USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 105
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Joseph D. Florea grew to manhood on the home farm in Harrison town- ship and from the days of his early boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of improving and developing the place. He completed his schooling in the high school at Connersville and for three or four years thereafter taught district school. In 1862 he bought a quarter of a section of land from his father, the same lying one mile north and two miles west of Harrisburg, and following his marriage the next year established his home there and has ever since continued to reside on that farm, which he has improved in excellent shape. As Mr. Florea prospered in his farming operations he bought additional land until he became the owner of more than four hundred acres, a part of which, however, he has since given to his children, though he still retains about two hundred acres. In addition to his general farming Mr. Florea has long given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade hogs and has done very well. He and his wife have a very pleasant home and are quite comfortably situated in the quiet "even- ing time" of their lives, honored and. respected by the entire community.
Joseph D. Florea has been thrice married. It was in 1863 that he was united in marriage to Sarah E. Wilson, who was born near Milton, over the line in Wayne county, daughter of Gideon and Margaret (Charles) Wilson, earnest Quaker folk, who came from the Carolinas to Indiana about 1820 and settled in Wayne county, where they spent their last days. To that union three children were born, namely: Charles, now living on a farm about a mile north of his old home place, who married Flora Thomas and has one child, a daughter, Barbara; Frank, now living on a farm two miles north of his old home place, who married Minnie Beeson and has one child, a son, Lee, and Pearl, who married Daniel Green, a druggist, of Conners- ville, and has three children, Dorothy, Catherine and Mary. Mrs. Sarah E. Florea died in 1873, and on February 28, 1875, Mr. Florea married Lucinda Corbin, who was born on November 22, 1855, a daughter of Jackson and Mary Corbin, and to that union two children were born, Homer, now living on a farm one mile north of his old home, who married Bertha Manlove and has one child, a daughter, Hazel, and Oscar, born on July 14, 1878, who died in infancy. Mrs. Lucinda Florea died on June 25, 1879, and on November 17, 1881, Mr. Florea married his present wife, Ella Guard, who was born on October 25, 1850, daughter of Sanford and Eliza Guard, which union has been without issue.
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DAVID L. WISE.
David L. Wise, one of Harrison township's substantial farmers, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Fayette county since 1891. He was born in the neighboring county of Wayne on October 19, 1853, a son of Henry A. and Martha (Whisler) Wise, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Indiana, whose last days were spent in Wayne county, this state.
Henry A. Wise was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was there trained as a shoemaker, becoming very expert at that form of crafts- manship. His parents died in Pennsylvania before he had reached his majority and shortly afterward he came to Indiana and located in Union county, where he presently opened a shoemaking shop and became very suc- cessful in that line in the days when shoes and boots were handmade, often having orders three or four months ahead of his ability to fill the same. He also did some farming. He married after locating in Wayne county, his wife, Martha Whisler, having been born in that county, a daughter of Peter WVhisler and wic, who came to this state from Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania.
David L. Wise grew up in Wayne county and during his boyhood was an aid to his father in the shoe shop, becoming a proficient shoemaker. His life work, however, has been farming. He farmed in Wayne county until the fall of 1891, about six years after his marriage, when he moved down into Fayette county and settled on his present location, the farm of George Richmond, a place of one hundred and sixty acres along the north line of this county, north of Connersville, where he ever since has made his home. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Wise and his son, Frank R. Wise, bought the adjoin- ing quarter section on the west, known as the Hittle farm, and are now farming both places, a total of three hundred and twenty acres, and are doing very well; in addition to their general farming being quite extensively engaged in raising live stock.
On January 28, 1885, David L. Wise was united in marriage to Sarah Retherford, who was born on a farm in this county, east of Connersville, a daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Earl) Retherford, the former of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Wise have one son, Frank R. Wise, who is married and is living on the farm adjoining his father's place, the quarter section mentioned above, which he and his father purchased in 1910.
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Frank R. Wise was born in Wayne county on May 9, 1886, and on May 9, 1906, was united in marriage to Josie McFerren, who was born on a farm east of Connersville, in this county, a daughter of Abraham and Susan (Breitenbaugh) McFerren, both natives of this county, who are now living in Waterloo township. Abraham McFerren was born on a farm east of Connersville, a son of David McFerren, one of the old settlers in that com- munity, and his wife, Susan Breitenbaugh, was born on a farm east of Water- loo, this county, a daughter of George and Catherine (LeRoy) Breitenbaugh, natives of Germany, who were married in their native land and came to this country before the days of the Civil War, settling in this county. George Breitenbaugh enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War and served for three years during the struggle between the states. To Frank R. Wise and wife one child has been born, a daughter, Jeannette.
CLEVE T. CALDWELL.
Cleve T. Caldwell, one of Harrison township's well-known and progres- sive farmers, is a representative in the fifth generation of one of the first families of Fayette county, a family that has been represented here since the year 1811. He was born on a pioneer farm on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 6 of Harrison township, just west of Yankeetown, August 11, 1888, and has lived in this county all his life.
The Caldwell family in Fayette county descends from James Caldwell, who was born in December, 1748, and who died on May 3, 1830, aged eighty- one years, four months and twenty-seven days, and is buried in the private burying ground on the old Joseph Caldwell homestead on the southwest quarter of section 33 of Harrison township. Joseph Caldwell, son of the James Caldwell mentioned above, was born in Guilford county, North Caro- lina, and some time after his marriage moved from that state to Ohio, moving thence, in the winter of 1811-12, over into Indiana and entering a tract of land from the government in this county, the southwest quarter of section 33 of Harrison township, where he established his home and where he spent the re- mainder of his life, one of the useful and influential pioneer settlers of that part of the county. Upon moving over here from Ohio the Caldwells were compelled to take refuge for a time in the old block house that had been erected on Lick creek, in the southwest quarter of section 34 of Harrison
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township, the menacing attitude of the Indians at that time rendering such precaution necessary. On Christmas day, 1815, Joseph Caldwell completed his house on section 33, but on account of Indian troubles did not occupy the same at night for some time thereafter, the family, as well as the other early settlers of that region, continuing to occupy the block house. On the farm which he entered from the government, Joseph Caldwell spent the rest of his life and is buried in the family burying ground on that place. That farm still is in the possesion of the Caldwell family. Joseph Caldwell's children were John, James, Joseph, Mary (who married George Manlove, Sr.), Margaret (who married Nathan Morphew) and Lydia ( who married Zenas Powell).
John Caldwell, eldest son of Joseph Caldwell, was born in Guilford coun- ty, North Carolina, January 20, 1798, and was but an infant when his parents moved from there to Ohio and was twelve or thirteen years of age when the family moved from Ohio to Fayette county. Here he grew to manhood and when of legal age entered the northwest quarter of section 3 of Harrison township and there, after his marriage, established his home. He and Alex- ander Dale and William Trowbridge gave the land on which the Baptist church north of Harrisburg was erected. John Caldwell was twice married. By his first wife, Phoebe Rich, he had the following children : Samuel, Oliver, John, Jr., Sanford, James, William, Joseph ( who died in infancy), Elizabeth ( who married James Elliot ), Melinda (a spinster) and Mary (who married John Frazee). Samuel, the first-born of the above-named children, was born on January 7, 1820, and on July 2, 1840, married Mary Parrish, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, October 3, 1821, a daughter of Zachariah and Phoebe Parrish, the former of whom was a soldier during the War of 1812, and who came over into Indiana about 1824 and settled near Fairview, in the township of that name, in this county. Samuel Caldwell established his home on an unimproved tract of land on the northern edge of Harrison township and pro- ceeded to clear the place. In addition to his farming he also engaged in the pork-packing business at Connersville, a member of the firm of Caldwell, Loder & Company, which was put out of business during the panic of 1873. He continued farming his place in Harrison township and there spent his last days, his death occurring on June 24. 1896. His widow preceded him on February 22, 1890. They were members of the Baptist church and their chil- dren were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, sons all, John, Amos, Albert. Joseph, Sanford and David.
Sanford Caldwell was born on the paternal farm in the northern part
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of Harrison township on February 12, 1858, and there grew to manhood. He still makes his home in that township, one of the best-known farmers 11. the northern part of the county. Sanford Caldwell married Matilda Shipley , who also was born in the northern part of Harrison township, November 6, 1860, daughter of Thomas Rodney and Sarah (Groves) Shipley, both of whom also were born in this part of the state. Thomas Rodney Shipley was born in the northwest part of Harrison township, this county, November 15, 1821, a son of Thomas and Eleanor ( Morgan) Shipley, the former of whom, born near the city of Baltimore, Maryland, February 16, 1772, came into Indiana by way of Kentucky and entered a tract of "Congress land" in the northwestern part of Harrison township, this county, and there established his home. That tract still is in the possession of the family, the original parchment deed signed by President Monroe on April 1, 1823, being now held by Thomas Shipley's grandson, Hiram Shipley. There Thomas Rodney Shipley was born and reared and in turn became a farmer on his own account. He was successful in his operations and accumulated nearly five hundred acres of excellent land in that neighborhood. His death occurred on March 23, 1891. His wife, Sarah Groves, was born on a pioneer farm in Rush county, west of Fairview, May 9. 1828, daughter of Donovan and Sarah ( Hicks) Groves, early settlers in that part of the country. Donovan Groves was born on December 5, 1799, a son of Robert and Martha (Miller) Groves, the former of whom died on August 25, 1855, at the age of ninety-one years and six months, and the latter of whom died five days previously, August 20, 1855, aged eighty-nine years, five months and three days. Robert Groves and wife lived together for sixty- seven years. He was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War and in early days was a well-known preacher in the Methodist church. He moved from the East to Kentucky and thence up into Indiana, settling in Rush county in pioneer days. Donovan Groves spent his last days, a well-to- do farmer, in Rush county, his death occuring on May 28, 1851, at the age of fifty-one years, five months and twenty-three days.
Cleve T. Caldwell, son of Sanford and Matilda ( Shipley ) Caldwell, grew to manhood on the home farm in Harrison township and remained there until his marriage on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1914, to Ruby Leffing- well, who also was born on a farm on the northern edge of Harrison town- ship, daughter and only child of Elmer and Dora (Johnson) Leffingwell, also members of pioneer families in this part of the state. Elmer Leffingwell was born on a farm in the neighborhood of Alquina, in Jennings township, this
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county, August 29, 1866, a son of Jonathan Avery and Lucy (Ellis) Leffing- well, the former of whom was born in Genesee county, New York, in 1826 and was. but eight years of age when his parents came to Indiana and settled about one mile west of Hawkinsville, in Harrison township, this county. There the father died not long after coming here, but the widow and children continued to make their home there until the children were grown. Jonathan A. Leffingwell grew to manhood in this county and here married Lucy Ellis, daughter of Lewis and Samantha ( Thomas) Ellis, the former of whom was a son of Moses Ellis, who came to Indiana and established his home in Fay- ette county more than a century ago. After his marriage Jonathan A. Leffing- well farmed in Fayette county for awhile and then moved to Madison county, moving thence to Illinois; but after a brief residence in that state returned to Fayette county and for a time thereafter operated a saw-mill at Bentonville. He then moved to a farm near Falmouth, in Rush county, and thence back to this county, farming for three or four years in Jennings township, whence he moved to the farm on the northern edge of Harrison township where his son, Elmer, now lives, and there he spent his last days, his death occurring in July, 1884. His widow survived him for sixteen years, her death occurring in 1900. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Edgar, who died at the age of seven years; twins, who died in infancy; Lewis, who lives in Posey township, this county : Ada, who died about 1896; Emma, of Conners- ville; Minor E., of Connersville ; Elmer, who is living on the old home farm in Harrison township, and Minnie, who married S. D. Lynch and now lives in Kennewick, Washington. Elmer Leffingwell was about two years of age when his parents moved to the north edge of Harrison township and there he grew to manhood. He married Dora Johnson, who was born in the neigh- boring county of Wayne, a daughter of Samuel and Hester (Hoover) John- son, and after his marriage farmed on rented land until about 1902, when he bought the old homestead place where he was born and where he since has made his home, being quite successfully engaged there in general farming and in the raising of hogs. He is the owner of a well-improved farm of two hundred and twenty acres and has a very comfortable home. Since his mar- riage Cleve T. Caldwell has been farming on a farm owned by his wife's father and is doing very well. In his political faith he is a Democrat and gives a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
THOMAS W. WORSTER.
Among the old families of Fayette county there are few that became identified with the affairs of this county at an earlier date than did the Worster family. The family has been represented here since territorial days and some members have maintained a continuous residence on the old Worster homestead in Jennings township since it was entered by James Worster about 1813. Of this pioneer family the subject of this memorial sketch was one of the best-known representatives in his day and generation.
The late Thomas W. Worster, for years one of the most honored and influential residents of Jennings township, was born on the farm above referred to and on which he resided for many years, a son of James and Nancy (Milner) Worster, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the lat- ter of Kentucky. His parents were among the early settlers in Jennings township, where their last days were spent, influential and useful members of that pioneer community.
James Worster was born on December 31, 1772, and was but a lad when his parents, the Rev. Robert and Mary (Gorman) Worster, left Penn- sylvania and moved to Kentucky. The Rev. Robert Worster was a native of England, who, as a young man, came to the American colonies and located in Pennsylvania. He was a minister of the Methodist church and enjoyed the distinction of being the first preacher of that denomination west of the Alleghany mountains. For years he labored in Kentucky and then in his old age, came up into Indiana and spent his last days at the home of his son, James Worster, in Fayette county. He was a remarkable man in many ways and was an educator as well as a preacher, his services in both connections creating a distinct influence for good upon the pioneer community in which he spent his last days in this county. He was enthusiastic and earnest in his work and possessed great powers of endurance. That he was blessed with a hardy constitution is shown by the fact that he attained the great age of one hundred and one years, his death occurring in this county in December, 1830. His widow, who was many years his junior, survived but a little more than a year, her death occurring on February 1, 1832. The family has been noted for longevity and the present generation seems to be maintaining the record of the past generations along that line. To the Rev. Robert Worster and wife a considerable number of children were born, all of whom long since have passed to the great beyond.
THOMAS W. WORSTER.
I
MRS. MARY A. WORSTER.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
As noted above, James Worster was but a lad when his parents moved to Kentucky and his early years were spent in running a flatboat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. He took part in the earlier engagements of the War of 1812 and in the fall of 1813 came up into Indiana and settled at Brookville. Previously he had entered a tract of land in Jen- nings township, in Fayette county, and presently occupied that tract. It was one of the first places settled in the township and has remained in the posses- sion of the family ever since. At the time that tract of "Congress land" was entered the Indians still were numerous hereabout, considerable numbers of them often being seen hunting for game. Although great numbers of Indians fought with England in the war then in progress, it was rarely that the settlers in this section were molested, a fact due, no doubt, to the kind- ness with which the whites invariably treated the aborigines. Before com- ing to Fayette county James Worster married Nancy Milner, who was born on September 1, 1789, a daughter of Amos Milner and wife, of Kentucky, the former of whom was a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolu- tionary War and in the French and Indian Wars and was a participant in General Braddock's defeat in 1755. Amos Milner died at the age of ninety-one. James Worster and wife were industrious and highly respected pioneer citizens of Jennings township, prominent in the work of the Meth- odist church and were potent influences for good in the days of the beginning of a social order in this county. James Worster died on September 29. 1849, in his sixty-eighth year, and his widow survived him for many years, her death occurring on September 24, 1876. Eight children were born to them, all of whom, with one exception, reached advanced age. Those chil- dren, besides the subject of this memorial sketch, were as follow: Hannah, born on July 31, 1806, who lived to the age of eighty-seven years; Mary Jane, October 16, 1808, who died on February 6, 1899; Amos M., May 25, 1811, who lived to the age of eighty-five years; Robert, December 7, 1814, who lived to be about eighty-two; John O., June 10, 1817, who also attained length of years; Lucinda, November 23, 1822, who lived to ripe old age, and Eliza- beth, who died at the age of thirty years.
Thomas W. Worster, who was born on the farm his father had entered in territorial days, February 8, 1828, grew to manhood on that farm and there made his home during his life, an energetic and influential farmer. On October 26, 1851, he was united in marriage to Mary A. Blue, who was born in the neighboring county of Union on February 16, 1833, daughter
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of Jacob WV. and Mary (Stout) Blue, the friendship formed in school days ending in their marriage. Both the Blues and the Stouts, early settlers in Fayette county, are of Revolutionary stock, Mrs. Worster and her children thus being eligible along three lines to membership in the Daughters of the Revolution and in the Sons of the Revolution. Mary Stout's father, Jonathan Stout, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, later going to Kentucky, his father having been there a companion of Daniel Boone, the famous scout and Indian fighter. Mrs. Worster was left an orphan at an early age, her mother having died in 1840 and her father four years later, leaving two children, Mary A. and James M., and she was reared by her aunt, Mary Blue.
To Thomas W. and Mary A. (Blue) Worster six children were born, namely : James Austin, born on March 21, 1853; John O., October 26, 1856; Charles S., October 24, 1860; Thomas Lincoln, April 18, 1863; Mary Jane, August 6, 1867, and Grace H., November 21, 1872. There are five grandchildren : Thomas W., only son of James A. Worster; Melvin Paul, son of John O. Worster, and Edna May, Dorotha and Robert Clifford, chil- dren of Charles S. Worster. There are also two great-grandchildren, Senora Jean, daughter of Melvin Paul, and Bertha Caroline, daughter of Edna WVorster White. The Worsters are members of the Methodist church and take an earnest interest in its various beneficences. Thomas W. Worster died on August 18, 1904, and his widow died on June 29, 1916.
Thomas W. Worster was a member of the Masonic order at Everton and remained a member until the hall burned, which brought the lodge to a close. He had been a faithful member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty years; he was always ready to see after the sick of that order. He was a great stock raiser and liked fine horses.
Mrs. Worster's earliest teacher was her uncle, Job Stout, so well remem- bered by older citizens. She was left an orphan at the age of seventy years and was raised by her aunt, Mary Blue. At the age of seventeen she went to West Union, as it was then called, but now is known as Everton, to learn the tailor trade with Billy Williams and met her future husband, T. W. Worster. After her marriage she went to the farm entered from the govern- ment by James Worster and lived there until the death of her husband, Angust 18, 1904. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mt. Garrison, and later was a member of the Everton church until her death on June 29, 1916. She was also a member of the Order of Rebekah and of the Ladies Aid Society at Everton. Their house was always open to
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the ministers of the gospel and they were free to come and go without formality. Mrs. Worster assisted at the County Centennial in Connersville in 1916 and was a great help to the organizing committee.
With the death of Thomas W. Worster and his good wife two of the most prominent pioneers of the county have passed away. It is a pleasure to record the lives of such people. It is to such as these that the state owes its prosperity and it seems eminently fitting to set forth in this manner the records of their achievements. Their children and their grandchildren, and descendants for all time to come, may here read the life history of this worthy couple, and it should be an inspiration to them to know all the good they accomplished in the county where they lived so many years.
ERNEST A. MAURER.
Ernest A. Maurer, one of Fayette county's best-known and most pro- gressive young farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Harrison township, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on June 29, 1882, son of Alexander and Anna (Wenger) Maurer, natives of Switzerland, and the former of whom is still living, one of Harrison township's best-known residents, where he has made his home since 1873, in which year he came to this country from his native Switzerland.
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