USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 107
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
109I
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
he sold his famous Shorthorn herd and retired from the business, but in 1900 he restocked his farm with the same favorite breed of cattle and achieved new successes as a breeder, continuing in the business until 1913, in which year he again sold his herd. In recent years Mr. Gartin has achieved a wide reputation as the "baby-beef man," he being a pioneer in the now well- recognized line of handling fine hand-fed stock for select markets. lle was the first man in this part of Indiana to take up the "baby beef" business and has become one of the most successful dealers in that form of stock in the country, having created a very choice market for his "baby beef" in the East. his product being quite too choice for the demand of the Chicago and Indianapolis markets. In preparing his "baby beef" for the market, Mr. Gartin feeds from sixty to seventy-five pounds of "black-strap" feeding molasses and from thirty to forty tons of cotton-seed meal, this diet impart- ing to the flesh of his stock that fine flavor so much desired by Eastern epicures. He feeds an average of one hundred to one hundred and ten head each year.
On February 4, 1886, John G. Gartin was united in marriage to Mary R. Alexander, who was born in this county, daughter of A. J. and Charlotte ( Steward) Alexander, members of two old and influential families here- about, the genealogy of the Alexander family being set out in the biographi- cal sketch relating to Frank Alexander, presented elsewhere in this volume. A. J. Alexander was a native of Ohio, of Scottish extraction, and Charlotte Steward was a native of Ireland.
To John G. and Mary R. (Alexander ) Gartin three children have been born, namely : Earl F., born on April 4, 1888, a well-known auctioneer, of Burney, this county, who owns a farm west of the home place and lives in Burney : Lottie D., January 9, 1891, who married Donald Webb and lives in Shelby county, this state, and Charles A., August 29, 1898, living at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Gartin are members of the Baptist church and are devoted to the welfare of the community in which they live, being among the leaders in all good works thereabout. Mr. Gartin is an active, energetic, enterprising citizen and is regarded as one of the most substantial men in Decatur county. He and Mrs. Gartin have hosts of friends throughout the county and they and the members of their family are held in the highest regard by all.
Mr. Gartin is a Republican and has held township offices. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias, in which fraternity he has filled all the chairs and is past chancellor. Mr. Gartin is one of the heavy stock- holders in the bank at Burney, Indiana.
1092
DECATUR COUNTY, INDELNA.
ISAAC NEWTON WYNKOOP.
It is interesting, especially to young men just starting out on the high- way of life, to understand the story of the toil and struggle of men whose success in life has already been attained. There is a flavor of romance in the career of any successful man. For instance, Isaac Newton Wynkoop, a farmer of Sand Creek township, Decatur county, began his married life in 1874, when he had less than one hundred dollars in money or property. Dur- ing the first years of his married life he and his wife lived in an old log house and rented land. His first financial venture was the purchase of eighty acres of land on credit, which he eventually paid for, and then purchased forty-one acres on the west of his original farm. Subsequently he bought forty acres more, for which he was able to pay cash. Still later he purchased a hundred and thirty acres of improved land, but this was only four years ago. At this time, however, when eleven thousand dollars was required to pay for the farın, he paid all of it in cash except fourteen hundred dollars. For his first tract of eighty acres Mr. Wynkoop paid forty dollars an acre. For the sec- ond tract of forty-one acres he paid fifty dollars an acre; for the third tract of forty acres he paid seventy-five dollars, and for the last he paid prac- tically eighty-five dollars an acre. Thus has the value of farming land increased in the past quarter century.
As Mr. Wynkoop's wealth grew he was able to provide himself, his wife and his children with greater comfort and about 1894 began extensive build- ing operations. He now has one of the most attractive homes in Sand Creek township. There are four barns included in two sets of buildings. Altogether Mr. Wynkoop owns now two hundred and ninety-one acres of land, worth probably thirty thousand dollars. His home farm is worth at least two hundred dollars an acre and is well improved. Mr. Wynkoop rents out his corn land.
Born on February 24, 1850, on a farm in Franklin county, Isaac Newton Wynkoop is the son of James and Barbara ( Hetterick) Wynkoop, the former was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1817, and died, February 27, 1893, and the latter was born, January 23, 1817, in Pennsyl- vania, and died, November 30. 1903. James Wynkoop was brought to Franklin county, Indiana, by his parents when a lad of four years, and they, in 1853, came to Decatur county, purchasing a farm where the village of Horace is now situated. Mrs. Barbara Wynkoop was the daughter of John and Catherine Hetterick. She was married to James Wynkoop, February 27, 1840. Of the ten children born to James and Barbara ( Hetterick)
1093
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
Wynkoop all are now living except two, Mrs. Mary McCracken who was the wife of Thomas McCracken, and Mrs. Rebecca McCracken who was the wife of James McCracken. They were the third and fourth born in a family of five sons and five daughters. The living children are as follow: Mrs. Sarah Howell, of Kansas; William, a veteran of the Civil War and a farmer of Clay township ; Mrs. Martha Myers, the wife of J. A. Myers, of Washing- ton township ; Isaac N., the subject of this sketch : John, who lives near Wald- ron, in Shelby county; James, of Sand Creek township: Charles, who lives with his brother William, in Clay township; and Mrs. Nevada Davis, the wife of John L. Davis, of Letts Corner.
On September 31, 1874, at the age of twenty-four, Isaac Newton Wyn- koop was married to Mary Elizabeth McGee, who was born on April 8, 1854. in Sand Creek township. within one-half mile of her present home. Mary Elizabeth McGee was the daughter of Ralph and Sarah (Jones) McGee, the former was born, January 8, 1827, and died, June 20, 1909, and the latter was born, April 12, 1832, and died, February 3, 1906. Ralph McGee was the son of John McGee, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to Butler county, Ohio, in 1810. John McGee was a soldier in the War of 1812. A tailor by occu- pation, he married Jane Cassell The late Ralph McGee, who began life a poor boy, became a very wealthy man, and in March, 1853, removed to Decatur county, Indiana. He was a pioneer breeder of Poland China hogs, and established a tile factory in this county, which he operated for many years. He was known as a good man and a faithful and loyal member of the Baptist church. In politics he was a Republican. His wife was a woman of most lovable disposition, a woman of strong religious nature, conscientious and kind-hearted not only in her own family, but in the neighborhood where she lived. She knew what it meant to toil as did also her husband, who had made his own way in the world from the time he was ten years old. At the time they came to Decatur county in 1853 they purchased a hundred and forty-one acres of land in Washington township, and here they lived to cele- brate their golden wedding anniversary. Ralph McGee's land was well improved and especially well drained with tile which he himself had laid.
The McGees have an especially splendid record for longevity. All of the nine children of Ralph and Sarah ( Jones ) McGee are living. The names of the children in the order of their birth are as follow: John Philip. of Clay township; Mrs. Sarah J. Lundy, of Clay township : William H., of Clay town- ship: Mrs. Mary E. Wynkoop: Charles L., of Greensburg: Ralph T., of Greensburg: George M., of Greensburg : James A., of Washington township; Mattie M., the wife of Edward Samuels, of Washington.
1094
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Newton Wynkoop there have been born three children ( daughters), two of whom are married. and all of whom are living. Cora, married Ira A. Moore. They have two children, Mabel and Mary, and reside in Clay township. Gertrude married Walter Boling, of St. Paul, Indiana, who is the proprietor of the feed and grist-mill at that place. Martha, the youngest of the family lives at home with her parents.
It can hardly be expected that Mr. Wynkoop has ever busied himself with very much else but his own business. He is a Republican, but has never taken an active interest in politics. He has been too busy with his own per- sonal affairs, providing for himself and his family a competence. Mr. and Mrs. Wynkoop are people of strong religious instincts, and devout and faith- ful church members. They belong to the Liberty Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Wynkoop stand high in the community where they live. Their success is not accidental and their fortune is self acquired. They are delightful people to know. hospitable in their home, kind and considerate to those who have been less fortunate and less successful.
WILLIAM GILMAN STYERS.
Our affection rises and the tenderest and sweetest sentiment of which we are capable flows freely from our hearts when the memory of those whom we have loved comes back to us. This is especially true of the memory of a man who, upon passing to the other shore, leaves behind a devoted wife and loving children. It is a grim fact that we never quite appreciate those who are near and dear to us until their work is fully ended and they are gone from us. Somehow it is difficult to get or retain proper perspective on the life of one who lives among us. This may be especially true of a father or a mother, or a son or daughter. The late William Gilman Styers, of Sand Creek town- ship, was a man who performed worthily the common and simple duties of life, who gave a full and liberal measure of service and unstinted love and affection to his wife and to his children. And notwithstanding the fact that he now belongs to a past generation, his work and his love and his tenderness go on to affect for good the lives of those whom he knew best and loved best on this eartlı.
William Gilman Styers was born on January 16, 1844, in Greensburg, Indiana, and died on March 20, 1915, on the old liome farm in Sand Creek township. His parents were intimately connected with the very earliest his-
1095
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
tory of this county. His father and mother moved to a farm south of Greens- burg, where was located the famous old House mill in 1854. The father died on the farm, but his wife lived in Greensburg during the six years imme- diately preceding her death. William and Sarilda (Robbins) Styers, the parents of William Gilman, had three other sons. Only one member of the family, Charles F., who was born on March 16, 1856, is now living. His home is at Indianapolis. Of the deceased children, John M., the eldest, died in infancy : William G. was the second born; Samuel E., the third born, was born on July 8, 1868.
William Gilman Styers' mother, who before her marriage was Sarilda Robbins, was the daughter of William and Eleanor ( Anderson) Robbins, and was born in October, 1823. She had three brothers, as follow: John E., who was born on February 20, 1825, and who married Nancy O. Hunter ; James G., who was born on June 10, 1827, and who married Elmira Stout ; and Merrit H., who was born in 1829, and who married Jeannette Gilchrist. William Robbins died on February 3, 1868, and his wife, Eleanor, died four years later.
The genealogy of the Robbins family in America begins with Bethiah Vickery, who was born December 1, 1760, and who married William Rob- bins. To them were born three children, Albe, Charity and Benjamin. Will- iam Robbins was killed in the Revolutionary War soon after enlisting and his widow married a second William Robbins in Guilford county, North Caro- lina. To this couple were born nine children, namely: Elizabeth, born on February 5, 1788; Marmeduke and Jacob, May 15, 1783; Polly. April 9, 1791 ; Nathaniel, April 5, 1793: John, February 8, 1795: William, August 6, 1797; and Dosha, May 20, 1804. William Robbins, the second husband of Mrs. Robbins, was born on October 21, 1761, in Randolph county, North Carolina. In October, 1777, when sixteen years of age, he enlisted in the Revolutionary army, serving until 1781 under Capt. Joseph Clark and Colonel Dugan and Col. Anthony Sharp. He left Virginia for Henry county, Ken- tucky, and 1821 came to Decatur county, settling nine and one-half miles south of Greensburg. Here he made a home among the timbered hills. Trees were cleared away and a new log house of one room was erected, with a shed in which was built a loom for weaving carpet and many kinds of cloth. On September 11, 1834, William Robbins passed away and was buried at Mt. Pleasant cemetery. The third William Robbins, heretofore referred to in the children born to the second William Robbins and Bethiah Vickery, was born in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. He was taken by his parents to Henry county, Kentucky, and accompanied them to Indiana, when the
1096
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
family came in 1821, when he was twenty-four years of age. He selected the site for a home for himself about one and one-half miles north of his father's home, but the next year returned to Kentucky and was married to Eleanor Anderson, of that state. Upon returning to his new home with his bride, three sisters and two brothers, John and Nathaniel, settled in the same vicinity. A short time later other relatives of the Robbins family came to the same township. The Robbins family became prominent both as to num- bers and influence in the early affairs of this section. Nathaniel Robbins was the first justice of the peace in Sand Creek township. William and Eleanor Robbins lived on the farm originally selected as their home the remainder of their lives.
On May 16, 1868, William Gilman Styers was married to Dorinda Frances Wright, who was born on March 28, 1848, north of Harris City, and who is the daughter of Thomas A. and Mary J. (Wallace) Wright, natives of Rockbridge county, Virginia, and early settlers in Decatur county. Mrs. Styers' mother died when she was four years old. Thomas A. and Mary J. Wright were the parents of seven children. Of these children, George W., the oldest. died in IS90 at the Styers home: James, in the Odd Fellows home in Greensburg; Franklin is deceased ; Charles Whitcomb lives in Indianapolis ; John M. is deceased : Mrs. Styers was the next born ; Joseph A., the youngest, who lives at Madison, Indiana, was born in 1851. Joseph A. was reared in Decatur county and has made his home in Madison for twenty years. He is a traveling salesman and married Mary Squires, who is now deceased. They had one child, Emma.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Styers they began housekeeping just south of Greensburg in a little cottage on the hill, where they lived for two years, and then moved to a farm a short distance away. Subsequently they removed to another farm, where they lived for one year, and in 1873 moved to Missouri. Seven years later they returned to this state, and pur- chased a farm near Harris City, where Mr. Styers now resides. Originally, Mr. and Mrs. Styers owned a hundred and seventy-five acres, but they have sold a part of the land, and now have a hundred and forty-three acres.
William Gilman Styers served in the hospital corps of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. He was a Republican in politics until 1905, when he identified himself with the Prohi- tion party, on account of his strong and violent dislike of the liquor traffic. A member of the Baptist church before his marriage, he later identified him- self with the Union Baptist church. For many years before his death he had charge of the cemetery where he is now buried.
1097
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mr. and Mrs. William Gilman Styers had four children, the youngest, Charles, died in 1896. Of the other children, Mrs. Effie Robbins, the wife of Charles Robbins, of Horace, has five children, Harry Walter, Marie, Cor- ina and Millard, of whom Walter married Grace Ferris and they have three children, Gerald, Roy and an infant. William T., the second child, who lives in Indianapolis, married Parl Wright, of Adams, and they have two chil- dren, Wayne and Mary. Mrs. Minnie Jackson, the third child, has three children, namely: Mabel, who married a Mr. Samuels and has one child, Martha ; Ruby Frances, who married Charles Folkerson; and Hazel.
The memory of the late William Gilman Styers will not fade as the years go by, or be dimmed by passing events. His place in the hearts of his family, his neighbors and his friends is secure. He was a good husband, a good father and a good citizen.
WILLIAM S. FEAR.
Among the farmers and citizens of Jackson township, Decatur county, Indiana, who are natives of this township and county and who in the course of long lives have established comfortable homes here and taken a place in the foremost ranks of the citizens of this county is William S. Fear, who owns a hundred and thirty-three acres of land in Jackson township. Mr. Fear pur- chased this farm in 1900, and took up his residence there the same year. He has a splendid farm home situated on a well-graveled and widely-traveled highway, a farm which is well improved and made up of very rich soil, one of the best to be found in Jackson township.
William S. Fear was born on August 22, 1860, in Jackson township and has lived in Decatur county all his life. He is the son of the venerable John Fear, who is now a resident of Sand Creek township, and who was born in 1823 in Kentucky. At the age of ninety-three years he is now one of the old- est men in Decatur county. At present he makes his home with Julia Holmes, of Sand Creek township. He is the son of William H. Fear, also a native of Kentucky, who brought his family to Decatur county and settled in Clay township in 1833 with the Gartins, of Clay township. John Fear married Harriet Williams, the daughter of Samuel Williams, a native of Virginia, who came to Jackson township about 1830. Mrs. John Fear was born in 1833 and died in August, 1911, at the age of seventy-eight.
Eight children were born to John and Harriet ( Williams) Fear, as fol-
1098
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
low : Mrs. Julia Holmes, of Sand Creek township; Levi, a resident of Jackson township; Mrs. Artemesia Holmes is deceased; William S. is the subject of this sketch : Barrett, John, Ida and Nancy Ann are all deceased. John Fear is a Democrat and is a member of the Baptist church.
On April 12, 1899, William S. Fear was married to Mattie E. Thurston. They immediately purchased their present farm and built on it a new resi- dence in which they have since lived. Mr. Fear has greatly improved the farm by fences, drains and the erection of out-buildings.
Mrs. Fear was born on November 21, 1864, in Jackson township, the daughter of William and Mary ( Evans) Thurston, the former of whom was born in 1839, and died on September 11, 1897, and the latter was born in 1845 and died on August 27, 1897. William Thurston was a native of Jack- son township, the son of Lewis and Martha Thurston, natives of Virginia and Franklin county, Indiana, respectively. Lewis Thurston was an early settler of Jackson township, Decatur county, Indiana. Mary Evans Thurs- ton, a native of Jackson township, was the daughter of Ratliff Evans, who died in 1910 in the West. William and Mary Thurston lived and died in Jackson township on the old Thurston homestead. Of their children, Edward A. lives in Jackson township, Jacob L. lives in Jackson township, and Ora A. in Bartholomew county.
Mr. and Mrs. William S. Fear are members of the Christian church. Mr. Fear is a Democrat.
ROBERT J. DAVIS.
The farm is the granary to the office, the store and the shop. It is the farm which must feed and clothe that section of the population which pro- duces no food or raw material for clothing. Prices for food and clothing have experienced an upward trend for many years and are becoming next to prohibitive for great sections of the population. The conclusion is obvious that the production must be increased if the non-producers of food are to be fed. It is very generally agreed that a shortage of supply has enhanced the price for all classes. There are many causes and explanations for this condi- tion, but the chief cause perhaps is that many of the more capable young men who might be successful farmers are moving into the cities. Conse- quently, when we find a young man who was reared in the country and who chooses agriculture for his life's vocation and strives to increase the produc- tivity of his land, we must recognize he is doing a social service of inestimable
.
1099
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
value. Robert J. Davis, a fariner of Clay township, Decatur county, Indiana, who inherited from his father a large tract of land in Clay township, and who might have chosen any occupation or vocation, by remaining upon the farm has conferred upon society a distinct benefit which future generations will not be slow to recognize, since it is such men as he who are helping to maintain the balance between the producers in the country and the consumers in the city.
Robert J. Davis was born on August 3, 1870, in Adams township, on the old Davis homestead, the son of James G. and Sarah E. Davis, both of whom are deceased. The former was born April 26, 1829, and died May 5, 1904. The latter, who, before her marriage, was Sarah E. Braden, was born Janu- · ary 10, 1837, in Decatur county, Indiana, and died June 12, 1911. James G. Davis came to this country from Mayo, Ireland, in 1840, at the age of eleven years, a poor Irish lad, without friends and without resources. Settling in Adams township, Decatur county, he lived there for many years and pros- pered. A natural trader and financier, he became very wealthy and at the. time of his death owned nearly three thousand acres of land. He was a man · known far and wide for his sterling integrity and rugged honesty. Of his great holdings in real estate, twelve hundred acres were situated in Daviess county and the remainder in Decatur and Shelby counties. Ou many occa- sions, he was called upon by the courts of many counties to administer estates, a most trustworthy and responsible position and one which bears evidence of his reputation. not only of honor and integrity, but of ability as well.
James G. and Sarah E. Davis were the parents of eight children, as fol- low: Cecelia Jane, deceased : George M. C., deceased; John HI., deceased ; Mrs. Charles Templeton : Robert J., the subject of this sketch ; James G. and Edward W., twins, the former lives on the home farm and the latter near Milford; and Mrs. Luna Smith, of Clay township.
After living on the home place with his parents until he had reached his majority, Robert J. Davis was married and moved to the farm in Clay township. The next year he erected a new house on this land and here he has lived ever since.
On August 13, 1891, Robert J. Davis was married to Jennie Copeland, daughter of Jerome and Nancy O. Copeland. The former was born in Shelby county in 1834 and died on August 17, 1913, and the latter was born on September 15, 1832, in Tennessee, and died on March 25, 1906. Jerome Copeland was the son of Milton L. Copeland, an early settler in Shelby county, Indiana. Mrs. Robert J. Davis, who was the only child born to her
IIOO
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
parents, was born August 30, 1873, in Shelby county. He married, secondly, Myrtle Harmon, and they had four children.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Davis are the parents of five children, all of whom are now living, namely: Fern, born July 13, 1893 : Ligonel Welling- ton, March 4, 1896: Fay, March 9, 1898; Roland J., March 16, 1904; and Violet, January 18. 1909. Ligonel W. was graduated from the Greensburg high school in 1913. Fay was graduated from the common school in 1913.
Mr. Davis received four hundred and eighty-seven acres of land, his present farm in Clay township, from his father and has kept the farm in a very high state of cultivation. He has one of the best tracts of land to be found anywhere in the township and it is especially so because of the skillful methods used by its owner. Mr. Davis is a well-known citizen of Decatur county and is recognized today as one of its leading farmers and business men. Mrs. Davis is a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Davis is a stanch Democrat but has never aspired for office.
JOHN H. WOODRUFF.
-
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has been content to let "well enough" alone, and make the best of the goods the gods provided, with the result of which he should be more than satisfied. He has also done his share towards developing good citizenship in the township in which he resides. He is second to none in his standing in the estimation of his neigh- bors, and his business transactions have always borne the stamp of honest dealing.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.