USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume II > Part 73
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After his discharge from the army, he returned home and immediately resumed the prosecution of his studies under the Reverend Henry M. Shockley at the New Cas- tle Academy. In the Winter of the year 1864, however, he again began to teach, having secured the assignment to the school at Old Chicago; in the Winter of 1865-6 he taught in Liberty Township and in the same season of 1866-7 he had charge of the Salem school, Franklin Township. At this time he seems to have abandoned the profession of teaching and took up the study of law for the next two years in the office of Brown and Polk, New Castle, and in 1869 was admitted to the Henry County bar. From that time to the present, he has been closely identified with the commercial and social affairs of New Castle and Henry County. He became deputy clerk of the Henry Circuit Court, under Harry H. Hiatt, and upon the latter's death, March 21, 1871, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term. He was also for a short time deputy clerk under his successor in the office, Robert B. Carr. Mr. Kinsey was a very capahle and accommodating official and upon his retirement from office bore with him the good will of the court, the bar and the people. Mr. Kinsey enjoys the reputation of being one of the most competent clerks the county has ever had and the records left by him in the Clerk's office are models of neatness and precision.
David W. Kinsey was one of the original stockholders in the Citizens' State Bank of New Castle, and upon its organization in 1873 was chosen assistant cashier and a year later was elected cashier, a position he has held for more than a third of a century. During that time the bank has steadily grown in financial strength, keeping pace with the growth and prosperity of the county, and is now ranked among the leading financial institutions of the State. Its management has been sound and conservative, yet accom- panied by a liberality and a willingness to accommodate the mercantile interests of the county which reflect great credit upon its officers. Mr. Kinsey, during his long career
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as cashier, has guarded with fidelity the trust reposed in him by his associates and his knowledge of the principles as well as the details of the business is so comprehensive as to gain for him high repute in financial circles. He is a broad gauge man of a kindly and companionable disposition.
The engrossing nature of his position has not prevented him, however, from giving considerable attention to his duties as a citizen. He has at intervals, for a number of years, heen a member of the Board of School Trustees of the Corporation of New Castle, and has always been regarded by his colleagues and by the people as a safe and valuable adviser regarding the educational interests of the community. He has been interested in the material progress of the town and connected with several of its important indus- tries, such as the Hoosier Shredder Factory, the Bundy Hotel Company, the Rolling Mill, the Shovel Factory, the New Castle Heat, Light and Power Company, the Pan- American Bridge Company, the Industrial Association, through which was secured to the town the Krell-French Piano Company, an institution which is among the largest of its kind in the United States, and which is of vast importance to the development and growth of New Castle. His connection with these various enterprises shows how fully alive he has always been to the needs and welfare of the town and points him out as one of the county's most public spirited citizens.
On March 2, 1870, at the home of the bride in New Castle, David W. Kinsey was united in marriage with Sophia J., daughter of Benjamin and Frances (Newcomer) Shirk, the ceremony being performed by the Reverend Peter G. Bell, the then pastor of the Lutheran Church, New Castle. They are the parents of one child, a daughter, named Edna, born January 1, 1874. She is now the wife of Harry E. Jennings, the well known manufacturer of New Castle, to whom she was married January 1, 1896, the ceremony being performed by the Reverend Charles Steck. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings have one child, a son, named David Harry Jennings, after his maternal grandfather, David W. Kinsey, and his own father. He was born June 22, 1897, and is a bright lad, who is the favorite of the two households which are now united in the large, commodious residence, erected by Mr. Kinsey and his son-in-law, located on the east side of south Main Street. New Castle, south of Indiana Avenue. A sketch of Harry E. Jennings will be found ap- pended to that of his father, Simon P. Jennings, published elsewhere in this History.
Since attaining his majority, Mr. Kinsey has taken a rational interest in all pub- lic questions and in politics has always given his support to the Republican party. He is not a demonstrative man but has always exerted a quiet and beneficial influence upon the organization and policy of his party. He is a charter member of Crescens Lodge, Number 33, Knights of Pythias, New Castle, which was organized and instituted in 1872. He is also a member of the order of Elks, New Castle Lodge, Number 484. Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey have been for many years members of the English Lutheran Church and have contributed liberally of their means for its support.
A distinguished and well merited public honor was conferred upon Mr. Kinsey by his appointment as one of the commissioners from Indiana to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, which was held at St. Louis in 1904. As a member of this commission, he was chairman of the committee on Publicity and Promotion and was largely instru- mental in bringing to perfection the exhibit of the State at what has been rightfully termed the most wonderful and complete exhibition of the world's industries and its arts and sciences that was ever presented to an universal public. He was also an active member of the committee on Building and that its labors were fully appreciated was shown by the general praise bestowed upon the large, commodious and handsome Indi- ana Building. Mr. Kinsey also served as a member of the committee on Education and of the committee in charge of the Indiana Stone Exhibit. These were marked features of the exposition and attracted much attention by reason of their completeness and merit. Indiana's fame as a manufacturing, industrial and educational State was per- fectly sustained at the great exposition through the untiring labors of her commis- sioners and the perfection of detail in all departments reflects the greatest credit upon the individual commissioners and entitles them to the grateful thanks of the entire State.
Thus for a period of nearly forty years, David W. Kinsey has been an integral part of the history of Henry County and to him and his associates must be attributed much
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of the material and moral advancement of the county. This is especially true of the re- markable development of its financial institutions.
ANCESTRY OF MRS. DAVID W. (SHIRK) KINSEY.
Of his immediate family, Benjamin Shirk, in an autobiographical sketch of him- self, said:
"I am of German descent, my paternal ancestry having emigrated from Germany during the early settlement of Pennsylvania; they located in Lancaster County, in that State. Grandfather Shirk afterward moved with his family into Franklin County and located on a farm three miles east of Chambersburg, where he spent the remainder of his days and it was here my father, Jacob Shirk, who was next to the youngest of a large family of children, was horn November 26, 1774. At the age of twenty six years, in 1800, he was joined in marriage with Sophia Palmer, who was also of German de- scent but of whose aucestry 1 know but little. My father was by occupation a miller and in 1816 he rented and took charge of the Chambersburg Mills, located in that place, and it was here, March 20, 1819, that I was born."
Benjamin Shirk, following the drift of a number of emigrants from Pennsylvania to the inviting West, left the "Keystone State" in 1847, coming to Indiana and settling at New Castle, Henry County, where for a few years he taught school in the one-story brick building, known as the "Little Brick Schoolhouse," which stood on the ground now occupied by the United Brethren Church, on north Fourteenth Street. He was a well educated man and was regarded as a very competent teacher.
He afterwards established a factory for the making of grain cradles. This busi- ness he maintained until 1853, when he became the depot agent of what is now the Panhandle Railroad. He continued in that position for about two years when he re- signed to become deputy clerk of the Henry Circuit Court. He filled this position with such credit that four years later he was elected clerk; he was re-elected and after the expiration of his second term, he served as deputy under his successor, Harry H. Hiatt, for two years.
After this long service in the clerk's office, he formed a partnership in 1871 with James Johnson and John M. Fisher, who under the firm style of Shirk, Johnson and Fisher, resumed the manufacture of grain cradles. This was one of the very first of New Castle's important industries and attained proportions unsurpassed by any similar business concern in the entire country.
When they began the manufacture of grain cradles, the present harvester and binder were unknown, perhaps, unthought of. Since that time, however, they have come into general use and the old fashioned grain cradle, like many another old style farm implement, has given way to modern machinery and appliances. But during the period that the grain cradle was the reaper, the firm of Shirk, Johnson and Fisher manu- factured them by the thousands and they were shipped to all parts of the country. There are still places where the modern reaper cannot be used and recourse must be had to the cradle; and for that reason the business of making them is still carried on at New Castle hy John M. Fisher, the only surviving member of the old firm of Shirk, Johnson and Fisher. The business is now a small one and turns out only just enough of the implements to supply a limited demand.
In 1876, Benjamin Shirk was elected to the Indiana State Senate from the dis- trict comprising Henry and Hancock counties. He sat in the forty ninth session, 1877; in the special session from March 8th to 15th of the same year, and in the fiftieth regular session, 1879. He was a thoroughly competent legislator and merited the confi- dence of his constituents.
When the old part of the present county courthouse was building, 1864-8, Mr. Shirk was the disbursing agent, aud for a period of about fifteen years he was the secretary of the New Castle (South Mound) Cemetery Association. He was also for a number of years secretary of the Enterprise Natural Gas Company. He was always a public spirited citizen and numbered the whole community among his friends. He was
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
a man of fine social qualities, an entertaining conversationalist and a kindly gentleman. In argument he was quiet and equable, granting to everyone the right to his own honest opinion.
In 1842, Benjamin Shirk married Frances, daughter of John and Agnes (Brindle) Newcomer, who were natives of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Shirk came to New Castle, Indiana, in 1847 and in 1851 the Newcomer family followed him to Henry County, where Mr. Newcomer purchased what is now a part of the John C. Hudelson farm, north of New Castle, and there resided until his death. John Newcomer was a farmer all his life and gave that pursuit his undivided attention. John and Agnes (Brindle) Newcomer were the parents of nine children, namely: Joseph, Frances, Mary, Melchor, John, Sarah, Richards, Ann and Benjamin F., the youngest son, who be- came a member of Company G, 84th Indiana Infantry, during the Civil War, and was killed at Pine Mountain, Georgia, June 18, 1864, while in the service of his country. His name will be found in the Roll of Honor published elsewhere in this History.
To the union of Benjamin and Frances (Newcomer) Shirk were born six children, namely: George W., who was, during the Civil War, a musician in Company C, 36th Indiana Infantry, and was mortally wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 20, 1863, and died at his home in New Castle, after severe suffering, June 6, 1864; his name appears in the Roll of Honor published elsewhere in this History; Sophia J., now the wife of David W. Kinsey, cashier of the Citizens' State Bank of New Castle; John J., who was born June 3, 1851, and died January 26, 1897; William H., who died in 1892; Anna Rebecca, who is now the wife of Charles M. Harrison, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Mary F., who died in childhood. Of this family of six chil- dren only two are now living. The marriage and family of Mr. and Mrs. David W. Kin- sey are fully mentioned in the sketch of Mr. Kinsey. Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Harri- son, of Sioux Falls, are the parents of three children, namely: Ruth, now Mrs. Freder- ick Powers, of Sioux Falls; Benjamin Thomas (called Ben Tom), of St. Louis, Mis- souri, where he is connected with the New York Life Insurance Company; and Fiorence, who is at home with her parents. John J. Shirk, who was a farmer and stockman, lert a widow, Mrs. Barbara (Kinsey) Shirk, and two sons, George and Winters, all of whom are residents of New Castle. William H. Shirk, who was a druggist in New Castle at the time of his death, was an excellent young man and the soul of honor; he was at- tacked by a fatal disease to which he soon succumbed, and his death was sincerely mourned by his relatives and friends.
Mrs. Frances (Newcomer) Shirk died December 16, 1857, her married life cover- ing the brief period of fifteen years. She was an estimable woman and was devoted to the contentment and happiness of her husband and children. One year after her death, October 25, 1858, Mr. Shirk was united in marriage with Mrs. Johanna F. Wood, widow of the late John F. Wood, who came to Henry County, bringing his wife and family with him in 1849, from Pennsylvania. He located at Hillsboro, then quite a vil- lage, where he engaged in mercantile business. He afterwards removed to New Castle and engaged in business there. He died in 1852. Mrs. Wood was the mother of three children by her first husband, namely: Kate, afterwards wife of William M. Pence, but now deceased; James, deceased; and John M., who has been for a number of years a resi- dent of Cincinnati. Benjamin and Joanna (Wood) Shirk were the parents of two chil- dren: Martha O., who died in infancy; and Lois, who is a resident of New Castle. Mrs. Benjamin (Wood) Shirk was a loving mother to both her own children and to those of Mr. Shirk hy his first marriage. She died September 15, 1903. Benjamin Shirk and both of his wives. together with the father and mother of Mrs. Benjamin (Newcomer ) Shirk, are buried in South Mound Cemetery, as are also all of the deceased children, except James Wood, who is buried in the cemetery at Dayton, Ohio.
Benjamin Shirk was a faithful, earnest and consistent member of the English Lutheran Church. He was for many years superintendent, teacher and leader in the Sunday School, and was in all respects a clean, pure man. In politics he was a Repub- lican and as long as he lived did effective work for his party and was honored by elec- tion to several positions of public trust. He was one of the oldest, in length of mem- bership, of the members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined Fidelity
Martin Kinsey
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Lodge, Number 59, New Castle, in 1849. He filled all of the chairs of the lodge from the humblest to the most exalted and was regarded as an authority upon all questions touching the growth, strength and character of the order. In 1896 Mr. Shirk became vice-president of the Citizens' State Bank of New Castle, of which he was one of the original stockholders, and held that position until his death, September 6, 1893. The officers of the bank at a meeting held September 7, 1893, adopted the following resolu- tions upon his death:
"First. That in the death of Benjamin Shirk, one of the directors, and vice-presi- dent of this bank, the bank and the business community have met with an irreparable loss.
"Second. That his long and active career as a business man, a public officer and as an enterprising and public spirited citizen, a Christian gentleman, neighbor, husband, father and friend is worthy to be honored by the old, emulated by the young and affec- tionately cherished by all."
Mr. Shirk was also one of the original stockholders and a director of The First National Bank of New Castle. His connection with both of these banking institutions will be found in the chapter of this History relating to "Banks and Banking."
MARTIN KINSEY.
Martin Kinsey, eldest son and child of Lewis and Catharine (Shultz) Kinsey, was born June 12, 1839, on his grandfather's farm, which adjoined Hagerstown on the north and which is now a part of that town. Lewis Kinsey and wife lived on this farm during the first four years of their married life. Martin Kinsey remained at home with his parents on the different farms owned by them, as mentioned in the foregoing sketch, until 1864, when he was twenty-four years of age. During his boyhood he attended the country schools and spent one term at the New Castle Academy, when Professor Joseph L. Brady was principal. After he had reached man's estate he assisted his father in the cultivation and management of the farm, in which capacity he was an invaluable aid be- cause of his great industry and practical knowledge in making the soil yield profitable returns. In his twenty-fourth year, March 19, 1864, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Christena (Epperly) Replogle, at their home, one mile north of Hagers- town, Wayne County, the marriage ceremony being performed by the Reverend William Lindley. Soon after his marriage Mr. Kinsey bought what was then known as the Jacob Hoover farm, located in Liberty Township, a mile and a half east and north of old Chi- cago, then a village, but now long since passed into innocuous desuetude. This farm con- tained one hundred an forty-five acres. After several years, or in 1878, Mr. Kinsey dis- posed of this place and purchased the Joseph Replogle farm, then owned by Abraham Replogle, a relative of Mr. Kinsey's wife. This body of land comprised one hundred and twenty acres, situated one mile north of Hagerstown, for which he paid $100 an acre. Subsequently he sold this farm to George Gephart and about the year 1890 purchased the Williams Nicholson farm, containing one hundred and forty acres, situated along the Dublin pike, two and one-half miles southeast of New Castle, and has since continued to reside there. It is a fine body of land, which the present owner has brought to a high state of cultivation. In addition to grain farming he devotes much care and attention to the raising of stock, in which he has been very successful. All of his life has been spent on the farm, and his opinion on all matters pertaining to the tilling of the soil and the raising of profitable stock is very highly regarded. Mr. Kinsey was reared in the faith of the German Baptist or Dunkard Church, and while not a member of that religious body, gives his cordial support to the church. He has always been a Republican and clings to the belief that he will continue to pin his faith to that political party so long as he lives. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for President in 1860 and re- joices in that fact. In that year he was a member of the "Wide Awakes" and partici- pated in the great Republican demonstration at Middletowm, when Thomas Corwin was the orator of the day and General Sol Meredith the grand marshal. He supported Lin- coln, Grant and Mckinley for two terms each and his last vote was. cast for Theodore Roosevelt.
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Mrs. Martin Kinsey's father, Joseph Replogle, came from Pennsylvania and her mother, Christena (Epperly) Replogle, came from Virginia. Both were of that sturdy, industrious stock that so largely aided in making Indiana a garden spot where almost impenetrable forests stood. The Replogles constituted a large family, who settled in Wayne and the eastern part of Henry counties. Joseph Replogle and Christena Epperly were married in Wayne County, near Centreville, where Sarah (Replogle) Kinsey was born March 6, 1842. Both her parents are dead. The names and dates of birth of the children of Martin and Sarah (Replogle) Kinsey are as follows: Lewis Elsworth, born November 1, 1864; Joseph Henry, born March 27, 1866; Charles, born November 1, 1867; Nevada Catharine, born March 17, 1869. She was married March 1, 1894, to Luther L. Campbell, at that time a merchant in New Castle, afterward located at Winchester, Ran- dolph County; she died January 9, 1899; Jennie, born March 23, 1872, died January 31, 1877; Benjamin Franklin, born February 9, 1878, died April 18, 1883. All of the above who are deceased are buried in the German Baptist Cemetery near Hagerstown.
LEWIS ELLSWORTH KINSEY.
Lewis Elsworth Kinsey, now a popular business man of New Castle, spent his boy- hood on his father's farm, finding time during that period to acquire a good common school education. In January, 1885, he accepted a position with The Citizens' State Bank of New Castle as bookkeeper, which he resigned in 1887 to take a like position with the firm of Baldwin, Roberts and Company, extensive pork packers in New Castle, and re- mained with them until they retired from the business in 1890. He then went to the Pacific coast and was in southern California and on Puget Sound for about two years. Returning to New Castle, he purchased the old established drug store, then and now lo- cated in the room adjoining that occupied by The Citizens' State Bank. April 1, 1892, which he has since conducted, and which under his careful and methodical management has continuously enjoyed a large and lucrative trade. Mr. Kinsey stands high in the business and social circles of New Castle. He is a member of Crescens Lodge, No. 33. Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Red Men, Blue Lodge, No. 91, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; No. 484, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Court No. 21, of Ben Hur.
JOSEPH HENRY KINSEY.
Joseph Henry Kinsey remained with his parents on the farm until he reached early manhood, during that time attending the schools of the neighborhood. He took up the study of medicine while at home and afterward became a student in the office of Dr. Joseph M. Thurston, who then resided in Hagerstown. Later he graduated from the Physio-Medical College of Indianapolis and went from that institution to Richmond, where he began the practise of medicine. Dr. Joseph H. Kinsey stands deservedly high in his profession and has a very extensive practise. He built and resides in a handsome home in Richmond, where he is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of that city. He was married April 10, 1889, to Belle Bellis, the ceremony being performed by the groom's grandfather, Elder Lewi's Kinsey. They have one child, a daughter named Ruth, now in her fifteenth year.
CHARLES KINSEY
has been for some time employed in the Krell-French Piano Factory in New Castle.
R
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KOONS.
NATIVE CITIZEN, LEADING FARMER, INFLUENTIAL MAN.
It is not necessary that a man should have performed some great deed, formulated and brought to a successful conclusion some great work, or that he should have been especially active in public affairs to warrant the publication of a sketch of his life. It is the few who gain widespread fame or who rise far above their fellows in any locality. Nevertheless, the great majority have been workers in the world's vineyard, many of whom are still living and making their impress upon the communities with which they are identified. Benjamin Franklin Koons is such a man, whose life has been one of activity, chiefly in agricultural pursuits, to which he has brought a practical knowledge and understanding and in which he has shown a tenacity of purpose such as make him one of the leading farmers of Henry County and eastern Indiana.
The Koons family is a very large one and is especially numerous and prominent in the northeastern part of the county. The great-grandparents of Benjamin F. Koons were Davault Koons, a native of Pennsylvania, and Susan (Dicks) Koons, a native of Ger- many, who lost her first husband at sea while crossing the ocean to America. She sub- sequently married Davault Koons, and to their union were born three sons-Gasper, George and John. Gasper, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 8, 1759, married Mercy Presnall, also a native of Pennsylvania, in 1775. They had seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: George, Davault, Gasper, John, Martha, Mary and one who died in infancy.
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