Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 87

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 87
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 87
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 87

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).

SIMEON PEDIGO, manufacturer and dealer in furniture, was born in Lawrence County, Ind., October 21, 1849, is the son of E. H. and Elizabeth E. (Nance) Pedigo; is the eldest in a family of three children, and is of English Scotch lineage. At the age of seventeen years, he be- gan the issues of life for himself. For a number of years, he taught school in the winter and performed farm labor in the summer. The marriage of Mr. Pedigo occurred June 15, 1876, to Miss Mollie B. Anderson, a na- tive of Monroe County. To this union have been born three children, as follows: Clarence E., Annie E. and Verner Ross. In 1876, Mr. Ped-

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CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

igo came to Harrodsburg and formed a partnership in the furniture and undertaking business with J. M. Anderson. This partnership continued until January, 1884. He is now engaged in manufacturing Pedigo's Perfection Washing Machine, under the firm name of S. & W. S. Pedigo. manufacturers of the only genuine washing machine of the coming times. This machine is sold only upon guarantee that it will do all that its contractors claim for it, and, unless such is the case, your money will be refunded. Address S. & W. S. Pedigo, Harrodsburg, Ind., and they will give you particulars and references. They are gentlemen of honor and responsibility.

WILLIAM. S. PEDIGO, furniture dealer, and junior member of the firm of S. & W. S. Pedigo, was born in Perry Township, Lawrence County, Ind., April 5, 1845, and is a son of John D. and Jane (Garten) Pedigo. In a family of ten children, William is the eldest, and is of Scotch-En- glish origin. His father was born in Barren County, Ky., and when twelve years of age came to Lawrence County, Ind. In 1861, the sub- ject of our sketch enlisted in Company F, Forty-third Indiana Volan- teers, and was honorably discharged in 1862, on account of general dis- ability. In 1863, he engaged in the milling business in Lawrence County, and that continued eighteen years; he then engaged in farming, and in 1884 he came to Harrodsburg and engaged in his present occupa- tion. He was married in 1866 to Miss Maggie A. Lowder. To them have been born five children-Isalene, Nora J., Oma S., Blanche and Ella. He is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln. He has 320 acres of well-improved land. He is a man of enterprising spirit, and an honorable citizen.

WILLIAM W. ROSS, merchant at Smithville, was born July 22, 1830, in Clear Creek Township, Ind., and is the youngest son of William W. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Ross, the former a native of Maryland, who settled in this State in 1813, and two years after, moved to Perry Town- ship, Monroe County, where he entered land, owning at his decease 320 acres; he died in 1875, aged one hundred and seventeen years. He emi- grated to this section in a cart, there being but nine families in the county. His experiences in the earliest days were wonderful and varied, such as battles with wolves and hunting for game, he having killed five deer in one day, and many bears and wolves at various times. He was a renowned marksman, and a man of endurance and principle. Mrs. Ross died in 1853. They were parents of four children. Our subject married, April 17, 1857, Elizabeth Burnes, with an issue of four children, all de- ceased. Mrs. Ross having died, he married, August 5, 1875, Ellen E. Pane, of Perry Township, and by her became the parent of three chil- dren, all living. Mr. Ross is a Republican, and a liberal, benevolent gentleman. He has a clock one hundred and fifty years old, and a good timekeeper, which was brought by him from North Carolina.

JOHN D. SIMPSON, M. D., was born in Owen County, Ky., April 23, 1846, is the son of W. G. and Ann (Du Vall) Simpson, and is of En- glish ancestry. His parents are of Kentucky nativity. His paternal grand father was James Simpson, a Virginian by birth. He died in Owen County, Ky., in 1868. The literary education of Dr. Simpson is far be- yond the average, the major part of which he gained at Eminence Col- lege, Kentucky. In 1864, he went to Louisville, Ky., and for one year clerked in a wholesale commission house. In that city, in 1866, he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. A. Brady, a lead-

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ing physician. In 1868, he graduated at the University of Louis- ville. This same year he came to Heltonsville, Lawrence County, Ind., and began practice. In 1869, he went to Bellevuo Hospital, New York, from which he graduated in 1870, and then went to Bedford, Lawrence County, and resumed practice. In 1880, Dr. Simp- son came to Harrodsburg and continued practice, and engaged in the drug business. The marriage of Dr. Simpson took place in 1869, to Miss Mattie Mitchell, of Bedford, Ind., daughter of Jesse A. Mitchell. They have one child- James. Dr. Simpson is a stanch Democrat and a Mason.

THEODORE THASHER, groceries and general stock, Smithville, was born in Monroe County, Ind .. December 14, 1835, and is a son of George and Matilda (Hines) Thrasher, both natives of Virginia, and of German descent. George Thrasher, a farmer, came to this section about 1830, where he purchased land and farmed until his death. He was the parent of nine children, seven of whom are living. Our subject passed his early days at farm work and in attending school, and when twenty- two he left home, worked by the day for about seven years, and then came to Smithville, where, from his earnings, he was enabled to begin business, which he has successfully carried on; he is also Postmaster, and is an es- teemed citizen. May 24, 1871, he married Julia A. Floyd, of Smith- ville, who died October 22, 1883, aged thirty-four years, the mother of five children. Rev. Hugh Stackhouse, pastor of Mrs. Thrasher, said of her: "She was endowed with a mild, cheerful disposition, her life be- ing marked by many Christian graces, and crowned, at its close, by the triumph of Christian faith. About a week before her death, she talked to her family and friends of her departure as calmly as though going away for a short visit, asking her husband to open the Bible at 2d Cor- inthians. Chap. V .; she read the first verse, and remarked, 'Yes; that's it.' The next day she called her pastor, that she might hear him pray once more. Truly it can be said of her that the world was the better for her having lived in it, and her influence for good will live after her." Mr. Thrasher is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.

JONATHAN TRISLER, section master at Smithville, was born in Jessamine County, Ky., in 1830, his parents being John and Sarah (Waggameier) Trisler; the former a native of Germany, the latter of Kentucky. John Trisler was a farmer; and when Jonathan was ten years of age, moved to Monroe County, this State, and settled about two miles from Smithville. He and wife were parents of seven children. They are both deceased-he died in 1881, she about 1859. Jonathan was twenty-one when he began supporting himself by working on a rail- road, and then farmed for four years, since which time he has devoted his whole time to railroad work, having been a foreman for thirteen years, and has, by his labor, acquired a good and valuable property. Mr. Trisler is married, his wife being Eliza Silvester; they are parents of tive living children. Mr. Trisler is a Democrat, and a liberal, enlight- ened citizen. Mrs. Trisler is a conscientious member of the Christian Church.

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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

THOMAS J. BROWN is the eldest child of George W. and Susanna (Wright) Brown, a native of Kentucky, and was born November 18, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were respectively of Irish and German extraction, and both natives of Kentucky. After living on a farm until 1842, they moved from the State of their nativity to this State and township, and here entered land for a home. In 1865, they removed to where the for- mer yet lives, his wife having died some years before. Thomas J. Brown attended the township schools and remained at home, having almost the entire support of the family, until his twenty-third year, his father hav- ing long been unable to labor. In 1859, he married Mrs. Cynthia A. McNeely, a native of Kentucky, after which event he moved to the farm owned by his wife, where they still reside, and to which he has added 200 acres, making an aggregate of 440 acres, one of the best farms in the township. In connection with agriculture, Mr. Brown has had a country store for about two years. Mr. Brown is a life-long Democrat, a worthy citizen, and, with his wife, a member of the Christian Church.

FRANCIS M. CARROLL is a native of this county, was born June 15, 1840, and is one of the six children of Lewis and Betsy (Smith) Car- roll, the former of Irish, the latter of German descent. Lewis Carroll was a native of Virginia, where he grew to manhood, and afterward moved to Bloomington, this county, and followed his trade of carpenter and millwright for several years before engaging in farming on the land now owned by our subject. He was for years an ordained minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, and died in March, 1864. Francis M. Carroll acquired a practical education at the county schools. Two years after his father's decease his mother died. July 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company H. Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until February, 1862, having participated at Pea Ridge, Ark., Paw-Paw, Mo., and in other engagements. March 11, 1866, he married Martha Campbell, a native of Marion County, Ind., to which union suc- ceeded five children-Arthur J., Schuyler C., Mary F., Frank R. and Daisy. After his marriage, he purchased his father's farm of 120 acres, on which he now resides, and being one of the finest of the township. Mr. Carroll is a stanch Republican and a representative citizen.

W. H. CREAGER is a native of Bloomington, Ind., was born Oc- tober 14, 1844, and is one of the nine children of John and Mary (Payne) Creager; the former a native of this county, the latter of North Carolina. John Creager was a blacksmith and worked as such until about 1856, when he moved to this township, and remained until death, March 4, 1860. W. H. Creager received his education from the common schools. He was fifteen years old when his father died, and then became the head of the household. In 1863, he taught his first school term in Benton Township, from which time until the present he has taught dur- ing the winter sessions. July 14, 1870, he married Miss Lucinda, daugh- ter of Philip and Elizabeth Smith. Three children were born to this union, of which two are living-Henry V., born April 7, 1871, and Mag-

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gie B., born March 1, 1875. Mr. Creager has from time to time pur- chased the interests of the heirs of his father's farm, which consists of 100 acres of improved land, on which he has made his residence. Dur- ing 1870-71, he leased this farm and lived successively in Johnson and Morgan Counties. Mr. Creager was for four years Township Trustee, and still holds said office. He is a Democrat and a representative cit- izen. Mr. and Mrs. Creager are members of the Baptist Church.

ELIJAH A. KNIGHT is a native of Marion County Ind., was born March 2, 1839, and is one of the eight children of Elijah and Nancy (Northern) Knight; the former a native of Kentucky, and born about 1800 After marriage, he moved to Morgan County, Ind., where he lived until 1838 or 1839, and then became one of the contractors, building the Wabash & Erie Canal, after completing which contract he settled in Boone County, and died in 1845. Elijah A. Knight obtained his educa- tion in the primitive schools of the time, and afterward studied at home by the firelight. His father died when he was six years old, and he re- mained with his mother until his majority, and then purchased the farm of 110 acres, most of which he has retained. In August, 1861, he en- listed in Company H, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served eleven months; then returned, and in September, 1864, entered an unassigned company of the Thirty-third Indiana Regiment, and served therein until the end of the war. February 22, 1871, he married Sarah E. Matlock, a native of this county, and to this union have been bestowed five children-four being yet alive-Anna E., Elijah E., John P. and Clarence F. Mr. Knight is a Democrat, has held several civil offices, and is one of the most prominent men of his township.

BENTON TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM L. ADAMS, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Gar- rard County, Ky., was born December 31, 1830, and is the eldest child of Wilson and Rachel (Taylor; Adams, both natives of Kentucky. The ma- ternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Taylor, was a first cousin to Gen. Zach Taylor, and a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The pa- ternal grandfather, Wilson Adams, was a soldier of the war of 1812; the father of our subject was a farmer by profession, a Whig in politics, and a Cumberland Presbyterian in religion. He died in 1832, his widow af- terward moving to this county, where she married Henry. Patton. She became a widow a second time, and died in 1883, aged seventy-three years, a member of sixty years' standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church. William L. Adams removed to Ellettsville with his step-father, where he attended school and grew to manhood, and when nineteen years old began life for himself on rented land. December 29, 1850, he mar- ried Elizabeth Cannon, of this county. After this event, he located in Van Buren Township for two years, then removed to Macomb, Ill., then re- turned to this county, and afterward purchased a threshing machine, which he operated until he abandoned the same for auctioneering, which he has followed for twenty-five years. Mr. Adams served as Constable for some years under Capt. Sluss. In 1879, he occupied his present

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BENTON TOWNSHIP.

farm of 161 acres. July 5, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, One Hun- dred and Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which formed a part of the Ninth Corps of the Army of the Cumberland; he was honorably discharged, and is a member of the G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are parents of seven children-John W., Sarah J., Laura A. (de. ceased), Amanda E., Maggie R., Della E. and Morton G.

WILLIAM B. ALEXANDER, retired farmer, was born in Fayette County, Ky., September 3, 1806, and is the eldest of the nine children of James and Sarah (Mashon) Alexander, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, and of Irish and Scotch descent. James Alexander moved to this county in 1825, and located near Bloomington, where he purchased and improved 160 acres. Their privations were those of other pioneers, but they grew in popularity and in means. Mr. Alexander was a Democrat, served two terms as County Commissioner and was Justice of the Peace for many years. He died in 1852, aged sixty-four years, and his wife afterward, aged seventy-five years. They were mem- bers of the Baptist Church. William B. Alexander received a fair education in Kentucky, where, after having removed hither, he married, September 25, 1825, Miss Elizabeth Irvin. After marriage, he returned to this county and managed his father's farm. In 1830, he entered land and began stock dealing in conjunction with farming, and continued so to do for eleven years; then purchased and sold several farms, and finally, in 1864, located where he now resides, on 160 acres, with improvements. Mr. Alexander has been a hard-working yet successful man. He gave his first Presidential vote for Gen. Jackson, but has of late years been a Republican and has filled some minor county offices. Mrs. Alexander died November 15, 1869, having been the mother of ten children-Will- iam F., Sarah J., Mary, Nancy, Martha, Irvin, John, Alvira, and two infants, deceased. The three sons were Union soldiers-William F. died at Nashville, Irvin in Libby Prison and John in Missouri-all filling soldier graves. Mr. Alexander's present wife was Mrs. Baker; they are members of the Christian Church.

T. H. BARNHILL, dealer in merchandise, is a native of Carroll County, Ohio, was born February 14, 1838, and is the eldest of the six children of John and Jane (McNelley) Barnhill, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and of German-Irish and Irish descent. Our subject was sent to school in boyhood and reared to husbandry as a bus- iness. When he had reached his eighteenth year, his parents moved to this county, where he attained his majority, and afterward labored by the day for three years, receiving but 50 cents per day. March 7, 1860, he married Miss Mary C. Alexander, of this township, born May, 1842, a union which gave being to six children-Florence J., Charles A., Olie, Eddie, John and Edna. Shortly after marriage, Mr. Barnhill moved to Unionville, where he has since made his home. He now owns and occu- pies the old Alexander farm, which comprises 358 acres with good build- ings and varied improvements, thus constituting a valuable home and property. In 1877, he engaged in merchandising, and was commissioned Postmaster in 1879. He is a prominent Republican, and has been Town- ship Trustee two terms.

DR. DAVID W. BARROW is a native of this township, was born November 4, 1853, and is the eldest son of James M. and Martha A. (Vannoy) Barrow, both natives of this county, and respectively of En- glish and German descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject,

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David Barrow, came to this section when it was a pristine wild, and, be- ing a farmer, located in this township, where he served as Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner seventeen years. He had a farm of 240 acres, was a Democrat, a Baptist and the father of eight children. He died in 1880, aged seventy-nine. James M. Barrow was reared a farmer, received some education, and at the age of forty years became a minister of the Baptist denomination, uniting such service with the man- agement of his farm. He has been father of three sons and four daugh- ters, five of whom are living. He is a Freemasoa and a Democrat. David W. Barrow attended the home schools at intervals until twenty years of age, when he entered college at Bloomington for one year; then taught two years, returned to college and selected the classical course. After leaving the institution, he entered the office of Dr. Mc- Pheeters, and read medicine, in all nearly two years, after which he at -. . tended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, and in 1881 ' began a practice, which he has succeeded in enlarging, with honor and satisfaction. Dr. Barrow is a member of the Baptist Church, a Demo. crat, and also a member of the K of P. In 1882, he was chosen Town- ship Trustee.

SAMUEL L. KERR, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, April 15, 1832, the eldest of the nine children of John and Nancy (Logan) Kerr, both natives of Ireland, and of Scotch and Irish descent respectively. John Kerr was by trade a weaver, who in 1839 emigrated to this country with his family and located in Bloom- ington Township, this county, whence he removed to this township and purchased land, and at last, by labor and care, acquired 200 acres as a home, on which he died in 1864, seventy-three years of age, preceded by his wife five days. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. Samuel L. Kerr was about eight years old when he reached America. Much farm labor devolved on him in youth, and he continued with his father until of age, when he commenced working by the month, and af- ter eight years was enabled to purchase 220 acres, on which he has made his home; having improved said land by erecting a house, supplying stock, and by various other appurtenances, the whole now comprising 280 acres, 100 in pasture, and seventy of fine bottom land. December 5, 1861, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Jonathan and Catharine Hinkle, and to their union have been given eight children-James B., John J., Samuel M., Charles A., Nannie V. C., Ella May, Maggie E. (deceased), and Mary A. Mr. Kerr is a Republican, a worthy citizen, and he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM H. KERR, stock-raiser and farmer, was born June 6, 1847. His father was William Kerr, a native of Ireland, who, about 1824, emigrated to America, settled in this county, and entered the land on which our subject now resides, and where Mr. Kerr, Sr., passed his later life, and succeeded in making a good home of sixty acres, well im- proved. He died in 1855, aged sixty years, leaving a wife and two chil- dren, who managed the farm. He was a Reformed Presbyterian, as is his wife, who is yet living, aged sixty-five years; the only daughter died in 1872. William H. Kerr remained at home until he was seventeen, when he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for twelve months' service, which was passed in the Southern States in doing skirmish duty. He was honorably discharged, and in 1867, purchased eighty acres of his present home, which now com-

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BENTON TOWNSHIP.

prises one hundred and forty acres, containing some stock and many im- provements. December 24, 1872, he married Miss Elizabeth Mulliken, a native of Johnson County, by which union they were favored with four children-Maud B., Connie J., Cora B. and Laura M. Mr. Kerr en- gaged in agriculture near Franklin until 1879, when he returned to his former site and home. He is a Republican, and he and his wife are worthy members of the Christian Church.

SAMUEL GETTY, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Ireland and the youngest child of Samuel and Nancy (Kerr) Getty, both natives of Ireland, and both Protestants. Samuel Getty, Sr., was a tiller of the soil, who ended his life, as did his wife, in the country of his birth. Their eldest son emigrated to this country about 1840, and farmed until his decease. Our subject obtained an ordinary education and was reared as a farmer. In 1851, married Miss Rose Cubitt, a native of Ireland. In 1852, they emigrated to America by way of New Orleans, and reached this section after a travel of eleven weeks. Mr. Getty having but $200, he worked at farming for one year, and soon after purchased a portion of his present home, which now comprises 280 acres, 100 of which are bot- tom lands of great fruitfulness; he has also twenty acres in Perry Town- ship-all the result of his thrift and economy. He is one of the largest farmers in this township, and gives his undivided attention to his farm and raising stock. Mr. and Mrs. Getty have been parents of eleven chil. dren, of which number the following are living: Nancy, Elizabeth, John C. and Ida Ellen. Both are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM PETERSON, farmer and stock-raiser. is the eldest son of Thomas and Mary (Custer) Peterson, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Vir- ginian, who located in Ohio when a wilderness, and reared five sons and three daughters. Thomas Peterson was reared a farmer in Jefferson County, Ohio, but came to this township in 1854, where he purchased forty acres, and farmed until January, 1864, when he became a soldier of the Tenth Cavalry. During this service, he was attacked by sickness, and while on his way home he died, being buried at Louisville. He left a wife, who survives him, and seven children. He was a Republican, and a Baptist. William Peterson was born in Jefferson County, August 12, 1830; was reared to farming, and remained at home until he was twenty- seven years of age. After working on the home farm until he was eighteen years old, he learned the carpentering, at which he worked in summer, and taught school in the winter. He taught his last term in 1863. June, 1859, he married Sarah E. Rader, who died in 1866, leaving four children-Ira D., Phinny H., Cordelia A. and Thomas W. April 29, 1877, he wedded Miss Margaret A. Reimer, by which marriage they had two children-Carey J. and Mary C. February, 1865, Mr. Peterson was detailed as carpenter at Camp Carrington. This was his only soldier service. He was discharged May 8, 1865. In 1859, he located on the farm, which embraces 540 acres, one-half of which is improved, with good stock, etc. In 1876, he was elected County Commissioner, as which he gave great satisfaction. He is Commander of Alexander Post, and a member of the Baptist Church.

T. J. PETERSON, proprietor of the spoke factory at Unionville, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, September 7, 1846, and is one of the family of Thomas and Mary Peterson. When he was nine years old, his parents moved to this county, which has since been his home. When

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fifteen years old, being of large stature, he enlisted, in the fall of 1861, in Company H, Fiftieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, assigned to the Western division, their hardest engagement being at the siege of Mobile. During his service, he suffered from measles; afterward, in 1863, at Lit- tle Rock, he became a veteran, and September 27, 1865, was discharged as Sergeant. He then took charge of the home farm for two years, and later, worked on a railroad, and as sawyer for several firms, and for sev- eral years. November 6, 1873, he married Miss Alice A. Sluss, of this township, which union gave being to four children, of which number two survive-Edna M. and Daisy Irene. In the autumn of 1882, he pur- chased the spoke factory he is now operating, in which he has $2,000 in- vested. Mr. Peterson is an ardent Republican, and a public-spirited citi- zen. Mrs. Peterson is a member of the Christian Church.

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Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 87

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