History of Hendricks County, Indiana, Part 59

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana > Part 59

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).

Brownsburg was incorporated in 1848, in which year the Board of Commissioners of Hendricks County ordered the following offi- cers elected: Chairman, clerk and five trustees. The election was held June 24, 1848, and resulted in the choice of the follow- ing: Chairman, Henry H. Moore: Clerk, T. J. White; Trustees:

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First Ward, William M. Dinwiddie; Second Ward,T. J. White; Third Ward, Sam Betts; Fourth Ward, Gaten Menifee; Fifth Ward, James Davidson. Ten votes only were cast at this first election.

The corporation died after some years, but in 1870 it was revived. Brownsburg's business firms in 1885 are:

Mrs. T. D. Anderson, millinery; T. D. Anderson, blacksmith; James Bonney, druggist; Bell & Watts, hardware; O. F. Brown, wagon-maker and blacksmith; A. G. Bohannon, livery; Cook & Co., saw-mill and fence factory; Owen Clark, shoe shop; Cope & Hunt, general store; John Dugan, grocery; W. F. Dinwiddie, gro- cery and postoffice; Ellis Bros., tile factory; Grandison Eaton, brick yard, Charles Forshee, wagon-maker and blacksmith; M. D. Green, druggist; J. W. Griffith, barber; James Hogan, grocer; Mrs. Hunt, millinery and dress-making; E. C. Keen, meat market; Joseph H. Kelley, barber; Mary Langsdale, dress-making; O. D. Lumkins, furniture and undertaking; Charles Miller, shoe shop; S. W. McDonald & Bro., general store; Thomas O'Day, grocer; Malachi Quinn, grocer; D. W. Sparks, grocer; Smith & Hawk ins, grist and saw mill; C. L. Tomlinson, livery; J. M. Toll, gen- eral store; Samuel W. Watts, grocer; Hugh Young, grocer.

The medical profession is represented by Joel T. Barker, A. W. Davidson, T. A. Graham and J. L. Marsh (Hom.). The attorneys are J. H. Johnson, John R. Jones and John R. Sheehan.

RELIGIOUS.

Christian Church .- The oldest and leading church in Browns- burg, and the second formed in the township, is the Christian, which was organized in 1835, by Thomas Lockhart, with seventeen members. John L. Parker and V. Cress were the elders. The society now uses a brick church built in 1859, at a cost of $1,500. It will accommodate 400 people. The membership is very large- about 250. Services are held monthly, Rev. Mr. Gilchrist, of Irvington, being the present pastor. He was preceded by J. V. Ludwig, of Greencastle, A. J. Frank, of Greencastle, and John Camfield, of Indianapolis. The present Elders and Overseers are: J. A. C. Dobson and B. O. Davidson; Clerk, L. S. Hunter; Dea- cons, Charles Tyler, Theodore Crull, Charles Harmon and Everett Hopkins. The Sunday-school has 100 members, and is in charge of Jesse R. Cope.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was the second organized in

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the village. They have a brick church, which is about ten years old. The society, however, is small, and not in a prosperous con- dition. The oldest member living is Mrs. Forshee. Occasional services are now held by Rev. Mr. Warren, of Clermont. Revs. I. P. Patch, T. M. Webb and John B. Demott have filled the pulpit here during the last few years.

The Presbyterian Church was organized by George Long, who raised money to build a church in 1865. This cost $2,300. Among those who have served as pastors here are Revs. Beach, McKee, and Mayo. The pulpit at present is filled by Rev. H. L. Dicker- son. The membership of the society is about twenty.

St. Malachy's Catholic Church's oldest record bears date Aug. 26, 1867, and was made by Rev. D. J. McMullen, through whose exertions the church was built. Very Rev. Aug. Bessonies was there Feb. 20, 1869, and the first resident priest commenced his labors there Oct. 20, 1869. He was succeeded, after a time, by Rev. Denuis O'Donovan. The latter served some years at this point, and then exchanged with Rev. Thomas Logan, of Green- castle, where he remained a year or two. Returning in 1877 he found the parish in debt for certain improvements made by Father Logan, and O'Donovan denied the validity of the debt. Bishop Chatard took the opposite view, and to secure the creditors gave a mortgage on the church property. Father O'Donovan contested the right of the Bishop to mortgage the property, but the court decided for the Bishop. The latter then asked, and obtained from the; Supreme Court, a writ of ejectment against the priest, who also lost a subsequent suit for $50,000 damages for loss of employ- ment, etc. During these troubles, mass was regularly held at private houses or in a rented hall, by Revs. Patrick Shepherd, Cas- per Seiler, Charles Curran and E. J. Spelman. The last named is the present pastor, and came here in April, 1881. Father Spelman was born in Cincinnati, Sept. 28, 1850; was ordained priest by Bishop de St. Palais at New Albany, April 3, 1873; was assistant priest at St. John's Church, Indianapolis, until Jannary, 1875, and pastor at Rushville till July 26, 1880, when sickness compelled him to resign. He then remained at Indianapolis until appointed to this charge. His congregation includes eighty-five families. Ser- vices are held every Sunday.

SOCIETIES. Brownsburg Lodge, No. 188, I. O. O. F., was organized in

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1857. Of the members of that organization, there are now living Jacob P. Welshans, J. H. McQuown (charter members), J. A. C. Dobson, Hughes White, Isaac Long and S. W. Potts. The lodge ceased meeting at the opening of the civil war, but was revived in 1866, since when it has prospered. It has now forty members, and meets at Odd Fellows Hall every Wednesday night. The present officers are: S. W. Watts, N. G .; E. C. Keen, V. G .; A. N. Crouch, Sec .; J. H. McQuown, Treas .; J. A. C. Dobson, T. H. Barlow and J. H. Johnson, Trustees.

Brownsburg Lodge, No. 241, F. & A. M., was organized in 1859, with the following members: J. T. Davidson, H. W. White, J. P. Welshans, William Harris, William McDaniel, Joseph Holloway and S. M. Potts. The lodge now has a membership of from sixty- five to seventy, and meets at Masonic Hall on Thursday evening on'or before each full moon. The officers are: B. P. Jones, W. M .; John Ridgeway, S. W .; J. H. Johnson, J. W .; C. W. Tyler, Treas .; J. M. Tolle, Sec .; James Ellis, S. D .; A. B. Smith, J. D .; Horace Cook, Tyler.

John A. Hollett Post, No. 242, G. A. R., was mustered in the fall of 1883, with eleven members, and named after a gallant sol- dier of the Seventy-ninth Indiana. It has now a membership of about thirty, and meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at Grand Army Hall. The present officers are: W. A. Ellis, Com .; Nathan Cook, S. V. C .; J. T. B. Hollett, J. V. C .; Sidney Cook, Q. M .; S. W. Watts, Adj .; G. W. McCrory, O. D .; J. A. C. Dob- son, Chap .; Horace Cook, O. G.

The Trustees of the village of Brownsburg for 1885 are Robert Bell, James Bonney and A. W. Davidson. The School Trustees are Dr. J. T. Barker, F. M. Hughes and Jesse R. Cope.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

John C. Adams, deceased, was born June 19, 1817, in Harrison County, Ky. When a boy he came with his parents, James and Eleanor Adams, to Putnam County, Ind., where he was married Sept. 29, 1847, to Sarah E. Park, a daughter of John and Melinda Park, of Putnam County, formerly of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born nine children-Malinda E., Sarah J., Francis N., Jonn A., Margaret E., Dulcena, James M., Letha H. and Mary E. Margaret E. and Dulcena are deceased. Mr. Adams's death occurred in August, 1865. He was a kind husband and father and was universally respected. His widow still resides on the

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J. Harison. Barlow

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home farm which contains eighty acres. She is a member of the Christian church.

Theophilus H. Barlow was born in Harrison County, Ky., Feb. 1, 1820, a son of Enoch and Jane Barlow. In 1828 his parents moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled in the northern part of Washington Township, on land entered by his father in 1826. He is the only one living of a family of twelve children. He was reared and educated in Hendricks County, and is now one of the leading agriculturists of Lincoln Township. He owns 223 acres of land, all under cultivation, and his improvements are among the best in the township. He was married Ang. 24, 1842, to Susan A., daughter of John and Elizabeth Moberly, early settlers of Hendricks County. They have had eleven children, two of whom are living-Mary A., now Mrs. Robert Bell, of Brownsburg, and Abbie Z. Mrs. Bell has nine children-Clyde W., Lloyd T., Ernest E. and Grace I. (twins), Nellie S., Charles H., Zoe M., Estelle C. and Clara P. Eliza J., wife of Aaron N. Crouch, died Dec. 25, 1879, leaving three children-Estella May, William H. and Joanah S. Enoch M. died March 6, 1870, aged twenty-two years. Theophilus died Oct. 4, 1863, aged nine years. William Harvey died Sept. 4, 1864, aged seven years. Gillum L. was killed by a run-away team May 29, 1871, aged ten years. Charles A. died Feb. 1, 1881, aged sixteen years. Three died in infancy. Mr. Barlow and his family are members of the Presby- terian church, which he has served as Elder twenty-five years. He is a member of Brownsburg Lodge, No. 188, I. O. O. F. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

Volney J. Brown was born Feb. 1, 1817, in Scott County, Ky., a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Brown, natives of New Jersey and Delaware respectively. They moved to Hendricks County, Ind., in 1828, and settled in Lincoln Township where the father entered 160 acres of timber land, and endured many discomforts in his pioneer home. To his parents were born ten children, but two now living-Volney J. and George. Volney J. came to this county with his parents when a boy and was here reared to manhood. He has worked at the carpenter's trade for many years, but his chief occupation through life has been farming, and he now owns a good farm of 140 acres, under a high state of cultivation. March 25, 1841, he was married to Susan Butler, born in Franklin County, Ind., April 12, 1816, a daughter of William and Nancy Butler. They have had five children-William M., Isaac H. (deceased),

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Ellis E., Jane V. and Lazena (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Christian church.

John Corliss, son of Michael and Hannah Corliss, is a native of County Galway, Ireland. When he was about fitteen years of age he immigrated to America, and settled in Hendricks County, Ind. He has always followed farming pursuits and now owns a good farm of ninety-six acres, situated in Union Township, this county. He was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Greeley, a daughter of John and Bridget Greeley, and to them were born nine children, six of whom survive. Those living are-Michael, John, Mary T., Thomas, Delia and Patrick. Mr. Corliss is a consistent member of the Roman Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat.

Mrs. Maria Davis, daughter of Daniel and Annie (Smith) New- ham, was born Oct. 16, 1818, in Scott County, Ky. When very young she removed with her parents to Hendricks County, Ind., where she was reared. April 16, 1840, she was married in this county to Thornton F. Gorham and to them were born six chil- dren-John A., Daniel S., William, Thomas J., Priscilla and Thornton. Thomas J. is deceased. Mr. Gorham died in January, 1853, and our subject was again married, this time to James Davis, in August, 1860. Mr. Davis died in December, 1878, leaving Mrs. Davis owner of a good farm of 100 acres in Lincoln Township. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Regular Baptist church.

Benjamin O. Davison was born Oct. 2, 1833, in Hamilton County, Ohio, a son of Robert and Mary Davison, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. In 1837 they came to Hendricks County, Ind., from Ohio, settling near Brownsburg where his father entered 160 acres of uncultivated 'land. Here they experienced some of the discomforts of pioneer life. Seven children were born to them of whom four are living-Sarah A., Margaret E., John W. and our subject. The latter was reared on a farm in this county. He was married April 10, 1856, to Theressa Shirley, daughter of William P. Shirley, an early settler of Hendricks County. They have three children-William P., Thomas J. and Carrie E. Mr. Davison lived on his farm, one mile north of Brownsburg, until the fall of 1881, when he retired to Brownsburg. He owns a good farm of 125 acres, all under a high state of cultivation. For several years he has served as Elder in the Christian church. Politically he is practically independent. Grandison Eaton is a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born Sept. 13, 1837, a son of Greenup and Mahala Eaton, early settlers

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of Hendricks County from Kentucky. He was reared and educa- ted in his native county and in his youth learned the bricklayer's trade, which he has followed the greater part of the time, and at one time was engaged in contracting and built some of the best houses in the township. He owns a fine farm of 100 acres, which he superintends in addition to working at his trade. In August, 1861, Mr. Eaton enlisted in Company B, Seventh Indiana Infantry, and served till August, 1864. He participated in some of the most important battles of the war, among them being Greenbriar, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Petersburg and Spottsylvania Court- House. In January, 1865, Mr. Eaton was married to Mary F. Lawler, of Hendricks County. They are members of the Christian church. Mr. Eaton has been a member of the Village Council three years.

John W. Griffith, one of the prominent business men of Brownsburg, was born in Putnam County, Ind., March 10, 1835, a son of Samuel and Camelia R. (Witty) Griffith. His father was one of the pioneers of Putnam County, locating there in 1820. He died at Vicksburg, Miss., of cholera in 1837. The mother is now the wife of John Conley, of Franklin County, Ill. When fourteen years of age our subject began to work as a farm hand which he continued two years. When sixteen years old he went to Greencastle and began learning the barber's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then worked as a journeyman about ten years visiting mainly the towns on the Mississippi River. He has been a resident of Brownsburg since 1876, where he has built up a good trade. He is thoroughly conversant with all branches of his trade in addition to which he carries a stock of jewelry and does a watch-repairing business. Mr. Griffith was married Nov. 18, 1863, to Rebecca Steepleton, of Edgar County, Ill. Of the eight children born to them but two, the eldest and youngest, are living-Camelia E. and Carl. Mr. Griffith enlisted in July, 1861, in Company O, Eighth Illinois Infantry, and par- ticipated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, Raymond, Jackson and others of less importance. He was a faithful soldier and was honorably discharged in August, 1864. Before the war he was a Democrat in politics but since the war has given his suffrage to the Republican party and is one of the most earnest workers in its ranks. He is a member of the Christian church.

James G. Hoadley was born in September, 1824, in New Haven 42

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County, Conn., a son of Alvah and Aurelia Hoadley, who moved to Hendricks County, Ind., in 1838, and the following spring set- tled in Lincoln Township. Mr. Hoadley was reared on a farm and received but a limited education. He has been a resident of this township since coming here with his parents in 1839, with the exception of one year spent at Pittsboro, and one year at Amo, where he was engaged in the mercantile business. He was mar- ried in August, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Larsh, of this county, for- merly of Kentucky. They have four children-Alva T., Sarah E., Cerena and Mary. Mr. Hoadley is one of Lincoln Township's leading farmers. He owns 193 acres of land in this county and eighty acres in La Porte County. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Christian church.

Wiley G. Hull, son of Jesse and Mary Hull, was born ; May 11, 1840, near Zanesville, Ohio. His parents had a family of eight children of whom only two survive-Wiley G. and Giles. Wiley G. was brought to Indiana by his parents at a very early age, and when he was nine. years of age he was left an orphan. He then lived with Dr. Levi Ritter, of Pleasant Garden, Putnam County, for several years, and at the age of fourteen he began to learn the blacksmith's trade with William Wilkin, of Plainfield, Hendricks County, with whom he remained several years. In September, 1861, he enlisted at St. Louis in the Second Missouri Cavalry and participated in numerous battles and skirmishes, among which were Chattanooga, Prairie-De-Hand, Little Missouri, Selma, Kirkville and Memphis. He was slightly wounded during the campaign and his constitution was greatly impaired. He was honorably discharged in September, 1865. Jan. 25, 1866, he was married to Jane Walker, a daughter of Joseph Walker (deceased). Nine children have been born to them, six now living-Sarah L., Wade, Ollie, Haskett, Oscar and Ada. Flora, Iva and Laura are deceased. Mr. Hull is at present living on his farm in the north- east part of Lincoln Township. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He also belongs to the Christian church.

William Hylton, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Lincoln Township, was born in Grayson County, Va., July 5, 1829, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Hylton, natives of Virginia. His parents came to Hendricks County, Ind., in 1835, and for a short time lived near Cartersburg, then removed to Washington Township where the father died in January, 1842. Of a family of six chil-

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dren, but two are living-William and Tamanda J. Wesley, Eli, Stephen and Nancy E. are deceased. William Hylton was reared and educated in Hendricks County. His early life was spent on a farm and since attaining manhood he has engaged in agricultural pursuits. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres and his residence and farm buildings are comfortable and commodious. He was mar- ried in September, 1850, to Margaret J. Barlow, daughter of John and Martha Barlow, early settlers of Montgomery County. To them have been born nine children, but tive of whom are living- Theodra A., Viola, Lillie B., Maggie and William H. Charles W., John S., Martha and Mary E. are deceased. Mr. Hylton has been prominently identified with the Presbyterian church many years, and is serving as Deacon and Elder at the present time. He has served as Commissioner of Hendricks County three years.

William M. Jenkins was born in Guilford County, N. C., Oct. 15, 1833, a son of John and Rebecca Jenkins, early settlers of Hendricks County. He was reared on a farm, receiving a good education in the public schools. ' He remained at home till April, 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Indiana Infantry, and served three months. In February, 1862, he enlisted in the Sixty-third Indiana Infantry and served till the following Angust, when he was discharged on account of ill-health. He then re- turned to Hendricks County, and has since devoted his atten- tion to agriculture. He has a good farm of seventy-five acres on section 22, Lincoln Township, all under cultivation. Mr. Jenkins was married in January, 1863, to Hannah L. Reed, who died in March, 1867, leaving two children-Luella W. and John L. In November, 1876, he married Elizabeth J., daughter of James W. and Rachel Townsend, of Fountain County, Ind. To them have been born three children-George M., Katie A. and Susan L. Mrs. Jenkins is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Dr. John L. Marsh was born in Brown Township, Hancock County, Dec. 27, 1851. His father, Jonas Marsh, was one of the first settlers of the county having moved from East Tennessee to the county in 1837 and lived continuously upon the same farm until his death in 1877. During this time he helped to clear the forests, drain the swamps, inake roads and convert the wilderness into broad grain fields. He reared a large family of children and gave them a liberal education. Some are graduates of Asbury Uni- versity and all have occupied prominent positions in the social and political affairs of the county. One son has been County

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Clerk eight years and is now a prominent attorney at Greenfield; another son is an attorney, and the youngest is a physician, the others being farmers. To his children he bequeathed a record of a sterling character and Quaker honesty which he in turn received from his father who was a Quaker of the strictest faith. John L. Marsh, the youngest son, at the age of eighteen entered the office of Dr. William Trees as a medical student. In 1872 and 1873 he attended a course of lectures in the Louisville Med- ical College and was in attendance at the United States Marine Hospital for the remainder of the year. The next year he attended the Ohio Medical College receiving the degree of M. D. at the close of the term. He was the youngest member of the graduating class being just twenty-one years old. After leaving college, in 1874, he located in Warrington, Hancock County, and commenced practice with his preceptor. In 1877 he moved to Greenfield where most of his relatives lived, and where he built up a fine practice. Not being satisfied he determined to move to Indianapolis but friends persuaded him to go to Brownsburg as it was close to the city and otherwise desirable. This he did in the fall of 1881, and has practiced medicine at this place for the past four years. During this time he has enjoyed a fine practice built up among strangers and without assistance, opposed by the local profession on account of his liberal ideas and belief in progressive ·medicine, as his idea of medical practice is to use any remedy in any manner that will most speedily cure disease and relieve suffering. In 1879 he commenced the publication of a medical journal at Greenfield, devoted to liberal medicine. This proved a success and soon gained a good circulation. The next year it was moved to Indianapolis where it is still. being published with some mod- ifications by its original editor in conjunction with other parties. The office of publication is 118 North Illinois street, at which place the Doctor has a consultation office. In 1883 the Beach Medical College was organized on a liberal basis, and the chair of physiology was given to Dr. Marsh, which position he still retains, as the college has proven a success financially and otherwise. The Doctor's motto of professional life has been to be honest and upright with his patrons and to never slander or speak slightingly of other practitioners but to attend strictly to his own business. The Doctor's social life has been a pleasant one. In 1875 he married Laura E. Trees, daughter of John W. Trees, of Warring- ton, Ind., who has contributed largely to his success in life. She

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attends to her domestic duties to the almost entire exclusion of fashionable life and sees that home is what it should be. During the ten years of married life three children have been born to them. Florence, the eldest, died at the age of four years and this was the greatest affliction the family has sustained as she was a child of unusual promise. Mabel, the next, is now five years old and is a beautiful and intelligent child, having her mind enriched by travel and contact with people until her knowledge is greater than many grown people. Katie is the baby and bids fair to make another Florence. The Doctor each year leaves the cares of business and with his family takes a trip to some of the fishing resorts and spends a few days (in boyhood pleasures and takes a renewed lease on life. They have a nice residence with his office near by, in one of the best localities in Brownsburg.

James M. Metsker was born in Hendricks County, Ind., Feb. 3, 1856, a son of Peter and Elizabeth Metsker, pioneers of this county. He was reared and educated in his native county and since attaining manhood has devoted his attention to agricult- ural pursuits, owning now a fine farm, on section 28, Lincoln Township. Mr. Meteker was married April 14, 1880, to Mira A. Barlow, daughter of Harvey and Sarah J. Barlow. To them have been born three children-Robert L., Eva M. and Alpha G. Mr. and Mrs. Metsker are members of the Presbyterian church, and among the prominent young people of Lincoln Township.

William Il. H. Metsker is a native of Hendricks County, born April 3, 1849, a son of Peter and Elizabeth Metsker, his father & native of Ohio and his mother of Delaware. His parents were early settlers of Hendricks County and were prominent in assisting in its development. His father died in December, 1884, and his mother is still a resident of Lincoln Township. They had a family of eight children, but four of whom are living-John T., William H. H., James M. and Mary. W. H. H. Metsker was reared a farmer, a vocation he has followed since attaining manhood. He has been successful in his pursuits and now owns 1654 acres of valuable land on section 22, Lincoln Township. He was mar- ried Dec. 21, 1871, to Melinda J. Merritt, daughter of George W. Merritt, of Washington Township. They have six children- Nora M., Cora E., Ora L., Mary E., Lillie M. and Charles O. Mr. and Mrs. Metsker are members of the Presbyterian church.

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History of Hendricks County, Indiana, Part 59

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Number of Pages: 786

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 786