USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 7
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On the 15th of December. 1907, Mr. Nading was united in marriage with Miss Reba Cook. daughter of George S. Cook, of Hope, Indiana, a union being blessed with one child, Martin M., Jr., whose birth occurred February 17, 1909. Mrs. Nading, who was reared and educated in her native town, is a lady of intelligence and culture and well fitted to be the wife and helpmeet of the man whose name she honorably bears ; she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and interested in religious and charitable work.
PHILIP GEPHART.
Philip Gephart, a retired farmer of Brandywine township. now living in the town of Fairland, is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and the sixth of eleven children in the family of John and Julia Ann Gephart, both natives . of Pennsylvania, the father born in 1802, in Lancaster county. the mother in Georgetown in the year 1800. These parents moved to Ohio in an early day and were among the pioneer settlers of Montgomery county, where they reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives, dying many years ago on the farm which the husband and father improved.
Philip Gephart was born October 3. 1829. spent his early life on the farm and at the age of fifteen learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in his native state for a period of six years, during which time he became a
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skilled workman and commanded liberal wages. On December 27. 1851. he was united in the bonds of wedlock to Judith A. Pomeroy, whose birth occurred in Henry county, Virginia. April 8, 1832, and who later accompanied her parents, Thomas and Judith ( Pfeiffer ) Pomeroy, to Montgomery county. Ohio, where she grew to maturity and received her educational training in the country schools. Mrs. Gephart's father was a native of Connecticut and of French descent, her mother being of Virginia birth, and of English lineage.
During the seven years following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gephart lived on a farm in Montgomery county, Ohio, but at the expiration of that time disposed of their interests and moved to Shelby county, Indiana, locating on the farm in sections 15 and 16 in Brandywine township, which he still owns and to which he added at intervals until the place now includes two hundred acres, which in productiveness, improvements and all that constitutes a first-class farm, compares favorably with any like area of land in the county. From 1858 to 1901 Mr. Pomeroy resided on this place and spared ny efforts in developing it and bringing the land to a high state of tillage, the improve- ments in the meantime keeping pace with the cultivation of the soil. until for a man of progressive ideas whose knowledge of agriculture and ability to apply the same so as to secure the largest possible results, made him a master of his calling and a worthy example to others engaged in the same lines of activity.
Having accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to discontinue manual labor and enjoy the fruits of his many years of toil and judicious management. Mr. Gephart in 1901 turned his farm over to other hands and moved to Fairland, where. in a comfortable home equipped with the latest modern conveniences, he is living a life of honorable retirement. Though fortunate as far as his farming and business interests are concerne 1. and happily situated as far as his declining years are concerned. Mr. Gephart. in common with the great mass of humanity, has not been exempt from trials and bereavements, having recently passed through the deep waters of affliction in the death of his faithful and deve ted wife, who bade farewell to family and friends on the 5th day of January, 1907. She was a most estimable woman. whose character was ever above reproach, for many years a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gephart were five in number, as follows: Florence, born February 18, 1853. died August 17th of the same year : Agnes, born March 18. 1854. died on the 29th day of July, following: Julia Ann was born February 20, 1855. married Jefferson Goodrich, and lives 'in Fairland: she is the mother of two sons. Charles and George Goodrich : Charles T., the fourth of the family, was born June 21, 1857, and is a merchant of Fairland. He married Isabell Odel and is the father of two children, Philip and Cornelius. George. the youngest of the subjeet's children, and also a merchant at Fairland. was born August 22.
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1859. His first wife, whose maiden name was Ella Weaver, died after bearing him three children, Clyde, Mamie and Henry, and later he entered the mar- riage relation with Molly Patterson.
Mr. Gephart is a Democrat in politics, a Methodist in his religious faith and for many years has been active in church circles, and a trustee in the local . congregation. He is one of the old and highly esteemed citizens of Brandy- wine township, which he has seen developed from a sparsely settled community to its present prosperous condition. He has one sister, Mrs. Susan Burnette. who makes her home with him, these two being the only survivors of the family of John and Julia Gephart.
JACOB STOVER NIGH.
The founder of this family name in Shelby county was John Nigh, who was born in Pennsylvania April 12, 1796, and migrated to Ohio in carly manhood. There he married Cynthia Fix on October 31, 1822. and shortly after they removed to Shelby county, Indiana, and became early pioneers of Hanover township. The rest of their lives were passed on a farm, the hus- band dying August 27. 1856, and his wife, who was born August 27. 1803. died September 4. 1856. Jacob Stover Nigh, son of this pioneer couple, was born in December. 1843. and was left an orphan when about nine years old. Until 1870 he made his home with a brother-in-law in Van Buren township. when he married and engaged in farming on his own account. May 2. 1864. he enlisted for the one-hundred-day service in Company E. One Hundred Thirty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and at the end of his time was honorably discharged. He also holds and is naturally proud of a certificate of discharge and thanks signed by Abraham Lincoln. October 14. 1864. Mr. Nigh enlisted in Company F. Twenty-fifth Regiment Indiana In- fantry, with which he took part in Sherman's march to the sea, and the grand review at Washington. After receiving his final discharge Mr. Nigh returned home and resumed farming in Van Buren township. In 1904 he retired from active business and purchased a beautiful home in Fairland, where he has since made his residence. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has attended the National Encampments at Washington, Louisville and Cincinnati.
January 15. 1870. Mr. Nigh married Mary E. Wicker, who was born October 20, 1847. and died September 4. 1886. Their children were as fol- lows: Minnie F .. born December 23. 1870. married Roscoe Linville, and is now deceased : Nannie E., born September 23. 1872. married la Miller, of . Van Buren township, and has three children, Clarence. Lella and Edna : Jo-
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sephine, who was born December 17. 1874. died September 4. 1875: Thomas A., born March 10, 1876, died October 11, 1904. married Gertrude Miller, and left three children. Grace. Minnie and Opal: Verly M .. born September 7. 1878. married Georgia Fortner, has two children, Otis and Rufus, and lives on the old homestead: Mary L .. born October 20. 1880, married Fred Lin- ville, has three children. Lucille. Claude and Morris, and resides in Van Buren township. March 13. 1893. Mr. Nigh was married to Matilda A. Sleeth, a member of one of the oldest and best known families of Shelby county, and by this union there is one child. Ernest M .. born December 18, 1893.
The Sleeth family is of Irish origin, but has been identified with this county for nearly two hundred years. Alexander Sleeth was born in New York City September 24. 1719, and according to tradition his birth occurred a few days after his parents landed from Ireland. We next hear of these Irish immigrants as settlers of Eastern Virginia, in the vicinity of Dunfree. where Alexander grew to manhood. married, had a son named John, lost his wife by death, and enlisted in the Revolutionary war. He served six years in a Virginia regiment and was discharged with the rank of ensign and re- turned home. Marrying again, he removed with his family across the monn- tains into what is now West Virginia, and located in Greenbrier county. After a short residence in this place he crossed the Ohio and established a temporary home in Mad River Valley, which in turn was abandoned, and the migratory march was resumed further west. A final resting place was found in Fayette county. Indiana, above Connersville, where Alexander Sleeth lived until the time of his death, which occurred May 14. 1820, and his remains were deposited in a cemetery near Waterloo. John Sleeth, who was born in Virginia during the last quarter of the eighteenth century, followed his father in all of his western wanderings. In December. 1820, he removed to Shelby county, located in the woods of Marion township, and spent the rest of his days in fighting the forests and clearing them for agricultural purposes. He laid out the town of Marion which occupied part of his land. He became a citizen of prominence and influence and served as Judge of the Probate Court fer a number of years, and was the ancestor of numerous descendants who have figured conspicuously in the making of Shelby county. John Sleeth. who was always patriotic like his forefathers, was a member of the militia during the War of 1812. His wife died March ;. 1839. aged over fifty-five years, and his own useful life ended in September. 1851. John Sleeth's chil- dren were as follows: Samuel, born January 12, 1802, and died at the age of twenty-two: Polly. born January 9. 1805. married Martin Snow: Rachael. born February 5. 18OS, married William Bolabangh: Alvina, born April 7, 1811. married Joseph Johnston : John. Jr., born November 25. 1814, was the father of Matilda A. Sleeth, who is now Mrs. Jacob Stover Nigh : Nancy, born March 12. 1817. married Paris C. Talbert: Alexander. born November
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4. 1819. died in infancy : Sarah, born January 26, 1824. married James W. Kennedy: Martin S., who was born March 1, 1828, died in infancy. John Sleeth, Jr., father of Mrs. Nigh, was born in Ohio, lived with his parents until he married, then came to Shelby county and spent the rest of his days as a farmer in Union township. He served eight years as Trustee of his town- ship. His schooling was limited in youth, but by study and reading in after life he became a well informed man. A Democrat up to 1852. he changed on the slavery question and was ever afterward a Republican. He died in March, 1888. February 14. 1839. he married Rebecca Talbert, who died in October. 1883. and their children were as follows: Fernandes, born November 22. 1839. is now residing in Fairland: Addison, born April 29. 1842, lives in Humboldt. Kansas: Asa, born August 30, 1844. resides in Oregon: Sarah, born February 18, 1845. married John Stapp, and resides at Fairland : Anna M .. born October 22. 1850. is also a resident of Fairland: Nancy L .. born October 16, 1853, is the widow of Frederick Ross, and lives at Fairland : Ma- tilda A., the youngest of the family, was born September 12, 1856, and is now Mrs. Nigh.
MORGAN ANDERSON ROBINS.
A self-made man in the broadest sense of the term and an enterprising citizen whom to know is to esteem and honor. Morgan Anderson Robins has acted well his part in life, and stands out clear and distinct as one of the progressive Americans of his day and generation in the community of his residence. Mr. Robins is descended from an old Welsh family that came to America in the time of the colonies and at the breaking out of the War of the Revolution one of his ancestors entered the army and rendered valiant service for the cause of independence. rising to the rank of captain and attaining marked distinction on a number of bloody battle fields. Mary Robins. the subject's mother. was born in Clark county, Indiana, in 1833: her parents. Philemon and Polly (Fouts) Robins, being natives of North Carolina, were early settlers of that part of the Hoosier State. Philemon Robins was a farmer by occupation. After residing for a number of years in Clark county. he moved to Illinois, thence to Shelby county. Indiana, where he and his good wife spent the remainder of their lives, both dying on the family homstead in Marion township, where, side by side with their parents in a private cemetery. they are sleeping the sleep that knows no waking.
Morgan Anderson Robins was born in Shelby county, Indiana, January II. 1846, and spent his childhood and youth in close touch with nature on the home farm, receiving his educational discipline in the public schools. Reared to agricultural pursuits and growing to the full stature of vigorous manhood.
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amid the bracing airs of rural life, he early became self-reliant and very naturally chose farming as the vocation best suited to his tastes and inclina- tions. Since his youth, therefore, he has devoted his attention to the tilling of the soil, and for a number of years has owned a good farm and a substantial home in section 17. Marion township, a few miles from Shelbyville, where. surrounded by many cvidences of his industry, thrift and excellent manage- ment, he is now in comfortable circumstances with a sufficiency of this world's goods in his possession to insure his future against adversity and his declining years from care.
Mr. Robins began the struggle of life with no assistance from well-to-do or influential friends and he owes his advancement and present success to his individual exertions alone. In due time he rose superior to his early environ ment to become what he has long been -- one of the successful farmers of his township and a citizen who commands the respect and esteem of his fellow men. In the year 18So he entered the marriage relation with Salice Sorden, daughter of Isaac Sorden, whose people were among the pioneers of Shelby county. the union resulting in the birth of five children, three sons and two daughters. namely: Zora, who married Walter Pond, in Marion township: Milton. who is married and is a farmer, his wife having formerly been Margaret Maple ; William. George and Grace, the youngest members of the family, are still at home and, with their parents, constitute a very happy and contented domestic circle.
Politically Mr. Robins is a pronounced Democrat. and has rendered valuable service to his party both as an adviser in its councils and a worker with the rank and file. He is well informed on the questions and issues before the people. Mrs. Robins and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Shelbyville, which religious body Mr. Robins also attends, though not formally identified therewith.
MARION W. McFERRAN.
The family of this name, though originally of Ireland, came to America at an early day and was long settled in Kentucky. Thomas McFerran, the founder. might have stood for the hero of the once popular song. "He is a Fine Old Irish Gentleman. One of the Olden Kind." He emigrated in youth. eventually reached the South, as an adventurous Irish lad. married in Ken- tucky, and in 1835 came to Shelby county. He located on a tract of timber land in Hendricks township, which had been entered by his father-in-law, and like many another pioncer, bravely confronted the task of subduing a part of the great western wilderness. Lucinda Hendricks, the girl he had selected to
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help him make this hard fight. was born and reared in Kentucky and had the true grit, incident to the place of her nativity. Her father was Peter Hen- dricks, an early pioneer of Franklin county, where he lived out his allotted time and passed away in the fullness of years. Thomas MeFerran, before his death, added considerably to the original eighty acres given him by his father-in-law and his holdings eventually amounted to four hundred acres of the rich soil of Hendricks township. His wife died October 21, 1865, at the early age of less than thirty-four years, after becoming the mother of four children : Marion W .. Lewis W., killed in the Civil war: Levi, a resident of Olympia, Washington ; and Caroline, wife of a Mr. Walker, who, having died before a year elapsed. she married William Wagoner and resides in Johnson county. Thomas MeFerran's second wife was Eliza Gully, of Kentucky, by whom he had three children : Jasper, deceased : Mary, wife of James Cutsinger. and Jessie, wife of John V. Pentzer. The mother died December 3. 1907, and is buried in Forest Hill cemetery, at Shelbyville. Thomas MeFerran died January 29, 1883. at the age of nearly seventy-five and was laid by the body of his first wife in the Mount Gilead cemetery, near Smithland. They were members of the old Mount Gilead Baptist church, of which he was a deacon. In 1876 he joined the Methodist Protestant church at Marietta and was much interested in religious affairs.
Marion W. McFerran, oldest of his father's children, was born in Ken- tucky. December 19. 1831, and was consequently but four years of age when his parents came to Shelby county. Ile assisted his father in the hard worl: of making a home and remained with him until the completion of his twenty - fourth year, when he began to form plans of his own. September 15. 1855. he married Mary Gully, who was born in Kentucky. December 14. 1832, and who was a sister of his father's second wife and a daughter of Willis and Elizabeth Land) Gully. Willis Gully was a native of Wales, who was brought to Kentucky by his parents in childhood. After his marriage he came to Shelby county and entered land, but in 1834 removed to Decatur county, where he lived until 1865. He then went to Hendricks county. returned in 1869 to Shelby county for eight years, again migrate.1 to Decatur county, and remained there until death put an end to his wanderings. He was the father of twelve children: Fannie. William. Lucretia. Eliza. Nancy, of Decatur county: Thomas, of Indianapolis: Mildred. deceased: Lucinda, of Indianapolis: Mary. Amanda, of Boone county: John, of Shelbyville. and James, deceased. After his marriage Marion MeFerran lived for ten years on his own farm, after which he returned to the oldl homestead and remained there until his life ende:1. His children are as follows : Jasper N., deceased. married Olive Smith, who now resides in Oklahoma : Lillie, wife of Leander Creek. of Hendricks township, has four children : Otto, who married May Slagk : Ata. wife of Jacob Conway, of Marietta; Esta, of Shelby county: Myrtie, wife
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of James Snapp : J. D. MeFerran, third child of Marion, married Phoebe Pile. resides in Lafayette, Indiana, and has two children. Maude and Joe: Laura McFerran, fourth child of Marion, married John W. Pile, resides at Marietta and has seven children: Mary, wife of Charles Sheffler ; Erva married Burnice Glover: Harry married Katie Henderson : Carl, deceased: Richard. Estie and Lola. Elizabeth A. McFerran, youngest child of Marion, married Levant Strahl, of Brown county, and has four children : Elva Lorena. Harry Elroy. Adah Marie and Warren Edward. Mr. Strahl died May 26, 1905. in the flower of his young manhood, and was sincerely lamented, as everybody calle:1 him a nice young man. He was universally respected and gave promise of much usefulness, had his life been spared. lle was only thirty-seven years old when called away and a large concourse of mourners appeared at his grave, when he was laid away in the Miller cemetery. Marion MeFerran was a member of the Baptist church, in which he held the position of clerk. No citizen of Hendricks township was held in higher esteem, and it is doubtful if he had an enemy in the world. Since his death his wife has lived with her daughter, Mrs. Strahl, who owns one hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land, which she manages herself. Mr. McFerran died May 10. 1904, and is buried in the Miller cemetery. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. a friend of all moral causes and a fine type of the best class of farmers' wives, who did yeoman service in rescuing the county from its rough state. covered with brush and swamps, and placing it in the first rank. as a model of agricul- tural development and advancement.
SAMUEL B. CONOVER.
When John B. Conover, grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this review, left New Jersey. his native state, and settled on Bhie river in what is now Shelby county. Indiana. in about 1815. he found a boundless wilder- ness, in many places abounding in marshes and infested with savages and ferocious wild beasts, but being a man of strong heart and limb he feared neither and, entering land from the government, set about to make a home where he spent the remainder of his days, developing a good farm by much toil and hardship. Here his children. four boys and one girl, grew up. all now deceased. John B. Conover. the father of the subject of this review. was born and reared in Shelby county, and here he married Roanna Hawkins. immediately afterwards moving to Hamilton county. this state, where he secured a farm on which he lived until about ten years prior to his death, when he moved back to Shelby county, where he died. He was a successful farmer and a man of influence in his community. His family consisted of eight chil-
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dren, namely : John S., Eliza, Sarah. William. Maggie, Matilda, Samuel B .. Albert L. Of this number three girls and two boys are now living. Samuel B. Conover, the seventh child in order of birth in this family, was born in Hamilton county, Indiana. October 9, 1854. He was reared on the home farm. which he helped to clear, ditch and improve in general. The first school he attended was in an old log cabin, equipped with an old-fashioned fire place ; the education he thus received was somewhat limited, but he has become a well read man in later years. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old. after which he worked on the farm by the day and month.
Mr. Conover was married to Ella Wilson and two children were born to this union, Claude E .. born February 26, 1885. married Hazel Wertz : Claressa Cecil, born September 17, 1887. Mrs. Conover is deceased. Mr. Conover then married Mrs. Charlotte ( Eberhart) Hill, who was born in Jackson township. Shelby county. December 29. 1863. daughter of Andrew J. Eber- hart. and three children were born to this union, namely: Edna F .. born January 1. 1893: Elva, born May 5. 1897: Marie, born July 13, 1900. By her former marriage Mrs. Sammel B. Conover became the mother of two sons, Walter F. and Marvin J. Hill. The latter married Eva Couchron, of Flat Rock, and they reside in Chicago. Walter F. Hill married Mamie Nail. who became the mother of one son. Ralph. The mother died in 1903. Mr. Conover is devoted to his family and always looks well to their interests. He has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 2. range 6. east. It is under a high state of improvement and he has a good dwelling and barns. In politics he is a Democrat : he was at one time road supervisor and he at present is a member of the Township Advisory Board. He looks after the interests of his township with the same care as if they were his own private affairs. He is a member of the Christian church at Mt. Auburn, while his wife affiliates with the Wesleyan Methodist church. Hle is regarded by all who know him as one of the substantial men of Washington township.
EZEKIEL ANDREW JACKSON.
The Jackson family has long been a well established one in Shelby county, members of which bear excellent reputations for honesty and indus- try wherever they have dispersed. Ezekiel .A. Jackson was born in section 1. range 6, township 12, June 19. 1862. the son of John and Elizabeth ( Rode- heffer) Jackson. Samuel Rodeheffer, the maternal grandfather, was born in Germany. Elizabeth Rodeheffer was born in Ohio, of German parentage. December. 1837. and she died April 6, 1903. John Jackson was born June 30, 1832. in Franklin county. Indiana, and he died in July. 1904. He was
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married November 21, 1852. He was a minister in the Christian church and was a liberal supporter of the same. He was also considered a progressive farmer of his day. ( For additional history of the Jackson family's ancestors see sketch of Thomas W. Jacks m.)
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Jackson, namely: Mary M .. wife of James M. Lee, living in Shelby township: William J., a farmer in Scott county, Indiana : Shelby S .. living in Anderson, Indiana : Ezekie! . \ .. of this review : Sarah J .. wife of John A. Fix, a farmer in Scott county, this state: Margaret, wife of Charles W. Parrish, died April 7. 1892: Florence O., wife of James R. Burkhead, a farmer of Scott county : Otis M .. a barber in Indianapolis: Charles O., of Shelbyville.
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