USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 115
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Wilbur Boone Wright was born in 1871, the son of John and Luvenia (Stark) Wright, pioneers of Clay township, the former of whom was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1827 and who died at his home in Decatur county in 1899. When about twenty-one years of age, John Wright came to Decatur county from Virginia and settled in Clay township near Liberty. The Wright family is of English origin. John Wright was the son of Charles Wright, who came to this county from Virginia some time after his son, John and located here. Luvenia Stark was the daughter of Caleb and Anne (Boone) Stark, who came to Decatur county from Kentucky in 1826 and set- tled in Clay township. Caleb Stark was the son of Joseph Stark, who was the son of John Stark, a native of New Hampshire, who moved from that state to Virginia and later to Kentucky, settling in Henry county. Joseph Stark was a well-known Indian fighter and a member of the famous colony headed by Daniel Boone. He came from Virginia to Kentucky in 1780. The Stark family dates from the days of the last James in Scotland, when John Muirhead, a German soldier, for an act of bravery in which he saved the life of the king, was created bishop of Glasgow and his name changed by royal decree to Stark, which is the German for "strength." John Stark, who was born in 1665, was the founder of the Stark family in America, he having come to this country in 1710. His eldest son, Archibald, was the father of General Stark of Revolutionary fame. The remainder of the Stark genealogy may be found in the sketch of Caleb Stark Wright, recorded elsewhere in this volume. He is a cousin of Wilbur Boone Wright, the subject of this sketch.
Born on his father's farm in Clay township, Wilbur Boone Wright was only a small child when the family moved from Clay township to Adams town- ship. Here he grew to manhood and lived and worked on his father's farm. He began business for himself when seventeen years old drilling gas wells under contract. He has been eminently successful in this business and has drilled wells in most of the counties of central Indiana, also in Texas and Illinois. There is no man now living in the state of Indiana, who is more familiar with this business than the subject of this sketch.
Wilbur Boone Wright was first married to Pearl Coy, of Adams, but she died a little less than two years after their marriage. About two years after her death, Mr. Wright was married, secondly, to Ada Boling, of Franklin county, Indiana. She is the sister of Albert Boling, whose sketch is contained elsewhere in this volume and which contains the genealogy of the Boling family in Decatur county and in this country. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright has been born one child, Luvenia Alice, who was born on August 5, 1910.
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Mr. and Mrs. Wright have a beautiful home in Adams, where he is known as one of the solid and substantial citizens of Decatur county. He is a stanch and true Democrat and a member of the Christian church of Adams. Mr. Wright is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the Encampment and the Rebekahs. He is also a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 94. of Milford. A top-notch citizen, a liberal and broad-minded man, he is one of whom this county has every reason to be very proud.
CHESTER HAMILTON.
With calm satisfaction Chester Hamilton, one of the oldest and best- known farmers of Decatur county, looks back over the days that have gone, contemplating with gratitude the wonders that have been accomplished in his day and generation. Born on the farm on which he still lives and where he confidently expects to pass the remainder of his days, Mr. Hamilton has witnessed the transformation of the forest wilderness into one of the most favored sections in the Central states. With genial satisfaction he reviews the labors that have accomplished this wonderful transformation and knows that all is well. At peace with the world, enjoying the trust and confidence of his neighbors and the devoted and affectionate attentions of his family and kinsfolk, he is passing the evening of his life amid comforts which in the days of his youth hardly could have been dreamed of in connection with life as it was then known in the deep woods of this county.
There are not many families in Decatur county that have so wide a con- nection as that of the Hamiltons or are better or more honorably known, and it is but fitting that there should be presented here something of the history of this pioneer family, a task to which the biographer applies himself with pleasure.
Chester Hamilton was born on the farm on which he still resides in Fugit township. Decatur county, Indiana, December 18, 1838, the son of Cyrus and Mary (McCoy) Hamilton, the former of whom was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, July 14. 1800, and died at his home in this county on August 19, 1879, and the latter of whom was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, September 18, 1798, and died at the home of her daugh- ter, Mrs. Donnell, in this county, on September 8, 1881.
Cyrus Hamilton was the son of Robert and Mary (Eward) Hamilton, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania on June 17, 1768, and died
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at his home in Kentucky on June 17, 1817, and the latter of whom was born in Virginia on May 20, 1774, and died at the home of her son, R. M. Hamil- ton, northeast of Greensburg, in this county, March 15, 1848. They were married on June 19, 1794 in Kentucky. Robert Hamilton emigrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky when the latter state was admitted to the Union and recruited a company and captained it during the War of 1812, serving against the Indians. He died in 1817 and his body was buried in the old Concord churchyard in Nicholas county, Kentucky. Afterwards his remains were brought by his descendants and placed beside those of his wife in the Kingston cemetery.
Robert Hamilton was the son of William Hamilton, a Scottish Presby- terian who emigrated from the north of Ireland about 1750 and located in Pennsylvania, whence he later emigrated to Kentucky, settling on McBrides creek, then in Bourbon county, now Nicholas county, being among the earliest settlers of that section. William Hamilton married Isabella Thompson, in Pennsylvania, to which union were born seven children, namely: William, who was killed while battling with the patriots for independence during the Revolutionary War: Alexander, who settled in Clark county, Indiana ; Thomas, who married Charity Welch and died near Carlisle, Kentucky, in 1803; Samuel, who married Jeannie Sweeney; Robert, who married Mary Eward, the grandparents of the immediate subject of this sketch; Eleanor, affectionately known as "Nellie," born on May 12, 1758, married John Blair and died on December 25, 1827; and Isabella, who, about 1808, married Samuel Hindman, the Hindman family later moving to Newmarket town- ship. Highland county, Ohio, whence they moved into Illinois.
To Robert and Mary (Eward) Hamilton were born eleven children, as follow: James Eward, born on March 31, 1795, died on January 13, 1881, married Jane McCoy, born on November 18, 1796, died on February 8, 1851, upon whose death he married, secondly, Rosannah McCoy, born on Novem- ber 15. 1808. died on July 20, 1891 ; Fidelia, September 18, 1796, died on July 16, 1860, married Elijah Mitchell; Thomas, August 25, 1798; died on June 16, 1880, married Julia Ann Donnell ; Cyrus, who married Mary McCoy, parents of the subject of this sketch; Spicey Glover, October 12, 1802, died on December 22, 1838, married John Thomson ; Eliza, November II, 1804, died on December 26, 1880; Ellen E., September 12, 1806, died on Septem- ber 26, 1832, married Barton W. S. McCoy: Sarah, April 14, 1809, died on January 11, 1892, married Thomas Donnell: Robert Marshall, November 17. 1811, died on August 6, 1901, married Mary Morgan : Mary Jane. November 15, 1814, died on December 23, 1891, married Jackson Lowe: Minerva, Janti-
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ary 2, 1817, died on November 25, 1903, was twice married, her first husband having been Peter Bartholomew and hier second husband John C. Donnell.
Upon his marriage to Mary McCoy in the year 1822, Cyrus Hamilton came at once to Decatur county, the newly-wedded couple regarding the trip thither as their wedding tour. Cyrus's brother, James E., with his family, accompanied them. Cyrus with another brother, Thomas, had jointly filed entries for a half section of land in Fugit township in 1821. The homestead claims were filed in the land office at Brookville and the warrants bear the signature of James Monroe, then President of the United States. Cyrus Hamilton and his wife quickly were recognized as among the leaders in the pioncer settlement. They were great temperance advocates and anti-slavery protagonists and were influential and useful members of that earnest band which so successfully operated the famous "underground railway" here- about during the troublesome days preceding the outbreak of the Civil War. They were members of the Sand Creek, or Kingston Presbyterian church, with which they became affiliated on September 4, 1824, and Mr. Hamilton and his brother, James E., made the shingles which were used to cover the house of the first minister of that congregation. Mrs. Hamilton, lovingly known throughout that part of the county as "Aunt Polly," was a daughter of Alexander McCoy and was a very bright woman. She and her husband were witty, hospitable and entertaining and were great favorites throughout that whole section. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1872 and the occasion was made one of general merrymaking among their hosts of friends who gathered from far and near to celebrate with them the happy day.
To Cyrus and Mary (McCoy) Hamilton were born six children, namely : William McCoy, born on November 26, 1822, died on February 25, 1905, married Euphemia Donnell: Melissa, February 26, 1825, died on June 17, 1880, married the Rev. B. M. Nyce, a onetime well-known pastor of the Presbyterian church at Kingston, this county, also an educator of ability ; Orlando, January 1, 1827, died on May 5. 1914, on his farm two miles north of Kingston; Cordelia, August 13, 1832, widow of Lowrey Donnell, resides with her son, Cyrus Donnell, on a farm one and one-half miles south of Clarksburg, this county; Chester, the subject of this sketch; and Everett, October 16, 1841, who resides in Greensburg. William, above named, was the first manufacturer of drain tile in Decatur county.
Chester Hamilton acquired a good common-school education in his native township, later attending Hartsville College, and became a very suc- cessful farmer. He began farming on a tract of eighty acres which was
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given him by his father, to which he has added, with the assistance of his wife, until he now owns a farm of four hundred acres of as good land as there is in Decatur county. Though general farming is his chief pursuit he is quite a stock raiser and annually ships from one hundred and fifty to two hundred hogs and as much as three carloads of cattle. He sells no corn off his place, finding it much more profitable to feed the same. He always has continued to live on the home place and the fine old home which he built in 1879 has been remodeled into one of the most comfortable and modern farm homes in the county and is the center of hospitality for that whole region.
On May 22, 1866, Chester Hamilton was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Mitchell, who was born on June 26, 1842, southeast of the town of Rushville, in Rush county, this state, the daughter of Thomas V. and Amanda (Gregg) Mitchell, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to Rush county in 1821. Amanda Gregg was the daughter of Judge John Gregg, a onetime well-known associate judge in Rush county. To this union were born four children, Thomas M., George Cyrus, Edith and Amanda. Thomas M. Hamilton, who was born on November 2, 1867, attended school at Oberlin College, now resides one-half mile east of Kingston, in this county. He mar- ried Catherine Lowe, to which union were born three children, Earl, born on January 29, 1890; Elizabeth, May 12, 1893; and Isabel, September 12, 1895. Earl married Fannie Gregg on November 4, 1914, and is farming in Fugit township. Elizabeth, married Inscoe R. Bailey on May 29, 1914. Isabel is a successful teacher in the public schools of Kingston. George Cyrus Hamilton, who was born on August 4, 1869, lives on the adjoining farm, near his father's place. He married Edith Aldrich and has one child, a daughter, Lillian, born on May 28, 1899. Edith Hamilton was educated at Oxford College for Women, Oxford, Ohio; has given much study to the subject of genealogy and is working on a very extensive and quite valuable history of the Hamilton family. She lives at home with her parents, as does her sister, Amanda Hamilton. Both are interested in club work and every- thing that makes for the upbuilding of their community.
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the Presbyterian church at Kingston, their children also being members of the same congregation. Mr. Hamilton is a Republican. His first vote for President was cast- for Abra- ham Lincoln and he ever since has stood steadfast to the principles of the party. He and his wife are earnest, kindly people who for years have been interested in all the good works of the community in which they live and are held in the highest regard by all .. Progressive in thought and cultured in manner, they have exerted a fine influence in that part of the county and enjoy the esteem of all who know them.
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CLARENCE C. DEUPREE.
In the considerable Decatur county colony at Indianapolis, the state's capital city, no one is more popular than Clarence C. Deupree, the young cashier of the Marion County State Bank of Indianapolis. Elsewhere in this volume there are presented biographical sketches of Mr. Deupree's father and of his elder brother, Everett L. Deupree, both now living at Indianapolis, to which the reader is respectfully referred for details regarding the genealogy of this interesting family and the history of the beginnings of the family in this section of Indiana. Suffice it to say, in this connection, that the Deupree family is of stanch Huguenot descent, the first member of the family to come to America having been Grancie Joseph Deupree, who came to this country to escape religious persecution in France, in which country his fine estates had been confiscated and he compelled to flee for his life. The first of the Deuprees to come to Indiana was Thomas Deupree, who came from Ken- tucky in 1821 and entered a Government tract in Johnson county, this state, near the town of Edinburg, and who lost his life by drowning while crossing the Muscatatuick river while returning from Kentucky, whither he had gone to settle up his affairs after locating his family on the homestead in this state. Abraham, his son, succeeded him and the latter's son, William N., still is living in Johnson county at the age of eighty-two years. William N. Deu- pree married Martha A. Matthis, daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Hibbs) Matthis, Kentuckians and early settlers in Johnson county. Their son, Thomas M., married Laura B. Prichard, daughter of John M. and Louisa (Robinson) Prichard, both natives of Johnson county and prominent among the early residents in that section, the former of whom is still living at the age of eighty-one years. His wife, who was born on February 1, 1832, died in 1914.
To Thomas M. and Laura B. (Prichard) Deupree were born seven children, six of whom are living, of whom Clarence C. is the second son and fourth child. Everett L., a well-known lawyer and financier of Indianapolis, being the eldest. In the biographical sketch relating to Thomas M. Deupree, presented elsewhere in this volume, separate mention is made of each of these children. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Deupree left their home in West- port, this county, some years ago, removing to Indianapolis, where they since have made their home, living in pleasant retirement in the capital city.
Clarence C. Deupree was born at Westport, this county, on January 8, 1888, and there he received his elementary education. At the age of sixteen
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he went to Edinburg, this state, to secure the advantage of the schools at that place and was graduated from the Edinburg high school with the class of 1906. He then went to Indianapolis and there he followed various pursuits until the year 1912, in which year the Marion County State Bank of Indi- anapolis was organized. Since May I of that year Mr. Deupree has been connected with that sound financial institution. He began as assistant cashier and in May, 1914, was elected cashier, which position he now occupies.
On October 20, 1910, Clarence C. Deupree was united in marriage to Stella Edith Gaston, of Decatur county, Indiana, daughter of J. Minor and Lottie (Beesley) Gaston, former prominent residents of this county, fur- ther information regarding which family the reader may obtain by referring to the biographical sketch relating to J. Minor Gaston, the well-known banker of Indianapolis, on another page of this volume. To the union of Clarence C. and Stella Edith (Gaston) Deupree one child has been born, a son, Robert Gaston, born on January 12, 1914.
Mr. and Mrs. Deupree are earnest Christian workers, the former being a member of the Christian church of Westport, this county, and the latter a member of the First Presbyterian church at Indianapolis. Both are very popular in a large circle of acquaintances and are held in the highest esteem by their many friends. Mr. Deupree's ability in financial matters is well recognized by bankers in Indianapolis and he is regarded as among the rising young financiers of the capital city, where he enjoys in a high degree the con- fidence of all men of affairs with whom his important duties bring him in contact.
THOMAS M. DEUPREE.
Scattered far and wide over this fair country are loyal sons and daugh- ters of Decatur county who, for one reason or another, have been lured away from this favored section of the state and are making their homes elsewhere. The exigencies of business life or the call of the professions have induced some of these absent ones to leave this county, seeking fairer fortunes in other places ; the desire for a closer family unity has been the impelling motive in other cases. Whatever the cause of such departure, however, there is full assurance that all former Decatur county people are loyal and true to their former place of residence and that their hearts are here, even though other scenes and other places claim their personal activities. Among the numer- ous families that once had a seat in this county none is better remembered
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or is held in higher esteem hereabout than the Deupree family, the head of which, a few years ago moved to Indianapolis, retiring after a life of useful activity in this county, to the state capital, where his sons have taken promin- ent places in the financial and professional life of that city. The design of a work of this character being to hold in remembrance for future generations something of the lives and the labors of those men and women who wrought well in Decatur county, contributing of their best to the upbuilding of this thriving commonwealth, it is fitting that those who, though now living else- where, have done their parts toward making this county a better place in which to live should have a place in these memoirs. The biographer there- fore with pleasure calls the attention of the reader, at this point, to a brief and modest review of the life of Thomas M. Deupree, a former well-known and prominent citizen of the town of Westport, this county.
Thomas M. Deupree was born near the town of Edinburg, Johnson county, Indiana, on August 12. 1857, son of William N. and Martha A. ( Matthis) Deupree, the former of whom was born in Shelby county, Indiana, on June 28, 1833, and is now living on a farin near Edinburg, Johnson county, at the age of eighty-two years, and the latter of whom was born in Jolinson county, same state, daughter of Benjamin and Nancy ( Hibbs) Matthis, natives of Kentucky and early settlers in central Indiana.
William N. Deupree is a son of Abraham C. and Hannah B. (Carter) Deupree, the former of whoin was born in Kentucky in the year 1811, the son of Thomas and Martha ( Hatchett) Deupree, and who moved to Shelby county, Indiana, with his parents in childhood and became one of the most prominent and influential pioneer residents of that county, his fine personal' influence undoubtedly having been a strong factor in the development of proper social and civic conditions thereabout. After locating his family in Shelby county, the elder Thomas Deupree went back to Kentucky to settle his affairs there and on returning to Indiana on horseback was drowned in the Muscatatuck river. About seven generations back the first of the Deu- prees to come to America was Grancie Joseph Deupree, a Huguenot, who was driven out of France by religious persecution and his fine estates in that country confiscated. He founded in this country a family which now is widely scattered, its various representatives in whatever communities they are found performing well and honorably those things which their hands find to do. The Hatchett family also is of French origin, while the Carters are of English origin, the first of the family in this country having been a Quaker who came to America with the party that accompanied William Penn to this side. On the land entered by his grandfather, near Edinburg, this state.
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William N. Denpree grew to manhood, married and reared his family there and has been a life-long farmer, still making his home on the old homestead, at an advanced age of eighty-two, one of the most honored and respected residents of that part of the state ; a man who possesses a marvelous fund of reminiscence regarding early conditions in south central Indiana. In all his relations in life William N. Deupree has been true to his fellowmen and no one thereabout is held in higher esteem than he.
Thomas M. Deupree was reared on the paternal farm near Edinburg, in Johnson county, attending the local schools and growing up to a full acquaint- ance with the life of the farm. He was united in marriage to Laura B. Prichard, who was born in the same neighborhood, daughter of John M. and Louisa ( Robinson) Prichard. both natives of Johnson county and promin- ent pioneers of that section. John M. Prichard was born on March 1, 1834, and is still living. His wife, who was born on February 1, 1832, died in 1914.
In January, 1885, Thomas M. Deupree left his home in Johnson county and came to Decatur county, locating at Westport, where he built the first livery stable ever operated in that village. He continued the livery business for two years, at the end of which time he engaged in farming. He was not long thus engaged, however, for he presently resumed business in Westport, opening a harness store, in which business he was engaged quite successfully for a period of fourteen years, coming to be one of the most substantial and influential citizens of that part of the county. He and Mrs. Deuprce took an active part in the religious and social life of the town and were held in the very highest regard there. Mr. Deupree was chairman of the building com- mittee that built the Christian church at Westport, Indiana .. When, in the middle of June, 1913, they moved to Indianapolis, where four of their chil- dren are making their homes, there was much regret expressed throughout the entire neighborhood, for they had been good neighbors and good friends of all.
To Thomas M. and Laura B. ( Prichard) Deupree seven children have been born, namely: Everett L., a well-known Indianapolis lawyer, a bio- graphical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, married Edith A. Wheeler, daughter of Hillis A. and Elizabeth ( Linton) Wheeler : Maude married George Burk, of Westport, this county, and has one child, a daughter, Lillian; Jessie married Clarence Baker, a telegraph operator at North Vernon, Indiana, and has two children, both sons, Gwynn and Max; Clarence C., cashier of the Marion County State Bank of Indianapolis, a bio- graphical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, married
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Stella Edith Gaston, daughter of J. Minor and Lottie (Beesley) Gaston, of this county, and has one child, a son, Robert Gaston; William J., of Indi- anapolis, manager of the Seminole hotel, married Leona Pleak, of this county, and has one child, a son, Jack; Bessie married Chester L. Robinson, also lives at Indianapolis ; and Jamie, who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Deupree are members of the North Park Christian church at Indianapolis and are active in the good works of that congregation. Though having retired from the scenes which once they knew so well in this county, they have not forgotten their old friends and the latch string of their pleasant home at 3543 Graceland avenue, Indianapolis, ever hangs out for their former neighbors in the Westport vicinity. Mr. Deupree is a member of the Knights of Pythias, retaining his membership in Westport Lodge No. 317, of which he is one of the charter members, the lodge having been constituted in 1891. Though practically retired from business cares, Mr. Deupree retains an active interest in general affairs and is ever an earnest exponent of the principles of good government.
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