USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume III > Part 28
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Soon after receiving his degree Dr. Cook opened an office in the village of Stanford, Monroe county, where, during the ensuing two years, he successfully sur- mounted the difficulties which usually beset the young physician and built up a fairly lucrative practice. At the
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expiration of the time indicated, however, he removed to the wider and more promising field at Solsberry, where he followed his chosen calling with marked success until the year 1906. Equally proficient in medicine and sur- gery, his success in many critical cases and delicate opera- tions early brought him prominently to the notice of the public, with the result that in addition to his local prac- tice which included an extensive range, he was frequently called to distant places to treat serious cases.
Aside from the claims of his profession Dr. Cook has ever manifested a lively interest in public affairs ; as a citizen has kept in touch with the great issues of the day. In the course of time his influence in the Republican party was such as to make him a leader in that part of the country in which he lives. In recognition of valuable services rendered the party, as well as by reason of his fitness for the position, he was nominated, in 1906, for the office of county auditor and after an animated can- paign defeated his competitor by a handsome majority. The duties of this office he has since discharged in an able and praiseworthy manner, satisfactory to the public. His official career has been a very creditable one, and since entering upon the important trust confided to him, he has made every other consideration subordinate to his duty to the public and spared no pains in proving him- self worthy the confidence of the people.
The domestic chapter in the history of Dr. Cook's career has been one of almost ideal character, and much of his courage, inspiration and confidence have been sup- plied by the helpful presence of the wife and companion who, for over a third of a century, has been the presiding
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spirit of his home and to whose judicious counsel and hearty co-operation not a little of his success is due. Mrs. Cook, who formerly bore the name of Mary Jane Gaston, and to whom he was united in the bonds of wedlock in 1874, is the daughter of James M. Gaston, of Beech Creek township, a representative of one of the earliest pioneer families of that part of Greene county. Mr. Gaston was for many years a man of considerable local prominence, who held the office of township trustee a number of terms and the family has been prominent in the affairs of the above township from the original settle- ment of the country to the present time. Dr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of three children, the oldest of whom, a daughter by the name of Maude, married Hugh S. Bullock, of Greene county, and resides in the village of Solsberry: Thomas Roy Cook, M. D., the second in the order of birth, is a practicing physician of Bowling Greene, Indiana, and a man widely and favorably known in his profession : Eva, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Clyde O. Yoho, the present clerk of the Greene county circuit court.
Dr. Cook is actively identified with secret fraternal work and has risen to high stations in the different or- ganizations to which he belongs, being a Royal Arch Mason and an influential member of the Pythian and Odd Fellows Orders, in each of which he has held im- portant official positions.
THE SHERWOOD FAMILY.
Biography more than any other history commands the most interested attention for the obvious reason that
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it records our own with the experiences of others, who. in times past, traveled life's rugged pathway as our com- panions, acquaintances and friends. The recital of facts and incidents which connect the past with the present never fails to bring in its train a thrill of interest and satisfaction and-it is with this object in view that the chronicler in this connection essays the task of placing on record a brief history of a family that has figured actively in the early annals of Indiana, first in the county of Washington, where several of its representatives origin- ally settled, and later in Greene county, with the growth and development of which many of the name were prom- inently identified and where a number of descendants are still to be found among the leading citizens of their re- spective communities. As indicated by the name, the Sherwood family is of English origin, but just when the founder of the American branch came to this country is not known, though it is supposed to have been a number of years prior to the War of Independence. In the early annals of Guilford county. North Carolina, the name of this family appears, and it was there, some time in the latter half of the eighteenth century, that Hugh Sher- wood, the ancestor of the Indiana Sherwoods, was born and reared. By occupation he was a tiller of the soil and from the most reliable accounts, a most estimable and praisworthy citizen, having belonged to that large and eminently respectable class of yeomanry, who, by cor- rect lives and in a quiet, unobtrusive way, exercise a wholesome influence among their fellows and furnish moral fiber to the communities honored by their resi- dence. In his young manhood Hugh Sherwood married
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Rebecca Fields, also a native of Guilford county and in due time became the father of six sons: B., Charles, Daniel, Thomas, Hugh and Jeremiah, all born in North Carolina, where the family continued to reside until migrating, early in the year 1800, to Washington county. Indiana.
Upon his removal to this state Hugh Sherwood re- sumed the pursuit of agriculture and in the course of time became one of the enterprising farmers of his com- munity, which honorable vocation his sons also adopted, and, like him, they, too, rose to positions of respectability and influence in their several places of abode. Mr. Sher- wood and his faithful wife were pious and devoted mem- bers of the Methodist church and throughout long and varied lives always made their daily walk and conversa- tion harmonize with the faith to which they subscribed and to which they were ever loyal and true. Although born in a strongly Democratic state and from his youth surrounded by ultra-Democratic influences, he early es- poused views directly opposite to those of that party, and from the time of casting his first ballot until his death was an uncompromising Whig and fearless defender of the principles to which he yielded allegiance. Hugh and Rebecca Sherwood have long been sleeping the sleep of the just, both having died some time in the forties and their bodies rest side by side in the old family cemetery in Washington county, near which they originally settled.
Daniel Sherwood, third son of the above couple, was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1797, and was but a boy when the family moved to Indiana. He was reared to agricultural pursuits on the family home-
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stead, a portion of which he helped clear and improve and shortly after attaining his majority formed a matrimo- nial alliance with Delilah Copeland, and engaged in farm- ing upon his own responsibility in connection with which he also operated for some years a mill for the manufac- ture of both flour and lumber. In due time his family was increased by the arrival of six children, namely : Thomas, Esther, who married Henry String: William F., Benjamin, James and Rebecca, all of whom spent their childhood and youth in the county of Washington, and there remained until 1852, when Mr. Sherwood changed his place of abode to Greene county, where he purchased a farm on which his death occurred the following year. His widow, who survived him some years, departed this life at Goshen, where she was making her home with her youngest child, Mrs. Rebecca Kloppenstein, wife of Joseph Kloppenstein, of that city. Like his father, Daniel Sherwood was a Whig in the full meaning of the term and though never an office-seeker or aspirant for public honors, kept in close touch with the questions of the day and had the courage of his convictions on political issues. In religion the Cumberland Presbyterian church held his creed, of which body himself and wife were for a number of years devoted and consistent members.
The children of Daniel and Delilah Sherwood be- came useful men and women and rose to positions of re- spectability and honor in their several places of resi- dence. James S., the fifth in order of birth, attaining a prominence such as to justify much more than a passing notice in this brief family sketch. Born March 14. 1834. he spent his early life on the home farm in Washington
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county and at the age of seventeen came to the county of Greene, where his brother William had previously lo- cated. making the journey on foot and alone and ex- periencing not a few inconveniences and hardships on the way, arriving at his destination in the fall of the year 1851. He became an inmate of his brother's home, with whom he continued ot reside during the fifteen years ensuing, at the expiration of which time he set up a domestic establishment of his own, the presiding spirit of which was a young lady by the name of Nancy Brad- field, to whom he was united in the bonds of wedlock on the 13th day of February, 1868. Mrs. Sherwood was born and reared in Ohio, from which state her father, William Bradfield, moved to Greene county, Indiana, the year preceding her marriage, locating in Stockton town- ship, where he became a successful farmer and praise- worthy citizen. After taking to himself a companion and helpmeet, Mr. Sherwood established a home in the town- ship of Stockton, where, during the intervening years, he has been engaged in the time-honored vocation of agri- culture, devoting his attention to general farming and meeting with success in his chosen field of endeavor. After a mutually happy wedded experience of forty years' duration his faithful wife was called to her reward, de- parting this life June 10, 1907, leaving, besides her hus- band, these children to mourn her loss: Sallie, William, Mary. Charles and Jessie.
In many respects "Uncle Jim," as he is 'familiarly called, is a unique character, whose friends include every man, woman and child of his acquaintance, and the bounds of whose popularity are the circumscribed limits
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beyond which he is unknown. While still a mere lad he manifested decided musical talent, which, developing with the passing years, in due time made him one of the ablest musicians in the country, his skill as a violinist being un- equalled by that of any other performer on that instru- ment in this part of the state. By reason of his fondness for this favorite instrument and readiness at all times to entertain his friends with free concerts, he came in time to be known as "Fiddling Jim," a title which, with be- coming modesty. he still wears, and by which, in all probability. he will continue to be distinguished until par- alyzed by the icy touch that puts an end to all earthly skill, his fingers will close to wield the bow and the tones of his beloved instrument become only a memory. In his younger days his services as a musician were in frequent demand at the country dances and frolics for miles around, and many a sedate deacon of the present day and his goodly dame of three score and ten, if pressed closely in the matter, will modestly admit that with others equally as culpable, they learned to trip the "light fan- tastic" to the inspiring tune of "The Arkansas Traveler," "Lightning Joy" or "Money Musk," as "Uncle Jim." with magic touch and tireless arm, kept the merry dancers racing over the rough puncheon floor in the good old walk-talk-ginger-blue style of the hoe-down that filled with joy their innocent hearts and their legs with sore- ness and pain. By this it must not be understood that he was merely a player of backwoods tunes and ragtime music, for such was not the case, but being skilled in all the uses of the instrument from the simple, uncouth strain to the productions of the masters, he could suit his play- 82
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ing to any occasion and was equally appreciated wherever his services were required. Although seventy-four years of age he still handles the bow with all the grace and celerity of the days of his prime and only recently he gave an exhibition of his skill by playing many of the old familiar tunes for a company of his friends, all of whom pronounced the music as inspiring and full of life as in the long ago ere time had silvered his head with sifted sand or caused a quaver in the magic touch of his erstwhile string and dextrous arm.
Mr. Sherwood is not only a master of the violin, but plays almost equally as well a number of other instru- ments, both wind and stringed, and in 1861 he utilized his skill on the former kind by enlisting as a musician in the Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, taking the part of solo-alto in the regimental band and serving as such for a period of fourteen months. At the expiration of that time he returned home, but soon re-entered the service by joining the band of the Twenty-fourth Indiana Volun- teers, with which he remained until detached from the service at Galveston, Texas, in November, 1865. While at the front he experienced considerable service aside from his regular duty as musician, frequently assisting in the removal of the wounded from the field during the progress of battle and it was while thus engaged that he received a painful wound which rendered him unfit for further active duty and led to his discharge at the date mentioned above. He was also employed at intervals in the larger cities to play for theaters, concerts and other public functions and in this way added very materially to the pay received from the government, besides mak-
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ing many warm friends and earning well deserved popu- larity among his comrades and others with whom he mingled.
In point of continuous residence Mr. Sherwood is one of the older settlers of Greene county, having made this part of the state his place of abode since 1851, a period of fifty-seven years-1908. He recalls the time when the site of the present thriving city of Linton was nothing but a backwoods hamlet and remembers having shot and killed a deer in a small meadow which is now in the very heart of the town. He has not only seen the country grow to its present prosperous condition, but to the extent of his ability has contributed to the many changes that have taken place and been an actor in a number of enterprises that have made for the material advancement of the community and the general good of his fellow men. Believing in getting out of life all the pleasure and satisfaction in it, he has ever been an op- timist and by habit of always looking on the bright side and endeavoring to make others happy, he refuses to grow old, being in his seventy-fifth year, as vigorous physically and mentally as many men of not much more than half his age. His life has been one of activity and usefulness and the many neighbors and acquaintances, who are proud to be numbered among his friends, unite in the wish that his days may yet be many.
William F. Sherwood, second son and third child of Daniel and Delilah Sherwood, was born April 24. 1824. in Washington county, Indiana, and there grew to ma- turity amid the stirring duties of farm life, attending at intervals in the meantime such schools as the country af-
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forded. Although reared to agricultural pursuit-, he did not find the vocation to his taste. Accordingly, at the age of twenty-two he entered the office of Dr. Charles Pear- son, of Lavonia, and began the study of medicine, con- tinuing under the direction of his preceptor two years. at the end of which time he opened an office at Linton and engaged in the practice of his profession. Dr. Sher- wood located in this city in the year 1848, and from that time to 1873 devoted himself actively to the duties of his chosen calling, meeting with a large measure of success and achieving wide distinction as a skillful physician and surgeon. He belonged to the regular school of medicine and by diligent study kept in touch with the trend of pro- fessional thought, his services being frequently in demand at places remote from the field to which his practice was chiefly confined. His wife, whom he married in young manhood, was Catherine Ingersoll, whose birth oc- curred in Greene county, Indiana, in 1832, being the daughter of Peter and Triphena (Wines) Ingersoll, who were early settlers of the county and among its most highly esteemed residents. Dr. and Mrs. Sherwood be- came the parents of seven children, whose names were as follows: Charles Edward, of Linton : Benjamin M .. a practicing physician of the same city: Dr. Elmer T .. one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Greene county, whose sketch appears in this work; John W., a musician in the United States military service, now sta- tioned in the Philippine Islands : Harrison I., a resident of Linton and a well known physician and surgeon ; Wil- liam, who died at the age of four years, and Triphena. wife of J. B. Terhune, one of the leading commission merchants of Indianapolis.
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Dr. William F. Sherwood died March 16, 1873. in the prime of his life and usefulness, being only forty-nine years of age when called from the scene of his labors and triumphs. Mrs. Sherwood, a true wife and helpmeet and affectionate mother and most estimable lady of beautiful character, departed this life in the month of March, 1907. Dr. Sherwood entered the eighty-acre tract of land on which the South Linton mine is located and also owned. by purchase, the quarter section on which the Bon Ton mine was developed, besides having other holdings in the vicinity, among his possessions at different times being the land now occupied by the north half of Linton and a large tract near the town of Marco, in Stafford township. in all about seven hundred acres, much of which has in- creased greatly in value, especially the mineral lands, from which the owners have realized handsome fortunes. In 1881 the tract on which North Linton stands was sold for less than thirty dollars per acre, the lots there at the present time commanding as much as two hundred dol- lars a front foot, other of his estate having been dis- posed of at equally low figures. The doctor was public- spirited and took an active interest in the growth of Lin- ton and frequently predicted that the town would event- ually become an important business and industrial center as well as the seat of a thriving populace. He did all in his power to advance the interests of his fellow men and as a Republican wielded a strong influence in the political affairs of the county, but never desired to figure as a partisan or office-seeker. He seems to have foreseen with remarkable accuracy the future development of the vast mineral wealth in the Linton district, and for a number
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of years was untiring in his efforts to secure railway facilities, so as to make possible the opening and operating of the mines which his judgment told him would some day do more for the town and county than any other en- terprise, but unfortunately his death occurred just as many of his predictions were on the point of being ful- filled.
Personally. Dr. Sherwood was a companionable man who made friends wherever his professional or busi- ness engagements took him and no man stood higher in the esteem of the community or did more to render him- self worthy of esteem. He was of commanding presence and dignified demeanor, medium height, somewhat portly and impressing all with whom he came in contact as a strong personality and natural leader of men. Full of animal life and in the best of health, he loved the outdoor sports, where he could come into contact with nature. being a true sportsman and finding his favorite recreation in the chase, having ridden with other fox hunters over the greater part of Greene and Sullivan counties in the pursuit of this exhilarating pastime. In early life Mrs. Sherwood was a Presbyterian, but later she united with the Methodist church and continued a consistent member of the same until her death. The doctor contributed lib- erally to all lines of charitable and benevolent work, never withholding from the deserving poor, or closing his heart or purse to the cry of affliction or distress. He was in- deed a manly man, whose life was filled to repletion with good to his fellows and the memory of his many kindly deeds, together with a character and name to which time has only given additional luster, will ever be cherished by his descendants as a priceless heritage.
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WILLIAM ROUTT.
The first half of the nineteenth century was charac- terized by the immigration of the sterling element which made the great commonwealth of Indiana what it is. These pioneers were sturdy, heroic. upright, sincere folk, such as constitute the intrinsic strength of a state and give solidity to its institutions. It is hardly possible that in the future another such period can occur, or, indeed. any period in which such a solid phalanx of strong- minded, determined men and self-sacrificing women will take possession of a new country, develop its resources and lay broad and deep the foundation of an advanced and permanent state of civilization. Too careful or too frequent references cannot be made in the pages of his- tory concerning those who have thus figured as founders and builders of a commonwealth, and equal credit is also due to the sturdy sons and daughters who, born and reared amid the stirring experiences of those heroic times, nobly assumed the burdens so borne by their prede- cessors and with patience and fortitude such as the world has seldom seen excelled, carried on the good work until what was under so many difficulties begun, was in due time most earnestly and triumphantly completed.
Among the sturdy pioneers to penetrate the wilder- ness of Indiana while the feet of the red men still pressed the soil, was John L. Routt, who, with his wife Mary (nee Keys) left his Kentucky home early in the last cen- tury and made his way through the forest to Washington county, Indiana, where, finding a location to his taste, he settled and opened a house for the accommodation of the
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traveling public. He was a man of strong character and sterling worth and in addition to keeping one of the first hotels in the county was in due time elected to the im- portant and responsible office of sheriff, the duties of which he discharged in an eminently satisfactory manner until his untimely death, which was caused by the explo- sion of a barrel of whisky in a distillery which he had just entered for the purpose of serving summons on cer- tain witnesses there employed.
The influence exerted by this stanch pioneer, fear- less official and high-minded citizen was second to that of none of his compeers, and his memory is still revered in the community which he assisted to found, and for the material advancement and moral good of which he did so much. He was public-spirited in the true sense of the term, took an active interest in the political affairs of Washington county and was long one of the trusted lead- ers of the Whig party in that part of the state. He was one of the founders and elder of the Presbyterian church, also largely instrumental in establishing other churches in the new country and to his efforts, especially, several Presbyterian organizations still in existence are indebted for their origin and the material support that during the early days made possible their continuance.
John L. and Mary Routt reared a family of six chil- (ren, among whom was a son by the name of William Keys Routt, whose name furnishes the caption of this article and whose birth occurred at Patoka, Gibson county, Indiana, on May 27, of the year 1819. He was reared amid the stern experiences peculiar to the pioneer period in the counties of Gibson and Daviess, and during
.
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the summer months devoted his time to such employments as were then common on the farm, the winter sea- ms being spent in the subscription schools, which he attended at intervals until his nineteenth year. To those early years under the tutelage of parents whose high ambition was to engraft upon the minds of their children such prin- ciples as would insure lives of honor and usefulness, Mr. Routt was indebted for the integrity of character and honorable ambition that pre-eminently distinguished him as a citizen in all the walks of life. He early formulated plans for his future and by making the most of his op- portunities became a well informed young man, whose moral training always kept pace with his mental develop- ment. When but nineteen years of age he started out to make his own fortune by purchasing a carding machine. which he located at Bloomfield and which he operated with encouraging success for a number of years, in the meantime starting a general store in connection with this enterprise. Finding that he could not profitably com- pete with the more improved methods of carding wool in the largest cities, he finally closed his establishment to devote his entire attention to merchanising, which branch of business he conducted with marked success for a period of thirty years, or until the state of his health obliged him to dispose of his stock and seek a less trying mode of life.
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