USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 102
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 102
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GEORGE W. HANCOCK, born in Washington Township, Owen Co., Ind., September 1, 1847, is the sixth in a family of eight children born to Thomas and Nancy (Gilpin) Hancock, natives of Kentucky. His parents came to Indiana in 1846, and located on a farm in Washington Township three miles north of Spencer. They lived there until 1863, when they removed to a farm in Lafayette Township, where they at present reside. George W. Hancock was reared in Washington Town- ship, and when sixteen years of age went to Lafayette Township with his parents, where he finished his education and farmed to some extent. Several years afterward he went to Greene County, Ind., and farmed for four years, removing thence to Washington Township, where he pur- chased 130 acres of good farm land. He at present resides there, deal- ing in stock and farming. He was married to Harriet Workman, daugh- ter of Otho Workman, of Owen County. By this union there is one child-Ada. Mr. Hancock is a member of the K. of H., Spencer Lodge. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was Road Supervisor in Owen County for two years, and is a stanch and an active worker in the Democratic ranks.
DANIEL HARBAUGH, a native of Ohio, was born April 30, 1838, in Coshocton County. He is the third in a family of nine children born to Henry and Sophia (Pollence) Harbaugh, natives of Pennsylvania. They went to Ohio among the very earliest settlers, and located in Coshoc- ton County, where they resided until their deaths, which occurred-the father's in 1878, and the mother's in 1883. Daniel Harbaugh lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Holmes County, Ohio, and attended school for one term. In 1855 and 1856, he attended Spring Mountain Academy at West Bedford, Ohio. Being a poor boy, he was obliged to teach in the winter to be able to pay ex- penses at school. He was very ambitious, as well as studious, and during the few short terms of his schooling he had attained knowledge suffi- cient to enable him to teach. In 1857, he came to Indiana and located in Marion Township, Owen County, on a farm, which he managed, at the same time teaching school. During the years of 1866 and 1867, he was Superintendent of the county asylums, afterward resuming his farm la- bors. In the fall of 1874, he was elected County Treasurer by the Dem-
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ocrats, and re-elected in 1876. He then farmed for three years in Clay Township, Owen County, and afterward bought a farm of seventy-six acres in Washington Township, and has since resided there, being Trustee of the schools, and Supervisor in that district. He is a member of the K. of H., and of the I. O. O. F. He was married in April, 1859, to Hannah Yockey, daughter of Christian Yockey, a pioneer of Owen County. They have six children-William, Amos, Ella, Albert O., Cora and Ollis. Mr. Harbaugh and wife are members of the Christian Union Church.
ELIJAH HEDRICK, one of Owen County's most prominent farmers, is the ninth child of Conrad and Mary A. (White) Hedrick, and was born in Owen County December 20, 1840, on the farm in Washington Township, where he now lives. His parents, natives of North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1830, entered eighty acres of land, which is a portion of the farm now owned by Elijah. His father was a carpenter by trade, but after coming to Indiana he farmed until 1880, the date of his death. His mother died in 1874. Elijah Hedrick was reared on the old home farm near Spencer, obtaining a good education in district schools. He began teaching school when twenty-one years of age. His first was a subscription school, which he taught for three months. He followed his vocation for some four years in Monroe County, and about nine years in Owen County. He is a man of considerable ability, and one of the first school teachers in Owen County. In 1869, he moved to Monroe County, and lived there for one year, after which time he returned to Owen County. One year later, he went to Morgan County, and thence three years later came to his farm in Washington Township, where he at pres- ent resides. He was married, in 1869, to Ellen Walden, of Morgan County. By this union there was one child. His wife died in April, 1870, and the following year he married Hannah E. Waldron, a native of Owen County. They have had four children-William A., Nellie V., Lewis E. (deceased), and Ettie M. Mr. Hedrick is politically a Demo- crat. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
CAPT. JAMES E. HYDEN, born in Washington Township, Owen Co., Ind., August 1, 1834, is the fifth of six children born to John and Elizabeth (Beem) Hyden, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. They came to Owen County and located on a farm, where they lived for forty-five years, and then removed to the farm now owned. by the subject of this sketch, where the father died in 1870, and the mother in 1860. Capt. James Hyden was reared and remained on the home farm until twenty seven years of age, meanwhile assisting his father. In 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-ninth Indiana Infantry, under Capt. Mc- Naught, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant. He served for three years, and took part in the following engagements: Corinth, siege of New Madrid, Mo., Vicksburg, Jackson, Champion Hills, Mission Ridge and others. After the war he returned to Owen County. In 1855, he en- tered 115 acres of land in Washington Township, two and a half miles south of Spencer. He sold it at the beginning of the war. In 1864, he purchased 300 acres, and located on the land upon his return from the war. In 1866, he was married to Nancy J. Alverson, daughter of Wes- ley Alverson, a pioneer of Owen County. By this union there are six children-Jessie A., Lizzie A., Nancy J., Mary E., James B. and Homer E. Capt. Hyden is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Spencer Lodge, and politically he is a Republican. In 1862, he was for meritorious conduct
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promoted to First Lieutenant, and after the battle of Corinth he was promoted to be Captain. He is a member of the Methodist Church, a good Christian man, and one of whom his friends and brethren in the church may well be proud.
AMOS JOHNSON, eighth child of Henry and Julia A. (Eick) John - son, natives of New Jersey, was born in Lafayette Township, Owen Co., Ind., in 1846. The parents lived upon eighty acres in Lafayette Township until 1862, when they removed to Washington Township, where, in 1882, the father died. The mother at present resides on the old homestead. Amos Johnson lived at home until twenty-two years of age, when he began farming for himself, near the old home farm, on sev- eral acres of rich and well-improved farm land. He served as Road Su- pervisor for two years. He is a laborious farmer, and well respected in his community. He is in politics a Republican. He was married, in 1868, to Mary E. Gillis, daughter of Arthur Gillis, a citizen of St. Jo- seph County, Ind. They have ave children-Frank L., Lewis W., Rosa H., Earl O. and Della H. Mr. Johnson and wife have long been mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Spencer.
JOHN M. KINNEY, born January 19, 1824, in Belmont County, Ohio, is the second in a family of eight children, and was reared in Ohio. His parents, James and Mary (Millison) Kinney, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania respectively, were married in 1809, and died-the father in 1851, and the mother in 1869. John M. was twenty-one years of age when he went to Monroe County, Ohio, and purchased a small farm, where he lived for many years, principally raising tobacco. In 1861, he enlisted in Company K, First Ohio Light Artillery, under Capt. Heck- man. He served for nearly four years, and took part in the battles of Antietam, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Va., Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Slaughter Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and was in twenty-seven other engagements. In July, 1865, he returned to his home in Ohio, where he remained for one year, and then came to In- diana, locating in Washington Township, Owen County, on a farm. In 1867, he purchased 120 acres of farm land, upon which he now lives. At this time he is Justice of the Peace, and has served for four years. He was Supervisor for some time in the same township. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., Hobah Lodge, No. 323, and of the G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a strong ad- vocate of Republican principles, and votes that ticket.
REV. ALFRED LAYMON is a son of John and Jennie (Steele) Lay- mon, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Kentucky. He was born on April 10, 1813, in Kentucky, and is the third in a family of twelve children. His parents emigrated from Kentucky to Ohio in 1815, and located in Warren County, where they lived for eight years. They removed thence to Indiana, and in 1823 settled in Shelby County. Hav- ing entered eighty acres of land, they lived for many years in that county. In 1837, they came to Owen County, and located in Washington Town- ship, where the father died in 1876, and the mother in 1864. Alfred Laymon was reared in Shelby County, and in 1832 he entered forty acres of land upon which he lived for five years, and then removed to Owen County, where he purchased eighty acres of good farm land about three miles west of Gosport. He removed thence in four years to Shelby County, and continued to farm there until 1852, when he again returned to Owen County. He purchased 170 acres of the best farm land in the
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county, and is at present living upon the same, to which he has added 530 acres. In 1867, he was ordained a minister of the Separate Baptist Church, and built the edifice known as the "Laymon Church, " where he still preaches the Gospel. Rev. Mr. Laymon was married, in 1832, to Elizabeth Randolph, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy Randolph, old and respected pioneers of Owen County. By this union there were twelve children, eight of whom are living-Charlotte, David, Alfred, William, Elizabeth, Marion, Daniel and Allen. Politically, Mr. Laymon is a Democrat.
DAVID LAYMON, a native of Indiana, was born in Washington Township, Owen County, December 27, 1844. His parents, the Rev. Alfred and Elizabeth (Randolph) Laymon, natives of Kentucky and In- diana respectively, were married in 1832. The father was but ten years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents and settled in Shelby County, where he received his education. In 1837, he purchased 170 acres of good land in Owen County, and since that time has added 530 acres to that, part of which he has given to his children. He is now liv- ing in Washington Township, a minister of the Gospel. David Lay- mon is the sixth in a family of twelve children, and was reared in Owen County. Until he was twenty years of age, he remained at home help- ing on the farm, and attending school. In 1867, he purchased eighty acres of land on which he farmed until 1869, when he sold out and bought a farm in Monroe County. Five years later, he returned to Owen County and purchased 105 acres of land upon which he now lives. He was Road Supervisor in Monroe County for two years. He was married, in 1864, to Delilah McCormick, daughter of Hutson and Nancy McCor- mick, pioneers of Owen County. By this union there were eight chil- dren- Laura B., William M., Thomas, Alfred H., Sarah J., Henry, Walker K., deceased, and Theodore M. Mr. Laymon is an active work- er in the Democratic ranks.
MARION LAYMON, a native of Owen County, Ind., and born in Washington Township June 9, 1851, is the eighth child of the Rev. Alfred and Elizabeth (Randolph) Laymon, natives of Kentucky and In- diana respectively. The father was but ten years of age when with his parents he came to Indiana and settled in Shelby County. He was mar- ried in 1832, and five years later brought his young wife to Owen Coun- ty, where he located permanently. Marion Laymon was reared on the home farm, and at the age of eighteen, was married to Emily D. Cline, daughter of Rufus Cline, of Owen County. After his marriage, he farmed in Washington Township for three years, and then purchased eighty acres of fine farm land near his former home, and is at present living there. His farm is well improved, and he has erected a comfort- able residence upon it. Himself and wife are members of the Separate Baptist Church. They have four children-Martha A., James R., Bessie E., and an infant. Mr. Laymon was for four years School Director of his district, and is a prominent and influential citizen. Politically, he is a Democrat.
JACOB MANERS was born in Tennessee on March 29, 1831. He is the twelfth child of Jacob and Mary A. (Lawson) Maners, natives of Tennessee. They came to Indiana and located in Owen County in 1832. Three years later, the father went to Tennessee with a drove of horses, and has never been heard from. The mother died in Owen County in 1852. Jacob Maners was reared in Clay Township, Owen County,
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until in February, 1850, he began farming in Knox County, He re- mained there for five years, and then purchased a farm on Raccoon Creek, where he lived until 1876. He then moved to the farm in Washington Township, upon which he now lives. He was married in 1852 to Martha A. Landrum, a daughter of John Landrum, a pioneer of Owen County. By this union there were the following children: Jennie E., Hannah E., Charles M., John W., Nancy J., Mary A., Frank M. and Clarence E. His wife died in 1875, and he was married to Mrs. Martha J. Laymon, a daughter of David Findley, a pioneer of Monroe County. Mr. Maners is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.
ANDREW J. McHENRY, a native of Owen County, Ind., is the eighth child born to George A. and Mary (Hubbard) McHenry, natives of Kentucky. His parents came to Indiana in its very earliest settle- ment, and located in Vincennes. In 1818, they came to Owen County and entered land in Washington Township, which they improved, and upon which they lived until 1834. His father then purchased a farm about two and a half miles southwest of Gosport, where they lived until the death of his mother. Andrew was born October 19, 1819, in Wash- ington Township, and lived at home, and with an elder brother until twenty-one years of age, where he received his education, which was limited to the more common branches of learning. In 1842. he was married to Mary Ashbaugh, daughter of Joseph Ashbaugh, of Owen County. By this union there have been nine children-Lucy J. (deceased), Joseph, William, John (deceased), James (deceased), Thomas, Emily, George A. and an infant daughter. His wife died in April, 1861, and he next married Susan Litten, daughter of Jacob Litten, an old pioneer of Owen County. They have eight children. In 1853, he pur- chased a farm of 220 acres of well-improved land, which he has under good cultivation. He is a laborious farmer, and well respected in his community. He has for forty years been a member of the Christian Church, and his wife is also a member thereof. He is a stanch advocate of Democratic principles.
JOHN McINDOO, the eldest son of Jacob and Margaret (McDowell) McIndoo, was born in Shelby County. Ky., November 17, 1807. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively. His father went to Kentucky in 1782, where he was married, and lived for a short time. In 1810, they came to Indiana, stayed for a few years in Clark County, and then moved to Bartholomew County, where the father died in 1829. The mother died in 1849. John was reared in Bartholmoew County, and after his father's death managed the farm for his mother for three years. In 1832, he was married to Sarah Bevis, daughter of Joseph Bevis, a pioneer of New Jersey. By this union there were the following children born: Margaret J., Rebecca A., Mary A., James W., George E., Joseph, John M., Jacob, Elizabeth, Sarah E. and Charles F. After his marriage, Mr. McIndoo sold his property in Bar- tholomew County, and in 1836 came to Owen County. He entered 160 acres of land, and has since added as much more to it. Himself and wife are identified with the Christian Church, and have been members for fifty-nine years, and remain in good standing. Mr. McIndoo is politically a Republican.
GEN. THOMAS A. McNAUGHT, farmer, is a native of Indiana, and was born in Owen County, near Spencer, in a cabin within 100 feet
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of his present residence, September 8, 1826. His parents, Thomas and Catharine (Bartholomew) McNaught, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Kentucky, came to Indiana from Kentucky in 1814, and located in Clark County. Two years later, they came to Owen County and settled in Washington Township. The father died in 1865, the mother March 9, 1864. Thomas A. McNaught is the eleventh child in the family, and was reared on the old home farm, receiving a good education in the district schools. At nineteen years of age, he enlisted in Company A. Third Indiana Mexican Volunteers, under Capt. John M. Sluss, of Monroe County. He served for fifteen months, and in July, 1847, returned to his home in Owen County. He continued farming until the late war broke out, when he enlisted as a private in Company A, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, under Col. Jesse Alexander. He raised a company in Owen County, and after going into camp at Gosport was elected Cap- tain. He served in this capacity for one year, when he was promoted to Major. He filled this office for six months, at the end of which time he was made Lieutenant Colonel. After serving about the same length of time in this position, he was appointed Colonel and put in command of the regiment. For 'meritorious conduct, he was soon after brevetted Brigadier General, and took command of the First Brigade of the Third Division in the Fifteeth Army Corps. He served until August 5, 1865. He took part in the battles of New Madrid, Iuka, Corinth, Milliken's Bend, Raymond, Port Gibson, Thompson Hills, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, in the siege and battle of Vicksburg, and the siege of Corinth. He was in Sherman's campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, Ga., in his grand march to the sea, the siege and capture of Savannah, and marched in time to be present at Johnston's surrender near Raleigh. He marched via Petersburg and Richmond to Washington, and was in the grand army review. After the close of the war, he returned to Owen County, where he has been engaged in farming about one mile south of Spencer. He was married, in April, 1852, in Owen County, to Laura A. McNeal, daughter of Will- iam and Lucinda McNeal, old and respected pioneers of Owen County. They have had eleven children, eight of whom are now living. Gen. Thomas McNaught is a thoroughly good man, and very highly respected by all who know him.
JOHN S. MILLER, farmer, is a native of Indiana, and was born in Floyd County August 7, 1836. His parents, Elisha and Rachel (Rolan) Miller, natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee, were married, in 1835, in Floyd County. After their marriage they pur- chased the farm upon which he now lives. The mother died in 1883. Jobn S. Miller is the eldest in a family of ten children, and was reared in Floyd County, where he received his education, which was limited, and when twenty-five years of age went to Jackson Coun- ty, and there lived until 1865, when he came to Owen County and lo- cated in Clay Township. In 1866, he removed to Monroe County, and after staying there for two years again came to Owen County and located in Clay Township, remaining about four years. From there he moved to a farm of 225 acres, which he is at present farming. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and is politically a Republican. He was mar- ried in March, 1856, to Catharine J. Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, a pioneer of Floyd County. They have three children-Nancy Jane, Marian and Amanda A.
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DAVID MULL is the fourth of seven children born to Daniel and An- nie (Sites) Mull, natives of North Carolina. He was born in Lincoln County, Ky., July 18, 1813, and was reared in Spencer, where he received a good common school education. When nineteen years of age, he be- gan learning the cabinet-making and the carpenter's trade. He worked for several years at this, and began farming near Spencer, where he has since worked at his trade and run the farm. In December, 1837, he was united in marriage to Cynthia Beem, daughter of Cornelius Beem, who was one of Owen County's oldest pioneers, and who came to this county in 1820. By this union there are four children-John T., Will- iam M., George E. S. and Richard N. His wife died in 1847, and the year following he was married to Emily Everman, daughter of John Franklin. She died in 1849, and he was next married to Sarah Orear, daughter of John Orear. They have one child-Tamer A. The mother of this child dying, Mr. Mull married Rosanna Watts, daughter of Benjamin Watts, a pioneer of Indiana. The issue of this union is six children-Sarah (deceased), Mary, David S., Benjamin M., Homer G. and Maud E. Mr. Mull and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been in this church for over thirty years, and has been a liberal supporter and an earnest, faithful worker in upholding its faith.
LEMUEL H. POWELL is the youngest child of Elijah and Maria (Hayman) Powell, and was born in Washington Township, Owen County, Ind., September 30, 1850, where he was reared and educated, and lived until September, 1876, when he was married. His parents were natives
of Maryland. They came to Indiana in 1837, located on a farm in Bartholomew County, and remained there for ten years, at which time they moved to Owen County, and located in Washington Township on a farm. The mother died in 1867, the father in 1880. The subject of this sketch was married, in 1867, to Luzetta Pryor, daughter of Watson Pryor, a citizen of Spencer, Owen County. This union is blessed with three children-Gracie, Raymond and Ada M. After his marriage, Mr. Powell farmed at the old homestead until in 1883, when he moved to his present location in Washington Township. bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He and his wife are mem- Mr. Powell is politically a Republican. His brother,. Walter Powell, was born in Bartholomew County in June of 1841. He owns forty acres of the old homestead, and has it under good cultivation, a comfortable dwelling house erected, and is very pleasantly located. He is in politics a Republican, is a good moral man and highly esteemed by his many acquaintances, being indus- trious and scrupulous in his dealings with all.
ARTEMAS PRATT, a native of Kentucky, was born in Boone Coun- ty November 16, 1815, and is the second in a family of three children born to Artemas and Nancy (Parker) Pratt, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Kentucky. The father came to Kentucky at an early day, and clerked in Boone County until his marriage. During his clerkship, he made seven trips down the river to New Orleans with prod- uce, after disposing of which he walked back. He died in 1818. the mother in 1832. Artemas was reared in Kentucky, but after his mother's death he came to Indiana and stopped in Dearborn County for a short time. Thence he moved to Decatur, where he remained for nine years, farming. He was united by marriage in 1836 to Nancy Fortune, daugh - ter of Thomas Fortune, one of the oldest pioneers of Decatur County. In 1853, he came to Owen County and located on a farm near Gosport,
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where he lived for nine years, and then purchased 110 acres of good land in Washington Township. He now resides on this same land and is very pleasantly located. He is politically a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have been blessed with eight children-Arthur P., Rebecca A., Edward (deceased), Thomas F. (who was killed in the army), William M., Amelia, Alice (deceased) and Mary (deceased).
ARTHUR P. PRATT is a native of Decatur County, Ind., and was born March 25, 1838. His parents, Artemas and Nancy (Fortune) Pratt, were natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. His father came from Kentucky to Indiana in 1834, and lived in Dearborn County for a short time. From there he went to Decatur County, where, two years later, he was married, after which he came to Owen County in 1853, and located on a farm near Gosport. Shortly afterward, he came to Wash- ington Township, and has since resided here, farming 110 acres of ex- cellent land. Arthur is the eldest in a family of eight children, and was reared at home until 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, Twenty- seventh Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Copp. He served for three years in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battle of Antietam and a number of others. After returning from the war, he re- sumed his work on the farm, and in 1877 he purchased ninety acres of land in Washington Township, and at present resides here. He was mar- ried in 1860 to Salena Hinote, daughter of Asahel Hinote, a citizen of Morgan County. They had six children-Mary (deceased), Victor, Dora A .. Nora M., Asahel A. (deceased) and Arthur. His wife died in March, 1875, and two years later, he married Amanda Keene, a daughter of Joseph Laymon. The issue of this marriage was three children-Nancy J., Nellie I. and Stella V. (twins). Mr. Pratt is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and his wife belongs to the Christian Church. He is Republican, politically.
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