USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume III > Part 15
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Mr. Maxwell, by his thrift and sound business prin- ciples, has become the owner of a fine landed estate in Stafford township, consisting of two hundred acres, worth at least sixty dollars per acre. It is well improved and in a high state of cultivation, no pains having been spared by the owner to make it rank with the best farms
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in the township. Mrs. Maxwell's father entered forty acres of this farm from the government. She remem- bers very vividly the wolves, panthers and other wild animals that infested it at that time, as she lived on the prairie and participated in the work of growing flax. spinning the same into thread and weaving into cloth. She well remembers her first calico dress, as all her clothing was made at home until she was ten years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, Stafford Chapel, the former hav- ing served as class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a Democrat, but takes no active part in political affairs as a rule, although he was assessor of Stafford township for five years. Fraternally our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Pleasantville, Indiana, of which he has been a member since 1874, having represented this lodge at the grand lodge.
Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have justly earned the high esteem of their neighbors and friends, by virtue of their uprightness and kindness displayed to every one alike.
JOSEPH IRWIN BREWER.
Among the prominent citizens of Greene county who are well known because of the part they have taken in private, public and business life is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch and who is the son of Lorenzo Dow and Matilda (Goodman) Brewer.
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having been born January 19, 1860. The Brewer family came from Virginia, the subject's father having been thirteen years old, having been born in 1816, when his father settled in Stafford township, where Lorenzo Brewer spent his life. He was a justice of the peace for sixteen years and was a minister of the Baptist church, having been ordained at Bethel, but he devoted most of his life to farming. However, he did a great deal of preaching. He became a very properous man, owning two hundred and forty acres of land, and he also had one thousand and five hundred dollars at the time of his death, which occurred in 1891, when he had reached the age of seventy-five years. His wife was born in 1818. Seven children were born to this union, five of whom are living. Joseph I. Brewer, the subject of this sketch, worked on his father's farm during the summer months and attended the country schools in the winter time, dur- ing his boyhood, taking a delight in ministering to the wants of his aged parents. In 1881 he was united in mar- riage with Jennie E. Trinkle, whose parents, William F. and Jemima (Good) Trinkle, were old settlers of Greene county. Like her husband, she received a good com- mon school education. The following children of the subject and wife are all living in 1908: Rosa M., age twenty-five: Emma E., who is twenty-three, is a graduate of the high school in Knox county and is a student in the State Normal in 1908; Gilbert W., who is twenty-one years old, is a graduate of the common schools; Nellie M., who is nineteen years old, is a graduate of the com- mon schools; Hallie J. is thirteen years old and Cora E. is nine years of age.
GREENE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mr Brewer has much valuable land, having " farm of three hundred and twenty-five acres in Greene Com- ty and one in Knox county consisting of one hundred and twenty-five acres, the total value of both being twen- ty-five thousand dollars. About fifty acres of this valu- able landed estate was inherited by the subject, the bal- ance he has made himself, which fact shows that he is not only a man of unusual business ability, but also a man of great industry. In connection with looking after the agricultural end of his farms, Mr. Brewer handles a great deal of stock, sometimes shipping to market and often selling to local buyers, and in the handling of stock he shows that rare judgment which he has always exercised in his other business. He is a Democrat and a trustee in the Baptist church at Bethel.
Mr. Brewer has always maintained a reputation for square dealing and upright business principles, and as a result he has the unqualified respect of all those living in his community.
BERLIN STAFFORD.
Berlin Stafford, the subject of this review, is a gentleman of high standing, to whom has not been denied a fair measure of success. He is distinctively one of the representative citizens of Stafford township, Greene coun- ty, Indiana, and has long been recognized as a factor of importance in connection with the agricultural interests of the county, having been closely connected with the
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material growth and prosperity throughout his long life, for he was born here December 15, 1835, the son of Ben- jamin and Martha (Ball) Stafford, the former having been nine years old when he was brought to this county from Kentucky by Benjamin Stafford, grandfather of the subject, in 1818, and after whom Stafford township was named. Isaiah Ball, the subject's maternal grandfather, served his country as a private in the War of 1812 and died in the army, in which he enlisted from one of the southern states.
Desiring to foster the traditions of his ancestors, who were renowned for their patriotic impulses, and not being able to overcome the patriotic ardor that he natural- ly felt when the dark clouds of rebellion threatened the Union, our subject enlisted in Company C, Twenty-first Regiment Volunteer Infantry, in July, 1861, serving with honor in this company for fifteen months and nine days. After he was mustered out he came home in 1864, but was drafted in the Ninth Indiana Volunteer Regiment, in which he served until the close of the war. He now receives a pension of fifteen dollars per month.
Mr. Stafford was united in marriage in 1866 to Sarah F. Brewer, daughter of Aaron Brewer, an old settler in Green county, who came here from Virginia. Four children have been born to the subject and wife as follows: Martha A., wife of Charles Brewer, has three children, Orpha, Ina and Maud; Robert Lee, a car- penter by trade, who lives in Stafford township: Emmett is a farmer living in Illinois : Lillie J. is the wife of Joe Harris, who lives in Illinois.
The subject's wife was called to her eternal reward on May 3, 1904, after a serene and devoted life.
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Mr. Stafford has a farm of sixty acres which has been so carefully and skillfully managed that its soil is just as rich as it ever was, producing all kinds of grains and grasses. The subject has also shown that he under- stands the successful handling of stock, and now, in the golden evening of his life, he is enjoying the fruits of his early toil, spending his days in peace, comfort and plenty, being the recipient of the kindly regard of the great acquaintance which he can claim, being honored for his honest and upright life, which he has been con- tented to spend on his native hills.
JOHNSON HILL.
Johnson Hill is by profession a teacher, but has devoted his later life to agricultural pursuits, having early become familiar with the details of farm labor, and in the public schools, which he attended as opportunities afforded during his minority, later attending the Indiana State University for two years, he has received an educa- tion which has not only enabled him to transact success- fully the duties of an active and progressive life, but also to gain popularity as an instructor to the younger generations, having taught seven years, part of the time in Freelandsville, so that his life has been a twofold suc- cess. Johnson Hill first saw the light of day on March 2. 1845, in Stafford township, Greene county, where he has always preferred to reside. He is the son of John and Jane (Johnson) Hill. the former having been born in
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Maryland m 1788. He moved near Bloomfield in 1822, settling in the woods in Richland township, and he built the first jail in Greene county. He served as treasurer of Greene county in the early forties and was township trustee. He was a Whig and later a Republican and a Baptist. He moved to Stafford township in 1832, where he farmed, becoming comfortably situated, and lived until 1870, dying at the age of eighty-two. He had been three times married. The mother of the subject came to Indiana in 1811 and settled near Carlisle, Sullivan county, where she married the subject's father. She is now deceased. Seven children were born to this union. four of whom are living, namely: Peter, Abraham L., of California ; John W., and Johnson, our subject. Mr. Hill's great-grandfather. Johnson, was a captain in the Revolutionary Army and the grandfather, Peter Johnson. fought in the War of 1812. The Johnsons were from Virginia and the Hills were of Scotch-Irish descent.
In 1876 our subject married Margaret A. Ander- son, who was called to her reward four years later. Two children were born of this union, one surviving infancy, Hallie, who is now the wife of Charles A. Richardson, living in Indianapolis. She attended high school and business college.
Mr. Hill's second marriage was with Emma Louder- milk, a native of Sullivan county, Indiana. Three chil- dren, two girls and one boy, have been born to this union ; Jennie E., the wife of Oscar L. Lind. living in Stafford township. The other children are Mabel, who was nine- teen years old in 1908, and John C., who is sixteen. All are graduates of the Sandborn high school.
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Mr. Hill lives on the old homestead, which consists of one hundred and twenty acres of rich and well im- proved land, which, from year to year yields bounteous harvests as the result of the owner's skill in managing the crops and keeping the soil from becoming thin. He also devotes considerable time to stock raising and evinces ex- cellent judgment in this line. He is a member of the Baptist church at Bethel, a deacon and trustee of the same and has served faithfully as Sunday school super- intendent. Politically our subject is a stanch Republican and takes a great interest in local politics and public af- fairs, always ready to lend a hand in ameliorating the conditions of his county. He is a notary public, having served in this capacity since Thomas A. Hendricks was governor. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are spoken of with the greatest respect and admiration by all their neighbors.
WILLIAM HENRY GOOD.
It is no mere assumption that energy and consecu- tive application will eventuate in success in nearly every instance, and proof is afforded in the case of William Good, who is one of the prosperous farmers of Stafford township. Greene county, Indiana, where his well im- proved farm received his careful attention from year to year. Mr. Good is the son of Jacob and Mary J. ( Ram- sey) Good, was born in the township where he now resides and where he has always preferred to live. January 23, 1865. The father of our subject, Jacob
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Good, was born in Virginia about 1824, and was brought by his parents to Indiana when he was nine years old. settling in Stafford township, Greene county, where he spent his life. George Good, the grandfather of the subject, entered land in this township and also spent his life here.
To Jacob Good and wife the following children were born: William H., the subject of this sketch; Maggie N., wife of Dan Page, who lives in Linton, this county ; Clara E., the wife of Oliver Williams, who lives in Staf- ford township: Charles F., who lives in Stafford town- ship.
William H. lived on his father's farm, attending school during his boyhood days, receiving a fairly good education. On March 27, 1884, he was united in mar- riage to Laura A. Brewer, daughter of Lewis and Nancy J. (Dauthit) Brewer. The father of Mrs. Good came to this county in 1829 when six years old and lead a successful life, dying January 16, 1892. The wife of the subject was born May 21, 1864. She applied herself well to her text-books and received a good common school education. Five children have been born to this union, four surviving infancy. They are, Flora, Cora, Lewis, and May. Lewis is a graduate of the common schools. He has taught several schools in a most satisfactory manner. He has attended the Marion Normal School.
The subject and wife are both members of the United Brethren church, the liberal wing of the branch. The subject is an active worker in the Democratic party and was at one time the candidate for township assessor. Although the subject's farm is not very large, it
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is very productive and well improved and is a splendid place to live, being well kept and attractively located. The subject is a splendid judge of stock and likes good horses. Both he and his wife are regarded as among the best people in their community, being honest and hard workers.
WILLIAM HEITMAN, JR.
William Heitman, Jr., another repesentative farmer and industrious citizen of Stockton township, who is a scion of the hardy sons of the German Empire, is the genial gentleman whose life history we herewith append in brief, to show that his life has been one eminently worthy of representation in this volume along with those of representative and highest citizenship of Greene coun- ty. Mr. Heitman was born October 4. 1869, the son of Henry Heitman, a pioneer and highly respected citizen of this county, who was also a native of Stockton town- ship, having been born there when this country was scarcely more than a wilderness, and who ranks with those worthy characters who subdued the wilderness and the savage and blazed the way for succeeding genera- tions to bless the earth. The mother of our subject was. prior to her marriage, Anna Raymaker, whose birth occurred on German soil, not having become a resident of the land of Stars and Stripes until she was nine years old. The other children born to Henry and Anna Heit- man were, Henry, Sena, wife of William Bovenschen, a farmer, living in Stockton township; Mary, wife of Isaac Bunch, living at Linton.
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William Heitman, Jr., was married in April. 1896, to Helena Berns, daughter of Jacob Berns, a Stockton township farmer. To this union have been born the fol- lowing children, all of whom are interesting and promis- ing: Ethel, Mabel and Clarence.
The well improved farm of our subject contains about one hundred acres, lies two miles south of Linton in an excellent farming community, and only a cursory glance will show that it ranks with the other farms in that vicinity in point of improvements, cleanliness and productiveness, owing to the fact that the subject has directed his undivided attention to its fields for a num- ber of years, in a manner that could not but elicit praise- worthy results, excellent crops being reaped from it yearly in proper rotation, leaving the soil not thin and in time valueless, but strengthened and enriched owing to the skill with which it is tilled. Mr. Heitman also de- votes some time to handling stock, which forms no small part of his annual income.
Mr. Heitman and wife are members of the German Reformed church, in which they take considerable in- terest and attend as regularly as possible. They are re- garded as plain, honest and progressive farm people, against whom no one can attach any blame or adverse criticism in their daily walk.
JAMES E. TALBOTT.
The medical profession has an able and worthy rep- resentative in Linton in the person of the subject. Dr.
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James E. Talbott, whose career has been characterized Te the success and continuous advancement that invariably attend the master of his calling. As a physician he has won distinction through his devotion to this great profe -- sion and as a citizen he commands a high degree of conti- fidence and esteem in no respect secondary to his pro- fessional status. Dr. Talbott is a native of Indiana and a son of James and Margaret (Gibbons) Talbott, both born in Kentucky. These parents located in Putnam county some time prior to the birth of the subject, which occurred March 17, 1848. and five days after the latter event the mother died. thus depriving the child of a lov- ing care and tender guidance which no other earthly agency can supply. When but two years old he was further bereaved by the death of his father, after which he became an inmate of the home of Frank Talbert, with whom he remained during the ensuing six years. at the expiration of which time he went to live with his brother- in-law. Harrison Ferguson, at Bloomfield. Still later the lad found a home with another brother-in-law. William P. Stropes, and in this way he grew to young manhood without parental influence and a stranger to the loving ministrations and beautiful amenities of life which are umknown outside the home, where a mother's and father's love abound. The doctor has one brother and three sis- ters, viz. : Sarah E., wife of W. P. Stropes, and Mary C .. widow of Harrison Ferguson, who died in the army. The brother, Nathaniel A., died from the effects of mili- tary service, and Lutitia, deceased, and a half-brother. Daniel M. Talbott, now a resident of Earl Park. Indiana. Dr. Talbott was a mere lad when taken by his rela-
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tives in Bloomfield, and spent his early life in that city. entering at the proper age the public schools of the same, in which he laid the foundation of the solid mental train- ing he subsequently received. Actuated by a laudable ambition to increase his scholastic knowledge so as to fit himself for efficiency in the profession he decided to make his life work, he afterward became a student of Hanover College, attending for one year that institution. He then took up the study of medicine at Bloomfield under the tutorship of Dr. J. W. Gray, under whose able in- struction he prosecuted his researches for a period of three years, making substantial progress the meanwhile. In 1870 he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cin- cinnati, and, after attending one course of lectures, re- turned to Greene county and began the practice of medi- cine at Marco, where he remained until the fall of 1874. when, feeling the need of a more thorough professional preparation, he resumed his studies in the above insti- tution and pursued the same until finishing the prescribed course, graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine the following year.
Returning to Marco, Dr. Talbott entered with re- newed zeal into the practice, and in due time built quite an extensive and lucrative professional business, earning an honorable reputation as a capable physician, attaining worthy prestige among the disciples of the healing art in Greene county, besides gaining a warm place in the af- fections of the large number of patients whose sufferings he alleviated and whose ills and ailments he healed. With the view of enlarging his sphere of activity in a wider and more favorable field, the doctor in 1894 moved to
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Linton, where he has since remained, his professional business since that time fully meeting his expectations and giving him additional repute among the representa- tives of his profession in this part of the state. He has labored zealously and effectively and not only gained precedence as one of the leading professional men of the city in which he practices, but in the domain of citizen- ship his standing is second to that of none of his fellow- men, occupying as he does, a conspicuous place in the public gaze, and discharging every duty that devolves upon him with commendable fidelity. He is a Denio- crat in politics, served on the local board of pension ex- aminers during the second administration of President Cleveland, and as a member of the city council has been instrumental in bringing about much important munici- pal legislation, besides in various ways taking an active interest in furthering the city's development.
Dr. Talbott is a Mason of high standing and influ- ence and is also a leading member of the Pythian lodge of Linton. In religious faith he holds to the Methodist creed, and, with his wife, is identified with the church in Linton and an active participant in the work of the con- gregation.
Dr. Talbott was married on the 12th of August. 1875, to Ann E. Adamson of Marco, Indiana, daughter of George and Mary (Hunter) Adamson, and is the father of five living children, namely: William B., mar- ried and residing in Linton ; Edwin R., also a married man and by trade a plumber: George M., who has a family, is an engineer employed by the Linton Water Works Company ; John E. is a medical student at the In-
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liana University, and James E., who is pursuing his studies in the schools of Linton. Myrtle, the only daugh- ter, died in infancy.
JOSEPH WINGLER.
Joseph Wingler was born in Washington county, Indiana, December 25, 1839. He is the son of John and Nancy ( Miller) Wingler, both natives of North Carolina. John was the son of Francis Wingler, a native of North Carolina, who came to Washington county, Indiana, early in the nineteenth century and took up government land, which he converted into a farm. Nancy Miller was the daughter of Frederick Miller, also of North Carolina, who came to Greene county early in the last century, where he lived, farmed and died. John was a farmer. He and his wife, who were both members of the Church of Christ, had thirteen children, as follows: Samuel, Franklin, William, Elizabeth, all deceased; Jo- seph, the subject of this sketch: John, living in Illi- nois ; Francis, living in Washington county, Indiana, and Delitha, also living there: Nancy Jane, deceased ; Jacob living in Washington county ; Isaac, deceased; Eli, living in Washington county, and Sarah, deceased.
The subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm and received what education he could in the com- mon schools. He remained at home until he enlisted March 6, 1862, in Company I. Sixtieth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry. He was sent from Davis, Indiana, where
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he enlisted, to Indianapolis, where he guarded prisoners. He then went into Kentucky and Virginia, participating in the battle of Murfreesborough, Kentucky, where he was taken prisoner, but was paroled and later exchanged, returning to Kentucky. He was in the siege of Vicks- burg ; then was sent to Arkansas Post on the White river. where they captured a fort with about five thousand prisoners. The subject was then taken sick and was sent to a hospital, where he remained until discharged from service in May, 1863, at St. Louis, Missouri. His disability resulting from lung disease resulted in his dis- charge. He returned home and did but little work for two years, then he went to farming in Washington coun- ty. Indiana. He came to Greene county, Indiana, in 1864 and settled in Washington township on the farm he now owns. He has one hundred and twenty-seven acres, which was covered with timber when he purchased it. He drained and cleared it and now has a well im- proved farm.
Mr. Wingler married Celia Ann Newsom in 1867. She was born in Jefferson township. Greene county, and was the daughter of Jacob and Delitha ( Miller) New- som, both natives of North Carolina. They came to Greene county when small and married there. They farmed there and spent the rest of their lives on the place where they first settled, always being regarded as good Christians. The Newsom family consisted of twelve children, namely: Joseph, who lives in Nebraska ; Caroline, deceased: Celia, wife of the subject : James. Sarah and Thomas, all deceased; Jane, living in Ne- braska: Isaac, deceased : John, living in Missouri: Mary, deceased : the two youngest dying unnamed.
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Joseph Wingler and wife had eight children. They were: James, who died in childhood : Joseph and John, who also died early in life; Mary first married James Fuel and they had three children, Ernest, Joseph, Lola. All these grandchildren make their home with the sub- ject of this sketch. Mary married the second time, her last husband being Simmie Marlow. She makes her home with her father, Mr. Wingler. Nancy was the fifth child of the subject. She died in childhood. Lessie and Maude are also deceased. The latter was the wife of Jonathan Hinman. She left one child, Lona, who lives with her grandparents. Jacob Eli, the youngest of the subject's children, is deceased.
The subject is an independent voter. He and his wife are members of the Church of Christ. The former is a deacon in the church at Mt. Zion. Mr. Wingler is engaged in general farming and he raises a good line of stock, all that the farm will support.
MARION A. THOMAS.
The family of which Marion A. Thomas is a rep- resentative came to Indiana from Pennsylvania and settled originally in Daviess county, where the subject's grandfather engaged in carpentry and the construction of mills. This ancestor, who was of Welsh descent, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1802, migrated west- ward in 1835. and after a residence of some years in Daviess county, changed his abode to the county of
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