USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 39
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
"War Department, Pension Office, March 29th, 1824.
"Hon. James Noble, Senate, United States :
"Sir-I have, on examining the papers in the case of Hugh Montgom- ery, every reason to believe that the one who now lives in Decatur county, Indiana, is the same person who resided in Ohio three years ago and whose application for a pension was then rejected on account of his property. You will perceive, by referring to your letter to him, which is herewith returned. that he was required to prove that he was not the same person who lived in Ohio: instead of which, all the evidence that has any bearing on the sub- ject goes to show that he lived in the very same county and state ( Butler, Ohio) from which the first application was made. The claim, of course. cannot be allowed. The papers which you sent to me will remain upon our files, agreeably to the regulations of the war department.
"I am respectfully, "Your Obt. Servt., "J. L. EDWARDS."
Three sons of Montgomery fought in the War of 1812. They were Thomas, William and Henry Montgomery. William was killed in battle and Thomas is buried in South Park cemetery. Henry Montgomery is buried beside his father in the Antrobus cemetery.
SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812 IN DECATUR COUNTY.
David Bailey, a pensioner of the War of 1812, was paid through the Indianapolis agency. He served in Captain Hawkins' and Captain Gray's companies, the Seventeenth and Third United States Infantry. His pen- sion certificate, which bore the number 3255, came into the possession of his daughter, Mrs. Perry Tremain, residing near Greensburg. David Bailey died in the city of Greensburg on March 6, 1879, aged eighty-one years and ten months, and was buried in South Park cemetery. There is no headstone, but there is a staff and the grave has been decorated. Applica- tion was made to the war department for a gravestone.
George Myers was a pensioner of the War of 1812 and on the list of pensioners in the Indianapolis agency. No service given. He was buried in a cemetery near Harris City and has a monument with inscription of himself and wife. He had a son living in the county named William Myers.
412
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
This information was secured through a granddaughter, Mrs. L. E. John- son, in Greensburg.
William Billington (written "Bellington" on the rolls of the Indian- apolis pension agency), belonged to Capt. Harry Ellis's Kentucky militia and was in Hull's surrender. He was born on September 11, 1788, died on September 20, 1874, and was buried in the cemetery at Union church. There is a broken slab at the grave.
Joseph Frakes, a soldier of the War of 1812, belonged to the "Ken- tucky Rangers." He went from Mason county. Kentucky. He was born on June 6, 1771, died on June 9, 1854, and was buried in the cemetery at Union church, near the grave of R. M. Hayes. There was a slab at the grave, broken in fragments, from which this data was taken.
Daniel S. Perry, a pensioner on the roll of the Indianapolis pension agency, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, on October 9, 1791. He was a son of Ilenry Perry, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He enlisted and served in the Kentucky militia. command not known. In the year ISII he was in a cavalry branch of the United States service. He served under General Harrison. He came to Decatur county on March 3. 1823. and died on October 27. 1872. He is buried in what is known as the Ross cemetery, three miles east of Greensburg. His grave is marked by a head- stone, in good condition, but there is nothing on it to indicate that he was a soldier of the War of 1812. A son and other descendants resided in this county.
George Silva, known to have been a soldier in the War of 1812, was born near Fredericksburg, Virginia. He died in April. 1849, and is buried in the cemetery at Clarksburg. There is no stone, but the grave was located by a granddaughter, Mrs. Burns, of Clarksburg.
William Butcher, a soldier of the War of 1812, was captured at the battle of River Raisin. He is buried at Mount Carmel, but the grave can- not be located. It is not known whether he was a pensioner or not, but it is probable that lre was.
Henry Miller, a pensioner of the War of 1812, was buried at Mount Carmel. There is no information as to his services. There is a monument. and the age and date of birth are on that. John S. Miller stated that Henry Miller was captured at the battle of River Raisin and W. A. Donnell knew he was a pensioner.
William Beetem, a pensioner of the War of 1812, was buried at Clarksburg. There is no headstone at this time and the grave cannot be located
413
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
John Butler was a soldier of the War of 1812. It is not known to what command he belonged; perhaps the Kentucky militia. He moved to Indiana at an early day and settled on his farm, six miles east of Old Ver- non. His wife dying, he married Mrs. Editha Myers, widow of Thomas H. Myers, and lived and died on the old Myers homestead, one mile east of Milford. He was buried in what, to the old settlers, was known as the Douglas graveyard, later called the Wesley Chapel cemetery, located on the Nelson Mowrey home farm. There is a slab at the grave, broken near the ground. Ile came to Decatur county in 1847 and died in 1865. A daughter of John Butler, by the name of Nancy Neal, lived near Lebanon, Boone county, Indiana. John Butler was the father of John F. Butler, deceased : Col. Harvey Butler, and stepfather of John L. Evans, Sanford Myers, Mrs. Bean and Mrs. Margaret Jackson.
Thomas Campbell, of the War of 1812, Captain Deshold's Virginia militia, was a pensioner on the roll of the Indianapolis agency; his post- office was Westport. He died on May 26, 1879, and is buried in the McCammon cemetery, five miles south of Westport. There is a headstone.
John P. Oakley, a soldier of the War of 1812, lived in this county for a number of years. He was buried in Antioch, old Christian church, alongside his wife and several children. There is a headstone.
Israel Gibson was a soldier of the War of 1812. His wife was a pen- sioner. He was buried in South Park cemetery, Greensburg, about one hundred feet south of the vault. There is a slab on which is inscribed his name and a Masonic emblem, but no other inscription. He belonged to a Pennsylvania command.
William Hood, a pensioner on the Indianapolis rolls, belonged to Cap- tain Mathews' Kentucky Militia. He is buried at Spring Hill and has a monument. There was a son, Thomas Hood, and two daughters, Mrs. Riley and Mrs. Foley, residing in Decatur county, Indiana.
Mackie Elliott, a soldier of the War of 1812, is buried in the cemetery one-half mile west of the Nauvon school house, and has a monument. Mackie Elliott and his brother, Robert, served alternately during the War of 1812. Two sons, John and Robert Elliott, resided in the city of Greensburg.
Henry Critzer, of the War of 1812, is buried in the Milford cemetery. He has a monument on which is inscribed the fact that he was in Hull's surrender. He served during the war. His wife, Martha Critzer, drew a pension.
Hartwell Knight, of the War of 1812, was not a pensioner, but received a land warrant for services during that war. His resting place, in the Mil-
414
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
ford cemetery, is marked with a small headstone, with inscription of age and death.
Henry Barr, a pensioner of the War of 1812 and buried on the home farm in Clay township, has a monument. Mrs. Achsah Harrell, of Mil- ford, this county, was a daughter of Henry Barr.
Andrew Robinson, Sr., born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the Ist of January, 1793, died on August 28, 1884, and is buried in the Kingston cemetery. He was a soldier in Captain Hutchinson's company, of Ken- tucky volunteers, and was on the rolls of the Indianapolis agency. There is a monument.
John Robertson, of Captain Gray's Kentucky Militia, was a pensioner on the rolls of the Indianapolis agency. He was also a captain of an artil- lery company in the Indiana Militia in the Fifty-fifth Regiment. His pen- sion certificate, dated December 6, 1871, is in possession of his descendants. He was born on March 15, 1796, and died on December 2, 1881, being interred at Downeyville, this county. There is a good tombstone.
It is almost certain that Joseph Mazingo was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was in a Kentucky battalion, name or number unknown. This man was buried in what is known as the MeConnell cemetery, located on the Greene Barnes farm, two miles southeast of Greensburg. There is a rough stone, but no inscription. The grave was located and a staff placed at the grave, which was decorated on May 30, 1901.
Thomas Mazingo, a brother of Joseph, also lived and died in this county. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, went from Virginia, and was an officer in his company. He lived one-half mile south of the village of Smyrna, on what is now known as the Martin farm. He is buried in an old cemetery on that farm, on a knoll, southwest of the house. His wife was known as "Aunt Milla" and was buried beside her husband. These graves were located by Mr. Martin from personal knowledge of the parties, whom he knew when a young man. There are two rough stones at the heads of these graves without inscriptions.
Joseph and Thomas Mazingo were the sons of Spencer Mazingo, who was a soldier of the War for Independence, and went from Culpeper county, Virginia. Thomas Mazingo's grave was decorated on May 30, 1901.
John Sanders, who is buried at Mount Pisgah, this county, is thought to have been a soldier of the War of 1812.
William Evans, who is buried at the Union church, near Forest Hill, it is thought was a soldier of the War of 1812. William Evans moved to Jackson township, this county, in 1833, and he died in 1864.
415
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
Owen W. Blackmore, of Captain Ireland's Virginia Militia, War of 1812, was on the rolls of the Indianapolis agency. His postoffice was Kingston and he is probably buried at that place, though the grave has not been located.
Valentine Pollard, of Captain Ireland's Virginia Militia, was on the Indianapolis Pension Agency rolls. His postoffice was Greensburg. He was probably buried in the old cemetery, at the southeast corner of the pres- ent boundaries of the city of Greensburg. If the remains were ever removed, it is likely the grave was not marked.
William Bird was a soldier in the War of 1812. His widow, Maria Bird, drew a pension. He is buried at Shiloh and has a monument. There are numerous descendants of William and Maria Bird residing in Decatur county.
William WV. Pierce belonged to Capt. John Howe's New York Militia and was on the pension rolls of the Indianapolis agency. His postoffice was St. Paul, in the neighborhood of which he lived until his death, on March 4, 1876. He is probably buried in a cemetery located on the farm formerly owned by "Colonel" W. W. Pierce. The cemetery is east of Mill creek and north of the Michigan road.
Richard Wells, a soldier of the War of 1812, is buried in the Wesley Chapel cemetery on the Nelson Mowery farm. It is impossible to locate the grave with certainty.
James Truitt, a soldier in the War of 1812, was also a pensioner. He lived at St. Omer, but, so far, it has not been possible to locate the grave. It is certain he was a pensioner.
Jacob Forrey, of the War of 1812, was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and served as a private in Capt. Valentine Geesey's com- pany of Pennsylvania Volunteers, called the "Brownsville Blues." In the year 1845, he came to Indiana and bought some land in Fugit townshpi, this county, two and one-half miles east of Clarksburg, where he remained until his death, January 27, 1865, aged seventy-nine years. He received two land warrants. Under the Act of March, 1878, his widow was granted a pension, which she received until her death, January 16, 1884. He was buried in the Clarksburg cemetery. There is a monument but nothing on the monument to show he was a soldier. The father of Jacob Forrey and an uncle were soldiers of the Revolutionary War, and are buried in this state. This information was furnished by Mrs. Sarah E. Winker, a daugh- ter of Jacob Forrey.
John Caldwell is known to have been a soldier of the War of 1812.
416
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
Charles Kemble, of Greensburg, knew him for many years. He lived and died in Adams township. He was buried in the Union Church cemetery. Caldwell was taken captive by the Indians and adopted. After three years, he made his escape and returned to Kentucky, his former home. There is a small monument, broken, from which the following dates are taken: Born, January 20, 1790, died April 20, 1874.
Isaac Fisk Stine was a soldier of the War of 1812. and is buried in South Park cemetery on the "old lot" of Barton H. Harney. He was buried in the cemetery at the southeastern border of the present city of Greensburg, and. later, was removed to South Park. He entered the war from Greene county, Pennsylvania, and was captain of a "Light Horse Company." He died in June, 1833. There is no headstone, but application has been made for one, of the War Department. The grave was decorated on May 30, 1901.
Christian Hegersweiler, who is believed to have been a soldier of 1812. was buried at Rossburg cemetery, but the grave cannot be located.
George Marlow was a soldier drafted into the War of 1812. His colo- nel was named Ballou and was in the command of General Portersfield. He was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, on August 28, 1787, and died on December 11, 1859, being buried at Clarksburg alongside his wife. There is a small headstone, giving date of birth and death. He came to Indiana about 1821, located on a farm in Fugit township, on which he lived until his death. He never applied for a pension.
Samuel Marlow, a brother of George Marlow, was also drafted in the . War of 1812, was in the same company and under General Portersfield. and served until his discharge, at the close of the war. He came to Indiana the last of February, 1821, settled in Fugit township, and lived on his land until his death, December 25, 1821. He was buried on the same farm, near two trees which are still standing. There is no headstone, but the grave can be located.
Daniel McCormack was a soldier of the War of 1812, belonged to the Kentucky Militia, is buried at Union church, five miles south of Greens- burg. There is a monument on which the age is given.
James Elder, a soklier of the War of 1812, is buried in the Sand Creek cemetery. He has a monument for himself and two wives.
John Ammermon, a soldier of the War of 1812, lived in this county several years before his death. No relatives are known to be in the county, neither can the grave be located. He was buried at Rossburg.
Elisha Adams was a pensioner on the Indianapolis roll. There is a
417
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
good gravestone from which the following inscription is taken: "Born April 7. 1792. Died November 9, 1883." The pension roll shows that he was a private in Captain Ogden's Battery, Third New Jersey Artillery. He was buried at Clarksburg. His widow lived in Greensburg and drew a pension.
Robert Hamilton was captain of a company of Kentucky riflemen in the War of 1812. He was born on June 17, 1768, and died on June 17. 1817. He served in the garrison at Vincennes, Indiana. Buried at Old Concord, Kentucky, he was removed to Decatur county by his grandson, Robert A. Hamilton, and rests by the side of his wife in the cemetery at Kingston. There is a good tombstone.
William Robbins, Sr., a soldier of the War of 1812 and probably of the War of 1776, died in 1834, and was buried at Mt. Pleasant cemetery, alongside his wife. There is a headstone with an inscription to some extent obliterated. He was the father of William Robbins, Jr., who was the father of John E. Robbins, deceased; James G., Merritt H. and Mrs. Willian Styers, all residents of Decatur county. This family came to Kentucky from Virginia, and to Indiana at an early date.
Adam R. Meek was a soldier in Captain Metcalf's company, in Colonel Boswell's Regiment, "Kentucky Rifles," under General .Harrison at the battle of Thames. He was a native of Fayette county, Kentucky, born on December 15, 1789, and died in Decatur county, Indiana, being buried at Springhill alongside his wife. He was a pensioner, as was also his wife after his death. There is a headstone in good condition.
John Gray was a soldier of the War of 1812. After his death his widow married William Walters. After the latter's death she drew a pen- sion as the widow of John Gray and lived several years near the city of Greensburg. John Gray died on April 5. 1836. He has a large, erect slab in good condition, from which the dates given above are taken.
Byard Elmore, a pensioner on the rolls of the Indianapolis agency, belonged to Capt. James McQuire's Indiana militia. He was born in April, 1790, and died on October 15. 1878, aged eighty-eight years. Has a head- stone, and is buried in the Kingston cemetery.
Thomas I. Glass was a soldier of the War of 1812. He was buried in the Kingston cemetery. He has a headstone, from which these dates are taken. He died on November 16, 1855, aged seventy-seven years.
Joseph Mitchell served in the War of 1812 as a private under General Harrison. He was buried at the Kingston cemetery. He has a good head- (27)
418
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
stone, which shows that he died on October 7, 1868, aged eighty-three years. There are no descendants known to be living in this county.
Willis Gulley, soldier of the War of 1812, came to this county from Kentucky. It is known by residents of Decatur county that he was buried at the Downeyville cemetery.
John Moulton was a soldier of the War of 1812. The most of his time . while in the service was spent in a block house at the mouth of Laughery creek, on the Ohio river, in this state, for the defense of the few settlers in that vicinity. He was born in Pennsylvania, March 24, 1793. His parents came to Kentucky and located in Nicolas county. He was married to Susannah Ricketts in 1814, and came to Decatur county in 1824. locating four miles east of Greensburg. He was killed by a horse, on May 8, 1844, and was buried in the Ross graveyard, three miles east of Greensburg. The headstone and grave are in good condition. John Moulton was a noted hunter in his day. He and two others cut out the Brookville road from near Greensburg to the Franklin county line. He has descendants living in Decatur county. He was probably not a pensioner, but it is possible that his wife was.
Thomas Martin.
George Kerrick is said to have been a soldier of the War of 1812. He is buried at Mt. Carmel and has a good headstone.
Seth Wilder served in Captain Clark's militia in the War of 1812. His name was on the pension rolls of the Indianapolis agency. His postoffice was St. Paul. He died at St. Omer and is buried at that place. There is a headstone.
Samuel Ferguson, a soldier of the War of 1812, lived and died at St. Omer, and was buried in the cemetery at that place.
Frederick W. Dillman, a soldier of the War of 1812, lived and died in Decatur county, but is buried just over the line in Bartholomew county. He was the father of Jacob A. Dillman, of this county.
Mason Watts, known to have been a soldier of the War of 1812, lived in Jackson township, in this county. He was buried in Ripley county, In- diana.
James Wise, a son-in-law of Mason Watts, was also a soldier of the War of 1812. He lived in Decatur county for several years, afterwards moving to Brown county, where his death occurred.
Samuel Eli was probably in the War of 1812. He died in Jackson township, but it is not known where he is buried.
Brumfield Boone, born on November 6, 1791, served in a garrison in
1
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA. 419
Kentucky. He died near Greensburg, Indiana, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Thomas Kitchen, who lives in Greensburg, on January 19, 1875, and was buried in the old Methodist cemetery, now part of the South Park cemetery. Enlisting at the beginning of the War of 1812, at the end of his terin he re-enlisted, as a substitute. He served in the brigade commanded by General Gano, in General Harrison's army, until the end of the war. He was in several battles, but the papers giving the names of the battles and other facts are mislaid and cannot be found. The family came from North Carolina, and were related to Daniel Boone. Mrs. Turner, another daughter, also lived in Greensburg.
John Pritchard, of the War of 1812, was buried in Sandcreek ceme- tery. He died in 1841, aged sixty-seven years.
MEXICAN WAR.
Decatur county furnished a small quota of men for the Mexican War ( 1846-48) and, although the state did not keep the record of volunteers by counties, it has been ascertained that from fifty to seventy-five men en- listed from Decatur county during the progress of the war. Indiana fur- nished five regiments, totaling four thousand four hundred and seventy offi- cers and privates, to the government.
Capt. Morgan L. Payne raised a part of a company in the county and secured the rest of his company at Lawrenceburg. This was Company C, Fourth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, and when it was mustered into the service it was placed under the immediate command of Col. Willis A. Gorman. J. V. Bemusdaffer was the first lieutenant of this company and W. W. Love was also a member of the same company.
Lieut. William P. Sanders was a student at Hanover College when the war opened, but he immediately left college, volunteered, and later be- came an officer in the mounted infantry of Kentucky. He was killed at the battle of Cerro Gordo, April 18, 1847. Sanders was a brother of Mrs. P. T. Lambert, of Greensburg, and the late Mrs. R. A. Hamilton.
Major J. M. Talbott was another prominent man from Greensburg who won distinction in the Mexican War. He raised a company here known as the Decatur County Volunteers. Governor Whitcomb had asked for thirty companies, and Talbott's company being the thirty-eighth to report. it was not needed. Talbott was elected captain of his company: J. E. Housier, first lieutenant ; J. B. Lathrop, second lieutenant. Houser rode all night as soon as the company was full in order to report to the governor
ยท
420
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
that Decatur county had a company ready to go to the front, but he was five hours too late to get the company in. Talbott later joined the Sixteenth Regiment of United States Regulars, was promoted to major for meri- torious work on the field of battle, and died in 1848, while in the service in Mexico.
Other men from this county who served in the war included MeHlenry Pumphrey. Robert Favors, Robert, Eli and Joseph Critser, Benjamin Jen- kins, E. L. Floyd, Benjamin Ricketts, James Morgan, Alexander Edwards, John Harrison, Robert Myers, Tarlton Caldwell and Elijah Hines. There were others, probably fifty in all, who served in the war from this county, but their names have not been preserved.
CIVIL WAR.
On Saturday morning. April 12, 1861, the first shot from the Con- federate batteries in Charleston harbor fell on the rampart of Ft. Sumter. Young men, middle-aged men, old men, stood around the telegraph offices all over the United States on that day, waiting to hear the result of the attack. When it was known that the fort had fallen, a cry went up through- out the North-an insistent cry that active steps be taken at once to crush the incipient rebellion. On that Saturday night men stood in groups, with clenched fists and beating hearts, from the knobs of the Ohio to the sand hills of Lake Michigan, patiently waiting to hear whether the brave seventy in the fort could withstand the ten thousand raging Rebels who were attack- ing them. At ten o'clock that night, the news was flashed over the country that "Sumter has fallen."
On the Sunday morning following there was scarcely a pulpit in the North but what spoke of the terrible event. Indiana ministers, with few exceptions, were loyal to the Union and demanded from the pulpit that the country's honor should be upheld at all costs. On the morning of April 15. Governor Morton telegraphed President Lincoln an offer of ten thousand men. On this same day the President issued a proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers. Every county in the state was called upon by the governor for troops, and, although the state's quota was only four thousand, six hundred and eighty-three, yet within ten days there were twelve thousand men in Indianapolis ready for service.
For the three-year service Decatur county furnished twenty-six com- panies of infantry and cavalry, and one battery. The following is the roster of the commissioned officers, with the regiments in which they served :
421
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Colonels, James Gavin and Ira G. Grover; lieutenant-colonels, James Gavin and Ira G. Grover; majors, Benjamin C. Shaw, Ira G. Grover and Merritt C. Welsh; surgeons, George W. New and John L. Wooden.
Company D-Captains, Merritt C. Welsh and Charles Griffith; first lieutenants, Robert Braden, Charles Griffith, Henry Knight and James Leg- gett ; second lieutenants, Charles Griffith, Henry Knight and James Leg- gett.
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.