USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 61
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Politically, Mr. Vance has always taken an interest in public affairs and at one time served the community for three years as a Republican member of the board of county commissioners. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. Religously, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and con- tribute to that denomination according to their means and take an interest. in the social affairs connected with the church. Personally, Mr. Vance is a man whom it is a pleasure to know, being generous hearted, kind, helpful, honest in all his dealings with his fellow men, and eminently worthy of the
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trust and respect reposed in him. He is regarded as having sound judgment in the actual values of real estate and is one of the county's most representa- tive and valued citizens.
GEORGE WILSON FYFFE.
The career of the above well-remembered gentleman, was strenuous and honorable and, although his life record has been brought to a close by the inevitable fate that awaits all mankind, his influence still pervades the lives of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who revere his memory. He proved his loyalty to his fellow citizens and was a man ever ready to advance the material interests of the community in which he so long lived. He is a worthy subject for review in a work of this character, and it is proper that he be accorded a place among the memoirs of representative citizens of Daviess county, Indiana.
George Wilson Fyffe was born in Lawrence county, Illinois, on Decem- ber 23, 1839, and was the son of Edward Perry and Sarah (James) Fyffe. His parents lived and died in Lawrence county, Illinois, and to them were born the following children: Rebecca (deceased), Anne, Adaline, Martha, James (deceased), Marion, Benjamin (deceased), Mills and George Wil- son (deceased).
George Wilson Fyffe came to Daviess county, Indiana, when quite a young man and was married to Julia Cane, who died on July 9, 1872. Mr. Fyffe married a second time, on December 23, 1875, to Nellie L. Wilson, who was born on June 25, 1857, in Barr township, Daviess county, and who is a daughter of James H. and Susannah Q. (Litten) Wilson. Her father was a native of Scotland, born on October 7, 1830, who came to this country and settled in Greene county, Indiana. Her mother was born on April 14, 1836, in Lawrence county, Indiana. Their marriage ceremony was performed in Daviess county, where they made their future home, and to them were born the following children: Angeline, Joseph, Nellie L., Decie, Milton H., Andrew Jackson, Emily Jane, Jacob Michael, James Will- iam, Thomas Theodore, Susan Tabitha and Martha Samantha (twins), and Mary, who died in infancy. The father has always been a supporter of the Republican ticket. Religiously, the entire family lend their support to the Christian church, and all are respected and honored citizens.
The subject of review received his education in the township schools and began farming when a young man. He acquired ownership of one hun-
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dred acres of land in Washington township, this county, and the family con- tinues to reside there since his death, on January 8, 1912. To Mr. and Mrs. Fyffe were born the following children: Rillie Angeline, Lulie Bell, Harry Halcomb, Susan Adie, Sarah Ethel, Charles Edward, Lora Agnes, James Austin, George Ransom William A., Thomas Scott, Raymond Earl, and Milton Frederick.
Politically, Mr. Fyffe was a persistent advocate of the principles of the Republican party, but never took an active part in its affairs. Religiously, he was a member of the Christian church and his family also belong to that denomination. Personally, he was a man well thought of by all his friends and acquaintances, who held him in the highest respect and esteem. He had a reputation for being thoroughly progressive, in matters pertaining to the public welfare, and was ever ready to assist in the promotion of meri- torious enterprises toward that end. All in all, he was a worthy representa- tive of the steady, intelligent and progressive class that gives stability and character to the community in which they live.
George W. Fyffe was a justice of the peace for four years. He was a soldier in the Civil War, and served nearly four years in Company A, Sixty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was enrolled on December I, 1861, and discharged on December 31, 1863, at Huntsville, Alabama, and re-enlisted and served to close of the war.
By his first marriage there were born three children; two died in infancy, Lafie, Edgar, who lives in Terre Haute, Indiana. He is an engineer on the Southern Indiana railroad.
JOHN G. SHANKS.
Among the enterprising and progressive farmers of the county there is none who stands higher in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow citi- zens than does John G. Shanks, who is also well known in this county and who has had a large part in the civic development of this favored region.
John G. Shanks was born in Daviess county, on the farm which he now owns in Washington township, on September 22, 1862. He is the son of William and Catherine (Graham) Shanks. William Shanks was a. native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, who was born on June 29, 1827, and was the son of John and Sarah (Jordan) Shanks, and of German-Irish extraction. Of the four children born to John and Sarah (Jordan) Shanks,
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William was the third. John Shanks was born in the northern part of Pennsylvania in 1801, and his wife was born in 1802 in the same state. John Shanks was a son of William Shanks, who died in Pennsylvania in 1842. In 1837 John Shanks came to Daviess county, Indiana, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. Aside from being a farmer, he was also a tanner and followed this trade in Indiana. Subsequently he returned to Pennsylvania in 1838. He remained in Pennsylvania until 1846, when he returned with his family and located in Washington township, Daviess county. Here he died in the fall of 1852, his wife surviving until 1883.
William Shanks, the father of John G. Shanks, remained at home and worked for his father until he was twenty-three years of age, after which he taught school for three terms. In 1849 he was appointed deputy sur- veyor of Daviess county and served two years. In 1852 he went to Cali- fornia and engaged in mining, but returned four years later and began farming. In 1858 he settled on a farm in Washington township and remained upon this farm until his death. He owned three hundred and twenty-six acres of land, of which two hundred and twenty-six acres were in a fine state of cultivation. In 1868 he was elected county surveyor of Daviess county and was re-elected in 1872. He was married in 1857 to. Catherine Graham, a native of Pike county, Indiana, who was born on Octo- ber 31, 1827, and who was the daughter of John and Anna M. Graham. John Graham was born in 1779 in Scotland, and his wife was born in 1801 in Maryland. The children of William and Catherine Shanks were: Anna and Sarah E., twins, born in February, 1861, and John G., the subject of this sketch, born on September 22, 1862. William Shanks was an ardent Republican throughout his life and was always influential in the councils. of his party.
William Shanks died in Washington township on May 9, 1888. His wife, Catherine (Graham) Shanks, died on August 28, 1900, in Washing- ton township.
John G. Shanks was reared on the old homestead farm and educated in the Daviess county public schools. During his entire life he has been a successful farmer. Mr. Shanks believes very keenly in the modern spirit of farming and in modern methods of soil cultivation. This no doubt accounts for much of his success in life. John G. Shanks has two hundred and six acres of land, and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He makes a specialty of Poland China hogs and is considered an expert judge, not only of thoroughbred hogs, but of cattle and, in fact, of all other kinds of live stock.
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John G. Shanks was married on October 14, 1883, to Mary E. Carne- han, the daughter of John Carnehan, who died in 1873. To Mr. and Mrs. Shanks six children have been born, Ethel, William J., whose sketch is found elsewhere in this volume; Clifford J., Bertha, deceased; John Frank. and Russell C.
William J. Shanks, the eldest son, is county surveyor of Daviess county. John G. Shanks was county commissioner of Daviess county for six years, and has to his credit a very successful administration. He is well remembered by the people of Daviess county as a competent and effi- cient public official. During his entire life, John G. Shanks has been an ardent Republican, and during the split in the Republican party in 1912 he remained faithful to the old wing, and today is keenly interested in the revival of the party to its former power and strength, not only in this state. but in the country at large.
John G. Shanks, in every respect, is an up-to-date farmer. He takes great pride in keeping his farm in a first-class state of repair. He is thrifty, enterprising and alert, one of those men who have contributed very much to the spirit which makes for public improvement and, in fact, the improve- ment of the world in general.
JOHN HASTINGS.
In placing John Hastings in the front rank of worthy citizens of Daviess ·county, it is done after due consideration has been given to his career in this locality. John Hastings has long been numbered among the progressive citizens of this community and his reputation for integrity, and other admir- able qualities, is such as to warrant the historian including him in a work intended to set forth the life work of men who have set high standards and whose influence is such as to mold the character and shape the lives of those with whom they mingle. Although a quiet and unassuming man, with no ambition for public position or leadership, he has contributed much to the material advancement of the community.
John Hastings was born on August 7, 1861, in Elmore township, Daviess county, Indiana, and is the son of William and Susannah (Slimp) Hastings. The paternal grandparents were Joseph and Hannah Elizabeth Hastings, who came to Indiana, when son William was but four years of age, and settled near the town of Odon, Daviess county. To their union were born
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Alice, who married William Noblet; Elizabeth, who married Andrew McCor- mick; James, who married Elizabeth Hammersley; Celia, who married Nathan Hanners; Malhaly, who first married William Faith and then John Long; Isar, who married Nancy McCormick, and Harvey, who married Jane Wesmillan.
John Hastings' father began farming as a very young man, in Elmore township, and continued to farm all of his life. During his time he acquired a full section of land which he divided among his surviving children. First, was an infant child; Levi, who married Rebecca Slinkard; Nancy, who mar- ried George Feltner, who was killed during an engagement in the Civil War; her second husband, Martin Cox, died and her third husband is Rob- ert Bratton; Jefferson, who married Elizabeth Slimp and who died, then married Sarah Manley; Hannah Elizabeth who married Samuel Skomp, their children are George (deceased), Jane (deceased), John, Albert, Charles (deceased), and Mary, the wife of William Lynch; Jams (deceased), who married Margaret Slinkard; George (deceased), who married Nancy Dil- lon; John, the subject of this sketch; Anna, who married Thomas Killion, and William who died in infancy.
John Hastings received his early education in the Elmore township public schools, began farming at an early age and has continued this busi- ness ever since, besides giving some particular attention to the raising of live stock, but at the present time a son Charles gives personal attention to the greater part of the details of farming. Mr. Hastings owns two hun- dred and fifteen acres of fine land and erected all the buildings thereon. His first wife was Sarah Courtney, a daughter of James and Frances (Moore) Courtney; she gave birth to one child, Charles. His second wife, Sarah Dunlap, is a daughter of Clemens and Martha (Robison) Dunlap, and by this marriage he is the father of William, who married Rosa Sharpless; Ada, who married Harvey Sims, and they have four children, Bonnie, Doras, John and Lloyd; Nellie, who married Alva Sims and they have two children, Julia and Louisa ; Hattie, who married Ellis Malone; and Paris. Mr. Hast- ings' wife's parents gave birth to four children, Scott, Sarah, Hattie, deceased, and Cora.
John Hastings has never taken an active interest in politics, but has always been an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He and his family are stanch members of the Christian church and to that denomination lend their financial support. Personally, Mr. Hastings may well feel a sense of pride in his achievements and the honorable position he
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holds among the enterprising and successful citizens of the county in which he lives. Unassuming and genial in disposition, he has ever attended strictly to his own affairs and makes better all who come within the range of his influence.
JAMES W. RUST.
There are individuals in nearly every community who, by reason of pro- nounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses. and command the unbounded esteem of their fellow men. To this energetic and enterprising class the subject of this sketch very properly belongs. He- has devoted himself to his adopted vocation as a farmer, and because of his personal worth and his accomplishments, he is clearly entitled to repre- sentation among the enterprising and progressive men of Daviess county.
James W. Rust was born on March 31, 1874, in Jackson county, Indi- ana, and is the son of Henry and Clara (Robertson) Rust. The former was born in Germany and came to this country when quite a young man and settled in Jackson county, where he died. The latter was a daughter of James and Phoebe (Jacobs) Robertson, early settlers, and entered govern- ment land in Jackson county and at one time possessed twenty-five hundred acres of land. To the marriage union of Henry and Clara Rust were born : James W., Lottie, Lillie, Andrew, and Grace, who is a teacher in the Wash- ington (Indiana) public schools, and the youngest, Charles.
James W. Rust received his early education in the public schools and was married on July 11, 1897, to Eunice Rhoads, a native of Jackson county, Indiana, and daughter of John and Susan (Frank) Rhoads. Subject and wife have three children, John Henry, James Rhoads and Mary Millicent.
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Rust removed to Daviess county from Jackson county and engaged in farming on his present farm, which he pur- chased in 1911. This tract of land consists of two hundred and fifty acres. of fine land, and is well improved, favorably located and its production is better than the average yield. Mr. Rust carries on general farming and stock raising, and is regarded as very successful in whatever he attempts. A number of new buildings have been added to the place in past years and everything is being kept up in good repair. The general aspect is one of pros- perity, due to careful management, keen observation and special attention to the little details which go to make up the things of greater importance.
Mr. Rust has always been identified with the Democratic party, but does
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not take an active interest in political matters. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, religiously, is a member of the Christian church, to which he liberally contributes. Personally, Mr. Rust possesses to a large degree those characteristics which gain friends, and his friends are only limited by the number of his acquaintances. He is de- servedly popular in the community in which he lives, and those who know him are unstinted in their praise of his genial disposition and superior abil- ity, and he has ever held the confidence and esteem of the people with whom he has been associated for so long a period.
CLIFFORD FARRIS.
Numbered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Daviess county, none are held in higher esteem than the young man whose name forms the caption of this review. He has long been actively engaged in agricultural and stock raising pursuits in this county, and his honorable career in this community has but strengthened his hold on the hearts of the people, consequently he is fully entitled to recognition in a work of this character.
Clifford Farris was born on September 28, 1885, on his father's farm in Elmore township, Daviess county, Indiana, and is the son of Milton and Alwilda ( Porter) Farris. Milton Farris was the son of Sanders and Sarah (McGill) Farris, the former a native of Kentucky, who came to Indiana when a very young man and began farming in Greene and Martin counties. He farmed in these locations all of his life and at one time owned sixty acres situated in Greene county. To their union were born five chil- dren, namely: Milton, subject's father; Lindsey, who married Nauma McGuire; Clementine, who married William Henry; Caroline, who died when quite young, and Theodore. The mother of these children died soon after the birth of Theodore, and he was given to a family by the name of Giles, who reared him. All were members of the Christian church.
Milton Farris was born on February 10, 1845, in Greene county, Indi- ana, and his wife, Alvilda Porter, was born on February 26, 1846, in Car- roll county, Ohio, and was a daughter of Nathan and Susannah ( Nofsker) Porter. Mr. and Mrs. Farris are the parents of five children, as follow : John Leonard, born November 25, 1868, married Ella Strickland, and their children are Paul, Leonard and Clara, the last named living in Dalhart,
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Texas; William E., born on November 22, 1870, first married Lovina Roberts and by whom two children were born, Roland and Gray, and for his second wife took Grace Pauley, to whom no children were born; they live in Buffalo, New York; Oscar, born on January 16, 1881, who married Maud Price, and to which union were born Helen and Marie, their resi- dence being in Eureka, Kansas; Porter, born on November 28, 1882, who married Susannah Pershing; they have one child, Mildred, and live in Brazil, Indiana; Clifford, the subject of this review. Part of the family are members of the Christian church and part are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Milton Farris received his early education in the public schools of Martin county, Indiana, and later enlisted in the service of the Union. This occurred on July 21, 1861, and he was assigned to Company F, Twenty- first Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged in military operations against the Confederate states during the following four and one-half years, and participated in the battles of Baton Rouge, Brazen City, and was captured and retained as a prisoner of war in the battle of that city. During the engagement at Baton Rouge he suffered a slight bullet wound in the hip and was honorably discharged on January 1I, 1866. After his return from the battlefields he went to Knox county, where he farmed for a period of twenty years. He moved to his present farm on March 31, 1885, which is located in Elmore township, Daviess county. This farm consists of one hundred and fifteen acres of fine land and, while still belonging to him, he gave up active farming on the place and now leads a life of retirement in the town of Elnora.
Clifford Farris received his early education in the public schools of Elmore township, and afterward began his present occupation as a farmer in that township. He makes his place of residence on his father's farm, where, besides raising a general line of crops, he takes a deep interest in raising live stock, and is successful at it. Mr. Farris recently bought twenty-five acres of land for himself in Elmore township and expects to increase his land holdings from time to time. On February 23, 1907, he was married to Inez E. Dillon, a daughter of Wesley T. Dillon, whose life history is recorded elsewhere in this work under the caption of Franklin D. Dillon.
Having always given his support to the Republican party, Clifford Farris takes an active part in the workings of party affairs. In 1914 he was elected to the office of township trustee and, being possessed of more
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than average intelligence, will have no difficulty in discharging the duties of that office to the entire satisfaction of the community at large. Per- sonally, Mr. Farris is regarded as a good business man, of excellent judg- ment and foresight and, being strictly progressive, keeps well abreast of the times. He has won the respect and esteem of all who know him for his friendly manner, genial disposition and is looked upon by all as a sub- stantial and progressive citizen of this section of the county.
JAMES P. TAYLOR.
A career marked by earnest and indefatigable application to his life work has been that of James P. Taylor, a substantial and honored citizen of Madison township, Daviess county, Indiana. Although Mr. Taylor was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, he has long maintained his residence in Daviess county, during all of which time his life has been an open book to be read by his fellow men. He was a valiant soldier in the Civil War, and his fidelity was of the type which has characterized his actions in all of his relations and gained for him the confidence and esteem of the public and unbounded respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact. James P. Taylor is widely known throughout Daviess county and is well liked by a host of people who know him so well.
James P. Taylor was born on July 12, 1845, in Lawrence county, Indi- ana. He is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Garten) Taylor, the former of whom was born on August 13, 1820, in Monroe county, Indiana, and the latter born in June, 1827. Samuel Taylor's father, Matthew S. Taylor, was born in Pennsylvania. The father of Matthew S. Taylor was Robert Tay- lor, a native of Ireland, who was married in his native country and who came to America in pioneer times, locating in Pennsylvania. Matthew S. Taylor, the grandfather of James P., married when a young man and re- moved from Pennsylvania to Monroe county, where he farmed during the remainder of his active life. He died upon the farm where he settled upon coming to Indiana. His children were Robert, Henry, John, Samuel, Jane and Ann. Samuel Taylor, the father of James P., was educated in the dis- trict schools of his community and was reared on a farm. He attended school, however, less than six months altogether. When James P. was two years old, Samuel Taylor, his father, removed to Madison township, Daviess
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county, where he lived the remainder of his life. He owned a farm of two hundred acres. This community was a wilderness when he removed to it, and he cleared much of the land. Samuel and Elizabeth (Garten) Taylor had ten children: James P., the subject of this sketch; Mary Ann, who married George M. Critzlow; John, who married Elizabeth Hastings; Zimri M., who married Lucinda Conard; Lydia, who died in infancy; Almeda, who married John P. York; Lucinda, who died at the age of sixteen years; Will- iam H., who married Orpha E. Orsborn; Vivia E., who married Joseph Lawyer, and Samuel, who died young. Samuel Taylor was an old-line Whig and, later, a member of the Republican party.
James P. Taylor, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the dis- trict schools of Madison township. When a young man he enlisted in the Union army and served valiantly during the dark days of the Civil War. He enlisted on August 1, 1862, at the age of seventeen, and served about three years, being discharged on July 17, 1865. He fought courageously in the battles of Franklin, Tennessee, Nashville, Fort Fisher, Fort Ander- son, Bluntville, Tennessee, Morristown, Raytown, Walkersford, Fort Zolli- coffer and in the siege of Atlanta, eighteen battles in all. In 1864 he joined Sherman's army at Buzzard Roost and was in all of the engagements from Resaca to Atlanta. He served first in Company I, Sixty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry (mounted), but was dismounted when he joined the service. At Fort Anderson Mr. Taylor was wounded in the side of the head. After coming home from the war he started farming in Madison township and has farmed here ever since. He owns eighty acres of land and has comfortable, well-kept buildings on the farm, which he built with his own hands.
On November 24, 1887, Mr. Taylor was married to Agnes J. Cavnes, the daughter of Sion and Agnes (Gough) Cavnes. To this union two chil- dren have been born, Viola B. and Leota E. Viola B., who was born on December 27, 1868, died on April 10, 1900. She married William H. McCarter and they had three children, Paul T., Dewey R. and Delphia C., the latter being deceased. Since the death of his mother, Paul T. McCarter has lived with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. Leota E. Taylor, who was born on July 28, 1873, married Dawson B. Ogden and has eight children, Rebecca Josephine, Phoebe B., Helvia, Pauline, Helen, Margaret, Vella J. and Autumn.
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