History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 72

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 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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church, Cleveland, Ohio. They have one child, Alice. John Torbet died when twelve and Robert at six years of age. Mary is teaching school at Niobrara, Nebraska.

The paternal grandfather was Robert Allen Torbet, and his wife was Keziah (Scott) Torbet. They were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio about 1832, settling in Holmes county, on a fine tract of land covering eighty acres, where they lived until their death. Mr. Torbet added to his acres until he owned one hundred and sixty, and followed farming all his life. He was a Whig, and at its organization became identified with the Republican party and was quite prominent and active in a public way. He was a "Squire," and wrote many wills and settled many estates for his neighbors, and was one of the pioneer school teachers in northern Ohio until long after his mar- riage. Mr. Torbet was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Keziah (Scott) Torbet, was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, where she was married. They were the parents of ten children, David, Elizabeth, James, Eleanor, Hiram, Albert, Margarette, Walter, Robert S., and one who died in infancy.

Charles Edgar Torbet was united in marriage, October 29, 1903, to Maude Bainter, daughter of Charles A. and Mary Ellen (Davis) Bainter. She was born on March 19, 1874. This union has been blessed with two children : Virginia, born on November 20, 1905; and Esther, June 6, 1908.

Charles A. and Mary Ellen (Davis) Bainter, parents of Mrs. Charles E. Torbet, were both natives of Muskingum county, Ohio, but lived the greater portion of their lives at Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Ohio.

Professor Torbet is well liked, and through his fearless method of thwart- ing discouraging situations in bringing his work to a high standard, he has the admiration of all with whom he is associated.

WILLIAM H. GREENE.

Among the older agriculturists of Clay township, Dearborn county, Indiana, is the subject of this brief biographical sketch. For more than half a century Mr. Greene has conducted the business of his farm and in that time has seen methods of tilling the soil and harvesting crops make some radical changes. In that time, too, he has seen the status of the farmer change from what was once considered a most humble calling to what is now regarded as

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the most independent and elevating life a man can lead. Mr. Greene has not been slow to take advantage of these changes as they came about and has always been regarded as one of the most up-to-date farmers of his community.

William H. Greene is a native of the Blue Grass state, born in Boone county, on February 27, 1833, a son of John C. and Sallie S. (Green) Greene. John C. was also born in Boone county, the date of his birth being February 21, 1802. He received his education in the subscription schools of his native county and when a young man mastered the art of the flour miller. He followed his trade for many years and in 1846 retired from that life, pur- chasing a farm on which he lived until his death, in August of 1858, at the age of fifty-six years. John C. Greene was a son of William and Mary (Cochran) Greene, both of whom were born in the state of Virginia, where they grew to maturity and were married. In the early days of the state of Kentucky they came into that state, locating near Lexington, afterward remov- ing to Boone county where they engaged in farming for the balance of their lives. In early life, William Greene had followed flat-boating on the waters. of the Ohio. He lived to be quite an old man, his death occurring in 1849. William Greene and wife were the parents of a large family, some of them be- ing Edward, John C., Ruben C., Sylvester, Morton B., Ellina and Mary.

Sallie S. Green, mother of the immediate subject, was born in the state of Connecticut and in her youth received a excellent education. She attended a convent near her home, later finishing her studies in the high schools of Hartford and New Haven, termed "academies" in those days. It was her am- bition to be an instructor to the children on the frontier and in 1820 she journeyed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and from that point took passage on a family boat for Boone county, Kentucky. There she found a fertile field for her efforts as school teacher and there too she met and married John C. Greene. To their union were born six children, namely : Joseph and John, deceased; Martha, Elizabeth, William H. and George. Martha married John: Ross and makes her home in Missouri. She is the mother of three children, only one of them, Verner, surviving. Elizabeth became the wife of Henry Klenkenbeard and has three daughters, Marguerite, Louella and Elizabeth. George enlisted for service in the Civil War, and while at the front received the wound which resulted in his death.

William H. Greene received his education in the schools of Boone county, Kentucky, receiving also valuable instruction from his excellent mother, and when twenty-three years of age engaged in the tanning business at Montgomery, Indiana, in company with his uncle, Matthew Greene .. There

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he remained for five years, when he returned to his childhood home in Ken- tucky and passed the following six years. In 1864 in company with his brother, Joseph, William Greene purchased a tract of one hundred and fifty- five acres in Clay township, Dearborn county, Indiana, and on that farm he still remains, his brother Joseph having passed from this life some years since.

William H. Greene was married on November 10, 1858, to Susan Dur- ham, a daughter of John and Mary (Fields)' Durham, originally of Kentucky but later of Montgomery county, this state. Susan Durham was one of a family of five children, being the third child in order of birth. The others are Henry C., John, Mary F., and James W. John married Lee Ann Tucker and resides near Indianapolis. He has five children, Omer, Frank, John, Harry and Mary. Mary F. became the wife of G. Hall Adams, and re- sides in Hendricks county, this state. James W. married Elvira Cowan and lives in Iowa. They are the parents of two children.

To William H. Greene and wife were born four children, two sons and two daughters, Joseph H., Minnie May, Sallie S. and Harry D. Minnie May became the wife of Hansel Gray and makes her home in Tennessee. Joseph C. resides in Dillsboro. Sallie S. remains with her parents. Harry D. makes his home in Indianapolis where he is employed in the state capitol in the office of the secretary of state.

The William H. Greene family is one of the representative families of this district, honorable, upright and excellent people in every respect. Both Mr. and Mrs. Green can trace their ancestry back to Colonial times, Mrs. Greene being the great-granddaughter of a soldier of the Revolutionary War and Mr. Greene tracing back to Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of South Carolina, a general in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Greene has ever enjoyed the respect and esteem of those who know him for his friendly manner, his business ability, his interest in public affairs and his upright living and he is regarded by all as one of the substantial and worthy citizens of the community in which he lives.

CHARLES M. BOWERS.

The true glory of a city lies in the character of its citizens, and the true character of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch stands out in the searchlight of public opinion with a background of honor and stability of which any man might well be proud. Well supplied with a good stock of

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high ideals for a foundation, which have always been followed up with a full share of energy and ambition, Mr. Bowers has not found the road to success filled with as many obstacles as he would have done had he started out in life unequipped with these splendid qualities.

Charles M. Bowers, insurance and investments, Moores Hill, Indiana, was born on November 18, 1860, in the city where he resides. He is a son of Andrew James and Margarette (Shockley) Bowers. Mr. Bowers was educated at Moores Hill College, after which he was for several years man- ager of a drug store of which his father was proprietor, and later accepted a position as special agent and adjuster for a fire insurance company, contin- uing in the work for ten years, ending in 1897. His territory covered the central states. He left this work to take charge of the district management of the Mutual Life Insurance Company, of New York, covering the southeast portion of Indiana, remaining with this company until 1905, and during which time he organized the first independent telephone company in this section, which is still in operation. He is the proprietor of the Milan mill and elevator, of Milan, Indiana, one of the foremost interests of that thriving town. Mr. Bowers, with his associates, organized the State Bank of Milan, and also the Dillsboro State Bank, and later organized the Moores Hill State Bank, all of which institutions have proven most useful and successful. In both of the last named banks he is a director. Mr. Bowers is a Democrat, of which party he has always been a loyal advocate, and is one of the board of trustees of Moores Hill College.

Andrew James Bowers, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on August 25, 1828, at Moores Hill, and was a son of Henry James and Rizpath (Morgan) Bowers. His education was obtained at College Hill, Ohio. He was a graduate of Miami Medical College, and the Ohio Medical College, and later he associated himself with his father in the practice of medicine. In politics Doctor Bowers was an ardent Democrat, and in 1882 was elected to the Indiana Legislature, and re-elected three times, by a large majority in each instance. In his profession he was always well in the lead, a prominent member of the County, State and National Medical Associations. Marvelous discoveries entirely changed methods of practice in his time, but being a vigilant student, Doctor Bowers was among the first to take advantage of every forward step in both medicine and surgery. He was a member of the Baptist church and was one of the charter members of the Moores Hill congregation. His wife was Margarette Shockley, of splendid Maryland pioneer parentage.

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Henry James and Rizpath (Morgan) Bowers were the paternal grand- parents of Charles M. Bowers, and natives of Marblehead, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, respectively. They were born about 1800. Henry James Bowers was a physician. He came to Lawrenceburg in 1823, and associated himself with the then prominent pioneer practitioner, Doctor Percival, and in 1827 located at Moores Hill. His patients scattered at long distances in the then wilderness, were visited at first principally on foot, there being then no roads worthy of the name. On securing a good saddle horse later, he rode overland to Massachusetts and brought his father, the Rev. James Bowers, an Episcopal minister, his mother and two sisters, Mary and Julia, west with him. The trip was made in the winter time, principally by sleigh to Pittsburgh, and thence down the Ohio by primitive boat service to Lawrence- burg. Dr. Henry J. Bowers was active in organizing Moores Hill College, and the college records show that he was secretary of the first meeting, held in 1854, to perfect the organization. Doctor Bowers' influence was used to advantage in securing the present location of the Baltimore & Ohio South- western Railroad (then the Ohio & Mississippi) through this locality, and of which company he was an original stockholder. Dr. Henry J. Bowers' resi- dence on the eminence just west of Moores Hill station is still standing, and at the time the railroad was built was reputed to be the finest dwelling along the line between Cincinnati and St. Louis. The confidence he enjoyed of his neighbors and citizens of this locality is shown by the record he made .as their representative in the state Legislature on five occasions, three times as a member of the House of Representatives and twice in the state Senate. He was also a member of the constitutional convention, elected each time to represent the Democratic party. His son, Marmion H. Bowers, was editor and publisher of one of the first papers in Dearborn county, the Aurora Spec- tator. 'Marmion Bowers later went to Texas, where he became prominent in the legal profession and was a member of the state Senate at the time of his early death in 1871. Had he lived he would have in all probability suc- ceeded to the United States Senate, for he was in direct line for this pro- motion.

The daughters of the Rev. James Bowers were the first teachers in the public schools in Dearborn county, away back about 1829. Mary Bowers later married Zebulon Pike Wardell, a nephew of General Pike, the famous ex- plorer to whose memory the famous Colorado snow-capped peak stands as a monument. Mr. and Mrs. Wardell went to Louisiana, where a prosperous banking business was engaged in prior to the Civil War. Mrs.' Wardell met

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a tragic death at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, when the steam- boat, "Oliver Bierne," was destroyed by fire on the Mississippi river, near Vicksburg, in October, 1891. She was a passenger en route from St. Louis to New Orleans, where she had been going every fall to spend the winter. Mrs. Wardell had retained her faculties wonderfully and her wide-awake in- terest in the current literature of the day, together with almost incessant trav- el,made her a charming companion and associate. Tall, straight and of queen- ly bearing, an interested and shrewd observer, few persons since time began ever saw more marvelous changes than this remarkable woman who taught the first public school in Dearborn county. "Down in Cincinnati, where they burn spermaceti candles" was a popular saying current in her early days.

Charles M. Bowers was married on October 7, 1884, to Flora A. Crozier, daughter of the Hon. John Crozier and Angeline (Wilson) Crozier, an old family prominent in Dearborn county. To this union were born two children, Millard A. and Florence A., both of whom have been educated at Moores Hill College.

Millard A. Bowers, of the firm of C. M. Bowers & Son, is the active manager of the "Crystal Springs" farms in both Dearborn and Ripley coun- ties. A herd of royally-bred Holstein-Friesian cattle is one of the features of these productive properties.

Like the past three generations briefly sketched above, the present repre- sentatives of this old and honorable family are always foremost in every good work to unselfishly promote the public weal.

JAMES LOFTUS.

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch springs from the class of our pioneer citizens who were not too proud to do the work which first came to their hands. It is from this class that our substantial families have been built up in America, and James Loftus may well be proud to call himself a descendant of such.

James Loftus was born on May 23, 1857, in Dearborn county, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Phoena) Loftus. He received his early education in the public schools, and later attended Moores Hill College. After leaving school, he went to Minnesota for a short time, and returned to take charge of his father's farm, remaining there until eight years after his marriage,

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when he bought a tract of one hundred acres, which he improved with good buildings, including a blacksmith shop, which he still operates. He later bought sixty acres more, and now has one of the finest farms in the town- ship. Mr. Loftus has always given his support to the Republican party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, of which he is past grand chancellor.

John Loftus was born in 1827, in Ireland, and at the age of twenty-one years came to the United States, landing at New Orleans in May, 1848, and from there he went to Cincinnati and engaged his services as a coachman for a short time, and then came to Aurora, where he followed the same vocation until 1865, when he bought one hundred and fifty-five acres of land in Sparta township, on which he lived until his death, in September, 1903, at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. Loftus was a Democrat, and he belonged to the Cath- olic church. His parents were William and Catherine (Collins) Loftus. His wife, Elizabeth (Phoena) Loftus, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to America as a young woman, settling at Aurora, where she was married. They were the parents of four children, John, James, Thomas, and Patrick. Mrs. Loftus had one son by her first husband, Michael H. Heffrein. John Loftus was married to Hattie Crosby, and lives at Versailles, Indiana. They have three children, Grace, Joseph and Martin. Thomas was married to Ada James, and makes his home at Lexington, Indiana, where he is one of the wealthiest citizens. Patrick married Nettie Scribner, and moved to Hamilton, Ohio. They have had four children, Raymond, Inez, Arthur, and one who died early in life. Michael H. Heiffrein is married and lives at Denver, Colo- rado.

William and Catherine (Collins) Loftus were natives of Ireland. They came to America and settled at Cincinnati, where they died, leaving six children, Patrick, Americus, Thomas, William, Mary, and John.

James Loftus was united in marriage on February 23, 1888, to Mary Shuman, daughter of John and Martha Ann (Thompson) Shuman. She was born on September 27, 1861, near Dillsboro, and when young, was em- ployed in the home of W. S. Tyier, of Dillsboro, until her marriage. To this union were born four children, as follow: Leroy, born on December 6, 1888, at Dillsboro; Edna E., September 17, 1891, died when seventeen years old; Albert J., July 20, 1893; Lester D., September 20, 1903, and died on October 3, 1903.

John Shuman, father of Mrs. James Loftus, was born at Aurora, and his wife, Martha Ann (Thompson) Shuman, was a native of Chesterville. Mr. Shuman lived in Sparta township all of his life, where he farmed during the

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summer months, and taught school in the winter. Mr. and Mrs. Shuman were the parents of five children, namely: Albert J., who married Anna A. Wheeler, is living at Dillsboro, and has two children, Cordis S. and Ernest ;. Laura E., who became the wife of William Peck, lives at Price Hill, Cincin- nati, and has five children, Bertha M., Armor S., Charles W., Clarabelle, and Raymond.

Mr. Loftus is a prosperous and well-respected citizen of the community in which he lives. His thrifty and industrious habits have set an excellent ex- ample for many of his townsmen.

LOUIS M. FOULK.

Louis M. Foulk was born on April 23, 1829, in Ohio, and was a son of Aaron and Nancy (Smith) Foulk. He was reared in Indiana, and Iowa, and received his schooling principally in Iowa. He grew up as a farmer boy, and when a young man, returned from Iowa to Aurora, and engaged in the grocery commission, and pork-packing business for a number of years.

Aaron and Nancy (Smith) Foulk, parents of the immediate subject of this sketch were natives of Ohio. They were farmers and early settlers in Dear- born county. They lived on Holmans Hill, in Center township, and were both members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Foulk died while still a young woman, leaving four children, Esau, Caroline, Nancy and Louis. Mr. Foulk was afterward married to Eliza Holman, and this union was blessed with four children also, Lucinda, Elizabeth, Holman and Richard. Aaron Foulk and his wife moved to Pella, Iowa, where Mrs. Foulk died. Mr. Foulk returned to Aurora, and died here when middle aged.

The maternal grandfather Smith and his wife lived and died in Ohio, and their history is lost.

Louis M. Foulk was united in marriage, November 26, 1856, with Alta M. Squibb, daughter of Robert and Eliza (Cummins) Squibb. She was born on April 29, 1836, on Laughery creek, Dearborn county, Indiana. This union has been blessed with six children, Myra, Robert, George, Rosa, Louis and Fannie. Myra Foulk became the wife of W. V. Webber, who died Decem- ber 2, 1914. She resides at Aurora and has two children, Louis, and Will -- iam. Robert died in infancy. George. was a bookkeeper, and died single, in 1902. Rosa was married to Frank Holman and lived at York, Alabama. She died at Aurora while on a visit, leaving four children, Fannie, Marie, Mar -.

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jorie, Frank L. and Robert. Louis is single, and is a partner of W. P. Squibb & Company, distillers, of Lawrenceburg. Fannie is at home with her mother.

Robert and Eliza Squibb, parents of Mrs. Louis M. Foulk, were natives of Cayuga, New York, and early settlers in Ohio county, Indiana, moving later to Aurora. In 1846 they made a trip down the Ohio river to Cairo, Illi- nois, which place did not please them as a permanent home and they returned immediately to Aurora, where Mr. Squibb lost his life in an accident by the bursting of a cannon at the celebration of the opening of the Ohio & Missis- sipppi railway. His wife survived him and died about 1890, aged eighty-one years. They were the parents of three children, William P., George W. and Alta M.

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Foulk was Enoch Squibb, and his wife was Jane (Packington) Squibb, both natives of New York state, and early settlers in Ohio county, Indiana, where they died. Their children were, Na- thaniel, William, Rachel, Edmund, George, and Jane.

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Foulk was Gideon Cummins, and his wife was Eunice (Ellis) Cummins, both natives of New York state, and pio- neers in Ohio county, Indiana. Mr. Cummins died in Ripley county at an old age. They had four children, Josiah, Gideon, Eliza and Effie.

Louis M. Foulk died on February 12, 1889, aged sixty years. His wife still survives him, They both united with the Baptist church.

MRS. ANNA SMITH CONAWAY.

The following is a short biographical sketch of one of the worthy women of Dillsboro, Dearborn county, Indiana, Mrs. Anna Smith Conaway, daughter of Nathan Smith and widow of Robert Conaway, combining something of the genealogy of the two families mentioned.

Anna Smith was a native of Dillsboro, born on December 10, 1854, a daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Powell) Smith. When a young man Na- than Smith came to Dillsboro, where he passed the remaining years of his life. He was engaged in a stock trading business in which he was fairly successful. He died in 1861 when in middle age, having for many years been a faithful member of the Presbyterian church. Sarah Powell, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born at Rising Sun, in 1820, and became the mother of six children, namely : Harriet, Emily, Henry (who died at the front during the Civil War), Rebecca, Anna and John. Harriet

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married John M. Hoover, of Dillsboro, to whom were born three children, Minnie, Frank and Ada May; the two eldest of whom died in childhood and Ada May became the wife of Will Stewart, of Goodland, Indiana. Emily married James Abbott, of Dillsboro, and to that union were born four chil- dren, Oran, Lois, Charles and Roy; Lois is married, being the wife of Robert Thair, of Cincinnati, and the mother of one child, Duret. Rebecca married Scott Misner and became the mother of three children; Maggie, Lawrence and Ethel; of whom Maggie became the wife of Will Shisler and has two children, Dorcas and Lawrence; Lawrence chose Vina McGranihan as his wife, and Ethel married Carl Decker, and is the mother of four children, Charles, Chester, Elizabeth and another. John married Alice Smith, of Dillsboro, and their marriage is without issue.

Anna Smith became the wife of Robert Conaway, a son of Hamilton and Harriet (Lemons) Conaway, the former of whom was born in Laughery, this county, where he passed his entire life. He read law when a young man and gave more or less time to his profession in addition to his duties as a farmer. He lived to be past seventy years of age. Robert Conaway was born in Laughery on January 16, 1848, and passed his entire life in that com- munity. He gave his attention to farming, stock raising and shipping live stock, and was one of the highly respected and successful men of that section. A faithful member of the Presbyterian church and one of the stanch sup- porters of the Democratic party, he was a man of much good influence in the community. His death occurred on July 7, 1909, leaving, besides his widow, five children, namely : Elizabeth, Hamilton, Eliza, Harriet and Harry. Elizabeth became the wife of J. M. McKim, of Coles Corner. Hamilton, who has been married, now lives at home with his mother. Eliza is the wife of Joseph Ake Munster, of Indianapolis, and the mother of three children, Elizabeth, Dorothy and Marie. Harriett became the wife of Edward Licking of Cincinnati, and has one child, Estal. Mr. Licking is connected with the internal revenue service at Cincinnati. Harry, the youngest of the family, remains .at home with the mother.

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History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 72

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

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