Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 26

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed. cn
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, F. A. Battey & co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 26
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 26
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 26

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).

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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE.

HENRY SHIREMAN, JR., is a native of Morgan County, Ind. ; was born November 13, 1849, and is one of the thirteen children born to Maxville and Sarah Shireman, of this county. October 28, 1874, he married Margaret, daughter of John and Martha. Rothwell, and a native of this county, born December 3, 1856. In 1876, Mr. Shireman moved to the farm he now occupies. He is a very promising young man, greatly esteemed and liberally educated, having taught successfully six succes- sive terms of school. Mr. and Mrs. Shireman are the parents of four children-Frederick, Martha, Sarah and an infant son, which died before receiving a name. Mr. Shireman is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.

ABRAHAM SIMMS is a native of Surrey County, N. C., was born April 29, 1820, and was the third of the family of John and Frances Simms, both natives of North Carolina, the former born August 8, 1793, the latter May 18, 1784. They were married in Surrey County October 27, 1814; in 1832, moved to Shelby County, Ky., and, in 1833, to Hen- dricks County, Ind., and one year later to Morgan County, locating on the identical farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where they both closed their lives, he August 22, 1837, and she September 3, 1854. They reared a family of five-Cyrus, Elizabeth, Matthew, Nim- rod and Abraham. Abraham Simms came with his parents to this county in 1834, where he grew to manhood and married, March 29, 1843, Miss Ellen, daughter of Daniel and Sophia Graver, who died April 15, 1877, having been the mother of five children-Sarah J. (deceased), Catherine, Sophia, Susanna and George W. Mr. Simms is sole owner of the home- stead created by his father; he is a member of the Baptist Church, an excellent man and a respected citizen.

HENRY A. SMOCK, attorney at law, is a native of Marion County, Ind., was born October 11, 1847, and is a son of Abraham V. and Re- becca J. (Brenton) Smock, the former a native of Kentucky. Henry was reared in Iowa, whither his parents had removed, and where they after- ward died. After working on a farm he learned the trade of a printer, at which he was employed in several large cities before coming, in 1870, to Martinsville, where he worked in the Republican office, then purchased a half interest therein, continued until 1874, when he sold said interest to considerable advantage after he had raised the paper to be a first-class one. November 11, 1873, he married Miss Dora T. Barnard, and they have had born to them three children-Thomas B., Mary I. (deceased) and Antoinette. In 1875, Mr. Smock began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1880, forming a partnership with Mr. Ferguson; they are doing a good practice. Mr. Smock also manages the real estate of the Northwestern Life Insurance Company. He is an active Repub- lican, and has served as Secretary of the Central Committee of this county since 1880. Mr. Smock is a Knight of Pythias, and owner of a good farm five miles north of town.

THOMAS M. SOMERVILLE, a native of Indiana, was born in Ripley County March 30, 1841. His parents, Thomas W. and Sarah (McCreery) Somerville, natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland respectively, were married in Versailles, Ripley County, and shortly afterward settled in Pennsylvaniaburg, where the father farmed, and has since resided. He is sixty-seven years of age. His wife is sixty-four years old. Thomas M. is the eldest son and second child in a family of five. He was reared and educated in his native county. When twenty years of

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age, he enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. J. C. McQuistine. After his return from the war, he entered the employ of the I. C. & L. R. R. Company as brakeman for three months, and was then promoted to conductor. He remained in this capacity until 1872, when he was put in charge of the yards of the same com- pany at Indianapolis. After two years in this, he again took charge of a train as conductor. On February 14, 1881, he was appointed General Manager of the F. F. & M. R. R., which position he has since filled. He was married in Versailles, Ripley County, to Maggie Mathes, daughter of Andrew Mathes, a citizen of Dearborn County. By this union there are three children-Flora E., Melville D., Elmer W. Mr. Somerville is a member of the A., F. & A. M., Lawrenceburg Lodge, No. 21; of the I. O. R. M., Red Cloud Tribe, No. 18, at Indianapolis. Is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

JESSE R. STARKEY, second son and third child in a family of nine children, was born August 12, 1849, in Madison County, Ill. His parents, Joel W. and Jane C. (Hagerman) Starkey, natives of Illinois and Indiana respectively, were married in Illinois in 1844, and located on a farm in Madison County, where they lived until 1869. Removing thence to a farm in Logan County, they have since resided there. Jesse Starkey was reared and educated in his native county. When he was twenty years of age, he entered Lincoln University at Lincoln, Ill., from which he graduated in 1874 after four years of hard study. During the winter following (1874-75), he was Principal of the schools at Broad- well, Ill .; , and during the two succeeding winters taught select school in Boyle County, Ky. In the fall of 1876, he took the Principalship of the Martinsville Schools, where he at present resides. On December 21, 1876, he was married to Phibbie H. Caldwell, daughter of R. H. Cald- well, a resident of Boyle County, Ky. By this union there have been four children-Lucy C. (deceased), Ella, Horace L. and Russell I. Mr. Starkey is a member of the I. O. O. F., Martinsville Lodge, No. 274, and in politics is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Starkey are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

E. F. STIMSON was born in Iredell County, N. C., December 13, 1829, and is the fifth of the eighteen children of Henry E. and Annie L. (Brandon) Stimson, natives of Halifax County, Va., where they mar- ried and afterward moved to Iredell County, N. C. In 1845, they moved to Monroe County, Ind., and there remained till death. Their children were Robert T., Sarah .T., Elizabeth, George, Erasmus F., Mary A., John W., Henry A., Lafayette, William, Louisa, Joseph, Wilbur, Edward, and others who died in infancy. E. F. Stimson moved with his parents to Monroe County, and in 1856 removed to Morgan County. where, June 10, 1860, he married Mercy A., daughter of Jacob and Mabala Vansickel, and a native of Morris County, N. J. To this union were born nine children-Jacob, Harry, Louisa (deceased), Dayton C., Anson R., Maha- la, Mary, Anson M. (deceased), and Evalina. In 1861, Mr. Stimson en- listed in Company G, Twenty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until September, 1864. After his discharge, he moved to his present place and engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Stimson are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

AUSTIN SWEET is a native of Fleming County, Ky., was born August 16, 1831, and is the youngest of the three children of Benjamin and Harriet (Mills) Sweet, natives respectively of Kentucky and Vir-

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ginia. Benjamin Sweet was born in 1798, his father, William Sweet, hav- ing been one of the earliest pioneers of Fleming County, Ky., and the parent of eight sons and two daughters. Benjamin moved to Morgan County, Ind., in '1834, where he and wife closed their lives. Our sub- ject, Austin Sweet, married in this county, November 22, 1855, Hannah K., daughter of John and Isabel Clark, and born March 11, 1838. This union gave being to six children-Benjamin F., Halleck (deceased), Ed- ward M., Harriet A., Ann (deceased) and Otis A. Mr. Sweet is a worthy and genial gentleman, as well as a respected citizen.

ROBERT H. TARLETON, M. D., druggist, was born in Mason County, Ky., March 24, 1822, and reared in Brookville, in that State. During his boyhood, he attended the schools of the day, and when seven- teen one of a higher grade. At the age of twenty-one, he removed to Missouri, but soon returned to Kentucky, and engaged in teaching and in the study of medicine. In 1846, he located as a practitioner near Edinburg, Ind .; in 1847, came to this county, and in 1849 attended lect- ures at and in 1850 graduated from the Ohio Medical College, during which year he removed to Kentucky and there married Miss Maria Pra- ther April 18, 1850. He then located at Patriot, Ind., where he lost his wife in 1851, and afterward came to this town, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, together with the drug busi- ness, which he established in 1852, in which he has now a partner in his nephew, W. B. Tarleton, and does a business of from $15,000 to $18,000 annually. March 2, 1852, he married Miss Elizabeth S. Wampler, with an issue of eight children-Carrie, Emma J. B., Harriet S., James W., Harry H., Edgar, June and Maurice. In 1867, he laid out the beautiful Hillsdale Cemetery. In addition to his store building, Dr. Tarleton owns a fine residence and other property. He is a member of the Ma- sons and a Democrat. In 1879, he was appointed Trustee of the Indiana Hospital for the Insane, and re-nominated in 1881.

WILLIAM B. TAYLOR was born in Lawrence County, Ind., Sep- tember 15, 1819. His parents, Joshua and Mary (Armstrong) Taylor, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, came to Indiana in 1809, and settled on a farm in Washington County, where they remained for eight years, removing thence to Lawrence County. In February, 1821, they came to Morgan County, locating on a farm one mile from Martins- ville. In 1834, the mother died, and ten years later the father, with his children, moved to Green Township, where he died in June, 1855. William B. Taylor is the fourth son and seventh child in a family of eleven children reared in Morgan County, and when fifteen years of age he began learning the blacksmith trade. After one year at this, he worked for the neighboring farmers until 1839. He then worked on a flat-boat between New Orleans and Martinsville for Mitchell Bros. until 1842. For some time he worked in lead mines in Wisconsin, and in Au- gust, 1845, he was married to Jane Estlinger, a native of Washington County, Ind. They have two children-Mary A. and Sarah A. His wife died in November, 1854, and one year later he was married to Caro- line Hough. By this union there is one child, Lillie. After his first marriage, he farmed near Martinsville, in Washington Township, for nine years, and then sold his farm and purchased another one in Green Township. Here he farmed for thirteen years. In 1869, he began trad- ing in stock, and at present resides in Martinsville, engaged in the same way. Mr. Taylor is an active member of the Republican party. He

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was County Commissioner for two years, re-elected, and served six years longer. He was Township Trustee for two years. He filled the unex- pired term of office for Mr. Perham (deceased) in 1861, and was again elected in 1862 and 1863, and again in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Cumberland Church.

JOHN THOMAS is a native of Tennessee, was born January 2, 1817, and is the eldest of the ten children of Peter and Sarah Thomas, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. John Thomas, the subject of this sketch, came with his parents to this State in 1823, who settled in this county, and here John has remained. April 1, 1841, he married Miss Nancy, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Maxwell, and born in this county November 11, 1823. After his marriage Mr. Thomas located in this township, where he has since made his home. Mrs. Thomas died October 17, 1859, and March 31, 1861, Mr. Thomas married Mrs. Lucy J., widow of Joshua King, and a daughter of Henry and Mary Harper. Mr. Thomas is the parent of three children-Sarah, Harrison and an infant daughter, which died unnamed. Mr. Thomas is a generally respected citizen.

ELI THOMAS was born in Morgan County, Ind., on the farm on which he still resides October 15, 1830, and is a son of Peter and Sarah Thomas, both natives of Orange County, N. C., the former born Decem- ber 15, 1791, the latter May 3, 1795. The grandfather of our subject, Abram Thomas, was a native of Wales, who emigrated to America during the last century and settled in North Carolina, where he married, reared a family of nine children and passed away. Peter Thomas married, in 1816, Miss Sarah Graves, soon after settled near Knoxville, Tenn .; in 1818, moved to Clarke County, Ind., and thence in 1822 to Morgan County, where he died December 2, 1868, and his wife December 25, 1878. They were parents of ten children-John, Henry, Daniel, Solomon, Lucinda, Louisa, Eli, George W., Elizabeth and Nancy A. Eli Thomas married, December 2, 1855, Miss Ruth, daughter of Abraham and Nancy A. Huff, and a native of Monroe County, Ind., born May 14, 1831. After mar- riage, Mr. Thomas settled on a small farm previously purchased, and in 1869, having purchased the homestead, moved thereon. In 1864, he en- listed in Company C, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, and served until the struggle ended. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had six children-Albert W., Nancy E. (deceased), Sarah E., Mary E., Francis M. (deceased), and an infant (still-born).

ELI THOMAS, JR., is a native of Morgan County, Ind., was born September 11, 1852, and is a son of Daniel Thomas, also a native of said county. Daniel Thomas was twice married, and the parent of nine chil- dren, viz .: By the first wife five-Eliza, Elizabeth, Allen, John and Eli, all of whom are deceased except the subject of this writing; by the sec- ond wife four children-Sarah, David D., Susanna and Charles W., all of whom are living. Eli Thomas married in this county December 31, 1874, Miss Anna L., daughter of William and Katie Maybee, and born February 2, 1857, a union which was conspicious in the birth of four children-Bertha M. (deceased), Charles O., Daisy (deceased), and Ger- tie. Mr. Thomas is an energetic and genial gentleman, and much es- teemed among his fellow-citizens.

HARRISON THOMAS is a native of Morgan County, Ind., was born April 25, 1852, and is one of the family of three children born to John and Nancy Thomas. October 28, 1875, our subject married Miss Martha A., daughter of John and Martha Bothwell, and a native of this county,

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born July 4, 1854. This union has been endeared by the birth of two children-John and Harry. Mr. Thomas is a most promising and greatly regarded gentleman, as well as practical and enterprising farmer. His farm comprises 215 acres of rich and cultivated land.

AMOS THORNBURG, of the firm of Thornburg & Small, dealers in grain and proprietors of the Union Mill and Elevator, was born in this county February 27, 1827, and likewise reared here. His father, Benja- min Thornburg, was born near Harrodsburg, Ky., September 25, 1797; reared in Washington County, Ind., and in 1822 removed to this county; settled near Brooklyn, and entered in all 160 acres, 100 of which are now in cultivation. He was rigidly temperate, and thus set a fair example to the pioneers; a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also an exhorter and class-leader; he was an old-time Whig, and later a Re- publican. In 1817, he married a Miss Susan Monical, who died in 1876, having borne fourteen children, seven of whom survive-Rachel (Mrs. Moon), Hannah (Mrs. Davis), Amanda (Mrs. Hornor), Ada (Mrs. Dryden), John H., Peter F. and Amos. Our subject engaged in farming for his father several years, and in 1856 purchased sixty acres in Brown Town- ship, to which he added forty afterward. He continued farming until 1877, when he moved to this town and engaged successfully in the mill- ing line, having one of the best mills in the country, with buhr and roller combined. Their elevator is also very superior, having capacity of 40,000 bushels; they can, too, load and weigh a car of wheat in eight minutes. Mr. Thornburg has been twice married-first, April 10, 1854, to Miss Caroline E. Doughty, of Vermont, who died January, 1876, leav- ing three living children-James D., Benjamin E. and Albert M .; second, October 3, 1877, to Mrs. Amanda B. Wilson. Mr. Thornburg is an Odd Fellow, a Republican and strictly temperate and prudent.

SALEM A. TILFORD, M. D., was born in Jefferson County, Ind., Feb- ruary 2, 1827, with good opportunities for education in the Madison High School. In 1845, he took up the study of medicine under Dr. J. H. D. Rogers, of Madison; afterward attended lectures at the University of Louisville and the Indiana Medical College, at Indianapolis; graduated from the latter, and took the ad eundem degree in 1879. In 1848, he located here and has continued his practice successfully. November 28, 1849, he married Miss Emeline Major, who died in May, 1853, leaving one child-Ella R., now a well-known teacher in this county. April 1, 1857, he married Miss Ann Wolfe, which union was favored with eleven children-Isabel, Benjamin W., Lulie, Jennie, Ann, Alex S., Mary, Jo- seph W., Amanda, Harry and Roy E. Dr. Tilford was a Whig, but afterward became a Republican; was zealous during the war, but later affiliated with the Democrats, by which party he was elected, in 1870, Auditor of Morgan County, having served about eighteen months pre- viously as said officer. Dr. Tilford is a Chapter Mason. When he came first to this town there were only 350 souls therein.

BENJAMIN W. TILFORD, physician and druggist was born in this town November 8, 1859, where he was reared and attended the high school. In 1878, he began the study of medicine under his father's in- struction; also attended lectures at the Indiana Medical College at In- dianapolis in 1879 and 1880; graduated in March, 1881; came home to Martinsville, and in the autumn engaged in the drug trade. He has a $2,000 stock, and has done a satisfactory business.

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J. E. TONER, a native of Shelby County, Ind., was born on January 21, 1841, and is the son of John and Nancy (Parker) Toner, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively. The father still resides in Shelby County, the mother having died in 1856, leaving four children, of whom our subject is one. The father subsequently remarried, and has four children by his last wife. One subject was engaged in early life on the farm and attending school; later entered the Northwestern (now But- ler) University, at Indianapolis. From this university he enlisted in April, 1861, in Company D, Seventh Indiana Infantry (three months' service), went to Virginia and was a participant in the battles of Philippi, Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford. Returning home after his time expired, he re-enlisted for three years in Company D, Thirty-third Indiana In- fantry, proceeded with his regiment to Kentucky, and participated in the battle of Wild Cat, siege of Mill Spring and Cumberland Gap. At the latter place he was taken prisoner by Morgan, held for seven weeks, when he was paroled and sent to Columbus, Ohio, Parole Camp, where he re- mained four weeks, and then decamped and came home. On January 8 following, he was exchanged, and returned to his regiment at Nashville, Tenn. He with his command took part in the battle of Thompson's Sta- tion, where a large portion of his regiment was captured by the enemy. Our subject, with about eighty others, escaped. Returning to Franklin, he was discharged for disability, and again returned home. In January following he again re-enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Indiana (mounted) Infantry, served sixteen months, and was engaged in the siege of Vicks- burg, in the Red River campaign, and at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads. After his regiment's term of service expired, he was transferred to Company C, 'Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, and served with it until De- cember, 1865, when he was mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss. He was wounded at Thibodeaux, La., in the left leg, the enemy's bullet severing the main artery near the groin. Upon his return home, he assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-seven years old. On September 24, 1867, he was married to Sophia Salla, a native of Rush County, Ind. Then for seven years he farmed for himself in Shelby County. In 1875, he came to Martinsville and embarked in the grocery trade. continuing nine years, when he purchased the Mason House, and has since been con- ducting it. This is the only first-class hostelry in town. Mr. Toner is a Republican, and served as Chairman of the City Council seventeen months. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., the K. of P., and of the G. A. R. He and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Toner have five children living-Ottway C., Edward, John, Grace and Annis; an infant deceased. He is one of the liberal and en- terprising citizens of Martinsville.

ERVIN TOWNSEND, a son of Silas and Hannah Townsend, was born in Washington County, Ind., November 20, 1820. The grand- father of our subject, William Townsend, was a native of South Caro- lina; moved to Washington County, Ind., in 1810, and to Morgan County in 1821, where he died. He was a soldier for seven years in the Revolu- tionary war. Silas Townsend married in Washington County, Ind., Hannah Nogles, about 1813, who died in 1821. In 1822, Mr. Townsend moved to Morgan County, where he married Susan Thacker, after which he removed to Louisville, Ky., and ended his days. He was father to five children-Robinson, Susan, Huston and Ervin by first wife, and Martha by second wife. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Ervin

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Townsend came to Morgan County with his grandparents, with whom he remained until December 31, 1840, when he married Mary A., daughter of Richard and Rebecca Deakins, and a native of Washington County, Tenn., born May 25, 1825. After marriage, Mr. Townsend settled in this township, where he has an improved farm of 240 acres. Mrs. Townsend died June 5, 1883, having borne twelve children-Sarah J., Thomas J., Martha, William, Franklin P., James (deceased), Rebecca, Emma F., John, Hattie, Maggie and Nora E. Mr. Townsend is an esteemed citizen.

THOMAS J. TOWNSEND, sou of William and Mary Townsend, natives of North Carolina, was born May 16, 1840, in this township. His par- ents were married in South Carolina, and immigrated to Indiana, locating in Washington County, whence they shortly afterward removed to Mor- gan County, and settled on a farm in Washington Township, where the father farmed until 1847. He then removed to Missouri and remained until the spring of 1857, when he returned with his family to Morgan County. In the fall of 1857, the father died. The mother in November, 1865. Thomas Townsend was reared in his native county, and educated in Missouri. When seventeen years of age, he returned to Morgan County with his parents, finally locating on a farm of 130 acres in Washington Township, which he inherited upon his father's death. He remained there for twenty-three years, when he removed to Martinsville, where he at present resides. In 1863-64, he served as Township Assessor. He also served several times as Supervisor of Roads in the township. On December 13, 1860, he was united in marriage to Melinda J. Cox, daughter of John L. Cox, an old and respected citizen of Morgan Coun- ty. By this union, there have been eight children-Mary E. (deceased), William L., Thomas A., Ruth A. (deceased), Viola (deceased), Maggie, Nettie and Lillie. Mr. Townsend is a Republican.

SAMUEL TUCKER was born in Henry County, Ky., May 26, 1819, and is a son of James and Mary (Kitcher) Tucker, natives respectively of Ireland and Virginia. James Tucker emigrated from Ireland to America and settled in Fayette County, Ky., when twenty -one years old, where he married. In 1836, he moved to Marion County, Ind., located near Indianapolis, and shortly after died, his wife surviving him about twelve years. Their family consisted of Robert, William, James, Har- vey, Margaret, James R., Stephen, Sarah and Samuel. When Samuel was eighteen years of age, he became an apprentice to the cabinet-mak- ing trade, after completing which, in 1839, he moved to Martinsville, worked for a time, and then commenced business for himself, which he continued a number of years. April 23, 1843, he married Sarah C., daughter of Jeremiah and Nancy Vincent, and born in Franklin County, Ind., February 2, 1823. To this union were bequeathed a family of eight-Nancy A. (deceased), Ledgard R., Clarinda, Rees H., Isaac W., Ida A., Palmanora and Lily P. In 1865, Mr. Tucker moved to Indian- apolis and engaged in hotel-keeping one year, then returned to Martins- ville and purchased the Mason House, which he managed eighteen months, and finally moved to his present home and farm. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are members of the Christian Church.

REV. AARON TURNER was born in Greene County, Ohio, June 4, 1835. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Burnsides) Turner, natives of Ohio, were married in Ohio in 1830, removing thence, in 1849, to Rush County, Ind. His father, a Methodist minister, resides in Pike County,

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Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 26

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed. cn Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, F. A. Battey & co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed. cn
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, F. A. Battey & co.
Number of Pages: 814