USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 95
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 95
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TOWN OF SPENCER.
copartnership with the Hon. Samuel H. Buskirk, of Bloomington, he opened an office in Spencer. The war of the rebellion, however, broke out, and unsettled for a time his life purposes, as he felt it his duty to respond to the call for troops. He assisted in the organization of the first company that was raised in Owen County. On the 19th of April, 1861, five days after the fall of Fort Sumter, he enlisted as First Ser- geant in Company H, Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, and on June 7, 1861, the company was mustered into the service. On the 10th of July, the regiment arrived at Rich Mountain, Va., and composed the reserve force during the battle of the next day at that place, joining in the pursuit of the rebels after that successful engagement, as far as Cheat Mountain, the regiment remaining there until October, 1861. In August, 1861, Sergt. Beem was promoted to First Lieutenant of his company. After having participated in numerous skirmishes, and having endured many hardships through the winter of 1861-62, the regiment was transferred to the Shenandoah Valley, and took an active part in the battle of Win- chester on March 23, 1862, where Lieut. Beem received a severe wound in the chin. On a Surgeon's certificate, he received sixty days' leave of absence and returned home. At the expiration of his leave, he rejoined his command, and, in May, 1862, was promoted to Captain, which posi- tion he held until the expiration of his term of service, in June, 1864. After arduous and faithful service in the Shenandoah Valley, Capt. Beem's command was transferred in July, 1862, to the Army of the Po- tomac, and from that date to the expiration of its term of service the Fourteenth Indiana Infantry participated in all the great battles fought in that army. At Antietam, Capt. Beem's command lost in killed and mortally wounded just one sixth of its number; and at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and in many minor engagements, the Fourteenth Indiana fairly earned its reputation as a fighting regiment. In August, 1863, the regiment was sent to New York to aid in quelling the great draft riots which occurred there at that time. The number of officers and men killed or who died from wounds received in battle in Capt. Beem's company was nineteen. Only two of this number were killed when the Captain was not on duty with and in command of the company. On his return home from the service, Capt. Beem resumed the practice of law at Spencer, in which he has continued to the present time. He has also been actively engaged in business en- terprises, with varying success, having organized the banking firm of Beem, Peden & Co. in Spencer, in June, 1870, and having been its man- aging member continuously to the present time. In 1873, he embarked with others in the pork packing business at Spencer, in which, on account of the failure of many of its customers, he lost a large part of his earn- ings in that and other business ventures. Capt. Beem has held no public office, nor sought any; is not a politician, in the usual sense of that term, but takes an active interest in matters political. Being a Repub- lican in principle, he has always voted and acted with that party. Al- though he has never been a candidate for a political office, he has served his party as Chairman of its County Central Committee during three political campaigns, and in 1880 was a delegate from the Fifth Congres- sional District to the Chicago National Convention, in which he voted for the nomination of James A. Garfield for President. He was a School Trustee for' many years, and aided in the organization of the Spencer Graded School. Since 1860, he has been a devoted and consistent mem-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
ber of and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. On April 10, 1861, he was married to Mahala Joslin, daughter of Dr. Amasa Joslin, one of the pioneer physicians of Spencer. Three children have been born to them, one girl and two boys, all of whom survive. Mrs. Beem is a zealous laborer in the church and Sabbath school, and in all benevolent and charitable movements.
DR J. T. BELLES is the youngest in a family of eight, and the only child still living born to John J. and Sarah (Tarlton) Belles. The mother died shortly after his birth, which occurred January 1, 1826. His father then removed to Indiana, and located near Indianapolis, where he was united in marriage to Dorcas Sanders, and where he died in 1839. Our subject, then thirteen years of age, returned to Kentucky, his native State, and remained there for ten years, receiving a good edu- tion. He then came to Indianapolis, and studied medicine with Drs. Dunlap and Harrison. Prior to this time, he had read medicine with his brother-in-law, Dr. Johnson, for one year. In 1851, he graduated from the Indiana Medical College. In April, 1852, he formed a part- nership with Dr. Cooper Baker, of Indianapolis, with whom he practiced medicine one season, when Mr. Baker, on account of his ill-health, was obliged to retire from practice. Dr. Belles continued in the same place for two years, and then went to California, remained for one year, after which The returned to Indianapolis, and practiced until 1864. He then came to Spencer, and entered the practice here, where he is now engaged in the duties of his profession. In 1864, he was appointed Government Examining Surgeon, which position he filled until 1883, when he re signed. In March, 1850, he married Julia Reid, a daughter of Archibald O. and Lavina Reid, old settlers of Indianapolis. By this union there were five children, but one now living. His wife died in 1862, and two years later he married Amanda J. Tull, a widowed daughter of Samuel and Amanda McCurdy, residents of Marion County, Ind. By this union there were four children, two of whom are living. Dr. Belles has been from his early days an active worker in and liberal supporter of all temper- ance movements. He was a member of the Baptist Church for twenty- four years, but on coming to Spencer joined the Methodist Church, there being no Baptist organization here at that time. He is a member of the I. O. O. F .; is a highly respected citizen, and is a man of Christian principles and of integrity.
MARION F. BRANAM is a native of Owen County, and was born June 9, 1857. His parents, Jonathan and Nancy (Boker) Branam, came to Indiana early in life and located in Monroe County. Later on they moved to Owen County, where they now reside. The subject of this sketch is the youngest child in a very large family, and when he was twenty-one years of age, began farming near Greencastle, and con- tinued to live on the farm until 1881. In 1882, he entered the saloon business in Spencer, with W. H. Secrest, on the north side of the square, where he may now be found in very neat, comfortable quarters. He was married, January 1, 1880, to Sarah Franklin, a daughter of William and Sarah Franklin, old and respected citizens of Owen County. Her parents are both dead. By this union there is one child-Allie M. Mr. Branam is an active member of the Republican party.
JAMES CAMPBELL, wagon-maker of Spencer, Ind., is the eldest son of Joseph and Mary (Graham) Campbell, natives of Kentucky, and of Scotch extraction. He was born in Monroe County, Ind., April 28,
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TOWN OF SPENCER.
1824, and reared on a farm, meanwhile attending the district schools. From Monroe he came to Owen County in the fall of 1844, and located in Gosport, where he carried on the business of wagon-making for about twelve years. Early in life, in the summer of 1847, he enrolled as color bearer in Company B, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Gorman, and served until August, 1848, when he was honorably dis- charged. He participated in some of the most important battles of the Mexican war. After his return to Gosport, he moved from there to Mon- roe County in 1857, where he made his home up to 1864, removing thence to Morgan County, and in September, 1866, he went to Iowa. After a sojourn of about three years, he returned to Indiana, and lived in Mon- roe County for twelve years. He then came to Owen County, and has since resided in Spencer, successfully engaged at his trade. In 1861, he enlisted as Second Duty Sergeant in Company F, Twenty-seventh In- diana Volunteer Infantry, and served until February, 1862. He partici- pated in the battles of Antietam, South Mountain, second battle of Bull Run, and Winchester. In the last engagement here mentioned, he re- ceived a wound in the right shoulder which led to his discharge. In politics, he is a Republican, having originally been a Whig. He is a member of the G. A. R. He was married in 1851 to Ann Reeves, of Gosport, who died in 1853. In 1856, he was next married to his pres- ent wife, Frances Dunagan, who has borne him one child-Mary J. (de- ceased).
S. N. CHAMBERS, County Sheriff, is a native of Owen County, born October 1, 1840, in Washington Township. He is the youngest of seven children born to Zaccheus and Isabella (Blain) Chambers, who immi- grated from the South to Indiana early in life and settled in Washington Township, where they entered a farm, on which they lived during their remaining days. The father died in 1868, and the mother in 1875. Mr. Chambers lived at home on the farm until grown, when he went out West, where he stayed for six months, and then returned home and remained until 1862. He then enlisted in Company F, Fifty-fifth Indiana Volun- teers, under Capt. Fair. After he came home from the war, he went to Canada for a short time, and then returned to Owen County and resumed farming. When twenty-six years of age, he went into the dry goods business at Stinesville, Monroe County, and about 1868 he went to California, where he stayed one year. He returned to Stinesville, where he was in business for two years.
He then went to Ellettsville, and en- gaged in the drug business with S. H. Dunn. He sold out in a short time, and traveled for awhile, after which he came to Owen County. After a short stay at home, he went to Kentucky to farm, but in 1875, he came back and went into the employ of the Spencer Business Association, for whom he ran a general merchandise store for two years. He then went to Oregon, and remained there until February of 1878, when he came to Chamberville, Owen County, and farmed during one summer, and in the fall he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Spencer. He filled this office until 1882, when he was elected Sheriff, and is still faithfully dis- charging the duties devolving upon him. He is a member of Lodge No. 95, A. F. &. A. M., and is politically a Democrat.
J. W. CLEAVER, a native of Ohio, was born in Butler County Sep- tember 25, 1824. His parents, William and Margaret (Taylor) Cleaver, moved from Maryland to Ohio in 1804, and located in Butler County. In 1830, they moved to Shelby County, and purchased a farm where they
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
lived until their deaths, the mother dying in 1833, the father in 1867. J. W. Cleaver is their sixth child and lived at home until he was nineteen years old, when he went to Indianapolis and learned the brick mason's trade, which he followed for twenty years. He then came to Spencer, and became proprietor of the old " Pacific House," where he stayed for about seven years. Tiring of this, he worked at his trade for a short time. He then kept boarding house for awhile, and in 1874 purchased the " Cleaver House," now the " Lucas House," which he traded in 1876 for property in Indianapolis. In March of the same year, he rented the " National House," which he ran until August of this year (1883), and is now the worthy host of one of the most popular boarding houses in Spen- cer. He was married, in 1851, to Mary E. Ramsey, daughter of Jesse Ramsey, a prominent citizen of Indianapolis. They have had five chil- dren, three of them still living. Mr. Cleaver is an active member of the Methodist Church.
JEREMIAH CLINE is the eldest son of Miles and Susan Cline, na- tives of North Carolina. He was born in Washington Township, Owen County, February 28, 1832. He lived at home until he had attained his majority, after which he worked with different farmers for four years in his native county. He speut three years of his life in Monroe County, and the remainder in Owen County. He at present resides in Spencer, successfully engaged in the saloon business. His parents are dead, the mother having died in 1846. In 1878, he came to Spencer; was teamster for two years, and afterward worked on the Indianapolis & Vincennes Railroad for about three years. He was Supervisor in Washington Town- ship for two years in 1876 and 1877. He was married July 24, 1856, to Elizabeth E. Wampler. By this union there are four children-Will- iam E., Joseph H., Carrie and George B. Mr. Cline is a member of the Democratic party and an active worker in its ranks.
WILLIAM E. CLINE is the eldest child of Jeremiah and Elizabeth E. (Wampler) Cline, natives of Indiana. He was born in Washington Township, Owen County, Ind., May 12, 1857. His father was former- ly a farmer, but is at present in the saloon business. Our subject was a farmer until in 1881, when he went to Lancaster, Owen County, and opened a saloon remaining there for two years. He then came to Spen- cer, and for a short time has been successfully engaged in the same busi- ness. He was married in October, 1881, in Lancaster, to Belle Lucas, a daughter of William Lucas, a farmer and pioneer of Owen County. They have one child-Roy. Mr. Cline is a stanch member and an active worker of the Democratic party.
J. COBLE, M. D., is the third child of Philip and Sarah (Hagerman) Coble. His parents emigrated from Ohio to Clay County, and in 1863 located in Perry Township. He was born, August 27, 1843, in Carroll County, Ohio, and lived there on his father's farm until he was seventeen years of age. He then enlisted in Company D, Eightieth Ohio Infantry, under Capt. David Skeels, and served until the close of the war, during which time he participated in the following battles: The seige of Corinth, Iuka, Jackson, Raymond, the second battle at Corinth, Vicks- burg. Port Gibson, Champion Hill and others. He then located in Clay County, Ind., and in the fall of the same year (1865), he began the study of medicine with Dr. R. C. Black, which he continued for four years. He then practiced in Clay County for one year, after which he came to Owen County, practiced for two years, and then went to Morgan County,
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TOWN OF SPENCER.
where he remained for two years. He then moved to Putnam County, and, locating at Cloverdale, went into the drug business there. He con- tinned in this for two years, when he sold out and came to Spencer, again began the practice of medicine, and has gained an enviable reputa- tion in his profession He was married, in 1872, to Maryetta Cantwell, daughter of Christopher and Jane Cantwell, old pioneers of Owen Coun- ty. They have five children. Dr. Coble is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics is a Republican.
ABRAHAM COFFEY was born in Wilkes County, N. C., April 26, 1814. His parents, James and Hannah Coffey, were also natives of North Carolina. The father was a farmer, and died October 27, 1869. The mother died February 14, 1871, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Abraham was reared in North Carolina, where he received his education. He spent most of his early life at hard labor. He was Township Trustee for several years, and in Novem- ber, 1877, he was elected County Commissioner, which office he filled for three years. In 1882, he was again elected for a term of three years to the same office. Mr. Coffey was married in November, 1835, to Miss Sallie Green, of Ashe County, N. C., daughter of Daniel and Nancy Green. By this union there were six children, five of whom are living- Hannah E., Mary S., Thomas A., Minter L. and Sarah Jane. He is an active member of the Democratic party, and his wife is a prominent member of the Baptist Church.
JOEL A. COFFEY, Postmaster, is a native of Tennessee, born June 10, 1818. His parents, Elijah and Mary (Dyer) Coffey, came to Indiana when Joel was quite young, and located in Monroe County. They re- mained there but a short time, when they removed to Clay Township, Owen County, where they continued living until their deaths. Mr. Coffey is the sixth in a family of eleven children, and was reared on the home farm in Clay Township. He received a good education, attending school in the winter and helping on the farm in the summer. In 1851, he came to Spencer, and purchased the Spencer Hotel, which he ran for a year, after which time he sold it and went to farming in Washington Town- ship, where he remained about eighteen months. He then returned to Spencer, where he followed painting and carpentering for some time. In 1853, he traded his farm for the hotel which he had formerly owned, rented it partly for a store room, and the rest for a dwelling place. He then went into the general merchandise business, on the corner of the square where the National House now is. In 1863, he sold his interest in the store to J. J. Cooper and went into the insurance business, in which he continued for two years, and then took the agency for the Singer Sewing Machine in Owen County, which position he filled for about two years, when he went to farming. He soon afterward returned to Spen- cer, bought the same hotel, which he repaired and ran for a short time. He then sold it and became insurance agent again. In 1866, he was ap- pointed Postmaster, has honorably filled the office, and at present occupies the same. In December, 1847, he was married to Charity McDonald, daugh- ter of William and Ruth McDonald, old pioneers of Owen County. By this union there are three children. Mr. Coffey is a prominent member of the Christian Church, and is a stanch Republican. He is truly a good man, and one of whom his fellow-citizens may well be proud.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
WESLEY COFFEY, attorney at law, was born December 13, 1843 in Clay Township, Owen County. His parents, Albert and Sarah (Gooderight) Coffey-the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Kentucky-emigrated to Indiana from North Carolina about 1828. Four years later they came to Owen County, and located in Clay Township, on a farm where the mother now resides. The father died in October of 1838. Wesley is the elder of two children, and lived at home until 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. J. H. Martin, and was in active service for two years. Then, on account of ill-health, he was put on detached service, sent to Frederick, Md., and remained there until the close of the war. He participated in the following battles: Rich Mountain, Cheat Mountain and battle of Winchester. At the close of the war, he re- turned home to Owen County, remained one year, after which he pur. chased a farm in Clay Township, where he remained two years. He then sold and went into the grocery business at Spencer with W. R. Stogsdil. About 1875, he sold his interest and went into the insurance business, and the study and practice of law, and now is an honored and respected member of the bar in Spencer. He was married in April, 1865, to Laura J. Howe, daughter of Amon P. and Harriet Howe, old settlers in Owen County. Mr. Coffey is a member of the Baptist Church, and is politically a Republican. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of the K. of P., of the Royal Arcanum, and the Grand Army of the Republic, and was for four years Justice of the Peace of Owen County. He is a public spirited citizen, and highly estemed, by those know him.
NATHAN COLLINS is a native of Ohio, born in Holmes County May 28, 1842. His parents, Alexander and Eliza (Elliott) Collins, natives of Ohio and Ireland, were married in 1841 in Ohio. Shortly after marriage, they moved to Nashville, where the father learned the shoe-maker's trade, which he followed for several years. He was or- dained a minister of the Gospel, and is at present preaching in Illinois, accompanied in his travels by his wife. Nathan Collins is the eldest child, and was reared in Holmes County, Ohio, where he received a good education, and attended the Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, for two years. When nineteen years of age, he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteers, under Capt. William Spangler. He served faithfully until November, 1864, when he was honorably discharged. He took an active part in the battle of Tazewell, Tenn., Chickasaw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Red River campaign, Yellow Bayou and some few others. In November, 1864, he returned to his home in Ohio. In the spring following, he went to Clay County, and taught school for one year, after which he came to Owen County and taught until 1868. He farmed for two years, traded his farm for a stock of goods at Hausertown, Owen County, did business there for one year, and then moved to Lancaster, Owen County. He carried on the same business there until March, 1873. He then sold out, came to Spencer, Owen County, and went into the grocery business, which he ran for two years. He then bought a stone quarry near Mundy Station, Owen County, where he worked for a few months, and was at that time elected Town Councilman, which office he filled during the years 1874, 1875 and 1876. In March, 1876, he met with a serious accident, which necessitated the amputation of his left limb below the knee. During
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TOWN OF SPENCER.
the same year, he was elected as Trustee of Washington Township, and in 1878 was re-elected to the same office. During this time he taught school for three years in Spencer. In 1880, he went to work at the planing mill, as book-keeper and staid with them for fourteen months, after which, until in May, 1883, he worked at various things. He is agent for the sewing machine company at Spencer at present. He was married, March, 1868, to Christian Wade, a native of Maryland. They have four children. Mr. Collins is a member of the I. O. O. F., of the K. of H., and of the Royal Arcanum.
JOHN J. COOPER. Justice of the Peace, is a native of Kentucky, born June 2, 1818. His parents, John and Polly (Wilson) Cooper, lived in Wayne County, Ky. The father died there in the year 1823. The mother came to Owen County, Ind., with John in 1830; she died in 1878. After eight years' residence in Owen County, the mother rented a farm in Monroe County, to which place our subject accompanied her, remaining for one year. He then returned to Owen County, and was married in October of the same year, 1839, to Elizabeth MeDonald, daughter of William and Ruth McDonald, respected citizens of Owen County. After his marriage, Mr. Cooper farmed in the summer and taught school in the winter for ten years. In 1850, he was elected County Auditor, on the Whig ticket, and, his first term of service being satisfactory, he was re-elected in 1852, and faithfully filled the office during the second term. He then went into the general merchandise business, in which he continued for many years. He was appointed Jus- tice of the Peace, and still holds that office. In 1881, he was ap- pointed agent of the Adams Express Company at Spencer, and has won the position, which he is quite competent to fill. During his life he has been quite a politician. He has held all the minor offices. He was Trustee for ten years; has been County Commissioner, Supervisor and Constable. He has been an active member of the Christian Church forty two years, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the I. O. O. F. fraternities.
WALLACE L. DAGGY, a native of Indiana, was born May 15, 1844, in Putnam County. His parents, Ammi and Lucretia (Black) Daggy, natives of Virginia, came to Indiana in 1823, and located in Putnam County, where the mother died in 1848. Two years later the father mar- ried Lucy A. Stoner. In 1856, they removed to Stark County, Ind., and located on a farm near San Pierre. They remained there for five years, after which they went to San Pierre, and the father started in the dry goods business. In 1869, he sold out, and since then has been farming in La Porte County. Wallace Daggy is the eldest in a family of three children, and when fifteen years of age went into the employ of I. Haw- kins. He remained with him until the war broke out, when he enlisted in Company H, Forty-third Indiana Volunteers, and took part in the fol- lowing engagements: Helena, Vicksburg, Memphis, Fort Donelson, Point Pleasant, Tiptonville, St. Charles, siege of Fort Pillow, and of New Madrid. In 1863, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and one year later to First Lieutenant. He was afterward promoted to Captain, and at the close of the war went to Greencastle, Ind., thence to Stark County, and in May, 1867, he went to La Porte County, where he became engaged in the grocery business at Westville. In January, 1868, he sold out, and came to Spencer, went into a hardware, stove and tinware store, in which, up to the present, he has been quite successfully engaged. He
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