USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 99
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 99
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 99
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SAMUEL KENT, miller, is a native of Belmont County, Ohio, was born June 14, 1825, and is a son of John and Lovicia (Barker) Kent, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former of German, the latter of En- glish-Welsh descent. John Kent emigrated to Ohio and married, in Bel- mont County, where he farmed for a number of years, and in 1852 ended his days. He and wife were members of the Christian Church. Samuel Kent was given the usual school education, and lived at home until he
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reached his majority. April 2, 1846, he married Miss Frances, daughter of Jacob and Martha Sill, and a native of Monroe County, Ohio, and to their union were decreed thirteen children. Mr. Kent had previously learned the millwright and milling business, and is now following the latter in company with one of his sons, Marion Kent, they owning the Kent Mill, one of the best in the county. Mr. Kent is a Republican, politically, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
WESLY KIRTS, farmer, is a native of Hamblen Township, Brown Co., Ind., was born August 22, 1836, and is a son of James and Rachel (King) Kirts, the former a native of Tennessee, the latter of Kentucky, and both of German descent. James Kirts was married in this State when eighteen years old, whither he had come some time before; pur- chased a farm in this county, of which he is an old settler. Wesley Kirts received a good school education, and remained with his parents on the home farm until his twenty-third year. March 13, 1859, he married Elsie Jane Henderson, which union was honored by six children. Mr. Kirts is a practical farmer, owning 296 acres of land on Salt Creek, and in addition operates a saw mill, at which he has been engaged for two years, and had followed thrashing for twenty-five years previously. He is a Democrat in politics, and an influential citizen and excellent busi- ness man. Mr. and Mrs. Kirts are members of the Southern Methodist Church.
THOMAS C. McGLASHAN, teacher, is a native of Noble County, Ohio, was born October 20, 1847, and is a son of James and Phebe (Fisher) McGlashan; the former a native of the Scotch Highlands, the latter of Pennsylvania. James McGlashan, when sixteen years old, went to Glasgow, where he learned the trade of a fuller and dyer; served three years and then moved to Edinburgh, where he remained until the age of twenty-one, at which time he embarked for America, remained in New York a short time, then moved to Pittsburgh, traveling from Phila- delphia on foot, where he worked at his trade some years; he then settled in Ohio, followed his trade, and finally ended his days in Noble County in 1878; both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. Thomas C. McGlashan attended the ordinary schools and also several normal schools, and commenced the business of teaching about 1863, taught twelve years, then came to this State, where he has steadfastly followed his profession. March 29, 1868, he married Miss Mathie J., daughter of John Johnson, and a native of West Virginia. Three chil- dren have succeeded these nuptials-Lillie C., Frank and Mary E. Mr. McGlashan is a Democrat, a temperance advocate, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM M. MASON was born in Madison County, Ky., May 19, 1815, and when quite young, accompanied his father, Edwin, to Law- rence County, Ind. Edwin Mason's family consisted of himself, Nancy J. (his wife) and three children-William M. being the eldest child. There were also born to Edwin and Nancy J., in Lawrence County, ten children, making in all thirteen-seven boys and six girls. William M. Mason was reared a farmer. He married Lucy J. Clark in Washington County, Ind., September 5, 1836, at which time he was engaged in the grocery business, in Bedford, Ind., which he conducted five years. In Bedford he studied medicine under his father-in-law, Dr. Alexander Clark, and under Dr. Winthrop Foot, and he there began practice. In 1840, he came to Nashville, where he had a successful practice, and was
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the second physician in the county. On the first Monday in December, 1846, he took his seat in the Thirty-first General Assembly of Indiana, as Representative from Brown County. At the general election of 1848, he was elected Clerk of Brown County Circuit Court, for a term of seven years, and at the same time elected County Recorder for a like period. In 1855, he was re-elected for four years. After the expiration of his term of office, he practiced law until his death. At the time he came here the country was a vast wilderness, and his was the fourth family to settle in the town. They had to go twenty miles for groceries and other supplies, the different families taking turns in making the trip. In the year 1844, he erected a large two-story frame building, and subsequently opened a hotel, which his widow is still conducting. He has born to him nine children, as follows: Emily (deceased), Julia M. (now Coffey), Volney (a Captain in the late war, now deceased), Edwin, Jane, James M., Martha L., William A. and Hughes.
HUGHES MASON, merchant, was born in Nashville, Brown County, Ind., October 16, 1858, and is the youngest of nine children of William M. and Lucy J. (Clark) Mason, natives of Kentucky and Connecticut respectively. Our subject was reared in Nashville, where he obtained a good common school education. February 14, 1874, he embarked in life for himself; having natural business qualifications, he began the grocery business, on a capital of $260, $150 of which was borrowed. So attentive was he to business, and of such genial disposition toward customers, that he at once controlled a steadily increasing trade; he was soon compelled to extend his rooms, and with this larger room, his business so rapidly increased that he was enabled to add a stock of dry goods; not long after this he added hats and caps; then boots and shoes, and lastly, clothing. In the progress of his work, he gained the entire confidence of his many customers, and such was his trade that, in the fall of 1882, he was com- pelled to enlarge his capacity for goods, and hence built a large two-story frame building, and to this he transferred his entire stock of general merchandise, having also rented a room for a stock of drugs. So rapidly did he increase his trade that, in the year of 1882, his sales amounted to $32,500, of which all started from a capital of $260. April 10, 1883, he was married to Miss Nora F. Johnson, a native of Spencer, Ind. Thus has Mr. Mason been the architect of his own fortune; the recipient of no gratuities, and it may be truthfully written of him that he is a self-made, energetic, enterprising business manager, and success will inevitably crown his efforts wherever he goes.
SIMON P. NEIDIGH is a son of John Neidigh and Nancy Neidigh, whose maiden name was Nancy Stover. Both the father and mother are of German families. John Neidigh is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1817. Nancy Neidigh was born in 1827, in the State of Maryland. While quite young and before marriage, both emigrated from their native States to the State of Ohio, where they became acquainted and were mar- ried. In 1841, they removed from the State of Ohio, and settled in what was then a wilderness, but where they now reside, near the center of Jackson Township, Brown County. It was upon the farm thus settled that the subject of this sketch was born on the 28th day of October, 1851, the second child in a family of eight children, consisting of four boys and four girls, all of whom are still living. It was here, upon a Brown County farm, that Simon P Neidigh was reared up amid sterling habits of industry, economy and integrity; which traits of character have fol-
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lowed him into manhood, and have been his chief agencies in making his life work a success. At the old precinct schoolhouse near by, in Jackson Township, he received the rudiments of a good English education, under all the trying difficulties which then beset a Brown County boy in pursuit of knowledge, such as short terms of school, and some years none, rude and uncomfortable schoolhouses, hard, backless benches and inefficient teachers. At the age of twenty years, he entered as a student in the high school at Bloomington, Ind., and pursued his studies with marked success for one year, qualifying himself to engage with unusual suc- cess in the profession of teaching, which he followed until he secured a com- petency to enable him to further pursue his studies, when he matriculated as a student at the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso, Ind., where he continued to attend and alternately to teach until the spring of 1881, when he graduated at that institution with marked distinction. Imme- diately thereafter, he returned to his own county, and the Trustees of the various townships of Brown County, recognizing in him a thorough teacher and live educator, on the 6th of June, 1881, elected him to the office of County Superintendent of Schools. This office he filled with such general satisfaction to both teachers and parents that at the expiration of his first term in 1883, he was unanimously re-elected to the County Superintendency, which office he now holds. As the leading school officer of the county, he has manifested fine abilities as an executive officer and organizer of school work. Both teachers and pupils have received the impress of his genius, and the standard of the common schools of Brown County has been elevated during his administration. He has organized, for the benefit of teachers and schools, most excellent normal schools within their own county, conducted by the best educators in the county. He is practical in all things, speculative in nothing. These traits he has to some extent imparted to the teachers and the schools of the county. He is a man of great physical and moral courage; and he displays in his life and habits the strong, practical traits of character which distin- guish his German ancestry. On July 17, 1883, Mr. Neidigh was mar- ried to Mary C. Hester, formerly wife of the late Judge James S. Hester {deceased), and a daughter of Alexander Duncan, of Brown County, Ind.
CHARLES M. PATTERSON, merchant, was born September 25, 1860, in Washington Township, Brown Co., Ind., and is the seventh son of Samuel and Eliza (Cable) Patterson, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German extraction respectively. Samuel Patterson moved hither from Ohio in 1848, and settled where he resides, on 160 acres. Charles M. Patterson was reared on the home farm, but received a share of schooling, and when twenty years old attended the Nashville High School, and later at Bloomington for one term, his mother furnishing the means. He taught school at North Salem, Central Junction, and after- ward located in this town, where, in 1882, he commenced the mercantile
business with his brother. November 6, 1881, he married Miss Lucetta J. Downey, which union has been cemented by two children-Oliver T. (born April 25, 1882) and Dora C. (born March 7, 1884, deceased). Mr. Patterson and brother carry a full stock of the best goods, with large annual sales. They are practical and obliging business men, who merit, as they receive, the respect and patronage of their community.
MARTIN PHILLIPS, M. D., was a native of Rhode Island, was born December 5, 1835, and came to the end of his life March 8, 1880. A11- gust 12, 1866. he was united in wedlock to Miss Louisa Higher, who left
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the world September 19, 1867; whereupon, March 26, 1868, he wedded Miss Sarah J. Hamblen, a native of this county, which union gave place to two children-Joseph B. (born March 12, 1869) and Ida F. (born August 19, 1871). Dr. Phillips was a graduate of the medical college at Nashville, Tenn., and was a devoted student and enlightened practitioner of his profession. His death resulted from a bronchial affection. He was a popular gentleman, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a very generally lamented citizen. Mrs. Phillips has been engaged since April, 1883, in the hotel business, being the proprietress of a first-class institution in all respects.
DR. ADFRED J. RALPHY was born March 28, 1855, and is the second of three children of John and Sarah (Jones) Ralphy, the former a native of London, Eng., born 1797, the latter of Warwickshire. who emigrated to South America with a colony in 1846, but, being dissatisfied with the country, moved to Cincinnati and remained until 1853, when he removed hither. He had served an apprenticeship to architecture and building, and was an organizer of the Mechanics' Relief and Aid Associ- ation. Alfred J. Ralphy was reared in Nashville, and commenced to work for himself when twelve years of age. He worked at the printing business for three years, and began teaching school when sixteen years old; he also clerked in a drug store and read medicine under Dr. Arnold S. Griffitt, afterward forming a partnership with him for one year, but now . is in practice alone. Dr. Ralphy is solely a self-made man, having main- ly educated himself during youth; he attended the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery and the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louis- ville. June 12, 1878, he married Miss Addie Keller, a native of this county, to which union have been born two children -- Clifford, and an in- fant, deceased. Dr. Ralphy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a leading Democrat; he has a good, growing practice, and is a worthy citizen. Mrs. Ralphy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DANIEL STUKEY is a native of Monroe County, Ohio, was born July 10, 1835, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Brewer) Stukey, who were natives of Ohio, and of English descent. Joseph Stukey received a fair education, and afterward followed farming until his death, in 1852 -- a devoted member of the Christian Church. Daniel Stukey at- tended the schools of his boyhood, and when fifteen years of age he hired as a farm hand. October 25, 1855, he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Michael and Priscilla More, to which union were born nine children-Mary C., Martha J., Emmer E., Elmer E., Erastus G., Hannah P., Daniel E., Emma F. and Lula A., of whom Miss Emmer E. is a prominent schoolmistress of this county. June 25, 1863, Mr. Stukey enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Regiment; served until March 4, 1864, and in the autumn of that year moved to this county and purchased the farm on which he has now his residence. Mr. Stukey is a radical Republican, a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and he and wife are consistent members of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM P. STULL, farmer, is a native of Ohio, was born No- vember 14, 1827, and is a son of Abraham and Barbara (Palmer) Stull, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and of German, the latter of Ohio, and of English descent. Abraham Stull emigrated to Ohio at an early age. married, remained there until 1852, when he removed to Bartholo- mew County, Ind., and purchased the farm, on which he lives with one of
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his sons, Mrs. Stull having died January 13, 1881, a member of the Bap- tist Church, as is her surviving husband. William P. Stull received a good education in his native Ohio; remained with his parents until he was seventeen, when he engaged to learn cabinet-making; served four years, and thereafter engaged in business for himself. January 24, 1850, he married Mary A. Moring, a native of Ohio; to this union were born eleven children, of whom seven daughters survive-Campsadell A., Frances A., Rebecca J., Sarah Bell, Mary W., Cora B. and Nancy E. Mr. Stull remained in Ohio until 1857, when he emigrated to this town- ship and engaged in farming. He is a Democrat, and he and Mrs Stull are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
FRANK P. TAGGART, merchant, is the son of James and Jane (Weddel) Taggart, the former a native of North Carolina, born in 1801, the latter of Tennessee, born in 1804. Our subject was reared to farm- ing, but served an apprenticeship to blacksmithing, and when but four- teen years old assisted to build the first brick court house at Nashville. He followed his trade some time, and then engaged in the mercantile way as a salesman for Judge Hester, and afterward for Thompson & Bro. August 13, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-second Indiana Regiment as one of the leaders of the band, being present at Pea Ridge, siege of Corinth, and several other battles. In June, 1862, he re-enlisted in Company K. One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Volunteers, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant. After the surrender of Lee he passed most of his time on detached duty, and was discharged February, 1866. May 13, 1860, he married Martha E. Seip, to which union have descended four children-Walter A., Patterson E., Ira W. and Estella. Mr. Tag- gart began his present business December, 1870, and has been uncom- monly successful, having arranged to increase his stock and storeroom. He is a member of the Masonic body, of the G. A. R., of the Democ- racy, of the Prohibition party. He is a partner in the grocery and pro- vision business of Gratton & Taggart, and also of the general store of Houston, Jackson & Co.
CAPT. T. TAGGART, M. D., was born December 28, 1846, near this town, and is the youngest of the eleven children of James and Jane Taggart, the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Tennessee. James Taggart came to this region before the organization of Brown County, and was the first Sheriff thereof. In 1846, he organized Com- pany E, of the Thirtieth Indiana Regiment, for service in the Mexican War, and was killed at Buena Vista February 23, 1847. Our subject was reared on a farm, where he remained until fifteen years of age, and June, 1862, enlisted for three months in the Fifty-fifth Indiana Volun- teer Regiment. He took part in the battle at Richmond, Ky., after which he re-enlisted for three years in the One Hundred and Twentieth Indiana Regiment, and was appointed principal musician, being present at the following engagements: Resaca, Stone Mountain, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Siege of Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville and Kingston. After the war, he engaged in mercantile business at Nashville, Ind .; this he sold in 1868, and commenced the study of medicine under Drs. Phillips and Selfridge; graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Indian- apolis, in 1880, and opened practice at Mahalasville. On May 6, he moved to Nashville, and established his profession here. November 19, 1865, he married Emarine Williams, of this county, and to them were bestowed three children-Egbert B. (deceased), Lorena M. and Alvey.
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Dr. Taggert is a member of the Freemasons, and Master of his lodge, also of Columbia Commandery and of the G. A. R. Mr. Taggart is a prom- inent Democrat, and has been Trustee of Washington Township.
THOMAS J. TAGGART, Sheriff of Brown County, was born De- cember 15, 1837; is a native of this county, and the sixth of the ten children of William and Sarah (Mullis) Taggart, the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Tennessee, both of Irish descent, and both deceased. William Taggart came to what is now Brown County in 1826; married, entered land, cleared a farm and remained until his death. Thomas J. Taggart was reared on the home farm; remained with his parents until his majority. Except the last two years, he has followed farming, having now forty acres of good land, some building lots and a residence. September 27, 1860, he married Miss Evaline S. Strahl, a native of Ohio, and to this union have been born nine children-William T., Amanda E., Ida F., Hannibal P., Sanford L., Elizabeth A. J., Sarah L., John E. and Frank P. Mr. Taggart is an uncompromising Demo- crat, having given his first vote for S. A. Douglas. He was made Assess- or of Hamblen Township in 1873, appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1878, elected Sheriff in 1882, and is a candidate for re-election.
THOMAS E. WARRING, M. D., is a native of Ghent, Ky., was born September 3, 1852, and is a son of Dr. John M. and Tabitha M. (Hopkins) Warring, natives of Kentucky, and of English descent. Dr. John M. Warring was for some years in early life engaged in teaching before he began the study of medicine, after which he attended and grad- uated from the Lexington Medical College, subsequently moved from Kentucky to Hancock County, Ind., and thence to Smithville, Monroe County, where he is living and following his profession. Dr. Warring is a member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Warring was before her death, July 12, 1882. Thomas E. Warring entered the medical college at Keokuk, Iowa, after obtaining a good education, in the year 1877, com- pleting his course in 1880, after which period he commenced practice at Kent's Mill, this township, where he is doing a profitable practice. June 12, 1881, he married Othilia Kleindorfer. Dr. Warring has been Justice of the Peace of Monroe County, is a Democrat in politics, and a promi- nent citizen and rising physician. Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Warring are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
REV. ROBERT J. WATTS was born October 29, 1848, near Nash- ville, Ind., and is the eighth of the eleven children of the family of Mason and Elizabeth (McClery) Watts; the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Kentucky, who emigrated to Decatur County, Ind., and thence to this county about 1847, where Mr. Watts died. Robert J. Watts was reared on a farm, received a fair school education, and when nineteen years old attended the Clear Springs High School, in Jackson County, Ind., after which he taught school and prepared himself to enter the State University, since which he has been Principal of the high school in Nashville. June 27, 1871, he married Miss Lizzie Gutbrie, a native of Ohio, with a result of three children-Everett W. (deceased), Ella M. and Alma L. In 1882, he commenced his labors in the minis- try of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he now devotes the larger portion of his time, and the prospect for his success and usefulness is very flattering. He is an extremely liberal Democrat, a worthy, Chris- tian man, and an enlightened citizen.
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JOHN S. WILLIAMS was born in this county November 1, 1849, and is the fifth of the ten children of Alfred and Nancy (Mathis) Will- iams. He attended the public schools of Nashville, and when eighteen years old commenced teaching, continuing the same until 1873, at which period he was elected Assessor; served four years, and thereafter engaged in farming. November 7, 1882, he was elected County Auditor, which position he yet occupies. April 20, 1871, he married Sarah E. Woods, whose father, Jackson Woods, died a prisoner of war at Macon, Ga. Six children followed their union Eva, Alfred S., infant (deceased), John N., Jennie and an infant. Mr. Williams is a Democrat, a Patron of Husbandry, and he and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church.
ALFRED WILLIAMS, father of the above, was born in East Tennessee, November 6, 1822. His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and had been several times made prisoner by the British; he died a pensioner in 1849, aged ninety-five years. The father of our subject was a native of North Carolina; served as Second Lieutenant in the war of 1812; was at the battle of New Orleans; settled in Monroe County in 1825, and later in Brown County, Ind., of which he was appointed Treasurer before its organization, and elected afterward. Alfred Williams was made As- sistant Surveyor of Brown County in 1854, elected in 1856, and re-elect- ed in 1858. He was elected Treasurer in 1862, and also a Legislative Representative of this county afterward, and finally Representative from Brown and Bartholomew Counties.
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
SAMSON J. ANDERSON, farmer and stock-breeder, was born April 26, 1840, and is the eldest of the family of Allen S. and Sarah Can- natsay) Anderson, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Sam- son attended school in boyhood when not engaged in farm work, and lived with his parents until August 25, 1859, when he married Mary E. Terhune, by which union they had seven children, six of whom are liv- ing-Rozilla, Lorena Alice, Walter Q., Ettie Viola, Vestal and Ed. S. Mr. Anderson is owner of 248 acres of good and well cultivated land, also with barns and implements, the finest brick residence in the county, and a pear orchard of 1,000 trees. Mr. Anderson is also raising Clydes- dale horses, short-horn cattle, Oxford Down sheep and China-Poland hogs; he, in company with Mr. Mosier, introduced this stock into the county. He was Deputy Land Appraiser of this county in 1869, 1870, and has a good farm, 120 acres of timber land having been given him by his father. He is an active Democrat and a highly respected citizen.
GEORGE M. ANDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser, was born Octo- ber 31, 1842, in this township, and is a son of Allen S. and Sarah An- derson, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. George M. resided with his parents until February 19, 1863, when he married Mar- garet Terhune, a union which was honored by four children-Amanda C., America A., Dora E. and Alonzo W. Mr. Anderson is possessor of 300 acres in good cultivation and improvement, having in addition three good orchards, also the homestead place, which is likewise well improved, and containing one of the best residences in the county. He now lives on eighty acres entered by his father, and forty by his mother. Mr. Anderson is a prominent and consistent Democrat; has been several times made School Director. He is an honored Mason, an upright citizen, and very generally and highly regarded.
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