USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 4
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
WILLIAM ALLEN EWING.
This well known Brandywine township farmer comes from pioneer an- cestry whose antecedents compose a widely distributed and influential connec- tion in Shelby county. The parents were James A. and Sarah G. (Allen) Ewing, natives of Hamilton county, Ohio, who, after their marriage in 1844, removed to Shelby county and located in section 27, of Brandywine township. When he located, his farm contained but a few acres of cleared land, but with the assistance of his sons he soon made a respectable place of it and spent the rest of his days in its cultivation. At the time of his death, March 15, 1870. he owned two hundred and forty acres of fine farming land, for which Shelby county is noted. He was a liberal supporter of the church and all good causes,
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND. 519
lived a useful life, and was eventually joined in the Center cemetery by his wife, who died December 24. 1887. Their children were William A., John C. (deceased). James R .. now a resident of Johnson county, Indiana: Sarah J., who married John Litzenberger, of Sugar Creek township: Mary E., wife of Morton M. Ray, also of Sugar Creek township, and Elizabeth E., deceased wife of Frank Edwards.
William Allen Ewing, eldest of the family, was born February 16, 1848, and obtained but a limited education, as he had to assist in the farm work as soon as he was able to take a hand. He remained at home until his marriage to Eliza Watts, which occurred March 27, 1872. after which he removed to the farm where he now lives, and on which he has spent his entire adult life in agri- cultural pursuits. Mrs. Ewing was born September 17, 1850, and her par- ents were among the early settlers as well as the substantial kind of people to whom Brandywine township owed her development. and subsequent pros- perity. Morgan Watts, her father, was born in Franklin county, Indiana. and came to Shelby county when neighbors were few and far between. He was the son of Thomas and Eleanor ( Love ) Watts, castern people, who located in Shelby county in 1831. when Morgan was only three years old. After he grew up he met and married Elizabeth Judd, whose parents were very early settlers. He died in Kansas January 6, 1885, and his wife passed away Oc- tober 16. 1896. Their children are as follows: Eliza, wife of Mr. Ewing : Alice, wife of William H. Nail. of Shelbyville: William, the eldest son, is also a resident of Shelbyville ; Mary is the deceased wife of Frank Edwards. Thomas, and Martha who married David Francis, both dead; Albert, the youngest, the father of Morgan, was a Trustee of the township, and with his wife belonged to the Methodist Protestant church. William and Eliza ( Watts) Ewing were the parents of the following named children: William Francis. born January 22, 1875, has been a successful man and is now assistant super- intendent of the Prudential Insurance Company at Shelbyville: he married Lillian McQueen and has four children, Alma R., Jay Ralph. Dwain and Lil- lian F .; he is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Knights of Pythias. Charles Morgan, Mr. Ewing's second son. was born July 9. 1877, married Mabel Griffeth and is a school teacher, resident of Shelbyville. He is the father of one child. Robert Donald, born February 19, 1909. Mr. Ewing was Assessor of his township in 1873. He and his wife are active workers in the Methodist Protestant church and he has been trustee for many years. acting also as treasurer, and for seventeen years was secretary of the quarterly con- ference circuit. He is a charter member of Ozark Tribe, No. 356, Improved Order of Red Men, at Fairland. As a farmer Mr. Ewing was progressive and has been prosperous, few standing higher as an exponent of integrity and correct principles in all the relations of life.
.
.
520
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
HENRY SCHWALL.
It was a gloomy day in 1852 when Peter Schwall. a poor German hoy. embarked at a port in his native land for a long voyage to the great Republic beyond the seas. He was in the blush of youth, however, being only twenty- six years old, when everything looked bright and good, so with a manly heart and light pocketbook he faced the problem of conquering the workl. Event- nally he landed at New Orleans, but remained there only a short time before pushing on to Cincinnati, Ohio, then a kind of Mecca for immigrants of Ger- man nationality. He tried his hand at gardening and met with sufficient success to justify his marrying, shortly after which event he came with his wife. Mary, to Shelbyville. At first he accepted any job that offered, but after a few months of desultory undertakings, finally rented a small place and engaged in farming. He changed to various localities as a renter until he succeeded in getting to- gether enough money to buy a few acres of his own, and on this little farm in Shelby township he remained until his wife's death in 1899. since which time he has made his home with his son. His children are as follows: Henry. Peter. a resident of Kokomo: Catherine, wife of Jasper Collins, of Howard county : Lena, wife of Christ Noling, of Indianapolis: Mary, wife of Vincent Lanworling. of Indianapolis: Barbara, wife of Steve Shin, of Logansport. In- diana : Margaret, a resident of Brandywine township. and Elizabeth, wife of James Ryan. of Richmond. Indiana.
Henry Schwall. eldest of the children, was born at Shelbyville. May 26. 1856. and as soon as he was old enough assisted his father in farm work. This continued until a little after the completion of his twentieth year, when he was married on October 21. 1876, to Catherine Adams. She was born in Germany April 2. 1854. and came to America when a baby, with her parents. Jacob and Elizabeth Adams, well known farming people of Shelby county. After his marriage Mr. Schwall began farming for himself as a renter in different locali- ties. By hard work and economy he managed to save up enough money to buy the present cozy little farm of seventy-one acres in Brandywine township, on which he makes his home. It is a part of the ohl Goodrich farm and comprises as fertile and productive a soil as is found in that part of the county. After coming into possession Mr. Schwall made improvements from time to time. which added greatly to the attractiveness and value of his place. Within the last year he erected a fine new barn, with all the modern conveniences for stock and grain, as well as ornamental in architecture. He is what is called a general farmer, raising all the cereal crops adapted to this latitude, and keeping as much stock of good quality as is justified by the size of his farm. He is also interested in stock raising. He is recognized among the younger generation of farmers as one of the most successful and progressive, is quite popular among his neighbors and altogether a worthy citizen in every respect. He and
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND. 521
his wife are members of the German Evangelical church at Shelbyville, but the children are mostly affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. Mary. the oldest daughter, born October 31. 1877, is the wife of William Barger, of Brandywine township, and has four children, Harold G., born January 3. 1903 : Lydia C., Edgar and Morris William. Margaret, Mr. Schwall's second daughter, born January 28, 1881. is the wife of Henry Young, of Indianapolis. They occupy a residence of their own, 1125 Oxford street. Anna. born Oc- tober 30. 1883. and William Henry, born October 13. 1886, are both at home.
ERASTUS WILCOX MeDANIEL.
The ancestors of this family were early settlers of Indiana, and the de- scendants have been identified with the state for several generations. Andrew J. McDaniel was born in Decatur county, near St. Omer, March 31. 1826, and devoted his entire life to farming. He married Emeline Palmerton, who was born in Dearborn county, near Aurora, February 27. 1829. She was a daugli- ter of John Pahnerton, a man of some importance in his day in that section of the state bordering on the Ohio. Of New York nativity and Yankee descent, he moved west in early life to engage primarily in farming, but found other outlets for his energies. For years he was a boatman on the Ohio river and ran a line of boats between Cincinnati and New Orleans. Meantime he dealt in grain and stock, owning a large tract of land in the western part of Decatur county. Of his eight children two are living. a son and a daughter.
Erastus W. McDaniel, son of Andrew J., was born in Jasper county. Illi- nois, February 28, 1863. He was reared on a farmi in Liberty township. Shelby county. Indiana, and there obtained his elementary education. Having de- cided to teach he spent twenty-one weeks at the Central Normal College in Danville as preparation for his calling. and shortly after leaving that institu- tion "took up school." He was nineteen years old at this time, and until twenty-seven he had charge of various classes in the vicinity of his Liberty township home. During four of the eight years he was employed at Blue Ridge. In the intervals he devoted his summers to farm work and his leisure hours to general study. with a special view of qualifying himself for the law. In 1890 he went to Palestine. Texas, and spent a year there in teaching. after which he returned to Shelbyville and became an attache in the law office of Hord & Adams. Five years being spent in this employment he was admitted to the bar on June 4. 1892. and immediately entered upon the practice of his pro- fession. For three years he was in partnership with Hon. Benjamin F. Love. one of the oldest and best known of Shelby county's many able lawyers, and a man of fine ability. Since Mr. Love's death, which occurred in 1904. Mr.
.
522
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
MeDaniel has been going it alone. In 1900 he was appointed County Attor- ney by the Board of County Commissioners of Shelby county, and after serv- ing acceptably four and a half years, resumed the general practice. He made a specialty of probate business, and has been called on to settle many estates. Bright, well up in his profession, energetic and attentive to business. Mr. Me- Daniel never lacks for clients. Mr. McDaniel is a member of Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 554. of Odd Fellows. Waldron Encampment. No. 154. and the Rebekahs. He is acting captain of Canton 42. Patriarchs Militant. of Indian- apolis, is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is quite enthusiastic in all relating to his fraternal duties.
Mr. McDaniel is an enthusiastic Democrat and served as secretary of the executive committee of his party in Shelby county. For ten years he served as assistant secretary of the Shelby County Joint Stock Agricultural Association. and in 1909 was re-elected secretary : also he has been active in all that prom- ised to lead "Old Shelby" in the pathways of progress.
On December 3. 1892. Mr. McDaniel was married to Eva Lantz Bid- dinger, member of an old Indiana family. By this union there has been one child. Frank McDaniel, who was born June 20. 1895. and is now attending school. The family reside in their own property. No. 352 Harrison street, and Mrs. McDaniel is conspicuous in religious circles as president of the Ladies' Aid Society of the West Street Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM HENRY POND.
A retired farmer, one of the best known men of Marion township. is William Henry Pond, a native of Franklin county, Indiana, where his birth occurred on the 27th day of November, 1839. The Ponds were New Yorkers and among the pioneers of Southern Indiana, the subject's father. Henry Pond, migrating to this state while the foot of the red men still pressed the soil, and locating in Franklin county, when the few scattered settlements were as niches in the almost impenetrable forests. By occupation Henry Pond was a tanner. He learned his trade in Brookville. Franklin county, and then started business at Metamora in a small way, but the demand for leather being great. he grad- ually enlarged the scope of his operations until he built up a successful estab- lishment, and in due time commanded an extensive patronage and became one of the wealthy and influential men of the town. Possessing a wonderful con- stitution and a will which hesitated at no obstacles. however numerous or formidable, he made his influence felt among his fellow citizens; he traveled extensively throughout the country, buying hides and building up a business which soon placed him at the head of the leather industry in this part of the
.
.
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND. 523
state. He was an old-line Whig, and a leader of his party in Franklin and adjoining counties, and in addition to his activity as a politician, he was also prominent in religious work, being one of the early members of the Christian or Disciple church in Franklin county, and donating the third story of his tan- nery as a place of public worship From the time of his arrival in the county until his death at the ripe old age of ninety-one years, the name of Henry Pond was a household word in nearly every home, and wherever he stopped on his business trips he was sure of a generous welcome.
The maiden name of Mrs. Pond was Catherine Watson. She was born at Dundee, Scotland, and at the age of two years was brought to America by her parents, who were among the pioneer settlers of Franklin county, Indiana. and highly esteemed in the community where she resided. She was married in the above county, and there reared her family, consisting of nine children. but three of whom are living, viz : Mrs. Margaret Brown. David W. and William, whose name introduces this sketch.
The early experience of William Henry Pond was similar in most respects to that of the majority of town lads, being devoid of thrilling incident, and one may seek in vain for anything in his career akin to the tragic. He was reared under wholesome home influences. attended during his childhood and youth the public schools, and when twenty years of age took to himself a wife and help- meet in the person of Caroline Larimore, and set up a domestic establishment of his own as a farmer. In 1863 he came to Shelby county and settled in Marion township. where he soon achieved success as an agriculturist, and where he has since resided, being at this time one of the leading farmers of his com- munity, also an enterprising man of affairs.
Mr. Pond has been a careful student of agricultural science, and owns a fine farm in section 16, on which are a number of valuable improvements. including among others a commodious and comfortable modern dwelling, which is considered one of the most beautiful and desirable country homes in the town- ship. Since the death of his faithful wife and companion, he has made his home with his son Walter, and now lives a life of honorable retirement, having accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to place him in independent circumstances.
Mr. Pond is not a politician, although firm in his allegiance to the Repub- lican party. He has never sought office at the hands of his fellow men, being content with the quiet and satisfactory life of an agriculturist and desiring no other title than that of citizen. In matters religious he is a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a liberal contributor to its material sup- port. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic Order. belonging to the lodge in Shelbyville, in which from time to time he has been honored with various official positions.
Mrs. Pond, who was born in Franklin county about the year 1840, was
524
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
early in life left an orphan. both her parents dying when she was a mere infant. She bore her husband seven children, the oldest, a son by the name of George. being deceased : Henry married Etta Canady, and lives in Shelby county, his family consisting of six children: Lucy, wife of Riley Sedgwick. lives in this county also, as does Dewitt, the fourth in order of birth, who married Ida Sedgwick. Albert. a farmer of Shelby county, is likewise a man of family. having married Lily Bass. Walter, who married Zora Robins, lives on the home farm and looks after his father's comfort. the latter being a member of the household and a welcome addition to the domestic circle. Oscar I .. Pond. the youngest member of the family, is a prominent lawyer of Indianapolis, and well known in legal cireles in other parts of the state. He has a beautiful home in the capital city, which is presided over by a young lady of intelligence and culture, to whom he was married some years ago, and who previous to that event was known as Helen Guild.
JACOB G. DEPREZ.
For more than forty years no name has been more familiar in Shelby county than that of DePrez. The founder of the family was a business man of great activity, and left a large family of sons, who in various lines have extended and perpetuated the popularity of the name. At every turn in the city's history, in every movement for its uplift and development, one or more of the DePrezs have been conspicuous. Public spirited and resourceful, they have always stood ready to help with time and money in whatever promised to push the town forward to renewed growth and increased prosperity. John and Mary (Carwine ) DePrez were Germans, who came over some years before the Civil war and located at Cincinnati. At a later period they removed to Shelby- ville and engaged in the hotel business, with various side lines. Eleven chil- dren were born to them, eight sons and three daughters, and of these five are still living.
Jacob DePrez, one of the younger children, was born during the residence of his parents in Cincinnati, March 24. 1855. His education was obtained . after their removal to Shelbyville, and was confined to attendance in the public schools. Mr. DePrez entered business at an early age, as an employe of a bakery concern, where he remained five years. His next move was to the dry goods establishment of August W. Swartz, where he clerked two years. an !! then served the same length of time at the store of Henry Fastliben. About 1875. he accepted a position with Norman H. Strong in the hardware business. and after a service of five years realized the ambition of his life by going int., business on his own account. In 1880. in partnership with Henry Doble, he
525
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
established the hardware store which has since grown into the largest of the kind in Shelbyville. In a few years after starting, he purchased the intere -: of his partner, and since then has been sole proprietor. His business is con- dueted in a building containing three large floors and a basement, with a four. story warehouse in the rear. It is the largest department hardware store in the city, and keeps a large stock of everything appropriate to its line, such as hard- ware, china, stoves, glass, plumbing outfits, gas fixtures, and steam fitting material. Mr. DePrez employs ten clerks, and his business is conducted on a progressive scale, being up-to-date in every particular. He has prospered, and long since held the rank of one of the solid citizens of Shelbyville. Mr. De Prez has always been interested in the city's growth, and helped to organize the first building and loan association, which he served as treasurer for three years. After a prosperous career, without a financial cloud to mar its reputation as a safe and sound institution. it paid out and closed business some years ago. Mr. De Prez has been a member of the Masonic Order for many years, including the Scottish Rite. Shrine, and Commandery. He lives in a handsome home at 46 North Harrison street, attends the Christian Science church and votes the Democratic ticket.
October 0. 1887. Mr. DePrez married Jennie, daughter of the late lsom Wray. Their only child. Daniel Wray DePrez, attended Butler University at Indianapolis, and spent some time at the Chicago University and was grad- uated at Culver Military Academy. For some time he has been his father's business partner in the hardware store.
HERBERT M. NEAL.
The Shelby county family of this name originated in Kentucky. Robert H. Neal, who was born in Scott county, December 25, 1817, became a Union soldier at the beginning of the Civil war, was honorably discharged on account of ill health, and died August 9. 1862. He married Lucy A. Wells, who was born in Scott county, August 10. 1823, and died March 23. 1862. They came to this state in 1862 and became the parents of six children, of whom three survive: Charles and Mrs. Hattie Snow, of Franklin, Indiana. and Mrs. Mariah Wright, of Tacoma. Washington. George W. Neal, the oldest and best known of the children. was born in Scott county, Kentucky. September 27. 18.44, and after reaching maturity became a shoemaker. Later he lived for some years on a farm of one hundred acres in West Hendricks township: in 1880 removed to Fairland. where. for two years he was engaged in the boot and shoe lasiness. Having received the appointment as Deputy Sheriff under Sid Conger. Mr. Neal became a resident of Shelbyville, and after the expira-
526
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
tion of his term he was engaged in the wood business until 1890: about that time he became secretary of the Shelbyville Ice Manufacturing Company. In 1896 he removed to Frankfort. Indiana, where for ten years he dealt in ice and coal with such excellent financial results that he made a fortune. He or- ganized the Frankfort Central Heating Company, and was president of the corporation until the time of his death, September o. 1007. He married Phoebe A. White, who was born in Hendricks township. Shelby county, In- Eliana. September 10, 1852. and four children resulted from this union. Daisy E. married George R. Meier and died at Frankfort. August 28. 1905. Clar- ence R. died June 20. 1890. Clethera E., the youngest child, married Ethel Lena Fory. George W. Neil was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for some years was treasurer of Lodge No. 39.
Herbert M. Neal, eldest of this family, was born at Marietta, Shelby county, Indiana. October 4. 1871. At the age of eighteen he left high school and entered his father's office as assistant in the details connected with ice manufacturing. He went with the family to Frankfort, but in 1808 returned to Shelbyville to accept a position as superintendent of the lines for the South- ern Indiana Gas Company. May 1. 1908, he resigned this place to go into business for himself. and at the beginning of the winter opened an office for the transaction of real estate and insurance business in the Morrison block. where he has since continued. Mr. Neil is a stockholder in the First National Bank, of Shelbyville. Mr. Neal is a member of the Masonic fraternity No. 28. Chapter No. 20. Council No. 3. and Baldwin Commandery. No. 2. Knights Templar. He is also an Odd Fellow, both subordinate and encampment, and for nine years past has been treasurer of the lodge. Since November 18, 1905. he is a member of the First Presbyterian church.
November 2, 1806, Mr. Neal married Loretta, only daughter of George C. and Ann ( Doble) Morrison, both members of old and honored families of Shelby county. John and Sarah ( Carruthers ) Morrison, paternal grandpar- ents of Mrs. Neal, were Virginians by birth, and came to Shelbyville in 1832. The husband was an expert in the making of the old-time hand-turned furni- ture, and this business he carried on for many years in the large building on Harrison street, afterwards famous as a boarding house. In fact the "Mor- rison House." and Mother Morrison. its guiding spirit, were well known to : everybody in the county. George C. Morrison, who was born at Wheeling. West Virginia. August 15, 1820. and died in Shelbyville August 17. 1956, was a man of prominence, very successful in business, a director in the First Na- tional Bank, and one of its local capitalists. He was twice Mayor of the city. and treasurer of the Shelby Lodge. No. 39. Independent Order of Odd Fellows. for twenty years, being universally known as "Uncle George." and popular with all classes of people. His children were Edgar. Charles. Harry C. George C. and Loretta. besides a son who died in infancy. Mrs. Ann ( Doble) Mor-
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND. 527
rison's parents and grandparents came to Shelby county in 1828 and settled in Moral township, and their descendants became prominent as farmers, stock dealers and men of affairs in various lines of activity.
URUS E. TINDALL.
The founder of the Shelby county family of this name was Isaac Tindall. a native of Kentucky, born November 7. 1783, who came to Shelby county, Indiana, in 1831. IIe entered eighty acres of land in Washington township, and followed farming after the crude methods known to the pioneers, but as he was industrious he made a good living and prospered. He married in his native state Amelia Mes-ick, whose date of birth was March 16. 1793. and they reared eight children. Among them was Job D. Tindall, who was born in Scott county, Kentucky, June 17. 1820. Eventually he purchased his father's Wash- ington township homestead. and established thereon a tannery, which he con- ducted in the old-fashioned way, using oak bark to tan the hides he bought in the neighborhood. He was a thrifty man, and in time accumulated a respectable estate, which has since been enjoyed as an inheritance by his descendants. Desiring to lead a less strenuous life, he turned the old farm over to one of his sons and bought three hundred and twenty acres of land in what is now Shelby township, where he lived until 1800. and then moved to Waldron, where the rest of his days were spent in retirement. his death occurring October 2. 1901. after he had reached the ripe age of eighty-one years. He married Susanna Warner, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio. October 20. 1828. Her parents. George and Mary Magdelena ( Lyda) Warner, who were originally Pennsylvanians, migrated first to Ohio and thence to Indiana, in 1830. To Job D. and Susanna Tindall i urteen children were born, of whom seven are living, and thus briefly mentioned : Alexander W. married Nancy, daughter of Sylvan and Susan Bassett, and have two children: Charles .A .. who is a prominent physician at Shelbyville, married Bertha Mickelsen. and has two sons : Jesse MI., who is in the real estate and insurance business at Indianapolis. married Nora O. Kendall. and has two sims: Amelia M. was graduated at Oldenburg University and conducted a seamstress business for some years and at present is living in retirement at Shelbyville: Estella C. married William Lemasters, Sr. has six children, and resides on a farm in Shelby township: Arizona married James M. Agnew, of Irvington. Indiana, and has eight children.
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.