USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 2 > Part 9
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Mr. Deupree's first marriage was with Susan Sanders on March 4. 1863. She was born in Johnson county, this state, and to this union one child. William E., was born March 2. 1864. He is Judge of the Circuit Court of Jolinson and Brown counties. The friends of William E. Deupree early recog- nized in him a judicial quality and singled him out for official honors, conse- quently he is at this writing Judge of Johnson and Brown counties, as before stated, which position he very ably and creditably fills, giving to the same his best talents and discharging its duties in such a conscientious and skillful manner as to gain the good will of his constituents and all others concerned. for he has a well balanced judicial mind and a power of analysis in all cases. whether criminal or civil. that renders him peculiarly adept in this line. his decisions showing him to be bread-minded. teclinical, cautious, conservative and unerring, desiring at all times to give the best there is in him to whatever ยท case he has in hand. He is popular with lawyers and litigants and is known as one of the leading jurists of this locality.
Mrs. Daniel C. Deupree was called from her earthly labors. April 22. 1866. Two years later. in February. 1868. Daniel C. Deupree was married to Anna Walker, and seven children were born to this union, namely : Hannah, a teacher in her early life, became the wife of Charles Thomas: Ella. Jesse A .. John: Araminta. the wife of John Stainbrook : Orpha and Elijah.
These children were given every advantage possible in the way of edu- cation, and they are all fairly well situated in life.
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In his political views Mr. Deupree is a firm believer in the principles of Democracy, but he has never been active in the ranks. He is a member of the Christian church at Edinburg. Few men in this locality are better known and none are held in higher esteem than he. for his career has been one of consecutive endeavor along laudable lines and always lived in such a manner as to gain the confidence and respect of his fellows.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HOLBROOK.
On the 27th of April. 1853, there was born in Union township. Shelby county, George Washington Holbrook, the son of John and Mary Ann (Brown) Holbrook, both pioneer settlers of the county. John Holbrook was born in Stokes county, North Carolina. July 13. 1813. When sixteen years of age he came with his parents to Indiana. There were twelve children in the family and they located in Union township. this county, when the only roadways were blazed trails, when the domestic animal was the ox, and the markets for produce were Lawrenceburg and Cincinnati. Here the family was reared to maturity and the members have formed a part of the county's substantial and progressive citizens, our subject's father having attained to a ripe old age, his death occurring in 1900.
Mary Ann Brown was born in Harrison county. Ohio, in 1812, and came to Shelby county with her parents when about thirteen years of age. Her ancestors were of Welsh descent. She was married to John Holbrook in 1836, and died in 1898. She reared a family of eight children, viz: Bar- bara, Robert Wesley. William Emmans, John J., Mary C. and James H .. both deceased : George W. and Levi.
Our subject was educated in the e unmon schools of the neighborhood. attending for the most part the old Bronson school, where the short winter terms limited the period for schooling to a much shorter time than is offered to the children of the present day. He was brought up on the farm and learned the lessons of thrift. industry and perseverance that have characterized him as a man. In 1879 he was married to Missouri Ann Hawkins, daugh- ter of John B. and Amy Adeline ( Linville ) Hawkins. Mrs. Holbrook was born in this county on June 22. 1858, her parents on both sides being among the early settlers of the county. Her father was born in Germany and came to America when six years of age. After marriage Mr. and Alrs. Holbrook began their domestic career as farmers. Two children have been born to them, viz: Cora L., born January 24. 1880, and Thomas J., born July 6, 1883. Cora was married to Leonard P. Ford. and has a family of three children. George F .. Hugh M. and Bernice Mildred.
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Mr. Holbrook has continued general farming and as a result of his in- dustry and intelligent effort. he has a well improved farm of sixty acres. a modern and comfortable home, and is held in high esteem by his many friends and acquaintances. He and his family are members of the Little Blue River Baptist church. Mr. Holbrook is a Democrat in politics, but has never sought office, preferring rather to devote his thought and energy to his work of farming. but at the same time he keeps closely in touch with all matters of public interest, and has positive convictions on the leading questions of the day.
PHILIP PETER KEHRT.
Among the many sturdy German farmers of Shelby county who deserve mention in the present volume is Philip Kehrt, who lives in Union township. on the farm where he was born. He was the seventh in a family of nine chil- dren. His father, Peter Kehrt, was born in Rheinpflatz. Germany. April 30. 1812. He came to America when a young man, and made his way to In- diana, locating in Shelby county. He was an industrious worker, and be- came engaged in farming. He was able in due time to put himself into pos- session of a well improved farm, and became known as one of Shelby county's thrifty settlers. He died December 26. 1875.
Anna Mary Haehi, Philip's mother, was also born in Germany. her birth occurring February 27. 1817. She married Mr. Kuhn after coming to Shel- by county, and lived to the age of seventy years, passing to her rest January 6, 1887. She was the mother of the following children: Elizabeth. Con- rad. Margaret and Henry, deceased: Katherine, who married Mr. Back- stead; Mary, deceased : Philip Peter. Phoebe and a younger child, beth de- ceased.
Owing to unfortunate conditions Philip received but a meager education, the winter terms of school being short and the schooling scant. However. he learned the lessons of thrift and economy at home and these virtues have stood him in good stead during his succeeding years.
At the age of twenty-one he started out to make his own way, and de- voted himself to farming. and seven years later was joined in marriage to Mary Dewitt. this union resulting in the birth of the following children : George, born February 16, 1885, married Adelphia Marshall: Ella, born May 17, 1886: Laura, born January 14, 1888, and married to Charles Ed- wards, and Clarence. born October 16, 1890.
Mr. Kehrt lived for seventeen years after his marriage on the George Berry farm. in the southen part of Union township, but in recent years has occupied the home place. The farm is in the best condition and bears all the
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marks of careful and efficient minagement. Mr. Kehrt adheres to the Demo- cratic party, but has never sought office. He is a member of the Christian Union at Ray's Crossing, and contributes materially to its support. He is a man of excellent standing in the community, one who is recognized as an obliging neighbor, willing at all times to co-operate for the common good.
WILLIAM WESLEY BROWN.
Shelby county was very young, in fact had scarcely been organized. when the first Brown entered her borders. Robert Brown, a native of North Carolina, was taken to Ohio by his parents in the early decades of the last century. After he grew up he met Catherine Cotton, also of North Caro- lina, a girl about his own age and of just the type to make a good wife for a pioneer. They were married in Ohio in the twenties, came to Shelby county. where they figured among the very first settlers of the northwestern tier of townships. Robert Brown helped to lay off and build the original Shelby- ville, when its site presented the appearance of an irredeemable swamp. He took part in blazing the trail between Shelbyville and Rushville, through what would look to a "tenderfoot" as an impenetrable forest. As prime mover in driving stock and hauling produce to Lawrenceburg. he became a figure of importance for those days of long distances and poor transportation. The heavy hauling was done with ox teams and it took a week or more to make the trip to Cincinnati, which is now covered in an hour or two. Shortly after Robert Brown had made his appearance, his parents followed him into Shelby county, and there was quite a colony of new arrivals along the Little Blue river's banks in Union township. It included the Browns, old and young. the Cottons and the Wickers, and these three families were the first who located in that part of the county. It kept them all busy as bees to do the hard and exhaustive work that lasted for many years, and was a condition precedent to the later development which has given Shelby county such high rank in the agricultural world. By commanding a company of Home Guards, Robert Brown acquired the title of captain and rose to a position of considerable prominence in the community. All in all he was fairly successful in a financial way, reared a large family successfully, and after a long and useful life was gathered to his fathers at the ripe old age of ninety-six. His wife was about eighty years old when she closed her eyes to this world, and she was a fine type of the pioneer mother. The children of this worthy couple were Nancy, Mary, Elizabeth, John W., Jane. Catherine, Matthew C. and William W., all dead but the last named.
William Wesley Brown, only survivor of his father's large family, was
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born in Union township. Shelby county, Indiana. December 12, 1827. The chances for schooling in those days were slim, all pioneer boys being com- pelled to help with the farm work as soon as they were able to handle a hoe. or lift an axe. William, therefore, made a full hand from his fifteenth year, until he completed the twenty-third year of his age. At this time he began to think of doing something for himself. and was soon engaged in farming on his own account. The strokes were steady and continuous, after he once got started and he spent all of his adult life in the exacting duties of cultivat- ing the soil. As the result of his lifetime of toil, and the exercise of econ- omy and good judgment, he finally found himself well fixed, with a good farm, nicely improved and possessing all the modern conveniences. . \ few years ago, concluding that he had done his share. Mr. Brown retired from active business and left to the younger generation the care of his estate. In 1849 he married Nancy, daughter of Moses Linville, who was born in Shelby county in 1831, and belonged to one of the first and strongest of the county's early families. By this union there were five children : William J., the oldest. was born August 30, 1850, married Missouri Hume, and is a resident of Mil- . roy: Franklin, who was born November 28, 1852, married Isabelle Ash and lives with his father and looks after the farm; he has three children. Scott, Gracie and Clifford. David E., who was born December 16. 1856, married Maria Fisher, and lives in Union township. Thomas L., who was born No- vember 3. 1861. married Letta Briley and died some years ago. Electa C .. who was born January 8. 1866, married John Linville, and is a resident of Union township. For many years the Brown family have been members 1 the Little Blue River Baptist church in Union township, and two of William Wesley's sisters helped to organize it when the surrounding population was scant and the congregation small. Mr. Brown's wife died August 19. 1900, after living with him for fifty-one years.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CONNER.
The Conners are one of the extensive and well established families, long identified with the growth and development of Shelby county. James J. and Barbara ( McKay) Conner were natives of Jefferson county, Indiana, the farmer born in 1814. bought wild land in what is now Shelby township. cleared out a farm and made a home and in course of time ended their days there after long and useful lives. In early life James taught school, was Trustee of his township, held a county office and was quite prominent in local affairs, being a Democrat in his political belief. The father of his wife was a North Carolinian of Irish descent. James J. Conner and wife were
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the parents of five sons. Francis M., an attorney at Shelbyville: Benjamin Franklin, of this review : Lewis and James D .. blacksmiths, and William Z., who was a lawyer at Shelbyville. There was also a foster daughter. Rosalie Sperry, who became the wife of John Hendricks, of Shelby township. James D. Conner is deceased. He left a son named William .A., of Huntsville. . \la- bama, who also has a son named James C.
Benjamin F. Conner, the second child. was born in Jefferson county, near Madison, March 17, 1839, and was still a boy when his parents came to Shelby county. He attended school in his neighborhood and later the high school at Shelbyville, besides Bryant's Business College. at Indianapolis. He taught school in Shelby county for ten years, was in the mercantile and grain business at Fenn's Station for five years, in partnership with Samuel Wood- ruff. but later engaged in farming. He was also a carpenter and did consider- able work in this line. In 1878 he was elected Township Assessor, serving two years, was elected County Assessor. and served for ten years, and hell other minor offices. He was an active Democrat. November 22, 1868, he married Rebecca E .. daughter of Stephen and Rebecca ( Hurst ) Washburn. the former of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. The paternal grandparents were Nicholas and Phoebe ( Parker) Washburn, eastern people who spent some years in Ohio, later came to Shelby county, Indiana. and died in Cass county, Indiana. Stephen Washburn went to Rush county about 1830, bought land which he improved from its original wild state, but in 1858 removed to Shelby county, purchased one hundred sixty acres of land in Liberty town- ship and died at Waldron in 1874. his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1870. His first marriage was to Eleanor Alexander. of Ohio, by whom he had two sons. James, deceased. and Elihu Parker, who resides near Wal- dron. By his marriage with Rebecca Hurst, he had eight children : Landy. the eldest, is a resident of Indianapolis : Alfred F., deceased: Annie and Oliver Crigler died in Minnesota; Maggie, wife of James D. Conner. both dead ; Rebecca E., who became Mrs. Conner: Jennie, widow of Pascal Robinson. a resident of Rush county: Alonzo. formerly a carpenter in Shelbyville, now deceased, and Addie, wife of Michael Cotterman. of Shelbyville. Benjamin F. Conner and wife had three children: Rebecca L. died at the age of ten months : a daughter, who died in infancy, and Claude C. The latter was a student at the Valparaiso, Indiana. College, and studied law with Love & Morrison at Shelbyville. Admitted to the bar he practiced law until his health failed. and he also did some teaching at intervals. In 1897 he mar- ried Lon Effie. daughter of George W. and Margaret Monroe. of Noble township. He had two children. Rita and Frances, the latter died at the age of four years. The father died in 1901.
Mrs. B. F. Conner's maternal grandparents were Landy and Sarah (Crane) Hurst, the former of Virginia and the latter of West Virginia.
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND. 56g
They were pioneers of Rush county, Indiana, he being a Baptist minister and farmer, as was his father. They all ended their days in Rush county. . 1 pathetic story is told of the losing of their six-months-old child. their first baby, in Kentucky, by Landy and Sarah ( Crane) Hurst. The father left his wife in the woods while he went back to their people for lumber with which to make a coffin. During his absence the mother made a burial suit for the child out of her wedding dress. Benjamin F. Conner was one of the promi- nent men of Shelby county, well informed and publie spirited. enterprising and popular. He died February 25. 1909. and his remains were interred at Lewis Creek cemetery. His surviving widow still owns eighty acres of the old home place in Shelby township, besides the twenty acres on which she resides. She also owns eighty acres of land in Howard county, four miles south of Greentown. She is a well preserved. intelligent woman, and enjoys high regard in the circle of friends who grew up around her husband during his long and useful life.
OLIVER JAY GLESSNER.
This name calls up mingled emotions in the bosoms of the older citizens. regret over the departure of an esteemed friend and pleasure that his memory is perpetuated by a worthy member of the rising generation. Shelby county never had a finer citizen than he who first bore the above appellation and his name revives recollections of the stirring events of the years in which he was always an active participant. The records indicate that the family originated in Germany, but was long settled in the state of Pennsylvania. John Gless- ner, who was born in 1800, came west in 1836, and after a short sojourn at Indianapolis, found a permanent home in Morgan county. Before leaving the East he had married Elnora Gidleman, who was born in Baltimore, Mary- land, in 1803. They were the parents of ten children. among them Oliver J. Glessner, who was born at Fredricks City, Maryland. October 11. 1828. He was second in order of birth an'l only eight years old when his parents came to Indiana. He took full advantage of all the opportunities offered him as he grew up. These were meager as the family was large and its support re- quired exacting workin the farm. on which they depended for a living. In after life, when he became prosper ous and prominent, Judge Glessner loved to talk of those days of toil and struggle, features of which were occasional trips to New Orleans with flatboats. He received a common school education, and in 1853 began the study of law in the office of W. R. Harrison. In the winter of the same year he became a student in the law department of the State Uni- versity and in 1856 departed, the proud possessor of his degree as Bachelor of Laws. His first practice was in Martinsville, where he met with success and
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rose rapidly towards the head of his profession. His merit and popularity were recognized in 1864. by his election as Circuit Judge of the Eighth Ju- dicial District, a position which he filled with ability during the four years of his term. In 1865 he had located at Shelbyville and there he resumed prac- tice after the expiration of his term on the bench. He was one of the fore- most members of the Shelby county bar, and his prominence in politics kept pace with his success in the law. In I87o he was elected State Senator from Shelby and Bartholomew counties, and soon became recognized as one of the ablest of the Democratic leaders in the State Legislature. His name was con- nected with much important legislation. prominent among which was his bill to abolish the Common Pleas Court, which became a law at the session of 71 and '72. In 1880 he was one of the Presidential electors on the Democratic ticket, and canvassed the state for his party during the memorable campaign of that year. After a long interval he was again sent to the Legislature in 1890 as Representative in the House from Shelby county, and lent to the pro- ceedings the benefit of his ripe and mature judgment in making and revising of laws. Aside from politics and law Judge Glessner was active in all re- form movements affecting the moral, educational and industrial development of the county. He was an ally worth having when hard battles were being made for social uplift. In 1860 Judge Glessner married Louzena B. Moore, Di Georgetown. Illinois, a woman of much strength of character. a high order of mind and unsurpassed in all the qualities that go to make a good wife and good mother. The Glessner home southwest of Shelbyville, surrounded by beautiful fruit gardens, was ever the abode of genuine hospitality and cor- dial greeting to friends. Judge Glessner died June 2. 1903, after a life of unusual activity and usefulness, but fortunately left descendants who have proven weil worthy to bear his honored name. He was the father of five chil- dren, including two daughters and three boys, whose names in order of birth thus appear in the family records: Lou Ann, Daniel M., Franklin, Martha and his namesake.
Oliver J. Glessner, Jr., youngest of the children, was born at his father's place near Shelbyville, Indiana, October 31. 1881. After the usual routine in schools of the city he entered the Indiana University in 1900, and remained two years at that institution in the literary department, combining with this a course in law, which was completed in 1903. He entered his father's law office and under his tutelage began practice, but the partnership was soon dis- solved by the death of Judge Glessner. He continued alone with offices in the Major block, and since then has enjoyed a lucrative and constantly in- creasing patronage. Besides general practice he makes a specialty of probate law, loans and mortgages and abstracts of title. Mr. Glessner is a member of the Masonic fraternity, including Chapter. Council and Commandery at
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Shelbyville. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, an Elk and a mem- ber of various Greek letter fraternities attached to Indiana University.
From his father, who was also a great reader and indefatigable student. he inherited a fine library of law books, besides histories and the best works in fiction and philosophy. Affable and accomplished, of prepossessing address and friend-making manners, it is easy to predict a successful future for this worthy son of a worthy sire.
JOHN M. BOLS.
Among the old and well known citizens of Shelby county is the subject of this review, a man of sterling worth, whose residence in this part of In- diana dates from the year 1836, and who from that time to the present has honored his station in life. John M. Boals is a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and the second of three children, whose parents were Seely and Jane Murphy Boals, the other members of their family being two daugh- ters, viz: Mrs. Martha J. Toner, of Edinburg. Indiana, and Mary, wife of Dr. Samuel McGaughey, of Acton. Indiana. Seely Boals was a native of New York and of English descent : his wife was a daughter of John and Jane (Porter) Murphy, having been born in the state of Pennsylvania, of Irish antecedents.
John M. Boals was born on the 15th day of May, 1836, and was brought by his parents to Shelby county when but six months okl. his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, coming at the same time. the entire family settling in Hendricks township, the subject's mother dying a short time after their ar- rival. Soon after this sad event, the father returned to Pennsylvania, leaving the motherless child to the care of Samuel and Rachael Murphy, an uncle and aunt, who opened their home and hearts to the orphan and gave him the same love and affection a parent would have bestowed. For some reason the father failed to return to Indiana, and as a result never again set eyes on his son. The lad assisted his uncle with the work and from his infancy until attaining his majority contributed his share to the support of the family. Reared to agricultural pursuits he naturally chose that vocation for his life work on leaving the roof which had so long sheltered him. He began farming for himself in Hendricks township. setting up his domestic establishment in the neighborhood of his home, in which undertaking he was ably assisted by the excellent young lady whom he chose as his wife on March 11. 1857, and who previous to that time bore the name of Margaret E. Williams.
Mrs. Boals was born March 4. 1837, in Brandywine township, where her parents. Isaac and Hannah ( Taylor) Williams, settled in an early day,
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the former a native of Virginia, the latter of New Jersey, and both of English descent. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Boals were Hugh and Artemissa ( Craig) Williams, of Virginia. her maternal grandparents, John and Eliza- beth Lippincott, being natives of Orange county, New Jersey. The family of Isaac and Hannah Williams consisted of four sons and three daughters, John Wardell. Mary E., Richard E., Thomas, Caleb. Margaret E. and Sarah E., all deceased but the last named, who is the wife of George Dippel and lives in Shelbyville.
As already indicated. the subject immediately after his marriage settled on a farm in Hendricks township, where he resided until 1868. when he sold out and went to Missouri, but not being pleased with conditions in that state, he returned after a brief period and again took up his residence in the township of Hendricks. Two years later, in 1871. he moved to Tipton county, but in 1873 disposed of his interests there and again returned to Shelby county. He located temporarily in Addison township and subsequently. in 1874, pur- chased the farm in Brandywine township on which he has since lived and prospered.
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