History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 80

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

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JOHN C. SHIRK.

The Shirk family came to the section of Indiana territory now embraced within the borders of Franklin county, in 1808, although the county was not in existence at that time. As a matter of fact, Franklin county was not organized until November 27, 1810, and the organizing act did not become effective until February 1, 18II. Thus it will be seen that the Shirk family have been identified with the history of Franklin county from its very begin- ning, a period of more than one hundred years.

John C. Shirk, a prominent banker of Brookville, was born March 14, 1858, in Springfield township, Franklin county, Indiana, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah (Wright) Shirk. Andrew Shirk was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Stout) Shirk and was born September 22, 1816, in Spring- field township and died in this county September 23, 1882.

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Samuel Shirk was born in Kentucky and was a son of Andrew and Martha (Hamilton) Shirk, Andrew Shirk being born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. Samuel Shirk grew to maturity in Kentucky and married Elizabeth Stout, a daughter of Job Stout, a native of New Jersey. Ancestors of Job Stout located in New Jersey about 1600, coming direct from Eng- land. Job Stout served on General Washington's staff in the Revolutionary War and later married and located in the bluegrass region of Kentucky. In 1810 Samuel Shirk and his family together with Job Stout and his family came to what is now Franklin county, Indiana, the Stout and Shirk families entering adjoining tracts of land. Both families were stanch members of the Baptist church and both were instrumental in organizing the Big Cedar Grove Baptist church in Franklin county in 1817.

The great-great-grandfather of John C. Shirk was Caspar Shirk, who was born in Switzerland about 1715 and when a comparatively young man emigrated with his wife and son, Andrew, to America and located in Penn- sylvania. They made the voyage in a sailing vessel and were compelled to eat rats, due to the fact that their ship was thrown out of its course and food became scarce on the vessel. Owing to these hardships, the wife of Caspar Shirk died on the voyage to this country. Andrew Shirk was born in Switzerland, September 7, 1753, and died at the home of his son, Samuel, at the age of seventy-five years, four months and seven days. Mr. Shirk's great-grandfather, grandfather and father, all died in the same house and are buried in the Big Cedar Grove cemetery. As has been previously men- tioned, Samuel served in the American Revolution and fought through the Carolina compaign under General Green, receiving a wound which eventually caused his death after many years of suffering. On his tombstone in the Big Cedar Grove cemetery was engraved "A Revolutionary Soldier." After the surrender of Cornwallis in the fall of 1781, Andrew Shirk settled in Georgia near Augusta, where he married Martha Hamilton and there all of his children were born: John, David, Andrew, Joseph, Samuel, Isaac, Nancy and Martha. Some years later Andrew and his family drove over- land in a party of about one hundred to Kentucky. Many of them rode on horseback and were prepared to fight any Indians whom they might meet on the way. On account of his strong opposition to slavery, Andrew Shirk remained but a short time in Kentucky. Having lost eleven horses in Ken- tucky as a result of Indian raids, he took his remaining horse and rode to Cincinnati, then a small trading post of twenty inhabitants. He journeyed north from Cincinnati on horseback to the Whitewater river and in 1808 (52)

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entered land in Franklin county, Indiana. His wife died in this county November 15, 1820.

Samuel Shirk, the grandfather of John C. Shirk, was born near Augusta, Georgia, August 25, 1792, and died September 5, 1859. He was married to Elizabeth Stout August 28, 1815. Previous to his marriage he had entered 160 acres of land adjoining the Big Cedar Baptist church, later adding eighty acres more, and to this farm he brought his young bride. Elizabeth Stout was the daughter of Job Stout, as has been mentioned, and was a lineal descendant of Penelope Van Princis, an early settler in the Amsterdam colony. Job Stout was an express rider and bearer of dispatches under General Washington in the Revolutionary War and was present when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in the fall of 1781. In 1788 Job Stout and his family emigrated to what is now Louisville, Kentucky, and 1812 he came to Franklin county, Indiana, because of his opposition to slavery. He resided on his farm east of Brookville until his death in 1828. He was buried in the cemetery at the Big Cedar Grove church and on his grave is a tablet bearing the words, "A Revolutionist of Seventy-Six." He was the father of Mrs. Anna Waldorf, who died May 3, 1904. probably the last living daughter of a Revolutionary soldier.

Samuel Shirk was in the War of 1812, where he served with the rank of major. He was an ardent Whig and a very influential man in the early history of Franklin county, serving as county commissioner at one time. At the time of his death he owned two hundred and forty acres in the county. An interesting incident is told of the brother of John C. Shirk's grand- father. This good man about the year 1818 shot an Indian in self defense. The Indian was about to shot him, but he was too quick for the savage and shot first, killing the redskin. This justifiable homicide so preyed upon his mind that he arose in church shortly afterwards and begged for forgive- ness for being compelled to shoot the Indian. Mr. Shirk's grandfather made the brick by hand that went into the construction of the old Baptist church in Springfield township. He was the deacon, and the minutes of the church when it was organized in 1817 show that he was "singing clerk."

The maternal grandparents of John C. Shirk were William and Eliza- beth (Bardsley) Wright, who were born and reared at Ashton-under-Lyne, near Manchester, England, and were married in an Episcopal church at that place. William Wright had learned the hatter's trade in England but did not follow his trade very long. On account of his wealth he was a member of the gentry class of his country. After three children were born to William Wright and wife, he decided to come to the United States. He located in

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Ohio and entered land near Dayton. In 1830 William Wright sold his farm near Dayton, Ohio, and moved to Franklin county, Indiana, locating three miles east of Brookville. He died on his farm and his widow later died in Brookville at the home of a daughter. Although they were members of the Episcopal church in England, they joined the Baptist church after com- ing to this country. William Wright and wife were the parents of three sons and five daughters.

Andrew Shirk, the father of John C., grew up on the old Shirk home- stead in Springfield township. After his marriage he bought a store and conducted it at Whitcomb for a few years. He then traded the store for a farm of two hundred and fifty acres on which he lived until 1856. In that year he bought a store at Springfield and while there, a son, John C., with whom this narrative deals, was born. In January, 1860, Andrew Shirk moved to the old Shirk homestead and there he lived until his death. At the time of Morgan's raid in 1863, Andrew Shirk took a wagon load of "squir- rel hunters," as they were called, to help drive back Morgan when he started through Franklin county. However, it happened that Morgan went further south and the wagon load of patriots failed to get sight of the fleeing enemy. Andrew Shirk was a very progressive citizen and subscribed liberally to help get the railroad through his section of the county. He was largely instrumental in getting the first pike built through the county and in every way he gave his influence to all public-spirited enterprises. He was dignified in person, quiet in manner, and a man who was always devoted to his family and to his church.

Andrew Shirk was the father of the following children, seven of whom grew to maturity : Elbert Hamilton, who died in 1901, after a success- ful career as a banker in Tipton, Indiana: Mary, the wife of Dr. Williams, of Fayetteville, West Virginia : William W., who died in 1912, a hardware merchant and vice-president of a bank in Muncie, Indiana; Martha, the widow of C. F. Goodwin, who died in 1896, a banker of Brookville, Indiana; James, the president of the Citizens' National Bank of Delphi, Indiana, and an extensive land owner; Samuel, who died at the age of thirteen; John C., of Brookville, Indiana, and George, a refrigerator manufacturer of Chicago, Illinois.

John C. Shirk received his elementary education in the district schools of Springfield township, and then attended the preparatory department of Indiana University, later being graduated from the classical course in that university with the class of 1881. While in the university, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Greek letter fraternity.

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After his graduation, Mr. Shirk went into a private bank at Brook- ville and in 1884 was taken in as a partner by C. F. Goodwin, his brother- in-law and the owner of the bank. In 1896 Mr. Goodwin died and Mr. Shirk continued in control of the bank. In 1905 the bank was reorganized as the National Brookville Bank, and Mr. Shirk was made president of the institution at that time, a position which he still holds. In 1891 the bank erected a fine bank building and in 1912 it was remodeled and modernized in every way. Mr. Shirk has been president and treasurer of the Brook- ville Furniture Company since it was reorganized in 1896. This is the largest manufacturing plant in Brookville and does a big business annually. Mr. Shirk also is president of the Brookville Telephone Company, which he helped to organize in 1895. He is president of the Franklin Furniture Com- pany, a retail store in Brookville; is president of the Brookville Historical Society, in the organization of which he was largely instrumental, the first meeting of this society having been held in his home in 1908, at which time he was elected president, a position in which the society has continued to maintain him. He also organized the Saturday Club, an organization which has been in active existence for twenty-five years, the object of which is the general betterment of the community. He also is president of the Brook- ville Library Association, which he was instrumental in organizing, and for six years was a trustee on the school board of Brookville. He owns several fine farms in Franklin county as well as considerable land in Kan- sas.

Mr. Shirk was married March 3, 1886, to Lura Chafee, who was born in Aurora, Ind., a daughter of John G. and Clara (Sparks) Chafee. Her father was a Methodist minister and died in 1903. Her mother is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Shirk.

There have been eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shirk: Howard, born January 27, 1887, and died August 9, 1898; Charles Andrew, born July 30, 1888, and is now in the bank with his father; Grosvenor, born February 26, 1890, was educated in Culver Military Academy and Wooster University and is now working in his father's furniture factory; Samuel, . born November 6, 1891, and now traveling for the Brookville Furniture Company; Ellen, born May 22, 1893, was educated at Tudor Hall at In- dianapolis, and in music at Cincinnati at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music; Cornelia, born June 22, 1895; Jaffee Wright, born September I, 1897, and Horace, born August 12, 1898.

Mr. Shirk is a stanch Republican in politics, but owing to his extensive interests, has never been active in political affairs. He is a member of the

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Free and Accepted Masons and has taken all of the degrees in the Scottish Rite and seven in the York Rite. He belongs to the Indianapolis Consistory and the Murat Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For thirteen years Mr. Shirk has been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school at Brookville. His family home is one of the finest of the city and is situated in the northern part of town in the midst of well laid out grounds. Sufficient has been given to the life of Mr. Shirk to indicate that he is a man of prominence and influence in his community. He is a worthy scion of a family which has been connected with the history of this county from the beginning and it is eminently fitting that his history be recorded in the annals of the county which has turned out so many distinguished men and women.

THOMAS B. THACKREY.

Indiana enjoys today the reputation for having made as much material and intellectual progress as any state in the Union. Its inhabitants have a thorough grasp of the fundamentals of citizenship and measure up in every sense to the duties expected of them. That this is true is largely due to the character of its early inhabitants. "As the twig is bent the tree inclines," is an old and true proverb, and as the destinies of early Indiana were well shaped by the splendid pioneers, so Indiana's inclination has ever been straightfor- ward in the path of progress. Among the persons who early came and set- tled in Indiana were the forefathers of Thomas B. Thackrey, a well known farmer of Franklin county.

Thomas B. Thackrey was born in Ripley county, Indiana, February 27, 1843. His parents were Ezra and Phoebe ( Kramer) Thackrey. His mother was of Pennsylvania Dutch descent and was born in that state. His father was a native of New Jersey, in which state the parents were married.

The parental grandparents of Thomas B. Thackrey, were James and Jane (Gaunt) Thackrey both of whom were natives of New Jersey. He came to Indiana at a very early day and settled in Union county. They were married on February 19, 1784, and she died in New Jersey a few years before he started for the west. When he arrived in this state, the land office was located at Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Mr. Thackrey went to that place and made an entry for government land, entering six hundred and forty acres in Ripley county. This entry was made September 25, 1835, when Andrew

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

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Jackson was president. At that time this part of Indiana was a dense wilder- ness, and wild beasts roamed about at will. Deer were found in abundance and timber wolves preyed about in large packs. James Thackrey and family remained in Union county for a time and then moved to Ripley county, where he died. The children born to James Thackrey and wife on the dates follow- ing, were Stephen, November 21, 1784; John, November 27, 1786; Elizabeth, December 13, 1788; James, December 28, 1790; Jane, December 23, 1792; Samuel, February 9, 1794 ; Ezra, June 4, 1796 and Joseph, September 4, 1800. The original land warrant issued to James Thackrey is now in the possession of one of his descendants, Mrs. W. S. Gookins of Osgood, Indiana, who also has the old family bible, printed in the year 1791 and presented to James Thackrey by his mother on June 7, 1794.

Ezra Thackrey, father of Thomas B. Thackrey was educated in the early schools of New Jersey. After leaving that state he came to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there engaged as a team driver. He also assisted in hauling the first paving that was laid in Cincinnati. He later went back to New Jersey and was there married. He engaged in farming in New Jersey and during this residence in his native state, six children were born to him and his wife. With his family he later returned to Indiana, first settling in Union county and later joining the Thackrey settlement in Ripley county. He located on a quarter section of land which he cultivated, later disposing of forty acres of unimproved land. He remained at this place until he died. To Ezra Thack- rey and wife were born the following children, Joseph, on September 24, 1822, died April 9, 1856; Elizabeth, April 11, 1824, died December 7, 1894; John, January 27, 1826. died November 28, 1890; Stephen, December 24, 1827, died November 2, 1891 ; Jacob. October 30, 1829, died March 6, 1908; Susan, June 9, 1831, died September 10, 1909; Elwood, September II, 1833, died October 12, 1908: James, September 8, 1836, died January 20, 1909; William, September 26, 1840, died January 31, 19II, and Thomas B., who was born February 27, 1843, and now a citizen of Franklin county. Ezra Thackrey, the father, died June 28, 1874, age seventy-eight years, his wife dying one year later at the age of seventy-five.

Thomas B. Thackrey, the tenth child of Ezra Thackrey received his early education in Ripley county, Indiana. When nineteen years of age, he en- listed in Company F, Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry for service in the Civil War. He served in the battle of Mumfordsville, Kentucky, where he was captured by the confederates and in December of the same year he was exchanged. The exposure on the battlefields and the strain of his con- finement caused a severe illness and he was forced to go to the hospital where

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he remained forveighteen months. After his recovery he again joined the colors and participated in the battles of Dalton, Georgia; and Decatur, Ala- bama. He also was engaged in the. three days' fight before Nashville, Tennessee, after which he was assigned to guard duty at Chattanooga, Tennessee. When the enemy evacuated Nashville, Mr. Thackrey's regiment pursued them across the Tennessee river. On June 20, 1865, he was mus- tered out at Nashville, Tennessee. His service during the war was of the very highest order and his experiences were fraught with the greatest dangers. His bravery was commended on several occasions by his superior officers and his service throughout the war was a fine example of brilliant self sacrifice. The Thackrey family gave a generous quota to the govern- ment's service, three brothers of Thomas, Jacob, Stephen and James B. hav- ing also served under the colors in the Civil War. The Thackrey family in its several branches, contributed a total of nine sturdy soldiers to the cause of the Union during that war.

After the close of the war Mr. Thackrey engaged in various occupations. He operated a shingle machine for his brother-in-law, and then engaged as a farm hand and later engaged in the trade of carpenter. He had the distinc- tion of having rode in the first passenger train to Connersville, Indiana, on the C. H. and D. railroad.

He was married April 4, 1868, to Phoebe A. Miller, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Garrison) Miller. A brother of Phoebe Miller was in the same regiment during the war as Mr. Thackrey. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Thackrey's wife was a veteran of the War of 1812.

For ten years after his marriage, Mr. Thackrey worked at his trade of carpenter. He constructed the house in which he now lives, in Fairfield township, Franklin county. On February 9, 1878, he purchased about fifty- three acres in Fairfield township, part of which was the old Barrackman place and has lived at this place ever since.

In' 1880, Mr. Thackrey attended a revival meeting and received the saving grace of professed religion at that time and later united with the Franklin United Brethren church, of which he has since been an active and earnest member.

To Mr. and Mrs. Thackrey were born the following children : Benjamin, on February 3, 1870; Elnora A., September II, 1871 ; Alphonso, March 28, 1875, died May 8, 1875; William E., July 7, 1876; Joseph, August 21, 1878; Charles F., January 29, 1881. died February 2, in infancy. On August 8, 1908, Mrs. Thomas Thackrey died. She was a devoted wife and mother and was a woman of many fine personal qualities which endeared her to all who

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knew her. Her death left sincere regret among her many friends and pro- found sadness in her family.

Mr. Thackrey has been a member of Ackerman post, No. 64, Brookville, Indiana, and rarely misses a reunion of the veterans. He has taken at all times, an active interest in the public welfare and some years ago served as supervisor of his township, to which office he again was recently elected. He is universally well liked. His life has been lived in a manner that is of lasting credit to him and his family and has been of the greatest service to his state and nation.

ELIPHALET ALLEN.

The Allen family of Franklin county, since coming to this locality, has long been recognized as one of the families of this part of the state. It was to this family that Eliphalet Allen of this county belonged. The Allen brothers, who are among the most prominent farmers of the vicinity, are also of the family of Allens who early came to Franklin county.

Eliphalet Allen was born in Franklin county, Indiana, February 4, 1823. He was a son of Josiah Allen, born June 10, 1789, and Sarah (Harvey) Allen, born February 12, 1795.

Josiah Allen was a native of Pennsylvania and came from that state to Clarke county, Indiana, in 1800, and to Franklin county in 1805, locating in Brookville. It is a matter of record that he was the first white man to fell a tree, where the town of Brookville now stands. Unlike most of the early settlers who came overland, Josiah Allen, with his parents came from their native state, down the Ohio river on a flat boat. His wife, Sarah Harvey, came from North Carolina in the year 1808, settling near Richmond, Indiana, where they were married in 1816.

Mr. Allen was an energetic and progressive man. Shortly after coming to Brookville, he erected a flour mill which he operated for some time; a few years later he acquired a farm near Brookville. He cleared the land of the heavy timber and erected a log house. Mr. and Mrs. Allen lived at this place until their deaths. At the time of Mrs. Allen's death, February 12, 1863, they had been married forty-seven years. Mr. Allen survived her until Sep- tember 13, 1874.

Eliphalet Allen received the greater part of his education at night school in Brookville with the exception of three months' attendance in the day schools. Upon finishing his schooling, he learned the blacksmith's trade,

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serving his apprenticeship in Brookville. At the age of twenty-one he left the parental home with the meager sum of nineteen cents in his pocket. He worked at his trade, spending most of his time in Brookville. In 1850, he moved to Bath township on a farm consisting of eighty acres. On the piece of ground stood a log house and barn; the frame of the barn still stands. Later, Mr. Allen bought an additional eighty acres and subsequently ac- quired another eighty acres, making a total of two hundred and forty acres, which he devoted principally to general agricultural produce.

Eliphalet Allen was a stanch Republican in politics and was an ardent supporter of the principles of that party in Franklin county. He was for many years chairman of the Republican party in Bath township, and chair- man one year for Franklin county, and had a state-wide acquaintance among the early leaders of the Republican party in this state.

On September 8, 1847, Mr. Allen was married to Rebecca Howell, a daughter of Samuel and Phillis (Flint) Howell who were early settlers in this county. To this union there were born four children, as follow: Eliza- beth Jane, Caroline, Samuel and John. Mrs. Allen died March 7, 1863. On April 14, 1864, Mr. Allen was again married, his second wife being Clarissa Ryman, born September 5, 1832. She was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Worden) Ryman who left their native state of Pennsylvania and came to Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, about 1837. They were ac- companied by their children, one of whom became Mrs. Allen, and came down the Ohio river in a steam boat to Cincinnati and later to Franklin county. Mr. Ryman was a school teacher, and followed that occupation throughout his life. He and his wife were highly esteemed during their residence here. Mrs. Ryman died in Brookville, July 26, 1866, and Mr. Ryman died on the farm now occupied by the Allen brothers, his death taking place February 12, I868.

To the marriage of Eliphalet Allen and Clarissa (Ryman) Allen were born five children, Martha, Mary, Annettie, Oliver and Oakley, the latter two being twins. Oliver and Oakley were educated at the Copeland school and have remained on the home farm. This is now a splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres which the Allen brothers devote to general farming. They have remodeled the old buildings and have made extensive improve- ments since the beginning of their management which dates from 1887. In addition to Oliver and Oakley Allen, their sister Mary remains at home, constituting a pleasant family circle admired and cherished by all who know them.

Eliphalet Allen died January II, 1883, enjoying the esteem and con-

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fidence of his fellowmen. Mrs. Allen survived him less than two years, her death occurring November JI, 1884.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 80

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648