USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 34
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Sarah Cherry, who became the wife of Mr. Cropper on March 20, 1887. was born June 18, 1863, in Shelby county. Indiana, being the daughter of Eli Cherry, whose birth occurred in Ohio in the year 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Cropper have two daughters, Meryl and Helen Breanious, who were born July 23, 1893, and August 24. 1900, respectively. Although not identified with any religious organization, Mr. Cropper is a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church to which his wife belongs, a contributor to the support of the society, and an advocate of all worthy means for the moral good of his fellow men. His success in the accumulation of this world's goods and the universal esteem in which he is held bears eloquent testimony to his standing and worth as a neighbor and citizen.
JACOB W. GIRTON.
This enterprising farmer and respected citizen was born in Shelby coun- ty, Indiana. November 20. 1867, being a son of Adam and Adaline Girton, for many years esteemed residents of Marion township. Jacob Girton, the sub ject's grandfather, was a native of Virginia, but in early life went from that state to Butler county, Ohio, where he subsequently married Susanna Hansel, and about 1850 moved to Shelby county. Indiana. The children of this es- timable couple were five in number, namely : Adam, Christopher, Adelia, Eliz- abeth and Phoebe, all of whom grew to maturity, and reared families of their own. Adam. the older of the two sons, married Adaline Taylor, who bore him children as follows: Hattie .A., wife of Joseph M. Ryder, of Indianapolis :
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Susanna Ruie: Grace died in California : Flora Tammie, who married James D. Hawkins, and lives at Flat Rock : Jacob W., of this review, and an infant died unnamed. His mother having died when he was eighteen months okl. Jacob moved with his father to the farm in section 25. Washington township. where he spent his early life, and learned the lessons of industry and thrift, which had such a marked influence on his subsequent career. Manifesting a taste for books and study he made rapid progress in the district schools, later he obtained a knowledge of the higher branches in the Hope Normal School. the training thus received being supplemented by a course in the Central Normal College, at Danville, where his intellectual discipline was terminated. In the meantime he assisted with the work of the farm and until his twenty- first year remained with his parents, contributing, like a dutiful son, to their comfort and maintenance. His early experience in close touch with nature gave him a taste for rural life and, on severing home ties, he engaged in ag- riculture for himself and has since devoted his attention to the same with gratifying results, owning the beautiful and highly improved farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Washington township, on which he lives and rank- ing among the leading men of his calling in the community, honored by his citizenship. The dwelling now occupied by Mr. Girton and family and known as the "Old Brick House" was erected by his grandfather more than fifty years ago, and is still in a good state of preservation, being substantially con -. structed, and with its nine commodious rooms comparing favorably with the most comfortable and attractive rural homes in the county.
Mr. Girton's domestic life dates from December 24. 1890, at which time he entered the marriage relation with Carrie Fateley, whose birth occurred on the 14th day of July, 1869, in Washington township, the union being blessed with two children, Fred O .. born June 17, 1892, now a student of the Flat Rock high school, and Allen C., who first saw the light of day on the 23d of August, 1897, and who is also pursuing his studies under favorable auspices. Mr. Girton votes with the Democratic party, and takes an active interest in public affairs, being a member of the Township Advisory Board, on which he has served for a period of six years, discharging the duties of the position in an able and satisfactory manner, and proving a capable and judicious custodian of the important trust reposed in him by his fellow citi- zens. He is a stockholder of the Flat Rock Telephone Company, vice-presi- dent of the Citizens' Building and Loan Association, of the same place, and has been for several years a member of the Norristown Cemetery Association. of which he is now the chief executive official. Fraternally he belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry and the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs. Nearly all worthy enterprises for the bettering of the com- munity find in him an earnest advocate and liberal patron. In addition to general agriculture Mr. Girton has achieved signal success in the raising of
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live stock, making a specialty of the justly famed Cotswold sheep, and he is also a chicken fancier of more than local note, his fine Wyandottes giving him a wide reputation among those whose tastes run in the direction of fine domestic bipeds.
THOMAS B. BENNETT.
An honored representative of one of the oldest families of Shelby county and a man whose influence has ever been on the side of morality and right, the subject of this sketch stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens of Van Buren township, and he is entitled to a conspicuous place among those who give character and stability to the body politie. Abel Bennett, the sub- ject's grandfather, was a native of Ireland and a man of more than ordinary energy and enterprise. In company with a brother he came to the United States many years ago, making his way west as far as Shelby county, Indiana. entered a tract of land in Hanover township which he improved and on which he reared his family and spent the remainder of his life. He married shortly after becoming a resident of this county, and in due time became the fall.er of the following children : Thomas, John. Abel, William, Mary, Ellen, Anna. Polly, and Abram. all of whom, with their parents, are sleeping the sleep that knows no waking.
Thomas Bennett, father of the subject. was born on the family honk stead in Hanover township and spent his early life amid the stirring scenes and hard labor incident to the pioneer period. He married, when a young now. Catherine Hickenbotham. and shortly thereafter moved to Hancock county, where he made his home until his death, his widow surviving him a number of years. Of the six children born to this couple, the following are still in the land of the living: Thomas B., Isaac J .. Robert and Martha .A.
Thomas B. Bennett was born January 7. 1848, and during his childhood and youth experienced the usual vicissitudes which attend life in a compara- tively new and sparsely settled country. It quite an early age he learned the meaning of hard work. his parents being in ordinary circumstances and the farm which the family relied upon for a livelihood only partly cleared and the fields in anything but an inviting condition. While still a youth he labored early and late in the woods felling trees and fitting the soil for tillage. also bearing his full share in the cultivating of the crops and doing a man's part of the work. During a part of the winter season he attended school in a log building of a primitive type, but despite the disadvantages under which he was placed. his advancement was commendable, and at the close of his educational experience he had mastered the common branches besides obtain- ing a fund of valuable information by a wide range of reading. Mr. Bennett
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assisted in clearing and developing the home farm, much of the labor and re- sponsibility falling to him by reason of his father's death. From that time until beginning life for himself he remained at home helping his mother and looking after her interests, providing for the comfort of the family, and in every way proved himself a dutiful son. At the age of twenty-three he ser- ered home ties for the purpose of making his own way in the world. the initial step in this important undertaking being his marriage, which was sol- emnized on the 2d day of July. 1871. with Margaret Copple, daughter of Nicholas Copple, an estimable young lady who has been his faithful wife and efficient co-laborer, during all his varied experiences from that time to the present.
In his choice of a vocation Mr. Bennett selected the ancient and honorable calling of husbandry, which he has followed with gratifying results, owning at this time a fine farm of one hundred and seven acres, in sections 16 and 17. Van Buren township, occupying a conspicuous place among the successful agriculturists and stock raisers of the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are the parents of eight children, six of whom survive, namely : Ed L. : Ira T .: Maggie, wife of Ziba Copple : Lottie J., now Mrs. Abel Myers: Fred N. and Sarah E., the two youngest still members of the home circle.
The private life of Mr. Bennett has been exemplary and as a neighbor and citizen no man in the community is more highly esteemed. In his boyhood he decided not to become the slave of any of the evil and vicious habits to which so many young people succumb, and he has now the proud satisfaction in saying that he has never used intoxicants or tobacco in any form, nor in- dulged in profanity. In brief. his mind, as well as his body. has been kept pure, and he stands today a notable instance of what firm resolution can ac- complish, and an example eminently worthy of imitation by those whose characters are yet in the formative period. and the trend of whose lives is still to be determined.
GEORGE W. HINDS.
A native of Shelby county. Indiana, and in point of continuous residence one of its oldest citizens, the subject of this sketch has passed the seventy- fifth milestone on life's journey and. although retired, is numbered toriay among the enterprising and eminently honorable men of the part of the state with which he has been so long actively identified. The Hinds family is oi German origin, but has been represented in America since the Colonial period. the first of the name to emigrate to the country being the subject's grand father, Alexander Hinds, with his wife and two children, who settled in Butler
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county. Pennsylvania, prior to the Revolutionary war. On the breaking out of that struggle Mr. Hinds espoused the cause of the colonists and entered the army, rendered valiant service until independence was achieved. after which he returned to his Butler county faun, where he spent the remainder of his days in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, and died a number of years ago in Shelby county at an advanced age.
Michael Hinds, father of the subject, was born in Butler county, Penn- sylvania, where he married, when still a young man. Mary Smith, whose ante- cedents were also among the carly settlers of that part of the state. Disposing of their interests in Pennsylvania in 1818. Michael Hinds and wife migrated to Franklin county, Indiana, where they lived antil 1825. when they monvel to Shelby county and settled in what is now Addison township, where in due time Mr. Hinds cleared a good farm and became widely known as an enterprising man and praiseworthy citizen. He took an active and influential part in open- ing the country and developing its resources. He was a true type of the sturdy pioneer of the early day, and his death, which occurred in the year 184 !. was greatly lamented by his friends and neighbors.
His wife survived him until 1868, when she. too, passed away, and the two now lie side by side in the quiet shades of the cemetery at Shelbyville. Michael and Mary Hinds were the parents of eight children, five of whom grew to maturity and became well settled in life, the subject of this review being the youngest of the number and the only surviving member of the family.
George W. Hinds was born February 25. 1834. on the family homestead in Addison township, spent his early life in close touch with nature, and while still a mere lad, became familiar with the rugged duties of the farm. His edu- cational advantages were limited to a few months' attendance in winter seasons at a school in an old log building, but by diligently applying himself he made commendable progress in the common branches, so that when he started out to make his own way, at the age of fifteen, he had a fair knowledge of books with the ability to apply the same to practical affairs in life. On leaving the parental roof young Hinds hired to a farmer for fifty cents per day, which sum was subsequently increased to seventy-five cents, and in this way he la- bored and saved his earnings for three years, at the expiration of which time he and his brother. James (). Hinds, purchased a small farm in partnership. to which they moved their mother, who became their housekeeper. Later they sold their respective shares in the place, and investing the proceeds in other land cach went to himself, and in due time became the possessor of valuable real estate and earned reputations as enterprising and successful agriculturists.
On April 23, 1861. Mr. Hinds was united in marriage with Eliza Bassett, who was born December 7, 1872. in Shelby county, the daughter of Sylvester Bassett, a well known resident of Marion township, and one of the
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leading farmers of the community in which he lived. Iimmediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hinds set up their domestic establishment on a farm and resolutely facing the future, addressed themselves to their respective labors, until in due time they reaped the reward of their industry, thrift and economy in a beautiful home and a comfortable competence. Mr. Hinds soon became one of the leading agriculturists of his township, which reputation he sustained as long as he continued active work on the farm, and some idea of his success may be obtained from the fact of his being at this time the owner of two hundred and five acres of as fine land as Shelby county can boast, the greater part under a high state of cultivation and conservatively valued at one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. On this beautiful rural home- stead he lived and prospered until the year 1896, at which time he turned it over to other hands and moved to Morristown where he is now living a life of honorable retirement, being well situated to enjoy the fruits of his many years of successful toil.
In addition to his career as an enterprising and progressive farmer. Mr. Hinds also has a military record, of which he feels deservedly proud, having been among the patriotic men who responded to the country's call during the dark days of the rebellion and rendered valiant service to the Government in the time of need Enlisting in Company D, Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, in 1864. he accompanied his command to the front and served with credit until the close of the war taking part in the battle of Nashville, besides experienc- ing other active duty, although suffering much from impaired health during the greater part of his army experience, on account of which he is now the recipient of a liberal pension.
Mr. Hinds is a Republican in politics and cast his first presidential ballot in 1856 for John C. Fremont, since which time he has been pronounced in his allegiance to his party, though by no means a partisan or sceker after the honors or emoluments of office. It will thus be seen that he is a charter member of the party in whose principles he believes and to whose support he has devoted so many years, being well posted on the leading questions and issues of the day and fully abreast of the times on all matters of public import. Religiously the Methodist Episcopal church holds his creed, and for a number of years he has been a sincere and devoted member of this body with his wife. belonging to the church at Morristown, and contributing liberally of his means to its support, besides donating freely to other charitable and humani- tarian enterprises.
Mr. and Mrs. Hinds have a commodious and comfortable modern home on Washington street, Morristown. They are the parents of eight chil iren. whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Melvin, April 20. 1862: Francis, September 15, 1864: Willie. November 30, 1866: Leonard, July 2 1868: Jessie, December 25. 1870: Sylvester V., May 27, 1872: James, June
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28, 1874, and Mary, who was born on the 14th day of March, 1880. Death has been a unwelcome intruder upon the home from time to time and caused several breaks in the family circle, Willie, Leonard and James being de- ceased. William W. Hinds, brother of our subject, who never married, lived with George W. Hinds for about thirty years.
THOMAS H. WOOLLEY.
Conspienons among the men who have contributed to the material prog- ress of Washington township and added character and stability to the social and moral life of the community is the gentleman whose career is briefly sketched in the following lines.
Thomas H. Woolley, a successful agriculturist and enterprising mian of affairs, was born in the village of Fiat Rock, Shelby, Indiana. July 9. 1843. and is the son of William Henry and Amanda ( Drake) Woolley, whose fami- lies were among the early settlers of what is now Washington town hip. Thomas Woolley, the subject's grandfather. was born in the month of March. 1794, in England, but in 1805, when nine years old. was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Cincinnati, later moving to Shelby county, In- diana. On May 21, 1818, Thomas Woolley married Mary B. Craven, who bore liim children as follows: William Henry, Charlotte, Mary. Elizabeth, James, Louise, Charles, Martha A. and Jane, the majority of whom grew to mature age and reared families of their own. After the death of the mother of the above named children. Mr. Woolley married on May 31. 1849, Cath- erine Wilcie, whom he also ouilive.1. the latter union being without issue. Thomas Woolley came to Shelby county prior to the year 1818 and cincied land in Washington township, to which he added from time to time, until he became one of the largest real estate owners in this part of the country. He platted the village of Flat Rock, which was first called Woolley Station, and was the first business man of the place. For a number of years he kert a general store and did a thriving trade, in connection with which he also pur- chased hogs on quite an extensive scale, which he drove to Cincinnati, the nearest market place. He was enterprising and progressive, took the kad in developing the resources of the part of the country in which he settled and in due time accumulated a large fortune in land and other property and became one of the prominent men of the county. A Methodist in religion he con- tributed liberally to his own and other churches, assisted in promoting all en- terprises for the advancement of the community and the welfare of his fellow citizens and at the time of his death, enjoyed the honor of being the oldest Mason in the state of Indiana. He departed this life July 30, 1873. in Indian- apolis, where he had been living for some time with his daughter, Mrs. Free.
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William II. Woolley. the subject's father, was born in Washington town- ship, Shelby county, April 25. 1819, and grew to maturity among the stirring scenes of pioneer times. In the year 1840 he married Amanda Drake, whos people were also among the early settlers of Shelly counts. Lat after a brief but mutually happy experience of three years' wedded life, Mr. Woolley was called from earthly scenes, dying on the 20th day of August. 1843. when his son. Thomas Il., was an infant. Mrs. Woolley subsequently remarried and went to Illinois to live, where the subject remained until ten years of age. during which time he was unable to attend school or receive any kind of mental training whatever. Returning to Shelby county at the expiration of the period indicated, he entered the home of his grandfather, with whom he lived until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he responded to the Presi- dent's call for volunteers by enlisting in August. 1861. in Company D. Thirty- third Regiment, Indiana Infantry, which was mustered in at Indianapolis and which saw its first active service in Kentucky. Mr. Woolley was first under fire at Wild Cat, that state, and later he accompanied his command through it- varied experiences of campaign and battle, until the capture of the regimen! at Franklin, Tennessee, he with a few of his comrades being fortunate enough to escape falling into the hands of the enemy. Shortly after this he was as- signed to duty in the heavy artillery, with which he served until the exchange of his regiment one year later, when he rejoined his company and continued with the same until honorably discharged on the 19th day of September. 1864. Mr. Woolley's three years of military service were fille I to repletion with duty faithfully and uncomplainingly performed, and he retired from the army with a record of which any soldier might feel proud. Among the more active scenes in which he participated was the Atlanta campaign and the several bloody battles which preceded the fall of that noted Confederate stronghold. in addition to which he also took part in many other engagements, to say noth- ing of the long marches and varied experiences which test the soldier's endur- ance and worth fully as much as meeting the enemy on the field of conflict. He passed through his period of service without receiving a wound or spend- ing a day in the hospital, in fact. he has never been sick enough, in the army or at home, to warrant medical treatment. and thus far in life. no physicians have ever been able to number him among their patients. Returning to Shelby county, after receiving his discharge. Mr. Woolley remained a year with his grandfather, but feeling the need of an education, he entered Hartsville Col- lege at the end of that time, and, during the nine months ensuing. applied him- self very closely to his studies. He learned to write a fair hand while in the service. besides making some progress in other branches, and appreciating the value of time, he let no moment go to waste after becoming a student, with the result that his advancement was rapid, and on leaving the above institu- tion, he was far ahead of many who were blessed with opportunities he never
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dreamed of possessing. Selecting agriculture for his life work. Mr. Woolley applied himself diligently to the same, and in the course of a few years was in good circumstances with encouraging prospects for future success. Without following in detail his series of advancement in material things, suffice it to state that his progress has been commendable, being at this time the owner of seven hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Washington township, worth one hundred dollars per acre. besides valuable personal property, which runs his fortune to considerably in excess of seventy-six thousand dollars, splendid showing. indeed. for one who began life with a capital of only fifteen hundred dollars, left to him by his grandfather.
Mir. Woolley is a Republican in politics, notwithstanding which he was three times elected Trustee in a township strongly Democratic, and so ably and faithfully did he serve his constituents that he now could have any office within their power to bestow. During his incumbency. Washington had the lowest levy of any township in the county, and when he retired from office all public improvements were in first class order and every dollar of indebted- ness paid.
Mr. Woolley was married March 15, 1874. to Mrs. Nettie Cochran Inee Chambers), widow of the late Benjamin Cochran, of Washington township. by whom she had one son. Wilson Cochran, now a well known resident . i Shelby county. Mr. and Mrs. Woolley are highly esteemed and have many friends wherever they are known. Their place of residence, a quarter of a mile east of Flat Rock, is one of the most beautiful and attractive rural homes in Shelby county. the dwelling being a fine brick edifice, with all the modern improvements and conveniences, nothing having been spared to make it answer the purposes for which intended and to gratify the refined tastes of the occu- pants. Mr. Woolley has been identified with various public enterprises from time to time, the only one with which he is now connected being the Flat Rock Telephone Company, of which he is treasurer and a heavy stockholder.
OTIS O. FRAZIER.
O. O. Frazier, one of the leading business men of Morristown and a public spirited citizen of high standing and wide influence, was born in Cham- paign county, Illinois, in the year 1864, being the second of five children who constitute the family of E. L. and Jennie Frazier, natives of Kentucky. His father being a minister, whose work required frequent removals, the carly life of the subject was spent in different cities and towns, in the public schools of which he received his educational discipline. Discontinuing his studies in the high school when eighteen years of age, he took up the tinner's trade in
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