Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 104

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 982

USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 104
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 104

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W. F. GWIN is a native of Indiana, born in Owen County May 28, 1848. His parents, William and Rebecca (Mouser) Gwin, came from Kentucky to Indiana in 1832, and located in Bloomington, Monroe

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County, where they remained until 1842. Thence they moved five miles west of Bloomington, and lived for eight years. After that, for a num- ber of years, they farmed in various places in Indiana, and finally, in 1882, removed to Gosport, where they located and at present reside. Subject is the seventh of nine children, was reared in Owen County near Cataract, and received a good education in the district schools of the county. When twenty years of age, he entered the State University at Bloomington. In 1869, he returned home, and taught for about two years in Wayne Township, and during the following summer worked on a farm. In 1871, he taught in Paragon, Morgan County. In the spring of 1872, he returned to Gosport, and went into the employ of H. Hays, a dry goods merchant. In 1874, he became partner in a grocery store, which he soon was obliged to leave, owing to ill health, which necessi- tated a change. He went to Kansas, and returned in eleven months, quite able to attend to business. He became agent for the Singer Sew- ing Machine Company. After a year in this business, he clerked for Mr. Hays again, and in 1882 went into the clothing business, and is so engaged at present. In November, 1872, he was married to Minnie Cat- terson, a daughter of Thomas Catterson, who is a leading physician of Martinsville. They have two children. Mr. Gwin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a prominent member and active worker in the Republican ranks.

A. A. HAASE was born in Morgan County, Ind., December 6, 1840. His parents, Henry and Mary (Avery) Haase, immigrated from North Carolina to Indiana about 1820, and located on a farm three miles east of Martinsville. The mother died in 1844, and seven years later the father took his family to Cumberland County, Ill .; remaining a year, they returned to Indiana, locating again near Martinsville, where the father died. The subject of this sketch was educated in his native county, and assisted his father on the farm during the summer until eighteen years of age, when he began teaching school. His first two years of teaching were spent in Jefferson Township, Morgan County, after which he taught in various places until 1868. In 1865, he was married to Margaret E. Moser, a native of Owen County. This union was blest with four children, but one of whom is living-Elvie E. In 1868, Mr. Haase purchased a saw mill, which he ran until 1872, when he sold it and began farming in Owen County, residing on his farm for two years; he thence removed to Gosport, teaching school a short distance from town in the winter, and farming in the summer. In 1878, he be- came partner of John Mosier, Jr., in a meat shop, and finally purchased the other half-interest, running it by himself for three years. In Octo- ber, 1882, Thomas Lukenbill went into partnership with him, and at present they are doing a flourishing business. Mr. Haase is a member of the Methodist Church, and is politically a Democrat.

WILLIAM CATTON HALBERT, farmer and stock-grower of Wayne Township, third son of 'Thomas and Margaret (Woodsmall) Hal- bert, natives of Virginia, was born in Nelson County, Ky., October 22, 1817; came with his parents to Indiana in the year 1822, and has since resided in Owen County. His life has been spent upon the farm, and his education limited to the studies of the country subscription schools. January 21, 1844, he was married to Miss Ann Asher, who has borne him twelve children-Cynthia, James A. (deccased), Sarah, Margaret, Madison, Mary E., Henrietta, William F. (deceased), Amanda, Irene

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(deceased), Irene (second) and John M. From 1831 to 1868, subject lived in Harrison Township, and during that time held the office of Township Clerk three years, Assessor five years, and Trustee eight years. Early in life, he entered from Government a forty-acre tract of land in Owen County, cleared it up, and improved it. December, 1875, his dwelling house and nearly all its contents were destroyed by fire, and as if to verify the old adage, that " it never rains but it pours," he was immediately prostrated upon a bed of sickness. However, his neighbors demonstrated the fact that humanity is not extinct in some communities, by at once uniting, and in thirty days framed and completed for occu- pancy a residence for himself and family. Two of his children, William F. and Irene, died in infancy, and his son James A. was killed March 27, 1874, by a falling tree. Subject and wife are consistent members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mr. H. has been a Republican since the organization of that party.

B. F. HART, a pioneer of Owen County, Ind., is a native of Ken- tucky, born in Bath County, January 10, 1828. His parents, John and Hester (Adams) Hart, immigrated to Indiana from Kentucky in the fall of 1841, and located in Hendricks County on a farm, where they remained until their death, which occurred, the father in 1850, and the mother in 1863. The subject of this sketch is fourth in a family of eight children, and was reared in Kentucky until thirteen years of age, up to which time he had attended school in Bath County. He came with his parents to Indiana, where he attended school for five years, afterward teaching for three years in Hendricks County. He then moved to Owen County and located in Gosport, where he farmed and traded in stock until 1860. He then opened a livery stable, which he soon sold and purchased another one, which he ran for a number of years. He moved next near to the National Hotel, and in October, 1881, to his present place of business. He was married in 1849 to Jane Higgins, daughter of Thomas Higgins, an old and respected pioneer of Hendricks County. By this union there have been five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Hart is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, Gosport Blue Lodge, No. 92. He is well known and respected by all.

H. HAYS, merchant, is the eldest child of Hayden and Prudence (Jones) Hays, natives of Indiana. He was born in Jefferson County, Ind., on November 22, 1834. His father being a minister, and not stopping long in any one town, the education of his son was acquired by close applica- tion, and in different parts of Indiana. When fifteen years of age, he entered Asbury University at Greencastle, where he completed his studies in 1856, and two years later the degree of A. M. was comferred upon him. He then taught school for one year at Perrysville, Ind., and in July, 1857, came to Gosport and began the practice of law. In 1859, he formed a partnership in a dry goods store with J. H. McNutt, and continued in this for five years. He then entered a wholesale grocery house in Cincin- nati, Ohio, and in 1866 returned to Gosport. He went into the dry goods business, also dealing extensively in grain. In 1882, he opened a clothing house, and at present is dealing in dry goods, clothing, grain and wool. He was married in 1858 to Harriet N. McNutt, of Perrys- ville, Ind. Mr. Hays has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a number of years.

J. R. HENRY, banker and stock-dealer, is a native of Tennessee, born near Cleveland November 22, 1844. His parents, James M. and Azina

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(Howard) Henry, natives of Virginia, moved to Tennessee when young? were there married, and located on a farm in Bradley County, where his father at present resides. His mother died in 1859, after rearing a family of seven children. The subject of this sketch was reared and ed- ucated at home, and in its immediate neighborhood. In May, 1861, he went to Gosport, and in the following July enlisted in Company B, Twenty-first Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. James Grimsley, and served for four years. He took part in the battle of Baton Rouge, Camp Bisland, the siege of Port Hudson, Spanish Fort and the capture of Mo- bile. At the close of the war he returned to Gosport, and was employed as clerk in a drug store for some time. He was in a dry goods store for six months, and then went to Chicago, where he entered Bryant & Strat- ton's Commercial College. He finished there September 6, 1867. He again went to Gosport, and served for six months in Pettit & Mont- gomery's Bank, as book-keeper; thence to Martinsville, Ind., where in the employ of a banker and druggist, he remained until September. 1868. Six months later, he came to Gosport and purchased A. H. Pettit's in- terest in the bank, and is at present junior partner in the firm of Mont- gomery & Henry. He has for ten years been a member of the School Board and is at present its worthy trustee. He has been for nine years past and is at present Superintendent of the Christian Sunday School in Gosport. He was married, in October, 1869, to Laura L. Montgomery, eldest daughter of William A. Montgomery. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Christian Church. He is a very prominent citizen, a worthy gentleman, and highly respected in his com- munity.

WILLIAM HOLLICK is a native of Kentucky, born in Jefferson County February 22, 1822. His parents, Martin and Sophia (Bramble) Hollick, natives of Maryland, went to Kentucky in 1818, and located on a farm, where they remained for a number of years. In 1832, while visiting in Maryland, the mother died. His father died in 1835. Will- iam was reared in Kentucky. When fourteen years of age, he was ap- - prenticed for three years to a Hiram McGee, of Louisville, a contractor and builder. In 1839, he went to New Orleans, and worked for some time at his trade, after which he returned to Louisville. Two years later he came to Owen County, and located where Cataract now is. He worked on the Big Mills on Eel River, remaining there for about eight years, and in the fall of 1849, came to Gosport where he followed his trade until 1879. He then became a furniture dealer and undertaker, and at present has the only business of this kind in Gosport, where he is very successful. In 1843, he was married to Delila Owen, daughter of Thomas Owen, one of the earliest pioneers of Owen County. They had twelve children, four of whom are now living. Mr. Hollick is an active member of the Republican party.

G. W. JOHNSON, express agent, was born in Johnson County, Ind., February 17, 1847. He is the seventh child of Charles and Eleanor (Tracy) Johnson, natives of Kentucky. His father came to Indiana in 1827, and was the Jailer of Johnson County. In 1852, he located on a farm in that county, and died there in 1873. The mother is still living. When nineteen years old, the subject of this sketch went to Columbus, Ind., and was apprenticed to a saddler, with whom he remained for nearly three years. He then went to Connersville, Ind., and worked at his trade, afterward to Greenville, Ohio; thence back to Johnson County,

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and again to Columbus, Ind., in all of which places he stayed but a short time. In August, 1868, he came to Gosport, and was in a sad- dler's employ for more than a year, when he went to Martinsville, Mor- gan County. While there, he went into partnership with a harness merchant, and soon after sold out his interest, returned to Gosport, where he was employed by a harness merchant. In 1872, he was married to Annie Dagley, daughter of Joseph Dagley, one of the earliest pioneers of Owen County. They have two boys. After his marriage, Mr. John- son left Gosport for some time, but returned, and in 1875 opened a har- ness shop, and for five years continued to ply his trade. For the past three years, he has been in the employ of the Adams Express Company. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Grand Lodge, and also a member of the Christian Church.

THOMAS LUKENBILL is a native of Owen County, Ind., born in Washington Township February 18, 1843. His parents, Samuel and Eliza J. (Thomas) Lukenbill, natives of Indiana and Kentucky respect- ively, were married in Owen County in 1840, and located on a farm two and a half miles southwest of Gosport. They lived there for forty years, when the father died. The mother still lives on the old home farm. Thomas is the second in a family of eight children, and was reared and educated on the old home farm. When eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, under Capt. James Secrest. He was discharged during the next year on account of disability. In 1863, he located on a farm near Gosport, remained there for fourteen years, and then moved to Gosport. He became partner in a flour mill, and after a short time sold his interest, became dealer in furniture, and a year later went to farming, which he does at present, in connection with running a meat shop in Gosport. He is a member of the Christian Church. In 1863, he was married in Owen County to Charity Barnes, daughter of James Barnes, an old and respected pioneer of Owen County. By this union there are five chil- dren-Orrie M., Lillie M .. Thomas L., Stella and Matilda J.

ELISHA R. MCGINNIS, farmer and stock-grower, and native of Wayne Township, third son of Elisha and Abigail (Booth) McGinnis, natives of Kentucky and of Scotch and English extraction respectively, was born March 20, 1834. In 1855 or 1856, he spent a few months in the State of Missouri, and the rest of his life has been spent in his native county. He was reared upon a farm and educated at the public schools. His parents came into Indiana at an early day-probably in 1824 or 1825-and after a year or two spent in Monroe County, removed to Owen, where, in the neighborhood of Gosport, they ended their days. November 26, 1856, the subject of this sketch was married to Rhoda Cummings, by whom he has had born to him thirteen children-Sanford, Flora A., Frank (died at the age of eighteen years), Mary D. (died at the age of eighteen years), Cora E. (died at the age of fifteen years), Ida May, Eva, Arizona, Gertrude, Viola, Emma, Ellen and Elisha. Mr. McGinnis is a Master Mason, a Democrat in politics, and an honorable, upright citizen. From his father, who died in 1866 or 1867, he inherited about $4,000 in money. To this, by hard work and good management, he has materially added, and, though within the past few years he has paid about $9,000 security debts, he is to-day one of the leading farmers of Wayne Township. He owns three good farms, aggregating about 500 acres well improved, and in a high state of cultivation. He is a breeder

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· of thoroughbred Poland-China hogs, also of blooded cattle and sheep to a considerable extent.

. P. M. MARTIN, one of the leading dry goods merchants of Gosport, was born in Putnam County, Ind., August 8, 1853. He is the sixth of seven children born to Lewis M. and Mary (Ross) Martin, natives of Kentucky. His parents were married in Putnam County in 1838, and remained in that county until 1865. The father was a farmer and stock- trader. From Putnam they removed to Ladoga, in Montgomery County, where his parents at present reside. The subject of this sketch lived at home until 1870, when he began teaching school. He had received a good education in the public schools in Putnam County, and at the academy at Ladoga, where he graduated in June of 1870. He taught for two years in Montgomery County, and in March, 1872, he was employed as a clerk in a dry goods store in Ladoga, where he stayed until 1874, when he went to Champaign, Ill., and entered the Illinois Indus- trial University. One year later he returned to his home, and became partner in a dry goods store. Late in 1877, he sold his interest in the store, and engaged in the drug business, in which he continued for five years, during which time the firm had also purchased a stock of dry goods. He then sold his interest in the drug store to his partner, and they continued together in the dry goods business. In October, 1882, Charles H. Smith purchased Mr. Wooden's, the former partner's interest, and the firm name at present is Martin & Smith, "Trade Palace." In 1877, Mr. Martin was married to Conie Wooden, a daughter of Dr. J. Wooden, one of Owen County's pioneers and physicians. The issue of this union is three children. In 1882, he was elected Clerk and Treas- urer of Gosport, and in 1883 was re-elected, at present creditably fill- ing the office. He is Secretary of the School Board of Gosport. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., and is a man of excellent business qualifications, liberal alike to all public enterprises, and highly esteemed in his community.

JOHN C. MAYFIELD was born in Pulaski County, Ky., February 9, 1822. He is the only child of Pleasant W. and Jane (Buchanan) Mayfield, who were natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively, and who came into Indiana in the year 1830. They settled first near Spring- ville in Lawrence County, but at the end of a few months moved into Owen, where the subject of this sketch has since resided. His father died in 1855, at the age of sixty-five years, and his mother in 1868 or 1869, at the age of sixty-eight or sixty-nine years. He was reared upon a farm and educated at the common schools of his neighborhood. So long as his parents lived, he made his home with them, and at their death inherited their property. He is a bachelor, and possessed of some remarkable peculiarities. He lives alone in a part of the old family residence and amuses himself in speculating upon the weather. In his leisure hours (and his hours are all of leisure) he prepared from memory an elaborate description of the removal of his father's family, overland in dead of winter, from Springville to Gosport, and some evil-disposed person, in his absence, broke open his "strong box" and purloined it. And thus was posterity deprived of a narrative of one of the most remark- able journeys of which history gives an account. In politics, he has always been a "red hot" Republican, and favored a vigorous prosecution of the late war. In fact it is recorded that he paid $40 in good money to keep Wayne Township from standing the draft. He owns a nice farm

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of 209 acres, which he rents out, and upon the proceeds of which he lives at his ease.

WILLIAM A. MONTGOMERY, banker and lawyer, was born .in Bourbon County, Ky., October 30, 1824. He is third in a family of five children born to Zachariah and Rebecca (Donovan) Montgomery, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Maryland. His parents emigrated to Kentucky from Virginia in 1812, and located in Bourbon County. In 1834, they came to Indiana, and located in Rush County for one year. They afterward came to Owen County, and settled on a farm in Montgomery Township, where the mother died in 1836. The father moved to Taylor Township four years later, and there remained until 1865, when he removed to Worthington, Greene County. Shortly after this he settled in Franklin, Johnson County, and at present resides there. William was reared in Bourbon County, Ky., until ten years of age, when he came to Indiana with his parents, and four years later he came to Owen County. He was apprenticed to a tailor in Gosport, and worked with him for seven years. By working after hours he accumu- lated quite a lot of money, a part of which he invested in Indianapolis, learning to cut clothing. He then went to Gosport, where he opened a tailor shop for himself, and continued in this business for eleven years, meanwhile having added a stock of clothing to it. He then formed a partnership with J. M. Alexander in the general merchandise business; continued thus occupied for about three years, when he sold out and went into the same business with J. M. Stucky, and Alfred Brown. In 1854, Mr. Stucky retired from the firm, and Messrs. Montgomery & Brown continued together for some time, during which Mr. Montgomery had been reading law without a preceptor. His health failing, he sold his interest in the store, and traveled for one year, being much of the time in Minnesota. He then returned to Gosport and began the practice of his profession, at the same time being engaged in a general mercantile establishment, under the firm name of "Williams & Montgomery," and in which he continued for eight years. He then gave himself up solely to the practice of law. In 1867, he and A. H. Pettit opened a bank in Gosport. The latter soon quitting the firm, it now operates under the name of "Montgomery & Henry." In con- nection with the banking business, the firm is largely engaged in stock- raising, having 1,500 acres largely stocked. Mr. Montgomery was married by J. M. Mathes, January, 1849, to Mildred A. Day, of Monroe County. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and has passed all the chairs up to Royal Arch, in Gosport Lodge, No. 92. He is very consci- entious in his business relations, and is a very liberal citizen.

WILLIAM A. MONTGOMERY, JR., is a native of Gosport, and his parents, William A. and Mildred A. (Day) Montgomery, are natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. The father came with his parents to Indiana when ten years of age, and lived in Rush County for one year. Thence they removed to Owen County, and settled on a farm in Montgomery Township. When fourteen years old, the father learned the tailor's trade and was in that business for eleven years in Gosport. He was afterward in the general merchandise business for a number of years, and finally began the practice of law, at the same time carrying on the other business. He is at present living in Gosport, successfully en- gaged in the practice of his profession, exclusively. The subject of this sketch obtained a good education in the Gosport Schools, and in 1872 he

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entered the preparatory department in Earlham College, at Richmond, Ind. In 1873, he remained in Gosport as book-keeper in the bank of Pettit & Montgomery, and in the following year, he attended Howard College, at Kokomo, Ind. September, 1875, up to June, of 1876, he was in Indianapolis, attending the Northwestern Christian University. He then returned to Gosport and assumed the position of assistant cashier in his father's bank, and at present creditably fills the same. In November, 1881, he was married, by Elder Frank, to Fannie E. Lewman, of Gosport. He joined the I. O. O. F., Owen Lodge, No. 146, in October, 1877; has passed all the chairs in the order, and is at present Secretary. His wife is a member of the Christian Church, and in good standing. Mr. Montgomery is liberal to all deserving enterprises, is in every sense a worthy citizen, and was born April 16, 1856.

HIRAM MYERS, farmer and stock-grower, youngest son of Lewis and Catherine (Cooper) Myers, natives of Kentucky and Virginia re- spectively, and of German extraction, was born in Montgomery County, Ky., December 4, 1820. His parents came into Indiana in 1824, and located in Wayne Township, upon land now partly occupied by the town of Gosport. At the end of about four years, they removed into Morgan County, where subject resided until the spring of 1866. Coming thence into Wayne Township, he settled upon the land he has since owned and occupied. May 17, 1849, he married Kitura Wilson, whose father, Thomas O. Wilson, died in May, 1883, at the age of eighty-five years. By her, subject had born to him six children; first an infant not named (de- ceased), William Henry, Mary Lousia, wife of John M. Whitaker, Thomas Jefferson, John W., and Laura Jane, widow of Joseph Asher (deceased). Mr. Myers is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, an active, wide-awake Democrat in politics, and a consistent member of the Christian Church. The only office of trust or profit he ever sought he obtained, and was for one term Trustee of Ray Township, in Morgan County. From the " Virgin Woods " of Indiana, he has " made" two good farms-one in Morgan and the other in Owen County. He owns now a fine farm of 455 acres where he lives, and another of about fifty acres near by, both well-improved, cultivated, stocked and equipped. When Hiram Myers was about two years of age, his father died, leaving the family poor, so what he has, he has acquired by the industry of himself and a pru- dent, faithful, Christian wife.

DR. H. G. OSGOOD, a prominent citizen and one of the leading physicians of Gosport, was born in Franklin County, Mass., September 12, 1833. His parents, Norman and Elizabeth (Gates) Osgood, natives of Massachusetts, lived on a farm in Franklin County until 1866, when they removed to Hampshire County, where the father died in 1868. His mother at present resides there, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. Dr. Osgood was reared in his native county, where he received a good education. When nineteen years of age, he entered the academy at Amherst, remaining for one year. He afterward pur- sued the study of medicine for one year with Dr. Cook of Wendall, Mass. In 1853, he taught a winter school, and the next spring resumed his study with physicians of Greenfield, Mass., remaining there until the fall of 1855, when he went to Cincinnati. He took two courses of lect- ures in the Cincinnati Medical College, and in June, 1856, went to Bloomington, Ind., for a short time; thence came to Gosport, entered the regular practice of medicine, and at present enjoys quite a lucrative

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Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 104

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 982

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 982