USA > Indiana > Greene County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 44
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 44
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DR. WILLIAM A. O'NEALL, Scotland, was born in Ohio in 1830. and came with his parents to Greene County, Ind., in 1846. His father, Abijah O'Neall, is yet living, and resides in Daviess County, but his mother, who was Miss Elizabeth Ennis, died in 1862. After his twenty- first year, William A. taught school and worked at the carpenter's trade until 1861, since when he has been chiefly engaged in the study and practice of medicine in Greene County. His literary education was completed at Asbury University, and his professional preceptor was Dr. . James Dagley. Dr. O'Neall has been a member of the Masonic frater- nity; is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. He was married in 1866 to Miss Rebecca Short, and the two children born to them both died in infancy.
JOHN H. SUMMERVILLE, one of the few remaining of our early pioneers, was born in Jeffersonville, Ind., in 1819. His parents, Will- iam and Jane (Haig) Summerville, were both natives of Scotland, and the year 1818 witnessed their marriage and removal across the Atlantic to this country. They were the parents of two children, and died re- spectively in 1821 and 1851. From the time he was four years old, John H. has been a resident of Greene County, and here he received his edu- cation in the log schoolhouse of that day, was raised on a farm to chop wood, maul rails, clear land, farm, and in fact do as did the majority of the pioneers of this locality. When eighteen years old, he started out for himself, and by a life of arduous toil has secured a comfortable home. His marriage with Miss Miranda T. Crook was solemnized in 1856, and their fireside has been cheered by seven children, five of whom are yet living-William W., Elizabeth, Martha A., David and Mary C. Mr. Summerville has made this life a success. and is regarded as a man among his fellow-men. He is a Democrat, and although not an aspirant for political honors, has officiated in various positions of local honor and trust.
WILLIAM WOODS, a well-to-do druggist of Scotland, is a native of Richland County, Ohio, but when four years of age moved with his par- ents to Ashland County, where he was raised and educated. He is a son of John and Martha (Hughes) Woods, and with these parents removed to Carroll County, Ind., in 1864, and two years later to Greene County, where John Woods died March 23, 1883. Mrs. Woods is yet living, and resides on the old place near Scotland. William Woods was raised a farmer, secured a fair education, and has followed saw milling largely through life. At present he is engaged in merchandising, and by an up- right system in doing business, has a well established trade. He was married, October 17, 1867, to Miss Mary Ingles, and they are the parents of four children, only three-Martha E., William A. and John G .- yet living. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
OWEN T. WRIGHT, whose birth occurred in Kentucky in 1842, is one of three surviving children in a family of four born to the marriage of Rev. Abraham and Ellen (Gardner) Wright, which was consummated in 1841. At eleven years of age, he was cast upon the world to battle for himself, and with but few exceptions has been engaged in farming. June 7, 1861, he became a private in Company D, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and at the Wilderness was captured, and for a time was incarcerated in Andersonville and Florence Prisons. While being
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transferred in box-cars from one prison to another, he and companions managed to secure a crowbar, tore up the flooring of the car, so that when the train stopped for water they made their escape into the swamp. For four days they traveled through the swamps, and then Mr. Wright was stricken down with a malignant fever. When their pursuers were about to discover their hiding place, Mr. Wright was moved in the night to a house, but here left, and was recaptured, taken to Lumberton, N. C .. where he was left to die or recover as the case might be. Shortly after this, Sherman's advance cavalry discovered him, removed him to the federal lines. from here to Goldsboro, then to the coast, and from thence to Fortress Monroe. Mr. Wright was a fearless and valued soldier, and was twice promoted for bravery, once by his Captain. At the battle of Fredricksburg, after the color-bearer and guards had been shot down, Mr. Wright seized the emblem of liberty and bore it aloft through a leaden hailstorm. Since the war, he has resided in Greene County, where he is widely known and respected. He is a member of the F. & A. M., a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1866, the marriage of Owen T. Wright and Miss Julia A. O'Donald was solemnized, and to them these children have been born: Florence J., Cora A., Nancy E., Bertha F. and one deceased.
BEECH CREEK TOWNSHIP.
AARON ARTHUR, one of the enterprising men of Beech Creek Township, is the son of John and Annie (Watkins) Arthur, and was born in Greene County December 11, 1841. His father was a native of Ken- tucky, and his mother of Tennessee. They emigrated to Greene County, Ind., at an early day, and engaged in farming, but after a time moved to Moultrie Coanty, Ill., and remained about two years; then returned to this county, where they resided until their respective deaths. Aaron Arthur is one in a family of nine children. He was married January 16, 1861, to Miss Margaret Ann Crockett, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Crockett, and to this union have been born seven children-William, Elizabeth, Charley, Benjamin, Annie, John and David. Mr. Arthur is a stanch Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He has always taken an active interest in the advancement of education and all the public improvements of the day. He owns a fine farm of 280 acres, and confines his occupation to farming and stock- raising.
NEHEMIAH ARTHUR, a twin brother of Aaron Arthur, who is else- where mentioned in this work, is a native of Beech Creek Township, Greene County, Ind., where he now lives. He was born December 11, 1841, one of the family of John and Anna (Watkins) Arthur. His school- ing was limited to the country schools where he has been reared. On October 15, 1861, he married Margaret E. Burks, and to this union nine children have been born-Mary A., William W. (deceased), John F., Joel R., Odella, Anna L., Martin L., Aafon L. and Amanda A. In the first part of life, Mr. Arthur was a farmer, and in fact has always been such, although he has been in the saw-mill business ever since the fall of 1871,
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with the exception of the year 1879. He now owns 298 acres of good farming land, well improved. Both Mr. and Mrs. Arthur are members of the Christian Church, while he is a Democrat in politics. They are of the best people, and highly respected as citizens in the community where they live.
JOHN W. ARTHUR, one in a family of eleven children born to Jobn and Anna M. (Watkins) Arthur, is a native of the township and county where he now resides, his birth occurring December 16, 1850. When sixteen years old, he moved with his parents to Illinois, where he received the greater part of his education, but after living there two years the family returned to Greene County. During his early life, Mr. Arthur worked at farming, but in 1872, in company with two brothers, Aaron and Nehemiah, he engaged in saw milling, at which he has since continued, although he owns a good farm of 120 acres, the greater part of which is under cultivation. The spring of 1884, he expects to move to Tennessee and make the lumber business his exclusive occupation. Mr. Arthur has been one of Beech Creek Township's beet citizens, favor- ing the advancement of all laudable public enterprises His marriage with Charity Cornelius was solemnized July 27, 1872, and himself and wife are highly esteemed as neighbors and friends. Mr. Arthur is a Democrat in politics.
HIRAM D. ARTHUR, one of Beech Creek's prominent young men, was born in the township, where he at present resides, December 25, 1856, and is one of eleven children born to John and Anna M. (Watkins) Ar- thur. He received the greater part of his schooling in his native county, and up to eighteen years of age worked at farming. In 1874, he began in the saw mill and lumbering business, and this has been his chief oc- cupation ever since, although, he owns a well improved and fairly stocked farm of 105 acres. Mr. Arthur deserves much credit for his success, as he began doing for himself a poor boy, and by energy and industry has accumulated valuable property. On the 17th of August, 1876, Elizabeth Livingston became Mrs. Hiram D. Arthur, and to this union two children have been born, named James W. and Rosa E. In politics, Mr. Arthur casts his influence in favor of the Democratic party and as a member of this organization he favors reform in every respect. During the spring of 1884, ho expects to locate in Tennessee where, in company with a brother, he intends continuing the lumber business.
GEORGE R. AXTELL, one of the foremost citizens of Beech Creek Township, was born May 10, 1825, in Washington County, Penn. He is one of five children of Thomas and Mary (Weir) Axtell, and his genealogy is traced elsewhere in this work. In 1832, with his parents, he located in Knox County, Ohio, where, with the exception of two years in Noble County, he lived until 1856, when he settled in Greene County, Ind., on the same farm where he now lives. Amanda Farnham became his wife November 5, 1846, and by her he is the father of five children-Samuel W., Bryan C., Mary W., Georgiana and Edna J., all living but the last. Mr. Axtell received a common school education in the Ohio schools, and while a young man began the tanning business, which he followed until he came to Greene County. Since that time he has been exclusively a farmer, and now owns 165 acres of good land, well improved and culti- vated. On December. 12, 1880, his wife Amanda, died, and again, on January 8, 1882, he married Sarah R. Ogg, of the same township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Solsberry, and a Repub-
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lican in politics. He has held several minor township officers and shares the esteem of all who know him.
JOHN A. BALDRIDGE, a farmer of Beech Creek Township, is one of two children of David and Mary B. (Stewart) Baldridge, and is a native of Athens County, Ohio. His father, having exhausted his means in ac- quiring an education in medicine, died and left our subject while quite young to the care of a mother. During his younger years Mr. Baldridge lived at intervals in Morgan, Noble and Washington Counties, Ohio, and was engaged in farming in the summer, and in the winter attending the country schools where he received a common school education. He was born September 27, 1843, and on November 20, 1863, he enlisted in Com- pany D, Ninety-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but was afterward transferred to Company C, Thirty-first Regiment of Veteran Volunteers, from which he received an honorable discharge July 20, 1865. He was engaged in the battles of Resaca and Bentonville, and marched with Sherman to the sea. In May, 1866, he located in Greene County, where he has followed farming ever since. His nuptials with Georgianna Axtell were celebrated December 5, 1868, and to their union two children have been born, named Harry W. and David H. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baldridge are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Solsberry, in which organization they are leading spirits. He is a Re- publican in politics. His farm consists of 210 acres, well improved and cultivated. This he has acquired by industrious exertion and honest dealing.
F. H. BRYAN, son of Edward Bryan, was born in Beech Creek Township, Greene County, Ind., October 24, 1844. His father was a native of Orange County, Ind., born in 1819, and a son of Edward Bryan, Sr., who came from South Carolina to Lost River in Orange County about the time Indiana was admitted into the Union. The fam- ily is of Irish descent, but the wife of Edward Bryan, Jr., Malinda Bul- lock, to whom he was married in Greene County, in 1842, was of English and Welsh descent, and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gaston) Bullock, both of these families settling in Greene County at a very early period in its history. Edward Bryan, Sr., together with his family, re- moved to Greene County im 1822, and settled in Beech Creek Township. They engaged in farming and clearing until Edward, Sr.'s death, in about 1846. Edward, Jr., lived on the farm until 1853, when be moved to Bloomfield, where for one season he engaged in merchandising, but the fall of 1853 removed to Solsberry and continued a like business with success for eight years. He died of consumption August 6, 1861, leaving a widow-who died of the same disease two years later-and three children: F. H., E. C. and John E. F. H. took charge of the family left in his charge by the death of his parents until their respect- ive marriage. He thus began doing for himself at the age of sixteen years, and in youth obtained only a common school education. On the death of his father, he purchased his store, and the greater part of his life has since been devoted to merchandising in Solsberry. He was mar- ried in 1873 to Miss A. F. Gibbons, and by her is the father of three children-Edward, Mabel and Fay. Mr. Bryan is a member of both Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Bryan was born in Guernsey County, Ohio. November 11, 1850, and came to Greene County with her parents, Joseph and Margaret (Shaw) Gibbons, in November, 1865. She is a member of the Methodist
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Episcopal Church. Mr. Bryan held the office of Postmaster at Solsberry for three years. He owns about 450 acres of land in Beech Creek, Center and Highland Townships.
VANDAL H. CASNER, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of the Old Dominion, his birth occurring June 19, 1830, in Randolph County, and is one in a family of six children born to George and Margaret (Yeager) Casner. He received his education from the old fashioned sub- scription schools, selected farming as his vocation through life, and Feb- ruary 16, 1851, was married to Mrs. Barbara L. (Johnson) Barnes. In May, 1855, he came to Greene County, Ind., locating in Beech Creek Township, where he has ever since resided, with the exception of eleven 'years, when he made his home in Center Township. September 29, 1864, he became a member of Company B, Fifty-seventh Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, and after participating in the engagements of Franklin and Nashville, and various minor engagements, he was honorably dis- charged July 15, 1865. Mr. Casner is one of the progressive and sub- stantial men of Beech Creek Township, beginning life with no substantial means, and by good management and industry accumulating 300 acres of good land. In politics, he is independent, voting for men and not party measures, rejecting the wrong and adopting the right. He and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are the parents of this family: Solomon, George, Eliza R., Byron V., Lincoln R., Grant O., Ida M. and Edith E., all living.
T. R. COOK, Solsberry, was born December 8, 1822, in Washington County, Penn., but his parents, Jacob and Phebe (McCollnm) Cook, re- moving to Ohio in 1832, he was largely educated in Athens County. He began for himself when eighteen years old, and a year later went to the cabinet-maker's trade. While at the latter occupation, he removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where in 1843 he was married to Harriet T. Gibbens, who was born March 17, 1825, and a daughter of Peter and Barbara (White) Gibbons. From cabinet-making, Mr. Cook gradually took up carpentering, which has been his occupation chiefly through life. In 1859, he moved to Greene County, Ind., and August 20, 1862, became a member of Company A, Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry .. On the organization of the company, he became First Sergeant, but was discharged for promotion to First Lieutenant December 16, 1862, bis commission bearing date December 11, 1862. By reason of the Cap- tain's illness, Mr. Cook commanded his company for a number of months. He contracted typhoid fever at La Grange, Tenn., and for three months was unable for duty, but afterward was afflicted with sore eyes and camp fever, which rendered him entirely unfit for further military work. He resigned March 30, 1864, and was honorably discharged. For the past eight years, he has served as Postmaster at Solsberry, and Justice of the Peace, the latter being his present calling. Mr. Cook is one of the county's ablest citizens; is a stanch Republican, a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and he and his wife are parents of this family: Eliz- abeth C., born July 4, 1845 (now Mrs. John Mullen); Peter M., April 17, 1847 (practicing medicine in Solsberry); Margaret E., August 27, 1849 (Mrs. C. W. Keys); Edward S., April 17, 1851; Charles H., Sep- tember 1, 1853. died March 20, 1857; William F., October 11, 1857; John F., August 6, 1859, died February 10, 1863; Benjamin B., July 9. 1865, and Birdie, February 11, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational Churches respect- ively, and are highly esteemed people.
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JAMES CRAWFORD, a prosperous farmer of Beech Creek Town. ship, is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born February 16, 1828. To his parents, Thomas and Jane (McClure) Crawford, were born this family: William B., Joann, James, Thomas, Mary J., Margaret, Martha, Amanda, Nancy and Sarah. Six of these are all that now live. The parents were honest and industrious people, natives of Pennsylvania, and both are now dead. James Crawford came to Greene County, Ind., the spring of 1853, and engaged in farming in Beech Creek Township, where he has ever since resided. In 1865, he became associated with Dr. J. P. McIntosh in mercantile pursuits, and after the retirement of Dr. McIntosh some eight years later, assumed the proprietorship of the entire business, which he continued some ten years longer. Mr. Crawford has been a careful and prudent business man, and by good management and industry has accumulated considerable property, consisting largely of farms, business property, etc. His marriage with Miss Nancy Conkle was solemnized June 21, 1850, in his native connty, and although no children have been born to them, they have completed their home circle by rear. ing and educating three children from the neighborhood. Mr. Crawford is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic brotherhood; has served four years as Postmaster and a number of terms as Township Trustee, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the late civil war, he held the position of Sergeant, and afterward Second Lieutenant, and while doing military duty his actions were governed by the sense of bonor and patriotism as when a civilian.
ABRAM DILLEY, a farmer of Beech Creek Township, is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, where he was born March 25, 1828, one of twelve children, of whom Ephraim and Rachel E. (Henry) Dilley were the parents. Mr. Dilley received such education as could be acquired in the primitive schools and through paper windows of his time. At the age of fifteen years. he began the blacksmith trade, which business he continued for about fifteen years. On July 2, 1848, Maria J. Yakey, of the same county, became his wife, and they are the parents of these children: Leroy H., Judson S. (deceased), George W., Sarah L .. Lucy L. (deceased), Solomon Y. (deceased), Albert L., Rachael and Maria F. . In September, 1865, he located in Greene County on the place where he now lives. Since coming to this county, he worked at his trade about five years, and the balance of the time he has been farming. He now owns a splendid farm of 258 acres, well improved and cultivated. Of the 185 acres that are cleared, Mr. Dilley has cleared 100, which indicates his industry without other example. As members of the Baptist Church at Newark, they are among the best citizens in the county. Mr. Dilley is a thorough Democrat in politics, and stands high among his neighbors for strict integrity.
DAVID JACKSON DRAKE, a merchant and Deputy Postmaster of Newark, was born in Holmes County, Ohio. December 20, 1823, and is the son of George and Rachel (Johnson) Drake, natives of Ohio, in which State they lived until their respective deaths. They were the par. ents of three children -- Elizabeth (wife of Waterman Benner), David and Dennis (deceased). Our subject came to this State in 1866, and settled on a farm in this county, where he remained one year, then re- moved to Newark where he has since resided, and engaged in mercantile business. In 1881, he became Deputy for Postmaster Joseph G. Smith, and has since held that position. August 27, 1847, his marriage with
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Miss Mary E. Dotson, of Monroe County, Ohio, was solemnized, and to them have been born seven children-James W., George D., John (de- ceased), Seward, Clarence (deceased), Emma (Mrs. David D. Lyons) and Albert L. Mr. Drake is a Republican in politics, and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been success- ful in business, owns a good farm of forty acres of well-improved land adjoining Newark, and a fine business property in the town. Mr. Drake is an old and honored citizen of Greene County, and he and family are respected by all who know them.
GEORGE EDWARDS, one of the oldest settlers in Greene County, and a resident of Beech Creek Township, was born in Surry County, N. C., March 3, 1811: His parents were William and Delilah (Burch) Edwards, who bore a family of seven children, with which they came to Greene County in May, 1822. George Edwards, the subject of this sketch, received but little education, and that from the subscription schools kept in the log houses of those frontier days. In his starting out for himself, Mr. Edwards had the common misfortune of the day and place-that of being poor. By his wife, whose maiden name was Lao- dicea Burch, he is the father of eleven children-James, Sarah, Nancy, Martha, William H., Delilah J., George L., Samuel H., Mary E., Susan R. and Paris F. Their marriage was solemnized December 22, 1831. By hard work and economical living, Mr. Edwards has obtained a large competence, now owning about 700 acres of as good land as is in Beech Creek Township, besides a great amount he has given his children. His is probably the best improved farm in his township. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church at Hebron, and are universally respected.
WILFORD HICKAM, M. D., Newark, was born in Owen County, Ind., December 25, 1856, one of eleven children in the family of E. and M. (Bray) Hickam. He received a thorough ordinary education in the public schools of his native county, and at nineteen years of age began teaching school, which profession he followed four consecutive years. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. Schell, of Spencer, with whom he remained until the fall of 1880, when he entered the Medical Department of Butler University, from which institution he graduated March 1, 1883. Dr. Hickam then located for the practice of medicine at Newark, where he has won flattering success in his profession, both in the treatment of cases and in acquiring a lucrative practice. He is one of the lively, wide-awake men of Newark, progressive in his views on all subjects, is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. Dr. Hickam met with a serions and distressing accident June 26, 1864, which was the loss of his left limb at the junction of the mid- dle and upper thirds of the femur, leaving him a cripple for life.
DR. JOHN KUTCH, Solsberry, was born in Richland Township, Greene County. Ind., November 15, 1841, and is a son of A. L. Kutch. He was raised on the home farm until seventeen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn blacksmithing at Bloomington. He served at this until he enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Light Artillery, and was mustered into the service on his twentieth birthday. His battery was ordered to Fort Donelson, but the battle terminating before their arrival, they went into camp at Cairo. He was an active participant in the battle of Cor- inth, in which bis battery was warmly engaged. In 1863, they joined Grant's expedition against Vicksburg, but here the Ninth Artillery were
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sent to Fort. Hindman, Tenn. From here they went to Vicksburg the fall of 1863, and later to Meridian, en route participating in a severe engagement at Queen's Hill. They then returned to Vicksburg, and from thence joined Banks' command on the Atchafalaya Bayou, and from bere captured Fort Drusa on Red River. They then went to Alexandria, and there were engaged in a battle on Gov. Moore's farm. Re-em- barking on Red River, they participated in a number of engagements along its shore, and after being engaged in the battle of Pleasant Hill returned to Memphis for recruits. After the battle of Guntown, they were ordered to check Kirby Smith, who was threatening St. Louis, and while here followed up the. retreating rebels and engaged their force on Blne River. They were next in the battle of Nashville; then followed Hood's retreating army to Pulaski; then went to Westport, having then served six months over the time for which they had enlisted. They here embarked on the steamer "Eclipse," and while near Johnsonville during a fog on the night of February 27, 1865, the steamer blew up. and thir- ty.two of the sixty-eight men of the Ninth Artillery were killed out- right, and, with the exception of six, the remainder were wounded. Among the latter was Dr. Kutch, who was scalded over the face and head, and struck in the back with a brick from the boiler. Owing to this injury, Dr. Kutch was unfitted for his trade, and consequently began the study of medicine the winter of 1874, and in 1878-79 graduated from the Medical College of Indiana at Butler University. For a short time, he practiced his profession at Bloomfield; then located in Solsberry, where he has acquired a lucrative practice. He is a Republican, and was married on his twenty-fourth birthday to Mary E. Danely, by whom he is the father of three children-Ollie, Maggie and Alford. Dr. Kutch was in thirteen battles and engagements while out in the late war, and was honorably discharged in March, 1865.
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