History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 60

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123

USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 60

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George Abraham, the paternal grandfather, was a native of England, and settled in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1818. He followed farming all his life, and lived in Dearborn county until his death.

William L. Abraham, through his straightforward and business-like meth- ods of transacting business, has won the confidence of the community in which he lives, which reputation has resulted in his present prosperous business.

MRS. ERMINA C. SMITH.

Mrs. Ermina C. Smith, whose name introduces this biographical sketch, is a woman of good education and possesses many fine qualities, taking great pride in her Virginia ancestry, who came west in pioneer days by oxen team. Mrs. Smith has performed well her part in the progress of the world, and reared a fine family of children, who have grown to be citizens of honor in the various communities in which they reside.

Ermina McGee was born on March 14, 1842, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a daughter of William and Margarette (Wisby) McGee. She was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati, and lived there with her parents until her marriage.

William and Margarette (Wisby) McGee were both born in Virginia. The former was born in June, 1800, and after marriage, moved his family by

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oxen team to Cincinnati, where he engaged in the saddlery business for a period of forty years, and then bought a farm on the Redding pike, near Cincinnnati, where he followed farming. Later he was a building contractor until his death, which occurred in 1889, when he was eighty-nine years of age. He was a Republican, and took part in affairs of public interest. He served as school trustee in Hamilton county, Ohio, for many years. He was a member of the Universalist church, of which he was an officer. Mr. McGee had but one brother, John McGee, who was a brick-mason by trade, and lived in Kansas.

Margarette (Wisby) McGee, the wife of William McGee, was born in 1805, in Virginia, where her parents were pioneer settlers. Mr. and Mrs. McGee were the parents of eleven children, as follow : Mary Jane, Semiramis, Zemia, Philamelea, William L., Edwin, Ermina C., Minerva H., Francis M., Walter Scott, and one who died young. Mary became the wife of John Raper, and had eleven children. Semiramis married William A. Barnes, and after his death, married Dr. J. Pettijohn, who also died, and she was mar- ried, thirdly, to a Mr. Knapp. Edwin is married and lives in Seattle, Wash- ington, and has three children. Francis M .. who married Catherine Stout, lives at Cincinnati and they have three children.

Ermina C. McGee was united in marriage on March 14, 1865, with Orson Smith, son of Jonathan Anthony and Lucinda (Babcock) Smith. He was born in the state of New York on October 4, 1837, and came west overland, settling near Versailles, Ripley county, Indiana, where he was edu- cated. Mr. McGee served as a private in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, and was twice wounded. He bought a farm of eighty acres in Ripley county, which he traded for property at Wright's Corner, and again sold and moved to Sparta township, living there seventeen years. His next move was to a farm near Moores Hill, where he died on March 15, 1901, aged sixty-three years. Mr. Smith was a life-long Republican. He was a member of the Universalist church, and belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic. After his death, Mrs. Smith sold the farm. This union was blessed with five chil- dren, namely : Maude E., Grace E., Phila M., Ethel V., and one who died in in- fancy. Maude E. became the wife of Francis A. Cole, a barber, and is now liv- ing at Mansfield. Missouri. They had four children, Hazel. Merl. Earl, and one who died young. Phila M. married Charles M. Givan, a carpenter, and is living at Anderson, Indiana. Ethel V. is the wife of William Steinmetz, and resides at Indianapolis, where her husband is in railroad work. Grace E. be- came the wife of Irving P. Givan, a son of George M. and Anna (Jaquith)

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Givan, and this union has been blessed with three children: Clyde, born on March 11, 1897; Roy, February 2, 1901 ; and Gilbert J., November 30, 1902.

Jonathan Anthony and Lucinda (Babcock) Smith, father of Orson Smith, were natives of New York state, and came west in early pioneer days, settling on a farm in Ripley county, where they spent their remaining days, and were quite old when they died. Their children were, Washington, Orson, Susan L., Simon, and Columbus, who died young. Washington was married to Ellen Ludwic, and lives in Illinois. They have three children. Susan L. married the Rev. Elisha Caldwell, and lives at Washington, Indiana. Simon mar- ried Martha Helmich, and they have ten children, Elmer, Everet, Howard, Luvilla, Orson, Herbert, Belva, Vivian, and two who died in infancy.

Mrs. Ermina C. Smith has many friends in Sparta township, and she is interested in all the good works of this community.

LLEWELLYN E. DAVIES.

Llewellyn E. Davies, lawyer, Aurora, Indiana, was born on January 5. 1885, in Mason county, West Virginia, and is a son of Samuel E. and Nellie I. (Wilson) Davies. He has lived at Aurora since he was a small lad of seven or eight years. He was graduated from the Aurora high school, and then entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1906, being admitted to the bar during that year. Mr. Davies at once began practicing his profession at Aurora; at first in partnership with William S. Holman, Jr., under the firm name of Holman & Davies, which arrangement was continued from 1906 until 1909, when Mr. Davies formed a new part- nership with Frank B. Shutts, which lasted up to January 1, 1911. Since that time he has been practicing alone. Mr. Davies is a staunch Republican, and is a member of the First Baptist church of Aurora.

The Rev. Samuel E. Davies, and his wife, Nellie I. (Wilson) Davies, parents of the subject of this biography, are natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Mr. Davies was a graduate of Dennison University at Gran- ville. Ohio, and of Chicago University. He has been a Baptist preacher from young manhood, and is at present pastor of the First Baptist church, at Brazil, Indiana. Mrs. Davies died in 1894, aged thirty-four years, leaving three children: Llewellyn E., of Aurora; Gladys G., a teacher in the high school at Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Larene B., a teacher in the high school at Orleans, Indiana.

The paternal grandfather was Daniel Davies, and his wife was Mary (Davies) Davies. They were natives of Wales, and were early settlers in

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Mason county, West Virginia, where they died at past middle age, leaving a good-sized family of children, as follow : Benjamin, Daniel, James, Samuel, William, John, Thomas and Mary.

The history of the maternal grandparents is lost.

Mr. Davies holds the confidence and respect of the entire community in which he practices his profession and makes his home.

JAMES H. SHUTTS.

A list of the representative citizens of Dillsboro, Clay township, Dearborn county, Indiana, would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of James H. Shutts, one of the older citizens and the immediate subject of this sketch. Mr. Shutts deserves special mention owing to the fact that he was one of the faithful sons of the Union in the dark days when the integrity of our nation was threatened, and was among those who laid his all upon the altar of his country's need.

James H. Shutts is a native of this country, having been born on Decem- ber 29, 1843, a son of Minard and Emily (Hinds) Shutts. Minard Shutts was a son of Isaac who is thought was born in New York, where he is known to have lived for a time at least, and who with his wife and family later became pioneers in the wilds of Ohio. In the latter years of his life he came to In- diana, where he died at a very advanced age.

The birthplace of Minard Shutts is not definitely known. He may have been born while the family lived in New York, but it is thought he first saw the light of day in Ohio. When a young man he mastered the cooper trade and when twenty-four years of age purchased his first farm, a tract of sixty acres, located near where Cold Spring station now stands. That land he retained for three years, when he sold it and purchased a farm of sixty-one acres, west of Dillsboro, where he passed the remainder of his life. His death occurred in 1862, when forty-five years of age. Emily Hinds, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio and died in Dillsboro when eighty- seven years of age.

James H. Shutts was one of a family of three boys, being the eldest. The others were William and Isaac. William was one of Uncle Sam's Indian fighters in the West during the years when the red man, strongly resenting the encroachments of his white brother, caused such terror among the settlers on the frontier. William and James were both in the Civil War, James en- listing when but seventeen years old in Company F, Thirty-seventh Regi-

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ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served three years and two months and during that time was in some of the important engagements of the war. among them being Stone River, Resaca, Chickamauga and others. After his time of enlistment had expired, he returned to his home and took up the coop- er's trade, which he mastered and which he followed for fully twenty-five years. Wearying of his trade, he opened up a grocery store in Dillsboro, which he operated for three years, when he retired from the active affairs of life.

In September, 1865, James H. Shutts was united in marriage with Jane Pearson, daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Perlee) Pearson, of Dearborn county. Mr. Pearson was born on boardship en route from England, when his parents were immigrating to this country and Mrs. Pearson was born in Dela- ware, Ohio, coming to this country when a young woman.

Mr. Shutts is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, serving as justice of the peace at the present time. He holds his fraternal affiliation with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic through William Spear Post, No. 89, at Dillsboro. Mr. and Mrs. Shutts have never had any children.

WILLIAM H. MENDELL.

Among the well-known citizens of other counties in the great Hoosier state who were born and reared in Dearborn county, Indiana, is William H. Mendell, a prosperous business man of Indianapolis, who for more than twenty years has conducted a grocery in the capital city of the Hoosier state. By both birth and marriage he is connected with two of the substantial families of Dearborn county, families which have had a conspicuous part in the developments of private enterprise in Dearborn county. Although not now a resident of Dearborn county, Mr. and Mrs. Mendell are attached to this splendid county by the warmest ties of affection and family home.

William H. Mendell, a native of Manchester township, Dearborn county, Indiana, was born on March 24, 1871. He is the son of Willard and Martha (Stevenson) Mendell, both of whom were born in the Hoosier state, the former in Ohio county and the later in Dearborn county. They were married in Dearborn county and had as the fruit of their marriage nine children, of whom William H. was the fifth of the family. Both of his parents are now deceased. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Will- ard Mendell was identified with the Republican party. He was a carpenter by trade. Seven of the Mendell children are still living.

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William H. Mendell received his education at W'rights Corner in Dear- born county, Indiana, near which he remained until twenty-one years old. Just after reaching his majority, he went to Morristown, Indiana, and there in partnership with his brother, Joseph A, Mendell, engaged in the grocery business for six months. From Morristown, Mr. Mendell went to Indianapolis and established a grocery at the corner of Michigan and West Streets. After having engaged in business at this location for eight years, Mr. Mendell sold out and in 1901 established a grocery at the corner of California street and Indiana avenue. He carries a stock worth approximately twenty-five hundred dollars and for a number of years has enjoyed a large and lucrative patronage. Mr. Mendell not only carries a complete and up-to-date line of groceries, but he likewise carries a complete line of meats.

On September 30, 1900, William H. Mendell was married at Wrights Corner, Dearborn county, Indiana, to Ada C. Johnston, a daughter of George Washington and Mollie (Bainum) Johnston, the former of whom is the son of George Johnston, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. George W. Johnston is one of the pioneers of Dearborn county, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising all his life. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Johnston now resides on a farm near Aurora, in Dearborn county.

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Mendell are the parents of two children, Joseph Emery and William H., Jr., both of whom live at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Mendell are affiliated with the Methodist church. Mr. Men- dell is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. The Mendells reside at 1802 Schurmann avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana.

MRS. EMMA SMALL.

The subject of this biography and her husband were both born in this county, and have done well their part in bringing about the present high standard of living in this community.

Mrs. Emma Small, wife of Elias Small, deceased, was born on November 26, 1853, in Washington township, near Taber Ridge, and is a daughter of David D. and Catherine (Clark) Durham. She resides at Wilmington, Hogan township, Dearborn county, Indiana, where she and Mr. Small made their home for many years. The place is improved with one of the most beautiful brick residences in the township, and in addition to which, Mrs. Small owns two farms, of which she is sole manager.

Of her parents, David D. and Catherine (Clark) Durham, Mrs. Small

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remembers but little, as she was quite young at the time of their death. Her father was born in Virginia, and her mother in Connecticut, and were among the very early settlers of the village of Wilmington. Hogan township. Her father was a very fine wood worker, being employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as a coach builder, which business he followed for many years.

The grandparents of Mrs. Small were natives of Connecticut, and were early settlers in Hogan township, where they were farmers. They had a small family of children.

Emma Durham was married on August 25, 1872, to Elias Small, son of Fred. Harrison W., and Catherine Small. In his early days Fred. H. W. Small operated fruit boats on the Ohio river, and in later life, he followed farming in Hogan township until his death. Elias Small was born on July 30, 1850, in Hogan township, Dearborn county, where he was educated in the common schools. After leaving school he commenced farming, which oc- cupation he followed all his life and in which he was very successful. He was a thrifty and energetic worker and with able co-operation of his wife soon accumulated good farm lands. To this union four children were born, David, Joseph, Addie and Harry, all now married. Addie became the wife of Ralph Prichard; David is married to Edna Conger; Joseph was united in marriage, with Katherine Radspinner; Harry married Gertrude Abdon and lives in Dearborn county.

Mr. Small died on May 20, 1912, and his demise was deeply regretted by his many friends, among whom he was held in high esteem.

JOHN FREDERICK HOMANN.

Born in Germany, and reared in America, Mr. Homann has blended his thrifty German instincts with the progress and push of his adopted country, the result of which is a highly satisfactory combination from a business stand- point. Prosperity and good fortune have followed his every venture. He has always been a public-spirited man, taking a deep interest in everything that has stood for the best in his home town, and is now rewarded with one of its principal offices, that of postmaster, which he is amply qualified to fill.

John Frederick Homann, postmaster, Cold Springs, Sparta township, was born on December 20, 1848, at Hanover, Germany, near Celle, and is a son of John Frederick and Fredreeka (Wrede) Homann. He was educated in Germany, and when fourteen years of age began to learn the shoemaking

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trade, completing his apprenticeship in 1870, when he came to America. land- ing at New York City on May 7, 1870, and went direct to Chicago. He re- mained there for a short time, and then made a tour of Illinois, Michigan, Ten- nessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, and in the spring of 1871. settled at Cin- cinnati and engaged in the shoemaking trade. In 1875 he came to Cold Springs and purchased the general store of Henry Wilkining. which he successfully conducted until 1913. Mr. Homann was appointed postmaster of Cold Springs, and has held the office for the past thirty-three years.

John Frederick Homann, Sr., father of our subject, was born in 1826, in Hanover, Germany, and his wife, Fredreeka (Wrede) Homann, was also a native of Hanover, where they lived all their lives. They were prosperous people, owning a large farm. Mr. Homann died in 1875, aged fifty-one years, and his wife was fifty-five years old when she died, in 1881. They had two children, John Frederick, subject of this sketch, and Caroline, who mar- ried Henry Jager, and lived in Wensen. Germany. She has one daughter, Henrietta, who is also married and living in Germany. the mother of three children. John Frederick Homann, Sr .. had two sisters, Caroline and Louisa.

The history of the maternal grandfather is lost.

John Frederick Homann was united in marriage on August 13, 1874, with Emma Schilling, daughter of August and Dorothy (Ideker) Schilling. She was born on August 24, 1855, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and was educated in Dearborn county, Indiana, and lived with her parents until her marriage. Their children are as follows : John Frederick, George A., Augusta E., Char- lotte M .; and two adopted children, Fay F. and Marie D.

John Frederick Homann, the third, was married to Alice Harwood, and resides at Washington, Indiana, where he is a successful dentist. They have two children, Frederick and Virginia. George A. was married to Cora Trietch, and is living near Dillsboro on a farm. They have three children, Arthur F., Charlotte A., and Leonard. Augusta E. became the wife of Rev. Theodore Henkel, of the Lutheran church, and resides at Hillards, Ohio. They have four children, Paul, Richard, Kurt, and Alfred. Charlotte M. is the wife of the Rev. William F. Henkel, of the Lutheran church, and is living at Ashland, Kentucky. This union has been blessed with two children, Luther and Vera. Fay Manleif became the wife of Harry Smith, and resides at Cold Springs. They have one daughter, Louise. Mary Richardson is living at home.

August and Dorothy Schilling, parents of Mrs. John Frederick Homann,

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were natives of Hanover, Germany. The former was born on December 9, 1825, and the latter on January 5, 1829. Mr. Schilling immigrated to America in 1849, landing at New Orleans, coming soon after to Cincinnati, Ohio. He was married at Delhi, Hamilton county, Ohio, June 23, 1854, to . Dorothy Ideker, who came to America with her sisters when a young woman. They settled at Delhi, where they followed farming, and later moved to Dearborn county, Indiana. They were the parents of five children, Emma, August, John, Dora and Henry. Mrs. Schilling died in 1896, aged sixty-three years. Mr. Schilling died in 1885, aged fifty-nine years.

Mr. and Mrs. Homann occupy a position of high esteem in the com- munity in which they reside and where they made many sincere friends. Mr. Homann took a leading part in the establishment of the Lutheran church at Cold Springs, which was built in 1893, and helped to secure the funds for its erection. Rev. R. Eirich was the first pastor. Mr. Homann served for many years as secretary of this church.

WILLIAM TRABOR TURNER.

Among the enterprising and progressive farmers of Sparta township, Dearborn county, Indiana, is William Trabor Turner, who for a number of years has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He belongs to a class of men who furnish a fine example of steadfast perseverance and a strong illustration of what may be accomplished by the individual who makes up his mind to do his share of the pulling, when necessity places him in the harness of human endeavor.

William Trabor Turner, farmer, of Sparta, township, Dearborn county, Indiana, was born where he now lives, January 19, 1859. He is a son of Will- iam and Catherine (Lippard) Turner. He was educated at the district schools, and later followed agriculture, under the instruction of his father, and after the death of his father, he took the farm over, bought sixty-five acres more, making ninety-five acres in all. Mr. Turner has given his life-long support to the Republican party. He is a member of the chapter, Royal Arch Masons.

William Turner was born near Manchester, England, in 1810, and came to the United States when ten years of age with his parents, who located at Cincinnati and who later came to Sparta township and soon after took one hundred and sixty acres from the government, at a cost of one dollar and

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twenty-five cents an acre, to which they later added forty acres more. Mr. Turner lived here with his parents until their death, and then went into the general store business at Chesterville, Indiana, and at the end of eight years, sold out and bought part of the old farm, where he lived until his death, which occurred in February, 1880. He was quite a traveler, and made two trips back to England. Mr. Turner always took an active interest in public enterprises, and was well informed on all topics of the time. He al- ways gave his loyal support to the Republican party. He was an earnest mem- ber of the Episcopal church. His fraternal membership was with the Masonic lodge.

Catherine Lippard was born in August, 1827, at Hamilton, Ohio, and when young moved to Ripley county, Indiana, and was educated in Wash- ington township, where she lived until her marriage to William Turner. This union was blessed with three children : William, and two who died in infancy. Catherine Lippard was the second wife of William Turner, his first wife being Rebecca Noble, by whom he had two children: Sara, who died aged twelve years, and Mary M., who was born on October 17, 1856, at Chesterville, Sparta township. Mary M. was educated and lived at Chester- ville until her marriage to John H. Stockwell, of Ripley county, who was a school teacher in early life, but was later employed by the Altman Threshing Machine Company, as general manager of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and part of Kentucky, for fifteen years with headquarters at Indianapolis. Mr. Stock- well died in 1900, aged forty-two years.

William Turner, the paternal grandfather, was born in England, and brought his family to America. His children were : William, Mary Ann, Sam- uel, Betsey, John and Sarah. Mary Ann, now deceased, was married to Thomas Obder, and lived at Chesterfield, Indiana. They had three children, John, Mary, and one who died in infancy. Samuel, now deceased, was mar- ried to Nancy Huntington, and lived in Sparta township on a farm. They had five children, George, Cora, Addie, Clara and Stanley. Betsey Turner became the wife of Alexander Walker, lived in Sparta township, where her husband followed agriculture, and both are deceased. They had six chil- dren, Jane, Mary, William, George, Elizabeth and Ella. John married Anne Noble; he was a farmer of Sparta township. Their children were seven in number, Sara, Frank, William S., Harry, Fannie, Edward and Herbert. Sarah became the wife of Frank Elrod and moved to Ripley county, where they followed farming. They had four children, John, George, Amy and one other.

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William Trabor Turner was married on December 31, 1885, to Effie Chance, daughter of Hiram and Eliza (Thompson) Chance. She was born in 1864, in Sparta township, and lived there until her marriage.

Mr. Turner has won the confidence and esteem of the entire community in which he lives by his pleasing address and his industrious habits.

MRS. LAURA EWAN KRUSE.

Among the leaders in the social life of this township is a woman whose ability to make and retain friends is far above the average. Gifted with those qualities of mind and heart which endear her to those who know her, the subject of this sketch has, from early womanhood, been prominent in the community ; a contributing cause being the fact that for several generations, her ancestors have been among the best-known of the residents of this township and county.

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History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 60

Author: Archibald Shaw Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1123

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123