USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume I > Part 41
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From the day of its organization up to 1872, Captain Chambers had always been a high exponent of the principles of the Republican party, but in that year, with many other influential Republicans throughout the country, he identified him- self with the Liberal Republican movement, and was a delegate to the convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, which nominated Horace Greeley, of New York, for President, and B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri, for Vice President. From this time Captain Chambers became closely identified with the Democratic party for twenty years. In 1876 he was the candidate of that party for Congress from the sixth district and ran far ahead of his ticket, being defeated by his Republican opponent, the late
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Milton .S. Robinson, by only two hundred and seventy-six votes, run- ning over eight hundred votes ahead of the State ticket. In 1880 he was the Democratic nominee for Presidential elector of his district. For four years he was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, and from 1883 to 1889, he was a member of the School Board of New Castle, being the only Democrat, in a period of thirty years, to sit on that board. During this period, the East or "Christian Ridge" school house was built, and it was mainly owing to his efforts, that this handsome structure was surrounded by five acres of ground, instead of a half acre, as was originally intended. That once bare ground is now well covered with trees and shrubbery and is a place of pleasure and comfort to the children, to the surrounding homes and to the town of New Castle. While Captain Chambers was on the board, the grounds around the site of the "Old Seminary" were also enlarged to their present dimensions. For a period of four years (1885-9) he was a trustee of the State Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at Indian- apolis, a position to which he had been appointed by the late Governor Isaac P. Gray, and it was at this time that the institution was greatly enlarged and im- proved. At the same time, he continued to be a member of the New Castle School Board, and he gave to the affairs of each, its full time and attention.
Captain Chambers acted with the Democratic party until 1892, when he voted against Grover Cleveland for the Presidency, his ballot being cast, in that election, in favor of the populist nominee, James G. Weaver. In 1896, and again in 1900, he supported William Jennings Bryan for the Presidency, but since 1902 he has supported the Republican party, for many reasons, the chief one, perhaps, being his approval of the government policy relating to the Philippine Islands, he, himself, being an avowed advocate of expansion and a hearty endorser of the principal, "Keep what we have and get more if we can."
On December 11, 1865, Captain Chambers was united in marriage with Emma Hannah Bundy, daughter of Major Martin L. and Mrs. Amanda Bundy. the wedding ceremony being performed at the home of the bride's parents, by the Reverend Russell B. Abbott, a former honored teacher of bride and groom, and then a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Chambers was born December II, 1841, in New Castle. She was educated in the schools of that place and at the Ohio Female College, College Hill, near Cincinnati, Ohio, which she attended from January, 1858, to June, 1860.
To the union of David William Chambers and Emma Hannah (Bundy) Chambers were born three children, namely: Mary Catharine, now the wife of Dr. Oliver J. Gronendyke, one of New Castle's leading physicians ; Walter Scott. editor, proprietor and publisher of the New Castle Democrat, and Lillian. Walter and Lillian were educated in the local schools and at the Indiana State University, Bloomington, where the former spent two years and the latter graduated in the class of 1905. Walter also spent one year in the Wisconsin State University, at Madison.
James Alexander Chambers, brother of Captain David W. Chambers, was a soldier of the Civil War. He enlisted in Company B. 139th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, June 5, 1864. He was later appointed a Corporal of this company and was mustered out with the regiment, September 29, 1864.
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Seth S. Bennett, who married Isabella Chambers, eldest sister of Captain Chambers, was also a soldier of the Civil War. He enlisted in Company C, 128th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a Musician, December 15, 1863, and was mustered out, May 26, 1865. After the war, he was Auditor of Henry County for eight years, after which he went to Florida and settled near Enterprise, where on November 20, 1887, he died of yellow fever, and ten days later, November 30, 1887, his death was followed by that of his wife, who died of the same dread disease.
Captain David W. Chambers is an Odd Fellow, being a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 59, New Castle, since March, 1866. He is also a charter member of George W. Lennard Post, No. 148, Grand Army of the Republic, New Castle. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers are both members of the Presbyterian Church.
Distinguished in the Civil War by valor and fidelity to his cause, honored in peace by the confidence and esteem of the community in which he lives, respected in private life for his sincerity and honesty, Captain Chambers may be said to have had as well rounded a career as any citizen of Henry County. The old homestead of the Chambers family in New Castle, built by Alexander Barn Cham- bers in 1849, is still standing, and there Captain Chambers has lived continuously, except the first year after his marriage, from that time to the present.
Harvey Blehew
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HARVEY BROWN CHEW.
CORPORAL, COMPANY D, 36TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS;
COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND FARMER.
The parents of Harvey Brown Chew were William Chew (born February 14. 1816; died October 14, 1901) and Mary (Brown) Chew (born October 4, 1816; died September 28, 1886). The father was a native of North Carolina and the mother of Clinton County, Ohio. They were married at Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio, October 13, 1835. Both are buried in the Friends' Cemetery, at Clear Springs, Henry County, Indiana.
Ephraim Chew, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia, June 6, 1790, and his wife, Rachel (Knight) Chew was born in North Carolina, January 12, 1791. They were married September 14, 1814, and were the parents of eight children, William Chew being the eldest.
William and Mary (Brown) Chew were the parents of the following chil- dren : Cynthia Ann, now the widow of Samuel Mills, living in Madison County, Indiana, near Middletown, Henry County; Rachel; Jane; Lydia Ellen ; Harvey Brown; Morris R .; Miles, who lives at Kennard; William H., living north of Wilkinson, in Hancock County ; Mary, now Mrs. David Casey, living near Shirley. Lydia Ellen and Morris R., both deceased, are buried at Clear Springs.
This family emigrated from North Carolina to Clinton County, Ohio, settling near Wilmington, about the year 1820, and lived at that point until 1836. After the marriage of William, the whole family removed to Indiana and located in Spiceland Township, Henry County, near the old Stone Quarry Mill, on Blue River. Ephraim Chew was a practical farmer and soon after coming to the State bought land. Himself and wife died a little pior to the beginning of the Civil War and are buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, west of Spiceland, in Wayne Township. William Chew first established a home of his own near Ogden but afterwards moved to Greensboro Township, in 1851, and settled on a farm, a half mile west of the present town of Kennard. He was a public spirited man, highly esteemed and did much to build up and advance the interests of the com- munity. He served as a Justice of the Peace for almost a quarter of a century. In politics he was first a Whig and when that party ceased to exist, he became an active and aggressive Republican. He cast his first vote for William Henry Har- rison, for President, in 1840. Himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church to which denomination they were sincerely devoted. During the Civil War, he embraced every opportunity to aid and support the local, State and National administrations, and in every way in his power sustained the cause of the Union.
HARVEY BROWN CHEW.
Harvey Brown Chew was born on his grandfather's farm, near the Stone Quarry Mill, October 28, 1843. From early youth, he labored on the farm, until the breaking out of the Civil War. He was possessed of a limited education, obtained mostly at the Elm Grove and Ogden schools, and the country school at Poplar Grove, located then about where the town of Kennard now stands. He
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was nearly eighteen years old when the war began, and he entered the army and was mustered into the service of the United States, at Camp Wayne, Richmond, Indiana, as a private in Company D, 36th Indana Infantry, September 16, 1861. From Camp Wayne, he was transferred with his regiment to Kentucky and at New Haven, in that State, in December, 1861, he was stricken down with the measles and sent to the hospital at that place, but was subsequently taken to Hospital Number Four, at Louisville. In the meantime his regiment had moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where Private Chew, after his recovery, rejoined the command March 16, 1862, the day before the regiment started on its march to what proved to be the battle of Shiloh, in which engagement, on April 6-7, 1862, he with his regiment participated.
He was with his regiment at the Siege of Corinth and marched with it through Northern Alabama and back into Tennessee and thence through all its hard marches, skirmishes and battles to Louisville, Kentucky, and finally, during the pursuit of General Bragg, took part in the battle of Perryville, on October 8, 1862, and on October 17, 1862, while his company was in the advance line of the army, as skirmishers, in the Wildcat Mountains of Kentucky, he was wounded, early in the morning, in the left leg, the ball passing through the calf of the leg, half way between the ankle and the knee. He was again sent to the hospital, first at Danville, then at Louisville, Kentucky, and next at New Albany, Indiana, where he remained until able to rejoin his regiment, January 13, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, soon after the battle of Stone's River. Private Chew, except for the causes above noted, was never absent from the regiment during his entire service, and the history of the regiment, as recorded and published in the preceding chapter of this work, is the military history of Harvey Brown Chew. During his army service, he was appointed Corporal and was mustered out as such, Sep- tember 21, 1864. .
After leaving the service, he returned home to enjoy a well-earned rest, but realizing the urgent need of men in the army, he soon re-enlisted in Company E, 9th Regiment, First Army Corps, U. S. Veteran Volunteers, commonly called "Hancock's Corps," on March 17, 1865. He was mustered out March 16, 1866. His regiment was stationed at Washington, until after the surrender of General Lee, when it was transferred to Indianapolis.
The war being over, Corporal Chew returned to his home and resumed the life of a farmer. He made his home with his father until his marriage, when he set up in business for himself. He purchased forty acres of land near his present home, one mile west of Kennard, in 1867, but in 1874, moved to Missouri and located in Jasper County, where he farmed until 1877, when he returned to Henry County, Indiana, and bought eighty acres of land, which is a part of the tract of two hundred and fifty six acres which he now owns. This farm is one of the best within the confines of Henry County. It is well improved and highly cultivated. The home is a handsome, commodious structure in which the family live lives of comfort, peace and happiness.
Too much cannot be said in praise of the character of Mr. Chew. He is a well known citizen and enjoys the esteem of everyone who knows him. He has been and is now an active participant in the affairs of his community. In politics he has been, from the organization of the party, an active Republican.
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He has been County Commissioner of the county, serving three years from December, 1895. His associates . on the Board of Commissioners were Nathan Nicholson, Newton Davis, White Heaton and John W. Whitworth.
On January 10, 1867, Harvey B. Chew was married to Jennie, daughter of Jeffrey and Rhoda (Rush) Manlove. She died November 24, 1902, and her remains are at rest in Glencove Cemetery, Knightstown. To their union were born seven children, namely: Cora Myrtle, born August 19, 1869, now Mrs. William Casey, living two miles north of Kennard; Pleasant Luther, born July 2, 1872, married to Daisy Estelle, and lives a mile west of Kennard; Rutherford, died in infancy ; Lucretia May, born May 23, 1882, now Mrs. Homer C. Garriott, living near Mr. Chew, her husband being the present assessor of Greensboro Township; Olive Austa, born February 15. 1885, now Mrs. Roy Ehrman, of Kennard; Aurie Alice, born March 27, 1887; Shellanna, born December 8, 1890. Mr. Chew is justly proud of his family and has endeavored to give them the best education possible, thus fitting them to adorn any society and to preside over any home. Two or more of the daughters are accomplished musicians. Mr. Chew has been twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Lillie Maude Houk, of Kennard, to whom he was married February 4, 1904. Homer C. Garriott, husband of Lucretia May Chew, served as a private in Troop D, 8th Cavalry. U. S. A., from June 12, 1899, to August 12, 1899, when he was discharged for disability.
FAMILY OF MRS. JENNIE ( MANLOVE) CHEW.
The Manlove family is a very old one in Henry County. Jeffrey Manlove. the father of Mrs. Jennie (Manlove) Chew, entered land in the western part of Greensboro Township in 1836, and the family continued to reside in the same locality until about 1869, when they moved to Jasper County, Missouri, where they lived the balance of their lives.
Charles Manlove, a member of Company D, 36th Indiana Infantry, was a brother of Mrs. Jennie Chew. He served three years in the army. After the war, he moved to Missouri, where he was killed by a stroke of lightning.
The name of Manlove, in the early days of the settlement of Western Henry County, was a very familiar one. A long time ago, they built and operated a mill, a quarter of a mile south of the present site of Kennard, which was for many years a landmark and known far and wide as the "Manlove Mill." Even to this day, reference is frequently made to the "Manlove Neighborhood."
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THADDEUS HARRISON GORDON.
CORPORAL, COMPANY F, 36TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS; MECHANIC AND MANUFACTURER.
One of the most active and energetic business men of Henry County, Indiana, is the well known Thaddeus Harrison Gordon. He was born in Hancock County, Maryland, July 30, 1837, at the family home on the banks of the historic Potomac River. He was the son of Robert and Sarah Elizabeth (Broshes) Gordon, his father being a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and his mother a native of Washington County, Maryland.
Genealogically the Gordon family is traced to Scotland where it is said the clan Gordon, about the year 1600, became involved in the political troubles of that period and many of the clan were driven from that country into Ireland. From the latter country, more than a century later, in the year 1726, three Gordon brothers, Hanse, James and Robert, emigrated to America. One of these brothers settled in Pennsylvania, another in North Carolina and the third in Georgia. Among the descendants of the Georgia branch of the family was the famous statesman and soldier, John B. Gordon, who was a second cousin of the father of Thaddeus H. Gordon.
The first house built in Waynesborough, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, was erected by Hanse Gordon who, on coming to America, had settled in that State, and it is worthy of note that this old home of the Gordons is still standing. This ancestor of the Pennsylvania Gordons had a son also named Hanse, who was the grandfather of the subejct of this sketch. Little can be gleaned from the records with regard to his life but while taking no conspicuous part in the Revolutionary- War, it is known that he did valiant service during the war of 1812-1815.
Robert Gordon, the third in line of descent in this country, and the father of Thaddeus H. Gordon, came to Indiana at an early day. He passed overland through Pennsylvania to Wheeling, Virginia; thence by boat down the Ohio River to Cincinnati; thence by wagon to Richmond and thence to Hagerstown, Wayne County, where he resided for a number of years. He was a leader in the old Whig party until the dissolution of that organization when he became an active Republican. In 1846 and again in 1847, Robert Gordon was elected to- represent Wayne County in the General Assembly and during his service in that body assisted in framing and enacting the law establishing the school system of Indiana. He had an extensive acquaintance with the eminent men of his day and knew Oliver P. Morton, when he was a young lawyer at Centreville, Wayne. County, and early predicted for him a great career. Mr. Gordon labored as- siduously for the nomination of Morton for Governor in 1856 and was thereafter the close personal friend of the man subsequently known everywhere as "Indiana's. Great War Governor." He also knew intimately the late Charles H. Test, John S. Newman, James Rariden, Caleb B. Smith and other equally prominent men: of Eastern Indiana. Besides serving for several terms as State Representative, Mr. Gordon also filled other positions of trust and responsibility. Shortly after- the close of the Civil War, Robert Gordon and his wife moved to Callao, Macon: County, Missouri, where Mrs. Gordon died in the year 1866 and where her remains
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
are interred. After this bereavement, Mr. Gordon returned to Indiana and died at the age of seventy-eight years at Indianapolis where his remains lie buried in beautiful Crown Hill Cemetery.
Three of Robert Gordon's sons were soldiers in the Civil War. Robert P. Gordon enlisted first in Company I, 8th Indiana Infantry (three months) and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, April 25, 1861. He was mustered out of this regiment August 6, 1861. He again enlisted in Company F, 36th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as Sergeant, September 16, 1861. He was afterwards promoted to the First Lieutenancy of the company November 5, 1863, and mustered out with the regiment, September 21, 1864. After the war, he removed to Macon County, Missouri. There in 1867 he married Fannie Shackelford, daughter of Colonel Shackelford, of the Confederate service, and has identified himself with the interests of that community, where he continues to reside. Henry C. Gordon, another son, enlisted in Company B, 19th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as Musician, July 29, 1861. At the end of this first enlistment, he re-enlisted as a veteran and continued to serve with the same organization until it was consolidated with the 20th Indiana Infantry, when he was transferred to the non-commissioned staff of the latter regiment as Principal Musician. He was mustered out of the service October 19, 1864. After the Civil War he removed to Callao, Macon County, Missouri. In 1868, while at Callao, he married Martha Lovren, daughter of Major Lovren, of the Confederate service. Later, he removed to Pueblo, Colorado, where himself and family have since resided. The military services of the third son are fully related below.
THADDEUS HARRISON GORDON.
Thaddeus Harrison Gordon, when but six years old, came with his parents from Maryland to Hagerstown, Indiana. At the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed to Sol Horney and Elwood Patterson of Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, to learn the trade of plowmaker. He served four years as apprentice, receiving in addition to instruction in the business, his board and washing, and forty dollars for the first and second years, fifty dollars for the third and sixty dollars for the fourth and last year. Many incidents of his apprenticeship foreshadow the energy and resolution displayed by him in later years.
After the expiration of his apprenticeship, Mr. Gordon worked at his trade as a journeyman for some ten or twelve months, at the end of which period, having saved eighty five dollars, he went with his mother on a visit to the old Maryland home.
From 1858 to 1861 Mr. Gordon in company with William Plummer operated a blacksmithing shop in Hagerstown, Wayne County. After the Civil War began, Thaddeus H. Gordon enlisted in Company F, 36th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as Corporal, September 16, 1861. He served with this regiment and participated in its marches, skirmishes and battles until April 18. 1863, when he was honorably discharged because of dis- ability. When he had somewhat improved in health after his return home from the army, he was appointed by Major Kinley as a Deputy Provost Marshal for 24
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the Fifth District of Indiana and fulfilled the trying duties of that position with zeal and discretion.
In 1866 Mr. Gordon became a resident of New Castle and there resumed the trade of blacksmithing at which he was an adept. He followed this with success until 1873, since which time he has been mostly engaged in trading and looking after his various investments. He is interested in mines in Colorado and Arizona and from them derives a substantial part of his income. He owns the farm immediately adjoining the corporation of New Castle on the northwest, which is the most desirable part of what has been known as the Asahel Woodward farm since the first settlement of the county. It was largely through his influence that the Safety Shredder Company, one of New Castle's chief industries, was located at that place, Mr. Gordon being a stockholder of the company and at the inception of the enterprise, its vice-president and manager. He was one of the original stockholders of the Citizens' State Bank of New Castle which is now one of the leading financial institutions of Eastern Indiana. As a real estate trader, Mr. Gordon has been uniformly successful and is the owner of much desirable city property in New Castle, Richmond and Indianapolis. He is a practical mechanic and a natural born trader and speculator. He has made plows and wagons in New Castle and Hagerstown, buggies in Richmond and has been a dealer in hard- ware, agricultural implements and general inerchandise. In a word, Mr. Gordon is what is termed a good, all around business man. When he was but twenty two years old, he began to make exhibits at fairs and at the first Indiana State Fair in 1856, he took four first premiums and four diplomas on plows of his own con- struction. At the State Fair of 1857, he again captured two first and two second premiums.
Several years ago, Mr. Gordon in company with Joseph C. Ratcliff and Cornelius Ratcliff, under the name of the Gordon and Ratcliff Gas Company, leased the National Road (turnpike) from the Hancock County line in Indiana, through the counties of Henry and Wayne, to the Ohio State line, and various lands north of that thoroughfare. They put down a number of wells out of which sufficient gas for domestic purposes was developed and the same piped to Lewis- ville and Ogden in Henry County. The company at a later period sold their lease and other interests at a satisfactory profit. Mr. Gordon, on his private account, also sank a well on his own premises at Knightstown. He was also a member of the first gas company organized at Richmond and is likewise the owner of stock in the several companies of New Castle and vicinity.
On January 1, 1860, he was united in marriage with Sarah Siddall, a daughter of David Siddall, who died in 1852 while on his way home from Cali- fornia. David Siddall was a son of Attica Siddall, a pioneer of Eastern Indiana, and a brother of the late Jesse P. Siddall of Richmond, Wayne County, who during his professional career was regarded as one of the best lawyers of the State. Attica Siddall was a trader, having his headquarters at Richmond, from which point he usually made trading trips down the Whitewater in a canoe to the Ohio River, down the Ohio to the Wabash and up the Wabash to Logansport for the purchase of furs. He was known far and wide as a brave and daring man and in his line did a successful business. Mrs. Gordon died October 8, 1895. To this marriage had been born five children, namely: William H., who is in the
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