USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 90
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James P. Scott received his early education at the Scott school house. William Workman was one of his first teachers. He went to school about ten winters, but during this time he had to work to help make the living. His great-grandfather, James Gunn, gave forty acres of land to each of his chil- dren and James P. Scott still holds his land. He helped clear and ditch and fence this land. It fell to his lot to stay with his mother. His mother and the family lived in a small three-room house which was not yet finished when the father went away to the army and James P. and his brother had to finish this house. James P. Scott was born in a log cabin on forty acres of land which was heired from his great-grandfather and he split rails and helped fence this land. The roads in this section were almost impassable and oftentimes they were corduroyed to hold up the travelers from sinking in the mud. The grain at that time was cut with a cradle and bound by hand and threshed by horse power machines.
James P. Scott was married on July 11. 1900. He had stayed at home with his mother until her death on May 26, 1900. He was forty-seven years old at the time of his marriage. Ilis wife was Eliza J. Caldwell, who was born on January 19, 1850. and who was the daughter of Benjamin and Lucinda ( Liming) Callwell. Benjamin Caldwell was born in Kentucky and came to this county with his parents and started farming. Mrs. Callwell's parents
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came here from Ohio. They had three children : Eliza J., who is the wife of the subject of this sketch ; Sophronia, who married C. J. Thompson, and Rosa. who married L. C. Barrett. Mr. Caklwell was a Democrat in politics and both he and his wife belonged to the Christian church. James P. Scott has no children of his own, but he has raised two of his sister's children, who stayed with him until they were grown and at present he has another nephew living with him, Norman F. Scott. James P. Scott has ninety-five acres of land all under cultivation. The farm is well fenced and Mr. Scott has built a fine barn and has a good residence on the place. He raises hogs and cattle and horses. All of these are of the best stock. He has a fine orchard and his buildings are all well painted and kept in the very neatest condition. He bought thirty acres five years ago at one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre. He is a Democrat in politics and belongs to the Knights of Pythia> lodge at Fountaintown. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.
FRANK L. ILANNA.
Frank L. Hanna was born in Buck Creek township. Hancock county, on December 19. 1852, the son of Thomas and Mary Jane ( Bolton) Hanna. Thomas Hanna was married five times. He was the son of Robert Hanna, of South Carolina, who was born on April 6. 1786, and who died on November 19, 1858. Robert Hanna was one of the constructors of one section of the National road, which runs through Greenfield. He was one of the first set- tlers. At one time he was justice of the peace in Hancock county, and he was killed on the Lake Erie & Western railroad in Indianapolis on November 19. 1858. His wife was Sarah Mowery, who was born on November 10, 1,97. and who died on November 20. 1857. They were married in Brookville, In- diana, on March 18, 1813, by Judge Benjamin McCarty. They were the parents of ten children. Robert Hanna was a farmer and owned eighty acres of land on what is now Tenth street, in Indianapolis.
Thomas Hanna, who was the father of the subject of this sketch, had a limited common-school education. Ile farmed in Buck Creek township in this county. He was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He died in 1900. He was the father of the following children by his first wife: Robert B., Joseph A., Frank L., who is the subject of this sketch, and Mary Etta. The other wives of Thomas Hanna were Mary Jane Shaffer. who bore no children : Nancy Jane Helms, who bore no children : Elizabeth (59)
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Edwards, a widow, who bore him one son. Julian; Ellie Collins, who bore him five children, Samuel, James, Asa, Mabel and William. Thomas Hanna was a member of the Masonic lodge.
Frank L. Hanna, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools, and has farmed all his life. He was married twice, the first time in February. 1873. to Glendora .Apple, of Hancock county, who was a daughter of Jesse J. Apple. of MeCordsville. To this union were born the following children : William, Melvin, Belle, Gilbert, Milton. Nellie. Thomas, John. Herman and Jessie. Ile was married, secondly, on February 16, 1908. to Minnie Holeman, who was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, on August 25, 1881. She was a daughter of E. W. and Harriette ( Curry) Holeman. They were farmers and members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a soldier in the Civil War and was wounded in the knee. Mr. Hanna has no children by his last marriage. He is a member of the Christian church and belongs to the Masonic lodge. He is the owner of two farms, one in Vernon township of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, and one in Hamilton county. Indiana, of one hundred acres.
MEREDITH DAVIS.
Meredith Davis was born in Fayette county. Indiana, the son of Harry und Matilda ( DeHaven) Davis. Harry Davis and his wife were both born in Fayette county. He was a farmer and owned about two hundred and fifty acres of land. Their children were: Meredith. now deceased, who is the subject of this sketch, and Quincy, now deceased.
Meredith Davis was educated in the common schools and was a farmer all his life. He was married on November 29. 1883, to Margaret Grant, who was born in Cass county and who was the daughter of Simon and Mary ( Murray) Grant, who were farmers of Cass county. After the death of Simon Grant, his wife moved to Rush county and from there to Fayette county. They were the parents of the following children: Carrie, who is deceased and who married John Reed, of Fortville, Indiana, and who was the mother of one child, Dorothy, and Margaret, who married Meredith Davis. Sinon Grant died in 1871, and his wife died about 1895. The father of Simon Grant was William Grant. a native of Ohio. He was the father of the fol- lowing children : Moses, who was in the Civil War: Isaac, who was in the Civil War: Cyrus, who was killed in the Civil War : George. Lewis. Taylor and
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Tane. William Grant moved to Logansport. Indiana, and entered a tract of four hundred acres of land when that town was only a trading post. He was a member of the Baptist church and was a soldier in the Mexican War. He lied at the age of ninety-two years.
Meredith Davis, after his marriage in Fayette county, came here in 1800. lle owned a farm of one hundred acres and did general farming. He built his home in 1908 and died on May 30, 1911. He was the father of the follow- lowing children: Walter, who married Nola Lummis, and who has two chiklren, Meredith and Donald: Eva. Ethel. Huber. Carrie, Margaret, Harry, who died at the age of two years: Paul and Lucile. Mr. Davis was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was an active and progressive man of his day. Since his death, his widow has been living on the farm. Huber Davis lives at home and looks after the farm.
M. M. MOORE.
M. M. Moore was born on February 14, 1863. He was the son of Sid- ney and Nancy ( Alford) Moore. Sidney Moore was the son of Paul Moore. Nancy (Alford) Moore was the daughter of Lambert and Sarah Alford.
Sidney Moore was educated in the common schools and taught school in this county for about ten years. He then went to farming on the farm on which he lived for the rest of his life. He died on May 16, 1866. Hle was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was active in church work. He enlisted in the Civil War as a private and served for three years. He was the father of the following children : M. M., who is the subject of this sketch, and Nora, who married Frank Johnson and who lives in this township. Paul Moore, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch was the first doctor in this county. He was married to Eunice Bacon, and they had the following children : Hervey, Roland, Julian, Sidney. Jane, Liza, Mary Ann and Char- lotte.
M. M. Moore was educated in the common schools and farmed all his life. He was married on November 25. 1891, to Martha Cook, who was the daugh- ter of Crainor and Nancy Cook, who were farmers of this township. The subject of this sketch was the father of the following children: Eva, who married Frederick Pope, in Vernon township, and Paul.
M. M. Moore is a farmer and owns a tract of one hundred and fifty acres of land, on which he does general farming. He built a fine barn on this in 1000. lle is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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WILLIAM W. SNIDER.
William W. Snider was born on AApril 10. 1856. He is the son of Jacob and Rebecca D. ( Chatman ) Snider. Jacob Snider was the son of Isaac Snider. who was married twice, lastly. to Mary Collins. He was a farmer of this county and owned one hundred and twenty acres. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Jacob Snider was educated in the common schools and died in 1879. He rented land his entire life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a Democrat in politics. AAt one time he was very much interested in politics. Rebecca D. ( Chatman ) Snider was the daughter of Joseph Chatman, who was a farmer in Hancock county. He was an orator of unusual ability and was known throughout the county as a public speaker. The children of Jacob and Rebecca D. (Chatman ) Snider were: Isaac. now deceased: Joseph. Henry, William W., who is the subject of this sketch: Willard W., Oliver, Otis, James, Rose and Nina. .
William W. Snider, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the com- mon schools and has farmed all his life. He was married in 1879 to Cynthia C. Barnard, who was a daughter of Francis Barnard, who was born in North Carolina and was later a farmer in Buck Creek township. The children of William W. and Cynthia ( Barnard ) Snider are: Jennie, Walter. Cleveland. Omer. Iva. Grace, Earl. James, Carl and Floyd, all living. Mr. Snider has a farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres, on which he has lived for sixteen years. He does general farming. He belongs to the Red Men of America.
AIME WILLIAM GIROUD.
Aime William Giroud was born in Indianapolis on August 8, 1858, and died on November 23. 1900. He was the son of Ferdinand and Lucy Giroud Ferdinand Giroud was a native of Switzerland, while his wife was a native of France. He came to America and was married and moved to Indianapolis. They both came across the ocean in the same boat. He was a soldier in two wars in Switzerland and survived them both without injury. He served in the Civil War for two years. He owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres at Five Points, seven miles out of Indianapolis. He was the father of the following children : AAime William, who is the subject of this sketch ; Julia, Minnie. Julius and Ninnie, who died aged seventeen years.
Aime William Giroud was educated in the common schools. He had a
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farm of one hundred and ten acres and he built on this a fine house in 1899 and in 1907 he built a barn. He was married on May 1. 1887, to Mattie Shimmer, of Hillsboro, Illinois, who was born on July 6, 1860. She was the daughter of Caleb D. and Ellen ( Bingham) Shimer. Caleb D. Shimer was born in Ohio on May 21, 1823, and came to Indiana when he was eight years old. He was the father of the following children: Emerich, who was born on December 8, 1861: James, September 24. 1863: Kate, July 6, 1866, and Mattie, who married Mr. Giroud. Mrs. Giroud's father died on March 19. 1916, at the age of ninety-two years, ten months and nineteen days.
Aime William and Mattie ( Shimer ) Giroud were the parents of the fol- lowing children : Donald E., who lives at Irvington, Indiana, and who mar- ried Flossie Jones: Hervey, who lives on the home place and who married Edna Watson : James J. and Eva N., who is deceased.
The grandfather of Mrs. Giroud. Elias M. Shimer, was born in Penn- sylvania on December 6. 1798. Hle married Mahala Dunn, who was born in New Jersey on June 7. 1902. He farmed in Ohio for awhile and then came to Indiana and entered a farm of three hundred and sixty acres, where Irving- ton, Indianapolis, is now situated. He was a very prominent man in the political affairs of Indianapolis, and was at one time a congressman. He he- longed to the Baptist church. He was the father of the following children : Caleb, who was the father of the wife of the subject of this sketch; William R., who was born on December 8. 1825: Isaac Il., February 20, 1820: \sa 1 .. . August 12, 1832: C. R., May 20, 1838, and James C .. July 5. 1835.
JACOB DENNEY.
Jacob Denney was born on June 10. 1852, the son of Alford and Sarah ( Kingery ) Denney. Afford Denney was born on January 21. 1821, and was the son of James and Catherine ( Marshall) Denney. He was married to Sarah Kingery, who was born on October 28, 1823. in Union county, Indiana. and who was the daughter of Jacob Kingery, who was a farmer in Union county and who spent the latter part of his life in Buck Creek and Vernon townships of this county. James Denney, who was the father of Aford Denney, was a native of North Carolina. He came with his family and set- tled in Wayne county, Ohio, and was in the War of 1812. He was married twice. The latter part of his life was spent in Hancock county, Indima. on a farm.
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Alford Denney, his son, was six years old when his parents moved from North Carolina to Wayne county, Ohio. There AAlford received most of his education. He later came with his parents to Hancock county, where he be- came a large landowner, possessing a tract of five hundred acres in Vernon township. He was a member of the German Dunkard church. He was the father of the following children: Ison, of Vernon township, who was mar- ried three times, first to Manda Cook, second to Lydia Southard, and third to Elizabeth White: Jacob, who is the subject of this sketch, and Mary Catherine.
Jacob Denney was educated in the common schools andI was married on August 28, 1873. to Mary Bock, who was born on July 1. 1854, in Mont- gomery county, Ohio, and who was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gabel) Bock. Samuel Bock was a farmer and was also a minister in the German Baptist church. He was the father of the following children : David, Daniel. Samuel, Elizabeth. Jacob, Catherine, Daniel, Benjamin and Mary. The father of Samuel Bock was David Bock, who was born in Pennsylvania. To the marriage of Jacob and Mary ( Bock) Denney were born the following children : Ison, who married Dora Wilson and who has two children, Bessie Jane and Albert ; Samuel, who lives in Vernon township and who married Sophronia Simpson and who has one child, Gordon: Alva: Lee, who lives in Anderson, Indiana, and who married Bertha Enoch, and has five children. Forest. Leslie, Mildred, Merlit and Margery; Herman, who is deceased; an infant daughter and Albert J. The wife of the subject of this sketch is a member of the Dunkard church. Jacob Denney is a Democrat in politics and was at one time constable. He is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land and does general farming.
WILLIAM MARSHAL WILSON.
William Marshal Wilson was born in Madison county, Indiana, Novem- ber 2, 1862. He was a son of Archibald and Mary( Keller) Wilson, both natives of Madison county, Indiana. His paternal grandfather was Michael Wilson, a native of West Virginia, who came to Indiana at an early day and was one of the pioneer settlers of Madison county. In common with all pioneers in this section of the Hoosier state, he began life in the woods, on a section of government land of which the original entry was made by him. He lived and labored on this tract of land for many years, clearing it of
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timber and making improvements in the way of buildings, etc. His death was from the effect of injuries received from an accident in falling from the roof of a house which he was building. The maternal grandparents were Matthew and Jeannette ( Ellis) Keller, who were also natives of West Vir- ginia and were among the early settlers of Madison county, Indiana. They entered government land, built a home, converted the woods mto cultivated fields and lived on this farm the remainder of their days.
Archibald Wilson was reared and educated in Madison county, working during his early years on his father's farm. Later he engaged in farming on his own account on a farm which he purchased in Madison county. Ile sold that farm and removed to Hancock county, locating on a farm adjoining the one on which the widow of William Marshal Wilson now lives. He owned a farm of three hundred and seventeen acres and continued to manage and live on this farm until abont 1899, when he retired and removed to Willow Branch. He had two sons: William M., the subject of this sketch, and George.
William M. Wilson was educated in the public schools of Hancock county and was always a farmer. At the time of his death he owned the farm of eighty acres, in Green township, where his widow now lives. He was mar- ried on April 1, 1883. to Ida M. Mckenzie, who was born in Green township. Hancock county, on the farm on which she still lives. She was a daughter of William L. and Mary Jane ( Rigby) Mckenzie. Her father was born in Kentucky, her mother in Liberty, Indiana. Mrs. Wilson's paternal grand- parents were John McKenzie and wife, natives of Kentucky. They were among the early settlers of Madison county, Indiana, where they entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land. Later they removed to Han- cock county and located on the farm now belonging to Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Wilson's paternal grandmother was a relative of Gen. Andrew Jackson. a former President of the United States.
Mrs. Wilson's maternal grandparents were Josiah and Nancy (Milner) Rigby, he a native of England, she of Indiana. Josiah Rigby came to America about 1825, before his marriage, and located in Green township. Hancock county, and engaged in farming. He had eighty acres of land on which he built a home and continued to live. Before coming to this country he followed the trade of a weaver, which he followed for a short time in this country.
To Mr. and Mrs. William M. Wilson the following children were born : Ilattie, living at home : Clara, deceased : Mary Jane, deceased ; Harold Ray. living in Green township, and Howard Clay, at Lafayette, Indiana.
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Mrs. William M. Wilson is the owner of a fine farm, comprising three hundred and five acres, all in one body. The farm is well improved. with good residence, modern barns and other farm buildings, and the land in good state of cultivation and highly productive. It is a model farm in every respect and one of the best in the county. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Wilson died on May 2, 1900, and was buried in Hayes cemetery. He was a member of the United Brethren church. He left a farm of eighty acres, which forms the present homestead. Mrs. Wilson owns other tracts of land and also owns forty acres of the eighty left by her husband.
JAMES LEARY.
James Leary was born on February 27. 1871. in Hancock county. In- diana. He was the son of Thomas J. and Marjorie ( Johnson ) Leary. Thomas J. Leary was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and was married twice. His first wife was Rebecca Price, who was born in Maryland and who was the daughter of Willis F. Price, who later moved to Cincinnati. Ohio. The children by this wife were John, Parry, Willis and Jane. The second wife was Marjorie Johnson, of Wayne county, Indiana, who was a daughter of Peter Johnson, who was born in South Carolina. The children by his second wife were Sarah. Thomas B., James, who is the subject of this sketch, and Louisa D., who is deceased. John Leary, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Maryland and after his marriage moved to Franklin county, Indiana, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Blooming township. Thomas J. Leary, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a man who took great interest in politics. He made many trips to Cincinnati after he located near Greenfield, Indiana, and he drove large herds of stock to market. Ile died on March 5. 1889. and his second wife, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch, died on Sep- tember 17. 1907.
James Leary received his education in the common schools of Hancock county. He was married on March 9, 1899, to Clara B. Dobbins. She was born in this county on September 17, 1872, the daughter of John W. Dobbins. who was born in Rush county on December 24, 1824, and who died on Sep- tember 28, 1808. Ilis wife was Susannah Eaton, who was born in Fayette county on July 4. 1834, and who died on April 22, 1915. at the age of eighty years. She was a daughter of John Eaton, a farmer and a preacher of the
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Methodist Episcopal church of Cambridge City, Indiana. John W. Dobbins was a member of the United Brethren church and he was a great Democrat. He was the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land. He was the son of Jesse Dobbins, who was born in Rush county and who owned land in Richmond, Indiana, and who married Elizabeth Chappel. The children of John W. Dobbins were the following: Louisa, Elizabeth, Wilson, Milford, Olive, Cora, Nelson, AAndrew, Clara B., who is the wife of the subject of this sketch; Walter, Mary and Ira, who are all living. The children of the sub- ject of this sketch are: Helen, born on December 30, 1901 ; Autumn, born on January 26, 1908, and Neva, born on December 17. 1912. AAfter his mar- riage, Mr. Leary located on a farm near Mohawk. This was a farm of seventy acres which he bought on September 15, 1902. He does a general farming and stock raising, having a fine bunch of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, and his wife is a member of the United Brethren church.
Mr. Leary has been successful as a stock raiser. On March 9, 1916. he had a sale at which he sold one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle, which sold for three thousand dollars. This sale was conducted by W. 1. Burnside and Colonel Mount, of Greenfiekl.
CHARLES M. AARCHER.
Charles M. Archer was born in Green township on January 22. 1865. the son of Samuel and Jane ( White ) Archer. Samuel Archer was born in 1822 and died on August 27. 1875. He was twice married. first to Mary Fort and to this union were born two children, James and Juliet. His second wife was Jane White, daughter of Benjamin White, a farmer of Henry county, and to this union two children were born, Emily E. and Charles M. The father of Samuel Archer was the father of the following children . Levi. Martha and Samuel F. Samuel Archer in early days ran a mill in Eden, Indiana, and was at one time sheriff of Hancock county.
Charles M. Archer was educated in the common schools and has farmed all his life. He owns a tract of one hundred and nine acres near Eden, In- diana. He was married on October 28, 1886, to Clara E. Mingle, who was the daughter of Adam and Sabria Mingle, who were also farmers. To this marriage was born one child. Earl M., on January 17. 1905. Charles M. Archer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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JOHN EDWARD BARRETT.
John Edward Barrett was born in Center township, Hancock county, January 1, 1851, a son of Isaac and Sarah Ann (Wilson) Barrett, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Decatur county, Indiana, her place of birth being near Greensburg. Indiana. The grandfather was James Barrett, probably of Irish nativity. He first located in West Virginia, but came to Indiana in early days and settled in Green township, near Milner's Corners. Hancock county. There he entered government land and engaged in farming for the rest of his days.
Isaac Barrett was reared and educated in West Virginia and spent his early life working on his father's farm. Coming to Indiana he engaged in farming and also in the nursery business. His farm was located in Center township, where he had one hundred and twenty acres, and there he made his home until his death, which occurred at the age of forty-nine years. His children were: Margaret M., Ann E., William A., John E., Nancy 1., Mary E., Cyrus O. and Howard F. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John E. Barrett was educated in the schools of Center township, supple- menting his elementary education by studies in the local normal school. He 'was then engaged in teaching for five years prior to his marriage. After marriage he located on a farm in Green township, Hancock county, where he has since lived. He has a farm of seventy-six acres, on which he put up his residence and other buildings and made all the improvements on the farm. In addition to general farming, Mr. Barrett devotes a good deal of attention to stock raising.
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