USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume II > Part 25
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Their family consisted of eleven children, Philbert being the eighth in the order of birth. He was educated in the public schools of Vigo county, and as a lad worked
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in his father's mill, continued at that until he reached his majority. He finally devoted his attention to farming, and has followed that to a greater or less extent ever since. In addition to the managing of the farm, how- ever, he has taken up insurance and still writes fire insur- ance as opportunity offers. Being a registered pharmacist he conducted a drug store for a time in Jasonville, con- ducting it on a clean and successful basis. He was also the first assessor elected under the new tax law and serv- in this capacity for six years. In 1900 he took up the handling of real estate and began leasing properties for mining purposes, and through his activity in this par- ticular field the discovery and development of the coal lands in this vicinity were begun. In 1901 he sank the Fry mine, practically the first coal mine established here, and this venture was followed by the activities of such corporations as the Lattice Creek and the Green Valley Coal companies, the result being a great advance in the property value of this section. In 1907 Mr. Fry pur- chased a stock of gents' furnishings and has since con- ducted the business with abundant success. Although a busy man Mr. Fry has not been indifferent to his duties as a citizen, and is now serving as treasurer of the school board, his service on the board having been marked by a progressive and straightforward policy.
In 1880 Mr. Fry was united in marriage to Jennie Love, of Clay county, Indiana, daughter of James and Harriet (Wright) Love. Philbert and Jennie Fry have eight children, here enumerated in the order of birth : Lura H .: Lena, wife of Everett M. Ingleman and the mother of one child : Clippenger. the second child. is living
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at Jasonville and has two children; the third child died in infancy; Robert J. was born March 5, 1886; Grace, born in August, 1888, is the wife of Ira Rogers ; John A. was born in September, 1890; Paul P. was born July 18, 1892, and Madge H., born June 1894. Mr. Fry has traveled extensively throughout the United States and has tried all means and methods of getting over the country, varying from the parlor car to the box car, pro- fiting by, as well as enjoying his experiences. He is an active Mason and is also a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.
GEORGE R. ANTHONY.
Great Britain has ever been the home of a sturdy and independent people, strong in their convictions and fearless in their undertakings and among the various clas- ses that have made this island their home and have there forged their nationality from the fires of war and conflict, none have emerged with a more creditable record than the inhabitants of Wales, where may yet be found the old-time loyalty to conviction and the valour that would not down before oppression or defeat. It is from such an ancestry that we have among our citizens one whose name forms the caption of the present review.
George R. Anthony was born in Maryland in 1861, son of Reuben and Ann Anthony, both natives of Wales. George's paternal grandfather, a shoemaker by trade, came to America in 1846, leaving his native hills to try
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for himself the realities of a land reputed to be second to none on the globe. He settled in the state of Maryland, and there he lived out his allotted years, passing to his reward at the age of seventy-six. Our sub- ject's maternal grandfather, Mr. Llewellyn, belonged to the mining class, plying his occupation in the busy coal fields of Wales, and after coming to America in 1848, continued in that work in the state of Maryland, later removing to Wyoming, where he finished his days. He was the father of four children.
Reuben Anthony, father of our subject, was reared and educated in the state of Maryland and became en- gaged as a bookkeeper, following that work until his death at the age of seventy-one. Eight children were born into the family, of which George was the third in order of birth, and the only son. He received his educa- tion in that state, and after reaching maturity became engaged in mining also. In time he arose to the position of superintendent of mines, and for twenty years was employed in that capacity.
In 1883 he emigrated to Indiana, and after a time be- came engaged in mercantile work. He soon went into business for himself and at once demonstrated his broad grasp of affairs by the successful issue of his under- taking. He established at Farmersburg, and commanded not only success, but also the deepest respect among his associates as a man of the highest business integrity. He closed up his affairs at Farmersburg in August, 1907, and came to Jasonville, and became the manager of the corporation known as the Jasonville Mercantile Company. His previous successful experience was a guarantee of his
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fitness for the responsible duties there devolving upon him, and the subsequent business prosperity of the com- pany has demonstrated the wisdom of the arrangement.
In 1884 George Anthony was joined in marriage to Ramsay Scott, who was born in California, and is the daughter of Robert and Jennie (Robb) Scott. This home has been adorned with a family of five children, who have found the family hearthstone a most precious heritage, and the cradle of noble ideals and lofy aspirations. Wil- iam, born in 1885, is a commercial school graduate; Eula, born in 1887, is the wife of Carl Baxter, and is the mother of two children : Leroy and Lavinia, twins, born in 1893, are at home in 1908 and attending school; the fifth child, Margaret, is of recent birth.
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony were also keenly alive to their opportunities and obligations as members of society and are active participants in Christian work, being members of the Methodist church, and have been a great help in all the phases of church work. In politics Mr. Anthony is a Republican and maintains that the first duty of every office holder is to have an eye single only for the impar- tial and honorable discharge of the duties entrusted to him.
CLARENCE CLARKE BARNETT.
In 1678 there was born at Londonderry, Ireland, John Barnett, ancestor of our subject, who, with his fam- ily, emigrated to America prior to 1730, settling in Han- over township, at that time Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, being among the first settlers in that section. One
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of the descendants of this family was a major in the Revolutionary war.
Allen Barnett, father of our subject, was born at Hanover, Pennsylvania, in 1799. He was the only mem- ber of the family that came to Indiana in 1840, settling in Clarke county, where he remained until his death in 1879, attaining the age of eighty years. He was a copper- smith by trade and possessed considerable skill as a me- chanic, being the inventor and constructor of the first cooking stove put into use west of the Alleghany moun- tains. This was patented in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1827. In 1838 he associated himself with Judge Read, purchased a steamboat and entered into the Arkansas river trade. Later he became a good land speculator, operating in several of the western states. Later he was made the managing officer of the First National Bank at Jeffersonville, Indiana. His farm at Charleston, Indiana, was known as the Elk Park farm, and this was his home at the time of his death. This land was a part of a patent grant to one of the soldiers of George Rogers Clark. It was left to the mother of our subject and is now in pos- session of Barton Barnett, the youngest son of the family and the brother of Clarence.
Allen Barnett's first marriage was to Elizabeth Shaffer, of Louisville, Kentucky, by whom he had six children. His second companion was Edith Jacob, to whom he was married on October 21, 1847. Nine chil- dren were born to this union, Clarence, our subject, being the fourth in the order of birth. He was born in Clark county, Indiana, August 15, 1855. Receiving his early education at Barnett Academy he followed it with a course in the College of Pharmacy, Louisville, Kentucky.
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He then went to Illinois, buying a portion of land that his father had previously entered, and remained there four years, and then returned to Clark county, pur- chasing farming interests and for the next nineteen years was engaged in the managing of agricultural affairs, also becoming connected with the Louisville Cement Company, and still retains that relationship. In order to secure better educational facilities for his children he removed to Hanover, Indiana, where the opportunities of Hanover College were available. This purpose being realized he moved on a sixty-three acre farm near Worthington, and put upon it almost all of the present improvements.
In January, 1877, he was joined in marriage to Mary Foster, of Owen county, Indiana, daughter of Orlando E. and Louisa (Archer) Foster, natives of Kentucky, who after coming to Indiana, ended their days at Worthing- ton.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have been the parents of two children, Edith, the first born, was called hence in 1902. She was a junior in Hanover College. The second daughter, Mary, is a junior (1908) in DePauw Univer- sity, where she is held in high esteem by both students and faculty. Mr. and Mrs. Barnett are active workers in the Methodist church. Mr. Barnett is a Republican in politics, but places principle above party, standing first of all for an honest and impartial discharge of public duties. A half brother of Mr. Barnett's was a soldier during the Civil war, being a member of the Thirty- ninth Indiana Volunteer Artillery. He was wounded at the battle of Stone River, and on this account was honor- ably discharged. Two years later he succumbed to the effects of the wound thus received.
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JACOB BUCHER. By Mrs. Hugh A. Owen.
The history of the Bucher family, as far back as in- formation can be obtained, begins with Henry Bucher, born 1775 and who lived to be seventy-six years old. He married Catharine Hickman, who was born in 1776 and lived eighty-eight years.
To Henry and Catharine ( Hickman) Bucher were born Michael ( 1800-1883), John ( 1802-1883), Elizabeth (Danner) (1804-1884). Henry ( 1806-1884). David ( 1809-1898), Andrew ( 1812-1869). John Bucher, second son of Henry and Catharine Bucher, married Eda Ann Winkler. The earliest information obtainable in the history of this branch of the Bucher family is that of Lawrence Winkler and his wife, Fanny Payne. Law- rence Winkler was born near Morgantown, Burk county, North Carolina, January 15, 1771. He was married to Fanny Payne in the year 1795, who was born in Wayne county, Virginia, November 18, 1775. To this union were born the following children: Rebecca ( Moller) ( 1795- 1887), Jolin ( 1799-1886), George ( 1801-1876), James ( 1804-1844), Lydia ( Hudson) ( 1806-1878), Mary ( 1809-1826), Eda Ann (Bucher) ( 1812-1893). Jacob ( 1815-1890), Enoch ( 1819-1871). The average of this generation reached sixty-six years.
To John Bucher and Eda Ann ( Winkler) Bucher were born Elizabeth (Crail) 1837 -- ), Jacob (1840- --- ), John B. ( 1842 -), Andrew M. (1849 --- ). Mary Ellen (Owen) ( 1854 -). Not a death has occurred in a family of five children, the eldest aged
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seventy-one years, a remarkable thing to be able to say. The native state of this family of children is Ohio. The family moved from that state to Indiana in 1857 and settled at the old Bucher home near Liberty church in Highland township, Greene county.
Jacob Bucher, eldest son of John and Eda Ann Buch- er, married Mary Clay Stalcup, December 24, 1865. The earliest record of this branch of the Bucher family is that of William Stalcup, the name of whose wife is not known. To them were born six sons; Peter, William, Isaac, Hon. John, Samuel and Eli. Isaac, the third son married Miss Osborn. To them were born twelve children, James, Al- fred, Isaac, Benjamin, John, L., Susan, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Nancy, Polly and Margaret. James, the eld- est child, was born August 22, 1786. He married Mar- garet Marlin, born December 17, 1795, on the 6th day of September, 1812. James was of German descent and his wife was Scotch-Irish. She came across the ocean when seven years old and settled in North Carolina. They moved to Indiana at an early date and settled in Greene county. To them were born George B. (1814-1880), Catharine (Ballard) (1815-1897), Isaac ( 1818-1895), Elizabeth (Dixon) ( 1822-1869), Rebecca (Short) (1825- 1861), William ( 1828-1888), Maria Louisa (Burnam) (1832-1864), Elvira Josephine (Andrews) (1835 --- ).
George B., eldest son, was married to Mary Buckner, August 28, 1834. The earliest history of this branch of the Bucher family, is that of Edward Bucher ( 1784- 1861) and his wife, Elizabeth ( 1788-1854). To them were born; Jeremiah, Mary, James, Nancy, Louisa and Jonathan.
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To George B. Stalcup and Mary (Buckner) Stalcup were born : Nancy ( 1840-1845), Elizabeth ( 1842-1842), Margaret ( 1837-1844), Mary Clay (1844 -), Ed- ward ( 1850-1854). Louisa ( 1848-1850), and Josephine (1855 -).
To Jacob Bucher and Mary Clay ( Stalcup) Bucher were born eight children : George B. ( 1867 -), Ara- bella (Owen) (1868 -). John ( 1870-1872), Williard MI. and Walter G. (1873-1873), Edward P. (1875 -), Jacob Guy (1877-), Blanch May ( Hays) ( 1883-), George B. married Thursia Heaton ( 1872-1900), in 1892. To them were born a daughter. Mabel H. ( 1895 --- ). Arabella married Hugh A. Owen ( 1862 -) in 1902. To them was born a son, George B. in 1905. Edward P. married Lola Newsom ( 1880 -) in 1903. To them was born a daughter. Helen Frances, in 1906. Jacob Guy married Arle Owen ( 1881 -) in 1905. To them was born a son. Jacob David. in 1907. Blanch May married Wilbur Hays ( 1882 -) in 1904. To them a daughter, Mary Louise, was born in 1905.
Jacob Bucher enlisted in Company E. Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, November 15, 1861, at the age of twenty-one. He was in the engagement at New Madrid, Missouri, and at Island No. 10, Shiloh. Corinth. Holly Springs, and Jackson, Mississippi. His regiment had the honor of planting the first United States flag on the state house at Jackson after the war begun. His brother, John B., was wounded in the battle at Jackson. The subject was also in the siege of Vicksburg and in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. From this place he marched with his regiment to Chattanooga
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and Lookout Mountain, taking part in all these engage- ments. From there he went to Missionary Ridge and Atlanta, Georgia, later making the noted march to the sea, thence marched to Raleigh, North Carolina, and was relieved from duty at Wilmington, that state, which closed his active service of three years and five months. He was honorably discharged April 22, 1865, at Indianapolis, Indiana.
After the war he rented a farm for a number of years and finally bought it, living there until the present time (1908), in Highland township, Greene county, Indiana, where he is influential and highly respected by all.
HOMER OLIVER HART.
This exemplary and popular young business man of Linton, Indiana, was born in Newark, Greene county, August 20, 1879, the son of Joseph and Bertha (Lyons) Hart, the former born in Noble county, Ohio, June 4, 1850, and the latter was born in Stanford, Greene county, Indiana, February 18, 1861. The father of the subject was a mechanic and a flour mill workman of more than ordinary skill. To this union was born four children- Homer O., the subject of this sketch; Opal is the wife of Aaron Arthur, a farmer in Daviess county, Indiana ; Lloyd, a farmer in the same county; Oscar is in school. Joseph Hart died in Greene county, February 18, 1893, after a useful and busy life, which was crowned with success.
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The subject was educated in the common schools at Newark and began his business career as a clerk in a dry goods store at Bloomfield, where he remained one year. He was similarly employed at Spencer, then he clerked in the same kind of a store in Linton for three years, having developed into an unusually fine salesman.
On July 1. 1904, he was appointed assistant post- master at Linton under Oscar Fitzpatrick, and he is still in the office under C. T. Sherwood, the present post- master. Mr. Hart is a Republican in political belief, and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias; also the Elks, holding in 1908 one of the leading offices in thte former and taking an active interest in the same.
Mr. Hart has preferred to travel life's pathway alone, enjoying single blessedness.
The Lyons family as represented by the mother of the subject is one of the pioneer families of Greene coun- ty, having been well established there for many decades, where they were well and favorably known.
Although young in years, Mr. Hart has shown what persistent individuality, coupled with honesty of purpose. can accomplish when rightly directed.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH T. OLIPHANT.
Distinguished as possessing a most unselfish loyalty in the service of his country, we have in the character of Captain Joseph T. Oliphant a true type of the American patriot. He was born March 31, 1833. in Monroe county,
CAPTAIN JOSEPH T. OLIPHANT FAMILY GROUP.
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Indiana, being the son of Lawson and Ruth ( Penning- ton) Oliphant, emigrants to Indiana from North Car- olina, having settled in Monroe county in 1820. Here Lawson Oliphant entered a one hundred and sixty acre tract of government land and addressed himself assidu- ously to its cultivation. The timber was heavy and the wild animals of the forests were still in evidence. Mr. Oliphant killed many bears, as well as other wild game that was in abundance, while his wife often shot wild turkeys from their cabin door. Their first home was the usual log structure common to the times. In 1835 the family removed to Lawrence county, remaining there upon a farm until 1846, at which time they came to Greene county, finding here conditions for farming similar to what they were elsewhere. Here they cleared and im- proved some land and spent the remainder of their days. Mr. Oliphant departed this life in 1881, and was followed by his companion in 1886. They were active workers in the Old School Baptist church, and were regarded as mod- els of uprightness by all who knew them. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are still surviv- ing : Francis M., a merchant of Bloomington, died in 1905; Louisa departed this life while in Texas; Nancy, deceased, had her home in Dubois county ; Jefferson L., a farmer, died in Bloomfield in 1907; Joseph T., our sub- ject; Parthena D., now living at Lincoln, Nebraska ; Sarah has her home at Dugger, Indiana ; Mary Ann, now living at Linton, Indiana ; Belinda, residing at Dugger, Indiana.
The Reverend Thomas Oliphant, grandfather of our subject, was a minister of the Old School Baptist faith,
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and formed what is known as the White River Baptist Association. He was thrice married, and completed his days in Monroe county.
Joseph Pennington, maternal grandfather of our subject, a native of North Carolina, emigrated to Mon- roe county, Indiana, in 1820. He married a Miss Martin- dlale, and followed farming, rounding out his days at that occupation, and was gathered to rest in the above mentioned county.
Joseph T. Oliphant received but a limited schooling, but managed to broaden his outlook upon life by means of reading and observation, and in this way acquired a training that was both practical and effective. He re- mained upon the home farm until he acquired his major- ity, and was married July 6, 1854, to Mary M. Alexander, of Bloomington, Indiana, a daughter of Williamson and Elizabeth Sherley Alexander, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. Williamson Alex- ander's parents, William D. and Martha ( Dunn) Alex- ander, settled in Monroe county in 1817, and were closely connected with the early history of the county. William D. Alexander assisted in laying out the city of Bloom- ington, and was made the first treasurer of that county. A Whig and later a Republican, he proved a leader and moulder of public thought. He was also a licensed physi- cian and practiced medicine in Greene county, coming later to Bloomfield, where he departed this life in 1871, followed by his companion in 1886. They were members of the old Presbyterian denomination. Seven children were born into this family, three of whom still survive. They are Mary E. ; Martha of Bloomington, Indiana, and William, of Chicago.
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Mr. Oliphant and wife became the parents of seven children, six of whom reached maturity: Elizabeth, de- ceased, married Joseph Armstrong, and to this union were born seven children: Harrison, a farmer and real estate dealer in Harrison county, Missouri; Francis, a lumber dealer, at Harrisburg, Indiana; Darwin, a post- master at Cainsville, in Harrison county, Missouri ; Mary A., wife of F. M. Carmichael, of Bloomfield; Bertha, wife of Grant Wilson, also of Bloomfield; the seventh child, Mary D., died at the age of three years.
In 1862 Mr. Oliphant responded to the call of his country and enlisted in Company E, Ninety-seventh Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, and was speedily promoted from the rank of private to the lieutenancy, and then to the rank of captain of the company. Soon after going into camp at Terre Haute, the troops were sent to Louisville, Ken- tucky, and later to Bardstown and Memphis, Tennessee. They took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and later in the war marched with Sherman to the sea.
On June 27, 1864, Mr. Oliphant was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain, a bullet passing through the left ankle bone, making it necessary for him to return to his home where he was confined to his house for over twelve months.
He later established a general store at Jonesboro, Greene county, from where he was elected county record- er. He was subsequently engaged in business in Law- rence county at Harrisburg, and in 1890 came to Bloom- field, serving since that time at pension attorney. For ten successive years he was treasurer of the State Grange.
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He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was commander of the post at Hobbyville. He has taken an active part in the Grand Army of the Republic work and has assisted materially in the organization of the work in the surrounding country. He is an active Mason, is a member of excellent reputation in the county for straightforwardness and integrity.
REV. WILLIAM NELSON DARNELL.
William Nelson Darnell was born in North Carolina, October 27, 1830. His father was John Darnell and his mother's maiden name was Martha Fields. The family came from England in 1664, part of them settling in Maryland and part in Vir- ginia and North Carolina. Grandfather Fields was born in England and came to America when a young man, settling in Maryland. Afterwards he came to North Carolina. Several members of the family were soldiers in the early American wars. The subject's great grand- father Fields was a whale fisherman and the grandfather of the subject, John Darnell, was a mechanic and farmer and he spent his life on the place he settled in North Caro- lina. John P. Darnell, the father of the subject, grew to manhood in that state, working on a farm and at the shoe- maker's trade. In 1834 he moved to Lawrence county, Indiana, and took up government land, where he lived during the balance of his life. The well known Darnell cave is adjoining this farm. The father of the subject had four children, all of whom grew to maturity, three
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of them now ( 1908) living. One of the Darnells and one of the Fields were Confederate soldiers, while others fought for the Union. One of the Fields, a Confederate soldier, was killed in the battle of Gettysburg. Mary Dar- nell was the wife of Charles Carroll, of Charrolton, the last survivor of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence.
William Darnell received his education in the com- mon schools of his native township. He was taught by his mother and did not enter school until he was eight years old. He remained on his father's farm, going to school and teaching until he was twenty-one years old, having taught his first school when but sixteen years old and he taught two terms after he was twenty-one. He learned the carpenter's trade which he worked at three years. He attended the Bedford Academy when seven- teen years old, then he attended school at the old Bedford Academy and county seminary. In 1854 he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, remaining in the Indiana conference for two and one-half years, then he went to Minnesota where he joined the conference and was a pastor for five years. Then he enlisted in Company I, Seventh Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1862, and was in the wars against the Sioux Indians. His first service was guarding the Chippewa Indians on the frontier. He was burned out by Sioux Indians at Painsville, Minnesota, in which fire he lost his library and household goods and although his family es- caped, the death of two children which followed were no doubt due to exposure. He went to Mankato and guard- ed the Indians during the winter of 1862. He was present
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