USA > Indiana > Greene County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 83
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 83
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
JOHN J. THOMPSON, M. D., was born in Shelbyville, Tenn., October 18, 1824, son of John and Margaret M. (Nixon) Thomp.
Digitized by Google
740
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
son, natives of Ireland, who came to America . with their parents at an early day, settling in Pennsylvania. John, after living in Tennes- see till 1823, returned to Philadelphia and married Miss Margaret M. Nixon, and then lived in Tennessee till 1834, when he removed to Phil- adelphia, lived there till 1837, and then moved to Vincennes, and from there to Putnam County, and then to Iowa City, Iowa, where they remained till their deaths; he dying in January, 1844, and she in March, 1860. Subject remained with his parents until he became of age, assist- ing in the store and going to school. He attended the State University at Vincennes, and in 1845 began the study of medicine with Drs. Maban and Wright at Greencastle, Ind., remaining in their office about three years, when he moved to Sullivan in 1848, where he has resided ever since, enjoying a lucrative practice. He completed his course at Rush Medical College, Chicago. June 1, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary A. Langton, daughter of Samuel and Amelia (Baird) Langton, the for- mer a native of Connecticut, the latter of Indiana. and to them were born seven children, five of whom are living: Ella M., Fannie K. (wife of Martin B. Crawford, of Terre Haute), John L., William A., Walter N. and Harvey W .; and May P., deceased. He and family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is an I. O. O. F. and a Republican. He was in the dry goods business for three years in Sullivan, from 1865 to 1868. He has been successful in business, having come to Sullivan on foot and with 50 cents in his pocket, and now being comparatively wealthy.
EDWARD A. THURMAN is a native of Floyd County, Ind., born June 29, 1860, and is the son of Phillip E. and Harriet E. (Speake), natives of Floyd County. Edward A. lived with his parents until his marriage, securing in the meantime a good business education, but other- wise passing his youth without noteworthy event. He obtained his first experience of the busy world as a clerk in his father's store, at Sullivan, in which capacity he served about two years. At the expiration of another year he engaged in the poultry business, in the employ of Jean & Thurman, continuing this until July, 1881, when Mr. Jean retired, and the firm became John Thurman & Co., and so remained until July, 1883, when our subject assumed entire control of the business. This he has contin- ued with steadily increasing success until the present, his business now amounting to about $20,000 worth per annum. Mr. Thurman is one of the most energetic and prominent business men of the town, and is univer- sally respected. He is a Republican. His marriage with Mis Clara R., daughter of Richard and Barbara (Larr) Hardesty, was celebrated March 22, 1880. To this union was born one daughter-Dora O. The mother died November 20, 1882, and lies buried near others of her family, not far from the county seat.
ANDREW N. WEIR, M. D., was born in Salem, Washington Co., Ind., November 9, 1832, son of Andrew and Nancy (Dinwiddie) Weir, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky. She died at Salem in 1839, and he at Warsaw, Ill., in 1874. They had seven children, Andrew N. being the youngest. Subject worked with his fath- er in the tanning business until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to Warsaw, Ill., remaining there about three years; then returned and managed the business of his father two years, when he began the study of medicine, continuing the same till 1855, when he came to Sul- livan and went into the office of J. H. Weir, and remained two years.
- Digitized by
Google . . .
741
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
In the winters of 1856 and 1857, he attended the Medical University of Louisville, Ky., when he returned and began the practice of his profes- sion. In 1872, he took a course at the Indiana Medical College, gradu- ating from that institution. He practiced at Graysville for twenty - five years, and in 1881, moved to Sullivan, started a drug store and opened an office. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Miller, December 15, 1859, at Warsaw, Ill., but who died Angust 1, 1860. He was mar- ried September 16, 1861, to Miss Lucy Jane Taylor, of East Cambridge, Mass., daughter of John and Susan (Pollard) Taylor, and to this union five children were born: Harvey Newton, Edward Andrew, Arthur Din- widdie, Emily Taylor and Robert, deceased. He and family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is an A., F. & A. M., Lodge 263, and an I. O. O. F., Lodge 147. IL 1862, he went into the United States volunteer service as Captain of a company in the Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry and was afterward changed to cavalry, he still being Captain. In 1863, he was commissioned as As. sistant Surgeon, and served till January, 1864, when he was promoted to Full Surgeon of his regiment, serving until the close of the war, when, his time for which he enlisted not having expired, he was placed in charge of a new regiment, but resigned and returned to the practice of his profession. The Doctor started in life without any financial as- sistance, but through his energy and ability has placed himself in the front of his profession, and acquired a competency. He spent the win- terw of 1878-79 in the Medical College of New York, attending lectures and increasing his acquirements.
L. H. WILLIS, son of E. and P. (Shake) Willis, natives of Ken. tucky,' was born in this county December 18, 1855, the fifth child in a family of twelve. His parents were pioneers of Sullivan County, set. tling near Carlisle at an early day. He was educated mainly at Carlisle, finishing in 1877, and for three years engaged in farming and stock- dealing. In December, 1880, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of the county, becoming so popular, while thus engaged, that at the primary election of 1884 he was nominated for the office of County Sheriff, with a majority of 206 over three other aspirants for that position. As the Democratic nomination is equivalent to an election, Mr. Willis will as- sume the duties of Sheriff in November, 1884. He is at present one of the most popular men of the county.
JOHN HARVEY WILSON, a native of Eastern Tennessee, was born in Greene County, near Greeneville, January 27, 1811, a son of Adam and Margaret (Magill) Wilson, and grandson of John and Susan- na (Kautzman) Wilson. His grandparents were of German ancestors, while his mother is of Scotch parentage, as her name suggests. On both sides of the house his grandparents were natives of the Old Dominiou, and both grandfathers served their country with fidelity in her struggle for liberty with Great Britain. Both families moved to East Tennessee at a very early day, the mother of Adam Wilson, who was born in the year 1784, carrying him on horseback the entire distance. John Wil- son died at his new home in Tennessee, but his widow, with the family of Adam Wilson, emigrated to the Hoosier State in 1831, and settled near Carlisle, but about eighteen months later removing to what is now Cass Township, near the head-waters of the Busseron. Here her death occurred in the year 1857, at the advanced age of about ninety-four years Adam Wilson was a wheelwright by trade, but a farmer by oc-
Digitized by Google
742
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
cupation, and for about fifteen years served as Justice of the Peace for Jackson Township, which at that time comprised two Congressional town- ships. He and wife were honored citizens and members of the Presby - terian Church, and the parents of a family of eight children, of whom John Harvey is the eldest, five of whom still live. The father died in 1857, and the mother in 1848. John Harvey Wilson was reared to man- hood in his native State, and for the day received a fair education. His early years were passed assisting his parents on the home farm, and with them he came to Sullivan County, Ind., the fall of 1831. He has always made his home here since that time, and until the death of his parents he remained single and at home. He pedagogued it bere at an early day for upward of three years, his first schools being held in one of the pi- oneer log schoolhouses, stick-and-mud chimney, greased paper for win- dow lights, puncheons for seats, etc. In 1840, he was made Sheriff of the county, and after serving one term of two years was re-elected to the office, serving in all four years. During a part of this time, the county seat was at Merom, but subsequently was removed to Sullivan. In 1845, he was elected to represent the people of Sullivan County in the lower branch of the State Legislature, and again he was elected Representative in 1850. Since 1857, he has been a resident of the town of Sullivan, where he now lives a retired and quiet life. On the 25th of November, 1862, he was nnited in marriage with Mrs. D. A. Patton, the daughter of Arbuthnot H. and Dorcas (Higgins) Lyons, and the widow of James G. Patton. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Royal Arch Chapter in Masonry, and he and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Wilson was born March 21, 1831, in Coshocton County, Ohio. The following notice of his death appeared in one of the local newspapers: "Died at his home in Jackson Township, on the 1st of Au- gust, Mr. A. H. Lyuns, aged near seventy-six years. Deceased was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in November, 1800; was married to Dorcas Higgins April 25, 1822. About the year 1827, he removed from Belmont County to West Carlisle, Coshocton Co., Ohio, where he continued to reside until the year 1854, when he removed to this State, and settled in Jackson Township, Sullivan County. The deceased made a profession of religion and connected himself with the Presbyterian Church in his twenty-third year; shortly afterward he was made an Elder in the church, which office he continued to fill until his death. Father Lyons, as he was familiarly called, was a very earnest and devoted Christian, warmly attached to the church, alive to the discharge of every Christian duty, and always found at his place in the church during public worship. He lived at peace with his neighbors and possessed their confidence and re- gard. He died-as the devoted Christian dies-full of trust and faith in his Redeemer."
REV. JOSEPH WILLIAMS WOLFE, a pioneer preacher of Sulli- van County, Ind., and one of the county's few remaining old settlers, was born in Frederick County, Va., April 19, 1810. Jacob Wolfe, his father, was a native of Germany and was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Williams, by whom he became the father of five children. Mary English, his last wife, was an Englishwoman, and the third born of their ten children was the subject of this biography. From Virginia the family removed to the Hoosier State at the early period of 1819, led thither, no doubt, for the purpose of bettering their condition, finan- cially, in a new country. They engaged in farming, and here the father
Digitized by Google- -
748
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES!
died March 23, 1846, followed by the mother February 12, 1869. Joseph W. Wolfe was reared, largely, in his adopted State, and besides aiding in such duties as was common for boys of that day, Le was enabled to secure what, at that time, was an excellent education, and consisted of being able to read and write readily, and cipher over as far as the " Rule of Three." When nineteen years old he experienced Christianity, and for ten years he was identified with the Baptist Church. His faith, as a Baptist, then underwent a change, and on the 6th of May, 1830, at the Christian meeting-house on Shaker Prairie, he was ordained a minister of the Christian Church by Elders B. W. Fields, John B. Haywood and Albert P. Law, all of whom are now dead. Since that time his zeal and faith in Christianity have never warered, and for many years he was widely known as one of the ablest and most eloquent preachers of the day. Being a warm and ontspoken Democrat in politics, he was nomi- nated and elected to the office of Circuit Clerk in 1851, and after serving one term of four years was re-elected, serving in all eight years. Since that time, in connection with other duties, he has continuously served as Deputy Clerk, and in 1860 he was admitted to practice as an attorney of the Sullivan County bar. Though of a charitable heart and liberal turn of mind, Mr. Wolfe has been singularly successful in the acquisition of this world's goods. From nothing he has, by diligence and economy, secured a comfortable home in Sullivan, over 500 acres of good land, four first-class business houses in town, besides several desirable resi- dences, and he is considered one of the substantial men of the place. August 30, 1832, his marriage with Mrs. Harriet (Crawford) Harper was solemnized, Mrs. Harper being the daughter of James and Katharine (Milner) Crawford, who were among the early pioneers of Haddon Town- ship. The children born to their marriage were Lovicia, Mrs. William B. S. Combs, James M., Mary K., Mrs. George Price, Jacob L. and one that died in infancy These children are now all dead, as is also the mother, who departed this life April 28, 1845. Mr. Wolfe married Miss Mary J. Mckinley, his present wife, on the 16th of October, 1845, and together with their grand-daughter, Teressa Price, they live a quiet and retired life, happily, in the town of Sullivan.
THOMAS J. WOLFE was born in Merom, Ind., January 25, 1832, and is the eldest of eight children born to Benjamin and Isabella Wolfe. He remained with his parents until of age, and in 1851 entered the State University at Bloomington, where he took the full collegiate course, and graduated with distinction in August, 1856. After "commencement," he assisted his father in the post office for a time, and then read law in the office of Judge James Hughes, of Bloomington, and in 1858 and 1859 attended the Law Department of the University, graduating thence in March, 1859. In 1860. he moved on the farm in Sullivan County with his parents, where he remained until the close of the war. After various duties, he moved to Sullivan in 1870, and engaged in the practice of law, and has since been thus employed. His partner is Hon. John M. Humphreys. On the 3d of August, 1859, he married Miss Lucia, daugh- ter of Dudley C. and Isabel (Porch) Smith. The issue of this marriage was three children, all deceased. Husband and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Wolfe is a member of the Beta Theta Phi fra- ternity.
SOLOMON T. WOLFE is a native of Sullivan County, his birth occurring March 16, 1849. His parents were Benjamin and Isabella 46
Digitized by Google
744
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
(Shepard) Wolfe, the former being a native of Virginia and the latter of Indiana. He remained with his parents until his majority, and then for a time engaged in farming; but in 1875 moved to Sullivan and com- menced work in the Recorder's office under Mr. Fordyce. Here he re- mained until he purchased the interest of J. B. Patten in the abstract office, and soon afterward bought the remaining interest owned by Mr. Fordyce, and continued to conduct the business until the winter of 1879, when he sold out to Fordyce & Wagoner, and in 1880 engaged in the clothing business in Sullivan with J. W. Wolfe. In 1882, he sold out to William McCammon, and engaged in real estate transfers with Mr. Crawford, and is thus employed at present. On the 30th of September, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of George and Sarah (Summers) Tewalt. They have .three children-Roy E., Audrey and Clay S .- and are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Wolfe has been successful in business, having accumulated the greater portion of what he has by his own endeavors. Politically, he is a mem- ber of the Democratic party.
WILLIAM G. YOUNG was born in Palestine, Crawford Co., Ill., February 5, 1844, son of Henry and Louisa (Haddock) Young, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter .of North Carolina, who removed to Illinois in an early day, were there married and lived till their deaths. William G. is the second of eight children, born to bis parents, with whom he remained until 1860, when he started out on his own resources. In 1861, he enlisted as musician in the Eleventh Missouri Regiment Volunteer Infantry, and remained until July, 1862, when he was mustered out. He then enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer 'Infantry, and was mustered in as Second Lieutenant at the organization of the company, serving about six months, when he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and in 1864, was appointed Adjutant of the regiment. After serving again about six months he was promoted to Captain, and served as such till 1865, when he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty seventh United States Colored Troops; holding that position until January, 1866, when he was mustered out of the service. During his service he was in the battle of Chickamauga. He remained in Georgia one year, when he returned to Vincennes, and engaged in the boot and shoe trade, continuing till 1868, when he moved to Sullivan, where he has remained ever since, engaged in the dry goods, millinery and carpet business. He was united in marriage to Mrs. Mi- nerva A. (Jones) Edgar, daughter of James H. and Mary A. (Ildings) Jones, natives of Dayton, Ohio, and to this union one child was born- William, deceased. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, he being an Elder in the same, and he is an L. O. O. F., Sulli- van Lodge, No 147.
HADDON TOWNSHIP.
HON. RANSOM W. AKIN (deceased), was one of the most prominent citizens of Sullivan County, a native of Clark County, Ind., and born October 18, 1806, son of Josiah and Rebecca (Stewart) Akin, who were natives of Virginia. In early life, Mr. Akin followed farming, but in 1830, began the business of general merchandising at New Albany.
Digitized by Google
745
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
In 1826, he was married to Miss Martha Jacobs, by whom be was the father of four children-Evaline, William M., Mary A. and Francis M., all living except Mary A. Mrs. Akin died in June. 1833, and soon after this he moved to Bowling Green, Ind., still continuing the mercantile business, where he remained about two years, then returning to New Albany. December 9, 1834, he married Sarah R. Sedgwick, and to this union eight children were born-John S., Margaret E. (deceased), Sarah W .. Eloise J., Ransom W. (deceased), Charles T., Edgar W. and Josiah. Mrs. Akin was born September 19. 1817, one of eight children born to John and Betty (Rawlings) Sedgwick, who were natives of Maryland and settled in Monroe County in 1820. Mr. Akin continued business at New Albany about two years, when he came to Carlisle, arriving here in 1838, and from that time to his death took position as one of the foremost citizens in the county, not only in a mercantile point, but in all public matters, further mention in this regard being made in the history of Haddon Township. His death occurred June 18, 1880, at Carlisle. A very excellent portrait of Col. Akin also appears in this work.
JOHN S. AKIN, one of the sons of Hon. Ransom .W. Akin and Sarah, his wife, was born September 5, 1836, in Monroe County, Ind. In addition to the education received at the common schools, our subject, in 1852, began a course at the State University at Bloomington, and from there he came to Carlisle and clerked for his father, remaining there about one year. He then returned to Bloomington, where his father was engaged in business, and assisted him for about two years, after which he located at Ellettsville, iu Monroe County, and managed a store for six months. He then began for himself in the hardware, queensware and commission business, the firm being Dunn & Akin, but in the spring of 1857 be sold out and went to Minnesota, where he en- gaged in the land and loan business. In 1859, he returned to Monroe County, and bought a store belonging to his father and moved it to Carlisle, under the firm name of Akin & Bro., which was the foundation of the present well known firm of R. W. Akin's Sons. In 1860, they sold out to their father, and in 1861, our subject enlisted in Company C, Fifty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was soon elected First Lieutenant, which position he held throughout his term of service. He was in the siege of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Tiptonville, Corinth, Jackson, Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Raymond, Champion Hills, Atlanta, etc. At Etowah, Ga., he resigned his commission and returned to Carlisle, taking an interest with his father in the mercantile business, which continued about two years, when the firm was changed. In 1875, the firm became R. W. Akin & Sons. February 27, 1867, he was married to Ellen E. Bowen, of Knox County, and to this union have been born three children-Matilda B. and William B. (twins), and James McP. Mrs. Akin is a member of the Roman Catholic Church at Vincennes. Mr. Akin is an A. F. & A. M., both Blue Lodge and Chapter, he being a charter member of the latter; has also been Worshipful Master of his lodge several terma. He is a Democrat, and while in Minnesota was elected to the Legislature of that State from Nicollet County.
HON. CHARLES T. AKIN, of Carlisle, Ind., is one of eight children, of whom Ransom W. and Sarah R. (Sedgwick) Akin are the parents. R. W. Akin and his family came to Sullivan County from New Albany, Ind., near which place he had been born and raised. He began doing a mercantile business there about the year 1824. A few years
Digitized by Google
746
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
after this he moved to Bowling Green, Ind., but soon returned to New Albany, whence he came to Carlisle in 1838. When he first settled in this place he commenced in the general merchandise business, and was ever afterward interested in that trade at Carlisle. In the year 1852, he moved to Bloomington for the purpose of educating his children, and there became interested in the Bloomington Bank, of which he was elected President. In 1861, he returned to Carlisle, where he remained until his death, which occurred June 13, 1880. He was one of the fore- most citizens of Sullivan County, and bore the high opinion of all who knew him. He was a member of the State Legislature three terms -- two in the House and one in the Senate. He held the following positions at various times in his life: Trustee of the State Prison, Trustee of State University, one of the Board of Control of the State Banks, and was a Delegate to the National Democrat Convention in 1856. Charles T. Akin, the subject of this sketch, was born October 27, 1848. He received a common school education in the schools of his county. From his earli- est years he was engaged in merchandising, and in 1874, with his father and brother Edgar, became one of three equal partners. In this condi- tion the firm remained until his father's death, whose share then passed to a younger brother, in which manner it is now under the style of R. W. Akin's Sons. They now own two general stores at Carlisle, one farm of 312 acres, the Carlisle Flouring Mill, and are extensive dealers in grain and live stock. They are now doing by far the leading business of Car- lisle. Mr. Akin is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry and has held several important offices in that order, among them that of Worshipful Master, and has represented his lodge in Grand Lodge. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and in 1880, as the candidate for his party, was elected to the State Legislature a member of the House of Representatives. He took strong grounds in favor of temperance, and in 1882 was elected by a largely increased majority, exceeding any other candidate on his ticket, either State or county. As a member of the Legislature he has made a very favorable and creditable record, receiving the general approbation of his constituents.
EDWARD W. AKIN, of Carlisle, Ind., is one of the children of Ransom W. and Sarah R. (Sedgwick) Akin, of whom mention is else- where made in this work. He was born July 17, 1853, at Bloomington, Monroe County, Ind. He received a good common school education in the schools of Sullivan County, and attended the college of Merom dur- ing the years of 1869-70, but never graduated from that place. After this he was employed as salesman in the general merchandise business by the firm of J. S. Akin & Co. until the spring of 1874. In March of that year, with his father and brother, they bought out the business of that firm and were known as R. W. Akin & Sons. This was the style of it until the father's death in 1880, when a younger brother came into the partnership, and they are now known as R. W. Akin's Sons They are the leading merchants of Carlisle, where some of the family have been in business ever since the father located there in 1838. On July 8, 1875, his nuptials with Sue M. Wiggs were celebrated, and the fruits of this union are three children-Lou E., born May 30, 1876; Hiram C., May 8, 1879, and Edgar W., June 29, 1883. Both Mr. and Mrs. Akin are members of the Christian Church at Carlisle, and are active in its support, as well as all other landable causes of their community. Mr. Akin is a stanch Democrat, and in 1881, was appointed one of the Trustees
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.