USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 13
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He died April 17. 1873. and his wife passed away in 1894. They are resting side by side in the old Mount Pleasant cemetery, rounding out an affection that ran through the course of their natural lives.
Mrs. Nancy W. Clark still lives on the old home place where she has spent so many years. She is noted for her many kindnesses, and is revered by a large circle of friends who know of her life that has proved such a benediction to so many.
JOHN H. CLARKE.
This family name has long been known in the county, for the state was still young when the Clarkes came as permanent residents of this vicinity. John H. Clarke was the son of James and Sarah ( Hagerman) Clarke. James Clarke was born in Northampton. England, November 4. 1804. In 1826 he embarked for America and was seventy days in crossing the Atlantic. He came on to Cincinnati, Ohio, leaving there for Lebanon. Ohio, from whence he came to Shelby county, Indiana, settling in Jackson township. He devoted himself to farming and had to confront the difficult task that faced all the farmers, viz .. that of transforming the great forest into productive fields. This he accomplished and became well known as a man of industry and integrity. He was well educated and a clever writer. having written an interesting history of the Clarke family. He was a member of the Chris- tian church. and a Republican in politics.
Six children were born to James and Sarah Clarke: Thomas, deceased. married Sarilda Jane Records; John H., our subject, born January 10, 1835; Spencer was killed in 1849 by a locomotive when but fourteen years of age : Frances, deceased wife of Ezra Hicks: Adrian and Charles both died in in- fancy. After the death of his first wife, James Clarke was married to Ellen
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Rae. John H. Clarke was married November 10, 1858. to Ethelinda Rec- ords, who was born in Jackson township. this county, January 4, 1857. She was the daughter of William P. and Elcey ( Harvey ) Records, both families being the pioneers of the county. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clarke: Thomas C., born November 6, 1859. married Fannie Barlow, of Jackson township: George H., born September 24. 1861. is in the ministry and is a graduate of Butler College, of Indianapolis: Sarah E., born January 12, 1863. and Elcey J., January 17, 1865. are both deceased: William F., a post-graduate of Butler College, is superintendent of schools at Forsythe. Montana : Mary S., born February 22, 1871, is deceased; Cora C., born De- cember 4. 1881, is a graduate of Franklin College, and is a teacher in the high school of Brazil, Indiana.
The splendid record of this family is but a modest tribute to the whole- some and inspiring influence of a home that is permeated by a spirit of help- fulness and refinement. William P. Records, the father of Mrs. Clarke, was born in Brown county, Ohio, in February. 1801. His companion. Elcey Harvey, was a native of New York state, and was born in 1806. Both lived to an advanced age. Mr. Records died at the age of eighty-six and his wife at the age of ninety. Twelve children were born to them. They were: Franklin S., Harriet E .. wife of Lewis Mullendore ; Lavinna T., wife of Wil- liam DePue, of Franklin. Indiana : Huldah A., wife of Nathan Deupree : Jane, widow of Thomas Clarke; William W., deceased : James L., a farmer of Bartholomew county: Mary A. died in infancy : J. Q. A., a farmer living in Johnson county; Elcey C., wife of J. S. Curtley, of Franklin, Indiana; Tay- lor, who died in infancy : Ethelinda, wife of Jolin H. Clarke, of this review.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarke are members of the Christian church at Mount Au- burn. Indiana, and are held in high esteem by its membership. Mr. Clarke is one of the elders of the church and kind and considerate in his views, bear- ing on both religious and political subjects. He has been a progressive as well as successful farmer. acquiring over two hundred acres of first class land. In recent years he has retired from active farm life, but still retains a keen interest in the farm, as well as in the leading social problems of the day.
JOHN W. PHERIGO.
After living an honest and praiseworthy life unto ripe years. John W. Pherigo, who was born January 17. 1838. died on the old home place in Shelby township, Shelby county, February 26. 1909. He was a son of Jacob and Martha Ann ( Hankins) Pherigo, who lived the greater part of their lives in Jefferson county, Indiana. He died in that county, and his widow
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married Samuel Mckay, they locating in Washington township. Shelby county. They afterwards removed to Flat Rock. Indiana, where they died. They were the parents of thirteen children, two of whom are now living. Among them were: Jennie, wife of Joseph Wolley, deceased. He was a farmer and at one time conducted a livery business at Columbus, Indiana .. He was a veteran of the Civil war. a member of Company I. Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers. Other children were: Olive, Snowy G .. John, infant : Amy B., Albert J., dead. The widow and family live at Columbus, Indiana. Sarah E. married Nathan Stafford, of Bartholomew county. They had seven chil- dren-Celeste. Harry, Wilbur, Charles, Carrie, Josie and Armilda.
John W. Pherigo was a school teacher in his early life and in 1852 lo- cated in Washington township. Shelby county, where he rented land. On January 11, 1863. he married Esther L. Spurlin, who was born in the same township and a daughter of Joshua and Esther ( Lamon) Spurlin. He was originally from Virginia and she from the Keystone state. He migrated to Indiana while a young man and took up land in Washington township, buy- ing it at twelve and one-half cents per acre. He bought over two hundred acres and settled in the woods and was accounted one of the first settlers of that region. He died in Washington township, as did also his wife. Their children were: Harrison. deceased: Martha, deceased, wife of David Fenn, deceased : Jane, wife of Joshua Higgins, both dead: Wilfred. of Tipton, Indiana, retired farmer, a preacher in the Baptist church for many years; he married Serena Le Mars. Ithamer, of Shelbyville, Indiana, married first. Elizabeth Green and his second wife was Phoebe Dunn: Frank. of Shelby- ville, Indiana, married Armilda Sullivan: George Washington married Lida Hupp, and lives in Washington township: Amanda married Harry Sullivan. of Washington township; Emma lives at Shelbyville. Indiana; Esther, widow of John W. Pherigo, deceased.
There were seven children born to John W. Pherigo and wife as fol- lows: John, mail carrier. married Vay Williams, one child. Leonore: Ida D., wife of Charles Thompson, of Indianapolis, Indiana, two children, Olive and Raymond : Stella, of Greenfield. Indiana ; William N. married Bertha Stevens, of Shelbyville. Indiana, two children. Fawn and Esther: June Edgar mar- ried Martha Bruner, resides in Columbus, Indiana: two children. Gertrude and Ruth: Claude A., of Washington township, married Julia A. Brooks; two sons, Glenn and Joseph: Dale E., farmer, Washington township. mar- ried Addie Law, one child. Eugene. deceased.
John W. Pherigo was a farmer and also a grain merchant and general storekeeper, at Lewis Creek. Indiana. In 1863 he located on a farm in Washington township, but soon after moved to the place in Shelby county where his widow now lives, and commenced a successful farming work, which he continued until his death. In 1889 he built a beautiful home and erected
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outbuildings and made many improvements on the place. The deceased was a Mason of the Blue Lodge, of Shelbyville. Indiana. He was a member of the Baptist church and was well known in church work. He had many warm friends in the community in which he lived and his death was a matter of great regret to all.
HARVEY L. SANDERS.
This gentleman is a native of Shelby county, and is a descendant of one of its early settlers. He was born in Jackson township. January 10. 1864, and was the son of Jacob D. and Prudence G. ( Smith) Sanders, the former having been born in Virginia November 22, 1815. and the latter January 4. 1819. in Dearborn county, Indiana. Harvey's grandparents were Henry and Nancy (Love) Sanders, the former having been born in Germany. Jacob D. Sanders and Prudence G. Smith were married February 17. 1839. in Johnson county. Indiana. and came to Shelby county the following year. They located upon the farm where W. T. Sanders now lives. but later removed to the homestead now occupied by our subject and here they lived out the re- mainder of their days. Jacob D. passed to his reward March 3, 1890, and was survived by his companion until July 24. 1905. He was a shrewd business manager, and although at the outset of his career he had particularly nothing, yet at the time of his death he was owner of over six hundred acres of good land. He was the father of the following children: Nancy J., born November 7, 1841, and died February 4. 1871: James M., born January 1. 1844, and died February 7, 1895: Samuel S., born Jan- uary 31. 1847. died July 24. 1875; Mary E .. born March 27. 1849, died May 8, 1873; George W., born February 14. 1851, died September 8, 1856: Sarah M., born July 12. 1853. had the unusual experience of marrying a gentleman who bore the same surname, but who is not related. viz .. George - Sanders: William T., born October 14. 1855: Frances P .: born April 4, 1858. died October 18, 1858. Harvey L. was the youngest child of the family. He was reared to manhood on the homestead he now occupies, received a fair education in the public schools and on attaining his majority chose agriculture for his life work and has since followed the same with marked success and profit. Besides the farm in Jackson township. Mr. Sanders owns an equally good farm in Hendricks township, both of which are almost entirely under cultivation. The land is. admirably situated and is well adapted for the rais- ing of grain, vegetables and fruit crops common to this state, the soil being deep and fertile and its productions greatly increased by means of drainage and careful attention to fertilizing and the rotating of crops. In addition to farming Mr. Sanders has devoted some time to stock raising and in this,
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too, he has met with success, having many fine specimens of well bred stock. which show great care in their maintenance.
On the day before Christmas. 1891. Mr. Sanders was married to Bina E. Lanahan. the daughter of Mary .( Meric ) Lanahan. Mary was born on Independence day, 1874. and received such education as was afforded by the best schools of the vicinity. Her father als) has been a successful farmer. and has quite extensive land interests in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are without children. They are members of the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Sanders is a Republican, but has not sought office. He is a quiet, law-abiding citizen, who has ever given his in- fluence to the upbuilding of the community, being a friend to all enterprises with this object in view and an earnest advocate of whatever makes for the moral good of his fellow men.
JAMES GREEN.
Noted among the older residents of Shelby county, Indiana, is James Green, who was born in Addison township on May 20, 1836, and who has lived the greater part of his life in that community. He was one of a large family, and a son of Christopher Cheek Green, who was originally of Ken- tucky, and who married Keturah Norris, of New Jersey.
Christopher was a son of Eli and Nancy ( Cheek ) Green, of Virginia. When Indiana was only a territory and a wilderness, they located in Dear- born county. During the terrible plague of cholera which swept the country in 1833 they succumbed to the disease, both dying of the malady the same week. He owned the first mill in that section of the country, and ground the grists brought to him, by horse power. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, as follows : Elizabeth married James Bridges, and lived in Iowa : James married Phobe Chambers and was a steamboat captain on the Ohio and Mis- sissippi rivers and a soldier of the War of 1812: He died in Vicksburg of the yellow fever, his wife passing away in Indianapolis: Leah married Seth Parks, and lived in Iowa : Christopher C .: Tobitha married Bethany Bridges, and lived in Waverly, Indiana : Page died of cholera : Hiram died of cholera ; Elston married Ann Bowers, of Hamilton county, Indiana : Ansy married Nathan Bowers, lived in Illinois: Eliza died of cholera.
Joseph Norris, maternal grandfather of James Green, was a native of New Jersey, and married Elizabeth Wolsey. of that state. They lived in Au- rora, Indiana, and later removed to Jefferson county, and still later to Boone county, this state, where they both died. They were the parents of ten chil- dren as follows : Catherine married James Van Cleaves, lived in Clinton coun-
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ty, Indiana: Samuel lived in Boone county, Indiana. and later in Kansas: Richard died single: Keturah, mother of James Green: Rachael married Peter Moore and lived in Boone county, Indiana: Joseph also lived in Boone county, and later in Kansas: Johanna married the Rev. John Wright. and lived and died in Boone county : Maria married Abram Hendrickson and lived in Clinton county. Indiana : Stephen lived in Jefferson county. Indiana : Alice married William Wheatley and lived in Boone county. Indiana.
Christopher Cheek Green prided himself on his ability as a mathemati- cian, although he had but a very limited education. It was said of him that he could solve any problem in Pike's arithmetic. Ile married when young. and resided for a time in Aurora. Indiana. In 1829 he removed to Shelby county, Indiana, and entered a tract of land on the middle fork of Lewis creek, and settled there in the wilderness. He erected a log cabin and com- menced clearing the ground, and he succeeded in getting the farm in fair con- dition for those days, but in 1846 he removed to Washington township and bought two hundred forty acres of land, paying seven hundred dollars for the tract. It was all heavily wooded. but he cleared a goodly portion of it and built a house for his family. He lived there until he died in 1851. His widow passed away in 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. He was a Democrat and she was a member of the Methodist church. There were ten children born to them as follows: Grayson died in infancy. Eli, a farmer in Noble township, Shelby county: he married Martha J. DeBaun. Joseph, a veteran of the Mexican war, serving in the Fifth Indiana Volunteer Infan- try : he married Eliza Jane Jackson and went to lowa and later to Missouri. where he died in 1898: his widow still lives in that state. Jason was a Mexi- can war veteran and served in the same command as his brother. Joseph. At the close of the war he taught school. He married Ann Fenn, and in after years he removed to Illinois, where he now lives. Elston, a farmer. married Caroline Limpus, dying in Shelbyville. Indiana, where the widow still lives. Milton, a teacher for ten years. later removed to Illinois, where he married Sarah J. Hayes, deceased. James, the subject of this sketch. Stephen mar- ried Elizabeth Monroe, a farmer. of Shelby county. Elizabeth married Itha- mer Spurlin, lived in Washington township. Shelby county, where she died in 1887. William, deceased. married Elizabeth McColley: she resides in Shelbyville. Indiana.
James Green married Mary Ann Clark on October 15, 1857. He was a man of sterling character and obtained his education in the common schools of his county. He lived at home until his marriage. His bride was a daugh- ter of William and Mary ( Van Benthusen ) Clark, he of Manchester. Eng- land, and she of Orange county. New York. William Clark was a son of James and Frances Cheshire Clark, of England. and a man of considerable mental attainments. He and his wife became the parents of the following
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children : James, born April 18, 1804: Thomas, born April 22, 1806: Frances, born January 15. 1808; Ann, born July 2. 1809: John, born February I. ISII : William, born November 21, 1812: Francis B .. born October 13. 1814: Mary, born May 25, 1816: Sarah, born December 26, 1818: Edward. C., born July 16, 1820: Ellen, born July 18. 1822: John, born November 1. 1824. lives in Drakeville, Iowa: Charles, born October 29, 1826.
James Clark sailed for America on April 5. 1817. and was seventy days on the voyage from Liverpool. He landed in Philadelphia on January 14. 1817. He settled at Elkland, Pennsylvania, and later removed to Spring- boro, Ohio, and in 1824 to Jackson township. Shelby county, Indiana. He died in 1826, and his wife on April 20. 1841.
Mary Van Benthusen was a daughter of James and Susan ( Smith ) Van Benthusen. He was born August 14. 1778, in New York, and she was born March 4, 1791, in the same state. They removed. after their marriage, to Mercer county, Ohio, and in 1829 went to Jackson township. Shelby county, and settled in the woods. He was a victim of the cholera scourge, and died in 1850, while attending the constitutional convention at Indianapolis. He was prominent in state affairs and assisted in revising the constitution of Indiana. with Thomas A. Hendricks. His wife died in 1862, having married a sec- ond time to John Moore. The children of James and Susan ( Smith ) Van Benthusen were: Margaret. born July 18. 1811, married Aaron Fix: Wil- liam, born August 30, 1813. married Frances Clark : Mary, mother of James Green's wife: Catherine, born January 28, 1817, and the wife of Leonard Guile : Precilla, born August 3. 1819, married Alexander Hawkins; Daniel was born September 28. 1821, and married Rebecca Hughes: Jolin, born September 26, 1823, married Sarah Clayton: James, infant, born October 14. 1825; Stephen, born March 25. 1827. married Margaret Kendall; David, born December 30, 1829: James, born September 19. 1832. married Ann Whaler : Aaron, born November 22, 1834. married Mary Keeling.
William Clark, father of Mrs. James Green, was known as an honest and industrious man and a good citizen. He lived with his parents until his marriage and then entered land in Washington township. Shelby county. He finally owned two hundred seventy acres, which he cleared and made a fine homestead. He died in 1903. his wife passing away in 1899. They were the parents of seven children : Frances, born October 18. 1834. and married James Parrish: she died in 1906: Leonard, born January 22. 1836, died in infancy ; Elizabeth, born February 2. 1837, and married Isaac Watson, deceased : she lives in Howard county, Indiana: Mary Ann, wife of James Green : Margaret Jane, born in 1842. married William H. Chesser. deceased : she lives in Washington township: John C., born May 6, 1844, and married Candes Doren, both dead. William H., born in 1848, died March 13. 1900. He married Phoebe Osborn and they lived in Washington township, on the old homestead.
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After his marriage James Green and wife went to farming in Washing- ton township. Shelby county, later in Liberty township, and later to Noble township, and then back to Shelby township, where they now live, in section 32. He owns eighty-seven acres and has lived on the old home place since 1865, at which time he erected the house as it now stands. He carries on a general farming business and raises horses and cattle. He has been active in civil affairs, and was Justice of the Peace from 1868 to 1872, and Town- ship Trustee from 1882 to 1884. and a school director for ten years. By political faith he is a Democrat. He retired from active work in 1897 to enjoy his remaining years in that rest he so richly earned. He and his estim- able wife are well preserved for their years, and are held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and neighbors.
PETER STOHRY.
No. member of the large class of Gerinan citizens who have come to the Hoosier state and assisted in its development is deserving of mention in a book of the province of the one at hand more than Peter Stohry, who was born in Steinweiler, Germany, the son of George and Mary Stohry, the date of his birth being July 26, 1852. His parents were natives of the same place where the subject was born. George Stohry was a stone and brick mason by trade and worked at this trade all his life. He and his wife both died in Germany, after becoming the parents of two children. Peter of this review. and Valen- tine, who was a gardener and died in Addison township. November, 1904. Peter Stohry received a common school education in the German schools, and he remained at home until 1869, when he came to America, landing in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, in September of that year. He first secured work in a shoe factory of that city, where he remained for one year. He also worked awhile at gardening. He went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked for nine months, and from there to Dearborn county, Indiana, where an uncle resided. remaining there for about one and one-half years and then came to Shelby- ville, Indiana. He first worked out as a farm hand until 1882, when he mar- ried Anna L. Kuhn, of Haupshower, Germany, daughter of Heinrich and Marie ( Falk) Kuhn, both natives of the above named place, and both died in Germany. Mr. Kuhn was a weaver by trade. They were the parents of six children, namely: Henry, living in Syracuse, New York; Conrad, Mary, Katie, Maria: Anna L., wife of the subject. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Stohry-Lizzie MI., wife of Jacob L. Cores, of Ad- dison township. Shelby county, and they are the parents of two children, Floyd and Herbert. William B., the subject's second child. is single and is
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living at home with his parents. Both these children were educated in the Shelbyville schools.
In 1882 Mr. Stohry bought forty acres of land in section 33, Addison township. where he now resides. It was known as the Denny place. It is a valuable farm and kept in a highly productive state. In 1905 Mr. Stohry built his beautiful home, which is modern in every respect. It is equipped with steam heat. hot and cold water, etc. His excellent barn was built in 1899. He is engaged in general farming and dairying and has been eminent- ly successful, being a hard working man and a good manager, as his attrac- tive place indicates. At present he owns thirty-six head of cattle. He ran a dairy wagon for five years, selling milk in Shelbyville. He now makes a great deal of excellent butter, having some fine Jersey cattle. He also keeps some excellent breeds of Durock hogs, and has a fine lot of White Wyandotte chickens. He and his son have just added eighty acres to the farm in section 34, Addison township. He started in life very poor, and even when he land- ed in Shelbyville had only seventy-five cents, but being a hard worker and a good manager he has succeeded, and such a man deserves a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished. He is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to public office. He belongs to the German Presbyterian church. This family bears an excellent reputation in Addison township, and have many friends throughout the county.
MICHAEL T. FISHER.
Among the sturdy pioneers who nearly a century ago entered land in Shelby county, were the ancestors of Michael Fisher. and the modern appli- ances that are now used in the cultivation of the soil were not even dreamed of. Mr. Fisher was born in Hendricks township. February 21, 1846. his parents being Michael and Mahala ( Webb) Fisher. The father was a native of Germany, while the mother first saw the light of day in the state of North Carolina. They both met early in life in Kentucky, and later moved to Clark county, Indiana. They remained there but a short time, eventually taking up their abode in Hendricks township, where they were married, and where they settled upon eighty acres of government land. and lived until their death. During their residence there they acquired six hundred acres of land. A large portion of the inhabitants of Indiana at that time were Indians, and the country about Shelby county was very wild. Twelve children were born to them in the following order : James H., George W .. John. William, Zach- ariah, Malinda, Nancy J., Willis C., Jacob M., Michael T., W. J. and Amanda A. Zachariah and Malinda died while children, having been burned to death in a sheep shed.
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Michael Fisher was industrious from his earliest boyhood days, and has worked hard all of his life. He was educated in the typical log cabin of the pioneer days, and being an apt pupil accumulated sufficient knowledge to enable him to teach school for several terms, although the greater portion of his life has been devoted to farming. He has spent his entire career in the township, and holds a high place in the estimation of his neighbors. In 1874 he married Emily Scott, the daughter of Robert and Mary ( Hayes ) Scott. The following children were born to them: Jonathan Ora married Carrie Tucker, has two children and lives in Missouri: Lulu J., wife of Thomas Stansfield. Bartholomew county, three children: Mary Myrtle is single and living at home: Willis S. married Dora McClure and has one child: Noah R. married Emma McClure, three children : Zella May, wife of Marion Her- rell, two children; Grover T .. dead: Henry E .. single, living in Franklin. Indiana ; Blanche J., dead : Jesse C .. single, lives at home ; Anderville, dead.
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