History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 93

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

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 93

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Immediately after the close of the war Robert J. Cain returned to peace- ful pursuits and for the first four years engaged in the fruit and cold storage business in Cleveland, Ohio. He then opened a grocery in Brookville which he managed for a short time, disposing of his grocery to become a traveling salesman for a firm in Cincinnati. He resigned his position with the Cincin- nati firm in order to become postmaster of Brookville, having been appointed to this position by President Harrison. Previous to this time he had been a storekeeper in the revenue service for several years. After he left the post- office he became a buyer for a wholesale fruit firm in Cincinnati and for

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several years traveled all over the United States, buying fruit in large quan- tities for this company.

Mr. Cain was married March 29, 1879, to Mary D. Gallion, who was born in Brookville, Indiana, the daughter of Henry C. and Mary Hannah (McCarty) Gallion.

Henry C. Gallion, the father of Mrs. Cain, was born in Brookville, Janu- ary 15, 1831, and died May 24, 1864. His wife, Mary Hannah McCarty, to whom he was married March 9, 1853, was born on the old McCarty place near Brookville, March 18, 1833, and is still living. Henry C. Gallion was postmaster of Brookville and when he died his father succeeded him in that office. It is interesting to note that his father, in turn, died while in office and his widow then was placed in charge of the office. Henry C. Gallion was a prosperous dry goods merchant of Brookville and an active worker in the Presbyterian church.

Henry C. Gallion's parents were Nathan D. and Hannah (Douglass) Gallion. Nathan D. Gallion was an ensign under Commodore Perry in the . War of 1812 and died August 21, 1865, at the age of seventy-five. He was born near Bush River Neck, Baltimore, Maryland, April 4, 1791. The father of Nathan D. Gallion, Sr., moved to West Liberty, West Virginia, while Nathan D., Jr., was still an infant. Later he bought a farm on Short creek near Wheeling, West Virginia, where he lived until the death of the mother. The family then moved to Frankfort, Kentucky, where they made their home until the opening of the War of 1812. Nathan D. Gallion then volunteered in the Twenty-eighth Regiment of the United States Volunteer Infantry and served through the war. He formed a warm personal friendship with Gen. William Henry Harrison and Gen. Joseph Taylor, a brother of Zachary Tay- lor. After the war he kept up a correspondence with General Taylor and fre- quently was visited by General Harrison. The last military service of Nathan D. Gallion was to carry dispatches from General Gano, who was stationed at Sandusky, to General Harrison at Cincinnati. After the war Nathan D. Gallion clerked in a store at Hamilton, Ohio, for a short time. He came to Brookville in 1814 in charge of a stock of goods belonging to a Mr. Kelsey and from that time on was a merchant on what was known as the "Old White Corner." The Franklin County National Bank now occupies this site.

Nathan D. Gallion was married to Hannah Douglass, March 19, 1815. She died December 13, 1868. Hannah Douglass was the daughter of Thomas and Ann Douglass, the latter being a daughter of Major William Haymond, who came from Clarksburg, Virginia, after having served in the Revolutionary War. Hannah (Douglass) Gallion was born near Waynesburg, Greene

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county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1790. Her father died when she was an infant and her mother later married Doctor Johnson who came to Brookville in 1812.

Mary Hannah (McCarty) Gallion's parents were Abner and Jane (Tem- pleton) McCarty, the former of whom was born in Granger county, Tennes- see, January 29, 1797, the fifth son of Benjamin and Sarah McCarty who were the first settlers of Franklin county, having located here in 1803. When Abner was six years of age his father settled in what is now Franklin county. He was married May 17, 1821, and started a store in Brookville. He con- tinued as a merchant in that town for six years and then removed to his farm in the county where he lived for another six years. He then was appointed receiver of money for the land district of Brookville and after the removal of the land office to Indianapolis in 1834 removed to that city in order to continue his official duties. The following year, however, he resigned his position and returned to his farm in Franklin county. Later he was elected to the Indiana State Legislature on the Whig ticket. Abner McCarty be- came a substantial citizen of Brookville, making most of his money in the pork-packing business. He and his wife reared a family of ten children of whom Mrs. Gallion, the mother of Mrs. Robert J. Cain, and a sister, Mrs. Jennie M. Yaryan of Richmond, Indiana, are the only ones living.

Robert J. Cain was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and was an active worker in the Republican ranks. His widow is now living with her mother at the old family residence on Main street.

WILLIAM F. FLACK.

Among those who rank high as citizens and who have achieved prom- inence in agriculture in this county is William Flack, of Springfield township. Mr. Flack has been engaged in farming for a number of years, as were his father and grandfather before him. Before coming to this county, the Flack family had attained to prominence in Ohio, where the grandfather of Will- iam Flack was a noted politician and Civil War veteran.

William F. Flack was born in Newport, Kentucky, the son of John C. and Catherine (Nichols) Flack, on August 30, 1871, the only child born to this union.

John C. Flack, father of William F. Flack, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 24, 1848. His father was the well-known William Flack,

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who also was born in Cincinnati and a noted politician and war veteran. William Flack served with distinction in many battles during the Civil War and after his return was elected and served as county clerk of Hamilton county, Ohio. John C. Flack, the only child of William Flack, attended school in Cincinnati. He was married to Catherine Nichols and when thirty- seven years of age moved to Indiana, having in the meantime lived for a time in Newport, Kentucky. He located at Franklin county and rented what is known as Klem's place, buying this farm in 1890. Mr. Flack was a highly respected citizen during his residence in this county and was noted for his industry. His wife was esteemed for her many splendid qualities and en- deared herself to all with whom she came in contact. Mr. Flack and wife were members of the Baptist church during their life-time. Mr. Flack died in 1907 and his wife died in 1904.

William F. Flack, only child of John C. Flack, was educated in the common schools. He assisted his father on the farm and learned the rudi- ments of agriculture under his father's tutelage. He is a farmer by natural inclination and by extensive training. Mr. Flack was married on August 27, 1898, to Sophronia Myers, daughter of Lewis and Lavina (McIntyre) Myers.

Sophronia Myers was one of five children of Lewis and Lavina Myers, the others being Stanley, George, Virgil and William. Of these Stanley is married and lives at Brookville. Virgil lives in Connersville, George lives in Brookville and William also resides in Brookville.

John Myers, grandfather of Sophronia Myers, was a native of Ohio and at an early date came to Indiana. He settled near Cedar Grove and engaged in farming. He married Elizabeth Hays, and to them were born four children, Mollie, John, George and Lewis Myers, father of Sophronia Myers, now Mrs. William F. Flack.

After their marriage, William F. Flack and wife moved to the farm on which they now live. He engaged in general farming and devoted a portion of his farm to stock-raising, in which he has achieved some distinction.

To Mr. and Mrs. Flack and wife have been born three children: John C., born November 10, 1899; Mildred, born January 24, 1902; Mary, born August 21, 1903. Mr. Flack was educated in the Illinois Wesleyan Univer- sity at Bloomington, Illinois, with the view of qualifying as a lawyer. He graduated June II, 1894, and began to practice in Indianapolis, Indiana. He remained here for two years, and then returned to the farm on account of sickness in the family. He has been admitted to all courts in the state of Indiana.

Mr. Flack takes an active part in the political affairs of this county.

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He is an ardent Democrat and was elected by that party as trustee of Spring- field township, serving for six years. His fraternal affiliations are with the Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Im- proved Order of Red Men, in which orders he is very active.

William F. Flack and family are highly regarded in the circle in which they move and are rated as one of the substantial families in this county.

HARVEY E. AND LEWIS HINDS.

The biographies of men who have lived good lives and the histories of families of distinguished ancestry, are invaluable as a guide and incentive to those who read them. The writer of history finds especially good material in the family archives of Franklin county. Here is found a community, almost as a whole, made up of descendants of the sterling pioneers who first came to Indiana. Those early settlers earned the right to be perpetuated in history by their unexampled courage and bravery in coming into and facing the dangers of the wilderness. However, many of them had become distinguished as soldiers in the American Revolution before migrating to this part of the country. Among the descendants, living in this county, of sturdy settlers who were distinguished in their day, is the Hinds family, of whom Lewis and Harvey Hinds, of Springfield, are members.

The Hinds family in this country starts in New Jersey, where Benjamin Hinds, the grandfather of Lewis M. Hinds, was born. Benjamin Hinds was born September 5, 1777. He came from a distinguished New Jersey family, who were prominent in that state during the colonial and revolu- tionary days. He was educated in New Jersey and lived in that state until after his marriage, when he migrated westward.

Benjamin Hinds married Mary Van Winkle, a native of New Jersey, who was the daughter of John Van Winkle, a soldier in the American Revo- lution and a veteran of the battle of Bunker Hill. John Van Winkle lived to be one hundred and three years of age. Benjamin Hinds and his family came westward by the same route used by all the early pioneers, using the trails beaten by so many restless spirits who had preceded them westward. They soon arrived in Indiana. Here Mr. Hinds entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land. The deed to this land was given by James Madison in 1813. This tract of land was known as the southwest quarter of section 29, township 9, range 1, West Meridian. This farm is still in

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the possession of the Hinds family. The children of Benjamin Hinds and wife were Abraham, born April 12, 1806, died July 20, 1811; David, born July 16, 1808, died September 27, 1892; Thomas, born July 25, 18II, died July 25, 1843; Mary, born August 13, 1813, died November 28, 1839; John, born April 13, 1816, died April 28, 1867; Phoebe, born March 4, 1818, died August 12, 1835; Eli, born August 15, 1821, died July 6, 1903, and Susan, born July 26, 1826, died August 19, 1905. Benjamin Hinds and wife were devout members of the Presbyterian church and were of the highest type of the early settlers.

Eli Hinds, seventh child of Benjamin Hinds, was born and reared in this county. He attended the early schools of that day and shared in the work on his father's farm. On April 13, 1848, he was married to Mary Tompkins, a daughter of James Tompkins, who was a native of New York. To them were born eight children, Henry J., born February 14, 1849; Martha R., born September 21, 1851, died September 8, 1854; Charles E., born February 4, 1854, died October 21, 1854; Albert R., born November 18, 1855; Harvey E., born December 5, 1858; John W., born January 7, 1862, died October, 1897; Elizabeth A., born April 5, 1864; Lewis M., born March II, 1867. Of these, Harvey E. Hinds married Amy B. Murch, the daughter of Leonard Murch. They live at Tipton, Indiana, and have one child, Irma, married to Lewis Carl. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Hinds are prominent members of the Methodist church of Tipton. Elizabeth A. married Fremont Hinds (no relation), a son of Abraham Hinds. To them were born three children, Iva, who married Frank Kirk and who has three children, Herman, Della and Leo. Levada, who married Charles Hamilton and to them were born three children, Clayton (deceased), Dorothy and Leverna. Iley, who mar- ried Marie Burns, and lives in Scipio, Indiana. To them was born one child, Morgia.

Lewis M. Hinds was educated in the district schools of this county and has followed the occupation of a farmer, having spent all his life on his father's farm. He married Luella Cox, a daughter of Meredith Cox.

Meredith Cox was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, and was one of three children of Jonathan Cox, also a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, where he operated a distillery for a number of years in Johnson county. In 1831 Jonathan Cox came to Indiana, where he entered a section of government land in Franklin county. Meredith Cox lived on this farm his entire life. He married Sarah Gregg, a daughter of Israel Gregg, of Franklin county, who was born in this county 1779. To Meredith and Sarah (Gregg) Cox were born four children, Luella, Willis, Charles and John. Of these, Luella

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is the wife of Lewis Hinds; Willis married Stella Seal, and lives in Spring- field township. Charles is unmarried and lives at Indianapolis, Indiana. John married Mamie Noblet and resides at Indianapolis.

After the marriage of Lewis Hinds to Luella Cox, they moved to the farm he now occupies. This farm consists of one hundred acres of good farm land. Mr. Hinds began to improve and equip the farm directly after taking possession, and soon developed it into a very good property. His land is devoted to general agricultural lines and some stock-raising. To Mr. and Mrs. Hinds have been born seven children, Lillian J., Charles E., Carena, Louis H., Roy, Leland K. and Sylvia C., all of whom are unmarried and reside with their parents.

Lewis Hinds is an active member of the Knights of Pythias and is prom- inent in that organization. Mr. Hinds and wife are members of the Meth- odist church at Center Chapel and are very active in its ministrations. The Hinds family are indeed a prominent part of Franklin county's history and have contributed much to its welfare and advancement.

PETER T. HEARD.

The importance of high-grade stock is at last recognized by our farmers and the scrawny, unprofitable animals which were once so common on the majority of farms are fast disappearing. The advancement which has come in this branch of farming is typical of the new era in stock raising, which has made itself felt in all branches of agricultural effort within the last ten years. The men who have been instrumental in the movement are deserving of high praise. In the front ranks of this corps, aiming for agricultural ex- cellence, stood Peter T. Heard.

It was in Riley township, Butler county, Ohio, that Peter Heard first saw the light of day, on September 28, 1849. He was the son of John Heard and Cynthia (Schultz) Heard, and the brother of four other children, Will- iam, Mary E., Albert S. and Freeman F. William married Blanche DeAr- mond, and lives in Bunker Hill, Indiana; Mary E. married W. D. Appleman, and resides in Tipton, Indiana; Albert S. married twice, after the death of his first wife, Rachel (Beard) Heard, he married Mary Hamilton; Freeman F. married "Sally" Seerley (Sarah Catherine, better known as "Sally"), and lives in Marion county, Indiana.

Born in New Jersey, William Heard, the grandfather of Peter T., came

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to Ohio after his marriage to Johanna Curry. He purchased and tilled a place of eighty acres, where he reared a family of ten children, several of whom died young, all now being deceased. His first wife died and he mar- ried again, to Fanny Trembly. Eight children were born to this union. He ' was a devout member of the Presbyterian church and was highly respected.

John Heard was born in Riley township, Butler county, Ohio, and re- ceived a practical common school education. He lived in Ohio for some time, then, in 1878, came to Marion county, Indiana, where he bought eighty acres of land and lived until his death, on August 20, 1909. His first wife, Cynthia Schultz, died April 18, 1864. She was the daughter of Henry Schultz, of Bath township. Sarah Jane Wilson became John Heard's second wife. She was the daughter of Reed Wilson, of Marion county, Indiana. To this sec- ond union were born two children, Anna and Charles. Anna married Charles McCreary, and lives in Indianapolis. Charles, who married Minnie Winchel, lives in Indianapolis also. John Heard belonged to the Presbyterian church and actively engaged in its work. He was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men; he was a member of the famous and dreaded Squirrel Hunters throughout the Civil War.

The Academy in Peoria, Indiana, and the National Normal School in Lebanon, Ohio, were the scenes of Mr. Heard's student days, the education which he there received fitting him to teach school, which he did for a number of years. After his marriage, he moved onto his father's farm, where he lived until 1882, when he removed to the present location. He cultivated three hundred and eighty-one fertile acres, which are devoted to general farming. Mr. Heard raised blooded Shropshire sheep and Duroc hogs.

On May 31, 1874, Mr. Heard married Margaret Jane Beard, the daugh- ter of Perry Beard and Susan (Winn) Beard. To this union were born three children, Stella, Maude, Park; of whom Stella married Louis Loper, of Springfield township, and has three children, namely: Leland, Donald, Gor- don. Maude married Martin Hess, and makes her home in Cincinnati. Park is single and lives at home.

James Beard, the grandfather of Mrs. Heard, was born in Butler county, Ohio, and eventually married Margaret Blew, of Virginia, and to this union were born a large family, of whom eight grew to maturity: John, Jacob, James, Perry, Jane, William, David and Eliza. Perry, who was born in the same county as was his father, lived the major part of his life in Franklin county. He married Susan Winn and the couple were the parents of two children, Rachel and Margaret. The father of these children died April 8, 1902, and the mother lives in College Corner, Ohio.

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Mr. Heard was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church and was recognized as being ardently progressive, doing all that lay within his power for the advancement of the general welfare.

The sad tidings of the sudden death, on February 17, 1915, of Peter Heard came as a shock to his home community. He had been attending a meeting of the Farmers Social Club in Butler county and on the return journey lapsed into unconsciousness. Doctor George, of Okeana, pro- nounced him beyond human aid. Heart disease was the cause of death. He is survived by a widow, one son and two daughters.

JOSEPH R. WILLEY.

That farming is more than the mere application of muscular strength and a blind faith in Providence, is evidenced by the signs of scientific agri- culture displayed on every hand, as one drives along the countryside. With crop rotation, fertilizers and silos, the fact is speedily impressed on you that here is a remarkable field for the use of brainy resource, and on their belief in this truth men of education and high intelligence have chosen agriculture as their life work.

A college graduate who has chosen this line of endeavor is Joseph R. Willey. He is the son of Thomas Harvey Willey and Margaret (Radcliffe) Willey. She was the first wife of Thomas Willey, and she died August 3, 1881. She was the daughter of James Radcliffe, of Baltimore, Ohio. She was the mother of two children, Joseph R. and Ada. Ada married Burton Shaffer, and lives in Springfield township.

Thomas Harvey Willey was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on January 26, 1829. He received his education in a boarding school conducted by Daniel Wilkins, at Shandon, Ohio. After he left school he returned to the farm. He married his first wife June 5, 1865, and some time after her death he married again, to Mrs. Sarah (Butts) Bonnell, the daughter of Henry Butts. Her son, Clarence Bonnell, married Ida Campbell, and is living in Greenwood, Indiana. Thomas Willey served in the Civil War, belonging to Company F, Regiment One Hundred Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry.

Mr. Willey's paternal grandfather, Joseph Willey, was born in Massa- chusetts, and while still single came to Ohio, where he married Lucy Harvey and cultivated two hundred acres of land. He was a very active member of

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the United Brethren church. He died in 1879, mourned by four children, Minerva, Francis, Roxana and Thomas. Of these children, Thomas only is still living.

Morris Hill College granted Mr. Willey the degree of Bachelor of Science; after which he attended Cincinnati University for a year. During his attendance at Morris Hill he not only managed the football team for two years, but played in the position of full-back as well. After his school days were over, he returned to the farm and began the work which has engaged his attention ever since.

The account of Mr. Willey's domestic life reads happily. He was mar- ried September 26, 1900, to Harriet Gertrude George, the daughter of Aaron and Margaret (Fordeice) George. Three happy, healthy children have been born to Mr. Willey and his wife. They are Ariel, Aaron, Amy, all of whom still live at home.

Among the active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Wil- ley and his wife take a prominent place. The original one hundred and sev- enty-four acres owned by his father is the scene of Mr. Willey's success, and it is still his father's home. The prosperous condition of the fields and fences, the modern and well-cared-for buildings, proclaim an intelligent and progressive owner. Perhaps Mr. Willey's greatest message to his fellow- man is the indisputable proof that the "back to the land" movement is not an idle dream, and that the tired brain-workers of the cities may find health and prosperity awaiting them.

JOSEPH CLIFFORD MILES.

Never before, perhaps, have we so fully realized the overwhelming im- portance of agriculture. With a great European war in progress at the time this is written, and the farmers of America sending foodstuffs direct to Bel- gium's starving millions, the fact comes home to us as a form of shock that America must be the storehouse of the world. So it should be a cause of sin- cere rejoicing that our farmers are men of uniformly high intelligence, sturdi- ness of character, and scientifically and industrially educated to enable them to obtain maximum results from their land operations.

A well chosen representative of his profession is Joseph Clifford Miles. He was born November 1, 1874, in Springfield township, the son of William Miles and Margaret (Merrill) Miles. Mr. Miles had two brothers, James F.

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and Oliver E. James married Dora Carson and lives near Liberty, Union county, Indiana, and Oliver E. married Arta Dare and makes his home in Brookville township.

Joseph Miles, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this biographical notice, was born in 1811, in the state of Virginia. He married twice, his first wife being Elizabeth Carter, and to whom was born one child, Margaret (now dead). His second wife was Elizabeth Barrickman, and nine children were born to this union. He purchased eighty acres of virgin forest, which he himself prepared for cultivation, and to which was later added eighty more acres. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church.

Severe exposure suffered during the Civil War was the cause of William Miles' death. He served three years in all. He was born in Springfield and died in 1879. His wife, who was the daughter of James and Harriet Mer- rill, died in 1902.

Equipped with a sound practical common school education, Joseph C. Miles early chose agriculture as his future occupation, and after marriage settled on the Miles' homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has since increased to two hundred and sixty-five acres.

On November 21, 1895, Mr. Miles married Nannie Golden, the daugh- ter of George S. and Mary J. (Hammond) Golden. George S. Golden was born in Whitewater township February 14, 1845, the son of John and Nancy (Reding) Golden, and was one of seven children. He served through the Civil War with high honor and then farmed for the remainder of his life, now occupying a place of one hundred and fifty-four acres. A more detailed account of his life is found elsewhere in this volume.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 93

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