USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 108
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 108
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DANIEL GANTZ, grocer and druggist at Freedom, was born, January 29, 1853, in Carroll County, Ohio, and is the ninth of the eighteen children of Jacob and Christina (Elliott) Gantz, both natives of Ohio, and respect- ively of German and English extraction. Daniel Gantz came to this county with his parents in the fall of 1865, where he bas since remained. He was reared a farmer with the rudimentary education of the common schools and one year at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Val- paraiso, to prepare himself for the office of teacher, and he has since taught twelve terms of school with flattering success. August 24, 1879, he married Mary E., daughter of J. T. and Louisa (Woods) Howe, which union has been graced with one child-Elizabeth, born April 23, 1881. Mr. Gantz is a prosperous merchant, whose annual sales amount to about $6,000 per year, and has made his own way solely by energy and thrift. He has been a life-long and uncompromising Democrat, and is a lib- eral gentleman and a respected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Gantz are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM H. GILBERT, M. D., the only physician and surgeon at Farmers, was born October 17, 1840,'in Pennsylvania, and is the second of the children of John O. and Matilda (Young) Gilbert, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German descent respectively, who emigrated to Belmont County, Ohio, and thence some years later to this State, where they located on a farm in Bartholomew County. Dr. Gil- bert remained with his parents and worked on the farm, attending school somewhat during winters, thereby acquiring the basis of a fair education. In 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and experienced the glory of war in the following battles: Pea Ridge, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Peach Tree Creek and the Atlanta campaign. He was mustered out and discharged at Marietta, Ga., after which he began the study of medicine with Dr. John Kinkid, under whose tutorship he continued about three years, and later enjoyed two courses of lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio, whence he grad- uated in 1876, then came to this locality and commenced practice, in ad- dition to which he has a snug drug store. Dr. Gilbert has been twice
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married; first to Mrs. Sarah J. Kinkid, who died December, 1874, leaving three children -- Spencer R., Flora B. and Catherine M. He next mar- ried Miss Sarah J. Boling, February 5, 1878, which union gave life to one child-Stella. Dr. Gilbert is a prominent physician, a strong Re- publican, a liberal gentleman and an esteemed citizen.
DR. JAMES M. GOSS, whose portrait appears in this work, is a na- tive of Owen County, Ind., was born December 10, 1840, and is the son of David H. and Marietta (Johns) Goss, the former a native of North Car- olina, the latter of Owen County, Ind. The father of our subject, when but two years old, was brought to this State by his parents, who settled in Washington and afterward in this county. In 1836, David H. Goss eloped to Illinois, and was there married to Marietta Johns, the union being honored with three children, two of whom are living. Mrs. Goss died in 1843, and in 1844 Mr. Goss wedded Zerilda Little, to which mar- riage succeeded eight children, of whom five survive. After marriage, Mr. Goss engaged in farming, and resided on the "New Purchase," northwest of Gosport, which was his home for fifty years. James M. Goss lived on his father's farm until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he engaged in driving cattle to Cincinnati during summer, and in winter attending school; afterward he became a clerk in Dr. Stucky's drug store, and also taught school for a time. In 1861, he went to Iowa, and enlisted in the Third Iowa Infantry; took part in the battles of Blue Mills, Mo., and Shiloh; was taken prisoner and held five weeks at Vicksburg; was paroled and thence sent to New Orleans, and later to St. Louis, where he was discharged for reason of disability in
March, 1863. After returning to Indiana, he read law for five months with Jacob Wolf, after which he went again to Iowa, and there married Carolina F. Stoneburner, which union produced three children-Nora, Laura and Manetta (deceased). In 1863, he commenced the study of medicine, and in 1864 returned to Gosport, Ind., where he taught school, at the same time continuing the study of medicine under Dr. Stucky. Early in 1865, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; was appointed Hospital Steward, commissioned As- sistant Surgeon in August, and mustered out of the service September 27 of that year, after which and during 1866 he attended lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., practiced at Smithville, Monroe County, and Cincinnati, Greene County, in 1867, and at Pottersville until 1870, when he located at Freedom. In 1872, he graduated as Doctor of Medicine at Louisville, Ky. In 1875, having been divorced from his wife, he married, June 17, 1877, Margaret E. Mills, of this county, to which union were born three children-Fletcher D., John W. (deceased) and Mary. Dr. Goss, in ad- dition to owning a fine drug store, is engaged in a successful practice. He is a Democrat in politics, and was Township Trustee from 1880 to 1882. He is also a member of the G. A. R., and an energetic, leading and respected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Goss are members of the Christian Church.
CLINTON JOHNSON was born in this county February 28, 1833, and is a son of Cornelius and Sarah (Scott) Johnson, the former a native of Kentucky, born in 1800, who emigrated to this county in 1816, lived three years with his brother, Capt. John Johnson, and then married, with an issue of nine children-Minerva (deceased), Joseph, Noel (killed at the battle of Richmond, Ky.), Clinton, Elizabeth (deceased), William H. H. (killed at Kenesaw Mountain), and three died in infancy.
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Clinton Johnson remained with his father until July 29, 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. J. H. Johnson; was made Corporal August 10, 1861; First Ser- geant, August 24, 1861; commissioned Second Lieutenant March 15, 1863, and First Lieutenant October 31, 1863. October 25, 1864, his regiment was consolidated with the Twentieth Indiana Regiment, of which he was commissioned Captain of Company A, but declined the appointment, and was mustered out of the service November 25, 1864. He took part at the battles of Fredericksburg (first and second), Chancellorsville, Louisville, Va., Gettysburg and the Wilderness (from May 5 to June 20, 1864), where he was wounded in the hand. He was also wounded at Gettysburg in the shoulder, and at Petersburg in the knee. After his return, he purchased eighty acres adjoining the old homestead, and began farming. May 3, 1875, he married Mary F. Lan- drum, of this State, by which union followed two children-Claude and Sudie E. Mr. Johnson now resides on the paternal farm as a farmer and pension agent, his office being located at Freedom. He is a Repub- lican and a member of the G. A. R.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, merchant at Freedom, was born in this county January 18, 1838, and is the second of nine children of Lewis and Elizabeth (Wise) Johnson, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of North Carolina, and respectively of English and German de- scent. William was reared as a farmer and obtained a good school edu- cation, from which advantage, in the winter of 1862, he engaged as a school teacher; continued the same until the spring of 1869, when he engaged in mercantile business at Freedom. He carries a large and general stock of goods, valued at $7,000, with annual sales of about $20,000. He is a very excellent salesman and judicious business man, commanding a large share of his branch of trade. October 2, 1882, he married Miss Sarah Fulk, a native of this county. Mr. Johnson has made his way to public favor and confidence by energy and reliability alone. He is a member of the Masonic order, politically a Democrat, and has served as Trustee and Assessor of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the church, he of the Baptist and she of the Christian denomination.
HUGH M. LIGHT, pioneer farmer of this county, was born Decem- ber 26, 1801, in South Carolina, and is the fourth of the family of Tice and Mary (Moore) Light, both natives of South Carolina, and respective- T'y of English and Irish descent. They emigrated to what is now Indiana about 1807, and located in Harrison County, where Mr. Light died, but where his wife remained and reared the family. Hugh M. Light came to this county in 1825, locating first on Eel River and then in this town- ship, where he has since resided. He had then but 12} cents in cash, and during the first summer worked on a mill dam for a bushel of corn per day, but is to-day possessor of 360 acres of good land, now utilized and improved with every modern comfort. Mr. Light has been twice married; first, October 31, 1823, to Miss Barbara Harriett, a native of Maryland, who left at her death seven children-Sanders (deceased), Eliza (deceased), Huldah (deceased), Albert (deceased), Blewford, Elizaba and Fountain. He next married Mrs. Catherine (Maconnel) Dyer, in the fall of 1867, to which union was born one child-Ida (deceased). Mr. Light's first wife was a good member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Light gave his first vote for Andrew Jackson, was afterward a Whig
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and latterly a Republican. He is a self-made man, in truth, liberal and honest. Fountain Light, youngest son of the above, was born June 2, 1842, and, January 6, 1861, married Mary Robertson, who left at her decease one child-Barbara (deceased). He next married, November 20, 1863, Sarah A. Kay, with a result of five children-Oliver (deceased), Mary, Eva, Wesley and Carrie. In 1862, Mr. Light enlisted in Com- pany F, Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but was soon dis- charged by cause of disability. Recovering his health, he re-enlisted in Company B, Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He assisted in the campaign against Gen. Hood, and was mustered out at Nashville in 1865. He is an active member of the G. A. R. and of the Republican party; he is also a liberal and respected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Light are mem- bers of the Baptist Church.
ISRAEL LIGHT, pioneer farmer and stock-raiser, was born Decem- ber 3, 1824, in this county, and is the fifth of eleven children born to Abner and Elizabeth (Burkett) Light, the former a native of South Car- olina, the latter of North Carolina. Abner Light was one of the earli- est settlers of Harrison County, this State, and in 1818 moved to Owen County, purchased 160 acres, made some improvements and brought his family to their new home, where he afterward died. Abner Light was reared on his father's farm, with the usual rudimentary edu- cation of the schools of the country. He remained at home until he was twenty-seven years old, when he embarked in the struggles of life for himself. December, 1851, he married Miss Elizabeth Vaughn, a native of this county, who died after having been the mother of two children. He next married Miss Nancy Gooden in April, 1857, by which union they had eight children-Minerva, Mahala (deceased), Laura, Clara, Elizabeth, Alice, Anderson (deceased) and Walter. Mr. Light has been through life a hard-working, economical person, by which he has accum- ulated a genteel property of 425 acres of good land, under cultivation and with improvements. He gave his first vote for Henry Clay, and has latterly been a Republican. He is a generous, upright citizen, and everywhere and by all esteemed. Mr. and Mrs. Light are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
CLEMENT V. McBRIDE is a native of this county, was born June 18, 1864, and is the third of the four children of Alexander and Agnes (Scott) McBride, respectively of German and Irish extraction. They came hither as early as 1819, and located in the then wilderness of Owen County, where they founded a home and improved and established one of the best farms in the neighborhood; the father died in 1974, leaving to each of his four children a help in the business of life. Clement was taught the principles of farming, received a good school education, and after his father's decease, inherited a legacy of 102 acres of well-located land. Mr. McBride is a rising and esteemed young man, of much ex- ecutive ability and business capacity. He is now a salesman in the grocery house of Stephenson & Leonard, where he is growing in the favor of his employers and the community. He has not yet reached the age of eligibility as a voter, but is imbued with the principles of the Republican party.
THOMAS McINDOO, merchant at Farmers, was born August 27, 1840, in this county, and is the second of the family of James and Sarah (Mounts) McIndoo, who came to this State in the earliest time, when it was but sparcely inhabited. Thomas McIndoo was reared to
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agriculture, attending school only during the winter season. He re- mained at home until 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, Ninety- seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After a service of seven months, he was taken ill, and sent to a hospital at Memphis, from which he joined his regiment, but again became sick, and was placed in a hospital at LaGrange, Tenn., and finally discharged August, 1863. Mr. McIn- doo has been twice married, first to Miss Amanda Williams, April 20, 1861, who left two children-Eva G. and Gertrude. About two and a half years after her death, October 18, 1877, he married Miss Ellen Boling, who died October, 1881. Mr. McIndoo was formerly a member of a Washington lodge of Freemasons. He is a Republican in politics and was for thirteen years Postmaster of this village. He began busi- ness at Farmers in 1869, and is one of the leading men in the mercan- tile line, and a respected citizen.
ALEXANDER C. McKEE was born in Freedom, Owen Co., Ind., February 18, 1846. He was the fifth son of a family of nine children born to Joseph and Lucinda (Bartlett) McKee, natives of Kentucky, and was reared in Freedom, in the schools of which village he acquired the rudiments of a good English education. In June, 1863, when but sev- enteen years of age, he enlisted in Company I, Sixteenth Illinois Volun- teers, under Capt. Jackson, and took part in the following engagements: Corinth, Iuka, Knoxville and Jonesville, Va., in which battle he was captured, and placed in the Andersonville Prison, where he was con- fined eleven months and seventeen days. He received an honorable dis- charge August 18, 1865, and returned to Freedom. One year later, he removed to Ellettsville, Monroe County, and began learning cabinet- making, remaining four years, removing thence to Gosport, where he remained two years. He was then appointed foreman of the bridge car- penters on the I. & V. R. R., which position he filled creditably for three years, after which he followed the carpenter trade in Greene Coun- ty about eighteen months, thence going to Bloomington, Monroe Coun- ty, where he at present resides, and enjoys a lucrative business as con- tractor and builder. December 29, 1868, he was married to Miss Mary McLaughlin, a daughter of Clark Mclaughlin, a citizen of Gosport. By this union there is one child-Flora. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
LORENZO D. MARLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, was born July 20, 1846, in Martin County, Ind., and is the youngest of the family of Manley and Sarah (Blair) Marley, the former a native of North Caro- lina, and the latter of Tennessee. After some education and training in the mysteries of farming, he enlisted, when seventeen years of age, in Company F, Seventeenth Indiana Mounted Infantry, fighting at Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Noonday Creek and Big Shanty, at which he was taken captive and conveyed to living death at Andersonville; was afterward exchanged and taken to Atlanta, his ·bri- gade capturing Jeff Davis near Macon. He was discharged at Indianap- olis August 19, 1865. October 12, 1869, he wedded Miss Zerilda E., daughter of Alexander and Mathersy McBride, a marriage crowned by six children-Oliver P., born July 25, 1870; Gertie, October 31, 1873; Katie, May 26, 1875; Lulie, November 15, 1877; Freddie T., September 19, 1880; and Albert R., March 17, 1882. In the autumn of 1868, he brought with him a stock of general merchandise, and engaged in busi- ness at Freedom for perhaps three years. his stock being destroyed by fire.
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He resumed business, however, and afterward combined farming there- with. Mr. Marley is a member of the Freemasons, also of the G. A. R. He is an active Republican, a liberal gentleman and a respected citizen. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
DR. A. J. MINICH, one of the oldest practitioners in this county, is a native of East Tennessee, was born February 17, 1815, and is the eldest living son of Anthony and Elizabeth Minich, the former a native of Germany, the latter of East Tennessee. Dr. Minich was reared to agriculture and industry, and though he acquired but small education in youth, he is now possessed of much general and practical knowledge. When five years of age, he came with his parents to Sulli- van County, this State, where he resided until 1844, at which time he came to this county and settled in his present location. In that early time, he purchased ten acres, and added thereto until he once owned in all 510 acres. He began the study of medicine under Dr. James K. Ohaver, with whom he continued about four years, and during the last two was engaged in practice. November 21, 1843, he married Miss Mary J. Rowland, a native of Pennsylvania, with an issue of five children- Mary J., Thomas A., Elizabeth A., Edwin L. and Catharine L. Dr. Minich has a fine library, and also a successful and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Democratic party, at one time having much interest in politics. He is a very liberal gentle- man, and a much respected citizen. Dr. and Mrs. Minich are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he of fifty and she of forty years' standing.
JOHN NELSON (deceased), once a pioneer farmer and influential citizen of this county, was born April 5, 1821, in Ohio, and is the third of the five children of John and Hannah (Woods) Nelson, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Ohio. The father of our subject emi- grated from Ireland when he was sixteen years old, and came to this county in 1825, where our subject received some education, afterward making his onward way unaided, and being at his death the possessor of 400 acres of improved land. February 16, 1843, he married Miss Mary Jackson, who left at her death eight children-John W. (deceased), Lou- isa, Anderson, Hannah, Leonard B. (deceased), Ira (deceased), Isabel and an infant. Five years afterward, Mr. Nelson married Mrs Annie Kelsey, a native of Saratoga, N. Y., who had four children by her former hus- band; this union was graced by three children-Elizabeth, Frederick H. and Harriet (deceased). Mr. Nelson passed from earth June 1, 1880. He was an honored Freemason, an active member of the Protestant Methodist Church, an earnest supporter of the Republican party, and a liberal gentleman and highly regarded citizen. Mrs. Nelson, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is now managing the farm, and suc- ceeding admirably in that enterprise. She was born October 27, 1829.
JOHN W. ROYER, merchant at Freedom, is a native of this county, was born February 23, 1857, and is the eldest child of William and Elizabeth (Silvius) Royer, both natives of Ohio, and of German extrac- tion. Our subject was reared in the village of Lancaster, where he ob- tained a common school education, and was reared to mercantile pursuits, having remained in the store of his father until he reached manhood, after which period he received an interest in his father's business, and remained two years, but in the spring of 1880, he and father removed to Freedom, and established a general store. December 26, 1879, he mar-
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ried Miss Laura E. Hunt, which union was honored with one child- Bertha M., born December 3, 1881. Mr. Royer is a very promising and able young business man, who is acquiring a good and substantial trade. He is a Democrat, politically, and active in the interests of that party. He is also a much respected and influential gentleman in his community. Mr. and Mrs. Royer are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
SAMUEL S. SHARP, of the firm of Sharp & Jackson, grocers at Freedom, was born October 17, 1840, in Monroe County, Ind., and is the eighth child of Hubbard and Mary (Reeves) Sharp, both natives of Kentucky, and respectively of English and German descent. Samuel was reared as a farmer, working during summer and going to school dur- ing winter. He remained with his parents until he was nearly of age, and in the autumn of 1861, enlisted in Company G, Thirty-eighth Indi- ana Volunteers. During his service he participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign, and Sep- tember 1, 1864, at Jonesboro, Ga., he received a wound in the arm, face and neck. After remaining in the hospital at Atlanta, for two months, he was removed to Chattanooga, and thence to Madison, Ind., where he was discharged. After becoming able to work, he resumed farming. April 13, 1869, he married Darthula Jackson, a widow having two chil- dren-Charles and John W .- the latter being a partner with Mr. Sharp in his present business. Both are deserving, able and enterprising merchants, and are doing au increasing trade. They are active Repub- licans and influential gentlemen in their party and county. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Sharp is an adherent of the G. A. R.
DANIEL J. STANTS, of the firm of Royer & Stants, merchants of Freedom, is a native of this county, was born February 8, 1862, and is the second of the family of John and Rachel (Miller) Stants, both na- tives of Pennsylvania, and of German extraction. Daniel J. remained at home employed in farm work until he was fourteen years old, and thereafter lived with his grandfather, D. J. Miller, until of age. Daniel received a fair school education, also a pension after the death of his father, that being directly due to causes which originated while in his country's service. In the spring of 1883, our subject began business in Freedom by purchasing the interest he now possesses in the firm of Royer & Stants. Mr. Stants is a liberal, energetic and enterprising young mercantile man, with a large promise of progress and prosperity. This house has an extensive and varied stock of goods, comprising boots and shoes, dry goods, groceries, notions, hardware, etc., to which they are guardedly and surely adding. Mr. Stants votes with the Democratic party.
M. C. STEPHENSON, of the firm Stephenson & Leonard, was born in this county August 10. 1839, and is a son of Madison and Sarah (Welborn) Stephenson, both natives of Kentucky, the former born in 1800, the latter 1808; they were parents of five children, of whom three are living. Madison Stephenson was a farmer who came to Indiana, purchased a farm in this county, married in 1834, and here lived until 1850, when he removed to Missouri and died in 1868; Mrs. Stephenson died in 1877. Our subject was the third of his father's family, with whom he lived until 1849, and then with Mr. Lawson in Greene, and James Johnson in Owen County. At the occurrence of the war, then at
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school in Spencer, he enlisted in Company E, Thirty third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Wild Cat, Franklin, Thompson's Station, Resaca, Pine Mountain, Dallas Woods and Atlanta, during which campaign he was made Corporal. After his discharge, September, 1864, he returned home, remained a year, then lived a year in Illinois, and August 13, 1866, returned to this county, having married Isabella C. Armentrout, a native of Ohio, which union gave being to five children-Adolphus C., Alcyona, John C., Herbert (deceased) and Freddie. After marriage, Mr. Stephenson farmed one year, taught one year, was engaged in the grain business in Ohio two years, returned to this county in 1869, and in 1870 made a partnership with Abner Johnson in the grocery business, which partnership after six months was changed to Stephenson & Brother; this continued to be the firm name until 1875, when it became Stephenson & Crow, and in January, 1876, again was changed to Stephenson & Leonard. Mr. Stephenson is now also managing the Freedom Hotel, and has been Postmaster since 1873. He is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellow and G. A. R. fraternities, and, with his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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