USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 53
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John Wright is a traveling salesman representing a manufacturing con- cern. Charles Wright and his sister. Lizzie, wife of George W. . Averitt, live in Quitman, Georgia. He and Mr. Averitt are in the general mercantile business.
George M. Wright's mother, after a beautiful and consistent life, passed away .April 7. 1859. Afterwards the father married Nancy H. Small, widow of Doctor Small ( see her sketch in this work ). George M. Wright grew to maturity in Shelbyville, where he attended the public schools. Ile later went to Asbury ( now De Pauw ) University, having graduated in the classof 1869. After leaving college he studied law with his father, and began practice about 1874. entering partnership with his father. After the latter's death he con- tinued the practice alone for about fifteen years. Sedentary life proving in- jurious to his health he has since devoted himself to general business interests.
On December 19, 1872, he was united in marriage with Lizzie D. Sor- den, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Sorden. She was born and reared in Shelbyville. Her father was one of the old-time merchants in this city. lle handled various kinds of goods, grain and live stock.
To Mr. and Mrs. George M. Wright two children have been born. Mrs. Charles Tindall and Mrs. Oscar Orebaugh. The latter is the mother of one daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Methodist church and the former is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Wright showed his patriotism by enlisting in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in April. 1864, serving until his enlistment expired and he was honorably discharged. He belongs to the
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Grand Army of the Republic. He has long beer an active worker in the Re- publican party. For ten years he was Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. He also served as City Attorney of Shelbyville from 1878 to 1885. He held high rank at the local bar for many years and became widely known.
JOHN A. WOOD.
Few men who have lived in Shelby county took more interest in educa- tional matters than the late John A. Wood. Naturally studious, his reading was extensive, taking a wide range over the whole field of history, science, and the best of our lighter literature. A successful teacher himself, . Mr. Wood knew what it took to excel in the art of pedagogics. For this reason he paid attention to the class of young men and women who were sent out "to teach the young idea how to shoot." The students of his township, as in fact those of the entire county, never had a better friend than he. He believed in education from the bottom of his heart, and looked upon it as the only sal- vation of our institutions. He was also active in church work, realizing how important a bearing religion has on the formation of character and morals; in fact, he could be counted on, without mistake, as being on the right side of all the moral questions that came up, such as temperance, religion, educa- tion and good government generally. His aid was always ready to the extent of his ability in pushing forward the various reforms that are ever in de- mand in all communities.
John A. Wood was born in Moral township. Shelby county. Indiana, February 2, 1848. His parents were George and Lida ( Webb) Wood, na- tives of Ohio, who found their way to Shelby county some years before the Civil war, and established a home. The mother dying, the husband removed to Missouri, where, so far as known, he spent the remainder of his life. Sep- tember 19, 1869. John A. Wood married Mary Ann, daughter of Henry C. Smith, born in Moral township, March 9, 1849. After his marriage Mr. Wood spent nearly four years in Missouri, and after his return engaged in school work. He taught for a number of years and achieved local fame as one of the best educators the county ever had. He invested his savings in a small farm of forty acres, which made him a comfortable home and succeed- ed in increasing his holdings to eighty acres before his death, which occurred August 2, 1872. the burial being in Fairview cemetery, in Van Buren town- ship. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant church, at Sugar Creek. and of the Chapel, in the township. He served as trustee and was very active in Sunday school work. He was elected Assessor of Moral township on the Democratic ticket and served one term. His children were as follows: Law-
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rence, who married Belle Boring, is a resident of Greenfield and has two chil- dren. Ralph and Irene: Edgar, who married Ethel King. resides in Van Bu- ren township and has three children, Florence. Paul and Carroll: Merritt. who married Stella Boyce. resides at Greenfield and has two children, Mil- dred and Julia : Oscar, and two children who died-Lester and Elsic.
ISAAC SEXTON.
Settlers were few and far between when Enoch and Phoebe ( Stansberry ) Sexton moved into Shelby county in 1833. They were natives of Kentucky and married in that state a short time before deciding on the migration to Indiana. They bought a farm near Waldron and put in the next twenty-three years "whipping into shape" for cultivation. In 1856 they removed to Van Buren township and made their home at Fountaintown until their respective deaths. They were real pioneers, as Shelby county was little more than a wilderness when they appeared in its borders, and they did their full share in removing the forests. building, fencing and clearing, which hard work wa. necessary before Shelby county could become the beautiful agricultural gar- den spot that now greets the beholder. The children of this pioneer couple were : Perry, deceased : Rachael, deceased wife of Joab Simmons : Nancy, de- ceased wife of Jacob Fisher; Sarah, wife of Simon Miller, of Van Buren township: David, a resident of Morristown; Isaac, subject of this sketch: Frances J., wife of John Alyea, of Hancock county: Phabe, deceased. and Oliver M., resident of Van Buren township.
Isaac Sexton, sixth of the family, was born in Noble township. near Waldron, Shelby county. Indiana, March 25. 1845. He was still quite young when his father removed to Van Buren township, but he was able to assist some in the hard work of clearing, and later made a full hand in all the diffi- cult undertakings around the farm. There was not much chance for educa- tion, the only school being a short term subscription, with poor accommoda- tions and little inducement to pupils. He remained with his parents until the completion of his twenty-seventh year, when he began forming plans to go into business for himself. He took possession of a farm of eighty acres in Moral township, of which he eventually became the owner, and put in many hard licks converting it into a modern place. He increased his holdings by degrees until at present he owns one hundred and sixty acres of as productive land as can be found in that part of the county. Mr. Sexton made all the improvements, including fencing, ditching, creation of necessary outbuild- ings, residence and other equipments of an up-to-date farm. He has pros- pered. as the result of good judgment and industry, now being regarded as
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one of the solid citizens of Moral township. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Fairview, and a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Fountaintown.
In 1862 Mr. Sexton married Sarah Buckingham, a native of Van Buren township, and his children by this union are as follows: James 11. died in infancy: Elbert married Lulu Williams, resides in Hancock county and has three children. Dorothy, deceased. Glenn and Levor: William, who married Gertrude Harrell, is a resident of Columbus, Ohio; Lulu, wife of William Sleeth, of Moral township, has two children. Waldron Emmerson and Rhoda, who are at home.
HENRY BOOHER.
The family of which the subject of this sketch is a representative has been known in Shelby county since the pioneer period, and today there are few names in this part of the state as highly esteemed and honored. A. C. Booher, the subject's father, was a Virginian by birth, but was brought to Shelby county by his parents when only about eighteen months old and here spent the remainder of his life, dying in the year 1896. He was an enterpris- ing tiller of the soil, his ancestors for generations having been farmers. In addition to his success in his chosen vocation, Mr. Becher became a local politician of considerable prominence, and for a number of years he was a recognized leader of the Democratic party, not in his neighborhood alone. but in the county at large, throughout which he was widely and favorably known and esteemed as an energetic, industrious man. He cleared a great deal of land in Shelby county and became quite well-to-do, owning besides a fine farm, which he developed from the virgin forest, other valuable prop- erty, both real and personal. He was a prominent member of the United Brethren church, one of the first religious organizations in Marion county. and during a long and active life his actions were ever in harmony with his profession as a disciple of Nazarene.
Margaret Copple, wife of A. C. Booher, was born in Shelby county in 1832, her people moving from North Carolina in an early day and settling in Marion township, Shelby county, where the name is still familiarly known. Mr. and Mrs. Booher were the parents of ten children, five of whom are de- ceased, the living members of the family being as follows: Samuel, James, Henry, Charles and Clarissa. The mother of these children died in the year 1902.
Henry Booher, whose birth occurred on October 16. 1867, was reared on the family homestead in Marion township and received his educational train- ing in the district schools. He early learned the lessons of industry and thrift.
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grew to manhood on the farm, and on attaining his majority began life for himself as a tiller of the soil, which honorable vocation he has since followed with gratifying financial results. His entire life has thus far been spem in his native county, and for a number of years he has been prominent in the ai- fairs of Marion township, having been elected in the fall of 1908 as Trustee of the same, besides taking an active and influential part in promoting the me- terial interest of the country. He was reared a Democrat and since his youth has been a zealous party worker, being at this time not only a local leader of considerable influence, but a politician whose services have tended greatly to the success of the party ticket in the county, district and state affairs. He was the first Democrat elected to the office of Trustee in the township of Marion for a period of twenty years, and he is proving faithful to the trust reposed in him by his constituency.
Mrs. Booher, who bore the maiden name of Ida C. Myer, was born in Shelby county in the year 1868, being the daughter of Peter and Sarah Myer, a well known and highly esteemed couple of Hanover township. The mar- riage of Mr. Booher and Miss Myer, which was solemnized in 1889, has been blessed with four children : Verla E. aged eighteen years: Lena, who is fif. teen years old ; Letha M., and Lancy 1 ... aged eight and six years, respectively.
Mrs. Booher and family are members of the United Brethren church and regular in their attendance of its services. While not identified with any church, religious or fraternal order, Mr. Booher has profound respect for these and other means of promoting the welfare and happiness of his fellow men.
Mr. Booher's successful career has resulted in the accumulation of the comfortable competency now in his possession, including the well tilled farm and beautiful and attractive rural home about five and one-half miles from Shelbyville.
SCOTT AUGUSTUS BROWN.
The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this review is one of the progressive young men of Union township. He was born in the township. October 6, 1881. and is the son of Frank and Isabel (.Ash ) Brown. de- scendants of early settlers of Shelby county. Frank Brown was born in this county. November 28. 1852. His parents came to this locality from North Carolina, emigrating hither in the early days of the county's history, when the land was still thickly studded with timber.
They located on Blue river, built the usual log cabin for a house and set to work to clear a strip of land. for farming purposes. Frank received stich education as could be obtained from the subscription and free schools of the
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neighborhood. The discipline of this life developed in him the trait- of self- reliance and independence that have marked him as a citizen. He is still living in the township and is held in high regard by his friends and acquaint ances. He is a member of the Christian Union church, and is the father of three children. They are Scott Augustus, our subject ; Gracie, who married J. W. P. Meltzer, of Ray's Crossing, and Clifford, who is now in school.
Scott received his common school education in the county schools and upon reaching his majority prepared himself for teaching by attending the Central Normal College at Danville. He taught in the schools of Union township for eight years and then abandoned the profession for farming.
His education and experience fitted him for greater usefulness to his fel- low citizens, and as a result of the confidence won for him from his friends. he was prevailed upon to accept the office of Township Trustee, the duties of which he is now discharging in an eminently successful manner. lle is a Democrat and his broad-mindedness has marked him as a man of sound judg ment and safe executive ability.
On December 28. 1904. he was joined in marriage to Edith M. Gunning. who was born May 4. 1881. She was the daughter of John L. and Nancy J. (Orme ) Gunning, well known residents of the township.
The subject is a member of the Christian Union church at Ray's Cross- ing. His wife is a member of the Christian church near their home farm in Union township.
Mr. Brown is a man of pleasing personality and takes a deep interest in the social life of the neighborhood. He is a member of the Blue Ridge Lodge. No. 554, Independent Order of Odd Fellowes, and has done much to promote the best interests of the order. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen Lodge, No. 4263. at Ray's Crossing.
JASPER HESTER.
On May 17, 1857. there was born in the same house where he now lives. Jasper Hester. the son of John and Emiline Linville ( Zike ) Hester, who were among the number of Shelby county's carly settlers. Our subject's father was a native of North Carolina, having been born in Guilford county, of that state, on August 31. 1813. His death took place on January 25. 1842. in Shelby county, whither he had come on horse-back when about twenty-one years of age. Two years after his arrival he returned to his native state and was there married, in 1833. to Melinda McCaleb, with whom, twelve years later. he returned to Indiana, driving over in a large wagon, which com- fortably accommodated the family of five children. This number was later
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increased to six, and consisted of Newton H. born October 22. 1834, Who now resides at Fitzgerald, Georgia; William D., deceased, bon August 20. 18 36: Nancy J. (Golding ), Forn October 28, 1838; Mary J. (Gardner), born February 10. 18441 ; John 11., born December 10, 1843. now living at Elwood. this state: Sarah A .. born August 11. 1848, married to J. Bilwards. The mother of these six children died October 1. 1848. John, father of our sub ject, was married again on October 22. 1852, his second wife being Emilie Linville (Zike), who was born November 3. 1819, and died May 2. 1800. Four children were born of this union. They are: Jacob, born July 26, 1851. whose home is now in Rush county : B. F., born April 6. 1854. now living in Kansas; Jasper. our subject. and Clara F., boin December 1, 1859. now of Rush county.
Before marrying John Hester, Mrs. Emiline Linville ( Zike) had be- come the mother of three children by her former husband. viz: John, Joseph and William Zike. the first named being the only survivor.
When Jasper Hester's father returned to Indiana he bought the land where Jasper was later lorn, and which consisted of the virgin forest. in habited by the native wild animals of the country. In time. he transformed this into a productive farm. continuing thereon until his death. He was energetic. conscientious and public-spirited and was known as Captain Hes- ter. being known as the leader of the available fighting population of the neighborhood. He was also a good student and a well rend man, and at- filiated with the Christian church. Jasper received his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood, and for three terms attended the Oki Hartsville Academy in Bartholomew county. On April 13. 1884. he was joined in marriage to Leota Fisher, born February 29. 1864. daughter of Benjamin F. and Margaret Fisher. The former was born October 1, 1838. and died November 24. 1901, while the latter was born December 6. 1845. and passed to her reward on October 27. 1903. These parents were also pioneer: of the state and were well known in the county. Mrs. Hester's great grandmother was a full cousin of Gen. Winfield Scott.
Mr. and Mrs. Hester have become the parents of nine children, as fol- lows: Ethel May, born January 26, 1885, and died September 24. of the same year: Carey U .. born January 26, 1886: Carey U. married May 23. 1906, to Norma Harris, parents of two children, Kathleen, born December 2, 1906, and Randell. born January 23. 1908, died May 30, 1908: Ralph W. born July 21. 1887: Myra B., born October 29. 1889; Edith L., born May 4. 1803: Herman Howard, born August 1. 1898; Mildred Irene, born December 28. 1901 : Ruth I .. born November 26, 1904. and David Franklin, born May 3. 1606.
In his early days Mr. Hester engaged in hotel keeping and the meat business, and later ventured into the drilling for oil and gas. In recent years
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he has given more attention to farming. He and Mrs. Hester are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Hester votes with the Prohibition party.
WILLIAM NDING.
As the man who buys the grain and affords all facilities for marketing the same is a factor as essential as the producer himself, in the general agricul- tural development of a locality, it would not be too much to say that William Nading stands to Shelby county in the character of a benefactor. For years he has been buying the farmers' grain, paying for it the highest cash price. and furnishing at many points the most modern methods for handling and shipping. It would take a good mathematician to figure out the number of bushels he has handled during his career as a grain merchant and an expert accountant to count how much money he has paid out to farmers. William Nading was born in Bartholomew county. Indiana, January 9. 1853. and after an unusually busy and useful career has scarcely passed the prime of life. Ilis parents were Milton and Mary ( Snider ) Nading, of North Carolina na- tivity, but married in Indiana, settling shortly afterward on a farm near (i)- lumbus, where the father died in 1861, and the mother some years later. They became the parents of nine children. William being the sixth in order of birth. He remained on the farm until the completion of his twenty-first year. when he joined his brother. John, at Flat Rock, in the grain business. The former, who was the eldest of the children, had been in business for some years and had been most successful. In 1887 William opened business for himself. and in 1892 removed to Shelbyville and established himself in the elevator business on a large scale. His elevator, mill and other property were destroyed by fire in 1904. after which he purchased the old Shelby Mills, but after running them for two years disposed of his hollings. Immediately thereafter he bought control of nine outside elevators, with a total capacity of two hundred fifty thousand bushels, of which he is now sole owner of eight. and in control of the other. These clevators were located at Fairland. 1.on- don. Prescott, St. Paul. Waldron. Lewis Creek. Fenns and Boggstown. He handles corn and wheat mostly and is by far the most extensive of the county's grain dealers.
The Nading Mill and Grain Company. William Nading, sole proprietor. was incorporated in 1904. under the laws of the state of Indiana. Mr. Na- ding's rule of life, by which he has always been controlled, and which gives a key to his character, is expressed in the following maxim: "Let your word be as good as your bond-be equally careful of both." William Nading's
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word is as good as his land anywhere in Shelby county, or wherever he goes Mr. Nading's fraternal relations are confined to membership of Kenton Lodge. No. 207. Knights of Pythias, at Flat Rock, of which he is a chanter member.
May 24. 1884. Mr. Nading married Mary, daughter of David and Sarah (Snepp) Compton. the former being a farmer in Jackson township, near l'la: Rock. Mr. and Mrs. Nading have four children: Emma B. married H. W. Reiman, an expert accountant, who is bookkeeper for the Nading Mill Com- pany. Lillian and Catherine are at Fairmount Seminary in Washington, D. C., and Mildred is attending the Shelbyville public schools. The family at- tend religions services at the Presbyterian church, though Mr. Nading was reared a Methodist.
THOMAS JEFFERSON EDWARDS.
The subject of this sketch was born in Rush county. Indiana, Muy &. 1839, and was the son of Jonathan Edwards and Virteous Armfield, both ci whom were natives of Guilford county. North Carolina. The former was born July, 25, 1803. and the latter December 25. 1808.
The ancestors of the Edwards family came to America originally in Dublin, Ireland, emigrating to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and from there to Virginia, and then to North Carolina. The Armfickdis hailed from England. Our subject's parents came to Indiana as pioneers and settled in Shelly county, and in the course of three years moved to Rush county, close to the . town of Manilla. Here Mr. Edwards bought a tract of unimproved land. which he cleared and put under cultivation. He helped to lay out the town of Manilla, and assisted in cutting the trail through the wilderness from Rush ville to Shelbyville. At this time the face of the Indian was still a common one in the neighborhood and the forest abounded in wild game. All the stock raised in this section was driven to Lawrenceburg for shipment, and other produce was taken with oxen to the same market. Mr. Edwards not only farmed. but at night plied his trade of shoe and harness maker, and was suc- cessful as a veterinary surgeon also. He was a member of the Christian church, and died August 10. 1879. on the farm which he had originally cleared. The following children were born into this family: Joseph, Mary. Jane, Gilbert, Nellie and William, all of whom are deceased. Francis has his home in Rush county. Thomas Jefferson was the next child in the order of birth, and was followed by Robert, Jemimah. deceased. Jonathan. Andrew, James MI., deceased. and Leonidas J.
Our subject received the most of his education in the subscription schools of the neighborhood, attending only two terms in the free schools. At the
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age of twenty-one he entered the army and remained in active service for two years. Upon his return he went back to the parental homestead and con- tinued with his parents there until the close of their days.
At the age of thirty seven years Mr. Edwards was joined in marriage to Elizabeth Henthorn, daughter of Zachariah and Jerusia Heuthorn. She was born in 1851. and died on January 3. 1895.
Mr. Edwards has devoted himself entirely to farming, and has been uni- formly successful, demonstrating that industry, perseverance and a careful study of one's work will certainly result in improved conditions and material gains. He is a consistent adherent to the Christian church at Manilla, and en- dorses the Prohibition party. He is held in high esteem by friends and neigh bors, and takes an active interest in the promotion of the public good in the vicinity and the state in which he lives.
LEONIDAS JOHNSON EDWARDS.
The subject of this review is mentioned in the sketch of Thomas Jeffer- son Edwards in the present volume, and in that article will be found the facts regarding the ancestry of the family.
Leonidas was born on the 8th day of June, 1853. and on the 27th day of December. 1875. he was married to Fannie Johnson, daughter of Orange and Sarah Johnson, of Manilla, where the daughter was born.
Five children have graced this union. They are: Anna, born September 15. 1876: Deanie, born June 4. 1878: George T., born .August 25. 1882. and married to Artie May Bates, this union resulting in the birth of two children, Margaret Lenore and Mary Frances. The next child. following George, was Nellie May, who was born October 20, 188;, and died October 28, 1904. The youngest child is Arthur Orange, born March 26, 1899.
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