USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana > Part 46
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Joshua B. Harlan, youngest son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Gregg) Harlan, was born in Warren County, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1815. He left Warren County May 12, 1838, and studied medicine eighteen months with Dr. Wilkinson, of Upshur, Ohio, at which place he engaged in the practice of dentistry. Nov. 17, 1839, he was mar- ried to Lucinda, daughter of Conrad and Lydia Bonebrake, and to this union were born five children-Theophilus L., born Sept. 10, 1840, and died March 24, 1859; Conrad E., born Aug. 19, 1842; Lydia D., born Jan. 16, 1844, died Feb. 12, 1866; D. Emma, born
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Aug. 19, 1847, died July 23, 1849, and Aaron, born May 8, 1849, and died July 27, 1849. His wife died July 23, 1849, and Oct. 22, 1855, he was again married to Mary J., daughter of Thomas and Catharine Bedford, of Centerville, and to them have been born three children-Charles N., born Nov. 22, 1856; George B., born May 4, 1861, and Helen E., born Jan. 5, 1866. Ang. 12, 1851, Dr. J. B. Harlan and Dr. O. H. Kendrick opened a dental office in Center- ville, Ind., and Dec. 12, 1855, he formed a partnership with Dr. J. F. Wilson, in Greencastle, Ind. March 22, 1857, he removed to Danville and opened a dental office which is now carried on under the firm name of J. B. Harlan & Son. He has belonged to the Pres- byterian church twenty-six years. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity for thirty-six years, having passed all the chairs. Politically he is a Republican but was formerly a Whig.
Samuel L. Hawkins, of Danville, Ind., was born in Bath County, Ky., October, 1820, a son of William and Abigail (McVey) Hawkins, with whom he remained until reaching his majority. He came with them to Danville in 1836, and when becoming of age, in 1841, he made a prospecting trip to Missouri. In about a year he returned to Danville, and after attending school a few months he taught a subscription school in what is now known as the Huron district, in Washington Township, Hendricks County, one term of sixty-five days. He then began to learn.the trade of a wheelwright in Dan- ville with his brother-in-law, W. H. Cash, working the first year at $10 per month and the second year at $12 per month. After serv- ing his time, instead of following that trade he engaged in the man- ufacture of furniture, which he followed until December, 1863, when he enlisted in Company I, Ninth Indiana Cavalry, for three years, and during the war he was appointed Quartermaster-Ser- geant of his regiment. He participated in nine engagements, the most important being Nashville and Franklin. While at Gravelly Spring, Ala., in January, 1865, he was taken sick, and not fully recovering he was discharged for disability, at Port Gibson, Miss., May 17, 1865. He then returned home and a year later he engaged in house-painting at Danville, which he followed until 1867, when he was made Deputy Sheriff by William H. Calvert, serving four years. In the fall of 1872 he was elected Sheriff of Hendricks County, and re-elected in 1874, serving two terms of two years each. He was then made Deputy Sheriff by his successor, A. B. Bryant, serving as such two years, having served in all ten years. He has since lived a retired life. Nov. 17, 1843, he was married
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to Miss Louisa, daughter of John and Lydia (Barnes) Cash, who was born in Pulaski County, Ky., April 8, 1824. She came to Hendricks County with her parents in 1831, settling in Center Township. Her mother having died when she was quite young, she lived most of the time with an elder sister at Danville, attend- ing school till her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Danville. They have four children living-Lydia, wife of J. N. Terry, of Philadelphia; Lucian B., of Danville; Retta, wife of C. B. Hauser, of Logans- port, Ind., and Seldon T., foreman of the Hendricks County Repub- lican, of Danville. Alleine died March 21, 1850, aged two years; Wilber F., died Aug. 30, 1856, aged four years; Emma, died March 1, 1859, aged nearly two years and Nellie, died May 7, 1880, aged thirty-four years. Mr. Hawkins is a Master, Royal Arch and Coun- cil Mason, and is also a member of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G. A. R., of Danville.
Murat W. Hopkins, senior member of the firm of Hopkins & Hollowell, attorneys, was born in Brown Township, this county, Oct. 20, 1857, a son of William and Ruah Ann (Harding) Hop- kins. His father is a native of Maryland and came to this county in 1838, and his mother was born in Kentucky, and came to this county in the year 1833. Murat' remained on the farm till his eighteenth year, attending the district schools and the Brownsburg High School till then, after which he taught in the schools of the county five years during the winter terms, attending the State Nor- mal School of Indiana, at Terre Haute, the remainder of the year. During this time he also commenced to read law, and in the fall of 1880 he entered the law department of the State University of Iowa, from which he graduated as LL. B. in June, 1881. He then returned home and taught school the following winter and in spring of 1882, he located in Danville, having been admitted to the bar in Danville, in October, 1881. Jan. 1, 1885, Robert T. Hollowell became associated with him in the practice of law. April 20, 1882, he was married to Miss Allie L., daughter of Tyra Mont- gomery, of Mattoon, Ill. They have one child-Kate Elliott, born at Danville, Ind., July 12, 1883. Mr. Hopkins and wife are mem- bers of the Christian church at Danville. He is a member of Brownsburg Lodge, No. 241, A. F. & A. M., and is Chancellor Com- mander of Danville Lodge, No. 43, K. of P. In politics he is a Democrat.
James M. Jeffers, merchant of Danville, Ind., was born in Cen-
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ter Township, near Danville, July 3, 1840, a son of Lindsay and Elinor (Nichols) Jeffers. When about six years of age his parents moved to Danville where he was educated in the public schools. In early life he worked at the carpenter's trade, but on becoming of age he engaged in clerking until he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, to serve six months, in 1862. He served eight months, being on duty mostly in East Tennessee. After being mastered out at Indianapolis he returned to Danville where he clerked for several firms. He has also served as postoffice clerk at Danville several years under Postmasters S. R. Craddick and James Gregg. In 1881 he embarked in the mercan- tile business in which he is still engaged. He was married May 9, 1872, to Miss Anna Gibbs. He is a member of the Christian church.
Rodney Jeger, Treasurer of Hendricks County, Ind., was born in Clearfield County, Pa., March 21, 1844. He is the eldest of four sons of Julius A. and Esther Ann (Warrick) Jeger, who came to Hendricks County in 1844 and settled in the woods in what is now Lincoln Township. His father was a native of the West India Islands, and his mother of Pennsylvania. His father being a farmer and a merchant, our subject was reared to follow both pursuits. In 1856 he removed with his parents to Lizton, Hendricks County, where he remained until his eighteenth year, he having attended the public schools till that time. On leaving home he joined the Union army, enlisting in Company G, Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry, to serve three years. He was promoted from private to Corporal Feb. 28, 1864. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C., June 5, 1865, having participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mission Ridge and the Atlanta campaign, after which, his health being impaired, he was granted a furlough and returned home for fifteen days. After returning to the army he was placed on duty at Chattanooga, not being able to join his regiment, which was with Sherman on his march to the sea. In February, 1865, he was sent, via Cincinnati, Pittsburg and Baltimore, to Moorehead City, N. C., to join his regiment, but being intercepted by the Confeder- ates, he engaged in a battle at Kingston, N. C., reaching his regi- ment at Goldsboro just prior to the surrender of Lee's army. His regiment was soon after ordered with Sherman's army to Wash- ington, and took part in the grand review in May, 1865, and was soon afterward mustered out. Being dismissed from the army he returned to his home in Lizton and in the spring of 1866 he attended the Central College at Danville (now the Central Normal)
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one term. In the summer of 1866 he engaged in farming. In 1874 he became associated with his brother, Hother Jeger, and J. H. Kendall in the mercantile business and grain and stock trade at Lizton, under the firm name of Jeger, Kendall & Co. Mr. Ken- dall retired from the firm in the following year and soon after his brother was succeeded by William L. Leak, they doing business together until 1880, the firm name being Jeger & Leak. In 1880 they discontinued the mercantile business, and in 1881 they engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Scott County, Tenn., in connec- tion with their grain and stock trade, where they are doing an extensive business. In November, 1882, he was elected on the Republican ticket, Treasurer of Hendricks County, assuming the duties of the office in September, 1883, and is the present incum- bent of that office. April 28, 1867, he married Miss Evaline, dangh- ter of Sandrum and Sarah (Leach) Leak, of near Lizton. He and his wife are members of the Christian church of Lizton, of which he has served as leading Elder since 1880. He is a member of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No.164, G. A. R., of Danville.
Aquilla Jordan, Jr., section 1, Center Township, settled on his farm in October, 1857. His homestead contains 197 acres, on sections 1 and 12, and he owns 200 acres in another tract on section 12. He is one of the most prosperous farmers of the township, and owns a beautiful home, having made most of the improve- ments himself. He is a son of Aquilla and Elizabeth (Curtis) Jordan, natives of Bedford County, Va., who, after their marriage, moved to Ross County, Ohio, in 1828, and in 1830 to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled in Liberty Township. Their family consisted of eleven children-George, Sophiah, Wilson, Susannah, Samuel, Eliza L., Andrew I., Jabel L., Aquilla and Elizabeth (twins), and Sarah J. Jabel and Wilson died in Ohio, in infancy. Andrew and Eliza reached maturity, and at their death left families. The rest of the family are living. Aquilla, Jr., was born in Ohio, Aug. 20, 1830. He was married in 1850 to Amanda Bunton, who was born Sept. 16, 1835, and died April 21, 1855, leaving one son, John W. He subsequently married Sarah Duval, who was born April 13, 1831, and died June 6, 1884. To them were born four children-Jane A., George W., Emma Alice and Samuel.
J. P. Keeter, senior member of the firm of Keeter & Co., gro- cers, of Danville, was born near Rutherfordton, Rutherford Co., N. O., Nov. 22, 1853. He was reared a farmer, and came to Hen-
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dricks County, Ind., in 1871, first locating at Plainfield, " where he pursued farming until 1879. He then followed farming near Clermont, Marion Co., Ind., until September, 1882, when he removed to Indianapolis, where, for a short time, he carried on a livery. He sold out his livery business in 1883 and came to Dan- ville, where he has since been engaged in the grocery trade. Dec. 6, 1877, he was married to Miss Samantha, danghter of the late John Williams, of Washington Township, Hendricks County. They have three children-Effie, Iva and Charley. Mr. Keeter and his wife are members of the Christian church.
Thomas B. Keleher, of the firm of Keleher Bros., druggists, of Danville, was born June 17, 1853, near Hogansburg, N. Y. When an infant his parents came to Indiana, settling in Danville, where he lived till his sixteenth year. He then left home and was en- gaged as a book canvasser in Iowa for several months, he being the general agent for the publisher, E. Hanniford, of Chicago. He left Iowa in 1871 and went to California, where he was employed in driving a stage between Trinidad and Eureka for one year. He was then employed on a sailing vessel almost a year. In 1874 he took a contract to get out 2,000,000 feet of red-wood saw-logs, in which business he was engaged till 1877. During the winter of 1877-'8 he attended the St. Joseph College at Rohnerville, Hum- holdt Co., Cal., and in the spring of 1878 he went to Crescent City, where he was employed as tallyman on the shipping docks for Joe E. Walls until December, 1878. He then returned to Indians and engaged in farming in Center Township. In 1879 he was married to Miss Josephine Courtney, of Danville, who died in fall of 1881. They had one child-John Dudley. In the spring of 1883 he took a trip through Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas, re- turning in November of 1883, since which he has been engaged in the drug business with his brother in Danville. In July, 1884, he was married to Miss Elsie Adelia Reed, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Have one child-Thomas Burtrand.
Daniel B. Keleher, of the firm of Keleher Bros., druggists, of Danville, was born near Hogansburg, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., April 4, 1847, a son of Maurice and Marguerite (Brady) Keleher. When twelve years of age he came to Danville, Ind., with his father. At the age of fifteen he began to learn the trade of a shoemaker with George Chamberlain, with whom he remained two years. In June, 1863, he enlisted in the Union army in Company B, One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Infantry, to serve six
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months. He was discharged after serving nine months, and in May, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty- second Indiana Infantry, for 100 days. In March, 1865, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Indiana Infantry, for one year, or during the war. He was discharged with his regi- ment at the close of the war, having participated in the battles of Blue Springs, Bull's Gap, Walker's Ford, Blane's Cross Roads, and seven-days fight in Bean's Station Valley, Ulinch River, Clinch Mountain Gap and Strawberry Plains. After being discharged from the army he returned to Danville and worked at his trade till 1879, after which he traveled for a wholesale leather house at Terre Haute, Ind., until 1881. He was then employed in the drug store of Frank Pierson, of Danville, until the fall of 1883, since which time he has been associated with his brother, Thomas B. Keleher, in their present business. He was married July 2, 1868, to Mary E. Comingore, of Danville. They have four children- Alfred Guy, Luella C., Lillian K. and Lora Eva. One child, Thomas B., died in 1876, aged six months. Mr. Keleher is a Master Mason, and belongs to Western Star Lodge, No. 26, and Knights of Pythias, a member of Danville Lodge, No. 48. He is also a mem- ber of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G. A. R. He has been Warden in the Masonic order, and is a member of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, Knights of Pythias.
John Kendall, Auditor of Hendricks County, Ind., was born in Clay Township, near Pecksburg, Hendricks County, Jan. 16, 1843. He is the youngest of four sons of James G. and Sallie D. (Bales) Kendall, pioneers of the county, having settled here about 1837, both of whom died before our subject reached his fifteenth year. He was reared a farmer, receiving most of his education at the Union High School in Westfield, Ind. His residence is in Clay Township. He held the office of Township Trustee from 1872 till 1882, with the exception of one term, and in 1882 he was elected Auditor for a term of four years, from Nov. 1, 1883. Feb. 7, 1867, he was married to Miss Margaret Roberts, of Westfield, Ind. They have two children-Abbie and Ethan. They are members of the Society of Friends of Amo.
Joseph P. Lewis was born in Bracken County, Ky. While he was a lad his parents moved to Indiana, stopping in Fayette and Rush counties. Joseph went back to Kentucky and was married to Louisa Leak in June, 1834. He moved to Hendricks County in 1835, and lived there continuously until his removal to Nebraska
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April 1, 1885, where he went to join his children in Custer County. He could relate many interesting experiences of pioneer life, such as how the settlers beat their corn into meal in a hominy mortar, and attended mill at Crawfordsville for several years, going one day and returning the next on horseback, which he did many times. On the death of his wife he married a widow lady, Mrs. Eliza Bell, of Hendricks County. They have several children. Uncle Joe, as he was familiarly called by everybody, left a host of friends and well-wishers behind him.
G. Dallas Lind, M. D., Professor of Natural Sciences and Draw- ing in the Central Normal College at Danville, was born near Car- lisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., Oct. 30, 1847. When about two years old his parents, Samuel and Catharine (Myers) Lind, moved to Clarke County, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm until he reached maturity. He attended the common schools till he was twenty years of age, and in 1867 attended a Normal School at New Car- lisle, Ohio, about six months, after which he taught a country school near his home till 1869. He then attended the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, from which he graduated in the scien- tific course in the class of 1870, after which he taught school and read medicine one year, and in the winter of 1871-'72 he took a course of lectures in the Physio-Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio. In the spring of 1873 he located at Clinton, Mo., where he practiced medicine six months, after which he practiced in Hamil- ton, Iowa, until the fall of 1879, when he was engaged as Professor of Natural Sciences at Danville. In March, 1883, after taking a partial course of lectures in Central College of Physicians and Sur- geons, he received the degree of M. D. In the spring of 1884 he began to teach drawing as well as the sciences in the Central Nor- mal College. He is the author of the following works : " Method of Teaching in Country Schools," "Normal Outlines," "Easy Ex- periments," "Blank Speller," "Teacher's and Student's Library," and "Man."
Hubbard B. Lingenfelter, farmer, resides on section 7, Center Township, where he settled in October, 1867. His father, Volen- tine Lingenfelter, was born in Winchester, Clark Co., 'Ky., in 1809, and was there reared and learned the saddler's trade, which he followed a number of years. In 1851 he moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and bought the farm now owned by J. E. Dougherty. He engaged extensively in stock-raising, making a specialty of short-horn cattle and mules. He brought with him from Kentucky
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a herd of short-horns, and was the first to engage in that industry in Hendricks County. He subsequently moved to Hamilton County, Mo., where he still lives. His family consisted of four children-Hubbard B .; Prudence, wife of L. S. Shuler; Margaret, wife of Captain Augustine Dunn; Mary, wife of George Allen. Hubbard B. Lingenfelter was born in Kentucky in 1842. He was reared a farmer and has followed that avocation since attaining manhood. His home, which contains 107 acres, is one of the most pleasantly located in Center Township, and his improvements have nearly all been made by himself. He married Mary Nave, daughter of Christian C. Nave. They have three children-Margaret, Ben- jamin and Scott.
William R. McClelland, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Hen- dricks County, was born near Clermont, Marion Co., Ind., June 21, 1846, where he lived until reaching his majority. He was reared a farmer and was educated in the cominon school during the winter terms, working on his father's farm the rest of the year. He is the second of six sons of Jonathan D. and Eliza J. (Wilson) McClelland. On leaving home he was married to Miss Sadie, daughter of James and Rachel (McPhernage) Nichols, Oct. 9, 1872. They have one child-Harry Nichols. Mr. McClelland is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Danville, in which he has served as Steward, and has been Superintendent of the Sab- bath-school. He is a member of Silcox Lodge, No. 123, I. O. O. F., of Danville. He has passed all the chairs and is a member of the · Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana.
Robert McGee was born in Kentucky in 1820, and at the age of ten years he came with his parents, William and Elizabeth (Asher) McGee, to Indiana, they settling one mile northeast of Danville. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, a native of New Jersey, and his mother was of German descent, a native of Ken- tucky. His father entered land in Center Township on which he lived till his death in 1842, his wife having died in 1836. The subject of this sketch was reared in this county after his tenth year, and received a limited education by attending a subscription school in Danville during the winter terms. After his father's death in 1842, he became part owner of the farm by purchases, which he sold in 1845, and the same year purchased his present farm in Center Township, four miles east of Danville. Oct. 6, 1859, he was married to Sarah English, of Rush County, Ind. They have four children-Craig, a farmer of Washington Township; Mary
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Elizabeth, Sarah Jane and Martha Jewel, living at home. Mr. and Mrs. McGee are members of the Christian church at Danville. In politics he is a Republican.
Fletcher M. Mitchell resides on section 31, Center Township. His farm was formerly owned by his uncle, Solomon Mitchell, a pioneer of Center Township, who willed it to our subject. The homestead contains 102 acres of valuable land, and in addition to this Mr. Mitchell owns thirty acres in Washington Township. The Mitchell family have many representatives in Hendricks County. They are the descendants of two brothers, William and Hiram, who, with their brother Solomon, settled in Center Township in the fall of 1832. Solomon Mitchell was born in Bath County, Ky., in De- cember, 1806, and died in the spring of 1875, in Center Township, Hendricks Co., Ind. He , was a bachelor, and an industrious, wealthy citizen. He at one time owned between 400 and 500 acres of land in this township. Hiram is still a resident of Center. Fletcher M. Mitchell was born in Center Township in the spring of 1854. He resided with his father, James M. Mitchell, in Center Township, until August, 1864, then moved to Kentucky with his father and lived there until August, 1865, when he moved to Marion County, and lived in Marion County until the fall of 1875. He married Sarah F. Brown, a daughter of John Brown. She died April 2, 1884, leaving two children-Albert H. and Lurena. He then married Clara Tharp, a daughter of John and Susan Tharp, in the summer of 1885, and still resides in Center Township.
Thomas Nichols, one of the oldest settlers of Hendricks County and Justice of the Peace at Danville, is a native of Kentucky, born near Bardstown, Nelson County, Nov. 5, 1803, a son of James and Rachel (Jackson) Nichols. He was reared a farmer. He came to Indiana in April, 1821, with his father's family, settling with them about two miles below the bluffs of White River, in Morgan County, but in the following year they came to Hendricks County, and settled on the east fork of White Lick Creek, in what is now Guilford Township. At the time of their arrival there were but few settlers in the county. In 1825 they moved to what is now Center Township, locating two miles west of Danville. His father being aged and infirm, he remained with him until Dec. 27, 1827, when he was married to Martha Hadley, daughter of James and Mary (Richardson) Hadley, of Center Township, when he settled on' a tract of land in the vicinity of Danville. In 1828 being elected Sheriff of Hendricks County, he removed to Danville, where he has
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since resided. He has served as Sheriff of Hendricks County twelve years-from 1828 till 1832, 1844 till 1848 and 1860 till 1864, the term of office being two years, but he has been re-elected for the second term each time. In the winters of 1833-'34 and 1835.'36 he represented Hendricks County in the Indiana State Legislature as Assemblyman. In the spring of 1873 he was elected Justice of the Peace of Danville, and has held the office by re- election, his present term extending to April, 1889. In 1832 he was Captain in command of a company in the Black Hawk war, in the regiment known as " the Bloody Three Hundred." He has six children living-Nancy, widow of George W., Powell; Serena, wife of Charles A. Rose, of Putnam County, Ind .; William H., Deputy Auditor of Hendricks County; Erasmus D., a druggist at Dan- ville; Julia A., wife of R. H. Harney, of Lebanon, Ind., and Oliver E., clerking in the drug store of his brother in Danville. One child died in infancy, and two, a son and a daughter, after reach- ing maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church. He is a Master, Royal' Arch and Council Mason, and was the first Mason made in Hendricks County. He served as Worshipful Master of his lodge fourteen years and High Priest of his chapter two years. Politically he was originally an old-line Whig, and his first presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay in 1824. He now affiliates with the Republican party.
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