USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 63
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during the Civil War, making the journey all the distance in a wagon, bring- ing with them only a few of the most precious of the family effects. Jacob Neese grew to manhood on the home farm in Boone county and about the year of 1900 he and his wife came into Hendricks county and now reside in the southeastern part of Lincoln township. To their union have been born five children, Wesley, Delia, Charles, Grace and Earl. Mr. Neese is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church and his wife is a member of the Lutheran society.
Calvin T. Haulk remained with his mother until the time of his marriage. In his boyhood days he attended the district schools of their locality, where he secured the rudiments of a good education, and after leaving school he engaged in farm work, working out among the neighbors. On December 16, 1893, he was united in marriage with Addie B. Isenhouer, who was born July 9, 1872, in Boone county, near Whitestown, and is the daughter of William W. and Mary (Claman) Isenhouer. William W. Isenhouer was born in Boone county in 1850, being a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Whisnand) Isenhouer. His parents were also natives of Tennessee and early in their married life made the journey through the wilderness from Monroe county to Boone county, this state, about 1848. They came on horseback, carrying their oldest son, following the faint trails through the forests, fording streams, and in due time reaching the new country. They did not stay long in Monroe county, coming almost directly to Boone, where there were few traces of civilization at that early date. They entered a tract of government land which was heavily timbered, and this they re- moved first of all so as to erect a cabin home. Gradually they reclaimed the soil from the grasp of the wilderness, gradually acquired greater com- forts in the home, and on this homestead near Whitestown they lived to a good old age. They celebrate their golden wedding anniversary No- vember 9, 1887. His death occurred in August, 1894, and she survived until December 24, 1911, age ninety-two years, eleven months and three days. Isaac and Rebecca Whisnand, parents of Margaret and Rebecca Whisnand, come from eastern Tennessee in 1830, and settled near Bloomington, Mon- roe county, which at that time comprised but a few cabins and was called Hendersonburg. There they settled on a farm, where they spent the re- mainder of their days and died. Isaac Whisnand was opposed to matters religious and did not train his children in any faith. Margaret obtained pos- session of a Testament by stealth and kept it hid from her father under a sugar trough, where she went to read it and pray. Its beautiful truths
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appealed to her girlish heart and she joined the Methodist church at Whites- town. At that time the society had no church building, but a short time after an edifice was erected in which the society worshipped for a number of years. Within the last few years it was torn down, and she alone was living of its members at the time of its erection. Her husband also became a member at the time of its erection. Her husband also became a member of that church through her ministrations. William W. Isenhouer was unit- ed in marriage with Mary Angeline Claman in 1870. She was born in Monroe county, this state, being the daughter of William and Rebecca ( Whis- nand) Claman. William Claman was the son of John Claman, a native of West Virginia, who, with his wife, come to Indiana about 1835. In 1836 William Claman married Rebecca Whisnand, who was a twin sister of William W. Isenhouer's mother. After marriage, William W. Isenhouer set- tled down to farming and stock raising near Whitestown where he re- mained until 1883, when he removed to Missouri where the family stayed a year and then returned to the old home near Whitestown. In 1886 they again left the farm, this time taking up their residence in Lebanon, Boone county, and in 1906 left the Hoosier state, going to Arkansas, where his death occurred in 1909. His widow still resides in that state. William W. Isenhouer was a most affectionate husband and father, a man of marked do- mestic traits who was never happier than when doing something for those he loved. He was a faithful friend and neighbor, always obliging and self- sacrificing and ever anxious to extend a helping hand to those in need, even at the cost of self denial. For many years he was in poor health, but was of such a sincere and cheery disposition that he habitually looked on the bright side of life and bore his affliction in a spirit of meekness. For many years he and his wife had been faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and through its teachings he found the beautiful way of life that even suffering could not darken for him.
After marriage, the subject and wife lived in Boone county on a rented farm and in March, 1904, purchased the farm where they now reside in the southeastern part of Lincoln township, this county. The farm comprises sixty-three acres and is in an excellent state of cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Haulk have been born five children, namely: William Russell, born March 25, 1895; Ernest Isaac, born September 27, 1897; Ray Andrew, born De- cember 19, 1899; Ruth Annabel, born January 2, 1905, and Margaret Evan- geline, born February 26, 1911. Both Mr. and Mrs. Haulk are devout mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, she having united with that society at the early age of thirteen.
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In politics Mr. Haulk is a Republican, though taking no active interest in politics, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. He is a self-made man, who has worked hard to get ahead in financial matters and has displayed the marked economy which is a distinct trait of the enterprising American farmer. He went into debt in the purchasing of his farm and then his efforts were bent to discharging that obligation and ac- quiring all modern comforts to make more pleasant the daily life. No longer is the vocation of farming looked upon as one of hardship and privation, for more and more the American public is coming to realize that the man who is most independent, who has the opportunity to most fully live and enjoy life, is the farmer. All the conveniences of the modern home of the city are within his reach and in addition he enjoys the freedom and inde- pendence known in no other vocation. Mrs. Haulk's family were among the first in this section of the country and have many interesting experiences to tell. There were no matches and fire was kept constantly burning. If by any chance this should become extinguished, it was a laborious task to carry fire from the nearest neighbor, possibly some distance away. Tallow candles and "dips" furnished the illumination and the big fireplace was where the meals were prepared. How changed are all these conditions, brought about by men of foresight, energy and thrift, and in this class of worthy citizens the subject of this sketch well belongs.
AMOS D. McCORMICK.
Among the many sons of Hendricks county who have left their native county for wider fields is Amos D. McCormick, who is at present the man- ager of the Capitol Lumber Company yards Number Two, of Indianapolis. He is one of those strong, self-reliant and determined characters who are occasionally met with and who are of such a distinct type as to seem to be born leaders. Not that Mr. McCormick courts that distinction, for he is en- tirely unassuming, but his force of character and his zeal and energy in what- ever he undertakes naturally places him at the head of the crowd. He has held a number of positions and wherever he has been he has rendered faith- ful and efficient service to those who employed him. His life has been one of unceasing industry. The perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods he has followed have not only won for him the confidence of his employers, but of his fellow citizens as well. He is a man whom Hendricks
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county may be justly proud to claim and it is safe to say that he is just as proud of his home county.
Amos D. McCormick, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Aquilla S. McCormick, was born February 24, 1870, northeast of Cartersburg, Hendricks county, Indiana. He remained at home until eighteen years of age and then started to clerk in the store of Pruitt Brothers at Cartersburg, where he remained for three or four years. He then went to work in the store of W. T. Jordan at Pittsboro where he remained until he was twenty-six years of age. He then went into the poultry business at Cartersburg and followed this for the next two years, when he went to farming on the farm where he was born. He was ambitious, however, to get into the business world and when the oppor- tunity presented itself he left the farm and took a position with a lumber company. On March 1, 1901, he went to Linton and took a position with the Greer-Wilkinson Lumber Company, the largest lumber company in Indiana, having at that time forty yards throughout the state. He remained with this company a little more than two years and then went into the employ of the New Union Lumber Company at the same place as manager of their yards. From there he went to Indianapolis in the winter of 1906 and became esti- mator for the Burnett-Lewis Lumber Yards Company. Two years later he resigned his position and then spent a year at Los Angeles, California, with the Wells Fargo Express Company, but his love for the lumber business drew him back into that again and in 1908 he returned to Indiana and became manager of the New Union Lumber Company at Jasonville. He continued there until August 20, 1911, when he took his present position as manager of the Capitol Lumber Company, yard Number Two at Forty-eighth street and Monon railroad in Indianapolis. He has a thorough knowledge of the lum- ber business in all its details and is rapidly pushing to the front as a capable man in that line of business.
Mr. McCormick was married in 1895 to Kate Brent, the daughter of George and Marion (McVay) Brent. His wife was born on the old Brent homestead, one and one-half miles southwest of Pittsboro. Her father was born on a farm near Campbellsburg, Kentucky, about 1844 the son of San- ford Brent and wife. He came to Hendricks county while a young man and was married to Marion McVay, the daughter of Molar and Mary (Brad- shaw) McVay. The Bradshaws were early pioneers of this county. George Brent was a farmer all of his life, and died March 16, 1879, at the early age of thirty-five. After his death his widow married Dr. J. S. French, of Craw- fordsville, and has lived in Pittsboro ever since. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick
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have one son, Edwin, born February 2, 1901. They still own the farm which was entered by Mr. McCormick's grandfather.
Mr. and Mrs. McCormick are members of the Third Christian church of Indianapolis and liberal supporters of that denomination. Mr. McCormick is a man of excellent parts and by his strong and vigorous personality has won success in his chosen field. He thoroughly understands every phase of the lumber business and because of this fact he is a very valuable man to the company which employs him. He is a wide reader and a close observer of men, and enjoys a large acquaintance among the business men of Indianapo- lis. He is a man of integrity and honor and lends his support to all measures which make for the welfare of his community, and for this reason is de- servedly held in high regard by all who know him.
OBED UNDERWOOD.
In placing Obed Underwood in the front rank of the farmers of Hen- dricks county, simple justice is done to a biographical fact universally rec- ognized by all who are familiar with his history. A man of sound judgment, wise discretion, thorough agricultural knowledge and business ability of a high order, he has managed his affairs with splendid success and has so im- pressed his individuality upon the community as to gain recognition among the leading citizens and public-spirited men of affairs.
Obed Underwood, the son of William and Harriett (West) Underwood, was born at Winchester, this county, on September 21, 1854. William Un- derwood was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, in 1824, the son of John and Rebecca (Radford) Underwood. When William was still a small lad his parents came to Hendricks county, Indiana, where they entered a large amount of government land in Marion township, and here they spent the re- mainder of their lives, rearing a family of seven children, William, the father of Obed, being the eldest child; Franklin, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah and Ellen. William Underwood was reared in this township and married Harriett West, who was a native of Kentucky, the daughter of Isaac and Polly Ann West. She came to this county when a child with her parents. Her father, Isaac West, now deceased, was one of the early pioneers of Hen- dricks county. He was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, and was a son of Alexander and Sarah West. He had no educational advantages in his youth and was early compelled to earn his own living. He married in Kentucky
OBED UNDERWOOD
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and his wife, Polly, the daughter of George Turner, came to Indiana in 1827 with her parents and settled in the woods one mile south of New Winchester, where they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the govern- ment. Here they lived until the death of Mr. Turner, who lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years, and died on August 29, 1898, having lived in this county seventy years. He began life with nothing whatever, and by hard work, honesty and indomitable courage, succeeded in clearing up a farm of two hundred and sixty-five acres. He was a member of the Missionary Bap- tist church, a man noted for his honesty and integrity and was held in the highest esteem by every one. His wife died December 15, 1887.
After his marriage William Underwood, the father of Obed, began life on his own account as a farmer and so successful was he that at the time of his death he had six hundred acres of land in the county. He died September I, 1875, at the age of fifty-one. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife died April 7, 1912, on her eighty-fourth birth- day. To Mr. and Mrs. William Underwood were born six children: John F., who lives in Danville; William I. and Robert L., of New Winchester; Mary Ellen and Angeline, deceased, and Obed, of whom this narrative speaks.
Obed Underwood was reared in this county, spent his early days in the school room, and upon reaching manhood was married to Louie Bousman, the daughter of John and Mary (Haynes) Bousman, of Marion township. Her parents came from Clinton county, Ohio, about 1854 and located in Marion township, this county. Mr. Bousman was a carpenter by trade, al- though after he came to this township he bought a farm and continued farm- ing and carpentering. In 1879 the Bousman family bought property in Dan- ville, where they lived the remainder of Mr. Bousman's life, his death oc- curring February 5, 1904. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while he and his wife belonged to the Christian church. Mrs. Bousman is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Underwood at New Winchester. After his marriage, Mr. Underwood started farming for himself and became the owner of various farms in Marion township. In September, 1912, he retired from the active management of his farm and moved to New Win- chester, where he is living a life of ease and comfort. In politics he is a' Democrat and as a representative of his party has served as township trus- tee on two different occasions, being elected the first time in 1900 and again in 1904. He was an able and efficient official and served his party and the citi- zens of his county, irrespective of their political faith, equally well.
Mr. Underwood has two daughters, Maude and Jessie. Maude is the wife of Arthur Carter and lives in Clay township; Jessie is the wife of Olson
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Hunt and lives in the eastern part of Marion township, and has one daughter, Marvel. Mr. and Mrs. Underwood are faithful and consistent members of the Missionary Baptist church and are interested in the various activities of that denomination. Mr. Underwood is a man who is well known through- out the community and is highly esteemed by all who know him, since he has for many years been a potent factor in the civic life of the community.
NATHAN ADDISON TUCKER.
Hendricks county is indebted, perhaps, to the Tucker family as much as to any other for its wondrous transformation to one of the choicest sec- tions of the Hoosier state, for members of this family have been leaders in agricultural, industrial and civic affairs since the early days. Each, with a fidelity to duty and a persistency of purpose peculiar to that class of men who takes the lead in large affairs, has performed well his duty in all the relations of life, and while advancing their own interests they have not been unmindful of the general welfare of their fellow citizens. Thus they right- fully deserve an honored place in the history of this locality.
Nathan A. Tucker, the son of Dandridge and Catherine (Davis) Tucker, was born four miles northeast of North Salem, November 27, 1853. The reader is referred to the history of Dandridge Tucker, elsewhere in this volume, for a complete family genealogy of the Tucker family.
Nathan A. Tucker was reared on his father's farm and after taking the course in the local schools he attended Valparaiso University and Wabash College. Upon his return from college he worked with his father on the farm until his marriage.
Mr. Tucker was married September 15, 1880, to Mary E. Carriger, of Boone county, Indiana, the daughter of George and Sarah (George) Car- riger, who came from Tennessee to Indiana in 1840 and located in Boone county. Upon his marriage, in 1880, Mr. Tucker started farming on eighty acres which was given him by his father, and he has proved to be a very suc- cessful farmer, since he has by his own energy and persistence added to his farm from time to time until he now has two hundred and eighty acres of excellent farming land in the county. He has his farm highly improved in every way and it presents a striking appearance to the passerby. His home is placed back from the road and is approached by a gravel roadway, fined on both sides with beautiful shade trees at regular intervals. The house is
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placed upon an eminence, which renders it conspicuous in all directions and from which an excellent view may be had all over his farm. He has good barns, outbuildings and all the equipment which characterizes the successful farmer of today. He raises all the crops of this latitude and makes it a point to feed most of his grain to his own stock, his annual sale of hogs, cattle and sheep adding not a little to his yearly income.
The first wife of Mr. Tucker died in November, 1892, and in October, 1894, he was married to Anna M. Spears, who died two years later and Mr. Tucker now lives on the old home farm with his children. There is no more interesting family of children in Hendricks county than Mr. Tucker's and no children in the county who have been given better educational advan- tages. He has three sons and three daughters and all of them have gradu- ated from the North Salem high school, while the three sons are all DePauw University men. The sons are Lee, Carl A., and George D., while the daugh- ters are Sarah Catherine, Etta Agnes, and Louisa J., the last named being the only one of the six children married. She is the wife of Logan R. Owen and lives one and one-half miles north of North Salem. Agnes and Lee are both teaching at North Salem, and all of the children, except the mar- ried daughter, are living with their father.
Mr. Tucker is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His home is one where genuine hospitality always manifests itself, and he is justly proud of his fine children, who have all prepared themselves for useful members of society.
PETER GREELY.
The life history of Peter Greely, one of the well known and highly es- teemed citizens of Hendricks county, Indiana, shows what industry, good habits and stanch citizenship will accomplish in the battle for success in life. His record shows duties well and conscientiously performed in all the rela- tions of life. Born on a foreign soil and coming to this county many years ago, he has grown into the life of his adopted country and has played his part in the drama of civilization. He has ever been an advocate of whole- some living and has always stood for the highest and best interests of the community in which he has so long resided and which has been honored by his citizenship.
Peter Greely was born in 1840 in county Galway, Ireland, the son of
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John and Bridget (Eagan) Greely, the mother dying when Peter was a child of three years. The subject grew up in Ireland, remaining on his native soil until twenty-four years of age; when, in 1864, in company with thirteen other young men and girls, he set out to try his fortune in the new world. They had a delightful voyage and landed in New York, where all found friends. Peter had a sister in this county, Mrs. Margaret Corliss, who had come to America in 1860, locating near Brownsburg and had married a year later. Mr. Greely had owned a farm in Ireland and was well versed in the secrets of husbandry and upon reaching his sister's home he found that her husband owned a farm of forty acres in Brown township, later moving to Lincoln township, where he had one hundred acres. Thus it was but natural that Mr. Greely should turn to the work with which he was familiar, and he worked among the farmers until in 1869, when he purchased sixty-eight acres one mile northeast of Brownsburg. At the time he bought this land it was covered with dense thickets and timber and was very swampy, the thickets so dense in some places one could scarcely see ten feet ahead. There were but ten acres cleared and the only building was an old log house. He proceeded to clear this land, drain and tile it and has today some of the finest land in the county, land for which he has refused two hundred dollars per acre. He now has one hundred and forty acres in all. In 1908 his home burned, and he then erected the handsome and commodious dwelling in which the family now resides.
In 1870 Mr. Greely was united in marriage with Margaret Dugan, who was born in county Galway, Ireland, the daughter of Patrick and Nora (Du- gan) Dugan. She and Mr. Greely were acquainted in Ireland and she came to America soon after Mr. Greely did, finding friends in Indianapolis and in her earlier days here worked in farm homes near the city. To their union were born ten children and throughout the years Mrs. Greely proved herself to be a most devoted wife and mother and a woman highly respected by friends and neighbors. Her death occurred at midnight on March 1, 1910. John, the eldest son, married Mrs. Isa (Ulry) Maloney, a widow, and they live two miles northeast of the subject. Nora is the wife of Thomas O'Con- nell and resides in Indianapolis. Her husband is foreman for the Grocers' Baking Company. They have two children, Leo and Catherine. Bridget Delia is unmarried and makes her home in Indianapolis. Michael is teaching school at Paoli, this state. Margaret is a stenographer in Indianapolis. Pat- rick is on the farm with his father, and Kate also remains at home. Nellie is an instructor in the high school at Sunman, Indiana, having attended both
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Butler College, Indianapolis, and the State University at Bloomington. Mary lived to the age of twenty-two years and Kate died when three years old.
The entire family are devout members of the Roman Catholic church. When a youth in Ireland, Mr. Greely received an excellent education, being versed in Latin, German and the Gaelic tongues, as well as many other sub- jects. He is an unusually well read man and exceedingly well versed in the Bible and history pertaining to it. He is a man of high ideals and strong convictions and throughout his life has lived according to his ideas of the essential qualifications of perfect manhood. He is a man of influence among his neighbors and highly respected by all.
JAMES B. DOOLEY.
The gentleman whose biographical record is here given was for a long lapse of years one of the substantial farmers and honored citizens of Hen- dricks county. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought him a fair measure of prosperity, and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by the man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of seem- ingly discouraging circumstances. As a native son of Hendricks county he patriotically served his country during our great Civil War, and in all the re- lations of life he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
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