USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 39
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 39
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 39
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he has since been engaged in the drug trade. He was married, October 14, 1869, to Elizabeth Dobbs, a native of Putnam County, Ind. Two daughters have blessed their union, viz., Dora and Claudia. In politics, Mr. Burgess is a Democrat.
STEPHEN H. CHENOWETH, blacksmith, and Justice of the Peace, was born in what is now Ashland Township, Morgan Co., Ind., July 8, 1837, and is a son of Ephraim B. and Mariah (Risinger) Chenoweth, the former a native of the "Old Dominion," and the latter of Kentucky. They were both of German descent. When three years old, Ephraim B. Chenoweth removed with his parents to Jefferson County, Ky., where his early education was received, and where he was afterward married. Here he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and followed the same for several years. Later, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1835, he came with his wife and family to what is now Ashland Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he entered 160 acres of wild land, and improved a farm, to which he added until he was the owner of a farm of 240 acres. In 1855, he sold this farm, and bought another in Adams Township, same county, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 8, 1875, in his seventieth year. He was for several years one of the Township Trustees under the old constitution. He was a member of the Christian, Mrs. Chenoweth of the Baptist Church. Stephen H. Chenoweth, the subject, received a limited education in the primitive schools of the Indiana frontier, and was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years. He then farmed on shares until the spring of 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served with that regiment until the close of the war, being mustered out at Richmond, Va., in May, 1865. He then farmed for two years, when he commenced blacksmithing at Eminence, Ind., and has followed that business ever since. He has been three times elected Justice of the Peace, but only qualified once. He is now holding that office. He was married, in 1859, to Bena M. Gray, a native of Ashland Township, Mor- gan Co., Ind. Seven children blessed their union, only two of whom, one son and one daughter, are now living. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is also a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M., and of the G. A. R. In the former order he is a Past Master. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is one of the early settlers of the township and county.
DAVID A. CURTIS (deceased) was born in Randolph County, N. C., September 17, 1806, and was the eldest of the two sons and one daughter of Jesse W. and Judy Curtis, natives of North Carolina and of English extraction. Our subject was reared to farming with but little education. He married, after becoming of age, Miss Tabitha Staler, who proved a faithful spouse for fifty-six years. In 1837, Mr. Curtis moved to this State and located on Government land, where he built a cabin and pro- ceeded to found a home, in which, after some years of discouragement and toil, he succeeded. On the morning of February 24, 1883, he arose well, ate a usual breakfast, and died peacefully soon after, his wife and daughter supposing him to be asleep. He was an industrious and suc- cessful man, and at one period owned 1,750 acres. He was the father of fourteen children, eleven of whom lived to maturity. He was an upright man and honored citizen, a Democrat in politics, and a Patron of Hus- bandry. Mrs. Curtis yet survives, aged seventy-six. Mr. Curtis was a
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member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Curtis now adheres to the same denomination.
EMEZIRE D. CURTIS, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in this town- ship July 27, 1839, a son of D. A. Curtis. He was practiced in industry, and kept at home until he was twenty-one years old, when he began the labor of life where he is now living, his father having given him eighty acres as a beginning, on which he has built a good residence, and also variously improved his farm, as well as adding thereto 140 acres, now a desirable home and valuable estate. He is now raising the better grades of sheep, being well supplied with stock, which he feeds from his own grain. In 1867, he married Miss Rachel Mosier, with an issue of seven sons. He is a Democrat, and has held several township offices. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are members of the Christian Church.
CALVIN CURTIS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Randolph County, N. C., was born April 26, 1828, and is the eldest of the family. He was nine years of age when his father moved to this county, whom he assisted to make a home in the wilds of nature. When twenty-four years old, he located on eighty acres of timber land, from which he made bis present home, having lived in a cabin until 1865, at which time he built a good house. The farm comprises 220 acres, 160 of which are in full cultivation; he also possesses a forty-acre tract in Gregg Township. March 24, 1852, he married Miss Rosie York, who died two years later, leaving one daughter -- Martha. November, 1857, he wedded Miss Eu- phemia Johnson, who also left the world, March 22, 1879, leaving four children-David A. M., Lieudary A., Daniel and Laurena. Mr. Curtis is a practical farmer. an industrious man and good citizen; he raises a high breed of geese and turkeys, Plymouth Rocks, Light Brahmas, Golden Spangle chickens, etc. Mr. Curtis has been a prominent hunter, and is an expert rifle-shot.
WESLEY CURTIS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Randolph County, N. C., was born September 26, 1830, and is the second son of David A. Curtis. He was reared by his father, a farmer; received almost no education, and early began to do for himself. As an aid, he received eighty acres of timber land, on which he toiled while living at home until 1857, at which period he married Miss Elizabeth Jones, of Bar- tholomew County, and shortly after located on his own land. He soon built a house, which was burned. in 1872, and has now one of the best two-story brick houses in the township, having as well cleared and estab- lished a desirable farm, which comprises 320 acres, besides sixty acres in Jasper County, Ill., and some town property. He is a practical farmer, and has a fair supply of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. After the decease of his wife, who left two sons and one daughter-Margaret E., Francis M. and George W .- Mr. Curtis wedded Miss Jane Carman, an orphan of this county. Mr. Curtis is a liberal and well-intentioned citizen, a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Curtis has made a property valued at $30,000, and has in all a yearly income of $3,000.
SOLOMON DORSETT, farmer, was born in Chatham County, N. C., February 27, 1832, and is a son of Duty and Rachel (Edwards) Dorsett, natives of North Carolina. The former was of German and the latter of English descent. Duty Dorsett, was a farmer by occupation, and also followed various mechanical pursuits. In the fall of 1840, he came with his family to what is now Mill Creek Township, Putnam County,
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Ind. Here he bought a farm, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in November, 1844. Both himself and wife were mem- bers of the Baptist Church. He was a soldier during the war of 1812. Solomon Dorsett, the subject, received only a very limited education in the schools of the Indiana frontier. After attaining to manhood, how- ever, he acquired by his own exertions a good practical education, and taught subscription and public schools during the fall and winter for seventeen years. He was employed on the home farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then farmed on shares for five years, after which he bought a partially improved farm of forty acres in Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind., to which he afterward added 150 acres. On this farm he resided until the fall of 1872, when he came to Eminence, same township, and engaged in the general mercantile trade, continuing in that business some sixteen months. He then bought a resi- dence in Eminence and a farm of 130 acres adjoining the village. Here he has ever since resided, and has been mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits. His dwelling burned in January, 1879, which he replaced by one of the best brick residences in the township or county. Mr. Dorsett has also been engaged in the local practice of law for the past fifteen years, and is now Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Adams Township. He was also Trustee of Adams Township for thirteen years, and in 1864 was a candidate for County Treasurer. He was married, March 8, 1853, to Sylvania C. Marley, a native of Randolph County, N. C. To this union were born eight children, only two of whom, both daughters, are still living. Mrs. Dorsett died April 21, 1874. She was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Dorsett was next married October 1, 1874, to Martha W. Parker, a native of Putnam County, Ind. Four children, two sons and two daughters, have blessed their union. Both Mr. Dor- sett and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of Blue Lodge and Chapter in the Masonic fraternity, being a charter mem- ber, and Post Master of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, F. & A. M. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is one of the prominent citizens of the township and county.
THOMAS FELKINS, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Garrard County, Ky., and is the youngest of the family of eight born to William and Jane (Williams) Felkins, natives respectively of Virginia and Ken- tucky, and of Irish extraction. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Felkins, was a Revolutionary soldier, and was once taken prisoner by the British. William Felkins was a soldier of the war of 1812, after which he located in Kentucky, married, and farmed until 1852, when he moved to Arkansas and died in 1869, aged seventy-two. He was a Dem- ocrat, and a member of the Christian Church. Thomas Felkins was born November, 1825, and left motherless when eight years of age, and remained at home until he was nineteen, when he faced the world on his own account, and came to this county with $2.50 in cash and one horse. He made his home with his brother, and worked at farming on shares for some time. September, 1850, he married Miss Martha Wheeler, of this county, but a native of Kentucky, which union gave birth to eight chil- dren, of which number three sons and three daughters survive. After marriage, Mr. Felkins lived in a log cabin on land he had previously en- tered, and afterward took charge of his father-in-law's farm, where he lived until 1858, at which period he purchased 132 acres known as the "Old Joe Rhodes" farm. This he has improved and added to until he
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now owns 218 acres under good cultivation and well stocked. Mr. and Mrs. Felkins are members of the Christian Church.
SAMUEL G. GASH, farmer, was born in Lincoln County, Ky., Jan- uary 3, 1828, and is the eldest of five children born to Thomas and Eliza (Wilson) Gash, natives of Kentucky, and of Scotch and Irish descent re. spectively. Thomas Gash was educated and married in his native State, where in early life he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed the same, in connection with farming, all his life. He and his wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The death of Mrs. Eliza Gash occurred March 6, 1835, and that of Mr. Gash October 5, 1840. Samuel G. Gash, the subject, received a fair common school edu- cation. After his father's death, he made his home with his uncle, David R. Wilson, until he attained to his majority, with whom, during that time, he learned the blacksmith's trade. After leaving his uncle, he was employed as a laborer on a farm for some four years. He then farmed on shares in Kentucky for one year, after which, in the fall of 1853, he . came with his wife and family to Adams Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he bought a partially improved farm of forty acres, upon which he still resides and to which he has added another forty acres. In 1846, he enlisted for service in the war with Mexico, but was never engaged in active service. He was married, August 7, 1852, to Miss Margaret S. Reid, a native of Jefferson County, Ky., and a daughter of John and Esther (Gilliland) Reid, who were among the early pioneers of Jefferson County, Ky. One son has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gash, viz., John T. Mr. Gash was at one time Adjutant in the Kentucky militia, and for a time carried the mail from Eminence to Quincy. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are earnest advocates of the temperance cause. In politics, he is a Democrat.
ELERSON GENTRY, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Hen- dricks County, Ind .; was born January 19, 1833, and is the eldest son of Garland and Susan (Stringer) Gentry, natives of Kentucky, and of English extraction. The grandparents of our subject were natives of Virginia, lived in Kentucky, and removed to and farmed in Indiana. Garland Gentry moved from Kentucky to this State about 1831, thence to this township, and subsequently to Texas, Arkansas, and again to Indiana, where he now lives in retirement, aged seventy-seven years. He is a Democrat, a member of the Christian Church. Was twice married, and is the father of three children by the first and nine by the second mar- riage. Elerson Gentry was reared a farmer by his father, whom he accompanied to Texas and Arkansas; resided in Missouri four years; returned to Hendricks County, Ind., and thence to this county. When twenty-one years of age, he left his father's house to struggle for him- self, and worked for three years by the month; then leased land for sev- eral years; finally purchased eighty acres of his father-in-law's estate, and now owns, in addition, eighty acres west of Mud Creek. December 29, 1855, he married Miss Mary M. Smith, of this county, born February 2, 1838. This union produced six children-Theresa A., Franklin A., Susan A., William A., Mary Etta and Thomas A. Mr. Gentry is a Free- mason and a Democrat, and he and wife are worthy members of the Christian Church.
HARRISON GENTRY, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind., September 28, 1846, and is the fourth in a family of ten children born to Barry M. and Elizabeth J. (Ludlow)
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Gentry, both of whom were born near Lexington, Ky., and were of English and German descent respectively. When but tive or six years old, in about 1825, Bary M. Gentry came with his parents to what is now Hendricks County, Ind., then a part of Morgan County. Here his father entered 160 acres of land, and improved a farm, upon which young Barry passed his early life. He received such an education as could be obtained at the subscription schools of that frontier settlement. He was married at the age of eighteen, and soon after commenced for himself, and farmed on shares for several years. In about 1850, he came to Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind., where he bought eighty acres of wild land, and to which he has added, now owning a well-improved farm of some 230 acres. In June, 1871, he removed to Stilesville, Hen- dricks County, Ind., where he has since been engaged in the dry goods trade. He was one of the Commissioners of Morgan County for some sixteen years, and has held various township offices. Mr. G. ard wife are members of the Christian Church. He cast his first vote for William H. Harrison, but, since 1856, has been identified with the Republican party. Harrison Gentry, the subject, received a fair common school education, and was employed on the old homestead until he was twenty- one years old. He then farmed on shares for some ten years, after which he bought a farm of sixty acres in Adams Township, Morgan County, upon which he still resides. The farm is well improved. He was mar- ried, November 10, 1870, to Miss Eliza J. Hubble, a native of Hendricks County, Ind. Two children, one son and one daughter, have blessed their union-Clara M. and Conard. In politics, Mr. Gentry is a stanch Republican.
DAVID H. GOSS, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in what is now Davie County, N. C., May 28, 1819, and is the sixth in a family of nine children born to Daniel and Martha (Ingram) Goss, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of North Carolina. They were of German and Welsh descent respectively. When a lad, Daniel Goss removed with his parents to North Carolina, where he received a fair German education, and where he was afterward married, and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for a time. In the spring of 1821, he emigrated with his wife and family to Owen County, Ind., and settled near Gosport, where he entered some 700 acres of wild land, erected a log house and improved a farm. to which he added some 200 acres, and upon which he resided until his death, which occurred February 14, 1834, in about his fiftieth year. Both himself and wife were members of the Christian Church. Mrs. Martha Goss departed this life in Feb. ruary, 1835. David H. Goss, the subject, received his education at the subscription schools of the Indiana frontier. After the death of his par- ents, he lived with his guardian, Abner Alexander, until he was married, which was in his twentieth year. He then farmed on shares for one year, after which he moved on to 160 acres of the old homestead in Owen County, Ind., which had been willed to him by his father. To this he afterward added other lands, and here he resided until January, 1880, when he sold the old farm and bought another in Adams Township, where he now resides. He was first married, August 20, 1838, to Miss Marietta Johns, a native of Morgan County, Ind. To this union were born three children, two of whom, both sons, are yet living. Mrs. Goss died May 17, 1843. She was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Goss was next married, May 3, 1844, to Miss Zerilda E. Littell, a native
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of Clarke County, Ind. Eight children blessed their union, five of whom, three sons and two daughters, are yet living. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is also a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A. F. & A. M .; Gosport Chapter, R. A. M., and of the Council at Gosport of R. & S. M. Mrs. Goss is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and of the W. C. T. A. In politics, Mr. Goss is identified with the National or Greenback party. He is also an earnest advocate of the temperance cause, having been from early manhood a member of the old Washingtonian society.
DANIEL N. HOLMES, merchant, was born in Decatur County, Ind., June 10, 1831, and is the fourth child in a family of five children born to Jacob and Frances (Stogsdale) Holmes, natives of Kentucky and of Irish descent. In early life, Jacob Holmes emigrated to Decatur County, Ind., where he was educated and married, and was engaged in agricult- ural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1840. Himself and wife were members of the Baptist Church. Daniel N. Holmes, the sub- ject, received a limited common school education. He has since, however, acquired a fair practical business education by his own exertions. At the age of thirteen, he went to learn the blacksmith's trade, and served an apprenticeship of some six years in Denatur, Shelby and Johnson Counties, Ind. In 1856, he came to Eminence, Ind., where he followed his trade for some thirteen or fourteen years. He then bought a farm in Adams Township, Morgan County, Ind., and was engaged in agricultural pursuits and the stock trade until the spring of 1879, when he rented the farm and returned to Eminence. Here he opened a general store, and has been successfully engaged in merchandising ever since. He was first married in February, 1857, to Martha A. Fidler, a native of Ken- tucky. To this union were born eight children, six of whom, five sons and one daughter, are yet living. Mrs. Martha A. died May 27, 1877. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Holmes was next mar- ried, July 4, 1878, to Miss Mariah H. Smith, a native of Indiana. In politics, Mr. H. is a Republican.
ELIAS HUBBARD, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Guilford County. N. C., October 23, 1813, and is a son of George and Nancy (Shield) Hubbard, natives respectively of Virginia and Maryland. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Revolutionary soldier. George Hubbard was a soldier of the war of 1812, and by occupation a farmer. In 1822, he moved to Wayne County, Ind., purchasing eighty acres, and entering eighty of timber, on which he made a good home for his family and endured the privations of a pioneer. He died in 1867, aged eighty-one, and his wife one year later, at the same age. They were upright and honored people. Elias Hubbard was reared a farmer, and in 1828 moved to this county, and after a time began life in earnest. October 18, 1839, he married Miss Margaret J. Gray, a native of Indiana, whose parents were pioneers of Clarke County. To this union were be- stowed, of whom survive, Mary J., Marilda, Malinda, Margaret, Abigail, David W., Mahala and Anna. In 1846, Mr. Hubbard purchased forty acres of his present home, and after many struggles and hardships has succeeded in making a comfortable property. He is a stanch Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, merchant and farmer, is the second son in the family of Hezekiah and Eliza (Green) Johnson, natives of North Carolina. Hezekiah Johnson was a farmer, married in his native State,
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and emigrated to this county; entered land in this township, erected a cabin of logs, and resided until 1867, when he moved to Clayton and embarked in mercantile business, in which he continued with his son Elhanon until his death, in 1870, at the age of sixty-one. He was once a Whig, later a Republican, an honored citizen, and about 1840 was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, but later joined the Christian Church, and previous to his death held a large revival at Mount Tabor. Mrs. Johnson was a Methodist, and died in 1872. Will- iam H. Johnson was born in this township November 12, 1835, and named after President Harrison. He is a natural mechanic, and when but a boy made from seven to nine flour barrels a day. He remained under his parents' care until his thirtieth year, looking after the home farm. March 29, 1859, he married Mary Shoemaker, with an issue of five children-Eliza J., William S., John Edmund, Hezekiah and Miran- da F. After marriage, Mr. Johnson managed his father's homestead for a time, and afterward purchased a $1,200 stock of merchandise at La- Clair, and three years later removed to Lake Valley. He carries a select- ed and full stock of goods, and is a very popular dealer. March, 1877, he was made Postmaster at Lake Valley. He has invented a grain tally and other valuable devices. He is a Republican, a Freemason, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
MILO D. LITTELL, farmer, was born in Clarke County, Ind., June 29, 1816, and is the fifth child in a family of eleven children born to Abraham and Elizabeth (Van Buskirk) Littell, the former a native of Fayette County, Penn., and the latter of Ohio. They were of English- Scotch and Holland-English descent respectively. When but a lad thir- teen years old, in 1799, Abraham Littell emigrated with his parents to the Northwest Territory. In that year, his father, Absalom Littell, who was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, settled on Silver Creek, Clarke's Grant, in what is now Clarke County, Ind. Here young Abraham received his early education, and learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in connection with farming all his life. He was also married in Clarke County, where he owned a farm which he afterward lost in con- sequence of a defective title. In 1819, he emigrated to Monroe County, Ind., where he entered eighty acres of land and commenced to improve a farm. In 1822, he sold this place, and moved to Owen County, Ind., where he again entered land and improved a farm, upon which he resided until about 1860, when he left the farm and moved to Alaska, where his death occurred March 8, 1862. He was Justice of the Peace in Owen County for three terms, and Township Trustee for a like period. He en- listed during the war of 1812, but was not in active service. Both him- self and wife were members of the Christian Church. He was also an earnest advocate of the temperance cause, being a member of the old Washingtonian Society. Milo D. Littell, the subject, received such an education as could be obtained at the rude log schoolhouses of the Hoosier frontier settlements, and was employed on his father's farm until he was thirty-four years old. During this time, and for some three years after he left home, he followed flat-boating down the White, Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. He was also a successful hunter. In 1845, he entered 120 acres of land in Adams and Ashland Townships, Morgan County, Ind., and improved the farm upon which he still resides, and to which he added until he was the owner of a well-improved farm of 184 acres, a part of which he has since deeded to his children. He
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