USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 16
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James Gorrell, a farmer of Center Township, is a native of Ken- tucky, born in Bourbon County in 1816, a son of Jaines and Re- becca (Caywood) Gorrell, the father a native of Ireland, and the mother a native of Maryland, of Scotch descent. In 1833 he came with his mother and sister to Indiana and settled on a tract of un- cultivated land in Center Township, this county, three miles east of Danville, on which he still lives, it being now a fine farm. His mother lived with him till her death in 1849. Nov. 1, 183S, he was married to Miss Amanda Hamilton, of Center Township. They have had eleven children, of whom eight are living-John, of Madi- son County, Iowa; Marilda Ann, wife of John Monday, living near Danville ; Daniel H., of Iowa ; James M., of Center Township; Amanda Martilla, wife of Joseph Hashbarger, of this township ;
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"William O., of this township; Mary Frances, wife of John Hayes, of Center Township, and Charlie, at home. Martha, wife of Robert Ramsey, is deceased, and two children died in infancy. Mr. Gor- rell came to Hendricks County before much clearing had been done in Center Township, and at that time Danville was but a small hamlet. At the age of seventeen he began to support himself and also his mother. He has been successful through life, and at present owns 236 acres of land which he has accumulated by his own persevering industry and economy.
Martin Gregg, a retired farmer of Danville, Ind., was born in Grayson County, Va., Feb. 14, 1811. He is the fourth of six sons of John and Elizabeth (Dickenson) Gregg. His father having died when he was only four years old, he went with his mother to Pat- rick County, Va., where he lived until his eighteenth year. He then came to Indiana alone and lived in Centerville, Wayne County, until 1843 when he came to Hendricks County and purchased a farm near Danville, which is now the county poor farm. He sold his farm in 1863 and retired from the business. In 1864 he was elected one of the commissioners of Hendricks County, which posi- tion he held by re-election for fourteen years, and during his term of service the court-house, county jail and county poor-house were built and he was chosen by the board to superintend the work. Jan. 24, 1839, he married Mary J. Wortman, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Medaris) Wortman, of Wayne County, Ind. She was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1816, and when eleven years of age she came to Centerville, Ind., where she lived till her marriage. They have three children living-Martha, wife of Henry Curtis, of Danville; Mary, wife of S. R. Holt, of Indianapolis, and Emma, still at home. Those deceased are-Sallie, wife of E. D. Nichols, died Feb. 30, 1880, aged thirty-six years, and Henry, aged thirteen, died Feb. 18, 1862. Mr. Gregg is politically a Republican, but was originally a Whig. His wife is a member of the Method ist Episcopal church.
James T. Hadley was born in North Carolina, July 16, 1796, a son of Simon and Elizabeth Hadley, grandson of Joshua, great- grandson of Joshua and great-great-grandson of Simon Hadley, who was born in Ireland, of English parentage, and settled in the Penn colony in the latter part of the seventeenth century. Thus the Hadleys trace their descent through 200 years of American ancestry. Simon Hadley brought considerable wealth to the new colony and as habitually as he wore his clothes carried his money with him.
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He was found dead in his stable and was supposed to have been murdered by his servant for his money. He was a man of note and influence. The Hadleys have been noted for their thrift, both in this and the old country. The most of them have been farmers and all have owned the land they worked. Until the last genera- tion or two all have been Friends, and none were military men until the late civil war, when several bore afms in defense of the Union. About 1730 Joshua Hadley, Sr., moved to North Caro- liua and settled on Leaf River, and from him the families in this county trace their origin. Our subject, James T. Hadley, lived in his native State till manhood, and there married Elizabeth Rich- . ardson, a native of the same State, of English descent. He was an enterprising, and, for a farmer, an active business man. His anti- slavery convictions and ambition to live in a country where an active, progressive man would have a better opportunity to develop his powers, led him to leave his native State and move to a newly settled part of the country, and in 1825 he located in Center Town- ship, this county, bringing with him a family of eight children. He was an energetic and ingenious mechanic and found ample use for his knowledge of tools in the new country. He manufactured wagons, worked at the blacksmith's forge, built a saw-mill at Green- castle which he ran two years, built on contract the depot, turn- table and other buildings for the railroad company at Greeneastle, and in many other ways displayed the variety of his mechanical powers. In carly life he was a Quaker, and although not identified with them in his later life, their teachings undoubtedly influenced him to the end of his days. His family consisted of eleven chil- dren, eight born in North Carolina and three in Hendricks County -Mrs. Martha Nichols, of Danville; Jehu, of Franklin Township; Mrs. Julia Ann Vannice, of Marion Township; Mrs. Nancy Mat- lock, of Danville; Mrs. Sinia Hadley, of this county; Edom R., of Marion Township; Edmund R., Orran E. and John Oliver, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Tinder and Mrs. Jane Homan, of Danville. Mrs. Hadley died Ang. 8, 1863, in the seventy-fourth year of her age. Feb. 28, 1871, while crossing the railroad with his team, he was struck by a locomotive and instantly killed. Thus closed a long and useful life, and of all the pioneers none are more favorably or better remembered.
Nicholas T. Hadley, of the banking firm of Hadley, Homan & Co., is a native of Chatham, N. C., where he was born Oct. 5, 1824. His parents, Simon T. and Mary (Hadley) Hadley, caine to Hell-
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dricks County, Ind:, when he was about two years old, first settling in Center Township two and a half miles southwest of Danville. When he was eight years old his parents located in Danville where he lived with them until he grew to manhood, he being educated in the schools of that place and in Wabash College, at Crawfords- ville, Ind. In 1846 he was appointed Deputy in the County Clerk's office, where he served till 1855, when, being elected Connty Treas- urer, he held that office until the fall of 1857. He then resumed the position of Deputy County Clerk which he held till 1868, and being previously elected County Clerk, he assumed the duties of that office, holding that position four years. In January, 1872. while County Clerk, he was elected Cashier of the First National. Bank of Danville and served as such one year, when he helped to found the Danville Banking Company of which he was Cashier nnti! it was succeeded by the banking house of Hadley, Homan & Co He was married Ang. 31, 1852, to Mary J., daughter of Aaron Homan, of Danville. They have two children-Otis C., cierking; in the bank of Hadley, Homan & Co .; and Frank O., of Kansas City, Mo.
Stanley A. Hall, fariner, resides on section 1, Center Township where he settled in the fall of 1876. Ifis farm contains 262 acre., and is one of the most beautiful homes and most valuable farm .; in the township. It was entered from the Government by Dauie Hamilton, but bought by Mr. Hall of Jesse S. Jackson. Mr. Hal' was born in Canfield, now in Mahoning Co., Ohio, in 1836. Hc came to Hendricks County, Ind., in 1859 and in 1862 enlisted it the Fourth Indiana Cavalry and served in the defense of the Union three years. He was Commissary Sergeant of his regiment two years and the last year was First Lieutenant. His regiment wa assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated it the Atlanta campaign and other important events of the war. He was married in 1864 to Emma B. Archer, of Carrollton, Ky., witl. whom he became acquainted when in the army. They have fou- children-Charles S., Edward F., Herschel S. and Stella G. Mr. Hall's parents, Salmon and Maria (Austin) Hall were natives of Connecticut and moved to Ohio when young people, and settled in. Mahoning County, and were married in the year 1827. In 184. they moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In 1852 they returned to Wells County, Ind., where they remained a few years, and ther moved to Danville, Ind. In the year 1862 they removed to Grove. land, Putnam Co., Ind., where they lived until their death, the
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mother dying in the year 1882 at the age of seventy-five, the father dying in the year 1885 at the age of eighty-two years. Their family consisted of nine children, naincly: Cornelia, the eldest child died, aged three years; Edward, the youngest son, died, aged twelve years; Elizabeth, wife of John Dooly, died in Danville, Ind., aged forty- seven years. Those now living are Mrs. Sarah J. Blatchley, Mrs. Ella C. Dooly, Stanley A. Hall, Francis H. Hall, Sheldon W. Hall nd Chester F. Hall.
Conrad E. Harlan was born at Upshur, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1842, second son of J. B. and Lucinda (Bonebrake) Harlan. His mother died when he was seven years old, after which he lived with his Grandfather Bonebrake till his sixteenth year, attending the schools of his neighborhood. He then came to Danville with his father, and attended the Danville Academy three years but was obliged to leave before graduating on account of his father's illness. He then studied Latin and the sciences one year and at the same time studied dentistry with his father. At the age of twenty he commenced general practice, being associated with his father till he was twenty-four years old. Since 1866 he has practiced dentistry in Danville. May 12, 1864, he en- listed in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Infantry, and served in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, returning home in September, 1864. He was married Oct. 17, 1866, to Annie M. Bedford, daughter of Thomas L. and Catharine (Hearne) Bedford, of Danville. To them were born three children-Kate L., born Nov. 1. 1867, a graduate of the Danville High School; Edith A., born July, 1870, and Wilbur K., born March 5, 1876. Mrs. Harlan was born Mareh 30, 1847, and died Jan. 11, 1883. Dr. Harlan has been a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity for twenty-two years. He has belonged to the Methodist'Episcopal church ten years and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school for the past year. In politics he is a Republican.
. Joshua B. Harlan, youngest son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Gregg) Harlan, was born in Warren County, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1S15. He left Warren County May 12, 1838, and studied medicine eighteen months with Dr. Wilkinson, of Upshinr, Ohio, at which place he engaged in the practice of dentis ry. 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. Aug. 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 (Mc Vey) 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 te 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 serr- 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. IIe 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 fear. 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 as Danville. He is a member of Brownsburg Lodge, No. 241, A. F. & A. M., and is Chancellor Com- mal.der 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 elerking until he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indi ina Infantry, to serve six months, in 1862. He served eight months, being on duty mostly in East Tennessee. After being mustered out at Indianapolis he returned to Danville where he elerked for several firms. He has also served as postoffice elerk 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 Anne 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 Washı- 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 tlie Republican ticket, Treasurer of Hendricks County, assuming the duties of the office in September, 1883, and is the present inenmn- 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 farın in October, 1857. His homestead contains 197 acres, on seetions 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. C., 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 1SS3 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- boldt 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, 1378. He then returned to Indiana 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, Clinch 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 Hante, 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.
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