linton and Stockton township had never seen a piano, and none possessed one. Such vehicles as buggies and carriages were almost as scarce as the proverbial "hen teeth." The farm wagons with the hickory splint bottom chairs were the means of conveyance to church and pic- nic. The hearse was unknown and he who could be hauled to his last resting place in a vehicle with springs, usually called a lack, was honored. The political gatherings were attended on horseback, with banner and torch flying.
But as time changes all things, so the development of coal marked an epoch in the progress of Linton and its surroundings, and the laggard was finally awakened by the whistles of the many railroads, mills and mines which sent out their millions of tons of black diamonds to warm the homes and supply the power that moves the wheels of progress, and in its stead there came back the golden eagles and filled the coffers of Linton's people and they waxed strong and rich until the loom was forgotten and the spinning wheels were laid aside, and transformed were the woodlands, fields and meadows into streets and lawns, along which arose beautiful residences, and business blocks reared their towering heads as living monuments to the progress of Linton.
Our advancement has been continuous until we have attained almost all the conveniences of the larger city. The evidence of prosperity is shown in our thousands of miners and busy merchants. The slow tread of the ox has long since ceased to be a part of us. We have dis-
GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA. 583
placed the heavy roll of the wagon with the lighter buggy, carriage and swifter automobile. And he who was once cheered only by the morning songs of birds may now listen to the sweet strains of music which come from the piano as it flows out from almost every home. And the pleasures of his church services are added to by the splen- did music which peals forth from the great pipe organ which cost thousands of dollars. Is it any wonder, then, we sit and ponder over the vast changes which have come, and are amazed? To one who has followed in the foot- steps of his father, who lived with but the single aim, who labored with the sincere belief that could railroads be in- duced to cross our lands and our coal fields be developed, just such results which we have attained were sure to come. To these results we have added our efforts in our small way to bring these things about. Then I can justly feel proud that I have lived more years in Linton than any one, that I have assisted and watched each year, each day, each hour, Linton unfold like a flower to bloom forth in all her beauty. Now we can sing praises and feel that our feeble efforts have been crowned with success and, like Simon, when he had beheld his Messiah was ready to die, we feel we are now ready to hand the gifts of our ances- tors to our children that they may achieve greater things.
Towns live on and on and grow until some time they become great cities, countries develop ever on the upward stride, and vast waste lands are reclaimed and made to bloom with their ever recurring fields of grain, but man, who builds and shapes the destinies of all these things, must die, yea, he giveth up the ghost and where is he so soon, so short the time?
E. T. SHERWOOD, M. D.
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ASA BURDSALL.
Asa Burdsall, farmer and stock raiser, of Washing- ton township, was born March 22, 1842, in Jackson county, Indiana, and lived at home until a young man, attending the local schools in the primitive log school houses of those days. He bought and maintained at different times several farms in Washington township, in 1896 moving to his present home. He enlisted Oc- tober 8, 1861, in Company A, Fiftieth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at Seymour, Jackson county. After remaining in camp for awhile at Bedford and New Al- bany, Indiana, he was sent to Kentucky and taken prison- er at Mumfordsville, where he remained for some time, being with about five thousand soldiers who were cap- tured there. They were later exchanged at Indianapolis. The regiment was sent to Tennessee, then into Arkansas, to take possession of Little Rock. After a successful campaign this regiment was returned to Little Rock, Arkansas, fighting for forty-two days. A long siege was also engaged in at Salina River. The subject re- mained in that state during most of the war. He was discharged January 5, 1865, at Indianapolis and returned home, resuming farm work.
Mr. Burdsall married Martha Landrum in 1873. She was a native of Owen county, Indiana, a daughter of Wesley and Elvira (McKee) Landrum, both natives of Owen county. Their ancestors came from Tennessee and Kentucky. Wesley F. Landrum is still living in Kansas. His wife died in 1872. They had three chil- dren, Martha, the subject's wife; Mary Mandy, who died
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in early childhood; Anna, the wife of Adam Detamore, living in Kansas. Wesley F. Landrum was a cooper by trade. He and his wife were both church members.
Mr. and Mrs. Burdsall had seven children, as fol- lows: Charles, living in Washington township. He married Mina Shake, and they have two children, Lexie and Lloyd. Oscar, the subject's second child, lives in Indianapolis. He married Florence Knowel, who has two children, Victor and Wayne. Thornton, twin brother of Oscar, lives in Indianapolis, the husband of Oma Archer, to whom one child was born, Lanore. Rosella is the fourth child of the subject. She is the wife of Charles Parris, living in Johnson county, Indiana. He is a farm- er and has one child, Leno. Edward, the fifth child of the subject, married Mamie Yeoman. They live in Lyons,
Indiana, and have one child, Opal. Mr. Burdsall's last two children died in infancy. The subject is the son of James and Margaret (Winn) Burdsall, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Jackson county, Indiana. James' parents died when he was small and he was brought to Jackson county by the Woodmansee family, where he was reared on a farm. He married there and came to Greene county, Indiana, in 1872, locating in Washington township, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1876. He was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Church of Christ. They had twelve children as follows: Sarah and Elizabeth, both deceased; Moses lives in Jack- son county ; Asa, the subject of this sketch ; Lucinda, the wife of William Been, of Washington township, Green county ; Laura, the wife of Lane Been, living in Indian-
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apolis; George M. lives in Elnora, Indiana; Susan is deceased ; the last three children died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Asa Burdsall are plain, honest farm people, well represented in the community. They are members of the Church of Christ. The subject is a strong temperance man, but he votes the Republican ticket.
MICHAEL RUSHER.
Michael Rusher was born in Hardin county, Ohio, March 14, 1849, the son of John and Matilda ( Runser) Rusher. The father came from near Elsac in Germany, while the mother came from France, coming to America when they were children. Our subject's grandfather, whose name was also John, came from Germany and finally to Canton, Ohio, where he ended his days. His son, the father of our subject, was born in Germany in 1818, and came with his father to Canton and grew to manhood on his farm in Stark county, Ohio, where he married Matilda Rusner, who was the daughter of Sora- tha Rusner, a native of France. He came to America in an early day and settled in northern Ohio and engaged in farming, finally settling on a farm in Hardin county, where he died. Both of these families were Catholics when they first came to America, but later affiliated with the Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal churches. The father of our subject died when his son, Michael, was only six years old. When he was sixteen his mother moved to Greene county, Indiana, in September, 1865.
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and settled in Washington township, where she purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and where they lived until 1873, when they sold out and built a flat-boat, and on it floated down the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi riv- ers to Arkansas, being sixty-two days on the trip. They went up White river and settled in Arkansas county, where they remained until September, 1874, when our subject returned to Indiana, driving a six-yoke team. He was thirty-five days on the road, finally landing in Greene county, from whence they started. In 1886 he bought a farm here, where he has since resided.
John Rusher and wife had seven children, Mary, wife of William Johnson, in Washington township : Catherine. deceased, wife of David Klinger; John, a farmer in Mis- souri ; Jerry, living in Martin county; Michael, subject ; Henry, a farmer in Washington township; and Joseph. deceased. The mother of our subject was married a second time to Charles Rollison, and to them were born four children, Thaddeus; Ella, deceased wife of Jerry Johnson ; Sherman, who lies in Arkansas. The mother of the subject remained in Arkansas and there died.
In 1872 our subject was married to Emily Cullen, daughter of James and Sarah Williams, who came to Greene county in the fifties. He was a farmer and settled in Washington township and died there. Mrs. Rusher was born in Morgan county, Ohio.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rusher were born three children. Cora, wife of Frank Stone. They live on subject's farm. and have three children, Ray, Roy and Rex; the second child is Mary, widow of Charles Porter. She has one child, Pauline. She is housekeeper for her father. The
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third child was Seretta, who died in young womanhood. Mrs. Rusher died March 2, 1891. She was a consistent member of the Christian church. In 1888 Mr. Rusher built a beautiful home, which is considered one of the finest residences in Greene county. He has in it all the modern improvements that go to make up a convenient home. He also has a fine barn. In short, our subject is considered a model farmer. Not only is the farm well improved, but it is stocked with the very best pedigrees obtainable. Mr. Rusher is a most agreeable companion, a Democrat and an enthusiastic supporter of W. J. Bryan. He is a thrifty farmer, having planned well, and his sys- tematically laid out fields call forth admiration from every lover of the beautiful.
JACOB LAYMON.
Jacob Laymon was born October 3. 1834. in Shelby county, Indiana. He was the son of Lewis and Eliza (Doughman) Laymon. The father and mother were from Ohio, coming to Shelby county about the year 1830. The The land was wild and unimproved, but by dint of hard labor and much sacrifice, they cultivated it until they made a respectable farm out of it. Then they disposed of it and removed to Owen county, where they remained until 1865, when they removed to Johnson county, where they lived until they crossed over the river.
Lewis Laymon was the son of John Laymon, the grandfather of our subject. He, too, coming from Ohio,
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settled in Owen county. He was a farmer and preacher of some reputation and success in the Separate Baptist church. He baptized hundreds of converts, and was a man of wide influence, doing much good. He had eleven children : Lewis, Allen, John, Joseph, Susan, Elizabeth, Nancy, Jemima, and three others who died in infancy. All four sons were ministers, including the father of our subject, who was also quite a farmer. To Lewis Laymon and wife were born six children, only one of whom, our subject, is now living. Those deceased are Mary, Je- mima, John, Phelan, who was a soldier in Company H, Fifty-ninth Regiment; and Eliza. The parents were model characters, and stood high in the community as earnest, consecrated Christians.
Jacob, our subject, was raised on a farm and did much towards bringing the country out from its wildness. His early education was of the pioneer style. Even the school privileges were ancient, puncheon floor and seats, and the old-fashioned fireplace and stick chimney, and this coupled with several miles walk each morning and evening made education an acquisition with sacrifice. In 1864 Mr. Laymon enlisted in Company G, Thirteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving until the discharge of his regiment at Indianapolis at the close of the war. He was in all the skirmishes and battles in which his regi- ment participated.
December 22, 1856, he married Rhoda Landrum, from . Kentucky. To them were born four children ; Lewis, a farmer of Washington township, who married Alice Mills; Eliza died aged twenty years ; William, liv- ing on a farm in Washington township, and Dora, mar-
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ried Hasting Sherrow and died in Greene county. Mr. . and Mrs. Laymon as both earnest and consistent mem- bers of the Christian church. He is a Republican in poli- tics, having filled acceptably the office of township super- visor. They moved to their present home in 1888, and are now living peaceably and retired from the laborious duties of life. His present farm consists of one hundred and thirty-two acres, which he has improved, and in 1902 he built his present comfortable dwelling. He also owns sixty acres in Washington township. Their chil- dren run the farmns, leaving their parents to enjoy the retirement they so richly deserve.
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