USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume II > Part 5
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JAMES EDWARD BULL.
A veteran of the Civil war, a business man of high standing, an enterprising citizen who discharged high public trusts, a husband and father whose presence and influence made the home circle almost ideal, and the memory of whose estimable qualities, loving ministra- tions and kindly deeds are a priceless heritage to his fam- ily and friends, is one of whom the biographer essays to write in this connection.
James Edward Bull, late of Greene county, who, for many years, was identified with the business interests of Lyons, was born January 11, 1845, in Greene county, Ohio, the son of Robert Scott and Ann ( Reid) Bull, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. His mother dying when he was quite young, James E. Bull became an in- mate of his uncle's home and remained with that relative until about his seventeenth year, working on the farm and attending the public schools in the meantime. At the
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above youthful age he responded to his country's call for volunteers, enlisting August 12, 1862, in Company H, Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry, with which he shared the fortunes and vicissitudes of war in some of the most noted campaigns in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and other states, participating in a number of battles, among which were Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Chat- tanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, the siege and fall of Atlanta, including the bloody engagements of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and later was with the command at Jonesboro and the capture of Savannah. His military experience covered three years of strenuous service, replete with duty faithfully and honorably performed, and at its conclusion he retired from the army with a record of which any brave man might feel proud, receiving his discharge on the 5th of June, 1865.
Returning to Ohio at the end of the war Mr. Bull resumed agricultural pursuits with his uncle, but four years later accompanied the latter to Greene county, In- diana, and during the ensuing twelve years was associ- ated with him in business near Lyons. At the expiration of the time he engaged in the mercantile business at Lyons in partnership with James Carpenter, the firm thus constituted building up an extensive and lucrative patronage, and in due season becoming one of the largest and most successful commercial houses in the county. In 1886 he was the Republican candidate for county treas- urer and after an animated campaign defeated his com- petitor by a handsome majority, and filled the office for four years, having been re-elected in 1888, proving a very
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capable and popular public servant. In 1892 he moved to Worthington, and in July of the same year engaged in the banking business at that place in partnership with T. C. Owen, O. F. Herold and C. C. Ballard, Mr. Bull being elected president of the enterprise. Subsequently he purchased the interests of these parties and effected a copartnership with Mr. Bilderback, who continued his associate until the subject's death, the business growing to large proportions the meanwhile, and becoming widely and favorably known in financial circles. Mr. Bull was clear-brained and a man of large business experience ; as president of the bank displaying executive ability of a high order and a familiarity with matters of finance that won for him much more than local reputation. He re- mained at the head of the bank until his death, which occurred on the 7th of January, 1901, and to his sound judgment, judicious and efficient management and great personal popularity is due the continued success and stability of the institution at the present time.
In addition to the career as a merchant and banker Mr. Bull also served one term as county commissioner and for two years held the office of justice of the peace, in both of which capacities he displayed the ability and mature judgment characteristic of all his relations with the public. In social as well as in business and official life he was the soul of honor; in brief, an intelligent, broad-minded gentleman whose virtues win the un- bounded respect of his fellow men and whose influence was ever on the side of right, as he saw and understood it. The death of Mr. Bull at the time already mentioned. after an illness of one year's duration, was felt as a seri-
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ous personal loss to the community, honored by his citi- zenship, while his long and useful life, fraught with good to all with whom he came in contact, won an honored and permanent place in the hearts and affections of his fellow men.
Mr. Bull, on January 19, 1871, was united in mar- riage with Julia Ann Miller, whose birth occurred at Cincinnati, Ohio, October 28, 1849, but who was re- moved to the town of Cedarville, Ohio, after the war, where she met Mr. Bull and there married him. Five chil- dren resulted from this union, namely: Vernie Irene, ed- ucated in Indianapolis and is still with her mother; Nellie Reid, also a member of the home circle; Oscar Dunlap died August 18, 1875; Roscoe Henderson, born August 26, 1882, died on the 23d of September following. The youngest member of the family died in infancy, unnamed.
Mrs. Bull and daughters are stockholders and di- rectors of the Commercial State Bank, which the husband and father founded, and, like the latter, are devoted to the interests of the institution and active in all of its de- liberations. They have other property interests, includ- ing two fine farms and the elegant residence which they occupy, giving personal attention to the management of the estate in their possession.
He was a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public. Mr. Bull left a comfortable competency to his family.
HORACE V. NORVELL, M. D.
The subject of this article has been a resident of Bloomfield during all of his mature life, coming to this
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town October 26, 1858, when but eighteen years old. and has been a resident here ever since. After receiving a good common school education he was appointed dep- uty county treasurer, serving in that capacity during the incumbency of his principal, entering upon the duties of that office at the age of twenty-two. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits for a few years, during which time he began the preliminary studies in medicine, supple- menting this with a course of lectures at Ohio Medical College. He began the practice of his profession in Bloomfield and continued for a number of years, when his energies were temporarily diverted into other chan- nels. Dr. Norvell early manifested an active interest in political affairs and allied himself with the Democratic party. He was made chairman of the Democratic county central committee, and held that distinguished position during several animated campaigns, finally being chosen a member of the state central committee, on which he served for eight years, being at one time chairman of the Democratic state central committee following the resig- nation of Senator Joseph E. McDonald. In 1869 the Doctor was appointed a member of the board of United States examining surgeons for Greene county and served several years in that capacity. He has always been a public-spirited and active citizen, giving freely of his time and means to the advancement of public interests, and has been a recognized leader in local politics during his entire life.
In 1874 he "led a forlorn hope" to victory. This was during the Granger days and party lines were closely drawn, and he was elected county treasurer, being re-
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elected in 1876 with a largely increased majority. This political success for his party was largely due to the personal ·popularity of Dr. Norvell and to his untiring efforts for the success of the principles which he believed should prevail. His majority at his second election was six hundred and ninety-eight, a victory of no small sig- nificance when the county at that time was considered hopelessly Republican.
During the session of the state legislature in 1882-83 Dr. Norvell was appointed director of the southern prison of Indiana, and held that position for many years.
Dr. Norvell is a man of strong personality and force of character. He is well and favorably known, both as a citizen and physician, throughout a large area of Southi- ern Indiana, and his genial disposition and sympathetic nature have endeared him to thousands of people.
Horace V. Norvell was born in Lawrence county. Indiana, July 20, 1839. He is a son of R. G. and Aman- da H. Norvell, early pioneers of Lawrence county. His father was a pioneer physician in that county, and a man of more than ordinary professional attainments.
The subject of this sketch is a member of various professional societies and of fraternal organizations. He was married October 25, 1871, to Miss Emma A. Smith, daughter of Dr. W. C. Smith, of Worthington, Indiana. Three sons and one daughter were born to this union : Ralph N. is connected with a corporation in Springfield. Missouri ; Max WV. is a shoe manager and buyer at Chi- cago; Horace Raymond is engaged in railroad business. now at home; Berthia died at the age of eleven months. Dr. Norvell is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Royal
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Arch Masons, a charter member of Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, but was formerly an Episcopalian.
JOHN T. DOBBINS.
John T. Dobins, who was born December 6, 1835. in Washington county, Indiana, was the son of Thomas and Nancy (Nicholson) Dobbins, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia. Their union took place in Washington county, Indiana, but Thomas Dobbins was first married in Virginia, emigrat- ing to Indiana in 1816, taking up a piece of wild land which he cleared and developed into a good farm. The father of Thomas Dobbins, Jacob, was born in County Cork, Ireland, and after coming to America was married in North Carolina, and there ended his days.
William Nicholson, maternal grandfather of our subject, a native of Wales, came to Virginia and there plied the trade of a wheelwright.
Thomas Dobbins, our subject's father, was a wide- awake citizen and allied himself with the Whig party. He was a member of the "old school" Baptist church. There were born to him by his first wife seven children, viz. : Stephen Jacob, William, Calvin; Joshua, Delila and Sarah. By his second wife he became the father of three sons: Thomas, deceased: John T., our subject, and Peter J., a blacksmith at Salem, Indiana.
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As a boy John had the many difficulties of the times to face. It was three long miles to the log school house and his educational opportunities were quite limited. When he reached the age of eight years his father died and it became necessary for John to work out by way of support, and at this time he made his home with his brother, continuing there until he attained the age of nineteen years. He began apprentice work at carpentry and worked for ten cents per day until 1861. In 1866 he was married to Emma Moode, of Richland township, Greene county. She was the daughter of William and Rachael (Cunningham) Moode, the former being a na- tive of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, their union occurring at Coshocton, Ohio. William Moode was a carpenter and farmer, and was one of the pioneer set- tlers in Greene county, Indiana. He was gathered to his fathers in 1862, his wife having preceded him in 1849. Six children graced this union : John lives at Topeka, Kansas; Richard, Mary Ann and Amanda are deceased ; William F. is a hardware merchant in Whatcheer, Keo- kuk county, Iowa; Emma is the wife of our subject ; William Moode was married twice, the second time to Mary Ann Cooper, a widowed lady whose home was in Washington county. She passed to rest in 1894, and was the mother of three children, viz .: James, of Richland township, and Jane and Alice, both deceased.
Mr. Dobbins and wife became the parents of nine children: William O. was for six years a teacher. and has now served for fourteen years in the United States army, filling the station of sergeant; James A. is a car- penter at Waterloo, Iowa; Mary Jane is the wife of M.
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V. Flater, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Lillian was married to Ira Stallcup, both now deceased; Alvin, a carpenter in Bloomfield, was married to Stella Inman; Tobias, a carpenter, is at home: Jewell is the wife of Fred Burge, of Bloomfield ; Nellie is a stenographer for Dr. C. E. Davis, and is at home. In this family we find a splendid illustration of the wholesome influence of a good home environment.
In May, 1861, Mr. Dobbins enlisted in Company E of the Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was mustered in for three months. On August 26th he re-en- listed, this time in Company D, which was formed at New Albany in the Thirty-eighth Indiana. From here he was sent to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, for the winter, after which he was sent to Spring Hill, that state, taking part in a great many open battles and spirited skirmishes, at such points as Edgefield Junction, Nashville, Franklin, Wildcat and Columbia. On the well known field of Shi- lol he was engaged for two days, and this was followed by the contests at Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Bridge- port, Huntsville, Shelbyville and others. After joining General O. M. Mitchell he saw much close fighting in Alabama and Georgia, after which the company was re- turned to Nashville, Tennessee. Then came the sharp conflicts at Perrysville, Bowling Green and other points, together with stubborn contests under General Rosecrans.
At Chickamauga Mr. Dobbins was wounded in the head and was confined to the hospital for two months. After getting back to the ranks the company took part in the fearful drama at Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Tallahas- see, Peach Tree Creek, ending up before Atlanta.
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It may be well to note that after the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge Mr. Dobbins's company was veteranized, becoming a part of the Fourteenth Army Corps under George H. Thomas. They were held in reserve until the gap was made where General McPherson was killed July 28, 1864. After some engagements with Hood and a sharp fight at Jonesboro, Alabama, where they destroyed the railroads, they returned to Atlanta. They joined in Sherman's famous march to the sea, and ultimately par- ticipated in the grand review at Washington, D. C. He was discharged at Indianapolis, July 29, 1865.
After the close of the war Mr. Dobbins returned to Greene county and engaged in contracting and carpentry. In conjunction with this he has engaged in the raising of fruit, finding this an interesting as well as profitable side line. In 1904 he removed to Bloomfield. He has filled the office of justice of the peace for twelve years, and is a thorough believer in the tenets of the Republican party. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, and together with his companion is a regular at- tendant at the services of the Methodist church.
This brief survey of the life of one of our hero patriots impresses us with a feeling of the great obliga- tion we are under to these noble men who have preserved for us the heritage of the "land of the free."
WILLIAM WILSHIRE GAINEY.
William Wilshire Gainey was born near Harmony, Monroe county, Indiana, June 5, 1831. He was the son of Meredith and Nancy (Sadler) Gainey. His
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mother came from Lexington, Kentucky, first seeing the light of day there November 12, 1805, She moved with her parents to Monroe county in 1815. John M. and Frances May Sadler settled at the head of the Indian creek, near Stanford. The country was new and full of Indians and wild game of all kinds. Commercial advantages were few and far between. The nearest mill was at Salem, forty miles away. He got about five hundred acres of land for sixteen hundred dollars, and after keeping it for sixty-one years sold it for sixteen thousand dollars. The land was eminently fertile, cov- ered with fine walnut, cherry and other fine timber. He was a model farmer for that day, a member of the Bap- tist church and was widely known, having a great rep- utation as a singer. She died in 1871, and he lived five years longer, his death occurring in 1876, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-one. They had three sons and four daughters, Nancy. William, Elizabeth, Martha, John Staten, Joseph and Mary Ann. The latter is now living in Centerton, Indiana.
The grandfather, Aden Gainey, came from Ken- tucky in 1815 with his family to Springville, Lawrence county. His wife was Margaret Giles, of South Caro- lina, and they had fifteen children, Sarah, Meredith, Wil- liam, Joseph, Susanna C., Alexander H., Giles, Riley, Ann, Serena, John P., Wesley S., Angeline, Edmond B., and Samuel, who died in infancy.
When Grandfather Gainey settled in Lawrence county he purchased quite a large tract of land, well watered and wooded. He was a member of the Baptist church, strong in faith and a model man in almost every department of life.
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Meredith Gainey, the father of our subject, was the second of Grandfather Gainey's children. He possessed a limited education, such as the times and surroundings could give him. His mother, who was a fair scholar for the time, taught him much. He married in Monroe county and started out in limited circumstances, having only an ax and some mother wit at trading. This, coupled with determination and grit, he made a success of life. He obtained a small tract of land in Beech Creek township, on Richland creek, Greene county, in 1833, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. After sev- eral years of hard labor he sold this land for five hundred dollars, but before he could get another start an accident befell him. This sum, together with all he had, burned with his cabin home before he could save it. Nothing daunting he started out again, and at his death he owned about seven hundred acres of good land. He died Sep- tember 26. 1846. She, however, lived until June 30, 1872. He was a Whig in politics, and an active member of the Baptist church. He organized a company at Springville to go to the Mexican war, but the close of hostilities prevented the company from going into active service. He was afterwards appointed captain of the state militia.
They had seven children: Sarah Ann, whose hus- band was William C. Clark. Her second husband was Ferdinand De Moss Bland, a Baptist minister and secre- tary of the Indiana Baptist state convention : Mary Fran- ces, who married Major John Hardy; William W., our subject ; Åden G., a teacher, and married twice. The first time to a Miss Rector, who left one child. His second
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wife was Mary Todd. They lived in Owensburg, Bed- ford and then in Union county, Indiana, on a farm. During his stay in Bedford he was first a merchant and then a grain dealer. He also had an interest in a whole- sale notion business in Indianapolis, which he traded for a farm six miles from Liberty, Union county, where he now lives. They had five children.
William Wilshire Gainey seems to be an example of what energy and determination can do. His mother taught him to read and write. His only schooling was three months to Ann Ritter, at Bloomfield. He worked eighteen months learning the cabinet trade and then con- tinued in it two years longer. (See biographical sketch of W. D. Ritter.) He was married April 3. 1855. to Eliza E. Ritter. They had seven children : Aden D., clied in infancy : Emma, married Major James A. Emery, a retired army officer, and now located at Lexington, Vir- ginia: Parkie, who died when only five years of age: Louis C., a merchant tailor at Cincinnati, Ohio, one of the list of stores of Schaefer Company. He married Viola Hultz and three children were born to them : Nor- bett. cartoonist on a St. Louis paper : Paul, attending law school in Cincinnati, and Helen, at home. William Reed, living in Chicago, is manager of the Chicago office of the Detroit White Lead Works, Detroit, Michigan : Fannie May, wife of Elmer Harrell, a merchant at Worthington. Indiana: Ettie Ritter, married to Charles E. Wylie, a hardware merchant, and now living in Bloomington, In- diana. They have one son, Charles Reed.
Our subject was a clerk for five years for Ed. West of Bloomfield, Indiana, and was then for three years a
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member of the firm of Van Slyke & Gainey, general mer- chants, to 1861. He was from 1862 to 1869 engaged in the civil service, and served as assistant assessor of the seventh district of Indiana under Judge Farington. In 1869 he started a general store in Bloomfield and ran it successfully, parting with it by sale in 1890. He held a number of official positions, being postmaster eight years, township assessor, county coroner, and held other minor trusts.
Mr. Gainey is a Baptist, though Mrs. Gainey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Master Mason, joining No. 84 lodge at Bloomfield in 1854. He is a Republican in politics. Though now ad- vanced in years and retired from active life, he is looked up to as one who has made a success of life, and and the community goes to him for that advice which he is not only able to give, but which he bestows willingly.
NICHOLAS WHITSON OSBURN.
Nicholas W. Osburn, a well known farmer in Rich- land township, was born April 4, 1843, in Highland township, the son of Jesse and Charity C. (Hodge) Os- burn, the former a native of central Tennessee. He was the son of Thomas Osburn, also a native of Tennessee, who came to Greene county, Indiana, in 1819 when the father of the subject was seven years old. Thomas, the subject's grandfather, was a soldier in the War of 1812. He entered land from the government in Highland town-
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ship, Greene county, Indiana, where he spent the remain- der of his life, dying at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a member of the Methodist church. Jesse, the father of the subject, also secured land of the govern- ment in that locality when he became a man, on which he made a good farm on which he spent the remainder of his life. He was a strong Democrat and a religions man. Charity Hodge was a native of North Carolina. She was the daughter of Rev. Gentry C. Hodge, a Baptist minister, who came to Greene county, Indiana, in an early day, locating in Highland township, where he spent his life. Charity Osburn, the mother of the subject, died at the age of fifty-six years. She was the mother of eleven children, namely: Gentry, Thomas, Polly, Nicholas, Simpson, Abraham, Isaac, Margaret, Jesse, Martha and Charity.
Nicholas W. Osburn was raised to manhood on his father's farm and educated in the old-time subscription schools, taught in log school houses. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Regiment, in which he served until it was changed in the fall of 1863 to the Sixth Indiana Cavalry. His regiment scouted in the eastern part of Tennessee and Kentucky until the winter of 1863-64. In the following spring it was attached to Sherman's army, in which it took part in the fighting around Atlanta. It was sent from that city on a raid to Macon, Georgia, and on the way back met Joe Wheeler's cavalry at Clinton, Georgia, where they were surrounded but escaped. Three days later they were captured near Atlanta and taken first to Au- gusta, Georgia, where they remained a while, and were
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later sent to Andersonville on August 3, 1864, but in the following November the subject was taken back to Ma- con. The Confederates started with him to Mellon prison, in Georgia, but he made good his escape while on the way by jumping off the train. However, he was re- captured five days later by bloodhounds and taken back to Macon, and from there to Mellon, Georgia, where he remained until December, 1864, when he and many of his comrades escaped, but were captured again several days afterward by cavalry and taken to Augusta, Geor- gia, where he remained until he and six others made good their escape and came to the Union lines at Resaca, Geor- gia, May II, 1865. This was after peace had been de- clared. He was sent to Nashville, where he joined his regiment, but was mustered out at Pulaski, Tennessee, and discharged in Indianapolis, June 27. 1865.
Mr. Osburn came home after the war and went to farming, at first renting land, but in 1887 he bought his present farm of forty-three acres in Richland township. Greene county, Indiana. On December 6, 1866, he mar- ried Elizabeth Sarver, a native of that community. and the daughter of Thomas J. and Matilda (Terra) Sarver, natives of Tennessee. Her parents were early settlers in Greene county, Indiana. Thomas J. Sarver was the son of George Sarver, also a native of Tennessee, who came to Greene county at an early date. Thomas Sarver was a farmer, who died in 1864, his wife having preceded him by one year. Thirteen children were born to this union. as follows: Margaret and John, both deceased : Rachael, who lives in Missouri, in which state George also lives : Jane lives in Greene county ; William, deceased; Eliza-
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