USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume III > Part 4
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Mr. Templeton has ever manifested a lively interest in the affairs of his city and county, gives encouragement and support to all measures for the public good. and wields a wholesome influence in behalf of every enterprise calculated to promote the moral welfare of the commu- nity. Religiously he is an active and consistent member of the Christian church, of Bloomfield, in which he is dea- con, and for a number of years has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, the sublime principles and precepts of which he exemplifies in his relations with his fellow men. Mr. Templeton has held no public office but has al-
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ways kept in close touch with public affairs, being a Re- publican in his political affiliations, but in no sense of the term a partisan or seeker after official preferment.
The domestic life of Mr. Templeton dates from 1867, on May 22d, of which year he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Loretta Rosecrans, daughter of Oliver and Mary J. (Kirk) Rosecrans, the father a native of Ohio and a nephew of General W. S. Rosecrans, one of the distinguished Federal leaders in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Templeton are the parents of eleven children. whose names are as follows: Elmer, who died in 1898: Samuel Wallace, superintendent of mines, at Joplin. Missouri; Mary E., a member of the home circle: Sarah Bell, deceased ; Zella May, deceased ; F. M. D., deceased ; Ellen, wife of Thomas Talbott, of Joplin, Missouri : Flora M., now Mrs. William Talbott, of the same place : Grace R., bookkeeper in the Bloomfield State Bank : Bessie L., who lives with her parents; and Wilhemina. student in the schools of Bloomfield. Mr. Templeton's oldest son, whose death is noted above, was a popular young man of exceptional ability, high moral worth, and at the time of his decease held a responsible position with the Denver State Savings Bank, Denver, Colorado. The managers of that institution reposed in him the ut- most confidence. The career of Samuel Wallace, the second son, presents a series of continued successes, such as few in a much longer life seldom attain. His position as superintendent of the mines is one great responsibility, but he discharged the duties of the trust in an eminently satisfactory manner, and occupies a high standing among the enterprising men of his adopted city.
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JOHN DAVIDSON.
The biographical annals of Greene county, Indiana, would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of Mr. Davidson, who has long been prominently identified with the industrial, material and civic progress of this section, having been concerned in various enter- prises and having ever stood for loyal and public spirited citizenship.
A glance at Mr. Davidson's ancestry will be neces- sary in order to get an idea of where his own sterling qualities came from. His grandfather, George David- son, was a native of Kentucky, having spent his early life there on a farm, being contemporary with Daniel Boone, but he finally came to Sullivan county. Indiana, in 1825, in the earliest days of white settlements, where he entered wild land and soon had a good farm. The first log house he built was the one in which the subject and father of our subject were born. George Davidson and wife lived and died on this farm, rearing nine chil- dren, two of them, George and John, having been sol- diers in the Union army. Grandfather Davidson died in 1839, at the age of forty-five. His widow survived him many years. The subject's great-grandmother David- son was in the fort at Boonesborough, Kentucky, when the Calloway girls were stolen by the Indians, the chron- icle of which has been well known for a century, but a brief statement of the story will not be amiss here. It will be remembered that Daniel Boone was in charge of this fort when the three beautiful Calloway girls were wooed by young men of that vicinity, but their parents
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objected to the young men becoming husbands of their daughters. However, when the Indians surprised the girls while rowing on the river near by, and carried them away as captives, the parents of the girls told the young suitors that their consent to the triple marriage would be given if the boys would recapture the girls. This was accom- plished after an exciting chase and the marriages were duly solemized. William Davidson, an uncle of the subject, was one of the heroic characters that braved the perils of crossing the plains to California in 1852, having made the trip on horseback, driving three hundred head of milch cows across a country where there were no roads for hun- dreds of miles and where hostile Indians harrassed the party of travelers.
The subject's father, Dudley Davidson, spent his early life in Sullivan county, his schooling being very limited. He worked on the home place, which consisted of one hun- dred acres, until maturity. Being the youngest son he purchased the interest of the other heirs to the place and operated it until 1872, when he went into the distilling business, which proved to be an unfortunate venture from a financial standpoint. He then came to Greene county, Indiana, in 1874, and rented land, also engaged in carpen- ter work. He is still living there at the age of seventy- one (in 1908), and his wife, who was Elizabeth Hauck, is sixty-six. She was formerly a Presbyterian, but she was one of the principal organizers of the Methodist church in the vicinity of Lyons, in 1878, which has grown into a strong organization, in which her husband was trustee for a number of years. Grandfather Hauck was a native of Germany, who settled in Buffalo, New York,
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later coming to Columbus, Indiana, where both he and his wife died of cholera in 1850, leaving three children.
John Davidson, the subject of this sketch, came with his parents to Greene county, Indiana, in 1874, having at- tended public school in Sullivan county, he continued his school work in Greene county for a short time, remaining with his father and assisting him in farming until he entered the Bloomfield Normal, from which he graduated, and, after which, he successfully taught school for six years in this county. In 1886 he saw an excellent opening in the undertaking business which he entered. having had some former experience in this line, and which he worked at exclusively until 1896, when he added a furniture business, at which he is still engaged. It is the only business of this character in Lyons. Something of the able manner in which our subject has conducted this business will be shown by observing the rapid growth of his business. When he first started as an undertaker. he had one room of his dwelling set apart for an office : now he owns a large two-story brick building in which his stock is located. His enterprise and ability are further shown by the fact that he was the organizer of the Lyons Co-operative Telephone Company, of which he is now president and manager.
Mr. Davidson was married in 1886 to Effie Aikman, daughter of Archibald and Mary ( Plummer) Aikman. a native of Daviess county, her grandfather. Hugh Aik- man, having been the first white male child born in Daviess county, Indiana. Seven children have been born to the subject and wife as follows: Earl, a telegraph operator : Lloyd, who is in the undertaking business with his father ;
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Edna, who is living at home and attending school; Roxie is attending school, both she and Edna devoting part of their time to the duties of the telephone office; Ada, Lessie and Harriett are still living at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davidson are members of the Methodist church, the for- mer having been trustee of the same for many years and is now superintendent of the Sunday school. Five of his children are members of the same church. He is also treasurer, and was delegate to the church conference. Mr. Davidson is a strong and popular lodge man, being a Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias, Encampment of Rebekahs and Ben-Hur. He has filled the chairs of all these lodges except the Masons, and is now in one of the principal chairs of that society. He was a representative to the grand lodge of Odd Fellows and a delegate to the state meeting of the Modern Wood- men, treasurer of the Odd Fellows and scribe of the En- campment. Politically he is a Democrat, and was the candidate of his party for county auditor. He was defeated with his party. although the county went seven hundred majority, he reduced the vote to three hundred majority. He has been president of the town board ever since Lyons was incorporated, eight years ago. The town is in good financial condition, not owing a cent, due very largely to Mr. Davidson's splendid executive ability.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CHAMBERS, M. D.
He whose name heads this sketch enjoys the distinc- tion of being one of the leading physicians of this part
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of the country, having one of the largest surgical prac- tices in the vicinity of Lyons, Greene county, Indiana. To natural abilities of a high order he unites a careful preparation and a genial and sympathetic temperament. which go far to lighten the efforts of the successful phy- sician. Dr. Chambers is a descendent of the sterling stock from the land of the "blue bells and heather," the land of Robert Bruce and Walter Scott, and a study of the innate traits of this man will show that he has inherited much of those rare qualities that make for success in as trying a profession as that which our subject has chosen ; for his grandfather Chambers was born in Scotland and brought by his parents to America when seventeen years old. He felt the call of the sea and always had a tendency to lead the life of a sailor, leaving home several times without first gaining the consent of his parents, and engaging with various ship crews. Later in life he located in Knox county, Indiana, becoming a farmer, buying land and establishing a mill, bought and trafficked in produce on flat boats to New Orleans, being a general trader, and he also owned a store. He died in 1850, at the age of ninety-one, leaving four sons and two daughters, the for- mer, all farmers in Knox county, some of them still own- ing the old Chambers farm. Both Grandfather Chambers and his wife were ardent workers in the Baptist church. The subject's maternal grandfather, Mr. Bower, came from Germany and settled in Kentucky, where he entered government land.
Eli Chambers, the father of the subject, who was a native of Knox county, this state, died August 15, 1885, at the age of seventy-one years. He married Sarah
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Bower, who died in February, 1903, at the age of eighty years. To them were born five sons and three daughters ; all the sons are living, but the daughters are all deceased. John L., the oldest son, was a soldier in the Union army, in the Fifty-first Volunteer Infantry of Indiana, having served under Sherman and was in all the great battles fought by his regiment. He came near losing his eye- sight as the result of hardships of the service. He is still living in 1908.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chambers, our subject, was born in Knox county, Indiana, in 1868, and received his early education in the common schools there, working on a farm until he was twenty-eight years old. In the winter time he attended the Central school, at Danville Indiana, from which he graduated in 1893, after which he ably taught school for four years and attended a medical college, graduating from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Indianapolis, in 1897, taking the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After practicing for three years he took a post-graduate course at the Chicago Post Graduate School. He first located at Westphalia, where he built up a good practice, which he enjoyed for six years, when he came to Lyons, where he has been practicing with pronounced suc- cess ever since. The fact that he has been president of the Knox County Medical Society is enough to show with what high regard he is held among members of his profession. He has been surgeon for the Vincennes branch of the Vandalia road.
Dr. Chambers was married September 5, 1896, to Nellie Virtue, of Noblesville, Indiana, the daughter of Henry and Angelina (Stevens) Virtue, both natives
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of Hamilton county, this state, and Quakers in their religious belief. The father is living in 1908, having survived his wife. Mr. Virtue is superintendent of In- dian schools in Idaho, and teaches agriculture.
Two children have been born to Dr. Chambers and wife, namely : Laurel Lee, whose date of birth was No- vember 5, 1901, and Glen Galen, who was born Novem- ber 25, 1904. The Doctor is a Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen and Ben-Hur lodges, in all of which he has taken a great deal of interest. Politically he is a Republican, and he and his wife are affiliated with the Methodist church.
Dr. Chambers devotes practically his undivided time to his professional work, his popularity having increased to such an extent that he has time to do little else than look after his practice. However, he is vice-president of the Bank of Lyons and has considerable business interests. He is held in highest esteem by all who known him.
HENRY WILLIAMS.
Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life seldom fail in attaining a due measure of success. In following the career of one who has achieved success and high standing among his fellow men there came into view the intrinsic individuality which makes such accomplishment possible. The greater qualities that have made Henry Williams one of the prominent and
MR. AND MRS. HENRY WILLIAMS.
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successful men of Greene county have also won for him the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens, for his career has been characterized by well directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods.
Mr. Williams is a native of Putnam county, Indiana, and a descendant of two old and eminently respectable families that figured in the early history of Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky, his paternal ancestors coming from the former states and his mother's people from the latter. His grandfather Williams, a native of Maryland, migrated in quite an early day from Virginia, then moved to Kentucky, and after a residence of some years in the latter state moved his family to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he followed his chosen calling of farming un- til becoming a resident of Putnam county, Indiana, over eighty years ago. He entered land in that county, cleared and improved a good farm, and raised a large family, rep- resentatives of which are now scattered over the various parts of Indiana and other central and western states. Robert Williams, the subject's father, was born in Ken- tucky and there married Angeline Hutchison, a native of that commonwealth. He came to Putnam county, In- diana, when that part of the state was new and took an active part in the development of the locality in which he settled. He also reared a large family, and, after performing well his part in life, was gathered with his good wife to his fathers, both having been long sleeping the sleep of the just.
Henry Williams, whose name introduces this article, was born August 24, 1832, in Putnam county, Indiana, and grew to mature years on the family homestead, re-
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maining with his father until reaching maturity, mean- time, in such subscription schools as the country afforded, he received the rudiments of an education, subsequently adding to his knowledge of books, attending at intervals the free schools which were introduced into the state during his boyhood. After attaining his majority he la- bored as a farm hand for several years and then as a renter until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when he exchanged the implements of husbandry for those of war, enlisting in October, 1861, in Company D. Fiftieth Indiana Infantry, with which he served until the consolidation of the Fiftieth and Fifty-second, with which he remained until the close of the struggle. Mr. Wil- liams' military experience was strenuous in all the term implies, and throughout the four long years he was at the front his conduct was ever that of a brave and gallant soldier who shirked no duty or danger. Among the bat- tles in which his command took part were Munfordville. Kentucky, Parker's Cross Roads, Tennessee, the various engagements in Steel's campaign in Arkansas, including thirty-one days of continuous fighting, in one of which, the action at Jenkin's Ferry, he was severely wounded and left on the field, where he fell into the hands of the enemy, remaining a prisoner from that time until re- leased at the close of the war.
After his discharge Mr. Williams resumed the pur- suits of civil life and for a period of nine years served on the police force of Indianapolis, at the end of which time he engaged in butchering in that city, following the same for a limited period. Disposing of his interests in the capital city, he came to Worthington and built the
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Williams House, of which he was proprietor during the twenty years following, and which, under his excellent management, became widely and favorably known as one of the best and most popular hostefries in the south cen- tral part of the state. Mr. Williams spared no pains nor expense to make his house meet the most critical demands of the traveling public, proved an ideal host, and during the years spent in ministering to the needs and comforts of his numerous guests there were few places in Indiana where the name of "Uncle Henry" was not known and respected. The Williams House, which represents an investment of twenty-five thousand dollars in Worthing- ton, in addition to which he contributed largely to the advancement of the town in various other ways, besides taking an active interest in behalf of all measures and en- terprises for the public good. A few years ago he dis- posed of all his real estate except his residence, one of the most beautiful and attractive rural homes in Indiana, and now is living a life of honorable retirement. By dili- gent attention to his business affairs and good manage- ment he succeeded in amassing a handsome competency and is now one of the substantial and well-to-do men of Greene county, with ample means to insure an easy and prosperous future. Although past his seventy-sixth year, he is still hale and hearty, remarkably well preserved for one of his age and possesses much more vitality than many whose span of life has not yet touched the half century mark. Being genial, he is a favorite in social gatherings, and in view of the universal esteem in which he is held it is safe to say that the town of Worthington has never known a more popular or praiseworthy citizen.
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On July 11, 1852, in Macksville, Indiana, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Williams and Mary E. Raper, daughter of Jesse and Sarah E. (Downey) Raper, the union resulting in the birth of six children, namely : Sarah E., deceased; Thomas, born December 4, 1856, a traveling salesman, living at Worthington ; the third in order of birth died in infancy; Ida, born in 1861, also died in early childhood; Lena Alice, deceased, and one that died before being named.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams have lived to see their de- scendants to their fourth generation, having one great- grandchild who was born in the year 1908.
In matters religious Mr. Williams subscribes to the plain, simple teaching of the Christian church, with which he has been identified for many years. His wife is also active in all lines of good work under the auspices of the local congregation to which she belongs. Mr. Williams is a Mason and for over thirty years has been a member of the Pythian Brotherhood, having united with the In- dianapolis lodge in 1856, the largest organization of the kind in Indiana. He is also identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Post No. 91 at Worthington, which he has served as commander and in various other official capacities. In politics he is a pro- nounced Republican, but not a partisan in the ordinary meaning of the term, nor has he ever aspired to leader- ship in the party or public position at the hands of his fellow citizens.
Mrs. Williams owns five acres of land just at the edge of Worthington and their home is a beautiful place.
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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WINTERS.
Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages and as a usual thing, men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free outdoor life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of mind and self-reliance which charact- erize true manhood.
Benjamin F. Winters, living near Lyons, is a farmer and a son of a farmer. He was born in Owen county, this state, October 8, 1848. A history of his ancestors will show their sterling worth, and will give an explanation of where the subject got his nobler qualities of mind and heart. Grandfather Obediah Winters was born near Buffalo, New York, having been brought to Ohio and later to Indiana by his parents in a very early day, settling in Owen county, later moving to Greene county, where the subject's father, William C. Winters, was born, one of a family of fourteen children, but one of whom is now living in 1908. The subject's maternal grandfather, Willis Barton, also had fourteen children, only two of whom are now living, one Leonard Barton is nearly ninety years old; the other living child is the subject's mother, Mrs. Anna (Barton) Winters, who is eighty-one years old. She is a native of Randolph county, North Carolina, and was brought to Indiana by her parents when nine years old. Like all old pioneer women, she knew the art of weaving flax into clothing, carding wool and other similar work. John, Amos, Obediah and Isaiah Winters were all soldiers in the Union army, having en-
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listed from Owen county, Indiana. They all died of disease, with the exception of Amos, while in the line of duty. Absalom, Leonard and Nathan Barton were also sol- diers, having enlisted from Greene county, Indiana. The last named died while in service.
William C. Winters, father of the subject, was born in Greene county, and raised in Owen county, Indiana, where he attended the primitive schools and worked on his father's farm until attaining his maturity, when he went to farming for himself in Clay county, and later settled in Greene county. He was a consistent member of the Christian church and a Democrat, having been assessor for a number of years, and county commissioner for one term. He died when fifty-three years old, leaving three sons.
Benjamin F. Winters, our subject, spent his early youth, like many another young man, attending the pub- lic schools and working on his father's farm until he was twenty-two years old, when he went to farming on a forty acre piece of wild land, heavily timbered. It was soon improved through the efforts of Mr. Winters, and his untiring activity has enabled him to purchase other land until he now has a splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres of good ridge land, which he keeps in highly productive condition by rotation of crops, skillfully managed, and by raising clover. He is making an effort to get all his land in good grasses. Most of this farm is well enclosed by wire fencing. In addition to his farming. Mr. Winters finds time to successfully operate the elevator at Lyons, which he owns, dealing extensively in grain.
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The subject was married three times, first to Sarah Caroline Vanduser, who had two children. He married his present wife June 19, 1896. She was Florence Frye, daugliter of Henry and Margaret (Layman) Frye. Three children have been born to this union, namely: Benjamin F., Sussie Anna, and Charles Verlon. Mrs. Winters' father, Henry Frye, came to this country from France, when a yaung man, first settling in Missouri, later com- ing to Greene county, Indiana, where he followed the blacksmith's trade.
Mr. Winters is a Democrat in his political belief, but he is an independent voter, always preferring to be counted on the right side and supporting the best man. He is regarded as being a man of strict honesty and so- briety and is held in the highest regard by all his neigli- bors.
CHARLES CARTMELL KIRK.
Among the well known and highly respected citizens of Greene county none stand higher in popular regard than does the subject of this sketch, who, for over a quarter of a century has faithfully labored along his line of industry, setting a worthy example for persistency and honesty. Mr. Kirk is a native of Mason county, Ken- tucky, where he was born July 25, 1857, a son of Benedict and Hannah (Williams) Kirk. Grandfather George Kirk was reared in Maryland, having migrated to Kentucky in 1809, remaining there until his death, leaving a widow and six children, who came to Rush county, Indiana, after George Kirk's death, the widow dying in about 1862.
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