USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume II > Part 18
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native of South Carolina. They came to Union county, Indiana in a very early day. William Harris and wife, mentioned above, also made a visit to this state when the country was new, and entered land from the government in Sugar Creek township, Boone county, for our subject, but they did not remain here, returning to their home in Tennessee where they spent their lives.
After his marriage Samuel H. Laughlin took up his residence in Thorn- town where he worked at the carpenter's trade until his death, which oc- curred November 18, 1860, when in the prime of young manhood. Politic- ally, he was a Democrat, and he was an honest, hardworking man. After his death Mrs. Laughlin lived on her mother's farm until 1887 when she came to Thorntown and her mother lived with her until her death, which occurred in 1891, since which time Mrs. Laughlin has made her home in Thorntown, where she has a host of warm friends. She lives alone, with the exception of a nephew, Thompson Harris who has a room in her cozy cottage. Re- ligiously she is a faithful member of the Baptist church and is regular in her attendance at its services. She is a pleasing and hospitable lady and looks at life philosophically and is therefore contented and cheerful.
THOMAS R. SHAPLEY.
The chief characteristics of Thomas R. Shapley, a carpenter and builder by trade, but who has long managed a good farm successfully in Marion township. Boone county, are keenness of perception, an unflagging energy, honesty of purpose and motive and every-day common sense, which have enabled him not only to advance his own interests, but also largely contribute to the civic and material advancement of the locality. He worked his way from a modest beginning, having landed from a foreign strand on our shores a half century ago, "a youth to fortune and to fame unknown," in the line of his own great countryman, the poet Gray, and step by step has reached a position of comfort and no mean importance, his individual efforts having been unaided, which fact renders him the more worthy of the praise that is freely accorded him by his fellow-men. His life has been one of unceasing energy and perseverance, and the honorable and systematic methods he has ever employed are commended to others, if they court the goddess success.
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Mr. Shapley was born in Devonshire, England, November 5, 1843. He is a son of William and Mary (Doney) Shapley, natives of England, where they grew up, married and spent their lives. And there our subject grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools which was limited, he having left school when nine years old, but he has become a well-informed man through travel and home reading. When fifteen years of age, he left England on board an English trading ship which was ship- wrecked off the coast of Greenland among icebergs, seven hundred miles from home. They were there four days and four nights without food and shelter and endured many hardships from cold as well as hunger. They were finally rescued by another ship and brought to Newfoundland and from there sailed back to England. In 1863, when twenty years old, he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City, where he worked at the carpenter's trade which he had learned in his native country. Six months later he invaded the middle west, locating at Medora, Jackson county, Indiana, where he worked a year then went to Roundsville, Tennessee, re- maining there a year, then began traveling and visited most sections of the Union. He was in Chicago during the memorable year of 1871 when the "Queen City of the West" was destroyed by fire, and he remained there, engaging in the work of rebuilding for some time. In 1874 he returned to England, and on May IIth of that year married Mary Gould Madge, of Devonshire, soon thereafter returning with his bride to Chicago, and con- tinued his trade there about eight years, then removed to Marion township, Boone county, Indiana, where he purchased eighty acres of timber land. which he cleared and improved at odd times, but continued his trade all the while. As he prospered he added forty acres more, and for many years has devoted his attention mainly to general farming and stock raising, at which he has been most successful. He has brought his fine farm up to an excellent state of improvement and cultivation, and has a good home and substantial outbuildings.
The first children of Mr. and Mrs. Shapley were triplets, two of whom are now living. William Doney married Nettie Powell and they live in Boone county, Marion township; and Rebecca is the wife of Martin Hand, of Hamilton county, Indiana ; Rosa A. is the wife of M. E. Hand, of Hamil- ton county, also. Our subject and wife also reared a niece, a child of Mr.
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Shapley's brother ; her name is Frances P., now the wife of Austin Sufton, of Center township, Boone county.
Politically, Mr. Shapley is a Democrat, and he has served his township as road supervisor. Religiously, he is a member of the Episcopal church.
The happy home of our subject was invaded by death on October 18, 1910, when Mrs. Shapley was called to her eternal rest. She was buried in Spencer cemetery. She was a good helpmeet and worthy life companion, a woman of many praiseworthy qualities.
JAMES F. HART.
In nearly every community are to be found individuals who, by innate ability and sheer force of character, rise above their fellows and win for themselves conspicuous places in public esteem. Such a one is the well- known gentleman whose name appears above, a man who has been identified with the history of Boone county for many years, during which time his life has been closely interwoven with the material growth and development of the county, wielding a potent influence in the community honored by his resi- dence, his career as a progressive man of affairs being synonymous with all that is honorable.
James F. Hart, one of Boone county's leading agriculturists and stock raisers, whose fine farm lies in one of the most desirable sections of Jefferson township, was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, March 30, 1860. He is a son of James Harvey Hart and Susan (Berry) Hart. The father was born June 9, 1821, and the mother was born August 11, 1826, both being natives of Kentucky, where they grew up and were married, emigrating to Indiana soon afterwards, the date of the wedding being January 23, 1844. The paternal grandparents, William Hart and his wife, emigrated from Eng- land to Virginia in a very early day, later coming to Kentucky. William Hart, son of Thomas and Rebecca Hart, was born May I, 1777, and his death occurred April 21, 1824. He married Polly Pierson, September 17, 1800, and to them the following children were born: Thomas, born Septem- ber 27. 1802; Rebecca, born January 27, 1805; Francis, born May 2, 1807; William Lindley, born July 1, 1809 ; Mary, born September 2, 1811 ; Richard Linzy, born June 21, 1815; John Pope, born October 13, 1817; James
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Harvey, born June 9, 1821; Robert Franklin, born April 30, 1823. The- death of James Harvey Hart, father of our subject, occurred March 19, 1913, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. The parents of our subject came the entire distance from Kentucky on horseback, the trip requiring many days. They were accompanied by John Coons, and the family settled in Montgomery county, entering land from the government, and there they lived like typical pioneers, working hard, clearing and developing their farm, making their own clothing, shoes, etc., but they succeeded in establishing a comfortable home. The Harts remained in Montgomery county until 1881, when our subject and his mother bought forty acres in Jefferson township, Boone county, on which stood a log cabin and stable, all was cleared but about ten acres, this being second growth timber, this our subject cleared and improved, assisted by his father. They drained the land and erected new buildings, finally having a good farm here to which they added until the place consisted of three hundred and forty acres.
Our subject has two sisters, Fannie, born in 1844, married A. G. Book- shire, and they live in Kansas; and Sarah E., born in 1846, married Allen Bookshire and is living in Brownsburg.
James F. Hart married February 3, 1881, Susan E. Baker, a daughter of John and Lucinda (Clark) Baker, both natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Hart was born in Montgomery county of which the Bakers were early pioneers. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hart by this marriage, Harold L., the date of whose birth is October 2, 1888; he married Cose E. Updike, who was born in Boone county, January 11, 1890, and they were married August II, 1905 ; they live on a farm in Jefferson township. Her people were early settlers in Boone county. To Harold Hart and wife the following children have been born: Mary E., born October 2, 1907; John F., born July 3, 1908; James Walter, born March 25, 1910; Robert W., born December I, 1912. Our subject's first wife died in 1889, and on October 25, 1892, he married Mary E. Long, who was born October 9, 1862. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Osborn) Long, who came from Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively, when young and they were married in Boone county, and they established their home on a farm.
James F. Hart has become one of the most prosperous farmers of his township. It was in 1895 that he built a good residence and large outbuild- ings on his farm and again in 1912 he began the erection of a magnificent
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modern residence, which was completed in 1913. It is elegantly furnished and is one of the show places of the county. It is up-to-date throughout, equipped with furnace, hot water heat, both electric lights and gas, also the former lights in barn. Everything about the place denotes thrift, good management and taste, and that a gentleman of progressive ideas has its management in hand. Mr. Hart carries on general farming and stock rais- ing on an extensive scale, annually feeding four carloads of hogs and one of cattle, also handles some sheep.
Politically, Mr. Hart is a Democrat, and is active and influential in party affairs. He and his family attend and support the Christian church. He was one of the first to assist in organizing the Hazelrigg Co-operative Tele- phone Company. He is widely and favorably known.
ALBERT M. SHAW.
Albert M. Shaw, ninth descendant and youngest living son of Nelson Shaw, born on the old homestead farm in Eagle township, Boone county, Indiana, February 7, 1859, who has in late years obtained possession of said homestead as well as considerable other real estate in and near Zionsville where he now resides, thus demonstrating his business qualifications, perse- verance and frugality. He is characterized by all who know him far and near as a typical neighbor, wise and obliging in counsel, always looking to the welfare of others, helping to bear their burdens even at his own sacrifice.
At the age of twenty-one years, in 1880, he united in marriage with Laura Smith, daughter of Jesse Smith, attorney of Zionsville. To this union two sons and one daughter were born: Jesse E., deceased at the age of twenty-five years : Hazel, now Mrs. Zeno Vandover, who resides in Hamil- ton county, three and one-half miles northeast of Zionsville; Pirtel N., who united in marriage with Ivy E., youngest daughter of J. H. Ottinger and they reside three miles southwest of Zionsville on the new home farm.
Nelson Shaw, his father, was born near Saratoga Springs, New York, July 11, 1817. At the age of eight years, he with his parents emigrated to Ohio, near Clarksville, and at the age of thirteen, in 1830, he came with his parents to Eagle township, Boone county, Indiana. He located on the farm which Newton Carter now owns.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Nelson was a son of John Shaw, who was also a native of the state of New York, and of Scotch-Irish descent. John Shaw served as a guard for the government during the war of 1812. He was the father of four chil- dren, viz., John: Nelson, father of Albert M .; Laura J .; and Amanda. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years and spent his last days with his two children, John and Nelson. His wife died at the age of seventy years. They were devout Christians of the Methodist faith and were fine types of sterling pioneers.
When twenty-two years old, Nelson Shaw married Sarah Hartman who was born in North Carolina, April 24, 1818. She was a daughter of John and Nancy Hartman. It was in 1830 that the Hartman family made the overland journey from the far southland to Indiana and located in Pike township, Marion county. Here her parents spent the rest of their lives. To Nelson Shaw and wife ten children were born. There were seven sons and three daughters, namely: John W., deceased; James, deceased; Louisa; David N .. deceased ; William M .; Thomas M .; Sarah E., deceased; Anna, deceased : Albert M .; and a son who died in infancy. Nelson Shaw died at the age of eighty years, after a successful life as a farmer. His good wife died at the age of seventy-seven years. They were both highly esteemed and influential in local affairs. They were prominent workers in the Meth- odist church. Thus, we see that Albert M. Shaw inherited from his an- cestors, strong christian character and business ability. The wise counsel and cooperation of his estimable wife have been indispensable helps in his life's work. He and his family are strong workers in the Methodist church, yet he shares in his liberality to the support of other neighboring churches.
ADAM H. FELKER.
Perhaps no one agency in all the world has done so much for public progress as the press, and an enterprising, well-edited journal is a most im- portant factor in promoting the welfare and prosperity of any community. It adds to the intelligence of the people through its transmission of foreign and domestic news and through its discussion of the leading questions and issues of the day, and more than that, it makes the town or city which it repre- sents known outside of the immediate locality, as it is sent each day or week
ADAM H. FELKER
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
into other districts, carrying with it an account of the events transpiring in its home locality, the advancement and progress there being made and the advantages which it offers to its residents along moral, educational, social and commercial lines. Boone county is indebted to its wide-awake journals in no small degree. Among the men who are doing a commendable work in the local newspaper field is Adam H. Felker, publisher of the Lebanon Daily Reporter. He has long been connected with journalistic work and his ability as a publisher as well as a business man, is widely acknowledged among con- temporary newspaper men and the public in general. He is one of the in- fluential citizens of Lebanon.
Mr. Felker was born in Logansport, Cass county, Indiana, March 24, 1867. He is a son of Charles F. and Eliza (Schmidt) Felker, the father a native of Baden, Germany, and the mother of Detroit, Michigan.
Mr. Felker grew to manhood in Logansport and there received a good education in the common schools, also attended night school for two years, and spent one year in a business college. He has devoted his active life to newspaper work, beginning as a newsboy on the Pharos, a newspaper pub- lished at Logansport, and he worked at this while attending graded school. At the age of seventeen he was "devil" in the press room of that paper. Four years later he went into the counting room and continued as circulation and advertising manager of the Pharos for a period of eight years, meanwhile learning the various phases of conducting a newspaper establishment. He then came to Lebanon and became owner and manager of The Daily Reporter on February 22, 1897, and made a pronounced success in his new field. The Reporter now ranks with the best papers of its type in the state. It is all that could be desired from a mechanical standpoint and as a news and advertising medium has no superiors among the county-seat dailies of Indiana. He founded the Boone County Progressive, a weekly publication. at Lebanon, September 26, 1912.
Mr. Felker was married March 3; 1897, to Eva C. Young, the eldest daughter of John A. and Malinda ( French) Young, a highly respected family of Logansport, where Mrs. Felker was reared and educated.
Two children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Pharos Eliza, born December 3, 1897; and Dorothy Malinda, born March 15, 1901.
Politically, Mr. Felker is a Democrat and religiously, he holds mem- bership with the First Baptist church, Lebanon.
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Mr. Felker is a member of the Masonic. Knights of Pythias, Ben-Hur, Maccabees, Woodmen and Yeoman fraternities. He was elected and served two terms as chancellor commander of Apollo Lodge Knights of Pythias at Logansport, Indiana. He served two years as master of Boone Lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons of Lebanon, and on two occasions has been a repre- sentative to the Masonic Grand Lodge.
JAMES M. DYE.
The great task of clearing the land of its timber in early years can scarcely be realized by the people of today. Not a crop could be sown nor an orchard tree planted until the large trees could be cut down and removed ; even then the stumps were a great hindrance and often no more than half a crop could be raised until they were destroyed. The amount of hard labor required to remove the dense forest growth over Boone and other Indiana counties seems almost incredible. It was a task that seemed never to end, and all members of the family were required to assist early and late and at all seasons of the year.
James M. Dye, well-known citizen of Union township, also his father and grandfathers before him had their full share of this work. and they did it well. They came, of a race that never quailed before obstacles and hard- ships, never swerved aside from tasks, no matter how arduous or dangerous, if they believed it their duty to perform them, so it is no wonder that they succeeded. for such men as they are the ones on whom the sunshine of for- tune delights to fall and who are the true builders of empires.
Mr. Dye has devoted his long and active career to tilling the soil and is one of our most careful farmers. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war, also one of the connecting links between the present and the pioneer period, being one of the oldest native-born citizens of Boone county who is still active in affairs. He has lived to see and take part in the momentous changes that have been noted here during the past half century.
Mr. Dye was born in Union township, Boone county, January 21, 1847. He is a son of James and Ruth Ann (Harmon) Dye, the father a native of Miami county, Ohio, and the mother of North Carolina. The paternal
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grandparents, George and Hanna (Calvert) Dye, were natives of Pennsyl- vania. In 1831, grandfather Dye traveled through Indiana and settled at Zionsville, buying land in the wilderness and returned home, but in 1832 came back to his land here which he cleared and improved, also built a grist and sawmill which he operated and became a leading citizen among the pioneers.
The maternal grandparents were James and Philadelphia (Dickerson) Harmon. The former was born in Kentucky, February 4, 1797, and died in Boone county, Indiana, April 11, 1847. His parents settled in the north- ern part of Marion county, Indiana, while he was yet a boy. Philadelphia Dickerson was born in Kentucky, August 19, 1797. She moved to Shelby county, Indiana, with her parents while a child. After their marriage, they lived in the northern part of Marion county, Indiana, for a time, then moved to Illinois where they remained one year and then moved to Boone county, Indiana, about the year 1830. Thirteen children were born to this union, namely: Emily, deceased, born October 27, 1817; Mary Jane, de- ceased, born April 9, 1820; Ruth Ann, mother of our subject, born Decem- ber 13, 1821 ; Robert Jolin, deceased, born February 21, 1824: William Alex- ander, deceased, born January 7, 1826; James Dickerson, deceased, born January 8, 1828; Elizabeth, deceased, born October 3, 1829; Granville, de- ceased, born June 4. 1831 ; Nelson S., deceased, born July 5, 1833 ; Francis Marion, deceased, born February 8, 1835; Philadelphia, deceased, born November 18, 1837; Drusilla, deceased, born August 17, 1841, and Charles, the only one living at this writing, born December 25, 1844.
After their marriage the parents of our subject settled on two hundred and thirty-eight acres in Union township. He also owned eighty acres in another part of this township, and he devoted his life successfully to farming and was a good citizen and useful in the community. The father's death occurred in July, 1906, the mother having preceded him to the grave in November, 1882. The following were their children: James M., of this review ; William Harvey is deceased; Sarah Elizabeth, died when four years old; Melissa J. died when twenty-one years of age; John E. lives in Worth township ; Martha D. is the wife of John Z. Cooney, of Union township.
James M. Dye grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked nard when a boy and he attended graded schools in Bartholomew county, Indiana. When the Civil war was going on, he enlisted, April 13, 1864, in
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Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Army of the Cumberland, serving faithfully in Kentucky, Tennes- see and Alabama. and was honorably discharged in October, 1864, and re- turned home.
Mr. Dye was married January 1, 1871, to Hanna Pugh, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a daughter of Elias and Eliza (Cameron) Pugh. The father was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and was a cousin of Gen. John Morgan. The mother of Mrs. Dye was born in Ohio. After his mar- riage, Mr. Dye rented a farm from his father in Union township, where he farmed during the summer, teaching during the winter months and in a few years he had a good start. In 1884, he went to Sheridan. Indiana, where he engaged in the general merchandise business for seventeen months and had a good trade, then was burned out, losing everything. He then started west with a feather renovator, later returned and purchased forty acres in Union township, joining one hundred acres of timber which his father had given him. He began improving his place, clearing the land and erecting suitable buildings, draining and tiling it and in due course of time had a desirable and valuable farm. In 1894, he was elected recorder of Boone county on the Republican ticket, the duties of which office he discharged in a highly credit- able manner, and while incumbent of this office he lived four years in Leb- anon. We next find him buying a stone works there which he conducted one year, when he sold out and returned to his farm which he worked with gratifying results until 1913, when he slowed up somewhat in active business. He made a specialty of raising Percheron, standard bred horses and he had some of the finest stallions ever known in this country, and built up an exten- sive and lucrative business, and he took a large number of premiums with his fancy stock at the county and state fairs during many years. He is an ex- cellent judge of horses and knows well their proper care. He purchased forty acres adjoining his original farm in 1913. He now has one of the most desirable farms in the township and a pleasant home in every respect.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dye: Harry P .. who lives in Jackson, Mississippi; J. Elmer lives in Charlotte, North Caro- lina : Bertha is the wife of Harry Thompson, of Lebanon, Indiana: William V. died at the age of twenty-six years.
Mr. Dye is a Republican politically and has long been more or less active in party affairs. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic
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at Zionsville, this county. Mrs. Dye attends the Seven Day Adventist church. The death of her father occurred April 19, 1876, her mother surviving only eleven months, dying March 20, 1877.
THOMAS G. HARBAUGH.
As an agricultural region, Indiana is not surpassed by any state in the Union. It is indeed the farmer's kingdom, where he always reaps an abun- dant harvest. The soil, in many portions of the state, has an open, flexible structure, quickly absorbs the excessive rains and retains moisture with great tenacity. This being the case, it is not easily affected by drought. The prairies are covered with sweet, luxuriant grass, equally good for grazing and hay; grass not surpassed by the Kentucky blue grass, the best of clover and timothy in growing and fattening cattle. This grass is now as full of life-giving nutriment as it was when cropped by the buffalo, the elk and the deer. No state in the Union has a more complete and satisfactory system of drainage, natural and articficial, or a more abundant supply of pure, fresh water. Both man and beast may slake their thirst from a thousand peren- nial fountains which gush in limpid streams from the hillsides, and wend their way through verdant valleys and along smiling prairies or through som- ber forests, varying in size as they onward flow from the diminutive rivulet to the giant river. One of the native sons of Boone county to take advan- tage of the splendid natural conditions for farming in this locality is Thomas G. Harbaugh, of Clinton township, and the large success he has attained in this vocation is evidence of his thrift and also of the excellent natural con- ditions.
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