USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume II > Part 19
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Our subject was raised on a farm, receiving.a lim- ited common school education. In his early day there was still in use the puncheon floor, stick chimney and greased paper for windows. The first school he ever attended was taught by Elder Harring, an old Baptist minister. He was only three years old when he came with his family to Greene county, and with the excep- tion of his army life has lived in this county ever since.
In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Thirteenth Indiana Light Artillery and served with it until dis- charged at Indianapolis, July 11, 1865, where he was mustered in nearly four years before. He first went into camp at Louisville, Kentucky, and drilled for the fight at Fort Donelson. But owing to the intemperance of the captain they were not in the fight. Returning to In- dianapolis, the captain was dishonorably discharged and a new one elected in his place. Returning to their Louis- ville camp for a short drill, they were then sent to Hen- derson, Kentucky, and participated in the battle there. They then marched to Shepherdsville, and then with three regiments of cavalry and two of artillery took after Morgan in his raid, and had a little skirmish with him south of Louisville, also at Frankfort, and followed him in a constant running fight for twenty-one days to Cum-
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berland Gap. They were then ordered back to Eliza- bethtown; then marched to Gallatin, Tennessee, and oc- cupied Fort Thomas for some time, and were used prin- cipally as scouts all over the country for nearly a year. They were then sent to Hartsville, Tennessee. At Mur- freesboro a part of the force was imprisoned, but finally released, and finally returned to Indianapolis. In the spring of 1863 they were again sent to Tennessee and engaged in the fights at Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga and Atlanta. After reconnoitering about Atlanta they were then returned to Nashville to assist General "Pap" Thomas, and in the fight with Hood's army they marched and fought almost continu- ously for forty days and nights. The remainder of the service after returning to Chattanooga was occupying various points until their return to Indianapolis, where in a few months they received their discharge. Much might be said in detail of their soldier life, but this brief review only suggests its intense activity.
On his return from the war he first engaged in the saw-mill business in Sullivan, Monroe and Greene coun- ties. Selling out to his partner, he bought a farm in Sul- livan county, later a farm in Wright township, on which he staid until 1888, when he removed to Switz City.
On January 2, 1867, our subject was married to Phoebe Clark, daughter of Thomas and Rhoda Clark, early pioneers of Greene county. She was born in Owen county, October 2, 1839, and died May 31, 1905. They had the following children-Ulysses M., who lives in Terre Haute : Ella, wife of Emmett Gray, now living in Terre Haute ; Elizabeth Inez, who died in infancy ; Anna,
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deceased; Nora, who lives at home, keeping house for her father. He is a Baptist in church affiliations and a Republican politically. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
JOHN I. SPEEKER.
The subject of this sketch, one of Greene county's sturdy native citizens, was born February 23, 1877. His father, Martin Speeker, came from Maryland, while his mother was born in Ohio. Grandfather Speeker was also of Maryland, a blacksmith by trade, and came to Greene county, Indiana. From there he removed to Ohio, completing his days there, with the music of the anvil as one of his companions till life's close. He left three sons.
Grandfather Landis was a skillful farmer and came to Greene county, from Ohio, where he reared his six children, and ended his days here. John Landis, father of Mrs. Speeker and grandfather of subject, followed both carpentry and farming and was the head of a fine family of eleven children, all of whom are still living, a fact somewhat remarkable.
Our subject received his early education in the schools of Greene county and remained upon the farm until twenty-one years of age. Later he became a bridge carpenter, continuing at this for several years, whereupon he bought a half interest in a livery and sales stable, at Worthington, in which business he is still engaged. Since entering into partnership with Marion Mitten in 1907 the firm's business has steadily increased, and now easily
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stands in the forefront compared with like enterprises in the county. This growth has been largely owing to the energy and integrity displayed in the management, these characteristics being sufficient to win confidence, esteem and patronage. The company owns the property in which they are located, and they have a large livery stock and give to the public first-class service.
On April 1, 1906, Mr. Speeker was united in mar- riage to Ida Blackburn, who was born in February, 1882, in Cass county, Indiana, and she has proved to be a most estimable companion and holds a high place in the esteem of her many friends. She is a member of the Methodist church.
Mr. Speeker is a member of the Eagles, lending hearty support to the order. Although a loyal Democrat he has never sought political prominence, but stands at all times for honest service and clean politics. He was nominated for trustee of Jefferson township in June, 1908, by the Democratic party.
GEORGE C. PORTER.
Among those whose depths of character strict ad- herence to principle and success in their chosen field of endeavor have won the confidence and respect of their fellow men, is the well-known physician and surgeon whose name furnishes the caption of this biographical review. The family of which Dr. Porter is a worthy member has been represented in this country from a very
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early period, but unfortunately, reliable data concerning its history is somewhat deficient. It is known, however, that the doctor's paternal ancestors were among the early immigrants from Ireland and that his great-grandfather, John Porter, was killed during one of the predatory In- dian wars that were waged at intervals in the eastern colonies during the settlement of the country. From the eastern part of the United States descendants of the original stock gradually moved westward, and early in the nineteenth century the name appears in the annals of different counties of Ohio in which George Porter, the doctor's father, was born in 1837. Mary McGuyer, wife of George Porter, was also a native of Ohio, and pre- sumably of Irish descent, as the name would indicate. This couple were married in the state of their nativity, and about 1858 moved to Martin county, where they lo- cated on the farm which the father owns and cultivates, the mother departing this life in 1896. Eight children constituted the family of George and Mary Porter, all but one of whom are living, their names being as fol- lows: Thomas J .; Kittie, widow of Samuel Smith ; Ina, wife of Albert Lay; McGuyer; Rosa, now Mrs. Daniel McCormick : Arthur and George C., the one deceased be- ing a daughter by the name of Alice, who was called from earth when a child eight years of age.
Dr. George C. Porter was born December 30, 1876. in Martin county, Indiana, and received his preliminary education in the public schools of his native place. Sub- sequently he took a teacher's training course in Mitchell. Indiana, and such was the progress he made in his studies that before his sixteenth year he was sufficiently ad- 46
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vanced to take the required examination and secure a teacher's license, the youngest teacher in the county of Martin when he took charge of his first school. During the ensuing five years he devoted his attention to educa- tional work, but not caring to make teaching a perma- nent calling. he took up the study of medicine, in the meantime. and in 1899 entered the Eclectic Medical Col- lege of Cincinnati, where he prosecuted his studies and researches until finishing the prescribed four years' course, graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine in April. 1903.
Dr. Porter began practicing his profession at the town of Midland. Greene county. the year of his gradua- tion, but after remaining at that place until 1907. changed his field of labor to Linton, where he has since built up quite a large and lucrative business, many of his Midland patrons still retaining him as their family physician, while his following at Linton has steadily grown in numbers until he has now a business second to none of his asso- ciates.
Dr. Porter is a close student. aims to keep abreast of the times in all matters relating to his profession, and by his kindly presence and gentle touch, as well as by his efficiency and skill in both materia medica and surgery, he has won a warm place in the esteem and af- fections of the many patients who profit by his services. He has been successful financially as well as professional- ly, having succeeded in accumulating a handsome com- petency and placing himself in comfortable circumstances.
In politics the doctor is a Democrat. but not a poli- tician in the sense the term is usually understood, and
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in religion he is identified with the Christian church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. besides holding membership with the Eclectic Phylo Ma- thian, a college fraternity, in all of which organizations his influence is potent and salutary, and in most of which he has been honored with important official positions. On May 15, 1904. he and Miss Gertrude Morgan, daugh- ter of George and Mable Morgan, of Greene county. were united in the bonds of wedlock, which has been blessed by the birth of two children. Jesse and Carl. both living. George Morgan is a brother of John and Henry Morgan, the extensive stock dealers and land owners, of Stafford township.
THEODORE INGERSOLL.
The worthy agriculturist whose brief life history we here append first saw the light of day December 3. 1854, in Jefferson township. Greene county. He is recorded as the son of William and Margaret (Inman) Ingersoll. They, too, were natives of Greene county. William was the son of Daniel Ingersoll, who also led a very active life. He was a carpenter and built locks in the old canal : also built a number of mills, barns and houses, and did much to improve the early condition of the country. He moved west in 1868, going first to Iowa, then to Kan- sas, and in the latter state died in 1872. He was a mem- ber of the old-line Whig party and later a Republican.
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William, the father of our subject, was raised in Greene county, and grew up taking an active part in the pioneer struggles of that day. One improvement aided him greatly, and that was the introduction of the pub- lic schools. Through this avenue he got a good start toward an education. In the fall of 1849 he went to Cali- fornia, crossing the plains with an ox team, and was six months on the road. He remained there about two years and then returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York City to Greene county in 1852. He was a soldier in the Civil war, a member of the Thirteenth In- diana Battery, and was in all the engagements in which the battery participated. After his return from Califor- nia in 1853 he was married to Margaret Inman, a native of Greene county and daughter of Robert Inman, whose birthplace was Ireland, and an early settler in the county. William Ingersoll engaged in farming until 1868, and then went to Iowa, where he lived until 1872, and. re- turning, continued farming on a farin now owned by our subject. He died in 1879. To them were born five chil- dren-Theodore. Oran, Jennie, Lizzie and Jerry-all dead except our subject.
Like his father, our subject was raised on the farm and obtained his education from the common schools. In addition to farming he also learned the stonecutter's trade, and worked at it a great deal. Among many jobs he helped on was the Greene county court house. In 1888 he moved onto his father's old home place in Fair Play township and went to improving it still more, though it already contained one hundred and thirty-six acres of good land, and has lived here ever since. In 1888 our
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subject was married to Belle Day, a daughter of George W. Day, an early settler in Putnam county, a native of Tennessee and a farmer. To them were born three chil- dren-Charles Leon, aged eighteen; Paul Hays, thir- teen, and Mary, ten in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll are ardent members of the Christian church. He is also an Odd Fellow and belongs to Bee Hunter Lodge, No. 507. In politics he trains with the Republican party. He is at present supervisor of the gravel road system of Fair Play township. He is also on the advisory board. In 1895 he was elected township trustee of Fair Play township and served six years. He always takes a deep interest in politics and in all subjects affecting the general good of the country.
ALBERT B. KELLY.
This brief review endeavors to set forth some of the salient facts in the life of the subject, who was born in Martin county, Indiana, April 4, 1837, the son of John F. and Mary (Teverbaugh) Kelley .. The former was born on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, in 1806, the son of William Kelley, who was born in Ireland, coming to Masachusetts and married a Miss Allen. In 1815 they came west and settled on a farm where part of Cincinnati, Ohio, now stands. They later came to Martin county, Indiana, where they lived and died. John F. Kelley, was a small boy when his parents came to Martin county. He grew up there and married,
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after which he moved to Owen county, where he died very suddenly in 1876. He was a successful farmer, a Whig, and he and his wife were members of the Chris- tian church. Mary Teverbaugh was the daughter of Abraham Teverbaugh and wife, both of Kentucky, who came to Martin county, Indiana, in an early day, where Mr. Teverbaugh farmed and managed a flour mill, be- coming a wealthy man before he died. John F. Kelley and wife had the following children: John, William, Daniel W., Mary E., Susan A., Nettie Ann, Cornelia, Mesouri Ann, Albert B., the subject, and Samuel.
The subject remained at home until he grew to man- hood, receiving a meager education in local subscription schools in primitive log houses. He helped his father on the home place until he was thirty years of age. On No- vember 8, 1867, he married Martha Haden, a native of Jefferson township, Greene county, Indiana. She is the daughter of William and Matilda (Clary) Haden, both natives of Virginia. They had eight children, as fol- lows: Jane, Margaret, William Riley, Frances and Sam- uel : the rest died unnamed. His first wife died in 1855 and William Haden married Hannah Kelley, a widow. They had no children. He and his wife came to Greene county, Indiana, early in the nineteenth century. He was a Democrat and they were both members of the Meth- odist church.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Kelley had the following children: Charles, who died in infancy; Fletcher, who died when three years of age; William Riley died in in- fancy : Harvey Homer died at the age of twenty-seven years in 1900, having remained single: Nettie Alice, wife
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of John Herring, living near Linton, who is a coal miner. They have four children-Frederick, Clyde, Mattie. Har- vey R. Isabella is the sixth child of the subject and is the wife of Leonard Chafey, living in Stockton township. They have two children, Hazel and Frank. Charlotte May, wife of William Chafey, is the subject's seventh child. They live in Washington township on a farm. They have one child, May. Mamie Ethel is the wife of Elmer Laughlin, and the subject's eighth child. She lives on a farm in Taylor township.
The subject lived for seven years on a farm belong- ing to his father in Owen county and then came to Greene county, and for the past thirty-three years lived in Wash- ington township.
In April, 1861, the subject enlisted at Spencer, In- diana, in a company of one hundred and sixty members. They went into camp, but there were so many volunteer regiments waiting to be equipped that this company was disbanded and the subject returned home and put in a crop. But when the President issued a call for troops in June, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Nineteenth Volun- teer Infantry, in Owen county. They camped and drilled there for a short time and went to Washington City. The first skirmish of this regiment, of which Solomon Mere- dith was colonel, was at Lewisville, near Washington City, September 11, 1861, with a part of Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry. He was at the battle of Fredericksburg and Bull Run, in which his immediate companions were killed. In the last named battle the subject had six holes shot in his clothes, but was not injured. In a fight at South Mountain the subject had a tent shot off his back
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while carrying it. He was in the battle Frederick, Mary- land, and at Antietam. One of the subject's legs was injured from forced marching, which has always disa- bled him. He was internally injured by jumping a ditch at the battle of South Mountain. He was then put in charge of a field hospital, and later sent home after re- maining in service until March, 1863. He was dis- charged at Frederick City, Maryland. After he returned home he was made a home guard and was elected first lieutenant, with John Nelson captain.
The subject is a Republican and cast his first and second votes for Lincoln, and for every Republican can- didate for President since. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
CLINTON THOMAS SHERWOOD.
Among the older residents of Greene county who came here in an early day and bore their respective parts in the growth and development of the country were the Sherwood brothers, Benjamin, James S. and the father of Dr. E. T. Sherwood, of Linton, who left their native Carolinas many years ago to seek their fortunes and carve out their destinies in the comparatively new and undevel- oped west. Benjamin located at Linton, where he en- gaged in merchandising, being one of the early business men of the place as well as postmaster. He also con- ducted a hotel for a number of years called the Sher- wood House, and for a considerable length of time was
Chitor P. Shewoord
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directly interested in whatever made for the advancement of the town, besides taking active part in the general im- provement of the county and the welfare of the people. James S. was also a public-spirited man and a praise- worthy citizen, served with a creditable record in the Civil war and is the only one of the brothers now living.
Hugh Melvin Sherwood, son of Benjamin and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Bloom- field and when a young man married Mary Craig, whose birth occurred in Worthington in 1855. For a number of years he, too, was identified with the commercial in- terests of Linton, and is now living a life of retirement in the town, honored and esteemed by all who know him. Of the two children born to Hugh M. and Mary Sher- wood, Clinton Thomas, whose name appears above, sur- vives.
Clinton Thomas Sherwood was born October I, 1876, in Greene county, Indiana, and has spent his life practically within its borders. He was reared to honor- able pursuits, grew to manhood with well-defined ideas of life and duty, and in due time, after receiving a liberal education in the public schools and De Pauw University, started out to make his own way, his first business ex- perience as salesman in a grocery house continuing five years. At the expiration of that time he became associate with his father in the hardware trade and was thus en- gaged for a period of eight years, during which he ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the business, and by his gentlemanly and urbane manner was intrumental in gain- ing quite a large patronage for the firm.
From his boyhood Mr. Sherwood has been keenly in- terested in public affairs, and since attaining his majority
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he has given his support unreservedly to the Republican party and taken an active part in promoting its success. On February 20, 1907, he was commissioned postmaster of Linton in recognition of services rendered the party, and since that time has discharged the duties of the po- sition in a manner satisfactory to all concerned, proving a very competent and affable official, whose friends are limited only by the range of his acquaintance. The Linton postoffice, which has been advanced to the second class, requires the services of an assistant postmaster and five clerks, with their city carriers, and seven rural routes, the business in its every detail being methodically arranged and managed in such a way as to meet the expectations of the department and of the general public.
Mr. Sherwood not only occupies a prominent place in business and official circles, but is deservedly popular in the social world, standing high in the esteem of his fellow citizens of Linton and ranking among the most enterprising and successful young men in Greene county. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Pythian fraternities, belonging to the Uniform Rank of the latter society, and at various times he has held important official positions in the same. He lias a pleas- ant home in Linton, graciously presided over by a lady of culture and refinement, to whom he was united in mar- riage on the 27th of October, 1898, and who, prior to that time bore the name of Pearl Price. Mrs. Sherwood is the daughter of Levi M. and Margaret ( Hale) Price, her father being a well-to-do and prominent citizen of Stockton township and the family one of the best known and most highly esteemed in the county. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood died in infancy.
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WILLIAM HENRY MILLER.
William Henry Miller, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, January 31, 1848, is the son of Samuel N. and Hannah ( Phillip) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. Grandfather Miller moved to Ohio, where he farmed and spent the remainder of his life. His wife, who was a member of the Church of God, died when eighty-seven years old. She came to Indiana after the death of her husband. They had five children, who reached maturity. An aunt of the subject is still living in Ohio, and although she is eighty-three years old, takes a delight in letter writing. Jacob Phillip, brother of Mrs. Miller's mother, was a soldier in the War of 1812, having enlisted in Pennsylvania, where the father of the subject lived until middle-age, when he removed to Ohio, where he lived until 1851, in which year he came to Greene county, Indiana, where he bought a farm and lived on it during the remainder of his life. He died in 1872. Samuel N. and Hannah Miller had eight chil- dren, all of whom lived to raise families. The subject's fa- ther was not only a farmer, but a minister in the Church of God, in which his wife was also an active worker. She died in 1876, at the age of sixty-six years. The subject's father owned one hundred and twenty acres of land. William H. Miller has the original farm, to which he has added eleven acres. He has never made but one move-that of being brought from Ohio when ten years old to his present home. For a part of two years he followed the carpenter's trade. With this exception he has preferred to devote his time to farming and stock
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raising. He sells stock cattle and has many varieties of blooded stock, and feeds most of his corn to prepare his hogs for market. William H. Miller was married in 1874 to Ella Knox, of Monroe county, Indiana. They have eight children, five of whom are living, namely : Thaddeus, who is married and living at Linton, Indiana, being the father of four children; Claude is a school teacher in the Philippine Islands, where he has remained two years; after graduating from the Worthington ( In- diana) high school, he took a three years' course in the State University at Bloomington ; he is now receiving a salary of $1,200 a year ; he is married and has one child. Berton, the third child, is married and lives on his fa- ther's farm, being the father of three children: Berneith is single and living at home; Maggie is the wife of Leroy Lofland; three children of the subject died in infancy. The subject was married a second time in 1893, his last wife being Ann M. Adams, daughter of William and Amelia (Argo) Adams, natives of Kentucky, who came to Indiana many years ago.
James D. Adams, a brother of Mrs. Miller, was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in Kentucky and served three years in the Union army. He is now living in Worthington, Indiana. The subject has two chil- dren by his second wife-Lealdes, who died in infancy, and Kenneth, who is living at home. The subject's wife is a member of the Church of God. Also Maggie Lof- land is a member of the same church. Mr. Miller is a Republican. He is known as an honest, hard-work- ing man, and he has the undivided respect of all who know him owing to his gentlemanly qualities.
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