USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 32
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 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
After the marriage of James W. Means he and his brother purchased seventy-three acres of land where James now lives. He later bought his brother's interest and added to the original purchase until his farm now con- sists of two hundred eighty-seven acres of fine land. There are one hundred twenty-seven acres in his home farm, and one hundred sixty acres in the okl homestead farm. Ile has made many improvements and brought his farm up to a high degree of cultivation. He built an elegant farm home and is said to have one of the best farms in the county. He carries on a general line of agriculture and stock raising.
James W. Means is a member in good standing of the Brookfield Baptist church, a Democrat in political faith and a citizen who loves his community and is respected and esteemed by the people who know him, as a result of a very industrious life, which has been highly successful and honorable.
WILLIAM J. LOWE.
The subject of this sketch belongs to an old and well known family, and traces his genealogy to an early period in the history of Maryland, where his paternal ancestors appear to have settled in the time of the colonies. Ilis great- grandfather, who was a native of that state, migrated to Kentucky when the country was new, and there married and reared a family, among his children being a son by the name of Jonathan Lowe, who moved to Indiana in 1824. and settled in Orange county, later removing to the county of Decatur.
Jonathan II. Lowe, son of the above Jonathan, was born in Decatur county, May 30, 1830, and when a young man married Charity James, whose birth occurred in the same county on the roth day of October, 1839. They live, at this time, in Johnson county, and are the parents of children as fol- lows: William J., of this review : W. S., H. V .. Alpheus C., Thomas A .. Mrs. Anna Hinkel, Lizzie, John A., Bertha, and Pearl C., three of whom, Lizzie, Bertha and John A., are deceased.
49
770
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
William J. Lowe, whose birth occurred on the 30th day of September. 1858, in Decatur county, was reared to farm labor, received his education in the public schools. and remained with his parents until about twenty years of age, when he severed home ties to make his own way in the world. Three years later he returned to his native county, where, on February 11, 1879. he was united in marriage with Florence English, daughter of William .1. and Margaret (Johnson) English, following which he set up his domestic establishment on a farm, and from that time to the present has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Lowe has met with gratifying success as a tiller of the soil, and is now the possessor of a handsome competency, owning a fertile and well im- proved farm in section 31. Washington township, Shelby county, to which he moved in December, 1907, and which, under his effective labors and excellent management, has been brought to a high state of cultivation. This home, which is one of the most beautiful and attractive in the community, is ad- mirably situated, and in its improvement neither pains nor expense have been spared, the buildings being modern and in excellent condition, and everything on the premises bearing witness to the good taste and progressive spirit of the proprietor. Mr. Lowe has always taken an active interest in public mat- ters, and for a number of years has enjoyed worthy prestige among the leaders of the Democratic party in Shelby county, being a judicious adviser in its councils and an influential worker for its success, during the progress of campaigns. In recognition of valuable political services, as well as by reason of his fitness for the position. he was nominated, in March. 1892. for Rep- resentative to the General Assembly, and at the ensuing election defeated his opponent by a handsome majority. Mr. Lowe's legislative experience was creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituency, as he labored zeal- ously during his term to advance the interests of his county and state, proving a valuable member of the various committees on which he served, and an in- fluential participant in the general deliberations of the chamber. Since retir- ing from the Legislature, he has held no office nor aspired to publie position.
Mr. Lowe is a Methodist in his religious belief, and for a number of years has been active in church work, especially in the Sunday school, where he has rendered efficient service as a teacher and official. Since 1902 he has been the able and enterprising superintendent of the Sunday school, under the auspices of the church at Norristown, during which time he has labored earn- estly in various ways to increase its membership and promote its interests. the organization at this time being the largest and most enthusiastic of the kind in the town, its continuous growth in numbers and advancement in the knowl- edge of the Scriptures and religions truths. generally being largely the result of his care and management.
He holds membership with the Sulphur Hill Lodge, No. 241, Knights
771
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs, besides representing the or- ganization in the Grand Lodge of the state, and filling worthily various other high official stations.
Mrs. Lowe was born in Decatur county, Indiana, May 4. 1856. received her preliminary education in the public schools, and later pursued her studies for some years in the graded schools of Greensburg. She has presented her husband with four children, the oldest of whom. Ruby, was bern May 18, 1881, and is still a member of the home circle. R. M., whose birth occurred March 11. 1884, was graduated from the common schools, and subsequently married Maude Shrugar, and is now a farmer, of Noble township. Jessie, the next in succession, was born September 20, 1886, after whom is Grace, the youngest of the family, who was born November 23. 1888, and who is now the wife of Dillard M. Parrish, of Washington township.
MARION HECK.
All but the first six years of his life Marion Heck has spent in Shelby county, hence his acquaintance in this section is very extensive. He is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, having been born there December 25. 1846. and is the son of Margaret and John Ileck. The father of Mr. Heck was born in Pennsylvania, and moved to Ohio when a young man. While residing in Ohio he met Margaret Mahew, and their acquaintance ripened into love. which culminated in marriage. They came to Shelby county in 1852. and settled in Washington township. They were the parents of six boys and an equal number of girls. The husband died at the age of sixty-five, while the wife lived until she was in the seventy-fourth year of her age. Of the twelve children, three are living: Malinda, Jasper N., and Marion. The former is the wife of Henry Becker, a resident of Shelby county, as is also Jasper, whose place of abode is at Waldron.
As heretofore stated Marion was but six years of age when his parents came to Shelby county, and after taking a course in the district schools, helped his father on the farm. He remained at home with his parents until he had attained his twentieth year, when he was wedded to Nancy J. Hawkins, This marriage occurred June 1. 1866 One daughter was born as a result of this union, by the name of Anna. Three years after the death of his first wife. February 10. 1870, Mr. Heck married again, his bride being Samantha Ross. who was born June 10, 1852, and died January 25. 1889. The subject even- tually contracted a third marriage. his last wife being Emma ( Davis ) Miller. She was born June 31, 1858. the daughter of Benjamin and Mary ( Monjar) Davis, her birthplace being Clark county. She was the widow of James Mil-
772
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
ler, having married him in 1875. He was born May 10, 1848. To them were born four children : E. C .. born December 21, 1878: he spent one year in an Ontario veterinary school: Walter F., born October 17, 1881, died May 31. 1896: Elihn F., born September 16, 1885. is a graduate of the high school. and was a student in the State Normal School; he has taught school three years : James M. died when an infant.
Mr. Heck is very highly regarded in Shelby county, being the possessor of many sterling qualities. Although he had none of the opportunities when young that are within reach of the youth of today, he was blessed with plenty of that commodity known as common sense, and carved his own way in the world with little or no assistance. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of very desirable farm land, and has been quite successful in gathering bounteous crops. His wife is a most estimable woman of a decidedly social disposition and many admirable traits of character. Naturally, she is very popular throughout the community. She and her husband jointly own the farm upon which they reside. Mrs. Heck is an active member of the Eastern Star. Rebekahs and Pocahontas lodges. Mr. Heck belongs to Farmers' Lodge. No. 147. Free and Accepted Masons. By his second marriage he. has one son, Clarence Heck, a blacksmith.
THOMAS BONE, JR.
Among the worthy and influential families of Washington township. none rank higher in the estimation of the people of this community than the represented by the subject of this sketch, who is the son of Thomas and Sarah Bone, who are at the present writing residents of Shelbyville. Indiana. Thomas Bone, Jr .. is the second child by a second marriage of Thomas Bone. Sr. He was born in Washington township. Shelby county. Indiana, on the 9th day of September. 1876, and. being a boy full of energy and grit. he not only did much in assisting to build up a comfortable home for his parents, but he made a very commendable record in the local school, outstripping many less am- bitious students. He obtained a good education, graduating from the common schools, but, being ambitious to secure a higher mental training, he entered the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, in 1895. and graduated in the business course of that institution, ranking high in his class. Having a liking for agricultural pursuits he returned to the farm after finishing his edu- cation. consequently he took up farming in his native township, where he has since remained and has become one of the leading agriculturists of the same. He looks well to his calling, always keeping abreast of the times, studying the conditions of the soil, rotation of crops, thereby getting the best results possi- ble from his farm, which is highly improved and up-to-date in every respect.
773
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Hle takes much interest in stock raising and keeps a high grade of horses. hogs and cattle. He takes an active part in the work of the farmers' institute. manifesting great interest in the same and often his suggestions are of much practical benefit to the other members.
On the 5th day of March. 1898. Mr. Bone was married to Flora Trimble. the accomplished daughter of Nathan and Mary ( Scott ) Trimble. Enoch Trimble, the grandfather of Mrs. Bone, was a pioneer of Washington town- ship, having entered land where our subject now lives, on the north bank of Flat Rock river, and here he cleared away the heavy timber, converting the wild woodlands into a fine farm. Mrs. Thomas Bone, Jr., was a native of Washington township, where she was born October 20. 1876; she, too. grew to womanhood on the farm and when she had arrived at the proper age she attended the district school, completing the common school branches, gradu- ating from her class when very young. To this union one daughter, bearing the pretty name, Mary Lucile, was born August 20, 1906.
Mr. Bone affiliates with and belongs to the following fraternal orders : Patrons of Husbandry, in which he has passed the chairs : Lewis Creek Lodge. No. 818, Independent Order of Odd Fellows: Sulphur Ilill Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen, No. 1602, in which he carries insitr- ance. In politics he has always voted the Prohibitionist ticket. Mr. and Mrs. Bone are young people to whom the future holds much of promise, being of a disposition to earn a competence, and strengthen their hold on the affections of the community for honesty, kindliness of disposition, being well known throughout the county where they have spent their lives. worthy descendants of fine old families.
WILLIAM MONROE.
A descendant of sturdy men and women who helped to blaze the way in Indiana for coming generations, and a native son of the state is William Monroe, of Washington township. Shelby county. His birth occurred in Noble township, October 24. 1836, being the son of John and Amelia ( Sly) Monroe. His father was born in Ohio county, West Virginia, in 1803, and when he was but six years of age his parents removed to Clermont county. Ohio.
The grandfather of Mr. Monroe was also named John, and from Cler- mont county he finally moved his family to Darke county, Ohio, where he re- mained for several years. Ilis next move was to Rush county, Indiana, and he arrived there on the day that Polk was elected President of the United States. Later he moved to Shelby county and bought a small piece of land and entered vigorously upon agricultural pursuits, leading the life of an active farmer for almost the rest of his life.
774
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
John Monroe, father of the subject, came to Shelby county in 1832, and. like his father, engaged in the cultivation of the soil up to the time of his death. He was the father of thirteen children, nine boys and four girls, eight of whom are now living. William Monroe was the sixth of the family, and he remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age. After he entered upon manhood he rented a farm and was united in marriage to Martha Jones. Six children were born of this marriage, two of them dying in infancy. Alfred is married and a farmer in Noble township: Bertha is the wife of Frank Gillespie, of Illinois. The first wife of Mr. Monroe died in 1889. Ile again married on April 25. 1895. the bride being Dora V. Riggs. widow of Joseph Riggs. There were two children born to Mrs. Monroe by her first marriage as follows: Clara, wife of H. Neuber, of Kentucky, and Lulu, whose husband's name is Yelton.
Mrs. Monroe was born in Covington, Kentucky, July 2. 1850, and was reared on a farm. It was when she was about seventeen years old that she came to Shelby county. She remained there about two years, afterwards taking up her residence in Boone county. At the end of seven years she came back to Shelby county, having lost by death her first husband. Mr. Monroe and his wife are both members of church, but belong to different congrega- tions, he being a Methodist and she a Baptist.
Mr. Monroe is a believer in the doctrines of the Prohibition party, al- though he was until a few years ago a Republican. He does not take an active part in politics, however. He is regarded as one of the substantial farmers of this community, being the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in section 4. Washington township. In the pursuit of agriculture Mr. Monroe uses the most modern methods.
EDWARD WERTZ, M. D.
Few men display more enthusiasm and painstaking effort in the pursuit of their chosen profession than Dr. Edward Wertz, of Flat Rock. Washington township, Shelby county, and therefore his reputation as a healer of the dis- . eases to which humanity is subject is widespread in the section in which he resides.
Doctor Wertz was born in Shelby county, near Mt. Auburn. July 19. 1876. the son of Daniel and Martha (Scott) Wertz. Both his mother and father were natives of Shelby county, the latter having been born in 1851. They lived upon the farm which they had entered in the pioneer days. The father of Mr. Wertz died in 1884, and his wife survives him. He is buried in St. George's cemetery, Jackson township.
775
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Doctor Wertz is the oldest of three children. He was educated in the Mlt. Auburn public schools, and afterwards attended the State Normal at Terre Haute, remaining in that institution for two years. At the age of twenty he entered the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, and graduated in the spring of 1900. He began the practice of medicine at once. locating at Nineveh. Johnson county, Indiana, where he built up an extensive patronage. both in the town and country, being kept busy day and night a greater portion of the time, paying professional visits in all sorts of dis- agreeable weather. Frequently he drove across Brown county on "pitch dark" and rainy nights, in order to reach the bedside of a patient whose condition demanded immediate medical attention. He left Johnson county in 1902. locating at Shelbyville, and remained there until May, 1903, going through a smallpox siege during that interval. He bought the office and practice of Doctor Connelly at Flat Rock, Indiana. April 20, 1903, and moved to that place less than a month later, where he still remains. He follows the medical profession only as a general practitioner, and has a practice that is constantly growing.
On July 22, 1897, he was married to Lulu Ford, daughter of Dr. W. M. and Catherine ( Emerick) Ford. She was born in Shelby county. December 1. 1878. Her father is a native of Kentucky, and her mother of Indiana. Both of Mr. Wertz's parents are still living, their home being at Mt. Auburn. They are the parents of eight children. Mrs. Wertz being the ellest. Dr. Wertz and wife have two children. Walter Daniel, aged ten years, and Pani Arthur, aged six. The Doctor is a member of the Masons of Shelbyville. Indiana, the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Flat Rock, the Independent Order . f Odd Fellows and the Maccabees, at Shelbyville. Politically he places his faith in the Democratic party, and is an active worker in the ranks during cam- paigns. He does not aspire to political emoluments, however, and would never accept a county or township office. Neither he nor his wife are members of any religious denomination, although they usually attend services at the Methodist church.
JASPER NEWTON HECK.
One of the progressive agriculturists of Shelby county is Jasper Newton Heck, who was born in Montgomery county. Ohio, January 10, 1843. the son of John and Margaret (Mayhugh ) Heck. John Heck was born in Virginia and reared in Pennsylvania, and came to Shelby county. Indiana, in the fall of 1854. from Montgomery county. Ohio, locating five miles southwest of Shelbyville, where he bought a farm and where he died about three years afterwards, aged sixty-three years. Prior to his coming to Indiana he lived
776
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHIELDY CO., IND.
in Ohio for about forty years. He was married in the Buckeye state and all of his children. twelve in number, an equal number of Toys and girls, were born in that state. He was a successful farmer, a Democrat and a member of the Methodist church. The names of the children in his family were as fol- lows: William died when eighty-one years old: Mary is deceased: Nancy is also deceased: Malinda lives in Shelby county, as did also Catherine prior to her death : George. John. Jacob. Lucinda and Naomi, are all deceased; Jasper N., of this review : F. Marion lives in Norristown, Indiana.
Margaret Mayhugh, the maiden name of the mother of these children. was born in Maryland.
Jasper N. Heck was cleven years old when he came to Shelby county. Indiana, with his parents, having received some early education in Ohio, which he continued in Shelby county, obtaining a good text-book training for his day. On February 28. 1864. he was married to Lavina E. Mitchell, daughter of Fielding and Mary ( Alley) Mitchell. She was born November 29. 1847, in Shelby county. Her father, a North Carolinian by birth, was one of the early settlers in Shelby county. Her mother was born in Decatur county, of which her people were the earliest settlers. The Alley family was one of the prominent ones of both Decatur and Shelby county. Mrs. Heck was the sev- enth child in order of birth in a family of twelve children. She and Mr. Heck were married in Shelby county and to them four children have been born, namely : William S., born May 9. 1865, and died in 1895: Charles E., Forn April 27. 1868, married Maggie Shoup. of Liberty township, where they now live, being the parents of one child, Chester C .; Anna B. was born October 7. 1870. married Franklin P. McKay: they live in Liberty township and are the parents of three children, Mabel C., Unice Herthey and Lois May : Ida M .. the youngest child of Jasper Heck and wife, was born October 18. 18; 3. an' is living at home.
Mr. Heck has carried on general farming in a most successful manner. and he has been an extensive breeder of Berkshire hogs for a period of thirty- five years, having exhibited at the county and local fairs for thirty years. where his fine stock always attracted a great deal of attention, being the finest of their kind in this locality. However. for the past three or four years he has not engaged in the hog business very extensively, but he still carries on general stock raising in connection with his farming. He has lived on his present place since 1867. It is located in section 21, Liberty township, and he has one of the finest homes in the county. It is in the midst of attractive surround- ings. is modern and elegantly furnished. He has made very extensive im- provements on his farm, which now ranks with the best in the county. He was always interested in the Shelby County Fair Association and was one of the original stockholders in the same, and he did much to make it a success. He has long been regarded as one of the public-spirited and substantial men of
777
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
the county. He has been very active in Democratic politics of his township and county and for three terms he served in a very able manner as Trustee of Liberty township. He was a member of the Grangers while that organization existed in this county. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church in Rush county.
Mr. Heck is one of the best known men in Shelby county. His name was associated for a great many years with the fair association, which he helped to organize, and his hogs were prize winners at the fairs for a quarter of a century. He has always been regarded by those who knew him best as an industrious, honest and public-spirited citizen.
GEORGE WRIGHT.
It is safe to say that no class of foreign-born citizens have done for America what the English have, and a worthy representative of that great and progressive nation is George Wright, who was born in Bradbourn. Derby - shire. England, March 11. 1836, the son of William and Elizabeth ( Gould , Wright. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are deceased. The living are : Frank. Eliza and Ann, all living in England, and George, of this review. Eliza lives with an aunt who was born December 21. 1809. and who is still living at this writing, almost one hundred years after her birth. She is a lady of wealth, and in 1889 made a present of one thousand and three hundred lollars to each of the ten children. Mr. Wright has also received another dowery, he being the recipient of fifteen thousand dollars, an amount given to each of the ten children.
George Wright was reared on a farm and was apprenticed as a dairy- man. He attended the schools of his native land and received a fairly go. .! education. Believing that better opportunities awaited him in America than could be found at home. he started for this country December 2. 1852, and was on the Atlantic thirteen days. He came to Indiana, finding his way to Noble township. Shelly county. to where a brother. John Wright. lived. re- maining for some time on the place where he now lives. On August 2, 1855. he married Mary E. Avery, and to this union three children were born, namely : Frank C., May 20, 1856: he received a common school education : he was killed by the cars in Indianapolis. Albert W. was born October 10. 1861. graduated from the common schools and married Alta Mobley, daughter of Professor Mobley ; he lives in Noble township. Sophia E .. born Angust 3. 1864, is the wife of Joshua S. Alley. of Noble township.
Mr. Wright's first wife died February 5. 1872, and he was married a second time, uniting with Ellen Short on June 4. 1873. She was born in
778
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Hamilton county, Ohio, March 31. 1840, and came to Indiana in 1844, locat- ing in Liberty township. Shelby county. No children have been born to this union.
When Mr. Wright landed in America he had but eighty dollars, and knew how to do but little else besides milking a cow. but being courageous and ambitious to succeed, he began working on a farm. He had never seen any growing corn and his first sight of a corn-field was surprising to him. but he says he saw many new things in this country. He worked out on a farm for some time, and, being economical, soon had a start. Ilis wife had an interest in the farm of one hundred aeres where he now lives. This Mr. Wright purchased. He has prospered by reason of his habits of industry and careful management and has been able to add to his original purchase until he now owns farms aggregating nine hundred and fifty-two and one-half acres in Noble township. The place upon which he resides is one of the model farms of the county. well improved in every respect. on which general farming is carried on in a manner that stamps its owner as a highly skilled agriculturist. He keeps a number of hired men and his place is always under a high state of cultivation. He has a beautiful residence in the midst of attractive surround- ings, also has extensive and substantial barns and other buildings. His live stock is of the best.
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.