USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 75
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 75
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 75
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B. A. McGEE was born July 26, 1851, in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind. His parents are Benjamin and Verlinda V. (Buskirk) McGee, natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. Our subject is the second son and third child in family, and was reared in Bloomington, where he was educated. When sixteen years of age, he entered the State Univer-
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sity, remaining two years. He then entered the Bryant & Stratton Com- mercial College, at Louisville, whence he graduated in August, 1869. He then went into his father's clothing store and remained until Febru- ary, 1874, at which time he entered the office of Dr. W. F. Allison, dentist, of Bloomington, and began learning dentistry. October 1, 1874, he entered the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, at Cincinnati, where he stayed till the spring of 1875, going thence to Louisville. He studied dentistry with Dr. J. F. Canine, and in September he went to Rockport, Ind., and entered the regular practice there. Two years later, he came to Bloomington, and in December, 1877, opened a dental office, which be at present has, and is doing a lucrative business. In May, 1883, he was elected to the Council; and is at present holding that position. In Sep- tember, 1872, he married Alice Norman, daughter of Joseph and Susan Norman, residents of Lawrence County, Ind. They have three children -- Van Norman, Proctor R. and Alice B. Mr. McGee is a member of the K. of H., and of I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the Methodist Church. Politically, he is a Republican.
J. M. McGEE, a native of Ohio, was born in Caldwell, Noble County, on January 2, 1850. His parents, Andrew and Sarah (Smith) McGee, were born in Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. They were married in 1844, in Ohio, and settled on a farm in Noble County, where they lived until the death of the father, which occurred October 11, 1859. The mother still lives on the old homestead. The subject of this sketch is the second son and third child in a family of seven children, and was reared in his native county, where he lived until 1861. He then went to live with his uncle for three years, after which he began working in the oil regions, in which he continued for one year. He then entered Sharon College, at Sharon, Ohio, remaining for two years. In the fall of 1868, he came to Indiana, and engaged for nine months in the saw mill business. After leaving the saw mill, he began teaching school in Brown County, afterward teaching in Brownville, Neb., for eighteen months, and returning to Brown County in 1871. He was engaged in the drug business for some time in Nashville, and in June, 1873, he was elected County Superintendent of Brown County Schools. In 1875, he was re-elected, and two years later came to Bloomington, Monroe County, and engaged in the drug business again. In June, 1879, he was elected County School Superintendent, re-elected in 1881, and again in 1883, at present being engaged in the faithful discharge of his duties. October 12, 1873, he married Eliza Taylor, of Morgan County. She died in April, 1875, and two years later he married N. E. Buskirk, daughter of William H. Buskirk, the oldest living settler in Monroe County. They have two children, Max and Frank. Mr. McGee is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and of the K. of H. He is an active member of the Meth- odist Church, and politically is a Democrat.
REV. WILLIAM POLLOCK McNARY was born in Washington County, Penn., the 16th day of September, 1839. His father's name was William Hill McNary, and his mother's maiden name Margaret Murray; the daughter of George Murray, of the Murray Hill farm, two miles east of Cannonsburg. Our subject's ancestry were Scotch-Irish on both sides of the house. His great-great-grandfather, James McNary, who was the head of the largest family of McNarys in this country, was born in Scotland about the year 1711. The family came to this country about the year 1760, and settled in York County, Penn. He had a wife,
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a daughter and four sons. Three of these sons moved to Washington County, Penn. John McNary, the grandfather of our subject, who was the eldest son of John, of York County, brought the family to the new farm in Washington County, after his father's death, and it is still in the possession of his son James. William Hill McNary, the father of our subject, was born on the farm mentioned above, on the 26th day of No- vember, 1805. He was an Abolitionist, until that party merged into the Republican party. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Conven- tion in 1856, at which the Republican party of Pennsylvania was organ- ized, and was a stanch Republican until his death. Rev. W. P. McNary, the subject of this sketch, is the third son now living. He spent his boyhood on the old farm and received his common school education in a little brick schoolhouse on the home premises. In 1856, he went to an academy at Wilkinsburg, Penn., to prepare for college, and in 1858 en- tered the sophomore class in Jefferson College at Cannonsburg, Penn., where he graduated in the class of 1861. In April, 1861, on the first. call for 75,000 troops, he enlisted for the war. His company not getting into camp in time for the first call, he enlisted for three years in Com- pany D, Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps as a private, from which he was promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant. On ac- count of bravery on the battle-field, he was promoted by Gov. A. G. Cur- tin, of Pennsylvania, to the position of Adjutant of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. This was a nine months' regiment, and its time expired March 2, 1863. He was scarcely home when there was a call for troops for 100 days, to be mustered into United States service for the protection of Pennsylvania against threat- ened invasion. He raised a company, of which he was made Captain, and on the forming of a regiment he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Militia for United States service. In this capacity he went out in the campaign against Col. John Morgan, and was present at the capture of Morgan's forces. He spent the winter of 1863-64, at the theological seminary. During the spring vacation, there was another call for troops for 100 days, and his old Colonel, J. B. Clark, having raised a regiment, offered him his old position of Adjutant of the One Hundred and Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in that capacity he served another 100 days in the summer of 1864. In the Tenth Pennsylvania Reserved Corps, he participated in the battles of Drainsville, Maysville, Cold Harbor or Gainsmills, Chickahominy, Mal- vern Hill and Antietam. In the One Hundred and Twenty-third Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorville. Returning to the seminary in the fall of 1864, he finished his course in March, 1866, and after a short itinerancy became pastor of the United Presbyterian congregation of Leavenworth, Kan., where he remained until the fall of 1869. In August, 1870, he became pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, Ind., in which capacity he has continued until the present time. In June, 1880, with- out his knowledge or consent, he was elected Trustee of the public schools of the city of Bloomington, which position he held for three years. On the 17th of June, 1880, he was nominated by the Republican State Convention an Elector for the Eighth Congressional District of Indiana. During the campaign of that year, he made twenty-two speeches for Garfield and Arthur, speaking in eight counties of the State. He met with the Electoral College on December 1, 1880, and voted for
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Garfield and Arthur. On the 27th of September, 1866, he married Elizabeth Graham, of Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co., Penn., daughter of James Graham, deceased. Mrs. McNary's mother's maiden name was Eliza Macfarlane. She still lives on the old homestead in Allegheny County, Penn. In December, 1883, Mr. McNary and Rev. A. H. Har- shaw formed a partnership for the purpose of publishing a religious weekly paper at St. Louis, Mo., to be called the Midland, in which he is now engaged in connection with the pastorate of the church at Bloom- ington.
DR. J. G. McPHEETERS, a native of Kentucky, was born in Fayette County January 21, 1811. He is the eldest son of six children born to Charles and Martha (Glass) McPheeters, natives of Virginia. In 1829, he entered Centre College, at Danville, Ky., and one year later came to Madison, Ind., entered a classical school there, and remained until the spring of 1831, when he came to Bloomington, and entered the State University, from which he graduated in 1834. During the follow- ing year, he taught in the preparatory department of this institution, then for some time taught a subscription school at Madison, Ind. Early in 1836, he returned to Kentucky, and for two years engaged in farming on the old home farm. In 1838, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Lloyd Warfield, of Lexington, Ky .; after one year returned to Bloomington, Ind., and resumed his studies with Dr. D. H. Maxwell, Late in 1839, he returned to Lexington, Ky., and entered the Transyl- vania Medical College, graduating with honors soon after. In the spring of 1840, he began the regular practice of medicine at Morgantown, Mor- gan Co., Ind. The next year he came to Bloomington, and formed a partnership with Dr. J. D. Maxwell, which lasted until January, 1850. In August, 1861, he entered the army as Surgeon of the Fourteenth In- diana Volunteers, and served over three years. Having been kept so constantly in charge of hospitals in various parts of the South, his health became impaired, and on September 16, 1864, he received an honorable discharge for disability, returning at once to Bloomington, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In June, 1836, he was married to Miss Clara M. Dunn, daughter of Samuel Dunn, a pioneer of Monroe County. He is a prominent member of the Royal Arch Masons, of the Presbyterian Church, and an old-time Republican.
J. G. McPHEETERS, JR., was born on August 26, 1839, in Morgan County, Ind. He is the eldest son and second child of Joseph G. and Clara (Dunn) McPheeters, natives of Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was reared at home in Bloomington, where he acquired the rudi- ments of a good English education in the graded schools of Blooming- ton. When seventeen years of age, he entered the State University, where be remained for five years, but was compelled to quit on account of ill health. In April, 1863, he was appointed Mail Agent on the L., N. A. & C. R. R., running between La Fayette, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., continuing for two years. On the 22d day of April, 1875, he was com- missioned Postmaster of Bloomington, and is at present so engaged, faithful in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him. On January 15, 1873, he was married, in Terre Haute, by Rev. E. Frank Howe, to Miss Amelia B. Collum, a daughter of Orson Barber, a well-known pio- neer lawyer of Terre Haute. Mr. McPheeters served as Chairman of the Republican Central Committee, and has also served as Secretary for eighteen years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Cecelia Lodge, No.
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166; also of the A., F. & A. M., Monroe Lodge, No. 22, and of the Pres- byterian Church; his wife is a member of the Episcopal Church. Polit- ically, he is a Republican.
CHARLES H. McPHEETERS was born March 25, 1846, in Blooming- ton, Monroe County, Ind., and is the youngest child of Dr. J. G. and Clara M. (Dunn) McPheeters. He was reared in Bloomington, where he was educated in the public schools. When fourteen years of age, he entered the employ of a hardware merchant, with whom he remained for thirteen years, during which time he worked with him for sixteen months in Bloomfield, Greene County, Ind. In January, 1871, he became part- ner of William Stuart in the hardware business, which firm continued until October, 1883, when Mr. Stuart sold his interest to J. W. Shoemaker, and the business is now being carried on under the firm name of Mc- Pheeters & Shoemaker. In 1871, he was appointed Town Treasurer, to fill the unexpired term of James Manley, and in 1872 was elected to the same office. He was re-elected in 1873, and held the office for seven years. On November 5, 1868, he was united by marriage to Cleopatra Stuart, daughter of William Stuart. They have two children-Grace and Mary. Mr. McPheeters is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in pol- itics is a Republican. He and wife are active workers in the Methodist Church.
JAMES F. MANLEY was born October 8, 1840, in Salem, Washing- ton County, Ind. He is the eldest son and second child of John and Arminda (Tannehill) Manley, natives of England and North Carolina respectively. He was reared in his native place, where he was educated, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company D, Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. James B. Glover. He served nearly two years, and took part in the fights at Perryville and Stone River, in which last engagement he received a gunshot wound in the left arm, necessi- tating its amputation; he then received an honorable discharge. On June 25, 1863, he married Cornelia J. Stuart, daughter of William Stu- art, a respected citizen of Bloomington. One month later, he formed a partnership with William Stuart in the hardware business, continuing until February, 1871. In 1868, he was elected Town Treasurer, and served for three years faithfully. October, 1870, he was elected County Auditor on the Republican ticket, and took his office in November, 1871. He was re-elected in 1874, and served until November, 1879. He has also served as Deputy County Treasurer for two years, and has now retired from business. His wife is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have two children-Ida M. and John.
JOHN MARTIN, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 31, 1836, is the sixth son and eighth child in a family of twelve children. His parents, Henry and Sarah (Souders) Martin, were natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. His father was for a number of years a pork packer in Cincinnati, and for fifteen a grocer of that place. He died there on April 3, 1872. His mother died in June, 1861. The sub- ject of this sketch was reared in his native place, where he was educated, and when twenty-one years of age he went to Kansas, remaining for three years. Returning to Cincinnati, he entered the employ of his uncle, John Savage, a prominent pork packer, with whom he remained for four years. He then formed a partnership with his brother James in the tanning business, in which he continued for some time, when he sold out his interest, and became agent for a sewing machine company, afterward
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engaging in the manufacture of lubricators. In 1871, he moved to Mar- tinsville, where he remained for ten years in the timber business, after which he was with Robert Gilmore, the Recorder of Monroe County, remaining until the expiration of the term of office. He is now assisting the present Recorder of Monroe County. On May 18, 1872, he was mar- ried to Lizzie J. Gilmore, daughter of James and Alicia Gilmore, prom- inent citizens of Monroe County. They have two children-Ella S. and Robert. He is an active member of the Republican party, and is highly respected by all who know him.
DR. JAMES D. MAXWELL, SR., eldest son and third child of David H. and Mary (Dunn) Maxwell, was born May 19, 1815, near Han- over, Jefferson County, Ind. His parents were natives of Kentucky, and came to Indiana in 1809, locating in what is now Jefferson County, where they remained for ten years. Removing then to Monroe County, they settled on the lot now occupied by the "National House," the father being the first physician ever in Bloomington. He served as Postmaster for eight years, and died May 24, 1854. His widow died March 18, 1880, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. David H. Maxwell was a member of the First Constitutional Convention at Corydon, Ind., in 1816 and drew up the constitution. He was also Surgeon in Capt. Dunn's Company in 1812. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Monroe County, and eight years later entered the seminary at Bloomington, where he graduated in the fall of 1833, afterward teaching for two years in a preparatory department in the college. He then went to Clinton, Miss., and taught for one year, when, returning to Bloom- ington, he studied medicine with his father for two years, during which time he attended a course of lectures at Transylvania Medical College, at Lexington, Ky. Returning thence, he entered into regular practice with his father in Bloomington, and about one year later formed a part- nership with Dr. J. G. McPheeters, continuing for about nine years, when he dissolved the partnership and has since been in practice alone. He has been Secretary and Trustee of the college for the past thirty years. On July 6, 1843, he was married to Louisa J. Howe, daughter of Joshua O. Howe, a pioneer of Monroe County. They bave ten children-Emma M., Mary E., Howard, Allison, James D., D. H., Anna, Louisa A., Fannie B. and Juliette. Dr. Maxwell is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and politically he is a Republican.
JOHN F. MAY, a native of Monroe County, Ind., was born in Perry Township February 16, 1828. His parents, David and Sarah (May) May, were married in Monroe County in April, 1826, and located on a farm in Perry Township, where they at present reside. The father is eighty years of age, and the mother eighty four. They were among the earliest settlers in the county. John was the eldest son and child in a family of six children, and was reared in his native place, where he was educated in the subscription schools. He afterward entered the State University at Bloomington, after which he taught school in Perry and Van Buren Townships. On October 5, 1852, he was married to Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of John and Jennie Campbell, pioneers of Monroe County. After his marriage, he settled on a farm in Perry Township, where he remained for five years. He then sold it and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he farmed for ten years. He was then in Perry Township for some time, where he finally purchased one hun- dred and seventy-five acres of land, which be at present owns. His
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first wife died on September 24, 1864, and two years later he was mar- ried in Bloomington, Ill., to Carolina Force, daughter of Peter Weed, a citizen of Bloomington. In 1875, he removed to Bloomington, Ind., and followed farming and trading for four years, when he purchased an interest in the livery business with J. C. Worley, and continued until January 1, 1884, when J. C. Worley sold his interest to John H. Cole, and the business is now under the firm name of May & Cole. Mr. May and wife are members of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a Re- publican, and a prominent member in the party, and highly esteemed in his community.
ROBERT W. MIERS, eldest son and second child of Thomas S. and Mahala (Braden) Miers, natives of Indiana, was born January 27, 1848, in Decatur County, Ind. His father farmed until 1880, when he removed to Greensburg, where he and his wife at present reside. The subject of this sketch was reared on the old home farm, and received a good education in the district schools. When sixteen years of age, he began teaching in Decatur County. During the three succeeding winters, he attended school at Hartsville, Ind., and in September, 1868, entered the State University, whence he graduated in 1871. One year later, he graduated from the law department, and in the fall following, was admitted to the regular practice at Bloomington. In the spring of 1874, he became partner of Judge Echols, and one year later was elected Pros- ecuting Attorney, on the Democratic ticket, and re-elected in 1878. He was elected to the Legislature soon after, and subsequently began the practice of his profession. He is now in partnership with J. H. Louden, and has a lucrative practice. On May 9, 1872, he married Miss Belle Ryors, daughter of Dr. Ryors, ex-President of the State University. They have two children, Bertha and Daniel K. Mr. Miers is a stanch member of the Republican party, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
ELI K. MILLEN, a native of Monroe County, Ind., was born Feb- ruary 26, 1837, two miles north of Bloomington. His parents, James and Hannah (Millen) Millen, natives of South Carolina, came to Monroe County in 1834, and located on a farm near Bloomington where the father continued until 1838; afterward moving to Bloomington, but still managing his farm until 1854, when he purchased a general mer- chandise stock. He continued in this business for sixteen years; then sold out and at present resides in Bloomington. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of three children, and was reared in Bloomington. When twelve years of age, he entered preparatory department of the State University, and four years later he entered the law department, from which he graduated in the spring of 1858. In the following fall, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, for the district comprising Monroe, Morgan and Brown Counties, in which capacity he served for two years, after which he began the regular practice of law, and at present is success- fully engaged in the same. Mr. Millen is considered one of the best posted attorneys in Bloomington, and often acts as Special Judge of Monroe County. He is a member of the K. of P., Franklin Lodge, No. 22, and has filled all the chairs in this lodge. He is an active politician in the Democratic party, and is highly respected by all who know him.
C. B. MITCHELL, youngest son of John and Phobe (Dye) Mitchell, natives of Indiana, was born December 16, 1858, in Lawrence County, Ind. He was reared in his native county, where his education began,
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until his tenth year, when he came with his mother to Bloomington, and attended the public schools here. In 1874, he entered the employ of C. P. Tuley, adry goods merchant, with whom he remained for three years, at which time he was employed by Clark & Wicks for three years. Late in the fall of 1879, he purchased one-third interest in the general merchandise business, with W. W. Wicks and R. M. Gamble, and con- tinued with them in a large dry goods and grocery store for three years. In January, 1882, Mr. Gamble sold his interest to the other partners of the firm leaving Wicks & Mitchell. On January 1, 1883, Mr. Mitchell sold his interest to W. Wicks, and entered the employ of McCord & Aydelott, wholesale hatters of Louisville, as traveling salesman, of which he has since made quite a success. He is a good, young business man, moral and upright. On July 4, 1883, he was united by marriage to Miss Anna Couk, a native of New Albany, Ind. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is politically a Democrat.
JAMES F. MORGAN was born in Harrodsburg, Monroe Co., Ind., March 17, 1855. His parents, John W. and Mary A. (Gentry) Morgan, are also natives of Monroe County. They were married in Monroe County on February 29, 1849, and located on a farm in Indian Creek Township, where they at present reside. The grandparents of our subject settled in Indian Creek Township in 1818, and at present live on the same farm of 120 acres which they entered sixty-two years ago, aged respectively eighty five and seventy-eight years. The subject of this sketch was the eldest son and second child in a family of nine children, and was reared on the old home farm until sixteen years of age. He obtained the rudi- ments of a good education in the district schools; he also attended the schools at Harrodsburg for one year. He then taught school to make money to enable him to enter the State University, which he did in Sep- tember, 1874, remained for one term, and then resumed teaching. In 1877, he entered the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso, Ind., whence he graduated in the Teachers' Department in June, 1878. In the fall following, he was elected Principal of the Stinesville (Ind.) Schools, and resigned during his second term to accept a better one in the Rock- ville (Ind.) Schools. In June, 1881, he entered the law office of Buskirk & Duncan, of Bloomington, and in July following was appointed Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of Monroe County by Judge Mavity (whose term expired in October, 1881), and was re-appointed by H. C. Duncan, his successor, and served until October 1, 1883. After the expiration of this term of office, he entered the regular practice of law, and has since been so engaged, and is also extensively engaged in real estate. He is also representing several of the most prominent insurance companies in the world. Politically, he is a Democrat. He was married November 13, 1883, to Carrie B. Hamilton, daughter of Henry B. and Margaret J. Ham- ilton, residents of Salem, Ind. He and wife are prominent members of society. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and his wife of the Christian Church.
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