History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 89

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

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Estle. Mrs. Muir is a member of the Methodist church at Center Chapel and is prominently identified with all of its activities. Mr. Muir is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which lodge he is a very active worker. The Muir family are highly respected in this community and participate in all the public and social activities.

Daniel Minor was a native of Mount Pleasant, Ohio, his father coming there from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Minor was a native of Glenndale, Ohio, her people coming from New Jersey. Daniel Minor had ten children, Elmira, Mary, Amos, Clara, Charlotte, Albert, Addie, Jennie, Minnie and Nora. Mrs. Minor can trace her ancestry to one of the earliest governors of New Jersey, George Carteret.

JOHN ELDON.

The people of the European nations regard with silent amazement the phenomenal growth of our young nation. The indisputable cause of this growth is the fact that our citizens who are the very stone and mortar of our national structure, are generally progressive and intelligent, and a study of a representative member of the great American middle class is sure to bring to light the cause of his overwhelming predominance in our national life, and we can choose no better subject for this study than John Eldon, a prom- inent farmer of Springfield township, Franklin county:

John Eldon was born October 3, 1871, in Brookville township, Frank- lin county, Indiana, and is a son of Gilbert G. and Anna (Gant) Eldon, also a native of Brookville township. He is one of a family of three children, Eva, John and William.

John Eldon's grandfather, on the paternal side, was one of the five sons of John Eldon, a native of England, who came to this country in 1821. He was accompanied by one of his brothers, Joseph, and in 1849 his brother, George, also came to the United States. His other brother, William, died in England, while his eldest brother, Thomas, had come here in 1820. John Eldon, the grandfather of John Eldon, after coming to America, was a Canadian school teacher, at which occupation he accumulated enough money to emigrate to Franklin county, Indiana. He had made his own way from the age of ten, as his father died when he was but one year old and he was apprenticed to a bookkeeper at ten years of age. He served as a book- keeper apprentice until he reached his majority, when he came to this coun- try. In 1830 John Eldon married Mary Winn, and to this union one child

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was born, who died in infancy, the mother dying in the same year. Mr. Eldon's second wife was Margaret Van Camp, and to this union the follow- ing children were born: Thomas, born May 22, 1836, died July 6, 1913; Rebecca, born February 7, 1843, and Gilbert G., the father of John Eldon, the immediate subject of this sketch. John Eldon lived on his farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Brookville township until his death, in 1882. His widow survived him until 1899. He was an adherent of the Democratic party and held fast to the religious belief of his father, which was that of the Church of England.

Gilbert Eldon, the father of John, followed the occupation of a farmer, tilling two hundred and eighty-nine acres. On November 9, 1869, he mar- ried Anna Gant, and his whole life has been spent on the old homestead. She died on February 4, 190I.

John Eldon received a very creditable education in the public schools of his county. As a boy he learned not only the rudiments, but also the finer principles of agriculture, which makes the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful farmer. Equipped with this knowledge and having been left his present farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, of which his brother, William, owns one-half interest, on February 8, 1903. He long ago recognized the fact that success in the raising of live stock lies in the purchase of pure-blooded animals only, and he is now one of the enthusiastic believers in the superiority of the Duroc-Jersey strain of hogs, in the breed- ing of which he has made a decided success. His land is devoted to general farming.

On May 14, 1902, Mr. Eldon married Nora Minor, who is a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Little) Minor, and to this union has been born one child, Marjorie. Mrs. Eldon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Palestine, to which denomination Mr. Eldon is a liberal contributor.

Daniel Minor was a native of Mount Pleasant, near Ohio, his father coming there from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Minor was a native of Glenndale, near Ohio, her people coming there from New Jersey. Mrs. Minor can trace her ancestry to one of the earliest governors of New Jersey, George Carteret.

Mrs. Eldon is one of ten children born to her parents, the others being Elmira, Mary, Amos, Clara, Charlotte, Addie, Albert, Jennie, Minnie and Nora. Elmira married Emrick Baughman, who is now deceased, and lives in Harrison, Ohio. Mary became the wife of George Seal, and also lives in Harrison. Amos married Abbie Keen, and is a resident of this county. Clara is the wife of Frank Merrill, and lives in Mt. Carmel, Indiana. Addie

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became the wife of George Portteus, and lives in Brookville. Albert, Jennie and Charlotte died in infancy, and Minnie is the wife of William Muir, a farmer of Springfield township. Mr. Minor died in 1882. Mrs. Minor is making her home with Mr. Eldon.

With a keen foresightedness John Eldon perceived that the soil offered wonderful opportunities to the youth of his day, and since he was already inclined that way by nature and inclination he took up the work with a whole-hearted vigor which augured well for his future success in his chosen occupation. That his belief was not misplaced is proven by the fact that today his farm is one of the finest in its vicinity. John Eldon himself is a quiet, unassuming gentleman of whole-hearted honesty, and is one of the men whose lives necessitate such a volume as the one in which this article appears.

CHARLES E. MCWHORTER.

Among the many early settlers who came to this part of the country was Samuel McWhorter. There are many descendants of early pioneers living in this county who trace their lineage a great many generations back. A family history is always interesting, especially when its members have been noted for clean and honorable living. It then becomes a source of pride to read of the life and achievements of one's forefathers. Among those who early came to this part of the country were a number of settlers from Pennsylvania. It was from that state that Samuel McWhorter, the paternal grandfather of Charles McWhorter, of this county, came. He was prom- inent during his residence here, where he was engaged in farming, encounter- ing all the difficulties of the early settlers.

Charles E. McWhorter was born on June 13, 1875, in Blooming Grove in this county. He was one of five children born to Tyler and Josephine (Hayes) McWhorter. These children were as follow: Charles, Samuel, Nettie, Loren and Elizabeth. Samuel married Alby McDonald and resides at Blooming Grove; Nettie remains at home; Loren married Myrtle Swift and lives at Blooming Grove and Elizabeth is unmarried and lives at home.

His father, Tyler McWhorter who has farmed for many years in this county, was the son of Samuel and Phoebe (Moss) McWhorter, and was also born in this county. Samuel was the father of six children who were as follow : Tyler, Mary, William, Perry, Henry and John. Of these Wil- liam, Perry, Henry and John are dead. Mary married William Neptune

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and lives at Connersville. She owns the farm of two hundred and thirteen acres in Whitewater and Springfield townships, this county. Tyler Mc- Whorter was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools of this county. After his marriage to Josephine Hayes, he continued to live on the home farm which consists of one hundred and sixty-four acres, which he has been constantly improving and which he devotes to general farm- ing. His wife, who was the daughter of Thomas and Phoebe Hayes, was born June 17, 1852. Tyler McWhorter was born September 25, 1850. Tyler McWhorter is a member of the German Baptist church and his wife worships at the Methodist Episcopal church.

The paternal grandfather of Charles E. McWhorter was Samuel Mc- Whorter who came to this county at an early age with his father. He was born in Pennsylvania and was the son of Tyler and Phoebe McWhorter. He accompanied his father to this county where his father entered one hun- - dred and sixty acres of land, a part of which is still included in the farm now operated by Charles McWhorter's father. After reaching this county, they cleared the land and cut the logs that are still standing on the Tyler Mc- Whorter farm, in the log house. Samuel McWhorter attended district schools of that day, after which he engaged in farming. Samuel McWhor- ter was twice married, his first wife was Phoebe Moss, and his second wife Elizabeth Landis, who lived to be ninety-two years of age. By his first marriage he had six children, and by his second, one. He lived on the same farm until his death, when he owned one hundred and ten acres.

Charles E. McWhorter was educated in the common schools of this county. He has farmed practically his entire life. After leaving school he engaged actively in the development of the paternal homestead which has been greatly improved under his direction and industry.

On October 18, 1899, he was married to Maud Castillo, who was the daughter of Joseph Castillo. To this marriage were born three children, whom they named Mary, Nellie and Sherley. Mary died at birth. Nellie attends school, while Sherley, who is as yet too young to attend school, is at home. Mr. McWhorter has been on his present farm, which is the property of his aunt who resides at Connersville, Indiana, for about three years.

Mrs. McWhorter's mother resides with Mr. and Mrs. McWhorter, her husband having died some time ago.

Franklin county might be called "the home of early settlers," and its history is teeming with interesting incidents of the early days. Many of its first settlers have left their imprint indelibly stamped on this community,

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passing on a heritage to their descendants worthy of emulation. The Mc- Whorter family have kept alive the best traditions of their forefathers and have always reflected the greatest credit on themselves and the community.

WILLIAM H. SEAL.

Many years ago it was the custom for the son to follow in his father's footsteps in professional and business life, but this custom is not so common as it was formerly. However, we find many grandsons and great-grandsons living on the same farm occupied by their grandfathers and great-grand- fathers in the very early days of this county. In the days when the coun- · try was first settled, the only occupation which the pioneers could turn their hands to profitably or with any prospect of the means of existence, was that of farming. They had pick and choice of the land, which they cleared and made ready for farming and these farms they bequeathed to their descend- ants. These farms constitute the finest farming land of this state and are still in possession of the descendants of those hardy pioneers who first came to this part of the country. One of the substantial farmers of this com- munity and a descendant of one of the earliest settlers is William H. Seal.

William H. Seal was born December 3, 1863, in this county and was the son of John and Mary Ann (West) Seal. He was one of eight children, who were as follow: Jefferson, Townsen, Hannah, Viola, Angelina, Susan, William H. and John. All of these children are still living with the excep- tion of Hannah. Jefferson married Mary Millspaugh and lives in Spring- field township on the old homestead. Townsen, of Muncie, Indiana, has been married twice, first marrying Mary Ashton and second, Jennie Adams. Viola married George Seal and lives at Mount Carmel, Indiana. Angelina married Theodore Ederhart and lives at Riley, Ohio. Susan is still single, living at the home of her cousin in Brookville. John married Jane Liming, and also lives on part of the old home place.

John Seal was born at Big Cedar, in this county, January 18, 1819, the son of William Seal, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1784, and died De- cember 22, 1863. John Seal was one of seven children, as follow: Harri- son, James, Hannah, John, Eliza, William and Harriett, all of whom are now dead. John Seal was educated in the schools of this county and worked on his father's farm. He was married to Mary Ann West, the daughter of Hugh and Mary Ann (Woodyard) West, of Virginia. He followed the oc-

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cupation of farmer during his entire life and at his death he possessed two hundred and four acres, which he devoted to general farming. John Seal died November 9, 1904. The death of his wife occurred September 22, 1914.

William Seal, grandfather of William H. Seal, was born in Pennsylvania July, 1784, the son of Joseph and Mary (Montgomery ) Seal, and was one of seven children, as follow: Joseph, William, James, Benjamin, Martha, Polly and Mary. He came from Revolutionary stock, his father having taken a prominent part in that war, later moving to Pennsylvania, where William Seal was born. William Seal was educated in the district schools of that state, later going to Virginia. After remaining in Virginia for a time he moved to Miami, Ohio, and then to Franklin county, Indiana, about 1813 or 1814. Here he operated a distillery and, as was the custom in those days, he established a grist mill and saw mill in connection with his distillery. He was married to Elizabeth Owen, who died July, 1865, at the age of seventy- five years. Mr. Seal was a member of the Universalist church. At the time of his death he owned five hundred and ninety acres of land.

The paternal great-grandfather of William H. Seal was Joseph Seal, who was born in England and came to this country in young manhood. While his sympathies as an Englishman were with England before coming to this country, when the War of the Revolution broke out he gave his allegiance. to the American cause and enlisted as a soldier. He was commissioned as a lieutenant and was wounded in the Battle of Bunker Hill, being shot in the hip. After his marriage to Mary Montgomery, he came to Pennsylvania some time after the close of the war, where he erected a grain mill, which he and his son operated. Leaving Pennsylvania, he came to Mount Carmel, Indiana, entering one hundred and sixty acres, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1829.

Our subject's mother was a native of Wood county, West Virginia. In 1827, at the age of three months, her parents, Hugh and Mary Ann West, came with an ox team to Franklin county and settled in Brookville township, on little Cedar, where she was raised. Her father was a soldier in 1812 and was in many battles at Detroit and Landey's Lane. He died on the old homestead in 1841, and her mother died in 1848.

William H. Seal was educated in the district schools of this state and spent the greater part of his life on the farm. In December, 1899, he was married to Mary Liming, the daughter of William Liming, of Whitewater township. They moved in March, 1901, to the farm which they now occupy. This farm consists of thirty acres, on which they have put many improve- ments. Mrs. Mary Seal was one of five children of William and Elizabeth

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(Miller) Liming, the others being George, John, William, who died in 1893, and Jane. All are living except William, who died unmarried. John mar- ried Ada Doty, of Whitewater township, and has three children, William, Ray and Thelma P. George married Lydia Crawford; Jane married John Seal, a brother of the subject of this review. The grandfather of Mrs. William Seal was William Liming, who was born in New Jersey or Mary- land. He came to Indiana and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was married and had six children, as follow: Margarette, Anna, Mary Jane, Lucy, John and Jacob. William H. Seal and wife were parents of one daughter, Neva Angie, who was born July 22, 1906. Mrs. Seal is a devout member of the Christian church. Mr. Seal's fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which order he is a very en- thusiastic member. The Seal family may indeed be regarded as one of the first families of this part of the state. It would be a matter of pride of any American to trace his lineage direct to one of the heroes who fought at Bunker Hill and of which fact Mr. Seal is justly proud.

JAMES SHERWOOD.

Life on the farm seems to bring out the best of blood and brain and brawn in men and women. No doubt if more of our people in America lived closer to nature, we should have a sturdier and stronger race, both mentally, morally and physically. In Franklin county there are many notable exam- ples of sturdy tillers of the soil who seem unquestionably to support this proposition in the well ordered manner of their lives, and in their honorable bearing toward their neighbors. Among these properly may be mentioned James Sherwood, one of the most prominent and one of the best known re- tired farmers of the county.

James Sherwood was born in Blooming Grove township, Franklin coun- ty, Indiana, August 28, 1834, the son of William and Mary (Wiggins) Sher- wood, and was one of thirteen children born to this union, as follows : James, William H., Margaret, Sarah, Nancy, Mary, Matilda, John, George, Oscar, Florence, Daniel and Alice. Of these, William H. lives at Connersville, In- diana ; Margaret married Joseph McAdams, now dead, and lives at Muncie, Indiana; Sarah Ellen married James Ferris, both now dead; Nancy married Samuel Jinks, both now dead; Mary married David Alzeno, both now dead ; Matilda, now deceased, was the wife of George Duckat; John lives at Ft.

JAMES SHERWOOD.

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Wayne, Indiana, where he is foreman in a factory; George is dead; Oscar lives at Connersville, Indiana, where he owns a sawmill; Florence died in her early youth; Daniel lives at Alpine, Indiana, where he operates a saw- mill; Alice married A. T. Huston, and is a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana.

William Sherwood, father of James Sherwood, came to this county with his parents when a very small boy. He attended school in this county, working on his father's farm in vacation periods, thus acquiring an early training in farm craft, which stood him in good stead during his active life. Mr. Sherwood was a native of Maryland, where the family had lived for several generations. He was married in this county to Mary Wiggins, who was born in Ohio in 1819. After his marriage William Sherwood bought eighty acres adjoining his father's farm, which he later sold and bought one hundred and twenty acres on Duck creek, in Blooming Grove township. He later retired from the farm and moved to Glenwood, Indiana. He was a man of deep religious convictions, and after his retirement from farming became a minister in the United Brethren church, following that exalted profession the remainder of his life. He died at the age of seventy-five years, at which green old age his wife also passed to the other side in 1894. The Rev. and Mrs. Sherwood were of a splendid type of settlers, honest and conscientious, and lived their long and useful lives in a manner to endear them to all who knew them.

The paternal grandparents of James Sherwood were James and Nancy (Naylor) Sherwood. They were natives of Maryland, coming from that district called the "Eastern Shore," famed for its fisheries. In the year 1812, with a number of other Marylanders, among whom were the Wilson and Clemens families, they moved to Blooming Grove township, in Franklin county, Indiana. After arriving in this county, James Sherwood purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres, situated two and one-half miles south- west of Blooming Grove, where James Sherwood and wife lived until their death. Mrs. Sherwood was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. and was a woman of remarkable memory, for which she was noted through- out the county. Grandfather and grandmother Sherwood were among the best known and most influential of the early settlers of the neighborhood in which they spent the latter period of their lives, and the memory of their works in that locality lives long after them.

The maternal grandparents of James Sherwood, of this county, were William and Elizabeth Wiggins, natives of Pennsylvania, in which state they were married, later moving to Hamilton county, Ohio, where they lived on

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a farm for a few years. They then came to Franklin county, Indiana, lo- cating at Blooming Grove, and bought the farm now owned by William White, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Wiggins, was of English descent, his father having come from England and locating in Penn- sylvania, where he married, his wife being a woman of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent. Mr. Wiggins followed the trade of bricklayer in his early manhood and assisted in the erection of many notable buildings.

James Sherwood attended the subscription schools of his county in his early youth, but at a very early age started in to make his own way, his sturdy physique, even at that time, enabling him to perform a man's work on the farm. When twenty-four years of age he left the parental home and rented a farm, on which he lived for four years. He then purchased eighty acres in Blooming Grove township, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his farm, known as the Richard Taylor farm. In 19II he sold his farm and retired to Laurel to live. Mr. Sherwood has been twice married, his first matrimonial union having been with Nancy M. Taylor, who died in 1886. His second marriage took place in 1900, this union being con- tracted with Mary E. Kilburn, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Whitlock) Kilburn.

Charles Kilburn, father of Mrs. Sherwood, was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife was a native of Cincinnati. He was a carpenter by trade, work- ing at this trade for a number of years, after which he became a pilot on the Ohio river, working on the towboat Jessie. This was the towboat that was used to do all the military hauling up and down the Ohio river for General Ulysses S. Grant. Mr. Kilburn, pilot of this boat, was a boyhood chum of General Grant, and the families of each frequently exchanged visits. Mr. Kilburn died in 1907 at the age of eighty-seven. His wife, surviving him, is still living at the age of eighty-six. To them were born eight children, of whom Mrs. Sherwood was the eldest, the others being: Charles Harvey, who is an optician of Jamestown, New York; Samuel T., who died at the age of fifty-six; Alleeta, who married William Bigelow, a carpenter, and lives at Seattle, Washington ; Harriet B., who married George Montgomery, a coal dealer, and lives at Covington, Kentucky; Edward, who died at the age of nine: Lillian, the seventh child, died when ten days old; Kate, the eighth child, married, first. Edward Allison, later marrying Frank Harder, and lives at Brookville, Indiana.

Mr. Sherwood is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church, of which Mr. Sherwood was class leader for several years. Though Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood have no children, theirs

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is one of the merriest homes in Laurel, they taking much pleasure in be- stowing a great deal of attention and entertainment on a large circle of young friends, with whom they are very popular. James Sherwood and wife are well liked in the community, in the social and religious life of which they so long have been active and to the good works of which they so consistently have contributed of both their time and substance.

CLIFFORD B. McKEE.

The history of any family who has lived in this part of the country for sixty years or more and whose descendants are still living here must be very interesting. It is necessary, of course, to brave many dangers and trials, and in doing so one makes history. The early pioneers did not come to this part of the country without fully realizing all the dangers that lay before them, and in doing so they undertook incidental risks willingly and with such self-sacrifice that a noble example was set for all of those who were to follow. Part of the early pioneers who started west stopped in Pennsylvania and later came to Ohio, while others ventured into Indiana. It was to those that came farther westward that the greater honor is due, because they were far removed from the outskirts of civilization and pene- trated into an unknown wilderness full of hostile Indians and wild beasts. Among the descendants of those who came to Indiana in the early days of its settlement, is Clifford B. McKee, of this county.

Clifford B. McKee was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, June 7, 1884. His father was Frank McKee, who was born in Whitewater township. this county, and his mother, Ellen (Goble) McKee, was born in Canada. The other children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank McKee were Frederick, Robert, Edna, Clara, Hazel, Merritt and Mabel, who were twins, and Ellis. Of these Fred- erick married Viola Cook and lives in Whitewater township, this county. They have one daughter, Marjorie. Robert married Aurelia Gibson and has one daughter, Bernice. They live in Whitewater township.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 89

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