USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 38
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 38
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 38
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DANIEL H. VOSHELL, pioneer farmer and stock-raiser, was born in this township February 8, 1826, about one mile west of his present residence. and is the second of the ten children of William H. and Polly
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(Sandy) Voshell, natives respectively of Delaware and North Carolina, and of French and German descent. William H. Voshell emigrated from Maryland to Ohio, and thence to Jackson County, Ind., about 1820. He also lived in Owen County about 1825, and located land, likewise, in this township, making an aggregate of 400 acres. Daniel lived with his parents until he was twenty years old, having entered 160 acres. His opportunities for education were of the most meager character, having to labor almost incessantly. February 17, 1846, he wedded Delilah, the widow of Joseph Goss, which union gave issue to six children, three be- ing now alive-Mary A. (Mrs. McGinnis), William S. and Thomas S. Mr. Voshell is possessor of 307 acres in Morgan, and 180 in Knox Coun- ty, Ind., all under the best cultivation, well stocked, improved, and with as good a residence as one may find in the township. Mr. Voshell is one of the most upright and respected of citizens, a man whose record is duty well done. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
LEVI J. VOSHELL, farmer and stock-raiser, was born at his pres- ent residence -- the land having been entered by his father about 1825- passed his boyhood on the farm, and received but little schooling. He remained at home until his majority, and October 19, 1859, married Miss Sarah, daughter of William R. and Rebecca S. (Chambers) Mannan, na- tives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina. To this union were born three children, two of whom are living-Manda A. (now Mrs. Whit- taker) and Emma R. In September, 1864, Mr. Voshell enlisted in Com- pany F, Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Atlanta campaign; he was also in Gen. Sherman's famous march to the sea, and was engaged in the taking of Savannah and Columbia. After the grand review at Washington, he was discharged June, 1865, and returned to his home and the duties of his farm, having 588 acres in Morgan, Owen and Putnam Counties, which are well improved, cultivated and adorned, containing a number of short-horn cattle and other stock. Mr. Voshell, aided by his wife, has been more than usually successful. They are members of the Baptist Church, and respected members of their commu- nity. Mr. Voshell is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a very earnest Democrat.
JOHN M. VOSHELL, farmer and stock-raiser, was born August 15, 1848, where he now resides, and is the second of the five children, two of whom are yet living, born to Thomas S. and Catherine (Stierwalt) Voshell, natives of Owen County, Ind. John was reared on a farm and to the hon- ored and independent business of farming. His father died when he was but five years of age, so that he acquired only a spare education, having to give his services at home. September 3, 1874, he married Miss Mollie, daughter of Adam and Annie E. (Miller) Renner. Mr. Voshell bas a good home and farm of 133 acres, which are well improved, in fine cul- tivation, and supplied with stock and all necessary appurtenances. For the past few years, he has given most attention to stock trading, in which enterprise he has been fairly successful. He is an active young Demo- crat, and he and his wife and mother are consistent members of the Baptist Church.
ASHBEN W. WALTERS was born in this township October 3, 1856, and is the sixth child of Robert S. and Nancy A. (Duckworth) Walters, the former a native of Owen County, Ind., the latter of Kentucky. Our subject was brought up on a farm and remained there until he was twenty-two years old, when he engaged in the dry goods bus-
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iness at Paragon, and also attended two terms at Bedford Academy in 1878. He remained in business one year; then returned to the farm for two years, after which he engaged with his brother-in-law in the drug basiness at Paragon; he afterward went to Colorado, and engaged in mining for a short time, when he returned home and resumed farming on the land entered by his grandfather. Mr. Walters is a radical Dem- ocrat, a member of the Baptist Church, a liberal gentleman and an es- teemed citizen.
S. G. W. WALTERS, a young, successful and enterprising farmer, was born at his present residence September 11, 1864-a farm cleared by his father-and is the youngest of the eleven children of Robert S. and Nancy Walters, who were among the earliest settlers of this township, both members of the Baptist denomination, and known as liberal and benevolent persons; the father died July, 1831; the latter June, 1877. They were possessed of 300 acres of land, acquired by diligence and perseverance. Mr. Walters politically is a Democrat.
DR. E. D. WHITAKER was born in this township November 27, 1834, and is the fourth of the seven children of Grafton B. and Mar- garet (Gregg) Whitaker. During his boyhood, our subject worked at farming and attended subscription school, and at the age of twenty-two, at an academy in Belleville, Hendricks County. Soon after, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Stuckey, of Gosport, and attended lectures at Louisville during the sessions of 1858, 1859 and 1860. In April, 1862, he entered the service; went to Pittsburg Landing, was assigned to the Medical Department as Acting Assistant Surgeon, and, after six months, commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the Fifteenth Ken- tucky Infantry. After the expiration of this regiment's term of service, he was made Surgeon of the Thirty-eighth Indiana, as which he con- tinned until the war was closed. Succeeding his discharge, he located as a practitioner at Gosport, which, after one year, he gave up for the purpose of attending to his farm. December, 1867, he married Martha J .. daughter of Wiley and Rebecca (Crow) Williams, who died Novem- ber, 1874, leaving one child, Wiley W. December, 1877, he wedded Amanda A., daughter of Harman and Elizabeth (Guy) Vickery, to which marriage succeeded two children-Eli G. and Margaret Elizabeth. Dr. Whitaker has a most excellent, highly cultivated and well-stocked farm of 240 acres, a portion of which was entered by his father. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Baptist Church, and is a liberal gentleman and a Democrat; he was once nominated for Repre- sentative, but declined the same.
DR. RALPH B. WILLIAMSON was born near Watford, Ont., March 4, 1851, and is the ninth of the fourteen children of John and Margaret (Calbert) Williamson, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of France. Dr. Ralph B. Williamson was reared on a farm, and when fifteen years old clerked for his father, and continued so to do for five years. He attended the public school, a commercial college at London, and after- ward began the study of medicine with Dr. Harvey, and attended lectures at Ann Arbor, and at the Cincinnati College of Medicine, from each of which he received a diploma. In July, 1876, he located at Vandalia, re- mained three years, removed thence to Santa Fé, Owen County, and thence to Paragon. October 9, 1877, he married Alice E., daughter of William and Jane Williams, of Owen County. This union furnished two chil- dren-Lionas Listwell Dufferein and Damietta Bell. Dr. Williams was
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formerly an Odd Fellow, and is in politics a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN H. YOUNG, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in this county, and is the tenth of the eleven children of Scott W. and Polly (Mathews) Young, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. John H. was reared on a farm, and has had good advantages for education, having attended a high school two terms, the Indianapolis Commercial School and the Normal School at Terre Haute. He has been some time teacher in this State and in Kansas. After his father's death, in 1873, he took charge of the home farm, entered by his father, who came to the State in 1822. Our subject is owner of 140 acres, well cultivated, stocked and improved, with commodious residence, built about forty years ago. Mr. Young is an active Republican, a good citizen, and one of the best in- formed men in his township.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
JOHN W. ALEXANDER, farmer, was born in Putnam County, Ind., March 4, 1830, and is the fifth child in a family of twelve children born to William and Jane (Wallace) Alexander, the former of whom was a native of the " Old Dominion," and the latter of East Tennessee. They were of English and Irish decent respectively. William Alexander re- ceived his early education in his native State. While yet a young man, be removed with his parents to East Tennessee, where he was afterward married, and engaged in agricultural pursuits for several years. From Tennessee, he removed to Kentucky, and from thence, in about 1827, to Putnam County, Ind., where he bought a partially improved farm, and resided until abont 1838. He then removed to that part of Morgan County, Ind., which has since become Mill Creek Township, Putnam County. Here, he farmed for several years; then opened a small country store, and was engaged in merchandising until his death, which occurred February 8, 1881, in his eighty-second year. From early life, until his first wife's death, which occurred in 1868, both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After that event, he joined the Christian Church. He was Justice of Peace in Putnam and Morgan Counties for some thirty years. During this time, he was robbed of some $400, which he afterward recovered, and sent the thief to penitentiary. John W. Alexander, the subject, received only a limited common school education, but has acquired a fair practical business education by his own exertions since he became a man. He was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then farmed on shares in Putnam County, Ind., for several years. In 1860, he bought a farm in Adams Township, Morgan County Ind., and has since been engaged in farming, threshing and stock-dealing. He was for two years Trustee of Adams Township, and has held various lesser offices. He was married, August 27, 1850, to Miss Martha J. Patrick, a native of Putnam County, Ind. Twelve chil- dren were the fruit of this union, nine of whom-five sons and four daughters-are yet living. He is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A. F. & A. M., where he has held various official positions. Mrs. Alex-
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ander is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Alexander is a Democrat.
WILLIAM ANDERSON, wagon and carriage manufacturer, was born in Johnson County, Ind., May 4, 1844, and is the youngest in a family of seven children born to James and Mary (Coy) Anderson, both natives of Kentucky, and of English descent. James Anderson was educated and married in his native State. In 1828, he removed to Bartholomew County, Ind., then almost a wilderness. Here he entered land and commenced improving a farm, but remained only two years. In 1830, he removed to Johnson County, Ind., where he entered 120 acres of land, and improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in Sep- tember, 1865. Himself and wife were members of the Separate Baptist Church. William Anderson, the subject, received a fair common school education, and was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty- one years old. He then farmed on shares for some four years, after which he commenced to learn the carriage and wagon maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years, and has followed the trade ever since. In the fall of 1881, he removed to Gosport, Owen County, Ind., and in the following spring came to Eminence, Morgan County, Ind., where he opened a shop, and has since been doing a good business. He was married, December 22, 1865, to Emarine N. Slack, a native of Johnson County, Ind. Six children blessed their union, five of whom-two sons and three daughters-are yet living. In politics, he is identified with the National; or Greenback, party, and is one of the enterprising mechanics and business men of the township and county.
THOMAS S. AREND, harness-maker, was born in Ashland Town- ship, Morgan Co., Ind., April 5, 1857, and is a son of Christopher J. and Rebecca F. (Russell), Arend, the former a native of Bavaria, Germany, and the latter of Johnson County, Ind., but of English descent. Chris- topher J. Arend received a good common school education in Bavaria. At the age of fifteen, in 1846, he emigrated to the United States, accom- plishing the journey alone. He first settled in Monmouth County, N. J., where he learned the tanner's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then followed his trade as a journeyman for several years, and in 1854 located at Martinsville, Ind., where he took charge of a shop, receiving half the profits for conducting the business. Here he was married. and resided for a short time. He then removed to Ashland Township, same county, where he started a tannery, and is still engaged in that business. Mrs. Arend departed this life May 18, 1883. She was a member of the Christian Church, to which Mr. Arend also belongs. Thomas S. Arend, the subject, received a fair common school education, and taught for a time. At the age of twenty-three, he commenced to learn the harness-maker's trade, and has followed that business ever since, now owning a shop in Eminence, where he has a good trade. He was married January 14, 1883, to Amanza J. Modrell, a native of Putnam County, Ind. Mr. Arend is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 317, I. O. O. F., of which lodge he is at present N. G. In politics, he is a Republican.
COL. WILLIAM C. BANTA, M. D., was born in Hendricks County, Ind., August 31, 1839, and is one of ten children born to Cor- nelius and Rebecca (Eckles) Banta; both natives of Kentucky. The an- cestors of the former were of Italian and Scotch extraction. Cornelius Banta came to Madison County, Ind., at a date prior to the organization
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of the State. After a few years, he removed to what was known as the Brick . Tavern, near Stilesville, Hendricks Co., Ind. His place was a regular stopping place for stage-coaches over the old National pike, run- ning between St. Louis and Cincinnati. In 1838, he removed to Belle- ville, where he remained until 1850, when he removed to Whitley County, Ind., where he bought a farm and resided two years; then returned to Belleville, where he again engaged in mercantile pursuits and resided un- til his death, which occurred in 1857. Mr. Banta and wife were mem- bers of the Christian Church. William C. Banta, the subject, received a good common school and academic education, and was employed in his father's store until the latter's death, after which the support of the fam- ily devolved upon him. When in his eighteenth year, he commenced teaching school and studying medicine under the instruction of Drs. Moor & Kennedy, of Belleville. In April, 1861, he resigned his school, went to Indianapolis and enrolled in Company A, Seventh Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, the first Indiana regiment recruited for the three months' service. They participated in the battle of Philippi. At the close of the three months' service, in August, 1861, Col. Banta re- organized and filled up his company, A, from seventy to one hundred men, in a day and night, for the three years' service, and was chosen Captain. After about one year, he was promoted to Major, and soon after to Lieutenant Colonel. The Colonel of the regiment, I.[G. Grover, was captured in the battle of the Wilderness, after which Col. Banta com- manded until the regiment was mustered out. He also, for a short time. commanded the First Brigade, of the First Division, of the First Army Corps. Col. Banta participated in all the principal battles in which the Armies of West Virginia and the Potomac were engaged to the fall of 1864. In 1862, at the battle of Port Republic he was severely wounded in the right shoulder by a shell, and was mustered out with his regiment at Indianapolis, in September, 1864. He then engaged in the drug trade at Belleville, Ind., and continued the same some five years; he also resumed his medical studies. In the spring of 1870, he graduated from " The Indiana Medical College," at Indianapolis, and in June of the same year came to Eminence, Morgan Co., Ind., where he has since practiced his profession with excellent success. He was married, August 25, 1861, to Elizabeth May, a native of Montgomery County, Ind. Eight children, three sons and five daughters, blessed their union, all of whom are yet living. The Doctor and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and has been a member of the Grand Lodge of the State in both orders. In politics, Col. Banta is a stanch Republican, and is one of the leading and representative men of the county.
JOSEPH BLUNK, stock-raiser and farmer, is the son of Goldsby and Elizabeth (Pritchett) Blunk, the former a native of Indiana, the lat- ter of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Virgin- ian and a soldier of the Revolution. He was known as Aaron Blount, which surname has been since changed to Blunk. Goldsby Blunk was a farmer, but labored as a steamboatman on the Lower Mississippi River for several years, and in 1827 married and began farming where our sub- ject now resides, having entered eighty acres of timber. He cleared his land, and was the first settler in that part of this township. He was an expert hunter and marksman, a man of strong will, owner of 237} acres, and died February 4, 1857, aged fifty-eight. Mrs. Blunk died in 1871,
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aged sixty-three years. They were parents of five sons and five daugh- ters, and members of the Christian Church. Joseph Blunk was born February 14, 1841. He received but a fraction of schooling, yet by well-directed study he has obtained a fair education. When he was six- teen years old, his father died, and he remained with his mother until he was of age. April 10, 1862, he married Elizabeth Cown, a native of Illinois, born November 9, 1840, which union gave being to nine chil- dren, of whom six sons and two daughters are living. After marriage, Mr. Blunk located near his present home, to which he removed in 1874. This farm comprises fifty-three acres, valued at about $60 per acre, is well improved and supplied with good stock, and the yield of his in- dustry and care. Mr. Blunk is a progressive citizen, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
HENRY BOURN, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Ray Township, Morgan Co., Ind., January 29, 1837, and is the fourth child in a family of ten children born to Elijah and Nancy (Alexander) Bourn, the former a native of Jessamine County, Ky., and the latter of Owen County, Ind., where her father, Abner Alexander, was one of the earliest pioneers. Our subject received a fair common school education, and was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then came to Adams Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he bought the farm of 160 acres upon which he still resides, adding to it until he has now some 400 acres, well improved, making one of the best farms in Adams Township. He was married. September 23, 1858, to Miss Milla S. McGinnis, a na- tive of Owen County, Ind. Seven children blessed this union, five of whom, three sons and two daughters, are yet living. Mr. Bourn and wife are consistent members of the Christian Church, in which he is and has been for several years a Ruling Elder. Mr. Bourn is a stanch Re- publican.
ELISHA A. BOURN, teacher and farmer, was born June 23, 1859, and is a son of Henry Bourn, of whose family he is the eldest. He was reared to the hard but honest labor of a farmer's life, and attended school considerably in early life, thus laying the foundation for a life of useful- ness as an instructor of youth. Mr. Bourn also attended the State Nor- mal School for a tiine in furtherance of his purpose, and has qualified himself thoroughly. He has the happy faculty of imparting knowledge to his pupils, and has been very successful, having taught seven school years in succession, in alternation with farming, in which he is also en- gaged, and also in raising the ordinary grades of stock. March 7, 1882, he married Miss Clara E., daughter of James Wallace, and born in this township February 27, 1862. To this union has been born one daughter -Mamie E. Mr. Bourn is a practical farmer, an energetic and promis- ing gentleman, and a Republican in political faith.
POWEL S. BRASIER, dentist, was born in Owen County, Ind., March 9, 1850, and is one of four living children born to Gideon and Sarah (Jones) Brasier, both natives of Kentucky, and of English, Welsh and Irish descent. Gideon Brasier received no education in youth, there being no school of any kind on the Indiana frontier at that time. He was employed on the home farm until twenty-one years old, then learned the carpenter trade, and has followed the same part of the time ever since. In early manhood, he followed flat-boating from Gosport to New Orleans, having made nineteen trips. In March, 1865, he enlisted in Company F, Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the
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following August. In the fall of 1865, he came to Eminence, Morgan Co., Ind., where he was engaged in the hotel business until March, 1883, when he moved to New Winchester, Hendricks Co., Ind., where he now resides. He was married February 3, 1840. Mr. Brasier and wife are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat, and is one of the pioneers of Morgan County. Powel S. Brasier, our subject, received a fair common school education. At the age of four- teen, he went to learn the harness-maker's trade, afterward learning the carpenter trade and dentist profession, which latter he is still following at Eminence, Ind. He has had some eight years' experience in the fruit tree business, and intends to resume that occupation in a short time. He also clerked for a time in both a dry goods and drug store. Mr. Brasier is yet unmarried; is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M. In politics, he is a Democrat.
ATLAS BRAY, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Chatham Coun- ty. N. C., July 7, 1826, and. is the second child of seven sons and three daughters born to James and Sarah (Edwards) Bray, the former a native of North Carolina, born 1796, the latter of the same State, born 1802. James Bray was a farmer, who located in Hendricks County, Ind., about 1834; farmed on rented land; then removed to this county, where he se- cured land. This he afterward sold and went to Missouri about 1853, and to Kansas in 1869, where he now enjoys a retired life. Mrs. Bray is also living, aged eighty-two years. They are long established mem - bers of the Baptist Church. Atlas Bray remained at home until he was of age, when he worked at farming in jobs at 37 cents per day. Not- withstanding this poor labor, he was enabled after a time to purchase forty acres of timber land, which he set about to clear and improve; af- terward sold the same and purchased 280 acres in Iowa, and finally ex- changed for the farm on which he now resides, combining 153 acres. He likewise possesses a good farm in Monroe Township. In July, 1849, he married Emily Craven, by which union were born to them seven chil- dren -- John F. (deceased), Enos, Mary, Sarah, Clara, Oscar and Luther. Mr. Bray has been a successful farmer and is a worthy citizen. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES K. BURGESS, druggist, was born in Putnam County, Ind., October 12, 1844, and is the third child in a family of seven children born to Dawson and Catherine (Holbert) Burgess, natives of Kentucky, the former of German and the latter of Irish descent. Dawson Burgess received his early education in his native State. While yet a young man,
he removed to Putnam County, Ind. Here he bought 100 acres of wild land, and improved a farm, upon which he resided until December, 1868, when he removed to Stilesville, Hendricks Co., Ind., where his death occurred August 12, 1878, in his sixty-fourth year. James K. Burgess, the subject of our sketch, received a fair common school education, and was employed on the home farm until he was twenty years old. In Octo- ber, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, Forty-third Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, and served with that regiment in all its marches and engagements until the close of the war, being mustered out at Indianapolis in June, 1865. After his return from the army, he farmed the home place on shares, and ran a threshing machine for three years. He then removed to Hendricks County, Ind., near Stilesville, where he remained one year, then returned to Putnam County, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until March, 1880. He then came to Eminence, Morgan Co., Ind., where
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