USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 14
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Mr. Fisher early in life cast his political fortunes with the Democratic party, and has been an unswerving follower of that political organization ever since, being ready at all times to lend his aid to its advancement. At the present time he is a member of the local Advisory Board. having served thereon continuously for the past nine years. He is a man of high character in both social and business life, and has a happy faculty of making friends. He is the owner of a farm that ranks among the best in the county, and he gives it very close attention. It consists of ninety-two and one-half acres, and is well equipped with modern agricultural machinery, Mr. Fisher being of that class of agriculturists who insist on keeping abreast of the times.
ALBERT ALYEA.
Among the fine yeomanry of France who followed Lafayette to America to help our people in the war for independence was a young man named Peter Alyea. He joined the patriot army. fought bravely under Washington, took part at Trenton and other battles and altogether proved himself a brave and daring soldier as well as a lover of liberty. He left a worthy son to inherit his name and his descendants at every crisis of the country's history have shown that the martial fire still burned in their bosoms and devotion to human freedom was a characteristic of their nationality. John Alyea, who was born in New Jersey, migrated to Ohio in the early part of the last century. located in Hamilton county and was there married to Mary Stump, also a native of New Jersey. In 1859 they removed to Indiana and took up their abode in Han- cock county, where he ended his days in 1870. His wife survived him many years, but finally met death at Indianapolis in 1907.
ALBERT ALYEA.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHIELBY CO., IND.
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Albert Alyea, son of this fine French couple, was born on his father's farm in Hamilton county, Ohio, October 6, 1845. He went to live with his grandfather. Peter Alyea, and remained under this sheltering roof until 1863. and then went back to Hancock county, Indiana, where he worked for awhile as a farm laborer. In the fall of the same year he enlisted at Fountaintown, in Company I. Thirteenth Regiment Indiana Cavalry, with which he engaged in strenuous campaigning in Kentucky, Tennessee. and other states. but after Hood's advance was sent with his regiment to Mobile to do scout duty in the Southwest. Returning to Vicksburg, the command was disbanded to meet at Indianapolis, where the individual members were given an honorable dis- charge November 30. 1865. Going in as a private he was promoted to a sergeant of his company. He escaped wounds, but for a time was in the hos- pital at Huntsville, Alabama, on account of an attack of fever. After leaving . the army. he returned to Hancock county and worked as a farm laborer until 1867. He then rented and cultivated various farms for two years. when he bought thirty-two and two-third acres of land in Moral township, which. at the time was unimproved, the buildings consisting of old Ing shacks, but Mr. Alyea soon put up new improvements. From time to time he added to his original small holdings, by purchase, until he now owns two hundred sixty- four and a half acres of fine farming land, all well improved. ditched and fenced, which he devotes to general agriculture and stock raising. His pres- ent home is one of the most commodious in the county, and everything in- dicates a master hand. In fact, Mr. Alyea early developed a natural instinct for farming, soon acquired all the secrets of the business and for years has ranked as one of the progressive and up-to-date agriculturists of "Old Shel- by." Everything is kept in ship-shape. the crops are planted and tended with skill, the stock is well selected, and the yield is always up to the demand. He enjoys the confidence of his neighbors as is shown by the fact that he was elected Township Trustee for a term of four years. surrendering the office January 1. 1909. with praises on all sides for his integrity and business ability in conducting the affairs of the people. As long as the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Palestine was kept up he was a member, serving as adjutant. but for some time past has belonged to the George H. Thomas Post, at In- dianapolis, to which he was transferred by dimit.
In 1867 Mr. Alyea married Miss Hannah, daughter of James H. Smith, of Moral township, and the following children have been born to this union : James A., a resident of Wayne county ; Frances A., wife of John Surpas, of New Palestine : Mary J., wife of Charles A. Morgan of Moral township : Clara. deceased wife of Sankey Bridgewater: Leonard, resident of Indianapolis ; Jasper, at home: Estella, wife of William Swales, of Acton; Hazel died at the age of twelve years.
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WILLIAM H. MOHR.
Among the native born citizens of Shelby county who have shown by their well applied industry and the honorable lives they have led that they are worthy descendants of the sturdy element that reclaimed this fertile sec- tion from the primitive wilderness is William H. Mohr, who was born in Hendricks township, April 15. 1862. the son of Christian and Margaret ( Krantz) Mohr, the former born April 5. 1822. both natives of Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. Christian Mohr came to America in 1847, locating in the state of New York, just north of New York City, on the Delaware river, on which he worked. also worked in the timber there. In 1855 he came to Shelby county, Indiana. and settled in Hendricks township on the James Hill farm. In 1867 he located in Shelby township and secured one hundred and thirteen acres of land. where the subject of this sketch now lives in section 26. Some of the place had been cleared and old log buildings stood on it; much of the land was yet covered with heavy timber. Mr. Mohr began clearing the land and started to make a home. He died here September 19. 1879, and his wife died July 10, 1888. Christian Mohr was always a farmer : starting in life very poor. he worked hard and was successful. He was a Republican, but held no office. He was a member of the German Lutheran church. His family consisted of four children, namely : Helen, wife of Henry Mahley, of Shelby township, a retired farmer: John, a prominent farmer of Shelby township, who married on February 12, 1880. Ella Newcomb, of Hendricks township, a daughter of Joshua and Jane Newcomb, pioneers of Hendricks township. John Mohr and wife are the parents of two daughters, Nora, wife of David Hey, of Shelby township. and Sarah, who is living at home. Mary married first. Conrad Schoelch, and her second husband was George Buescher: they live in Marion township. The fourth child of this family was William H. Mohr, subject of this biography. He was educated in the common schools and always lived at home with his parents, assisting with the work about the place and deeming it a pleasure to minister to the . wants of his aged father and mother. He was married November 13. 1885. to Eliza Yarling, of Jackson township. daughter of Philip Yarling, Sr., and Catherine (Stapp) Yarling. a widow. Philip Yarling married a second time, his last wife being Elizabeth Dicover, a widow. Her father was born in Germany and came to America when thirteen years old, later settling in Jackson township, Shelby county, Indiana, where he carried on farming. having died in Shelbyville. His wife died there also. Mr. Yarling was the father of three children by his first marriage and seven by his second wife, who grew to maturity. These children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam H. Mohr; Claude C., Herman R. and Eva I.
The subject and wife are now the owners of a very fine farm consisting
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of two hundred and seven acres. It is under a high state of cultivation and shows that a man of good judgment and thrift has managed it. He handles considerable stock of excellent quality, among which are Jersey cattle, Poland- China hogs, and a good breed of horses. He carries on a general farming business with rare success, having always devoted his time exclusively to farming. consequently he has mastered its details and ranks with Shelby county's best agriculturists.
Mr. Mohr takes considerable interest in the affairs of his county, and he has served very ably as Trustee of Shelby township from 1895 to 1901. He is a Republican in politics and never loses an opportunity to aid in fur- thering its principles. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, and in his fraternal relations he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 39. Shelbyville. His son, Claude C .. is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 193. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Smithland. Indiana. Members of the Mohir family are held in high esteem wherever they are known, for they are both honest and industrious and pleasant people to know.
JOSEPH WOODS.
Thrown upon his own resources when but five years of age and com- pelled to make his own way, Joseph Woods stuck to the task and now is num- bered among the well-to-do citizens of Shelby county, Indiana. He was born on July 4. 1843. in Johnson county, Indiana. His father died when our subject was an infant and he has no recollection of him. His mother was known in her maidenhood as Annie Smith. They were from Pennsylvania, and in their early life removed to Kentucky, and later to Johnson county, In- diana, where they were pioneers in the settlement of that part of Indiana. . He was a farmer and followed that vocation until his death in 1844. a year after the boy, Joseph, was born. His wife died in June. 1907. after many years of usefulness. There was one other child besides Joseph, a daughter. Susan, who became the wife of James Suitor.
Joseph Woods was handicapped by the early death of his father. and he had but little opportunity to add to his scant learning. Commencing at the age of five years to earn his own living, he soon acquired the knack of taking care of himself. He tramped to Marion county. Indiana, and obtained work. being employed by one man for eleven years, which was a testimonial of his ability as a workman. Later he was employed in Shelby and Johnson coun- ties. In October. 1864. le married Sarah C. Walker, of Clermont. Ken- tucky, a daughter of Adrian and Rebecca ( Seaton) Walker. She was a na- tive of Ohio and he of Kentucky. He went to Shelby county. Indiana, during
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the fifties and settled at Waldron. and later came to Shelby township, where he lived out the remainder of his life. To him and his wife were born ten children, six of whom are living: Martha, residing in Indianapolis: Nancy A., in Colorado: Barbara. in Kansas: David, in Columbus, Kansas: Joseph, in Shelby county : Sarah C .. wife of Joseph Woods.
To Joseph Woods and wife were born seven children as follows: Reu- ben, who married Olive Wells: William married Mary Perkins, and farms in Shelby county ; James married Jennie Wells, and farms in Addison township. Shelby county; John married Bada Anderson, and farms in Shelby township : Daisy married Alfred Main, Shelbyville, Indiana: Marion married George F. Mallory and lives with her father; Wilber married Clara Roberts, and farms with his father.
At the breaking out of the Civil war Joseph Woods offered his ser- vices to his country and was accepted. He enlisted at Fairland, Indiana. on August 12, 1862. in Company F. Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and went into camp at Indianapolis with his command. When hostilities were breaking out in Kentucky he was sent to Louisville and later to Bowling Green. From there the command went on to Nashville and Murfreesboro. and finally back to Nashville, where it went into quarters for the winter. He followed the fortunes of his regiment and participated in all of the important engagements. being wounded in the right arm at the battle of Resaca. Georgia. He was sent to a field hospital at Nashville and after he had re- covered was made head nurse of his ward. Later he was sent to Louisville and to Madison. Indiana, where he was honorably discharged in August. 1865. He went home and later to Shelby county. In 1900 he bought a farm of thirty-three acres, where he now lives. He erected a house and barn aud otherwise improved his holdings. Mr. Woods for a long time was employed by the Big Four Railway Company, at Fairland. Indiana, on the section. IIc is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, at Shelbyville, and the Methodist Episcopal church. He has retired from active labors and is enjoy- ing a well earned rest.
JAMES E. WALKER.
Prominent among the progressive farmers of Addison township and a man who applies the most modern methods to the cultivation of his broad acres, is James E. Walker. He was born March 4. 1852, and his father was William Walker, a native of Addison township. The parents of the latter came to Indiana in 1818, from the East. The father died of cholera in 1815. while on his way to Kansas. William grew to manhood on the farm of his father. and during his boyhood procured what might be termed a smattering
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of education in the one log school that the township contained. On June 5, 1851, he married Miranda Woodard. Her parents were natives of Ken- tucky, and when they came to Shelby county entered land. The father died in 1863 and the mother in 1873. They were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and he was a very public-spirited man. He was a Whig, and later a Republican. The grandfather of the subject had two hundred acres of land in Addison township, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. Their children were as follows: William, father of James E. : Samuel and Benjamin lived and died in Addison township: Elizabeth, widow of James Montgomery, resides in California : Henry, deceased : James, deceased : Oscar, deceased : Isabelle, deceased. was the wife of Oscar Gatewood: Jesse, Justice of the Peace, at Shelbyville: Thomas, resident of Shelbyville : Margaret, wife of Oscar Hand, Shelbyville.
Shortly after their marriage William Walker and family located in Ma- rion township near Pleasant Hill church, where he owned eighty acres of land. Later he moved to Wisconsin and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land there, but after three years returned to Shelby county and located in Addison township. He erected. a number of buildings on his farm, and made a great many other improvements. He was a thrifty. hard-working man. and cn- gaged in farming almost all of his life, although at one time he served in the capacity of a constable. He was a Republican and attended the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his wife were the parents of three children. James Edward, born March 4. 1852, Elizabeth, born April 26. 1854. wife of James Smith. Shelbyville, and Isabelle, who was born October 11. 1857. and died in infancy.
James E. Walker spent one term in the schocl at Morris Hill. On De- cember 21. 1876, he married Frances G. Brown, of Harrison, Ohio. Her parents were John H. and Sarah J. Brown, who were married November 5. 1831, and came to Shelby county from Harrison, Ohio. They were the par- ents of six children. They were James L., Kate, Fannie, Charles, Lucy and Mary.
The father of Mrs. Walker. John Brown, came to Shelby county in 1867, and settled in Union township, where he still lives at the age of eighty years. His wife died in 1904. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Prohibitionist. The children of the subject are Josephine G., wife of William Talbert Kemper. lumber dealer of Indianapolis : Carl J., en- gaged in the telephone business : Charles E. and Ernest, twins at home. John W. and Scott R. are both dead, the former's demise occurring when he was nine years of age in 1894. while the latter passed away at Fort Russell. Wyo- ming, in 1905, when he was about twenty-five years of age. He was a mem- ber of the regular army.
Mr. Walker divides his time between general farming and stock raising.
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He has placed on the market many fine hogs, horses and cattle. He is a Re- publican. but never aspired to office. Mr. Walker is one of the active mem- bers of the Ben Hur Lodge, of Shelbyville, Indiana. He was in the livery business for a period of twenty years.
J. HARLAN CLARKE.
Of the latter day generation of educators and farmers of Shelby county, Indiana, none is better known and has a larger circle of friends than J. Har- lan Clarke, of Shelby township. He was born in Davis county, Iowa, on June 9. 1863, and is a son of Edward Cheshire Clarke, who first saw the light of day on July 16, 1820. in Lebanon, Ohio. The senior Clarke, at the age of four years, went with his parents to Shelby county, Indiana, and lo- cated in Jackson township. He was a son of James Clarke and Frances Cheshire Clarke. He received the rudiments of an education in an old- fashioned log school. whose facilities were, of course, limited. He lived at home up to the time of his first marriage, being united with Barbara Billings- ley. of Washington township. Shelby county, who died soon afterward. There were no children. His second marriage was consummated with Sarah A. Myers, of Washington township. Shelby county, she being a daughter of Alfred Myers, a pioneer settler of that township. He removed to Wa- bash county and died there in 1866. The mother of J. Harlan Clarke had two brothers and one sister, as follows: Thomas, a farmer, of Grant county, Indiana ; James and Nancy A. She married John Miller, of Webster City, Illinois.
J. Harlan Clarke was one of an average family for those days. His brothers and sisters were: Thomas, who died in infancy; George. a farmer. of Benton county, Missouri; William H .. of Shelbyville, Indiana : Alfred, of Kansas : Ida, deceased.
Edward Clarke, the father, removed to Davis county, Iowa, in 1857. and farmed there until 1864, when he removed to Shelby county, Indiana, and located in Washington township, where he passed away in May, 1868. His wife survives him in Benton county, Missouri.
J. Harlan Clarke was educated in the county schools. the State Normal. at Terre Haute, from 1887 to 1889, and four years at Purdue University, at Lafayette, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Science in 1897. Previous to this he taught in Shelby county and was also principal at the West Lafayette, Indiana, high school. for one year and later of the township high school for a similar length of time. Since 1904 he has made his home in Shelby town- ship. where he acquired forty acres of land known as the Lemaster farm, and has carried on general farming.
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On June 29. 1898, he was united in marriage to Iva E. Munger. of Tip- pecanoe county, Indiana. She is a daughter of William H. and Susan ( Down- ing) Munger, he of Dayton, Ohio, and she a native of Tippecanoe county. He was also a school teacher, dying in February. 1874. The widow lives at West Lafayette, Indiana. William Munger and his wife went to Tippe- canoe county in 1858, and were well known among the older residents of the community.
J. Harlan Clarke is the father of one son, Joy Harold, who was born June 12, 1899. Mrs. Iva Clarke is a well educated woman, and was num- bered among the progressive school teachers of Indiana for thirteen years. She was educated at Valparaiso and Purdue University. She is a member of the Christian church and a woman of influence and refinement. J. Harlan Clarke is prominent in lodge circles, and is a member of the Smithland Odd Fellows, and the Shelbyville. Indiana, Rebekahs. In politics he is a Demo- crat, a man of sterling worth and character with a large following of warm friends.
JOHN TONER.
When death laid its blighting hand upon John Toner it removed from the community in which he had so long lived one of its most highly respected and substantial citizens. The deceased was born in Lycoming county. Penn- sylvania. December 28, 1814. being the son of Edward and Susana ( Upde- graff) Toner. both natives of the Keystone state. The Toners are of Irish extraction and the Updegraffs of German descent. In 1815 Edward and Susana Toner came to Indiana and settled on a place located on White river, in Franklin county. They lived there for eighteen years, acquiring in that time a large tract of land. In 1832 they transferred their belongings to Hen- dricks township, Shelby county, buying a farm in section 10. The husband died in 1867, aged eighty-four years, the wife surviving him but one year. John Toner lived with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, at- tending the old subscription schools in his youth. They were built of logs, and had puncheon floors. After completing his education he began active work on the farm, and in 1837 married Nancy J. Parker. They were the parents of eight children. three of whom are now living, as follows: Martha, wife of William Miller, of Morristown, Indiana: Elizabeth, of Decatur county, and Arabella, of Martinsville, Indiana. Mr. Toner's first wife died June 14, 1856. He was married a second time. May 3, 1857, his bride being Jeanette Thayer. daughter of Spencer and Sallie ( Butler ) Thayer. His second wife died February 27. 1893. Four children were the results of this marriage. John S. lives at Shelbyville, and married Carolina Hester : C. L.
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Toner died in 1891 : Harry M. is a physician at Phoenix, Arizona ; Elmer S. is single, living on a farm in Shelby county.
James E. Toner, eldest child of the first marriage of our subject, was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, having served for three years. John Toner, our subject, spent the greater portion of his life in Shelby county. owned two hundred fifteen acres of land in Hendricks township, eighty acres in Sugar Creek township. one hundred sixty acres in Hanover township. and eighty acres in Addison township. His wife owned two hundred forty acres in Addison township, and eighty acres in Shelby township. They owned jointly about one thousand acres of well tilled soil. Mr. Toner was originally a Whig, and when the Republican party was launched he entered its ranks, and was an adherent of its principles up to the time of his death. He never hell nor sought any political office. He was a member of the Chris- tian church.
The old Toner homestead on which Elmer Toner now resides was originally owned by Edward Toner. the grandfather, and cleared of timber by him in the pioneer days. Elmer S. still owns two hundred acres of this land. He was educated in the common schools and attended Butler College. . Harry M. Toner spent considerable time in Bellevue Hospital. New York. and finished his medical education at Little Rock, Arkansas. Elmer S. de- votes his time to farming and stock raising. He has a well equipped library. and is a student and reader.
JAMES E. MCCABE.
When Thomas McCabe came with his parents to Shelby county. In- diana, they settled on the site which was afterwards the public square of the town of Shelbyville. This was in the year 1828 or 1829. James McCabe. the subject of this sketch, was a son of Thomas, and was born in Union town- . ship. Shelby county, on August 28. 1848. His father was born January 29. 1826, and died September 7. 1895. McCabe, senior, married Mary Robert- son, who was born February 19, 1828, and died March 8, 1904. Both were of the virile stock that has made Indiana what it is, and when the parents of Thomas McCabe settled in their cabin built of poles, in the wilds of Shelby county. they made the foundation for a lasting home. They became the parents of six children: John, who died in his home county: Frances, who married James Sullivan : Elizabeth, deceased : Charles, living in Shelby cour- ty, Illinois: Thomas E., father of James, and Nancy, widow of Hamilton Morris, of Shelbyville.
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James McCabe's grandfather. Robertson, came early from Kentucky to Shelby county, and settled on section 2. Addison township, where he obtained government land. He acquired over three hundred acres which he improved and farmed. passing away on the old farm. He was the father of seven chil- dren : Samuel, Thomas, John A .. Malvina, Susan, Mary, Parmelia, all de- ceased.
Thomas McCabe had slight advantages for an education. He lived for several years with an uncle in Union township. After his marriage to. Mary Robertson, he lived in Union township until 1849. and obtained eighty acres of land. He erected a log cabin and cleared his land, gradually acquiring more until he had two hundred acres in section 3. This land was swampy and undrained, and very rough, and it took long. hard work to clear it. In his later years he lived in Shelbyville, where he died in 1896. His wife sur- vived him several years, dying March 8, 1904. Thomas was a Republican in politics but held no office. He was a member of the Baptist church. and was identified as one of its chief workers. He was the father of thirteen children : James E., the subject of this sketch : Nancy M .. deceased : John W .. deceased ; William, living at Shelbyville; Joseph, a carpenter living in California : Samuel in the lumber business in Los Angeles: Thomas and Charles. twins. The former is postmaster at Reading. California, while Charles lives in Ad- dison township. Shelby county. Sarah J., who married Ira Wilders. of Shel- byville: Susan, deceased : Celia, single, who lives in Shelbyville: David. who lives in Boone county. Indiana : Henry, County Commissioner in Los An- geles. California.
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