USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume II > Part 11
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DAVID W. STEWART.
It was Shakespeare who wrote in his Julius Caesar, "The evil that men do lives after them, but the good is often interred with their bones." That statement is, no doubt, qualifiedly true, but in presenting the biography of Mr. Stewart one is forcibly impressed with the fact that lives of industry and honest, such as his was, often lend their influence on succeeding generations.
David W. Stewart was born in March, 1844, in Guernsey county, Ohio, the son of William and Martha Stewart, both natives of Pennsylvania. They moved to Ohio in early life and later came to Greene county, Indi- ana. (A history of the Stewart family is to be found in this volume under the John Adams caption.)
While living in Ohio, the subject of this sketch
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responded readily to the call for troops to suppress the rebellion, enlisting in Company D, Seventy-seventh Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He made an excellent record as a soldier, participating in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, and was mustered out at Brownsville, Texas, March 8, 1866.
The subject was grown when the family moved to Greene county. Working on his father's farm for some time after he returned from the army, he married Sarah A. Timmons in 1869. She was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1844, and was the daughter of Emman- uel and Susanna (Stitely) Timmons. This family came to Greene county, Indiana, in 1845, and settled in Rich- land township, having made the trip from Ohio by wag-
on. The land they settled on cost twelve and one-half cents per acre. Mr. Timmons mined coal and chopped wood until he accumulated enough money to purchase the place desired. They had the following children: John, William, Mary Ann, Charlotte, Samuel, Sarah, three children died unnamed.
The subject and wife farmed successfully in Rich- land township until his death, May 15, 1877. His widow is still living on the old farm, which is still very produc- tive and well cared for. He and his wife were the parents of three children, namely: Susan, the deceased wife of Clark Terrell, who left two children. She was first mar- ried to Grant Heath. The subject's second child was named Charlotte, who died when seven years old. Gran- ville D. is the third child of the subject. He is a success- ful farmer in Richland township, and was born Septem- ber 26, 1876. He married Ada Osborn in 1896, a native
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of the above named township. They have four children as follows : Ruby. John, Marion Dexter and Lexie. The first named is thirteen years old, being the oldest, and the last named is an infant in 1908. Granville Stewart is engaged in general farming, owns one hundred and twenty acres of good land and handles considerable stock. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church at Allen chapel. He is a Republican, but is seldom very greatly interested in politics. He and his family have gained the undivided respect of the community where they live.
DOCTOR JABEL TERHUNE.
For many years a leading business man of Linton, and long identified with the industrial interests of Greene county, Mr. Terhune ranks among the distinguished citi- zens of southwestern Indiana, and by reason of his con- nection with large and important enterprises has earned a state-wide reputation in business circles. No other resi- dent of the community has been so actively identified with its material development, and none have so indelibly im- pressed their personality on the city or exercised a more potent influence in directing and controlling the various interests which make for its advancement. The Terhune family is of French origin, and was first represented in America by several remote ancestors, who fled from France on account of political persecution and settled in the colony of New Jersey, a number of years previous to the Revolutionary war. Several of the Terhunes es-
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poused the patriotic cause and served with distinction in the struggle for independence, which, being gained, they located in various parts of the country, married, reared families and became prominent in the affairs of their vari- ous places of residence. The branch to which the subject belongs settled many years ago in Kentucky, from which state his grandfather, Jabel Terhune, migrated to In- diana in 1842 and located in Greene county, where, in due time, he became an extensive land owner and influ- ential man of affairs. He took an active part in public matters, and did much to promote the development of the county and advance its different interests. He died some time during the Civil war. David Terhune, son of Jabel, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, 1818, and came to Indiana the year following his father's arrival. He engaged in the pursuit of agriculture in Greene county, purchasing land from the government, also from his father, and in the course of a few years had a good farm under cultivation besides owning considerable unim- proved real estate. Sarah Nealis, wife of David Terhune, and like him a native of Fleming county, Kentucky, was born in the year 1820, and bore her husband five sons and one daughter who reached maturity, the subject of this sketch being the oldest of the number. Thomas J., the second of the family, is a lawyer of Lebanon, this state. James T. is a farmer, living in Kansas. William D., next in order of birth, has not been seen nor heard from for the last eighteen years, and in all probability is dead. John B. is a stockman of Indianapolis, doing a large and successful business. Mary J., the daughter, died at the age of twenty years. Both parents died in Greene county,
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the mother in 1868, the father in 1880. The mother was an esteemed member of the Presbyterian church, and to the support of both the Methodist and Presbyterian churches Mr. Terhune contributed liberally of his means and influence, and for a number of years he was one of the leading citizens of the community in which he lived.
D. J. Terhune was born on the family homestead, near Linton, September 9, 1846, and grew to manhood familiar with the rugged duties of farm life. Finishing his preliminary education in the district schools, he sub- sequent entered Asbury, now De Pauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana, where he prosecuted his studies, devoting his vacations to teaching, by which means he was enabled to defray the expenses of his collegiate train- ing. Having early manifested a decided preference for agriculture and rural life, he turned his attention to farm- ing while still a young man, and has ever since been in- terested in the same, being at the present time one of the largest holders of real estate in the county, owning about nine hundred acres in Greene county, all good farm land, and seventy per cent. of three thousand five hundred acres of valuable coal land in Kentucky. He is also largely in- terested in the Vandalia Coal Company, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Highland Coal Company, the former operating twenty mines with an average daily output of twelve thousand tons, being one of the largest producing companies of Indiana. In addition to the above he is director of the Dugger State Bank, a director and vice president of the Linton Bank, besides sustaining a similar relation to the trust company at the latter place. He also was the prime mover in organizing the Linton Water
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Company, of which he is one of the principal stockholders, and in addition to the various interests and enterprises enumerated, he owns other extensive property interests in Linton and elsewhere, being not only one of the leading business men of the county, but a successful financier of state reputation. His career presents a series of successes and advancements such as few achieve, the manner in which he has established and conducted his various enter- prises showing him to be the possessor of business and executive ability of a very high order and of a clear dis- criminating judgment and rare sagacity, which are sel- dom, if ever, at fault. He is a natural born leader of men, endowed with the power to inaugurate and carry to suc- cessful conclusion large and important enterprises, and to him, more perhaps than to any one, is due the business and industrial prosperity of Linton, and the substantial development of the community along other than material lines. With a character above criticism and of scrupulous integrity, he has won a high place in the esteem and con- fidence of his fellow citizens, and all who come within the range of his influence bear testimony to his many ad- mirable qualities of mind and heart.
Politically Mr. Terhune is a Democrat, but not a politician in the sense the term is usually understood. For the last eleven years he has been a member of the board of managers of the Indiana Reformatory, and for a long time has been actively identified with the municipal gov- ernment of Linton, besides being one of the trustees of De Pauw University.
He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has long been an active worker, and also holds member-
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ship with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Terhune was married September 12, 1871, to Maggie Mull, of Bainbridge, Indiana, the union being without issue. He and his wife are members of the Lin- ton Methodist Episcopal church, and move in the best social circles of the city, numbering their friends by the score here and elsewhere.
WILLIAM JOHNSON.
The life of William Johnson, which has now closed, is one from which many might take a lesson for frugality, industry and honesty. He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, September 20, 1830, and was the son of Robert and Jane ( Pugh) Johnson, both natives of Vir- ginia and of English ancestry. They came to Montgom- ery county, Ohio, when young and later moved to Logan county, that state, where they lived and died. They were active workers in the Methodist Protestant church. To this union seven children were born, namely : Eliza, who was the wife of John Davis, died in Logan county, Ohio ; Evaline, who was the wife of William Harriman, died in Kenton, Ohio; William, the subject of this sketch : Thomas, died in Paulding county, Ohio; Jane, wife of John Killinger; Elizabeth died in young womanhood ; Lydia died in Kenton, Ohio, and her husband, Henry Bures, died in the Civil war.
The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and
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educated in the common schools. January 21, 1865, he married Mary Rusher, daughter of John and Matilda Rusher. The subject lived on a farm for eighteen years in Ohio, and in 1883 he moved with his family to Wash- ington township, Greene county, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. He was a man of good physique, being six feet in height and weighing one hundred and eighty pounds. His death occurred January 21, 1902.
He had eighty-four acres of good land on which his widow is now living. By hard work he improved the farm and made it not only highly productive, but also attractive to the eye.
The subject and wife never had any children. The subject was first a Methodist, but later in life he affiliated with the Friends church. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Johnson was a Democrat, but he never took any part in politics except to vote. He was regarded as a good neighbor and hus- band, as well as a good farmer, his farm always being clean and well tilled.
SILAS P. WAGGONER.
Silas P. Waggoner, the subject, was born in Law- rence county, Indiana, February 18, 1822, and his long and worthy career on earth closed January 30, 1907. His parents, types of the staunch citizenship of the old colonial days, were natives of Virginia, who migrated to Kentucky and in 1814 came to this state, when most of
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their neighbors were the red men, none too friendly. many of them. The old log cabin which these hardy pioneers built, being aided by the Indians, is still pre -- served as a relic of "ye olden tyme."
The subject availed himself of the earliest oppor- tunity to fight in defense of the country he loved so well, and at the outbreak of the war between the states enlisted in Company B, Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, and rendered gallant service as a corporal throughout the war.
Naturally Silas P. Waggoner learned farming, since he was born on a farm and worked with his father clear- ing and preparing the virgin soil in Lawrence county for agricultural purposes, but he also learned the miller's trade and operated a mill for some time in Martin coun- ty : later coming to Greene county where he farmed for many years in Taylor township. Although his early edu- cational advantages were very limited, he applied himself as best he could and his success in whatever he undertook after he reached manhood was proof that his native ability had been strengthened and cultivated through his early application of mind. His farm in Greene county was, even in those days, considered in advance of those of his neighbors in many respects.
The subject was twice married, first to Mary Ann Kelly, who died, leaving five children, as follows: Mar- garet, Charles, Ira, James, Nancy. The subject's second marriage was to Mrs. Margaret J. Cattron, nee King, native of Bloomington, Indiana, where she was born May 4. 1832, the daughter of Ivan and Matilda (Wal- den) King, both natives of Kentucky and Ohio, and
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early settlers in Monroe county, Indiana. Ivan King and wife had nine children, as follows: William, who was a soldier in the Mexican and Civil wars, is now deceased ; Jesse H., a soldier in the Civil war, is also deceased; Margaret, the widow of the subject of this sketch ; John and Benjamin, both soldiers in the Union army, are both deceased; Granville is a farmer in Taylor township; Alfred, Amanda and Ann Eliza are all deceased.
Margaret Jane Waggoner, the subject's widow, was three times married, first to John Bogart, a farmer. They had two children, both now deceased. Her second mar- riage was to Zachariah Cattron, and by this union seven children were born: Matilda Ellen, who married Mark Liles, died in Arkansas; Joel B. died in infancy ; John Mack is a farmer in Taylor township; Laura married Martin Boling, of Scotland; Benjamin C. is a railroad man in Missouri; Henry H. is a merchant in Arkansas ; Margaret Alma married Ed. Vest and died at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her third marriage was to the subject of this sketch, but no children were born to this union. She is now living in Scotland, Greene county, Indiana.
Silas P. Waggoner was a Republican in politics and at one time was his party's choice for sheriff. Fraternally he was a Mason and a loyal member of the Christian church.
MARION BENNETT.
The subject's birth occurred in Sullivan county. In- diana, September 24, 1844, the son of James and Sarah
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(Smith) Bennett, the latter a native of Kentucky, the daughter of Elijah and Polly ( Walker) Smith, who were early settlers in Sullivan county, Indiana. James Ben- nett, the subject's father, was the son of Roland Bennett, also a native of Kentucky, who came with his parents to Greene county, Indiana, and took up government land in an early day, settling in Richland township. He was a Whig and later a Republican. He was supervisor for some time. He and his wife, whom he married in Greene county, were Baptists and the parents of eight children, namely: Mary Jane, deceased; Marion, the subject : Lovel, deceased; John, who lives in Kansas: Jason, de- ceased; Roland, who lives in Iowa : Hiram and Sarah, both deceased.
Marion Bennett has spent nearly all his life in Greene county, having been raised on a farm, receiving his mental training in the old-time public schools. In 1866 he married Sarah Bland, a native of Greene county. Indiana, and the daughter of Robert H. and Chloe (Hodges) Bland, the former of North Carolina and the latter of Greene county. Both the Blands and the Hodges were early settlers in Highland township, Greene county. Five children have been born to the subject and wife. namely : John, who married Deby Sinclair, and is liv- ing in Fair Play township, Greene county: Joseph, who lives at home with his father: Allie, the wife of Oliver Marley, who lives on a farm in Fair Play township: Cora, who died in childhood: Alma, who is the wife of Ollie Owen. Robert H. Bland, grandfather of the sub- ject, was a soldier in the Forty-third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He had eight children, namely :
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Rebecca, Sarah, Nancy, Mary, Joseph, James, William and Catherine.
Although a lad of only sixteen years when the na- tion called for troops to suppress the great rebellion that threatened her very foundations, our worthy subject could not restrain his patriotism and enlisted in 1861 in Com- pany D, Fifty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, at Bloomfield, rendezvoused at Camp Huges, Gos- port, Indiana, and served with such courage that he was raised to the rank of orderly sergeant. After going to New Albany, Indiana, where the regiment remained for a short time, it was sent to New Madrid, Missouri ; then it reported to General Pope at New Madrid, and was or- dered to Shiloh, but did not reach there in time for the battle. The regiment had a skirmish at Hamburg and Tiptonville, Mississippi, and was in the battle at Corinth. Later was at Helena, Arkansas, and Jackson, Mississippi. The subject has in his possession the flagstaff that his regiment carried until the battle of Champion Hill. He was also in the battles of Raymond, Port Gibson, Black River or Champion Hill, and in the siege of Vicksburg for forty-five days. On May 22d of that year the subject had the pocket shot out of his blouse jacket, but was not injured. He was later in the battles of Missionary Ridge and Atlanta, Buzzard Roost, in the famous march to the sea under Sherman and was finally in the grand re- view in Washington City.
After being honorably discharged the subject went to farming in Highland township. Greene county, In- diana. After working for three years he came to his present location in 1870. This farm now consists of four
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hundred acres, which is considered as good as any land in Fair Play township. He is a careful farmer and ex- ercises splendid judgment in raising crops and handling stock of all kinds.
Mr. Bennett is a Republican in political belief. He has been school director and supervisor, justice of the peace and constable ; also trustee of Fair Play township. He takes a lively interest in political affairs. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellow's at Switz City, passed through all the chairs, and has rep- resented the local organization at the grand lodge. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. They are well known and held in highest respect by the entire community.
ELSWORTH WATSON.
Elsworth Watson, a progressive farmer of Rich- land township, was born January 15, 1877. in Center township, the same county. He was only two years old when his father died. He went to school during the win- ter months, working for his board and serving as a farm hand during the rest of the year. He married Susan Flory, February 21, 1889, after which he farmed in Cen- ter township. Green county, for two years, and for a short time in Richland township. In 1892 he went to Douglas county, Illinois, and farmed there for a period of ten years. In 1903 he returned to his native township
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and bought over three hundred acres of land, where he still lives. He has a fine farm, over two hundred acres of which are in cultivation. He raises a great deal of stock of all kinds and carries on general farming. He is a Democrat. His wife was the daughter of Noah E. and Maria (Miller) Flory. He is a native of Pennsyl- vania. He came to Ohio, near Dayton, and then to Greene county, Indiana, locating near Tulip. He was a cooper by trade. He died in 1892. His widow is living in Richland township, Greene county, Indiana. She went to Ohio with her parents when young. Her grandfa- ther was John Flory, a native of Pennsylvania and a pio- neer of Greene county, Indiana. Noah E. Flory and wife had thirteen children, namely: Catherine, who married James Quackenbosh, of Vermilion, Kansas; Elizabeth, who married William Stalcup, of Richland township; John, a farmer of the same locality, who married Ida Null; Henry, a preacher and farmer, who also lives there; Mary, Callie, Riley, Noah and Ella, all deceased; Jacob, a farmer in Richland township; Susan, the sub- ject's wife; Samuel, a farmer of Douglas county, Illi- nois, who is married; Thomas, who married Alverta Hunter; they live in Tulip, Indiana. The subject and wife have seven children, as follows: Dexter, Charles and Harley, twins; Clyde, Nettie, Vesta and Albert.
The subject of this sketch is the son of Daily and Quintella (Payne) Watson, natives of Greene county. He died in September, 1879. She married James M. King, of Tennessee, who died in a few years, and she married a third time. Christopher Horn was her last husband. They lived at Koleen, Indiana. The Watsons
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were natives of Virginia and were pioneers of Greene county, Indiana. Daily Watson grew up in Center town- ship and attended the neighborhood schools, working on his father's farm. He was always a farmer, and a mem- ber of the Christian church. He and his wife had three children. They are: Marion, an attorney and real es- tate dealer at Arthur, Illinois : he married Josie Gamron ; Elsworth, the subject of this sketch ; Daily, a farmer near Chesterville, Illinois, who married Esther Owens. There were five children from the second marriage of the sub- ject's mother, namely: Irvin, deceased ; Lusette, wife of Franklin Stillens, of Arthur, Illinois: Rosetta, wife of John Troy, and Viola, single, both of Arthur, Illinois ; Albert, a carpenter, who married Della Winings, of Ar- thur, Illinois.
HENRY HASSLER.
Henry Hassler, who lives on a farm in Washington township, was born in Taylor township, this county, Feb- ruary 10, 1852. He is the son of Christian and Sarah (Stone) Hassler, the former a native of the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, being a young man when the family came to America. Christian was the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Kolp) Hassler, both natives of Switzerland, who early settled in Taylor township, Greene county, In- diana, being highly respected among the other pioneer families at that time. Christian Hassler died in Taylor township on a farm in 1898. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They were successful
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farmer people and much liked by their neighbors. Chris- tian Hassler had three children by his first marriage. They are: Margaret, the wife of John Gilkinson, who lives in Jackson township; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, widow of George Ledgerwood, living in Cass township. Christian's second wife was Margaret Fitz. One child, Isabella, who is now deceased, was born to this union. She was the wife of Daniel Homerickhouse.
Henry Hassler was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools in Taylor township. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old. In 1877 he married Sarah Collins, who died in 1879, leaving one child, Catherine, the wife of William Osborn, who lives in Martin county, Indiana. The subject's second mar- riage was to Martha Waggoner. She died in 1898. leav- ing five children, namely: Florence, the wife of Harley Hardin, who lives in Washington township; Elmer, Ra- sho, Fred and Henry, all at home. The third marriage of the subject was to Grace Wesnidge in 1890. She was born in Smith township, and was the daughter of Henry and Nancy Wesnidge. Two children were born to the subject's third wife, namely: Cora and John.
After the subject's first marriage he began farming on his present farm, which was at that time wild, being covered with native forests. He has cleared and drained the land: also erected modern buildings on it, including a splendid residence, an ample barn and convenient out- buildings, until he has an attractive place, his home farm consisting of ninety-six acres of land, besides his other farms in the same township. Mr. Hassler raises a good grade of stock cattle and a large number of mules. He
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is a model farmer and makes a success of whatever he undertakes.
The subject is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Baptist church at Shiloh, Indiana.
OTIS G. FIELDS.
In the life history of Mr. Fields we find qualities worthy of admiration, for he has had to "hoe his own row" and make for himself a home and a reputation, both of which he has done admirably well, as we shall see. He was born in Owensburg, Greene county, Indiana, where he has preferred to live during his entire life, the date of his birth occurring on October 14, 1866. He is the son of Hans and Charlotte (Hatfield) Fields, the former a native of Lawrence county, Indiana, where he was born June 29, 1832, coming to Greene county in 1854, where he married and worked at his trade, that of a stone and brickmason. He was a member of the Chris- tian church and a Republican. Eight children were in this family, seven of whom are living. five in Greene county. They are: Forest Rose, the wife of Thomas Sweney, of New Albany, Indiana ; Admiral F., postmas- ter at Owensburg; Otis G., the subject; Pauline is de- ceased ; Christy is the wife of John Riley, living in Bloom- field ; Effie is the wife of Charles Page, also of Bloom- field; Commodore lives in Owensburg; Erie is the wife of Dr. Samuel Snider, of Indianapolis.
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