USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 46
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THOMAS F. BARLEY.
Thomas F. Barley, a well-known farmer of Bogard township, is a Hoosier by birth and may justly bear the title of a self-made man, having worked his way unaided from the humble ranks of the toiler to and through the vicissitudes and adversities of life, to an admirable and influential posi- tion among the enterprising farmers of Daviess county. The success attained by him in his business affairs has been due greatly to his steady persistence, stern integrity and excellent judgment, qualities which have also won for him the confidence and esteem of the public, to a marked degree.
Thomas F. Barley was born on June 29, 1873, in Bogard township, Daviess county, Indiana. He is the son of John and Malintha (Standley ) Barley, the former of whom was born in 1835, in Tennessee, and who died in 1875, and the latter born on -October 9, 1834, is still living. Malintha Standley is the daughter of George and Ann (Rector) Standley, who lived in Anderson, and were pioneers and farmers there. John Barley was the son of Thomas and Parlina (Franklin) Barley, the former of whom was a native of Tennessee and an early settler in Van Buren township, Daviess county. They had four children, John, Pauline, Plas and William.
Thomas F. Barley's mother was married three times. John Barley was her third husband. Her first husband was James McBride and to this union five children were born, Kaiser, Sarah, Mary, Martha and George. Her second husband was Patrick Tomy and to this union one daughter, Jane, was born. Her third husband was John Barley and to this union five children were born, Susan, William P., John H., Thomas F. and Edward. Susan is living in Bogard township and is unmarried; William P. married Jennie Allen and lives in Washington township; John H. married Rettie Mallet and lives in Bogard township; Thomas F. is the subject of this sketch and Edward married Sarah Rosenberry and lives in Bogard town- ship.
John Barley, the father of Thomas F., was a soldier in the Civil War. He served ninety days in the Union army and, on his return home, was taken with pneumonia and died very suddenly. John Barley was an active man in local politics and was identified with the Democratic party. He served as township trustee, as constable of Bogard township and held other minor offices. He was a member of the Grange and owned one hundred and sixty acres of land in that township.
Thomas F. Barley was reared in Bogard township and there received
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his education. He was married on January 6, 1906, to Lovina L. Scott, who was born on November 2, 1871, also in Bogard township, and who is the daughter of William and Frances D. (Faith) Scott, farmers in that township and active members of the Methodist church. William Scott was educated in the common schools and was known as one of the finest scribes in Daviess county. He owned one hundred and twenty acres of land. He died, October 14, 1877, at the age of forty years, and his wife is living at Epsom, in Bogard township. William Scott was a thirty-second-degree Mason and a stanch Republican. Thomas F. and Lovina L. (Scott) Barley had seven children, Elias A., William T., Laura J., Francis P., George A., Lavina L. and Harrison D. After the death of William Scott, Mrs. Scott married, a second time, George W. Bell, who was a soldier in the Civil War in the Sixty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and carried a bullet in his hip until his death. He died on October 14, 1914, at the age of seventy-five years. No children were born to this second marriage.
William Scott was the son of James Scott, a native of Martin county, a farmer there, and while he owned three hundred and fifty acres of land there he was one of the very earliest settlers in this county and spent the latter part of his life in Bogard township. He was the sixth child born to James Scott and wife. The others were Reason, James, Lucinda, Joseph and Malintha. Frances D. Faith, the mother of these children, was the daughter of Abraham and Fannie (Myers) Faith, who were well-known farmers in Bogard township and active members of the Methodist church. Abraham Faith was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Plainville. His children were Louisa, Thomas, Frances D., Laura, Lavina and Harrison.
Mrs. Thomas F. Barley, before her marriage to Mr. Barley, was mar- ried to Amos D. Thomson, who was born on October 12, 1873, at Green- ville, Illinois, and who died on October 14, 1904, in Daviess county, Indiana. They first lived at Salem, but, subsequently, came to Bogard township. By this marriage there were two children, Jessie H., born on April 9, 1898, and Lawrence D., born on October 9, 1902.
After his marriage, Thomas F. Barley settled on a small tract of land south of Epsom, in Bogard township. After one year he moved three miles northeast of Epsom, on a farm of thirty-seven acres, where he remained for nine months and then moved to the Parry Creek bottoms on a thirty- acre farm owned by his wife. He was here thirty-five months when they sold out and moved to their present farm of forty acres. Since that time,
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they have added forty acres more in one tract, and forty-eight in another, as well as seven acres in a third tract. All of this land is located in Bogard township.
Mr. and Mrs. Barley are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Epsom. Mr. Barley is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America They have one child, Bertha Ellen, who was born on October 6, 1909.
WILLIAM W. REED.
In the respect which is accorded to men who have fought their own way to success through unfavorable environment, we find an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic worth of character which cannot only endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the discipline. William W. Reed was not greatly favored by inherited wealth or the assistance of influential friends, but by perseverance, industry and wise economy, he has acquired a comfortable station in life and made his influence felt for good in his community in Bogard township where he has long maintained his home. Because of his honorable career, he is eminently worthy of a place in this volume.
William W. Reed was born on April 13, 1865, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is the son of William A. and Eliza (Bear) Reed, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, who, in his younger days, came to Ohio, where he was married. His wife was born in Ohio. William A. Reed's parents died early in life and left him an orphan. He received but little education and shortly after his marriage, he removed from Toledo, Ohio, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he remained for eight years. He then came to Daviess county, and located in Van Buren township, where he purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land, where he lived until his death. Will- iam A. Reed died in 1895, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife died two years later at the age of sixty-nine. They had six children, Francis; Sarah. deceased; William W .; Charles; Wallace and Elizabeth. Of these children, Francis is living at Fort Wayne; Charles is living in Greene county; Wal- lace lives in Owen county and Elizabeth lives in Greene county.
William W. Reed, a well-known and prosperous farmer of Bogard township, was educated in the common schools and was married, in 1886, to Sarah J. Perkins, the daughter of Albert and Louisa (Hovey) Perkins, of Daviess county. Albert Perkins was a farmer, and while she was a native
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of that county, both have since died. To them were born six sons and one daughter, four of whom are now living. The children are: Albert, Mary, Charles, John, Stella and Clara. Of these children, Albert Laverne, who. lives in Van Buren township, married Ada May Browning and has one child, Carlton; Mary married Freely Poindexter, of Bogard township, and has two sons, Elmer and Clay. Charles, who lives in Barr township, married Nellie Potts, and they have two girls at home.
William W. Reed is one of the most extensive farmers of Bogard township and owns two hundred acres of land in this township, most of which he has acquired by his individual efforts. He has always been a good manager and is a close student of modern agricultural methods. His farm is kept in a wide state of repairs. In fact, Mr. Reed is well informed upon all questions, agricultural, political, or civic. Because of his large store of information, which he has gained from careful and well-ordered reading, he is one of the leading men of his township and one who is admired and respected by his neighbors. He is aggressive, broad-minded and liberal in all his views and enjoys the confidence of all the people of this section of Daviess county. He votes the Democratic ticket.
PETER RAGLE.
No other county in Indiana produced braver men to serve in the Civil WVar than did Daviess county. This state sent over two hundred thousand men to the front during that terrible conflict and Daviess county contributed its quota without any difficulty, meeting every call of Governor Morton with a promptness that spoke well for the patriotic zeal of her sons. They left their homes to serve and save their country and hundreds of them sacrificed their lives that the stars and stripes might continue to wave over a united nation. We cannot forget that they fought a brave fight for human liberty and that they deserve all the praise and honor that can be given them. They are fast answering the last roll call and within a few years, we can only honor their memory. It seems eminently fitting in this volume to set forth the lives of these gallant veterans who are still living. Among the brave boys in blue who enlisted from Daviess county, there is none who is more worthy of an honored place in this volume than the subject of this sketch.
Peter Ragle was born near Raglesville, Daviess county, Indiana, June 5, 1842. He is the son of Peter and Margaret (Wadsworth) Ragle, both
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natives of Tennessee. Peter Ragle, Sr., was a son of James Ragle, of Tennessee, who was a farmer, and who died in his native state. He served in the Indian wars and, on one occasion, was attacked by two Indians. He killed one of them, knocked the tomahawk from the hand of the other and killed him, and sat on him until he regained his strength. James Ragle mar- ried a Miss Parrot and after his death, she married a Mr. Watt. They came to Daviess county, Indiana, and located near Raglesville, where he was an early school teacher and here they both died.
Peter Ragle's maternal grandparents, the parents of Margaret Wads- worth, were Thomas and Nancy (Skags) Wadsworth, who came during pioneer days to Indiana and entered land near Raglesville. They owned one hundred acres of land and erected the first building upon the land.
Peter Ragle, Sr., the father of the subject of this sketch, was educated in Tennessee and reared on a farm. He was yet unmarried; he went to Orleans, Indiana, and was a farmer in that neighborhood for a time. After his marriage, about 1820, he located near Raglesville, Indiana. His brother, John, settled a little later in this community and was the first merchant at Raglesville; in fact, he established the town. He hauled his goods from New Albany, Indiana. Peter Ragle, Sr., entered forty acres of land and continued entering forty acres at a time, until he had two hundred acres in all. He erected the first buildings upon his land and continued to clear it until his death. Peter and Margaret Wadsworth had thirteen children, John, Thomas, Robert, Jacob, who was a captain in Company K, Eightieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; Rhoda, Alonzo, who was a sergeant in the same com- pany with his brother, Jacob; Nancy, David, Peter, Susan, Nathan S., who was a corporal in the same company with his brothers; Margaret and Mary. All of these children were born on the old farm and all were devout mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Peter Ragle, Jr., enlisted on July 4, 1861, in the Twenty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in Company B, as a private and was, subsequently, pro- moted to sergeant and finally to color-bearer. He was wounded, in the shoulder, in the battle of Resaca, Georgia, the bullet cutting an artery. Mr. Ragle bled so profusely that he was unable to stand for six weeks and was in the hospital for one year. He was discharged from the hospital at Madison, Indiana, May 25, 1865. He served in all of the battles of the Army of the Potomac up to the time his company was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland.
Peter Ragle was educated in Daviess county, Indiana, and after the
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war, he came back to his father's farm and began farming. He was soon married and purchased a farm adjoining his father's. Peter Ragle, Sr., gave his son, Peter, Jr., forty acres and to this Peter, Jr., added forty acres. Subsequently, he moved to Martin county, Indiana, where he purchased one hundred and forty-seven acres. He resided there for twenty years and was then elected county treasurer on the Republican ticket and re-elected at the expiration of his first term, serving in all for four years. After filling this office for four years, Mr. Ragle returned to the farm in Martin county and remained for six years. At the end of this time, he sold out and moved to Elnore, where he still lives. He returned to this county in 1897 and for five years sold machinery. He then traveled five years for the Deering Harvester Company and at the expiration of this period, engaged in the real estate and insurance business and is still so engaged.
Mr. Ragle was married in 1866 to Martha Trueblood, who lived near Raglesville. She is the daughter of Jesse A. Trueblood, a farmer of this county. To this happy union seven children were born: Jerome and Jesse, deceased; Addie, who is now Mrs. Boyle, of Greencastle, Indiana; Margaret, deceased ; Mattie, deceased, who married a Mr. Corbin; Dovey, who is now Mrs. John Pate, of Loogootee, and Grace, who is now Mrs. Guthrie, of Odon.
Mr. Ragle was married a second time in 1880, Emma J. Groover, of Martin county, becoming his wife on this occasion. She died on November 29, 1914. To this second marriage, twelve children were born, Mrs. Maude Jones, of Kentucky, and Myrtle, a twin sister of Maude, who died at the age of six months; Sarah R., who died at the age of fifteen years; Flossie, who is now Mrs. Robinson, of Palestine, Illinois; Charles A., who is a partner with his father in the real estate business; Harley, who is a bridge carpenter on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad; Hazel, who is now Mrs. Albert Persing, of Elnore; Peter, who died young; Hattie, who is now Mrs. Parsons, of Daviess county ; Paul, who is a student in the Elnore high school, and an infant. Pearl died at the age of ten years. All of the mem- bers of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Back in the pioneer days, Peter Ragle, Sr., was a member of the vigil- ance committee, which whipped several local thieves and undesirable citizens, and finally gave them a certain length of time to leave the country. Some time during the operations, one of those who was being chastised, called out, "Pete Ragle, you are the cause of this and for it you will drop dead behind your plow before the leaves are as big as a squirrel's ear." This remark
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was made in the early spring. The undesirable left the country and some years afterward Peter Ragle was going to Vincennes to enter a forty-acre tract of land. He was unarmed and some distance ahead, he recognized the man who had made the threat coming on foot with a gun on his shoulder. When the latter recognized the former, he greeted him heartily and passed on, but each looked anxiously over his shoulder until they were out of sight of one another.
Peter Ragle, Jr., has had a considerable part in the progress and pros- perity of this section of Daviess county. He is an honored and respected citizen of this community and has been a member of the Masonic lodge for a period of more than forty years.
Mr. Ragle has been a life-long Republican; his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, for his second term. He is a member of M. B. Cutler Post No. 537, Grand Army of the Republic.
EMERY LETT.
Among the farmers of Daviess county, Indiana, who have to their credit many long years spent industriously and intelligently tilling the soil, is Emery Lett, of Veale township. , Mr. Lett comes from a good family, one that has always stood for right living and industrious habits, for morality and all that contributes to the welfare of the commonwealth. Such people are welcome in any community for they are empire builders and, as such, have pushed the frontier of civilization ever westward and onward, leaving the green, wide-reaching wilderness and the far-stretching plains populous with contented people and beautiful with green fields. They have consti- tuted that sterling horde which moved the great Bishop Whipple to write the memorable lines, "Westward the course of empire takes its way."
Emery Lett was born on the farm where his mother still lives, in Veale township, in 1864. He is the son of Hamilton and Arilla (Coleman) Lett. the former of whom was born where Emery Lett now lives, and the latter near by. They were married in 1849. The paternal grandparents of Emery Lett were James and Nancy (Veale) Lett, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter one of the early members of the Veale family of Veale township. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Lett were John B. and Frances Coleman. Hamilton and Arilla Lett had eight children, Eli, Ellis, Artimecy, Ida, Gibson, Emery, Laura and Dora. Hamilton Lett died on
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December 24, 1884. At the time of his death, he owned two hundred and fifty acres of land.
Emery Lett was educated in the public schools of Veale township at the Lett school and became a farmer early in life. He has always been engaged in this vocation and is a heavy raiser of grain and live stock.
Mr. Lett was married, in 1889, to Dora M. Gregory, the daughter of George and Etta (Robinson) Gregory. George Gregory was born in Harri- son township, in 1850, and was the son of Robert and Mournen (Hill) Gregory. Robert and Mournen Gregory were married at the ages of four- teen and thirteen, respectively, and neither could read or write at the time of their marriage. They were practically penniless when they were married and at the time of their death, were the richest people in Harrison township and owned many hundred of acres of land and a great deal of live stock, including hogs and cattle. Their son, John, was killed in the Civil War, being a soldier in the Union army. George Gregory's wife, who before her marriage was Etta Robinson, was born near Washington, this state, and was the daughter of Elijah and Lucretia (Sanford) Robinson, both natives of Kentucky and early settlers in Harrison township, where they remained until their death. George Gregory was educated in Harrison township and was a farmer until he moved to Washington and lived retired. He then married Leva Releford and now operates a dairy at the edge of Washington. By his first marriage there were ten children, Anna; Dora; Elijah; Austine, who died in infancy; Hamlet, who died in infancy; Ona; Walter; Pearl; Hallie and Lydia, deceased. George Gregory and family were all members of the Baptist church and their ancestors on both sides were also members of that church.
To Emery and Dora M. (Gregory) Lett three children have been born, Everett, who is a graduate of Indiana University and a school teacher. He is having splendid success in the Indianapolis high schools, and in many in- stances has served as judge on debates; Ethel, who is deceased, and Hamlet, who is now a student at the University of Illinois ..
Mr. Lett was a candidate for the state Legislature, in 1914, on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated with the remainder of his ticket. He was also, at one time, a candidate for county commissioner of Daviess county, on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated at that time. Emery Lett owns about two hundred acres of splendid farming land, in Veale township, and is a highly respected and enterprising farmer.' He is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
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FREDERICK J. FRESHLEY, M. D.
Among those who stand as distinguished types of the world's workers is Frederick J. Freshley, M. D., one of the able and honored young physi- cians and surgeons of Daviess county. He is a man of fine intellectual and professional attainments, of most gracious personality, of strong and noble character and one who has labored with zeal and devotion in the alleviation of human suffering. He is clearly entitled to representation among the progressive and enterprising citizens of his county. Doctor Freshley is de- voted to his chosen profession and has added honor and dignity to the medical profession. At all times he has had due regard for the high standard of professional ethics common to the medical profession and has exhibited a marked skill in treating disease.
Frederick J. Freshley was born on July 1, 1884, at Grandview, Indiana. He is the son of Frederick J. and Mary A. (Miller) Freshley, the former of whom was a native of Germany and the latter a native of Spencer county, this state, the daughter of Michael Miller, a native-born German, a farmer by vocation, and an influential member of the United Brethren church. Michael Miller, after landing in New Jersey, came to Ohio, where he remained a few years and then removed to Spencer county, Indiana, where he died in 1903.
Dr. Frederick J. Freshley's grandfather was Frederick Freshley, a native of Germany, who, after his marriage, and after rearing a family, came with his family to America, finally settling in Spencer county, where he was a farmer and owned one hundred and twenty acres of land. His son, Frederick J. Freshley, the father of Dr. Frederick J., was educated in the common schools. He was an influential member of the United Brethren church and prominent in the local politics of that county. He died on October 25, 1884, and his wife is still living at Grandview, this state. They had seven children, Catherine, George, Flora, Carrie, Ida, Oscar and Dr. Frederick J. All of these children are now living. Oscar married Irma Helbig, the daughter of Valentine Helbig, of Sellersburg, Indiana. They live at Plainville, where he is in the drug business with Dr. Frederick J.
Frederick J. Freshley was educated at Grandview, and after com- pleting the common and high school courses of study, graduated from the Central Normal College at Danville, and also from the University of Louis- ville. in 1908. Doctor Freshley received a diploma of pharmacy in 1909. (32)
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He has specialized in diseases of children and, in the practice of his profes- sion, has made a pre-eminent success, enjoying a large and lucrative patron- age throughout this section of the state.
On February 3, 1909, Dr. Frederick J. Freshley was married to Bessie P. May, who was born in Spencer county, and who is the daughter of John and Mamie (Pleiss) May, prominent citizens of Spencer county. To Doctor and Mrs. Freshley no children have been born.
Doctor Freshley is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and also the Woodmen of the World. Doctor Freshley has been a practicing physician at Plainville for about six years. He not only prac- tices his profession, but, as heretofore related, is in the drug business, at Plainville, with his brother, Oscar. Doctor Freshley is a clean-cut, young physician of charming personality, enterprising in his ideas and keenly de- voted to the welfare of his section of the state. From many standpoints, he deserves the confidence and esteem which have so graciously been bestowed upon him by the people of his community.
JAMES E. GILLEY.
Of high intellectual and professional attainments and ranking among the foremost teachers of Daviess county, James E. Gilley, the present trustee of Washington township, achieved marked distinction in his chosen calling before his election to his present office. As a teacher, he made his presence felt and as a citizen in the daily walks of life, his influence has always tended to the advancement of the community and the welfare of his fellow men. Not only has he wielded a wide and beneficient influence for many years as an instructor in Daviess county, but he has also had a wholesome and stim- ulating effect on the students who have come in contact with him. The name of James E. Gilley, with eminent fitness, occupies a conspicuous place in the ranks of the teachers of Daviess county, and this rank was extenuated when he was elected to the important office of township trustee.
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