Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 53

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 53
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

T. J. BUTTS, of the firm of Zenor & Butts, dealers in general mer- chandise, Cory, Ind., was born in Jackson Township, Clay County, De- cember 7, 1854, and is the fourth of ten children-eight of whom are still living, all in Clay County-of William and Nancy (Hicks) Butts. Until he was eighteen years of age, he lived on a farm with his parents. He then entered the Graded School at Center Point, Clay County, re- maining nearly two years, and during that time qualified himself for a school teacher. He began teaching in Jackson Township in the autumn of 1874, and taught a nine months' term. At the close of this engagement he returned to farming, and continued that business until the fall of 1882, when he purchased a one-half interest in the store, which share he still owns. This store contains a stock of goods worth about $5,000, and the firm is conducting a successful business. On De- cember 16, 1874, Mr. Butts was married to Nancy A. Zenor, who was born January 21, 1858, and daughter of James and Louisa (Lawder- milk) Zenor. She has borne her husband two children, viz .: Ollie May Bell, born April 20, 1878; Louisa Dell Zenia, born June 20, 1880. In politics he is a stanch Republican. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Butts is a genial, enterprising gentleman, and is ever favoring any move which tends to promote the business interests of the community, or elevate its social relations.

ENOCH CADE, one of the prominent farmers of the northern part of Perry Township, was born in West Virginia April 4, 1818, and is the fourth, and the only one living, of five children of Jacob and Mary (Madden) Cade. Until he was eighteen years of age, he lived on a farm, and was then apprenticed to the carpenter's trade at Cumberland, Md., where he remained until 1864, when he moved to Clay County, Ind., locating on the farm where he has resided up to the present. His farm consists of 200 acres of well-improved land. On May 4, 1843, he was

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married to Delilah Devore. She bore him three children-Louisa J., born March 4, 1844, died March 6, 1873; Mary E., born September 9, 1845, died September 5, 1851; Cornelius, born September 9, 1851. Mrs. Cade died September 10, 1851. For his second wife he married, January 22, 1853, Caroline Devore, who was born November 22, 1833. Four children have been born to this union-Alice, born May 1, 1855; Charles R., born April 19, 1857; Emma, born November 24, 1861; Ben- jamin T., born November 23, 1867, died November 30, 1867. Mr. Cade is one of the live, energetic, enterprising farmers of his township, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens. In his younger days, he was a member of the I. O. O. F. In politics, he is an uncompromising Republican.

EZRA O. COBLE, farmer, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, November 6, 1850, and is the sixth of seven children of Philip and Sarah (Hagerman) Coble. He lived in Ohio until he was thirteen years of age, when his parents moved to Perry Township, Clay County, Ind., locating on the farm where he now resides, having been here all his life engaged in farming. On December 10, 1876, he was married to Jennie Williams, an accomplished young lady, daughter of John W. Williams, one of the prominent farmers of this township, and an early settler. She was born April 25, 1853, and died October 1, 1877. One son was the result of this union-Walter O. (deceased). Mr. Coble is a man of ordinary edu- cational attainments, but takes great interest in the literature of the day. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is politically a stanch Republican.

THOMAS COBLE is one of the prominent farmers of Perry Town- ship; is a 'native of Pennsylvania, and born October 17, 1816, his parents being Philip and Margaret (Thorley) Coble. Thomas lived on a farm in Pennsylvania until he was twelve years of age, when his parents moved to Ohio, where he remained, farming, until the autumn of 1864, when he moved to Perry Township and settled at his present location. Since his early childhood, he has been a farmer, his tastes leading him in that direction. His opportunities for acquiring an education were limited, in his early youth, but perseverance has helped him to a fair knowledge of the common branches taught in schools. He also takes a deep interest in current literature. He is one of the self-made men of the country, commencing life with comparatively nothing, and to-day he owns and lives on one of the finest farms in this township. The farm consists of 240 acres of finely improved land. On the 13th of December, 1838, he was married to Catharine Davis, who was born October 9, 1818. The following children were born to this marriage: Margaret, born Jannary 20, 1840, died June 12, 1882; Nancy, born February 2, 1842; Sarah, born October 20, 1844; Philip T., born February 25, 1847; George D., born December 23, 1849; Patience, born November 9, 1852, died April 30, 1862; Ruth A., born July 9, 1855; Jacob E., born February 7, 1858, died April 21, 1862; John C., born October 18, 1860. Mr. Coble and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and earnest workers in the Christian cause. He is also a strong advocate of temper- ance principles. Politically, he is a Republican.

GEORGE D. COBLE was born in Carroll County, Ohio, December 23, 1849, and is, the fifth of nine children of Thomas and Catharine (Davis) Coble, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Ohio. Until 1864, our subject lived and worked on a farm in Ohio, when his

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parents moved to Perry Township, Clay County, where he has resided until the present time. At the age of seventeen years, he entered the graded school at Center Point, Clay County, preparatory to entering the profession of a teacher, and after an attendance of two terms he began teaching in his home district, where he has since taught seven terms. In other portions of the township he has taught three terms, and in Sugar Ridge Township one term. He has the reputation of being a first-class educator, and has given general satisfaction wherever he has taught. On September 4, 1873, he was married to Hattie A. Brill, who was born March 17, 1855. Two children have been born to them-Estella May, born June 4, 1875; Rue L., born May 6, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Coble are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His attention at present is directed to farming and stock-raising. He resides on his father's farm, which consists of 240 acres of well-improved land. He is a young man of enterprise and energy. and a live Republican in politics.

JOB C. CONGLETON, one of the prominent farmers of Perry Town- ship (P. O. Cory, Ind.), and son of John and Nancy (Snoddy) Congleton, was born in Posey Township, Clay County, Ind., August 31, 1838. His parents are both of Scotch extraction. He has lived in this county all his life, engaged in farming and stock-raising. The first fifteen years of his life he spent in Posey Township, the remainder of his life in Perry Township. His early education was acquired at the common schools of the county, yet by dint of hard labor and perseverance, stimulated by his ambition, he is in possession of rather more than ordinary educational attainments. He was married, March 24, 1861, to Margaret Donham, who was born September 14, 1841. They have had eight children- James F., Joseph S., Marietta (deceased), Matilda A., Lucinda J. (de- ceased), Ora B., George D. and Allen R. Mr. Congleton takes an active interest in politics, and is a member of the Republican party. In the autumn of 1876, he was elected Trustee of Perry Township, serving one term with credit to himself and with satisfaction to his constituents. In the winter of 1862-63, he taught a term of school in the Center School- house in Perry Township. Being a man of enterprise, he always favors those things which tend to promote the educational and business interests of the community. Two of his children, Marietta and Lucinda J., died of small-pox in the year 1875. Mr. Congleton lives on a well-improved farm of eighty acres, one and one-half miles northwest of Cory. He was one of the two census enumerators of Perry Township in 1880.

EMANUEL DEETER, one of the prominent farmers of Perry Town- hip, Clay County, Ind., living nine miles south of Brazil (P. O., Art. Ind.), was born in Ohio, February 1, 1838, and is the fifth of seven chil- dren of Jacob, born January 10, 1810, and Elizabeth (Williams) Deeter, who was born October 27, 1812 (both deceased). Our subject moved to Clay County, in the year 1839, with his parents, who located three-fourths of a mile south of where he now lives. He has resided in Perry Town- ship ever since he came to Indiana, and was born and bred a farmer, his attention being principally engaged in that business, but he is, however, what is termed a " jack-at-all-trades." He molded and burned the bricks that form the walks to his house. He is at present engaged in stock-raising as well as farming, his farm consisting of 160 acres of well- improved land. In 1882, 1,300 bushels of wheat and 400 bushels of corn were raised on his farm. On August 10, 1862, he was married to Mary J. Asher, who was born January 11, 1842. Eight children have

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been born to them-James M., Sarah A., Jacob, George, Margaret, Jose- phine, John and Walter. He and his wife are prominent members of the Christian Church, and are ever ready to assist in the building-up of the cause of Christianity. His educational opportunities have been limited, but he takes much interest in literary matters. Politically, he is a Re- publican.

J. S. DONHAM was born in Perry Township, Clay County, May 4, 1834, and is the son of Abijah and Margaret Donham, who were very early settlers of this county. Our subject is the oldest of thirteen chil- dren, eleven of whom are still living. He was raised a farmer, and that has been his occupation nearly all his life. His early education was lim- ited to the common district schools, but by dint of hard labor he has qualified himself for teaching in the country schools. In the autumn of 1856, he taught his first term in Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, and continued teaching in that county for three years; then came to Per- ry Township, teaching here three years; thence went to Posey Township, Clay County, teaching there seven years. He then returned to Perry Township, and here he taught his last term of school in the winter of 1870-71, retiring from the profession on account of his failing health. He then engaged in farming one year, when he took a contract for the construction of the Terre Haute & Cincinnati Railroad grade, and fin- ished the first mile of grade in this county in 1872. On December 25. 1866, he was married to Calista A. Kesler, who was born May 24, 1842. They have had five children, viz., Laura M., born October 30, 1867; Sarah E., April 22, 1871; Robert A., November 13, 1873; Margaret B., July 6, 1876; George E., August 7, 1879. In his younger days, Mr. Donham took an active part in politics, lending his services to the Dem- ocratic party. In 1860, he was before the Democratic Convention for the nomination of County Treasurer, but was unsuccessful. In 1862, he again made an effort for the same trust, but was again unsuccessful. In 1864, he was before the Democratic Convention for Recorder, but was again unsuc- cessful. In 1865, he was elected Trustee of Perry Township, and served one term. Nothing daunted, in 1868, he was for the third time before the Democratic Convention for the nomination of County Treasurer, and again suffered defeat. In 1859-60, he was Assessor of Perry Township; in 1869, Real Estate Appraiser of Perry Township, and in 1880 again Appraiser of Perry Township. Mr. Donham is a member of the Chris- tian Church. He is also a prominent member of the I. O. O. F.

JOHN R. FERREL. Trustee of Perry Township (P. O. Cory), was born October 5, 1845, and is the son of Walter D., who was born August 18, 1823, and Elizabeth (Reece) Ferrel, who was born August 18, 1826. His father is at present a resident of Terre Haute, Ind. He is the only child of his parents, and lived for about one year after his birth in Vigo County, when his parents moved to Perry Township, and remained until he was twelve years of age, and from here returned to Vigo County, "lo- cating in Terre Haute, remaining there until he was twenty-six years of age, and then moved to Perry Township, Clay County, where he has since resided. His principal occupation while at Terre Haute was steam- boating on the Ohio, Wabash and Green Rivers. In 1879, he was Wreck- ing-master for the Vandalia Railroad Company, being thus employed for about one year. He was engaged in farming while in Perry Township up to the year 1878, also in stock-raising. At this time he purchased a third interest in the mill at Cory, and has continued in the milling busi-

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ness and speculating in grain up to the present time. In all his business ventures, Mr. Ferrel has been very successful. On October 10, 1870, he was married to Mary S. McKee, who was born January 4, 1847. The following children have been born to them: Anna E., Mary, Winifred, Nellie, Susan, infant (unnamed). In politics, he is a stanch, live Repub-

lican. In 1878, he was the Republican candidate for Trustee of Perry Township, but was defeated by the National candidate. Again, in 1880, he was a candidate, being this time successful, and was re-elected in 1882. At the expiration of his present term, he will have served four years as Trustee. Under his supervision he has twelve schools, and dur- ing his incumbency has already erected four schoolhouses. Mr. Ferrel is one of the leading enterprising men of this section. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

WILLIAM P. FOULKE, the fourth of eight children of John and Sarah (Hartley) Foulke, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 12, 1845. The father was of Welsh, the mother of English extraction. When our subject was seven years of age, his parents moved to Clay County, Ind., locating on the farm where he now resides. In June, 1863, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment Indiana Infantry, serving six months, and was discharged on account of the ex- piration of his term of service. He re-enlisted the same day he was dis- charged, in the Thirty-first Indiana Infantry, in which he served eighteen months, when he was discharged for disability. He was with Sherman on his famous Atlanta campaign, and did gallant service as a soldier. On his return from the war, he commenced farming, and taught school during the winter seasons, his first experience as a teacher being in Cloverland. Since then, in this county and counties adjoining, he has taught fifteen terms. Wherever he has been employed as a teacher, he has given general satisfaction. In his home district he has taught six terms. He has been married three times; first to Laura Harper, Septem- ber 20, 1870; one child was born to them-Laura B. Second, to Sarah A. Mitchell, on April 26, 1874. Third, to Eliza J. Donham, who has borne him two children, viz., Annie D. and Nellie M. Mr. and Mrs. Foulke are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the A. F. & A. M. Politically, he is a Republican. He lives on a farm of eighty acres, owned by his mother, his sister and himself.

LORENZO D. GARD, one of the prominent farmers of the southern part of Perry Township, Clay County, Ind., was born in Union County, Ind., March 17, 1842, and was the son of John H. and Phoebe Gard. He lived on a farm in Union County until the year 1849, when his parents moved to Owen County. In 1866, he removed to Clay County, locating near Knightsville, where he remained two and one-half years, then re- turned to Owen County, remaining two years. In 1871, he moved again to Clay County, and located on the farm where he now resides. He has always been a farmer, except during the three years he served as a soldier. He enlisted in August, 1861, in Company B, Thirty-first Indi- ana Infantry, and engaged in some of the severest battles of the war, among which were Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Resaca and At- lanta. He was married, August 27, 1865, to Nancy J. (Wiley) Coffman, who was born July 24, 1842. Seven children have been born to them- William S., born October 6, 1866; Effie E., born May 13, 1868; Charles M., born September 17, 1869; Edna J., born August 31, 1872; John H.,

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born September 29, 1874; James O., born July 10, 1877, died August 31, 1878; Myrtie M., born October 13, 1879. Mr. Gard lives on a well-im- proved farm of 105 acres, with a fine house situated on a high point of ground. He is a man of rather ordinary educational attainments, yet takes a deep interest in current literature. He and his wife are members of that branch of the Christian Church known as New Lights.

P. A. GLICK, blacksmith and carriage-maker, was born in Peru, Ind., July 25, 1853, and is the second of fifteen children of Ananias and Mary (Kieffer) Glick (both deceased). He lived in Peru until he was two years of age, when his parents moved to Rochester, Fulton County, where they resided about one year; then removed to Terre Haute, where he has spent the greater part of his life. His father was a carriage- maker by trade, and had one of the largest shops of that kind then in Terre Haute. It was the second shop ever built in that town, and for twenty years he conducted a very successful business there. Our subject being almost raised in the shop, his inclinations were in that direction, and at eighteen years of age commenced as a journeyman carriage-maker, working three years. In the spring of 1875, in Terre Haute, he became proprietor of a shop which he conducted until the summer of 1877, when he established himself at Cory, Clay County, where he has since re- mained, prosecuting a very successful business. On May 12, 1874, he was married to Annie Clark, who was born May 3, 1851. She has borne him two children-Henry E., born March 16, 1875; Carrie E., born August 6, 1879. He and wife are both members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, he being also Assistant Superintendent of the Sabbath school at Cory. He is a man of more than ordinary literary attainments. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics a Republican.

P. H. GLICK, undertaker, Cory, Ind., was born December 3, 1825, in Fairfield County, Ohio. His parents, Philip and Lyda Glick, were both of German lineage. Our subject lived on a farm in Ohio until the year 1857, when he moved to Terre Haute, Ind., and worked in the brewery of George Glick. Here he remained one year, when he moved to Riley Township, Vigo County, and engaged in farming until 1877, when, his health failing him, he moved to Cory and engaged in the busi- ness of undertaker, which he has conducted very successfully ever since. He has been married twice, the first time to Sarah A. Settles, who was born November 27, 1831, and died May 20, 1856. She bore her husband two children, viz .: Calvin, born May 15, 1853, died August 7, 1853; Philip M., born May 1, 1856. His second marriage was September 4, 1856, to Eliza A. Leach, who was a native of Virginia, and born August 13, 1832. One child has been born to this union, viz., Alvey M., born June 16, 1857. In politics, Mr. Glick is a strong Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ever labors for the up- building of the cause of Christianity. He is also a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity. In 1879, he established the hotel of which he is now proprietor. Taking into account the small size of the town in which it is located, the house has a large and increasing patronage. The present Plymouth Church, of Riley Township, Vigo County, was organized at the house of Mr. Glick, in the early winter of 1861. The first congrega- tion consisted of about fifty persons, twenty-five of whom were converts. The minister who conducted the services was "Uncle " Sam Hollings- worth.

EMANUEL M. HARR is the son of Joseph, who was born in the year 1786, and died February 1, 1855. and Catharine (Moody) Harr; she

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died March 12, 1868, at the age of seventy-six years ten months and eighteen days. Emanuel was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 5, 1837, and lived with his parents until he was twenty years of age, when he moved to Clay County, Ind., and commenced life for himself. In the spring of 1858, he purchased the farın on which he has resided up to the present. He was born and bred a farmer, and his inclinations have al- ways led him in that direction. On November 2, 1859, he married Mary A. Miller, who was born July 16, 1842, of parents, Nicholas and Han- nah Miller, the former the largest land owner in Clay County. The fol- fowing children have been born to them, viz .: Matilda J., born Decem- ber 6, 1860; John, November 24, 1862; Joseph, November 12, 1865; Ida Bell, June 29, 1868; Laura Etta, January 21, 1871; Cora, April 15, 1874, died October 8, 1875; Jessie O., September 2, 1876; Jasper C.,. March 6, 1879; Jacob H., August 21, 1881. Mr. Harr lives on a well- improved farm of 500 acres, 428 acres of which are under cultivation. He is an energetic, enterprising man, and much respected in his town- ship. Mrs. Harr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but her husband claims no connection with any church organization. In pol- itics, he is a live Republican; he is also a member of the Masonic fra- ternity.

DR. WILLIAM M. HARRIS was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 10, 1815, and is the second of fourteen children of Na- thaniel, who was born in Virginia in 1791, and Sarah (Gipson) Harris, who was born in Virginia in 1793. The parents emigrated to Ohio in 1812, and remained there the rest of their lives, the mother dying when our subject was ten years of age. After the death of the mother, the father remarried. The fourteen children were the result of the two mar- riages. William was born and raised on a farm, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He then commenced the cabinet-maker's trade, working at it four years; then started on a tour through the present States of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. He remained in the West two years, working at his trade, commanding the highest wages, as his skill in cabinet- making was unsurpassed. When he re- turned from the West, he entered a seminary, where he remained one year. He entered the office of Dr. Hall, at Dayton, Ohio, to study medicine, remaining one year; then placed himself under the instruction of Dr. Miller, of Dayton, Ohio, remaining twelve months. He then commenced to practice medicine at Newton, Ohio, continuing three years. While there, he married Frances Barber, on January 19, 1845. She was born November 3, 1825. The following children were born to them, viz .: Sarah Z. (deceased); Lucelius N. (deceased); William D. and Azorah O., born in Darke County, Ohio; Ledges A. (deceased); James F., Laura B., Clara E., Frances M. (deceased). The last five were born in Clay County, Ind. His wife died October 20, 1866. From Newton he moved to Ithaca, Darke County, Ohio, where he practiced medicine eight years. During this time, he attended a course of lectures at Cincinnati, and grad- uated in the spring of 1852. From Ithaca he removed to Clay County, Ind., and has practiced here ever since. He was among the first physi- cians in this country, and had such a large practice he could not at- tend to it. He now lives on a well-improved farm of eighty. one acres, nine miles from Brazil. He was married a second time, August 15 1867, to Nancy Wilcox, who was born July 29, 1826; she died July 3, 1877. His third marriage was to Lucy (Latham) Slack, August 18, 1879

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She was born July 28, 1843. They have one child-Birdie Gertrude, born November 28, 1882. In politics, he is a Republican; he is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

SAMUEL JACKSON is one of the prominent farmers and early set- tlers of Perry Township, Clay County, being a native of Clermont County, Ohio, and born June 29, 1812. His parents, Thornton and Sophia (Short) Jackson were, his father of English, his mother of German descent. Samuel lived in Ohio until he was twenty-three years of age, his occupation in the meantime being flat-boating on the Ohio River, boating wood to Cincinnati during about ten years. He moved to Clay County, Ind., in the autumn of 1836, locating in Perry Township, about two miles northwest of where he now lives. He lived on a farm of eighty acres here for seventeen years, when he sold out and purchased the farm which is now his home, and where he has resided with his fam- ily ever since. Before he divided his land among his children, he pos- sessed 440 acres. He now owns and occupies 130 acres of well-improved land. He was married, May 28, 1835, to Mary Hixon, who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, December 18, 1817. She has borne him nine children, viz., Thornton, Andrew, Maria Jane, Amos, William F., John M., Samuel, Edwin and Mary E. Mr. Jackson and wife are both mem- bers of the Baptist Church. In his younger days, he took an active in- terest in politics, he being a Democrat.

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Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 53

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