USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
392
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
establishment at Cincinnati, which he retained about four years and then de- cided to try his fortunes in the great metropolis of the East. For a year he served as cashier for the original Dollar store on Broadway, near the Grand Central hotel, and then engaged in the jewelry business on the corner of Hous- ton and Broadway. This venture occupied his attention for fifteen years, when he established the Padrick House on Thirty-fourth street. and devoted four years to the building up of a trade. His father having died in 1885. Mr. Padrick came west and settled up the estate and locked after the welfare of his mother. After remaining in Shelbyville about one year he opened the American House on Central avenue, in Cincinnati, and conducted this hotel during the three years following. In 1890 he removed to Chicago, where he opened the American Hotel on Fifth Avenue, near Harrison street and the Grand Central depot. After three years in this business he became a salesman for the William J. Moxley Butterine Company, of Chicago, and remained with this firm for five years. This practically closed his business career as it was followed by his return to Shelbyville for permanent residence on the retired list. He owns residence property in the city at the corner of Franklin and Tompkins streets, and has devoted some of his time to remodeling and in- proving two houses.
On January 6. 1879. Mr. Padrick married Mary J .. daughter of Joseph Hetherton, a native of Germany, long resident of this country, but now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Padrick had three children, but unfortunately lost them all by death. in infancy. Mr. Padrick joined the Masonic Order while living in New York, and holds membership in Lodge No. 750 in that city. He was reared in the Baptist church, of which his parents were members for many years.
HENRY E. PHARES, M. D.
The name of Phares has been familiar in Shelby county since pioneer days. and those who have borne it did their full share in shaping and developing the community's growth in various, lines. The founder of this well known family was reared in New Jersey, and came west when Indiana was still a wilderness. and added his strength to that heroic band whose toil and self-sacrifice eventu- ated in founding one of the finest states of the union. His son. George W. Phares, was born in Shelby county and became in after life one of the most prosperous farmers in Marion township. At present he owns five hundred and fifty acres of the best farming land, but some years ago retired from active business and is living quietly at his pleasant home at 129 South Harri- son street. in Shelbyville. In early manhood he married Mary A. Yarling, a native of Shelby county, a descendant from foreign parentage. Her father
393
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
was from Darmstadt, Germany, and her mother of Holland, the combination making one of those frugal and thrifty unions that seldom fail to lead to prosperity. George W. and Mary A. ( Yarling ) Phares were the parents of seven children, of whom five are still living. Mary Catherine. born January 2, 1868, became the wife of Alonzo Rhoades, of Marion township, and has an only daughter. named Grace. John W .. born December 28, 1868, married Louisa Hogland. has one chikl. and is a practicing physician at Evansville. Carrie C., born February 27. 1876, is the wife of Dr. W. W. Tindall. one of Shelbyville's leading physicians, and has one son. William. Nora B., born January 14. 1878. is the wife of Charles E. Plummer, a real estate dealer of Indianapolis.
Henry E. Phares, third in the list of children, was born in Shelby county. Indiana. July 1. 1870. and obtained his first schooling in Marion township. He entered the University of Valparaiso in 1892 and remained until 1804. In the meantime he was laying the ground-work of a medical education, and after considerable study in that line. devoted three years to teaching in his native county, followed by a resumption of his medical studies in the Ken- tueky School of Medicine. After four years of study he graduated from the Hospital College of Medicine of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1897.
Shortly after leaving college Doctor Phares located at Morristown. in Shelby county, and devoted the next four years to practice at that point. Feel- ing the need of further medical equipment he spent nearly a year in the New York hospitals, the completion of this post-graduate course being followed by his permanent location at Shelbyville in October. 1901. His practice was good almost from the beginning, and it has increased in volume until Doctor Phares ranks at the front of the younger members of the profession. The Doctor is a member of the Shelby County Medical Association. the Indian State Medi- cal Association, and is prominent in Masonry as a member of Shelby Lodge No. 28, Free and Accepted Masons, Shelby Chapter No. 20, and Baldwin Com- mandery No. 2. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Shelby Lodge No. 36, and is always attentive to his fraternal duties. On April 23. 1899. Doctor Phares married Gertrude. eklest daughter of W. T. and Christena ( Ballibaugh ) Carney, farmers of Hanover township, but now resi- dents of Morristown. Doctor Phares and wife have one daughter. Frances, - born January 31, 1900.
JAMES CLARK BENNETT.
A very interesting man to talk to if fond of reminiscences of the long ago will be found in the person of James Clark Bennett. who is now spending the evening of life in the retirement that so well befits the close of a long and
394
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
active career. A pioneer himself. he is the son and grandson of pioneers, and little that affects the history of Shelby county has escaped his memory. The third generation back was represented by Jonathan Bennett. a New Jersey farmer of English descent. who married Sarah Buck, deceased in the latter part of the eighteenth century, reared a family and died in 1822, when seventy- seven years oldl. He was a gentleman of the old school. strictly moral, and was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church for fifty-two years. Jere- miah Bennett was a young man when his father died, and shortly after, with his five brothers and three sisters, started on the long journey to the western wilderness. The caravan reached Shelbyville in 1832 and took possession of the log house where Thomas A. Hendricks' father lived east of Shelbyville, on Broadway street. The building still stands, but remodeling and weather- boarding has caused it to lose its distinctive features. In 1833 Jeremiah joined other leading citizens in opening a wooden railroad to Lawrenceburg, and its inauguration on the Fourth of July of that year. created a sensation throughout the scattered settlements. Rev. Eliphalet Kent. the pioneer preacher, opened the proceedings with prayer, and Mr. Bennett acted both as engineer and con- ductor. driving the solitary horse and collecting the fares, which were twenty- five cents for the round trip. During the remainder of his long life Jeremiah's activities were many. For seven years he was Deputy Sheriff, and lived in the jail house of two rooms, each twenty feet square. For dangerous prisoners a chain with shackles at different points was provided. with which the unruly were fastened by the ankles. Besides his official duties Mr. Bennett conducted the only meat market in town, and this was kept for ten years, the butchering being done on the same lot. Afterwards he built an old-fashioned tavern. which became famous among travelers as the Bennett House After being "mine host" of this popular tavern for eighteen years he finally sold the prop- erty and retired. It was on the site of what is now known as the Keck House, and was long a landmark. In 1822 Jeremiah Bennett married Sarah Clark, by whom he had seven sons: Charles. Joseph, two Jeremiahs, two Jameses and David. David and Joseph served in the Mexican war. and were in the battle of Buena Vista, under Colonel Lane. Charles died when twelve years old. David. James and Jeremiah were in the Civil war. The former died in the army on the Red river. Jeremiah. James and Joseph are still residents of Shelbyville. Jeremiah laid out Broadway and extended Harrison street to Blairs. He bought twenty acres where the court-house now stands and gave a lot to the County Commissioners on which to build. In 1826 he joined the Presbyterian church, but finally united with the Methodists, as did his wife, who died in 1864. Jeremiah surviving her until January, 1881. when his use- ful and blameless life was closed.
James C. Bennett, one of the survivors of this interesting family, was born at Shelbyville, Indiana, May 10, 1834. In 1861 he enlisted in Company
395
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO .. IND.
A. Sixteenth Regiment. Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for a year. In July of 1862 he joined Company B of the famous Seventieth In- diana Regiment. commanded by Col. Benjamin Harrison, afterward brigadier- general and later President of the United States. The military career of this noted command in which Mr. Bennett participated. is not surpassed by any other regiment. It was with Sherman in his Atlanta campaign and in the march to the sea. up through the Carolinas and on to Washington. Mr. Ben- nett becoming sick, was taken on transport down the James and up the Poto- mac rivers to Alexandria. After a ten days' siege in the hospital. he attended the grand review, occupying two days, in Washington City, and constituting the most imposing military parade in all its history. He was mustered out on June 8. 1865. at the capital, and draws a pension of seventeen dollars a month. When his old colonel was elected President he was specially honored as a guest. with other survivors of the "Old Seventieth." which acted as a body guard. Mr. Bennett has long been a member of the Masonic fraternity and tyler of Shelbyville lodge for thirty-nine years. Mr. Bennett is a member of the Metho- dist church, and has always been a strong advocate of the temperance cause. being a prominent promoter of the work in the city and county. He enjoys good health and lives happily with his wife and daughter, Anna C., teacher in the city schools.
CAPT. ADAM MALANTHON WEED.
The family of this name which is widely distributed throughout the county was founded by Andrew and John Weed. two brothers who came to America from Ireland in 1767. They first located at St. Augustine. Florida, but later Andrew settled in the vicinity of Charleston. South Carolina. His brother. John, went to New York, established a home on Long Island and became the ancestor of the celebrated Thurlow Weed. During the Revolution the two brothers returned to England. but in 1810 Andrew again revisited America and settled permanently in Abbeville county, South Carolina. He had three sons. Reuben. Andrew and John. all of whom rose to prominence and inherited great wealth from their father in the shape of plantations and slaves in various parts of the South. When the estate was divided Reuben set free his portion of the slaves. He was born in England. married Mary L. Stewart, remained in the South until past middle life. and in 1841 started for the Northwest in wagons. After reaching Indiana. he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Decatur county, eight miles north of Greensburg. on which he resided until his death in 1842. His son. Adam M. Weed. who was born in South Carolina in 1838, was three years old when his father became a resident of Indiana. In 1852 his mother purchased land from the govern-
396
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
ment in Tipton county, and removed there with her children. Adam lived with her until the breaking out of the Civil war. when he enlisted in the Forty- seventh Indiana regiment under Col. James R. Slack. Ile went out as first sergeant and served in different capacities in detached service. July 5. 1863, after he had been out about a year, he was sent to New Orleans to act as aide to General Ben Butler, and remained there until his muster out in 1864. Dur- ing the last two months of his service he was detached on Commodore Foote's flag-ship, on which the now Admiral Dewey commanded a battery. This ves- sel was engaged for some time in chasing pirates in the Gulf of Mexico. Though Captain Weed talks modestly of his war service. it was really a little cut of the ordinary, as he was breveted captain for meritorious conduct during the trying period of the great contest. After his discharge from the army at Indianapolis, in November, 1864, Captain Weed returned to Tipton county and made preparations for entrance into business. In 1865. at Warsaw, Indiana. he married Margaret Jane Pressley, and located at LaPorte, where he re- mained twelve years. After this he spent two years in Chicago, followed by removal to Indianapolis to take charge of a cabinet company of that city. Ill health compelled him to relinquish this position. but after a year spent at St. Paul, Indiana. he was sufficiently improved to resume work with the Conrey Birely Table Company, at Shelbyville. After remaining with this concern for six years, failing health again forced him to give up his position. In June. 1902, he entered the postal service and has since continued in that line of em- ployment. Captain Weed has been a staunch Republican since the organization of that party and prominent in its local leadership. In 1902 he was chairman of the Republican Central Committee, and without his seeking was nominated as candidate for Representative. His popularity was shown by the fact that though the normal majority against him was five hundred, he cut this down to the danger point and came near being elected. While living in Chicago in 1879 his first wife died, and in 1891 Captain Weed married Catherine Callan, of Indianapolis. His children by the first marriage were Rosa Etta, Hattic Pressley, and Andrew Clark. Those by his second marriage are Mary, Carrie, Martha and Catherine.
STEPHEN B. WASHBURN.
This popular seedsman is well known throughout Shelby county, as his business ramifics extensively and brings him in touch with thousands of pe )- ple annually. With his numerous stores and widely distributed trade he has become a factor in the mercantile life of the city which recognizes him as one of its most progressive citizens. His grandfather. Stephen Washburn, was born in Ohio and went to Kentucky and married. He lived there for some
397
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
.
years and then removed to Indiana. He brought with him his son, James, then a lad of eight years, and became a farmer in Shelby county. James, whose birth occurred in Kentucky in 1828. married Elizabeth Lemons, who came with her parents to Kentucky and later to Indiana. Their marriage occurred in Shelby county in 1847 and they became the parents of three sons and three daughters. Amanda, wife of George Bynum, a machinist : George. Jennie, wife of Noah Barnes farmer : Stephen B .. O. D., of Delphos, Ohio: Nora, wife of Benjamin Cherry, a factory worker at Shelbyville. Stephen B. Washburn. the fourth of the family, was born in Shelbyville. Indiana, July 17. 1858. He had but little time to attend schools as necessity goaded him to work when ten years old, becoming a carpenter's apprentice and devoting eighteen years to that trade. From this he went to a wardrobe factory, where he spent two years as foreman, then found his true gait by making a beginning in the seed business. Four years were spent as a buyer for Ryse & Trees, of Shelbyville. after which he returned to carpentering and spent some time in that line. Next he accepted a position as foreman for Ryse & Randall in the seed business. and devoted one year to their service, after which he embarked for himself. and has been going it alone ever since. For fourteen years he has been in the seed buisness at Shelbyville and has met with the prosperity that comes frem good judgment, care in selecting and buying and close attention to de- tails. He owns a seed store at Hope, one at Acton and one at Waldron, and handles one hundred and fifty thousand dollars' worth of seeds a year. li the busy season his shipping runs as high as ten car loads per month. and there are few more important concerns of the kind outside of the larger cities.
On October 22. 1908. Mr. Washburn married Millie Berns, whose parents are both dead. Mr. Washburn owns a commodious home at 80 East John street, besides property at Hope. In politics he is a Democrat. and in re- ligion of the Baptist persuasion, his wife being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Washburn is a member of the Township Advisory Board.
C. G. REINECKE.
1
Although he has not been in Shelbyville a great while, everybody knows the popular butcher of South Harrison street, and all like to trade with him as the service is first-class, and whatever he offers for sale is of the best quality. When representatives of the State Health Board come around to see if things are conducted in a sanitary manner. they have no fault to find with the Rein- ecke shop, which is always clean, the whole surroundings being so inviting that it is a pleasure to customers to trade there. The proprietor has "made good" since his arrival in Shelbyville, and much of his success has been due to his
398
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
courteous way of treating customers. Mr. Reinecke was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 11. 1870, his parents being Henry and Mary ( Ranke) Reinecke. When about ten years old the family removed to Vevay, Indiana, and when in 1890 they went back to the Ohio city. he remained in Vevay and got most of his education in that place. When about twelve years old he became an ap- prentice in a printing office, soon learned his "boxes." and made himself so handy that in a few years he was appointed foreman of the shop. It was a newspaper and job printing plant combined, and after acting as its foreman for two years under Walter Knox. proprietor, who died. and M. C. Walden, who succeeded him, Mr. Reinecke decided to brauch out for himself. Forming a partnership with T. D. Oakley, they, launched an independent newspaper called Twice-a-Week, and the venture was warmly received by the public. which furnished a good sized subscription list from the beginning. About three years later Mr. Reinecke sold out his interests and abandoned the news- paper field for good. Later he engaged in the butcher business, conducted a shop with fine success until the early fall of 1809. and then disposed of his plant. Happening to visit Kokomo about this time he stopped over at Shelby- ville on his return and was so pleased with the place that he concluded to make it his home. At first he worked for Charles Flaitz, one of the city's best known butchers, but in 1905 he purchased a butcher shop of his own in West Broad- way street, from Charles M. Barnes. A year later he bought the shop of his former employer, Charles Flaitz, and since then his place of business has been at the old stand on South Harrison street. There is no better butcher shop in the county, and Mr. Reinecke has built up a large and lucrative trade. both in the city and county.
On December 24. 1891. Mr. Reinecke married Julia O .. daughter of Isaac M. Froman, of Mt. Sterling Indiana. They have one daughter, Mildred May Reinecke. The family are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Reinecke belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Shelbyville. Both in public and private life. Mr. Reinecke is regarded as a man of integrity, full of kindly impul-es for his fellows, and always ready to help the deserving. Be- sides being a good business man he is a good neighbor and good citizen.
JAMES H. NAIL.
Shelby county boasts of no older and no more highly respected family than that of the Nails. They were the pioneer of pioneers, coming here when settlements were few and far between: neighbors several days' ride from each other, and the whole face of the country covered by the primeval forests. The first-comers and their descendants have always occupied honorable positions
399
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
among their fellow citizens, helped materially in the agricultural develop- ment of the county. and were splendid types of the kind of men that it takes to make a state out of raw materials. Though the family originated in Ger- many they have been identified with the United States from a period antedating the Declaration of Independence. Henry Nail, the emigrant founder, who was born in the German Fatherland in 1771, came three years later with his parents to Pennsylvania. In 1776 they migrated to Rowan county, North Carolina, where a settlement was made and a home established. In 1799 Henry was married to Mary Keller. a native of Pennsylvania, and in 1824 brought his family to Indiana. finding a location in Shelby county on land purchased from the government. With Henry Nail came his son. Samuel, who was fifteen years old when they reached this newest of the northwestern states. Samuel Nail, the most noted of the family connection, was born in Rowan county. North Carolina. September 1. 1809. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years old, and then took one of man's most important steps in the world by marrying. The lady of his choice was Cherry Wray, a typical pioneer girl, who knew how to spin and weave, make clothes for the family out of home-produced material, and do the other useful things essential in a woman who was to be the wife of a first settler. She was born in Virginia, September 30. 1813. her parents being James and Tabitha ( Bass) Wray, who came to Shelby county in 1822. James Wray, who was born in Virginia January 13, 1787, became a minister of the Gospel and was a member of those sturdy soldiers of the cross known as the pioneer preachers. Tabitha Bass, who shared his hardships as well as his triumphs in the trying times of the western settlement, was a native of North Carolina. Samuel Nail became one of the most successful farmers and most extensive land owners of the county. His holdings included four hundred and twenty acres in Brandywine township, sixty acres in Addison township, some property in Fairland. and eighty acres in Missouri. He and his wife were charter members of the old Protestant Methodist church in Brandywine township, and were regarded as pillars of the faith during their long and useful lives. For many years it was the custom of the children to hold family reunions to celebrate the union or natal days of their parents, and these were occasions long to be remembered as evidencing the sincere affection and high esteem in which this fine old couple were held.
James H. Nail. perhaps the best known of the children, was born in Ad- dison township. Shelby county. Indiana, December 25. 1844. He helped clear away some of the forest on his father's land and knows at first hand what it meant to be the child of a pioneer farmer in Shelby county. When nineteen years old he enlisted in the famous Seventieth Regiment. Indiana Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Benjamin Harrison in the beginning, and with this command took part in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Pumpkin Vine Creek,
400
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta, besides many hot skirmishes, like that at New Hope church. After his muster out in 1865 he returned to the old home farm in Addison township, and resumed the peaceful occupation of tilling the soil. He has been twice married, but had no children by the first union. December 30, 1883. he married Mary, daughter of Henry and Matilda ( Mnir ) Howe, who was born and reared in Indianapolis. After his marriage Mr. Nail engaged in farming on his own account. He first bought a small place of thirty-three acres in Brandywine township, to which he has added from time to time until he owns now about one hundred and thirty acres of good farming land. In 1893 he purchased a house on South street. in Shelby- ville, to which he removed for a residence, having retired from active farming pursuits. Later he acquired various pieces of property in Shelbyville, and his since devoted most of his attention to looking after the same. In 1907 he bought a house at No. 36 North Tompkins street, in which he is making his present home. Politically he has always been a Republican. When General Harrison was inaugurated President Mr. Nail has the honor of acting as escort to his old commander of Civil war days. He is a member of Dumont Post. Grand Army of the Republic, at Shelbyville. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and always interested in its religious and missionary work.
GEORGE W. PHARES.
The genealogy of the Phares family runs well back into the eighteenth century. We first hear of John Phares, who was born November 11. 1736, and left eight children. His son. William, born February 19. 1765, came from New Jersey at an early period of the settlement of the West an I located in Ohio. He was the father of nine children. One of his sons, named Isaac, also a native of New Jersey, married Elizabeth Brown in Ohio, by whom he had seven children : Jane, Sarah, Naomi, Nancy, John. Isaac and Matthew B. By a second marriage with Pauline M. Holbrook, he also had seven children : Wil- liam, Robert H., Mary C., James L. and George W., besides two that died in infancy. Isaac proved to be a veritable patriarch, as he had seventy-eight ยท grandchildren. William Holbrook, father of his second wife, migrated from Stokes county, North Carolina, to Indiana, in the fall of 1826, settlel in Rush county, near Manilla. He was born July 5. 1779, and died February 14. 1841. He married Lucy .A. Crim, who was born September 17. 1779, and died March 6. 1837. Her children were Nancy T. Bronson, Paulina M. Phares Emilia Hester. Jane Brown. James. John. Jacob. Franklin, Henry and George W. The two last mentioned were killed at the battle of Stone River and all of the other children afterward died. Matthew Brown, father of Isaac Phares' first
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.