History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 51

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 901

USA > Indiana > Greene County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 51
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 51

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MICHAEL DECKARD. druggist and distiller, was born in the year 1832, in Monroe County, Ind., whither his parents had removed in 1818. He is one of two children born to Michael and Christena (Hellenburg) Deckard, and being the son of pioneers witnessed many hardships inci- dent to pioneer life in which his parents were engaged. On attaining his majority, he embarked on life's voyage on his own responsibility, and since then has been engaged largely in mercantile pursuits. . His mar- riage with Miss Catharine Hilton was solemnized in 1857, and in 1861 he became a private in the late war, serving through the battles of Res- aca, Stone River and Kenesaw Mountain, and being finally discharged as Corporal at the end of three years. At the present writing (1883); he is located at Jonesboro (Hobbieville P. O.), where he carries on the drug trade and manufactures about 2,000 gallons of pure peach and apple brandy yearly. Mr. Deckard is a thoroughgoing business man, a Democrat in politics, and the father of six children, only two-Blassie E. and Rosie E. - yet living.

ALEXANDER HARDEN, a progressive and public-spirited citizen of his township, is a native of Monroe County, Ind., his birth occurring in the year 1837. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Regains) Har- den, who removed from Tennessee, where they were born, to Indiana in 1834. Alexander passed his youth and early manhood in assisting his parents on the home farm, and on the 6th of September, 1861, volun- teered his service in the cause of his country. He was a member of Com- pany G, Thirty-first Indiana Volunteers, and at Pittsburg Landing, became disabled, which resulted in his discharge December 6, 1862. Since that time he has been employed in farming and prosecuting pension claims for disabled soldiers. By industry, he has secured a farm of 105} acres, while his success as a prosecutor of pension claims has procured him a large and constantly increasing patronage. Mr. Harden is a Re- publican in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity and a member the Methodist Episcopal Church. His marriage with Miss Mary E. Ben- net was solemnized in 1863, and they are among the best of Greene County's citizens.

CAPT. J. T. OLIPHANT, one of the prominent men of Greene County, is a native of Monroe County, Ind., born in the year 1833, a son of Lawson and Ruth (Pennington) Oliphant. His parents were born in

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North Carolina, but removed to Indiana in about 1826, where Mr. Oli- phant died in 1882. His widow yet survives him, and resides on the old homestead near Hobbieville, at an advanced age. J. T. Oliphant was raised a farmer, beginning for himself when twenty-one years old. In 1862, he volunteered his services in his country's behalf, as a member of Company E, Ninety-seventh Volunteers. He was elected First Lieuten- ant by his company, and afterward promoted to its Captaincy, serving as such until severely wounded by a gunshot at Kenesaw Mountain. This effectually put an end to further military duties on his part, and resulted in his honorable discharge. He was an active participant in numerous hotly contested engagements, among which was the siege of Vicksburg. In 1867, he was elected Recorder of Greene County, and after serving one term of four years, engaged in merchandising, which he continued until a recent date, since when he has turned his attention to farming and stock-dealing. Mr. Oliphant is a Republican in polities, a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, and owns a valuable farm of 465 acres. In 1854, he was united in wedlock with Miss Mary M. Alexander, and their union has been blessed with seven children, all but one yet living; their names are Elizabeth, Williamson L., Francis M., Dowell, Mary and Bertha. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CAPT. A. F. PHILLIPS was born in Monroe County, Ind., in 1831, and is the only son and survivor in a family of two children born to Jo- seph and Elizabeth (King) Phillips, natives respectively of Florida and Kentucky, who settled in the county where our subject was born in 1819. When five years old, A. F. Phillips was left fatherless, and when but a small lad he was cast upon the world to do for himself, consequently re- ceiving only limited educational advantages. He was engaged in farming until enlistment as a private, August 15, 1862, in Company C, Ninety- seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after entering the serv- ice, he was made Orderly Sergeant, then, by reason of his promptness in the discharge of duties, was promoted First Lieutenant April 20, 1864, and advanced to the Captaincy of his company July 4, 1864. Capt. Phillips was a fearless soldier, participating in the engagements of Jack- son, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Knoxville, Resaca and finally in the campaign against Atlanta, where he was severely wounded from the effects of which he is yet a sufferer, and which procured him an honorable discharge from the service April 12, 1865. Since the.close of the war, Uapt. Phillips has been engaged in farming and merchandising, but at present is living retired in the village of Cincinnati. His mar- riage with Kate Fulk was solemnized in the year 1849, and the following named of their seven children are yet living-Jane, Martin, Joseph, John A. and Emma.

JOSEPH B. VANMETER, a native Hcosier, was born in Greene County in 1852, and is the eldest of four children born to the union of Nathaniel and Catharine (Razor) Vanmeter, who were natives of Ken- tucky, removing to Indiana in about 1843. He was raised on a farm until sixteen years of age, when he began learning the blacksmith's trade, which was his occupation until 1883. In this year he embarked in the drag and grocery trade at Cincinnati, and although yet new in the busi- ness is rapidly acquiring a comfortable traffic. He is possessed of energy and determination, and these qualities, coupled with honesty and a desire to please, will undoubtedly make him one of the county's most reliable and successful men. Miss Agnes Martindale became his wife in

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the year 1874, and three of their five children are yet. living-Fleming, Nancy and Cary J. Mr. Vanmeter is a Democrat in politics; Mrs. Van- meter belongs to the Baptist Church.

RICHARD W. YOHO was born in the Buckeye State in the year 1854, and is a son of Samuel and Jane (Cain) Yoho. His mother dying the same year of his birth, Richard W. came with his father to the Hoosier State in 1866, which has since been his home. He aided his father on the farm during his youthful years, and when twenty years of age began for himself. For five years he pursued the avocation of a pedagogue, and the succeeding four years farmed and dealt in stock. Since 1879, he has been engaged in merchandising at Cincinnati, where he has built up a successful trade and where he carries a general line of goods amounting in value to about $3,500. By his honorable dealings and genial ways, Mr. Yoho has not only established a good trade but has gained numerous warm and steadfast friends. In politics, he is a Repub- lican; was elected Justice of the Peace in 1880, and is also a Notary Public. In 1874, he married Miss Mary E. Carmichael, and their union has been blessed with three children-O. C., Gertie C. and Ada E.

SMITH TOWNSHIP.

P. A. BUSKIRK, son of Alfred and Letitia (Dayhoff ) Buskirk, is a native of Greene County, Ind., born March 12, 1824. His parents were natives of Spencer County, Ky., where they were raised, married and from whence they removed to Indiana in 1823, first settling in Higbland Township, but afterward removing to Smith Township, Greene County, where Mr. Buskirk operated a pottery kiln for a number of years. He died in Highland Township in 1829, and in 1835 his widow married Joseph Myers, with whom she removed to Bullitt County, Ky., where she died in 1845. P. A. Buskirk went with his mother to Kentucky, but when eighteon years old returned to his native county, living with an uncle until 1848. He then began farming on Scaffold Prairie, Smith Township, where he now owns a good farm of 150 acres, well stocked and well improved. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company . H, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteers, but shortly after entering the service he was transferred to the Sixth Cavalry. At the battle of Richmond, Ky., he was captured, paroled and some time later his parole expired while he was at Terre Haute, Ind., after which he again engaged in active service and was a second time captured in Kentucky. After being exchanged and his parole expiring, he was again sent into Kentucky and from thence to Tennessee, then again back to Kentucky. He next was engaged in the Georgia campaign and then, on the 15th and 16th of De- cember, 1864, was engaged in the battle at Nashville against Hood's forces. He also actively participated in the battle of Pulaski, Tenn., but June 21, 1865, ended his military career on that date, receiving an honorable discharge. Since the war, he has been engaged in farming on his place in Greene County. His marriage with Nancy Elgan was consummated April 9, 1848, and Alfred D. was their only child. The mother was born June 22, 1824, in Indiana, and died December 22, 1850. For his second

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wife, Mr. Buskirk married Martha Godfrey, who was born May 14, 1825, a daughter of Elijah and Theodosia (Clark) Godfrey. To this union have been born six children-Lucy S., Joseph M., Frederick L., Raleigh M., Phebe K. and R. Belle. The two last named are dead. Mr. Bus- kirk is a stanch Republican in politics, and is the oldest native of Greene County living in Smith Township.

BENJAMIN F. CONANT, one of the principal farmers of Smith Township, is a native of the county and township where he lives, and where he was raised. He was born October 20, 1849, one of eight chil- dren born to Cyrus W. and Nancy (Dayhoff) Conant, who were among the very earliest settlers in Greene County, he being one of the most prominent citizens of Greene County, and for many years a minister in the Congregational Church. He commenced life & poor man, but when he died he was well blessed with earthly goods, although he had made it a rule to give one-tenth of his income to the church. He is a direct descendant of Roger Conant, one of the pilgrims who came over in the Mayflower. Our subject received a good common school education in the country schools of his time, and went to the Farmersburg Graded School. During most of his life he has been a farmer, although he has worked at the carpenter's trade considerably. He has been very successful as a farmer for the past thirteen years, shipping a large amount of grain and stook. He was married to Miss Josie Noble, daughter of Oliver and Mary (Dayboff) Noble. He is a Republican, and takes an active interest in all public affairs.

GEORGE W. DAYHOFF, farmer, P. O. Worthington. Among the early pioneers of Greene County, Ind., was Elias Dayhoff, who was born December 1, 1799, in the State of Kentucky. In 1826, Mary Thomas became his wife, and in 1827 he and wife emigrated to this county, and settled in Smith Township, where Mr. Dayhoff entered 160 acres of Government land. He continued adding to this until at one time he owned about 1,000 acres. His first wife dying in 1832, he married Eleanor H. Goodale in 1834, and together they lived happily many years. Mr. Dayhoff took a very active part in all the public doings of the day, having served as Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace, besides being the candidate of his party-Republican -- for the State Legislature in 1862. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a man honored and esteemed for his private worth and purity of heart. He died April 13, 1888, having lived a life of over eighty-three years of nsefulness. George W. Dayhoff, subject of this sketch, was born in the month of May, 1835, the eldest of his father's second mar- riage. He was raised and educated in Greene County, and August 8, 1862, enlisted in his country's cause in Company H, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served through the battles of Richmond and Nashville, besides several lesser engagements, and was a brave and effi- cient soldier. January 5, 1863, he married Mary A. Johnston, who died September 12, 1875, after bearing a family of six children, four of whom are yet living. For his second wife, Mr. Dayhoff married Mary E. Page, of Worthington. Mr. Dayhoff is one of the well-to-do farmers of Smith Township, owning eighty acres of good land. He cast his first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and since then has been a Republican in politics.

RUFUS DAYHOFF, farmer, P. O. Worthington, was born March 26, 1838, the third son of Elias and Eleanor H. (Goodale)

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Dayhoff, appropriate mention of whom is made in the biography of George W. Dayhoff. Rufus was raised a farmer, secured a fair educa- tion from the public schools of that day, and May.26, 1873, he was united in marriage with Mary E. Anderson. After living some over three years in Smith Township, engaged in farming after his marriage, Mr. Dayhoff, in 1877, moved to Wilson County, Tex., subsequently removing to near San Antonio, in Barr County. After being a resident of the Lone Star State upward of five years, he returned to his former home in Indiana, where he now resides, the owner of forty acres near the old homestead. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he and family are well and favorably known throughout the township.

RICE ELGAN, farmer, P. O. Worthington, was born at Wash- ington, Ind., January 16, 1820. His father, John Elgan, was a native of Kentucky, his birth occurring in about the year 1800, and when nineteen years old he was united in wedlock with Sally Pounds, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Elgan dying in about 1826, Mr. Elgan married Abigail Archer about a year later, and in 1832 he and family removed to Greene County, Ind., where he con- tinued to reside the remainder of his years, his death occurring in 1868. Rice Elgan is one of the foremost men of his township as well as one of its best farmers and citizens. He is the eldest of fourteen children, and such being the case received only limited schooling advantages, as his aid was required at home in helping to care for younger members of the family. In May, 1839, Mary Ellsworth became his wife, and to their union nine children have been born, only four of whom are yet living. Is a Democrat in politics; Mr. Elgan has served his township with credit as Assessor. He owns a fine farm of 270 acres, and is an esteemed mem- ber of the Christian Church.

ADAM MILLER. Samuel Miller, the father ot the subject of this sketch, was born in Somerset County, Penn., March 3, 1799, and was principally raised in Westmoreland County. He was a shoe-maker by trade, but the latter part of his life was passed in farming. In the year 1822, he married his first wife, Miss Easter, but this lady dying he was a second time married, in Coshocton County, Ohio, July 4, 1833, to Anna Richey, who was a native of Switzerland. born May 18, 1809, and came with her parents to America when seven years old. Mr. Miller removed with his family to Owen County, Ind., in 1853, where he died an honored and esteemed citizen in 1874. Adam Miller is a son by his father's second marriage, his birth occurring in Coshocton County, Ohio, July 8, 1834, and is the eldest of ten children. At four years of age, he was taken by his parents to Holmes County, Ohio, and from there to Indiana in 1853, where he entered forty acres of canal land. In 1864, he dis- posed of his property and came to his present place in Greene County, where, by diligence and economy, he has secured a valuable farm of 400 acres which he has improved as well as any farm in Smith Township. Early in 1865, he enlisted as a private in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was detailed on garrison duty at Decatur, Ala, was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tenn., and finally discharged at Indianapolis. He was married in Owen County, February 14, 1856, to Sarah A., daughter of Oliver and Delilah (Middle- ton Hubbell. who were natives respectively of Ohio and North Carolina. Mrs. Miller was born in Owen County, Ind., September 14, 1834, and to her

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union with Mr. Miller, nine children have been born-Marion, Madison, Marilda and Julia, living, and Manda, Marinda, Anna A., Samuel O .. and Delilah, deceased. Mr. Miller is one of the practical and progressive men of his township, and for the past seventeen years has been a member of the Christian Church. For four years he has been an ordained elder in this religious denomination, and for over a year he has served as pastor at Winter's Chapel.

OLIVER NOBLE, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, and one of the substantial men of Greene County, was born August 11, 1837, and is a son of A. C. and Barbara (Joseph) Noble, who were born respectively September 11, 1812, and February 1, 1810, both in Jefferson County, Ohio. Oliver was raised and educated in his native county, making his home with his parents until 1858, when he came to Greene County, Ind., and located on his present place in Smith Township, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and working at the carpenter's trade. July 28, 1863, he was mustered into the United States service as private in Company A, One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; served his country with fidelity through numerous engagements and im- portant campaigns; was transferred to Company K, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Infantry, on the 14th of February, 1865, and was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., September 27, 1865. February 15, 1859, he was married in Greene County to Miss Mary Dayhoff, who was born in Carroll County, Ohio, February 2, 1828, a daughter of Abram and Lydia (Joseph) Dayhoff, who were among the pioneers of this locality. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Noble, one daughter-Josephine-has been born. Mr. Noble is one of the enterprising men of his neighbor- hood; is a Republican and a member of the G. A. R. and the Presbyte- rian Church.

COL. ISRAEL STOUGH, a native of York County, Penn., was born January 28, 1829, a son of Charles and Catharine (Lauck) Stough, both of whom were born in York County, Penn., the former January 4, 1800, and the latter November 15, 1815. Charles Stough followed the carpenter's trade for about fifty-four years; was married in his native county in August, 1828, and there his wife died May 17, 1870 He is now living in Greene County, Ind., at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Israel Stough, at the age of fourteen years, began serving an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade in his native county, and when nine- teen, he started out as a journeyman tailor. For two years he was en- gaged in business for himself at Brookville, Ind., but in 1852, went to Bucyrus, Ohio, where for a short time he worked at his trade, afterward disposing of his stock and operating a photograph gallery, both in Bucy- rus and Gallion, Ohio. Having accumulated some means, he sold out at the end of a year, and feeling the need of a better education, entered Wittenburg College at Springfield, Ohio, where he remained two years. In 1856 and 1857, he was employed as traveling salesman for Hykes & Co., horticulturists, of Dayton, Ohio, his location being in Mis- siesippi. He afterward traveled in a like business through Virginia, for a Rochester, N. Y., company, and through Kentucky for Hooker, Farley & Co. Succeeding this, he was engaged in farming near Springfield, Ohio, until he helped recruit Company F, of the Forty-fourth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, of which he was selected Captain. He served in this capacity until September 23, 1863, when he was discharged for disability arising from the effects of typhoid fever. May 11, 1864, he was com.

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missioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and for a time was stationed at Paw Paw,.W. Va. Col. Stough was a participant in the engagements at Laurel Point, on the South Branch of the Potomac, Hancock, Md., and Old Town. He was mustered out of the service at Camp Douglass, Ohio, September 9, 1864, and the same year located in Gibson County, Ind., where he followed agricultural pursuits two years. He then moved to Patoka, where he worked as a millwright and at engineering until his removal to Owens- burg, Greene County, in 1870, where for three years he was engaged in milling. He then went to Bloomfield and erected the steam mills at that place, which he operated until 1879, when he sold out and leased the mills at Lyons. In 1881, ho purchased his present place, where he has since resided. Col. Stough is a Republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and F. & A. M., and K. of P. fraterni- ties. He was married at Brookville, Ind., June 3, 1851, to Mary C. Campbell, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 19, 1832. Mrs. Stough's parents were John and Mary (Kemble) Campbell, the former born June 17, 1790, died October 13, 1863; the latter born in 1805, and died May 27, 1854. Col. Stough and wife are parents of this family: Charles P., Ida K., Allie M., Nettie L. and David L., living, and Anna E., Dora C., Cora F., John F. and Jennie B., deceased.

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PART III.

SULLIVAN COUNTY.

HISTORICAL.

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PART III. HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY,

CHAPTER I.

BY PROF. JOHN. W. SPENCER .*

GEOLOGY-EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF JOHN COLLETT-THE COAL MEASURES-ORIGIN OF ANIMAL LIFE-THE SULLIVAN OIL WELL-LIME- STONE AND SANDSTONE-NUMEROUS SECTIONS SHOWING STRATA-COAL N-CHALYBEATE SPRINGS-CRINOIDAL LIMESTONE-FIRE CLAY, OCHER, ETC .- FOSSIL PLANTS AND ANIMALS-SHELBURN SHAFT AND WELL-THE DRIFT DEPOSITS-COAL DISTRIBUTION-EXTRACT FROM.THE REPORT OF PROF. E. T. COx-ANALYSIS OF COALS-PROF. SPENCER'S REPORT.

ULLIVAN COUNTY is bounded on the north by Vigo County, east by Olay and Greene Counties, south by Knox County, and west by the Illinois State line at the channel of the Wabash River, embracing an area of 443 square miles, or 283,520 acres. Of this area, about one-fifth was originally upland prairie, one-fifth the bottoms and terrace prairies of the Wabash and its affluents, and the remaining three-fifths upland timber. The surface is generally level or gently undulating. Descending from the table-land to the valleys, the bluffs have become covered with drift or soil derived from disintegration of underlying rocks. The county is well watered by the Wabash River, Busseron, Turtle and Turman Creeks, and their many branches, which ramify into all parts. Numer- ous springs break out at the base of the bowlder clay, locally termed " hard pan," and at the outerop of impervious strata accompanying the coal seums.

THE COAL MEASURES.

The coal measures are the only rock formations which occur in this county. The beds subject to investigation comprise a series of shales, compact and argillaceous sandstones, clays, and fossiliferous limestones, with four seams of coal. Deep boring has proven the existence of at least two other seams, without reaching the lower coals usually found in connection with the conglomerate. These beds present the usual char-

. Adapted to this volume from the reports of E. T. Cox, David Dale Owen and John Collett, State Geologists, with the result of numerous personal examinations by Mr. Spencer, and actual measure- ments by the owners of the mines.

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acteristics found in the coal measures of Europe and America, and, no doubt, their origin is due to the same causes.

ORIGIN OF ANIMAL LIFE.

Without trenching upon the accepted theory for coal formation, we may remark that all the animal life represented by the fossils of the age of coal found in this county are of marine origin, so abundant that the individuals would amount to millions upon each acre. Part of these lived in the deep waters of the central ocean, for brachiopods, the culminating family, were long supposed to be extinct until dredging by Mr. E. Forbes (Lyell El. Geol.), found their home at unexplored depths, and recently (August, 1869), the British expedition is reported to have brought up a Productus from a depth of miles, near the coast of Cuba. These facts indicate the profound depths of that ancient sea adjoining or in whose bosom our coals were formed.

Sullivan is by barometric measurement, ninety-two feet above low water in the Wabash at Merom. Wells in the north and east part of town usually are dug to or through a. thin seam of coal. Often, the crinoidal limestone, forming the roof, is found in place or in disturbed fragments. During the petroleum excitement of 1864-66, a bore was made near the E. & C. R. R. depot, to a depth of over 500 feet with the following re- sult:

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History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 51

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 901

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 901