USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 16
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Charity Cregar, wife of Oren Jenkins, was born near Springdale, Ohio, and departed this life on the family homestead in Shelby county in 1887. at the age of seventy-four years. She, too, was a devoted member of the Christian church and a woman of many sterling virtues whose influence made for the good ci all with whom she mingled. She bore her husband five chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity, their names being as follows: Eliza. Anna B., Minerva, Oren and Martin L., of this review, the last named, and Anna B., of Nebraska, being the only survivors of the family at this time.
Martin Luther Jenkins was born April 27. 1843. in Franklin county, Indiana, and spent his early life at the place of his birth, receiving a good education in the public schools. When a lad ten years of age, he accompanied his parents to Ohio, and after living in the counties of Butler and Preble, that state, until 1866, removed to Shelby county, Indiana, since which time he has been closely identified with the agricultural and general interests of Hendricks township for the last forty-three years. Mr. Jenkins taught school for eleven years, but his life has been principally that of a tiller of the soil. His farm, containing one hundred and twelve acres, is admirably situated in one of the finest agricultural districts of Hendricks township. is well im- proved and under a high state of cultivation and compares favorably with any other place of like area in the county, the buildings being modern and in good repair, and everything on the premises bespeaking the presence of an intelligent and up-to-date agriculturist, who believes in the dignity of his vocation and keeps in close touch with the times in all matters relating thereto.
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Mr. Jenkins is a Republican and an ardent supporter of his party, but has never been a politician, much less an office-seeker. He was a devoted friend of the Union during the Civil war. using his influence in maintaining a loyal sentiment in the community.
Mr. Jenkins has been twice married, the first time in 1867. to Mary E. Piatt. daughter of Benjamin and Anna ( Carter) Piatt, of Bartholomew county, who died in 1880, leaving besides her husband, six children to mourn their loss, namely : Augusta, who is single and resides in Salt Lake City, Utah : Samuel, who married Ida Alexander. now lives in Johnson county, Indiana. being the father of two children. John and Fay: Ollie, the third in order of birth. is the wife of Lewis Rinehart, of Shelbyville, and the mother of one son by the name of Russell : William B .. the next in succession, is a farmer of Shelby county, and the head of a family consisting of a wife and one child by the name of Lucile. the former before her marriage having been Salina McMahan. Della, the fifth of the subject's children, died in 1895. the young- est being Fred P .. who married Lillie M. Seely, and who recently moved to Canada, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Jenkins' second marriage was solemnized in 1892, with Mrs. Mary A. Shafer, nec McGinnis, a native of Shelby county. She is highly esteemed in the community where she resides. Like her husband she is a sincere men- ber of the Christian church.
HENRY L. ROSS.
Among the well known residents of Shelby county who have finished life's journey and gone to their reward, the name of the late Henry L. Ross. of Hendricks township. is worthy of especial notice. An honorable man in all of his relations and dealings, an enterprising citizen who ever manifested an active interest for the public good. he did well his part and left to his de- scendants the memory of an honored name. Mr. Ross was a native of Butler county, Ohio, born November 20. 1830. His parents, James and Phoebe (Tucker) Ross, moved from New Jersey to Ohio in an early day and were among the pioneer settlers of Butler county, where they continued to reside until their removal in 1848 to Shelby county. Indiana. Locating in Hendricks township. Mr. Ross purchased land. cleared and improved a fine farm on which he and his good wife spent the remainder of their days, and which for a number of years was the home of their four children. whose names are as follows: Maria, widow of Richard Norris: Henry L., whose name intro- duces this sketch : Denton and Charlotte, deceased.
Henry L. Ross was a boy when the family removed to Shelby county.
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and, like the majority of country lads, spent his youth and early manhood amid the duties of farm life. In the meantime he attended such schools as the county afforded until acquiring a fair education. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age, when he severed home ties and engaged in agricultural pursuits upon his own responsibility. In De- cember, 1859. he contracted a marriage with Louisiana Salla, who was born in Rush county, Indiana, in the year 1841. her parents, Lewis and Julia Ann (Gordon) Salla. being early residents of that part of the state and among the most estimable people of the community in which they lived. Lewis Salla, a native of Rhode Island, came to Indiana in 1819, and settled in Franklin county, removing later to Rush county, where, in connection with farming, he taught school for a number of years, having been a man of much more than ordinary intelligence and culture. In 1852 lie disposed of his in- terests in Rush county, and purchased two hundred acres of land in Shelby county, which he improved and converted into one of the finest farms in Hen- dricks township, and on which he made his home until called from earthly scenes in the year 1879. He was a man of reputable standing in the com- munity, publie-spirited in all the term implies, and during the latter part of his life was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. his original religious views. however, having been in harmony with the teaching of the Church of the Disciples, of which he was for some years a devoted member.
Julia Ann Gordon, wife of Lewis Salla, was born in Kentucky, and when a child was taken by her parents to Franklin county. Indiana, the country at that time abounding in wild animals, while Indians still roamed the forests and caused the pioneers no little trouble and annoyance. She grew to woman- hood and married in Franklin county, became the mother of a large number of children, and was a woman of high character and blameless life, a sincere Christian and for many years an influential member of the Methodist Epis- copal church : she died in the year 1875. Of the fifteen children born to Lewis and Julia Ann Salla, thirteen grew to maturity, the surviving members of the family at this time being Huldah: Mrs. Louisiana Ross: Sophia and Julia. The following are the names of those deceased: William, Clinton. Anna E., Eliza, Melvin, Milton. Alfred F., Salina, Catherine, Lewis and Alcina.
The marriage of Henry L. and Louisiana Ross was blessed with five children, the oldest of whom, a son by the name of James, lives in Edinburg. Indiana; he married Isephena Chesser and has a family of three children. viz : Hazel MI., Clarence and Ruth. Nora. the second in order of birth, is the widow of Abraham Deupree, and the mother of two children, Louie and Carl ; Mrs. Deupree is a trained nurse, and for some years has made her home in Shelbyville. Harry, the third of the family, died when a young man, the next in succession being Ida May, the wife of Dr. William Smith, of Bartholomew
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county. Indiana, who has had two children, Edward and Evelyn, the former deceased. Carl, the youngest of the number, lives in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a married man, and the father of one daughter by the name of Irene, his wife having formerly been Blanche Snyder.
Mr. Ross was a life-long Democrat, and a zealous worker for the success of his party, and as a reward for his services he was honored with official po- sitions from time to time. having been twice elected Trustee of Hendricks township, proving a capable and popular public servant. When a young man ho joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and continued a faithful men- ber of the organization to the end of his days, exemplifying its principles and precepts in his relations with his fellow men.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross moved to the farm in Hendricks township, on which the latter still lives. in 1861, from which time until the husband's lamented death they labored to improve the place and rear their family. passing through many trials and struggles the meanwhile. but finally becoming pros- perous and comfortable. With the interests of each other at heart their mu- tual efforts resulted in a large measure of success and for many years their home was known far and wide as an abode of generous hospitality. After an active and useful life, fraught with much good Mr. Ross was called to his final reward, dying January 23. 1890. Since his death Mrs. Ross has man- aged the farm very judiciously and successfully and she is greatly esteemed by her neighbors and friends, being a sincere Christian and devoted member of the Baptist church of Shelbyville : she shows her faith by her works.
ANDREW ZIEGLER.
Among the foreign-born citizens of Shelby county who have achieved success in their chosen calling and gained the esteem and confidence of those with whom they mingle, the name of Andrew Ziegler. of Hendricks town- ship, stands out distinct and is entitled to more than passing notice in this con- nection. As the name indicates. Mr. Ziegler is of German birth and belongs to the large and eminently respectable element of that nationality in our body · politic whose influence has tended so greatly to the material development of the county and inspired such a profound regard for its laws and institutions. He was born February 20, 1860. in Wurtemberg. Germany, and when two years of age, was brought to the United States by his parents, Joseph and Mary (Mack) Ziegler, who came directly to Shelby county, Indiana. where for some time thereafter the father earned a livelihood for his family as a farm hand.
After working by the day until 1865. Joseph Ziegler rented land in Hen-
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dricks township and this way devoted his attention to agriculture for several years, meeting with gratifying success and earning the reputation of an enter- prising and worthy citizen. He was a man of sterling integrity and great industry, provided well for those dependent upon him and among his neigi- bors and friends was always held in great esteem. He was an honored resi- dent of Shelby county from the time of his arrival, in 1862, until his death in 1905, a period of forty-one years, during all of which time his character was above reproach and his influence on the side of right as he saw and understood the right. Mrs. Ziegler, who was a woman of reputable standing in the community, energetic.and devoted to her family, survived her husband about three years, departing this life in 1908. This estimable couple were life-long Catholics and greatly attached to the Holy Mother church. Origin- ally Mr. Ziegler was a Democrat, but becoming dissatisfied with the policy of the party on certain important questions, he subsequently transferred his al- legiance to the Republican party. to the principles of which he continued loyal to the day of his death. Joseph and Mary Ziegler were the parents of six children : Andrew of this review : Rosa, who married William Higgins and lives in Shelbyville: Matilda, wife of Nicholas Rembush: William, a farmer of Hendricks township: Mary. now Mrs. William Thrasher, and Margaret, who is the wife of Melvin Collins.
As stated in a preceding paragraph, Andrew Ziegler was but two years of age when his parents came to the United States, since which time he has lived in Shelby county and has been closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the township of which he is now an enterprising farmer and honored citizen. He enjoyed the advantages of a common school education, spent his youth amid the duties and responsibilities of rural life and until his twenty-fourth year remained with his parents, looking after their interests and ministering to their comforts, when he selected a true help-meet in the person of Retta Lewis, a popular young lady of Hendricks township, who was born in Atlanta, Georgia, of which state her parents, Henry and Emmel- ine Lewis, were also natives. Owing to circumstances impossible to control, Mr. Lewis at the breaking out of the Civil war, was induced to enter the Con- federate army, though strongly Union in his sympathies, but after. serving for some time against his inclinations, he finally deserted. and with his family came north, locating in Shelby county, where he earned a livelihood for a few years as a farm hand, later taking charge of a toll-gate on a turnpike, in which capacity he spent the remainder of his life, dying in December, 1886, his wife in April, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were active members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. and much esteemed by their neighbors and friends. They became the parents of the following children: Julia, wife of William Curr : Laura, now Mrs. Joseph Cooper: Nancy, who married James Bennett : William; Mrs. Andrew Ziegler and George Lewis, all living except William, who died in Kentucky, while the family was moving north.
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Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler enjoy to a marked degree the confidence and es- teem of all who come within their sphere of influence. Their attractive farm on Marietta Turnpike, about seven miles from Shelbyville, is in a high state of cultivation, and otherwise well improved. being among the most beauti- ful and desirable places of residence in Hendricks township, though not as large as some of the farms in the vicinity. Mr. Ziegler was reared a Cath- olic, and has always remained loyal to the teaching's and traditions of that church. His wife is a Baptist in her religious faith, and a faithful member of the church in Smithland. Their family consists of three children : Charles, Albert and Mary, all living and with their parents, and constituting a mutual- ly happy and contented household.
GEORGE MICHAEL KUHN.
Among those who came over from Germany during the great tide of im- migration that flowed in previous to the Civil war, was Andrew Kuhn, a young man full of ambition to test the fortunes in the New World. After a tedious voyage of forty days from the German port to New Orleans, the boat was taken up the river to Cincinnati, at which place the new comer ar- rived during the summer of 1848. He brought with him his wife, formerly Anna Mary Theobald, and a sprightly young son named George M., who was then about three years old. Andrew's intention was to buy land in In- diana, and with this in view he walked from the Ohio city to Shelby county, found a wild tract in Union township, and closed the bargain by paying one thousand two hundred dollars in silver. He had had no experience as a farmer, and hardly knew an axe when he saw it: he felt awkward when con- fronted with the task of clearing and modernizing a rough acreage of un- improved timber. But he soon "caught on." and by application of German industry, German sense and German thrift, he made a success of his venture as an agriculturist in the western wilderness. He was religiously inclined and took much interest in such matters, helping to establish the new German Lutheran church in Union township. He achieved success in his business ventures and being well educated, of a social turn and a good mixer, he be- came quite popular in the community. His wife being also a member of one of the pioneer German families, there was eventually formed a considerable colony of these people whose national traits and racial characteristics gave a distinct coloring to the population immediately around them.
George Michael Kuhn was born in Germany, January 16. 1838. being old enough to take notice during the memorable voyage across the Atlantic. After reaching Indiana he soon became Americanized by contact with the other
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boys in the public schools, and by being thrown in connection with children of the well-to-do families. The children of German immigrants scon ac- quire our language, mix easily with the people and absorb their customs. When in turn he became a farmer. it was with a full understanding of the duties and responsibilities of that calling. He som acquired a reputation as painstaking, methodical and conservatively progressive. understanding how to get the work done and dispose of his products to the best advantage. In short he achieved success and became known as one of Shelby county's solid farmers. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has always been patriotic in his views. On the 24th of December. 1865. Mr. Kuhn was mar- ried to Mary Catherine, daughter of John Michael and Mary Catherine (Baker) Haug. She was born in Union township. Shelby county. August 3. 1833, her parents being Germans who emigrated in youth, married and settled in Union township, Shelby county, and had two children. Mrs. Kuhn and Mrs. John Gayheimer. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn became the parents of seven children: Mary, wife of Jacob Kuhn. Jr., of Union township; Sarah, widow of Michael Birt, of Union township: Edward. now deceased, married Margaret Midkiff: Charles, deceased. married Nancy Shortley; Katherine died when sixteen years old: Emma. deceased: Richard, now dead, married May Linville. The family are members of the German Evangelical church. and enjoy high regard among their neighbors for possession of staple vir- tues which make their life worth the living.
JOHN JEFFERSON HOLBROOK.
Neighbors were few and far between, roads an unknown convenience, and security of life not a certainty when William Holbrook and wife, grand- parents of the subject of this sketch, left their home in North Carolina, and came to Indiana. One of their sons. John, father of John Jefferson, was eleven years old upon their removal to Indiana. He became a farmer and devoted his days to that calling, living in Union township. Shelby county, the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Baptist church of Union township, and was an active worker. He did much to promote the usefulness of the church and exerted a wholesome influence upon the life in the com- munity. He died April 3. 1900. He was married to Mary Ann Brown ( Hurst), and the following children were born to them: Barbara, who mar- ried Sampson Meiks: Robert. William E., John Jefferson, Mary Jane and James, both deceased : George W. and Levi.
John had no chance for education, but he received first hand discipline in the daily duties on the farm, and this fitted him for the arduous labors
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that confronted him as a man. He remained at the parental homestead dur- ing the life of his parents and managed the affairs of the home.
In 1895 Mr. Holbrook married Eva May ( Jerold) Smith, who was born in Liberty township, this county. February 24. 1862. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. AAndrew Jerold. She had two children by her first husband, James W. Smith, viz: Jessie L .. born January 25, 1885. and Ernest A., born March 22, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Holbrock are the parents of two children-Carrie Dennis, born January 23, 1896, and Albert A., born No- vember 29. 1899.
Mr. Holbrook has a well-ordered farm and a comfortable home. well supplied with the conveniences of modern farm life. The farm has been his home since the time of his birth, and he takes great delight in giving the work of the place his personal attention. He is a progressive farmer and de- votes his attention to some extent to live stock. His methods of stock raising and agriculture are in keeping with the progressive spirit of the times, and his prosperity is a monument to his thrift and ably directed efforts. He has never sought public office, but takes a keen interest in the general affairs of the day, and keeps fully abreast of the affairs of world-wide importance, and also of the minor affairs that go to make up the varied and often com- plicated problems of local community life. He is a member of the Christian Union church, of Ray's Crossing.
JAMES TALLY CRIM.
The name that heads this sketch has long been a familiar one in Shelby county on account of the fact that the founders were among the pioneer set- tlers of this section, and the descendants have made this their home continui- ously from the early days of the county's history. James Tally Crim was born in Union township. this county, June 7. 1840. He is the son of Lewis and Charity ( Linville ) Crim, both of whom were natives of Guilford county. North Carolina.
Lewis Crim was born October 19. 1797, his forefathers having come from England. as did also those of Charity Linville. The Linvilles came over to America on a sailing vessel. The great-grandmother died while crossing the ocean and her body was consigned to the deep. The family was at one time owners of slaves, but this practice was abandoned before their emigration to Indiana. Lewis Crim and Charity Linville, who was born June 1, 1797, were married in North Carolina and became the parents of three children-Nancy, David and George, all now deceased : they were born in North Carolina. This family removed to Shelby county, Indiana. in about
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1830, driving through in seven weeks. Here Mr. Crim soon bought school land, cleared it and put it under cultivation.
The county was still in a very primitive state, Indians being quite nu- merous, and the usnal conditions of pioneer life were their lot. Six children were born to them after their arrival here: Mary married Thomas Golden, both now deceased, as are also Lewis, John, Jacob and Dorothy, James being the only survivor.
Mr. Crim devoted himself to farming and continued at that work until his death February 14, 1859. He was a pronounced Democrat and took an active part in polities. He was a hard-working, successful and well known man, and was esteemed by all who knew him. He was a member of the First Blue Ridge Baptist church. and later of the Christian church at Manilla.
James Tally Crim was favored with but meager opportunities for educa- tion, having attended for only two terms a subscription school in the neigh- borhood. When twenty years old he started out for himself, and in 1870 was married to Katherine Stewart. daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Archi- bald) Stewart, both natives of Pennsylvania. Katherine was born in Rush county, Indiana, on April 26, 1842, and after the family came to Indiana they made their home in Rush county, this state, until a short time before their deaths.
Mr. and Mrs. Crim have become the parents of four children, as follows : . Ida was born January 5. 1873. and died September 20th. of the same year. Edgar E. was born June 23. 1874; he married Myrtle Talbert, and has his home at Shelbyville. Ernest R. was born on Christmas day, 1878: Sarenas was born December 21, 1883, and married Ethel Sanderfer: they are the par- ents of one child, Floyd.
Mr. Crim is quiet and unassuming, and has gained the confidence and esteem of his neighbors, who have chosen him frequently to fill the place of Supervisor of the township. His home and farm bear evidence of energy and thrift, and are his pride, as representing the fruits of hard work.
JOHN E. JONES.
The gentleman of whom the biographer writes in this connection enjoys distinctive prestige among the public-spirited men of his native county, and the honor accorded him as an enterprising citizen entitles him to representa- tion in a work of the character of this volume. John E. Jones is a native of Hanover township, Shelby county, Indiana, and the son of Samuel and Mary J. Jones, the former born in Butler county, Ohio, the latter in Fayette county, Indiana, the paternal branch of the family being Dutch and the maternal of
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Irish descent. Samuel Jones was brought to Indiana when a boy, and grew to maturity in Rush county, where he learned the cooper's trade. In 1852 he changed his residence to Shelby county and settled in Hanover township. where he purchased land, cleared a farm and engaged in the pursuit of agri- culture in addition to which he attained considerable local prominence as a politician and a creditable standing as a law-abiding citizen with the best in- terests of the community at heart. An earnest and devoted member of the Methodist Protestant church, he exercised a wholesome moral influence among those with whom he associated, and his death, which occurred in February. 1903, was deeply lamented by all who knew him. Mrs. Jones, whose maiden name was Mary J. McConnell, was a woman of high character and excellent repute, and those who knew her best were profuse in their praise of her many virtues. She preceded her husband to the grave, dying March 16, 1875, and left to mourn their loss two children and a large circle of neighbors and friends, to whom they were greatly attached. The younger of the two children is the gentleman whose name furnishes the caption of this article; the oldler was a daughter by the name of Sarah E., who married Theophilus Hargrove, and departed this life at her home in Hanover township a few years ago.
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