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 17
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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 Anditor 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 Lonisa 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, snch 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 lie 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 common school during the winter terms, working on his father's farin 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, danghter of James and Rachel (McPheinage) 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 Mc Gee 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 farin 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, lie 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. Heat 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, nntil 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 Saralı 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 Connty, 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 iniles west of Danville. His father being aged and infirm, he remained with him until Dee. 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.
William H. Nichols, Deputy Auditor of Hendricks County, Ind., was born near Danville, in Center Township, Hendricks County, Feb. 24, 1841. He is the second of four sons of Thomas and Martha (Hadley) Nichols. He had the advantage of obtaining. only a common-school education. His father being a carpenter he began to work at that trade when quite young, but abandoned it before becoming of age. From the age of twenty to twenty-two years he worked in a printing office at Danville. He was then variously employed until June, 1863, when he enlisted as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Infantry, for six months, and served in Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee. The Colonel of his regiment was Thomas J. Brady of Star Route fame. After his discharge at the expiration of his term of service he returned to Danville and worked mostly at the.carpenter's trade until April, 1872, when he became Deputy Auditor under W. M. Hess, and served as such until April, 1875. He was then employed as bookkeeper in the bank of the Danville Banking Company un- til November, 1879, when, having been elected Anditor of Hen-
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dricks County in November, 1878, for a term of four years, he assumed the duties of his office. On retiring from the office at the expiration of the term, lie resumed contracting and building. In October, 1884, he was deputized County Auditor by County Audi- tor John Kendall. He was married to Miss Lanra, daughter of the late Coleman C. Cash, of Danville, May 8, 1868, by whom he had one child-Jessie Pearl, who died at the age of nearly three years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Danville. He is a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 26, F. & A. M .; Danville Chapter, No. 46, R. A. M., and of Colestock Council, No. 26, R. & S. M., and of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G. A. R. He has served as Secretary and Junior Warden of the lodge, High Priest in the chapter, Recorder of the council, and Sergeant-Major of the post.
Adrian A. Parsons, Recorder of Hendricks County, was born in Guilford County, N. C., Nov. 7, 1846. His parents, Nelson and Elvira (Swain) Parsons, came to Indiana in 1852, first settling in Bridgeport. His father was a millwright by trade. Mr. Parsons lived with his parents in Hendricks and Marion counties until he was seventeen years of age. He enlisted in the Union army in Company I, Ninth Indiana Cavalry, Dec. 23, 1863, to serve three years, or during the war, as a private. He was discharged at the close of the war at St. Louis, Mo., in August, 1865, having par- ticipated in numerous battles and skirmishes during Hood's raid in Tennessee. After his discharge he returned to Washington Township, Hendricks County, and being disabled by a gunshot wound received at the battle of Spring Hill, Tenn., he attended the Danville Academy two years and the Earlham College at Rich- mond, Ind., one term, when, having expended all his money, he tanght school during the winters and worked on farms in the sum- mer seasons until 1872. He then engaged solely in farming in Washington Township till 1876 when he added bee-keeping to his farming pursuits. In the fall of 1882 he was elected on the Repub- lican ticket Recorder of Hendricks County for a term of four years, which office he still holds. April 10, 1870, he was married to Miss Mary M., daughter of Barney and Hannah (Gossett) Fox, of Washington Township, Hend icks County. They have six chil- dren-Lester, Norman, Ethel, William, Edith and Gilbert. He is a member of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G. A. R.
Frank Pierson, druggist, of Dauville, was born in Washington Township, Hendricks Co., Ind., July 30, 1856, a son of Isaac
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H. and and Mary (Clark) Pierson. His mother died when he was an infant, and at the age of ten years he came with his father to Danville, where he attended the public school until he was four- teen years of age. At that age he began to provide for himself by working by the month, and when he was sixteen he began working in a saw-mill with his father during the summers and attending school in the winters till he was twenty years old. He then clerked in Indianapolis one year and in 1877 returned to Danville, where he was employed in John Misler's heading factory for a short time. Mr. Misler then placed him in his drug store as clerk, where he was employed by him and by his successor, J. M. Roach, several months, when in August, 1878, he purchased the drug store of Mr. Roach and established his present business. He was married April 3, 1884, to Miss Madie McKee, of Center Township, Hendricks County. They have an infant daughter-Ruth Alice. Mr. Pierson is a Knight of Pythias and has passed all the chairs of Danville Lodge, No. 48, and is a member of the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana.
Charles R. Rose, a retired farmer of Danville, was born in Mercer County, Ky., March 7, 1806, the youngest of two sons of Charles and Mary (Lewis) Rose. He was reared a farmer at his brother's home, and Sept. 3, 1839, he married Barthena P., only daughter of Isaac Mitchell, of Mercer County, Ky. She was born July 18, 1805, and died at Danville, Ind., April 19, 1880. Mr. Rose engaged in agriculture for himself in 182S on a small farm in Mercer County, given him by his father, on which he lived until 1836, when, losing his property, he rented land in the same county where he farmed till 1850. He then removed with his family to Indiana, where he purchaseil a farin of 135 acres in Eel River Town- ship, Hendricks County, on which he farmed for eight years, when he exchanged his farm for one in Center Township near Danville, known as the Billy Blanton farmi, containing 172 acres, on which he lived eight years. In 1866 he retired from farming and became a permanent resident of Danville, where until lately he has dealt and traded in real estate. In 1854 he was elected one of the County Commissioners of Hendricks County for a term of three years, and re-elected in 1857, but at the end of one year he resigned, having sold out and removed from that part of the county. He has four children living-M. H. Rose, M. D., of Thorntown, Ind., who served as a surgeon in the Union army through all the late war; B. M. Rose, who served four years as a private in the Union army;
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Elizabeth Ann, wife of W. A. Caldwell, of Kentneky; and Mollie R., widow of the late Dr. John T. Warner, of Neosha Falls. Zilpha died at Danville in 1875, aged twenty-nine years; Charles Dwight died in the army at Knoxville, Tenn., in 1863, aged nineteen year's; William died in Kentucky, aged twenty-two months, and Leslie died near Danville in 1862, aged fourteen years. Mr. Rose and his entire family are members of the Presbyterian church of Danville. Politically he is a Republican.
Robertson C. Russell was born in Guilford County, N. C., Sept. 15, 1811. In his twentieth year he came to Indiana on a prospecting tour and about two years later settled in Danville, Hendricks County, in 1832. He being a carpenter followed that trade till 1842, when he turned his attention to farming. He purchased his pres- ent farm in 1837, and has resided on it and pursned farming since 1844. He came to Danville with limited means but by persever- ance and economy he is now the owner of a large property in Dan- . ville and in Center Township. In 1835 he was married to Alice Bonfield, a native of Clark County, Ky., and a daughter of Mereen and Susan (Hardesty) Bonfield, who came to this county in 1833. They have two children living-Martha, wife of Simeon Templin, of Center Township, and John C., a farmer in Center Township. One child, Susan, died in August, 1846, aged over one year. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church over fifty years. He was one of the first Board of Trustees and helped build the first church in Danville. Besides serving as Trustee eight years he lias served several years as Steward. He has also filled the office of School Trustee for Center Township. In polities he affiliates with the Republican party but was originally a Whig.
J. E. Sherrill, publisher of educational, religious and subscrip- tion books, was born on a farm in Jefferson Township, Putnam Co., Ind., Jan. 19, 1852, a son of James W. and Mary C. (Denny) Sherrill. He received his early education at the district school and afterward attended the Ladoga Seminary and the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and at Ladoga and Danville, Ind. At the age of seventeen he began teaching in the district schools of Jefferson Township, which he followed about ten winters. In March, 1878, he began to publish the "Normal Teacher," a journal devoted to the use of publie schools, the first two numbers being published at Ladoga, Ind. In the following May he removed to Danville, where . he published the " Normal Teacher" until August, 1884, when he
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sold it to Prof. W. H. F. Henry, of Indianapolis. In the mean- time he has added to his publications a series of educational, relig- ious and subscription books, and carries on an extensive business at Danville. Feb. 13, 1879, he was married to Miss Annie, danghter of H. K. Mitchell, of New Philadelphia, Ohio. They have two children-Gail and Cidney Dee. He is a member of the Mission- ary Baptist church and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episco- pal church.
Gustavus L. Spillman, Prof. of Languages in the Central Nor- mal College at Danville, was born in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 6, 1855. His parents emigrating to America in 1856 he was left in his grandmother's charge till May, 1867. He then came with his grandmother to the United States and joined his parents at Tell City, Perry Co., Ind., remaining with them till reaching his ma- jority. He attended school in the old, country, and afterward the schools of Tell City. In January, 1877, he entered the Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., attending it till the summer of 1878. He then taught the German language in the schools of Rockport, Ind., until the summer of 1880, when he entered the Central Nor- mal College as a student, and teacher of German. He graduated from that institution in the scientific class of 1SS! and in the classic course in the class of 1882, since which he has held the position of teacher of the languages. Nov. 13, 1882, he was married to Miss Lot- tie Peterson, of Tipton, Ind. She is a native of Sweden, and came to America in 1869 with her parents, Gustavus and Gustava (Gabrial- son) Peterson. She graduated from the Tipton High School in the class of 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Spillman have one child named Stella Cornelia. He is a member of Tell City Lodge, No. 206, I. O. O. F., and a member of the Evangelical church at Tell City, and his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church of Danville.
Bennett Swain, only son of John and Matilda (Darnell) Swain, was born on the homestead in Center Township, Hendricks Co., Ind., Nov. 21, 1837. His birthplace has always been his home, he owning all of the homestead but forty acres. He is one of the enterprising citizens of the township, and an industrious and pros- perous farmer. He was married in Montgomery County, Ind., Oct. 24, 1861, to Jemima J, Chalwick, a native of Montgomery County, Ind., born Mareli 29,1838, daughter of Jehn and Peninnah Chadwick, early settlers of Montgomery County. Her father died May 7, 1879, and her mother is still living on the homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Swain are members of the Baptist church.
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John Swain, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Hendricks County. He was born in Fleming County, Ky., Dec. 22, 1811. He was reared in his native county and in November, 1831, came to Hendricks County. In January, 1832, he was married to Ma- tilda Darnell, a native of Montgomery County, Ky., born April 2, 1810, danghter of Henry and Sally (Turpin) Darnell, who settled in Hendricks County in September, 1831. Soon after his marriage Mr. Swain moved to Kentucky and remained till the fall of 1834, when he returned to Hendricks County, and settled on 160 acres of land on section 22, Center Township, which had been entered by Mr. Darnell and presented to Mr. and Mrs. Swain. Of this land Mr. Swain made a fine farm, where he resided till his death, April 23, 1871, aged fifty-nine years four months and one day. Mrs. Swain still lives on the homestead. To them were born three children, but two of whom are living-Elizabeth, widow of John Turpin, of Sangamon County, Ill., and Bennett. Eliza married Samuel Williams, and died. Dec. 28, 1859. Mrs. Swain's parents made Center Township.their home till death. The father died in 1846 and the mother in 1854. The family adhere to the faith of the Baptist church.
Jeremiah Tinder, deceased, was born in Woodford County, Ky., Nov. 19, 1SOS. He was married Jan. 27, 1831, to Catherine Rad- ford, and to them were born five children, all of whom are living -Simeon Dudley, in Platte County, Mo .; John William, and James Franklin, of Hendricks County, Ind .; Huldah Jane, wife of W. E. Crawford, living in Labette County, Kan., and Samnel Martin. in Shawnee County, Kan. Mrs. Tinder died in 1841, and Mr. Tinder was married to Mrs. Delilah Ann Wells, of Kentucky, April 2, 1843. To this union were born two children -- Annie E. and Jeremiah, both deceased. Mr. Tinder came to this county in 1834, settling in Marion Township, near Danville, where he lived till his death, Dec. 6, 1874. His father was a native of Scotland and his mother was a native of Germany. Their children were- Joel, Jesse, Jeremiah, Martin, Lydia, Diey and Susan. On com- ing to this country his father first settled in Virginia, and from there moved to Shelby County, Ky.
John W. Tinder was born in Marion Township, this county, Jan. 22, 1835. He obtained his education in the district schools of his neighborhood, and remained on the home farm till he was twenty-two years old. He then married, Feb. 5, 1857, Laura, daughter of William F. and Jane (Crawford) Hamrick, of Marion
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Township, and to them were born two children-James William, born March 3, 1858; died March 9, of the saine year, and Carrie, born Feb. 11, 1862; died Jan. 18, 1863. They have reared several children. Linnie Wallen, now living with them, was taken at the age of nine years. After his marriage Mr. Tinder purchased a farm of eighty acres in Marion Township, where he farmed till June, 1862, when he enlisted in the Fourth Indiana Cavalry under Colonel L. S. Shuler and served over three years. He was wounded in the leg at Bardstown, Ky., which disabled him for two months. He was engaged in the battles of Chiekamanga, Resaca, Murfrees- boro and Jonesboro raid, and was mustered out with his regi- ment in September, 1865. After the war he returned to Marion Township, where he farmed till August, 1867, since which he has resided in Danville, where he owns a fine home and three acres of ground on Main street. He also owns 140 acres in Marion Town- ship, most of which he has rented. Mr. Tinder and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has held the office of County Commissioner by re-election since 1877, his pres- ent term expiring in 1889. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and has passed all the chairs of his lodge, and was rep- resentative to the Grand Lodge one year. He has been Quarter- master of the G. A. R. Post sinee its origin in 1SS3.
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