Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 72

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 72
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 72
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 72

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).

557

BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

1859. He then entered the State University at Bloomington, remaining for two years. He enlisted in Company G, Forty-ninth Indiana Volun- teers, under Col. John W. Ray. He served until June, 1863, and took part in the engagements at Chickasaw Bluffs and Arkansas Post. He then received an honorable discharge on account of disability, and in the fall of that year he again entered college, remaining for two years, and then went to North America, where he began the study of law with the Hon. James L. Collins. He continued for two years, then formed a partner- ship and practiced for one year. He then removed to Paola, and became · partner of his brother, continuing until the spring of 1869, when he moved to Bloomington, remaining there for two years with his uncle. He then went into partnership with Lester L. Norton, and two years later became the partner of H. C. Duncan, which firm is at present doing a good, lucrative practice, and it is considered one of Monroe County's best law firms. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney for District 8 (Orange, Du Bois, Crawford, Perry and Spencer), which position he re- signed on coming to Bloomington. In 1869, he was married to Ella A. Broadwell, daughter of Jonathan P. Broadwell, a prominent citizen of Tippecanoe County, Ind. They had three children, one of whom is liv- ing-Ella A. His wife died April 30, 1878. Mr. Buskirk is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Democratic State Central Committee.

H. C. DUNCAN was born January 16, 1845, in Lawrence County, Ind. His parents, William and Mary (Malott) Duncan, were natives of Jef- ferson County, Ky., where they were married in 1824, and two years later moved to Lawrence County, Ind., where the father died March 1, 1875; the mother still resides in Lawrence County. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of eight children, and was reared in his native county, where he obtained the rudiments of a good English education. January 1, 1864, he entered the State University. and after remaining for about three months he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteers, under Col. John W. Foster, and was mustered out about October 1, 1864. He re-entered college, whence he graduated in June, 1868. He then began reading law with Moses F. Dunn, of Bed- ford. In 1869, he was appointed Enrolling Clerk in the Indiana Legis- lature. In 1872, he formed a partnership with Mr. Dunn in the regular practice of law. Two years later, he came to Bloomington, and went into partnership with John W. Buskirk. In 1880, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for the district comprising Monroe, Lawrence, Orange and Mar- tin Counties. He served for two years In December, 1872, he was married to Sadie Cummings, daughter of Dr. Cummings, of Blooming- ton. They had three children, two of whom are living-Frank and Mary A. Mr. Duncan is politically a Republican. He is a Mason and a member of the Christian Church.

J. CLINTON CARTER (deceased) was born in Monroe County, Ind., February 14, 1834. He was fifth son of Thomas and Fannie (Carter) Carter. He was reared in his native county, where he was educated in the district schools, afterward attending the State University in Bloom- ington for some time. He then began farming in Perry Township, near his home, on eighty acres, which, by industry, hard labor and energy, he increased to 160 acres. He was a great sheep and general stock raiser, and during the last years of his life traded considerably in stock, beside attending to other business affairs. He was married on February 9, 1860, to Miss Lou Cron, daughter of Isaiah and Lucretia Cron,

558

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

respected citizens of Bloomington. To crown the happiness of his wedded life, three children were born to him. He was a prominent and highly-respected citizen of his township, and was honored by being made the Trustee of the same, holding with great credit this office for several years, and although not identified with any religious denomination, his life was full of the true spirit of Christianity. In his own household, not even the healing influences of time avail to assuage the pain of sep- aration in the heart of the devoted wife and loving children, of whom but one is now living-Oliver C. He was identified with the Republican party, and was as greatly missed from among the ranks of that party as in the community in which he lived. His death occurred June 22, 1866, at his residence.

ISAAC CLAMAN was born in Richland Township, Monroe Co., Ind., March 31, 1842. His parents, William and Rebecca (Whisnand) Claman, natives of West Virginia, came to Indiana in 1837 and 1829 respectively, were married in Bloomington Township, and settled on a farm in Richland Township, where they remained until the father's death. The mother still resides in Monroe County. Isaac is the second son and third child in a family of seven children, and was reared in Richland Township, where he obtained a good education in the district schools. When twenty years of age, he entered the State University at Bloomington, remaining for two years. After this for some time, he farmed during the summer, and taught school in the winter. He after- ward gave up school teaching, and farmed exclusively until August, 1883, when he came to Bloomington. In October, 1882, he was elected Treasurer of Monroe on the Republican ticket, and has since been en- gaged in the duties of his office. On June 1, 1869, he was married to Rosetta C. Franklin, daughter of Isaac Franklin, a citizen of Missouri. By this union, there are four children-Eugene B., William R., Jennie B. and Harvey E. Mr. Claman was Assessor of Richland Township for about six years, and he and wife are identified with the Christian Church, and are among its most active workers.

J. B. CLARK, eldest son of Richard and Martha (Neal) . Clark, natives of Kentucky, was born June 26, 1840, in Salem, Ind., where he was reared. He was educated in the graded schools of Salem, and, when nineteen years of age, entered the employ of James H. Neal & Co., general merchandise merchants of that place, remaining with them for two years and a half. He was next engaged for a short time in Wash- ington, Ind., in the photograph business. Removing thence to Bedford, he continued in the same business until August 4, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-sixth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. J. N. Rod- man. He served for nearly three years, and took part in the following engagements: Richmond, Big Shanty, Tunnel Hill, siege of Atlanta and Jonesboro, and went clear through with Sherman to the sea. In July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge and came to Blooming- ton, immediately entering the grocery business, in which he continued for three years quite successfully. He then formed a partnership with John C. Orchard, and continued in the business for five years. In De- cember, 1875, he became partner of W. W. Wicks in the dry goods business, and three years later purchased the whole stock, which he car- ried alone for about eighteen months. He then sold out, and went to farming for two or three years near Bloomington. On March 12, 1883, he purchased a stock of groceries, and at present is doing a lucrative

559

BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

business. He was married, July 7, 1861, to Eliza Stuart, daughter of William Stuart. They have six children-William, Laura, Minnie. Lida, Josephine and George. Mr. Clark is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the A., F. & A. M .; he and wife are members of the Methodist Church, and politically he is a Democrat.

RUFUS COATNEY was born August 20, 1827, in Bloomington Town- ship, Monroe County, Ind. He is a third son and fourth child of Finney and Mahala (Rogers) Coatney, and was reared in Monroe County, where he obtained a good education in the district schools. When sixteen years of age, he began farming in Salt Creek Township, on a farm of forty acres, which he entered from the Government, and sold, purchasing a farm of eighty acres, which he lived on for one year. On September 1, 1849, he was married to Mary J. Smith, daughter of Samuel and Martha Smith, respected pioneers of Monroe County. By this union there were two children, one of which is living-Sarah Ellen, wife of C. H. Showers, of Bloomington. After his marriage, he continued farming on his eighty- acre farm, for four years, after which he sold it and rented for one year. He then purchased a farm in Perry Township, Monroe County, to which he added 220 acres, and at present owns 300 acres of fine farm land, highly cultivated. He also owns considerable town property, having lived in Bloomington for three years, and is at present a prominent citi- zen of that place. He served one year as Supervisor of Perry Township. He is a member of the Christian Church, and politically he is a Repub- lican.

JOHN H. COLE, a native of Kentucky, was born in Bourbon County September 24, 1860. He is the second child and only son born to Moses and Sarah E. (Neal) Cole, and was reared in Van Buren Township, Mon- roe County, Ind., where he obtained the rudiments of a good English education in the district schools. When sixteen years of age, he began farming in. Van Buren Township, and two years later, his uncle left him a beautiful and well-improved farm of 615 acres, where he continued to live until January 1, 1884, when he came to Bloomington. He here formed a partnership in the livery business with John F. May, which business is now in a flourishing condition, under the firm name of May & Cole. He still has the management of his farm, which he has in a state of excellent cultivation. He is quite a stock-trader, and is success- ful in all business undertakings. Politically, he is a Democrat, and an in- fluential member of that party. He is ever ready to assist in any public enterprise, and is highly esteemed.

CHARLES G. CORR was born in Bloomington Township, Monroe County, Ind., October 25, 1822. His parents, Hugh and Jane (Good- win) Corr, natives of Ireland, came to Monroe County in 1820, and settled on a farm in Bloomington Township, removing then to Washington Town- ship. They lived there until the father's death, which occurred July 16, 1830. The mother at present resides with the subject in Bloomington, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. Charles Corr is sixth in a family of ten children, and was reared in Washington Township, Monroe County, where he was educated, and after his father's death attended to the farm until June, 1847, when he enlisted in Company G, Fourth In- diana Volunteers, in the Mexican war, serving for one year. He took part in the engagements at Guamantli and Lisco. On July 3, 1848, he received an honorable discharge, and returned home. In 1850, he began to teach school, and continued for some time; then began farming on the

560

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

old home farm in Washington Township. In 1878, he removed to Bloom- ington, to educate his children. He owns 720 acres of fine land, and over- sees his farm, while residing in town. On February 14, 1852, he was married to Mary J. Canine, a daughter of Cornelius Canine, a citizen of Crawfordsville, Ind. They have nine children-Isaac, Edwin, Henry W .. an infant, John C., Cornelius, Ella, Mary and Lillie M. Mr. Corr is a member of the Christian Church, and politically is a Democrat.

DR. J. F. DODDS, second son and child in a family of eleven chil- dren, born November 1, 1807, was reared in Lincoln County, Ky. His parents, Samuel and Rachel (Rheinhart) Dodds, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, came to Bloomington, Monroe County, Ind., in 1819, where our subject was educated in the district schools. When twenty years of age, he entered the State University there, from which he graduated in 1834. He taught for several years in the University, and for one year in Cumberland College, Kentucky. In 1839, he began reading medicine, and soon after entered the Louisville Medical College. August, 1840, he entered into a partnership with Dr. Mitchell, and be- gan the regular practice in Corydon, Ind., where he remained for five years, constantly busy, in a lucrative practice. He has been an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for several years. From 1862 to 1882, he was Examining Surgeon in the Pension Department. On December 12, 1838, he was married to Mary A. Wiley, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Wiley, first President of the State University. They have eight children. Politi- cally, he is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

CLELLAND F. DODDS was born September 27, 1826, in Monroe County, Ind. His parents, Samuel and Rachel (Rheinhart) Dodds, na- tives of Kentucky, came to Monroe County in 1819, and lived on the old homestead one mile south of Bloomington, where the father died in Sep- tember, 1834. The mother died in November, 1851. The subject of this sketch is the sixth son and youngest child in family. He was reared at home, where he received a good common school education. When twenty- one years of age, he removed to Bloomington, and formed a partnership with A. Helton in the dry goods business, continuing about two years. In 1857, he began farming on the old farm, where he remained for ten years. In 1869, he opened an insurance and real estate office in con- nection with farming implements. He is still in the insurance business, for the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, and also the Phoenix of Brooklyn. In 1865, he was elected County Commissioner, serving for three years. He served for two years as Trustee of Perry Township. On March 20, 1878, he was elected Mayor, to fill the unexpired term of C. W. Henderson (first Mayor of Bloomington), and re-elected in 1879, also in 1881, and again in 1883, which office he at present holds, faithful in the discharge of its duties. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. He was married July 31, 1851, to Mary E. Orchard, of Monroe County. They have twelve children-Mary C., Samuel C., Henry A., Ella B., Andrew J., William J., Claudius M., Cora L., Cornelius F., Carrie C., Mattie M. and Flora. Politically, he is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

S. C. DODDS was born January 28, 1854, in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind. His parents are Clelland and Mary E. (Orchard) Dodds, also natives of Indiana. He was reared in Bloomington, was educated in the State University, graduated in June, 1875, and then entered the employ

561

BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

of Newell Sanders, a book dealer, with whom he remained for one year. On December 4, 1876, he purchased the stock of books and ran it for nearly four years. He was in the lumber business for one year, and then formed a partnership with Showers Bros. and Henry Henley, in the man- ufactura of chairs, under the firm name of Showers, Dodds & Co., on October 27, 1881, and one year later Capt. Henry Henley sold out, and they continued as Showers & Dodds until March 15, 1883, when one- third interest was purchased by J. B. Waldron. The firm name now is Dodds, Waldron & Co. The weekly manufacture of chairs averages sixty - five dozen, and of center tables (which addition was made on September 1, 1883) is 1,000. They have in their employ sixty-five persons, their pay-roll being from $250 to $300 per week. Mr. Dodds was married, on October 17, 1878, to Miss Nellie Winters, daughter of George Winters, a respected citizen of Columbia, Ky. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church, and is politically a Republican, a good citizen, and highly respected in his community.

J. C. DOLAN, one of the most energetic business men of Blooming- ton, was born near Montreal, Canada, December 8, 1845. He was the third son in a family of five children born to John and Mary (Ryan) Do- lan. He was reared in Canada until about five years of age, when his parents removed to Indiana and located on a farm in Miami County. In the district schools of that county our subject began his education, and in the fall of 1867 he entered upon a commercial course in the college of Notre Dame, completing it in the spring of 1869. In 1870, he went to Atchison, Kan., remaining there two years as clerk in a wholesale grocery house. Returning thence to Crawfordsville, Ind., he engaged in the lumber and stave business, continuing till 1876, at which time he em- barked in the stave and tie business in Bloomington. In October, 1883, he was appointed manager for the American Hoop Dressing Company's factory, located at Bloomington, which employs fifty-five men and has a capacity of 15,000 hoops per day. Mr. D. is a firm Catholic, and polit- ically is a Democrat.

HON. JOHN R. EAST was born May 17, 1845, in Indian Creek Township, Monroe Co., Ind. He is the third son and fourth child of William and Eveline (Wall) East. His father came to Monroe County in 1828, and settled in Indian Creek Township. The subject of this sketch received the rudiments of a common English education there, and began teaching school when seventeen years of age. In February, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Graves, serving for one year and a half. He took part in the battles at Altoona and Sheppard's Landing, and marched with Sherman to the sea. On July 17, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, having been pro- moted to the position of Sergeant of his company. He then returned to his home and to teaching. In March. 1869, he came to Bloomington, entered the law office of Judge S. H. Buskirk, and continued until the following fall, when he entered the Law Department of the State Uni- versity, from which he graduated in February, 1870. He then formed a partnership with James H. Rogers (deceased) in the regular practice, continuing for about nine months, when he assumed the duties of County Clerk, to which office he had been elected in the October before. This office he filled successfully for four years, and then resumed the practice of law, and had for his different partners Hon. C. W. Henderson (de- ceased) and Col. W. C. L. Taylor, now of La Fayette. In October, 1878,

562

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of the Tenth Judicial District, and served one year, remaining in the practice alone until 1882, when he formed a partnership with his brother, William H. East, and the firm name is East & East. On March 22, 1866, he was married to Miss Ma- tilda J. Binkley, daughter of Christian and Rosanna Binkley, respected residents of Monroe County. They have had six children-George J. (deceased), Rufus H., Mattie A., William C., John R. (deceased) and Eva I. Mr. East is a member of the K. of P. and of the G. A. R. He has passed all the chairs in the I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and politically is a Democrat.

WILLIAM H. EAST, a native of Monroe County, Ind., was born June 12, 1852, in Indian Creek Township. His parents, William and Eveline (Wall) East, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee. Our subject is the youngest son and child in a family of seven children, and was reared on the old home farm in Indian Creek Township. He received a good education, and at the age of eighteen he entered the printing office of Thomas Purcell, and after staying with him for a year he found the occupation distasteful, and he then commenced teaching school. He followed this until 1874, when he became Deputy County Clerk, in which position he served until the expiration of one term of office. He then began teaching school in the winter and reading law in the summer, for three years. For the next two years, he farmed, two miles east of Bloom- ington. He then taught school for a year, when he formed a partnership with his brother, J. R. East, in the practice of law, and at present they are doing a thriving business, under the firm name of 'East & East. In 1877, he married Mary A. Conder, a daughter of E. W. Conder, a citizen of Indian Creek Township. They have two children-Ida M. and Will- iam E. Mr. East is a member of the K. of P., and also of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

J. S. FARIS, third son and eighth child of James and Margaret (Mc- Dill) Faris, natives of South Carolina, was born February 11, 1826, in Preble County, Ohio. His parents moved to Ohio in 1806, where they resided until 1838, when they came to Indiana, locating on a farm in Monroe County, near Bloomington. The father died June 17, 1852; the mother, November 8, 1838. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Monroe County; entered the State University when eighteen years of age; remained for a year and a half, and then, on account of ill health, retired from study for awhile. He went again in 1849 and 1850; afterward took charge of the old home farm for some time, and then came to Bloomington. He formed a partnership with Mr. Mason in the drug business, continued for one year, and then was in business for him- self until 1862. He was then prescription clerk in Bloomington for four years, and was in partnership with J. W. Shoemaker for a number of years; finally, in September, 1883, he opened a drug store under the firm name of Faris & Co., which he is now running with great success. On

October 6, 1853, he was married to Eliza J. Hartin, daughter of Patrick and Nancy Hartin, respected residents of Gibson County, Ind. By this union there were nine children, eight of whom are living-Lottie E., Lillian, Albert V., Eugene M., Ida L., Minnie A., Melville and Elmer. Mr. Faris is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

JAMES B. FARIS, farmer, was born in Monroe County, Ind., on June 5, 1828. He has been a resident of the county all his life, occupy-

563

BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

ing the farm on which his father settled in 1827. He has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah Irvin, to whom he was married on September 11, 1855. She was a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Smith) Irvin, was born on February 8, 1834, and died on July 9, 1875. Three children were born to them, viz .: James E., Charles C. and Edward C. On December 13, 1877, he married Mary C. McCaughan, daughter of Charles and Nancy (Faris) McCaughan. She was born on October 16, 1847. They have one child living-Earnest. Mr. Faris is one of the substantial citizens of Monroe County, contributes liberally to charitable movements, and is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Rev. James Faris, first pastor of the Bethesda Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, and father of our subject, was born in South Carolina in May, 1791, receiving his early education at Columbia (S. C.) College. At the age of sixteen he joined the church, and began teaching school; also commenced to prepare for the ministry. Having accumu- lated $2,000 within a few years, he came to Bloomington, Ind., and pur- chased 160 acres of unimproved land, which he eventually improved. In 1827, he was ordained in an old frame church, the first church of the Cov- enanters in Illinois, he having gone there on horseback. accompanied by his wife. From the installation at Bloomington dates the beginning of his pastoral work. After a long and useful life, he died on May 20, 1855. On April 29, 1823, he married Nancy Smith, born in South Carolina November 2, 1800. She died August 20, 1881. To them were born ten children, eight of whom are now living, four of them being ministers of the Gos- pel, located in different States.

E. H. FEE was born in Bloomington Township, Monroe County, Ind., June 18, 1832, and is the youngest of the children of William and Eliz- abeth (Orr) Fee. The former was born in Ireland March 3, 1785, and was a son of Rebert Fee, whose family came to South Carolina in 1790, and in 1830 to this county. Robert died in 1841, aged ninety-one years. William was married, January 2, 1810, to Elizabeth F. Orr, born March 19, 1790; she died October 24, 1881, and her husband January 24, 1876. They were both in the communion of the Presbyterian Church, and highly esteemed. When the Fee family came to Monroe County, they settled on the Graham farm, which was entered in 1817 by Mr. Graham, and which is timbered and well watered. E. H. Fee, our subject, has lived in the house in which he was born all his life. His brother, James P., who was born March 12, 1829, is now residing with him on the old home farm. During the years from 1854 to 1876, he was mining in Cal- iforna. The second steam saw-mill, built in 1835 on the Fee farm, was erected by a Mr. Sleeper, and owned by William Fee and William Mil- len. In 1843, they added a grist mill to the saw mill, and operated it until 1851. Mr. Fee is a Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

HENRY J. FELTUS was born August 13, 1845, in New York City. He is the youngest of four sons born to Lambert and Sarah (Colton) Fel- tus, and was reared in New York until about nine years of age, when he was sent to his father, who was then in Cincinnati, Ohio, where in the public and high schools he was educated. In January, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, under Capt. Stricker. He served for three years, and took part in the engagements at Mobile, Nash- ville and Franklin, Tenn., and also in the "Grierson raid" through the South, being eighty-two days in the saddle, and in the capture of Mont-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 72

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