USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 62
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spent their last days. He was the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section 27 and was long regarded as one of the sub- stantial and influential residents of that part of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hackleman are members of the Christian church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in the general social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout.
HON. RICHARD N. ELLIOTT.
The Hon. Richard N. Elliott, member of the law firm of McKee, Wiles & Elliott, of Connersville, and former representative in the Indiana state Legislature from this district, is a native son of Fayette county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Jackson town- ship on April 25, 1873, son of Charles W. and Eliza A. (Nash) Elliott, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of this county, and the lat- ter of whom is still living at her home in this' county.
Charles W. Elliott was born at Brooksville, Kentucky, and was about four years of age when his parents came to Indiana, about 1832, and set- tled in Jackson township, this county, the senior Elliott there buying a tract of land from the man who entered it from the government. There Charles WV. Elliott grew to manhood and became a substantial farmer, owning a farm in Jackson township and one in Columbia township. During the days of the gold excitement in California he started for the new Eldorado, by way of Panama, but was seized with an attack of yellow fever on the Isth- mus and upon his recovery returned home without concluding his quest for gold. In the days preceding and leading up to the Civil War he was a "war Democrat" and voted for Abraham Lincoln for President, ever afterward being rather independent in his political views. He voted for James G. Blaine for President and died firm in the Republican faith. His parents, John and Rachel (Pigman) Elliott, who came to this county from Kentucky in the early thirties and established their home in Jackson township, spent the rest of their lives there, being counted among the most substantial and influential pioneers of that part of the county. Though John Elliott came to Fayette county a poor man, he died quite wealthy and was long looked upon as one of the most prominent men in the county. He and his wife had eight children who lived to maturity, Jesse P., Charles W., Elijah,
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James M., John, Elizabeth, who married Elijah Jamison, and Jane and Adam, who died unmarried.
Charles W. Elliott married Eliza A. Nash, who was born in Fairview township, this county, daughter of Richard and Margaret (Moffett) Naslı, natives of Pennsylvania, who became pioneers of this county and here spent the rest of their lives. Richard Nash in his young manhood was a flatboatman on the Ohio river. His father entered a tract of land in Fairview township, this county, which he later owned, and he and his wife died there. They had a good-sized family, their children, besides Mrs. Elliott, having been Mrs. Jane Turner, William G. Nash, Mrs. Sarah Ann Pratt, Isaac T. Nash, John S. Nash and Oliver L. Nash. All four of the sons were soldiers of the Union during the Civil War and the first-named participated in the battle of Gettysburg. Richard Nash was twice married, by his first wife having had a son, Robert Nash. To Charles W. and Eliza A. (Nash) Elliott five children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Cecile, wife of Walter Sefton, of Connersville; Charles W., who died in 1897, at the age of nineteen years, and two daughters who died in their girlhood. The senior Charles W. Elliott died at his home in Jackson township in 1891, he then being sixty-three years of age, and his widow survives him, she now being seventy-five years of age. She is a member of the Metho- dist church, as was her husband, and has ever given her earnest attention to the work of the church.
Reared on the paternal farm in Jackson township, Richard N. Elliott received his elementary schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and later taught school for three years, in the meantime con- tinuing to assist with the labors of the home farm, and remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to Connersville and entered upon the study of law in the office of Conner & McIntosh, begin- ning his studies there in July, 1895. In the following year, 1896, he was admitted to the bar and has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession at Connersville. For some time Mr. Elliott was in partnership with the late Ira T. Trusler and later, for some time, was in partnership with Frederic I. Barrows. He later formed another partnership, which was maintained under the firm style of McKee, Frost & Elliott until the forma- tion of the present firm, McKee, Wiles & Elliott, with which Mr. Elliott is now connected. Mr. Elliott is a Republican and has long given his most thoughtful attention to the political affairs of his home county and of the state at large. For nine years he served as county attorney of Fayette
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county and for four years as city attorney of Connersville. In 1904 he was elected representative from this district to the Indiana state Legisla- ture and was re-elected in 1906, thus serving for two terms, during which time he rendered valuable service not only to this district but to the state at large. Mr. Elliott was a member of the Indiana tuberculosis commis- sion and was the author of the bill that, enacted into law, created the Indiana state tuberculosis hospital at Rockville. Mr. Elliott has for years been an active worker in the political field and for some time was chairman of the county Republican committee and chairman of the city Republican committee. He now is a member of the advisory committee of the state Republican committee and in that capacity rendered admirable service dur- ing the campaign of 1916. Mr. Elliott was a delegate to the Republican national convention at Chicago in 1916, and has for years been a familiar figure at the district and state conventions of his party.
On January 20, 1898, Richard N. Elliott was united in marriage to Lizzie A. Ostheimer, who was born in Harrison township, this county, daughter of Simon and Mary (Simpkins) Ostheimer, the former a native of Germany and the latter of the state of Ohio. Simon Ostheimer was but a child when he came to this country with his parents and he grew to man- hood in this county. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted for service in the Union army and served for about three years. His. father, George Ostheimer, also served as a soldier during the war between the states and was killed during a skirmish in Kentucky. George Ostheimer and wife were the parents of seven children, Peter, Mrs. Mary Walters, Simon, Charles, George. Alice and Joseph. Simon Ostheimer became a thrifty farmer in this county and served for four years as county treasurer of Fayette county. He married Mary Simpkins, who was born at Bethel, Ohio, and who came to this county with her parents, and of the children born to that union seven lived to maturity, namely: George A., Mrs. Ella M. VanPelt, Mrs. Hattie G. Barker (deceased), Mrs. Elliott, Laura, Ruby and Quincy. Simon Ostheimer died on April 1, 1906, and his widow is still living.
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general social activities of the city. Mr. Elliott is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Warren Lodge No. 15, Free and Accepted Masons; of Maxwell Chapter No. 18, Royal Arch Masons, and of Fayette Council No. 6, Royal and Select Masters. He also is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.
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SCOTT THOMAS.
Scott Thomas, assessor of Fayette county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm just at the northern edge of the city of Connersville, in Harrison township, November 24, 1851, son of Benjamin and Eliza ( Savage) Thomas, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Maine, who became pioneers of this county and here spent their last days.
Benjamin Thomas was born at Olean Point, New York, eldest of the four sons born to his parents, the others having been Gilbert, Jesse and Stephen. He grew to manhood there and married Eliza Savage, who was born at Bangor, Maine, shortly afterward coming to Indiana and settling on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Harrison township, this county, which farm is now included in the present limits of the city of Connersville. and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1881. he then being eighty-six years of age. Benjamin Thomas was thrice married. His first wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, died in 1854. and he later married Francena Reed. upon whose death he married Mrs. Mary Keener. He was the father of eleven children, of whom the subject of this biograph- , ical sketch was the tenth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Mrs. Ann Clark, now deceased: Jesse H., deceased; Oliver, who died while serv- ing as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War ; Samuel, a veteran of the Civil War, now living at Morocco, this state: Austin, of Harrison township. this county, also a Civil War veteran; Walter, of Logansport : Margaret. wife of Joseph J. Cole, of Connersville: Jane, who married E. R. Carson and is now deceased: Mary E., also deceased, who was the wife of John Coss, and Kate, the wife of George Drischell, of Cambridge City, this state.
Scott Thomas was reared on the paternal farm on the northern edge of the city of Connersville and remained there for some years after his mar- riage, a valuable assistant to his father in the labors of the home place. His earliest schooling was obtained in the old subscription school in the neigh- borhood of his home, and he later attended the public schools in Conners- ville and the old Frost school, known locally as "Elephant College." He married in 1879 and for seven years thereafter continued to make his home on the old home place, operating the farm. He then opened an omnibus and transfer line in Connersville and for twenty-two years conducted the same, afterward engaging in the real-estate business in that city and was thus engaged until his election to the office of county assessor in the fall of 1914.
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He entered upon the duties of that office on January 1, 1915, and is now serving in that important public capacity, one of the most popular public officials in Fayette county. Mr. Thomas is a stanch Republican and for years has been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county.
On June 3, 1879, Scott Thomas was united in marriage to Ella Enyart, daughter of Samuel Enyart, and to that union three children were born, Margaret Ethel, who married Louis Wines Bremmerman and lives in Chi- cago; Guy M., who married Cynthielia Jorns and is in the employ of the Lexington-Howard Automobile Company, and Archie D., an electrician, who lives at home. The mother of these children died at her home in Conners- ville on September 2, 1915. at the age of fifty-three years. She was a mem- ber of the Episcopal church. Mr. Thomas is a Methodist in his religious faith and has ever taken a proper part in the good works of the community.
LIEUT. SAMUEL J. SHIPLEY.
In the memoral annals of Fayette county there is no name held in better remembrance than that of the late Lieut. Samuel J. Shipley, United States navy, retired, who died at his home in Harrison township in 1897.
Lieut. Samuel J. Shipley was born in Wilmington, Delaware, December 24, 1813, son of Joseph B. and Mary H. (Test) Shipley, the former born near the Brandywine, Delaware, November 14, 1780, and the latter, near Salem, New Jersey. They were married on April 16, 1804. Samuel Shipley, the grandfather of Samuel J., and for whom the latter was named, was born on December 5, 1755. His wife, Jane (Bennett) Shipley, was a sister of Caleb Bennett, who commanded a company at the battle of the Brandy- wine and at one time was governor of Delaware. The brother and sisters of Samuel J. were named and born as follows: Mary A., born on February 29, 1805; Charles, August 17, 1807, and Eliza J., October 15, 1811. Their ancestors came from England soon after William Penn colonized Penn- sylvania, and were of Penn's religious faith.
Our subject, when a school boy near the Delaware Bay watching the ships go down to the ocean, early evidenced a desire to go to sea, and in 1833 he made application for an appointment as midshipman, the appli- cation being indorsed by his friends, Daniel Rench, Samuel W. Parker and others, and in the following year his appointment was received through Gen. Jonathan McCarty, then member of Congress from the Connersville
Sofshipley
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district. The young naval aspirant was soon ordered to the brigantine "Enterprise," at Norfolk, Virginia, and from thence sailed for the Bra- zilian station, South America; soon after reaching which he was trans- ferred to the flagship "Erie" and remained on that station nearly three years, returning to the United States in the fall of 1837, when he was granted a leave of absence. He returned home and soon after purchased a farm in Harrison township, which he ever after made his home when not engaged in the naval service. After the expiration of his furlough he was ordered to the receiving ship "Hudson," at New York, and not long there- after was transferred to the line-of-battle ship "North Carolina" that was used as a school for apprentices. The class of 1834, to which he belonged, was the first to pass an examination at the Naval Academy established at Philadphia in 1839 (subsequently changed to Annapolis, Maryland).
In June, 1840, soon after passing his examination, young Shipley was ordered to the West India station and joined the United States ship "War- ren" at Pensacola, Florida. He made a cruise with that vessel to the Spanish main and the Gulf of Mexico; thence to New York, where he was granted a leave of absence, and on his return home was united in marriage, November 14, 1841, to Martha Holton, daughter of Rev. Jesse and Jane Holton. On the expiration of his leave of absence he joined the United States ship "Falmouth" as sailing master, and made a cruise of over two years to the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies, returning home in 1844, when he was permitted to remain with his family for more than a year. In 1846 his wife died at the age of twenty-four years, leaving a daughter. Jennie, who was a great source of comfort and a stay to her father during his declining years.
Soon after the death of his wife Master Shipley received orders to join the United States ship "United States," as sailing master, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Read, ordered to the coast of Africa. (At that time our government was bound by treaty with Great Britain to keep up a force of eighty guns for the suppression of slave traffic). After taking on board a new battery of fifty-two guns and stores they started for the Cape Verde Islands, via the Azores, going from Pico south, passing the Canary Islands, sighting the Peak of Teneriffe in the distance. On their arrival at Porto Praya, Cape Verde Islands, their place of rendezvous, they took on board some stores and provisions and proceeded down the coast, visiting Sierra Leone, Cape Mount (a noted slave mart), stopping some time at Monrovia, at which place Commodore Read, Master Shipley and
(42)
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other officers dined with President Roberts, whose hospitality they had been invited to share. While here they. visited Mission House school-and other public buildings. From Cape. Mesurado they sailed for the Gulf of Guinea, anchoring off Cape Palmas, thence down the Ivory and Gold Coast, passing Cape Three Points, and anchoring at Cape Coast Castle, an English station strongly fortified, and which in times past they had hard work hold- ing against the warlike Ashantees. At this station, within the enclosure of the fort, is the tomb of the wife of Governor Maclean, a Scotch gentle- man then in charge of the station. She was an English poetess, who had written over the initials L. E. L. Also here it was that Elisha K. Kane, the assistant surgeon and an enthusiastic friend of our subject, took his first lesson in navigation, and a few degrees to the east, in the kingdom of Dahomey, near the mouth of the river Quorra Niger, came near losing his life from exposure in exploring that benighted and God-forsaken land. They cruised in the Bight of Benin to the mouth of the river Gaboon. From thence they sailed to Prince's Island, anchoring at West Bay (an island belonging to Portugal), a resort for whale ships, and while there the crews of the United States vessels witnessed the capture of a whale with her calf. They next sailed for their place of rendezvous, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands, and en route there, while in the Gulf of Guinea, upon observation it was found that they were at a point where there was neither latitude nor longitude; in other words, they were on the meridian of Greenwich at the equator.
On arriving at Port Praya, Master Shipley was appointed to take charge temporarily of the depot of supplies, at which post of duty he remained several months, Doctor Kane, who was quite sick, remaining for a time with him. About June 1, 1847, Mr. Shipley returned to duty on board the ship, which soon afterward sailed, and they made their third and last cruise down the coast, stopping several days at the mouth of the river Congo, keeping near the coast line, so that they could see the impene- trable jungles and forests, with occasional openings and villages. At this time the United States had four vessels-the flagship "United States" and the sloops of war "Marion," "Dolphin" and "Boxen" -- cruising along the coast, the English having about the same number, so that it was almost impossible for the slave-runners to evade their vigilance. From the river Congo they sailed down the coast, stopping at St. Paul de Loanda; from thence to Benguela, in latitude 13 degrees south of the equator; thence to within a short distance of the island of St. Helena (noted as the place of exile of Napoleon Bonaparte) ; and then steered for the Cape Verde
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Islands, and on arriving at Port Praya fell in with the brig "Dolphin," which had on board, with other documents from the navy department, the commission of Master Shipley as lieutenant in the United States navy. Hle was then transferred to the United States brig "Dolphin."
In 1861 Lieutenant Shipley tendered his services to the United States government and went to Fortress Monroe as executive officer of the "Brandy- wine," returning home on account of sickness in 1863. After retiring from the navy our subject lived a somewhat retired life on his farm in Harrison township, esteemed and respected by the community at large. Lieutenant Shipley died on July 11, 1897.
JAMES MOUNT.
James Mount, deceased, and for many years one of the prominent and successful residents of Fayette county, was born in the state of New Jersey in the year 1805 and died at his home in Connersville in 1882. He was the son of Daniel and Rhoda ( Hunt) Mount, who settled in the state of New York and were the first of the family to come to Indiana, where they engaged in farming for many years. David Mount was later elected a judge at Brookville, which position he filled with dignity and ability. He was identi- fied with the Republican party and always took great interest in local affairs, long having been recognized as a leader and adviser in his home community. He and his wife were devoted and active members of the Presbyterian church and were prominent in the social and the religious life of the community, in which they lived and where they were held in the highest regard and esteem by all who knew them. They continued to reside at Brookville until the time of their death, after having reared a family of several children.
James Mount received his primary education in the local schools and later attended Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio. He was a great student and finished his course in the university with honor. After completing his schooling he located at Connersville, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He also interested himself in the hanking business of the town, and was an extensive landowner, taking much pleasure in his life as a farmer and stockraiser. He was a Republican and though he never aspired to office he devoted much of his time and his ability to the interests of his home city as well as to the interests of the county. He was a firm believer in the selection of the best men to administer the affairs of the public. He believed
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in the best of public improvements, the maintenance of good schools and the building of good roads. To him, much of the future greatness of the district depended upon these important factors. He well knew the advantage of a good education, for he had spent years of his early life in the pursuit of an educational training.
Mr. Mount was known throughout a wide territory for his generous and kindly disposition and for his business acumen. He believed in the highest standards of life and felt that a man did not owe his whole time and ability to himself. One of his greatest pleasures was in the assistance that he could give to his neighbors and those less fortunate than he had been and many a struggling young man could testify to his generosity. He did not believe that charity should be extended simply for the sake of giving, but that the recipient might be directed to higher aims. Few worthy unfortu- nates were ever turned away without receiving some help. Not alone, was he generous with his money, but his kindly disposition compelled him to seek the presence of those who needed his advice and counsel. In sickness and in trouble, in adversities and disasters, his presence was ever welcome to those who were the sufferers. His wife was a member of the Presbyterian church, and he was a liberal supporter of the same.
James Mount married Mary Dickson, daughter of Arthur and Sarah (Wilson) Dickson of Williamsburg, Virginia. Her parents moved from their home in Virginia and located at Brookville, Indiana, in an early day, and there the father established himself as a merchant. There he remained for a number of years and met with much success. He later moved to Con- nersville, where he engaged in business on Fifth street. The mother died in Connersville and the father later returned to Brookville, where he spent his last days. They were the parents of two children, Mary and William, the latter of whom spent much of his life at Topeka, Kansas. The family were prominent in the activities of their home district and were among the excellent people of the county.
James and Mary ( Dickson) Mount were the parents of six children, Arthur, David, Charles, William, Catherine M. and Quincy. Arthur Mount died in his youth. David Mount. on reaching manhood engaged in general farming and stockraising and was thus engaged with success until the time of his death some years ago. Charles Mount engaged in banking at Con- nersville. He married Sarah Ella Huston and after her death he was united in marriage to Esther Roots. William Mount died when but a young man and Quincy Mount, who engaged successfully in banking at Connersville, died in 1916. Catherine M .- Mount is now living in the city of Connersville,
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where she has always lived and where she is regarded as one of the prominent and highly esteemed women of the city. Educated and refined, she has ever taken an earnest interest in the general social activities of her home city and her good work has been a source of inspiration to many. She has long been interested in the moral and the educational development of the com- munity and has had much to do with movements having as their design the elevation of the standards of living hereabout. It is hardly too much to say that few families have exerted a wider influence for good in Connersville than have the Mounts.
EDGAR M. MICHENER.
Edgar M. Michener, secretary and treasurer of the Connersville Buggy Company, vice-president of the Central State Bank of Connersville and for years recognized as one of the leading business men of that city, is a native son of Fayette county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Columbia township on October 29, 1857, son of William and Mary A. (Blake) Michener, the former a native of the state of Ohio and the latter, of Virginia, who had come to Indiana with their respective parents in the days of their childhood, the families of both settling in Fay- ette county, and here spent the remainder of their lives.
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