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 23

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Inter-State Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 886


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 23


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).


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OFFICIAL.


Following are the names, with the years of election, of those who have held the various offices in Franklin Township since its organization :


Justices of the Peace: Jeremiah Stiles, 1830; Richard H. Van Dike, 1831; Wilcox, 1832; Joshua Pickett, M. P. Mitchell and B. R. Warmley, 1834; Nelson Woods and Isaac Wilcox, 1835; Berry Burks, IS38; Berry Burks, 1843; James Borders, 1845; Berry Burks, 1848; Alexander L. Masters and Absalom Snoddy, 1850; Henry McAllister, 1851; Absalom Snoddy and Christopher Wilson (con- tested, and David Scott chosen at special election), 1855; John Havens, 1856; Jeremiah Gentry, 1858; James W. Matlock and Charles W. McClure, 1859; Absalom Snoddy, Daniel McAninch


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590 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.


and John Mulholland, 1860; Absalom Snoddy, David Scott and Daniel McAninch, 1864; Absalom Snoddy, J. T. Pearcy and Dan- iel McAninch, 1868; Absalom Snoddy, O. E. Hume and Charles Ross, 1870; James W. Matlock, 1872; John R. Kelly, Elisha McAn- inch and Absalom Snoddy, 1874; Elisha McAninch and John. Campbell, 1878; John H. Baldock, 1880; Elisha McAninch, E. N. Evans and W. H. Baldock, 1882; J. Q. Barrow, 1884.


Constables: William Shipley, 1831; Isaac Wilcox and George Hancock, 1832; Absalom Snoddy and Thomas M. Hults, 1833; Edward Shipley and Moses C. Hough, 1834; Edward Shipley and George Morris, 1835; James G. Hibbs and William Recce, 1836; William Garrison and Thomas Broadstreet, 1837; William Gar- rison and William R. Kirk, 1838; T. N. Morris and William R. Kirk, 1839; Jesse Garrison and Anderson M. Clegborn, 1844; Absa- lom Snoddy and Anderson M. Cleghorn, 1845-'6; Jesse Garrison and William Bryant, 1847; Thomas J. Nichols and David Alley, 1848; Anderson M. Cleghorn and David Alley, 1849; Henry McAllister James R. Dickens, 1850; Jesse Garrison and A. G. Detrick, 1851; John W. Sharp and William Page, 1852; George Kreigh and Joseph H. Bryant, 1853; Solomon Stephens, 1854; Joseph S. Bry- ant, and C. A. Borders; 1855; James Vermillion and A. N. Hod- son, 1856; David Allen and Richard Bryant, 1857; L. W. Stringer, 1858; David McNabb and O. E. McAffee, 1859-'60; W. B. Walls, Jacob Phillips and David McNabb, 1861; William A. Baldwin, 1862; L. Kinney, H. Cecil and A. N. Hodson, 1863; Samuel Swope, Joseph Walls and John Kelley, 1864; Preston Page and D. P. Bry- ant, 1866; J. M. Green, Lazarns Kinney and Joseph Walls, 1868; Joseph Walls, S. Evans and J. F. McAninch, 1869; J. Richard- son, John Wilson and William A. Baldwin, 1870; John Richard- son, and J. W. Matlock, 1872; O. E. Hume, John Richardson and A. A. Snoddy, 1874; B. F. Tignor, John Richardson and William McAninch, 1876; John Richardson and John Mahoney, 1878; Will- iam Appleby, John B. Bair and W. A. Baldwin, 1880; A. J. Har- baugh, and J. R. Coble, 1882; William Burris and A. J. Har- baugh, 1884.


Trustees: David Scott, 1854; George Kreigh, 1856; J. Williams, 1857; James Borders, 1858; Bluford Scott, 1859; William Tincher, 1860; Bluford Scott, 1861; M. Sells, 1862; J. Harrison, 1863; M. Sells, 1864; J .. A. Milholland, 1866-'9; A. B. Bryant, 1870; Al- pheus Harlan, 1872.'74; Casper Robards, 1876-'78; John W. Brown, 1880; J. R. Kelley, 1882; John A. Osborn, 1884.


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HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.


591


Clerks: E. F. Rogers, 1856; J. S. Masters, 1857; A. L. Mas- ters, 1858 (office abolished).


Treasurers: J. W. Matlock, 1856-'7; Bluford Scott, 1858 (office abolished).


Assessors: Hezekiah Gentry, 1870-'72; Amos Hoak, 1874; Ed- ward Humpston, 1876; James E. Humpston, 1878-'S0; A. R. Will- iams, 1882.


FIRST ELECTION.


The poll-book of the general election of 1831 (held Aug. 1, at Stilesville), gives the names of forty voters, which are here copied, unchanged, as a nearly complete list of the first settlers: William Shipley, Jonathan Sparks, Joseph Pette, Jacob Reace, Jerremiah Stiles, James Kelly, John Brown, George H. Keller, George Mor- ris, George Hancock, Henry Reese, William Thomas, Peter Pearson, Thomas Wood, Edward Shipley, Samuel Wick, Daniel Aus- tin, Lorenzoe D. Cleghorn, James Walls, Isaac Odle, William Scott, Carles Smith, Silas Rustin, William Wilcocks, Absalom Snoddy, Samuel Gerber, Monroe Clegliorn, Joseph Cleghorn; William Snoddy, James Priehett, Eli Lee, ,Frederick Cosner, Will- iam Becknel, Joshua Ruston, James Bray, James Wiece, John Hancock, Silas Bryant, Nicholas Osbouru and Garry Morris.


The vote at this election was counted by James Walls and Silas Bryant as judges, with Thomas Wood and John Hancock as clerks, and Jeremiah Stiles as inspector. They reported as follows: "We, the inspector and judges of this election, after being duly qualified, proceeded to receive, count and compare votes and find them as follows, viz .: For Governor, James G. Reed got twenty- two votes; Noah Noble got seventeen votes. For Lientenant-Gov- ernor, Ross Smiley got twenty-two votes; Wallis (first name unknown) got twelve votes. For Congress, Ratliff Boon got twenty- two votes; John Law got eighteen votes. For Senitor, Willis G. Conduit got twenty-five votes; Levi Jessup got fourteen votes. For Representative, John Hannah got twenty votes; Lewis Mastin got twenty votes. For Sheriff, Thomas Nicols got twenty-seven votes. For Commissioner, John Woodard got twenty-nine votes; Alex. MeCalment got twenty votes; Jacob Canady got seventeen votes; David Matloek got six votes and Reubin Claypool got four votes."


POLITICAL.


In politics Franklin was heavily Whig until 1856, and since then


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592


FISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.


has been Republican, generally two to one, as compared with the opposition vote. Following is the vote for President at each elec- tion since 1836 :


1836-William H. Harrison 8S


63


1864-Abraham Lincoln .. .. 125 67


Martin Van Buren 25


George B. McClellan .. 58


1844-Henry Clay. 118


85


Horatio Seymour. .105


1872-Ulysses S. Grant. 197


124


1848-Zachariah Taylor 8S


60


Horace Greeley 73


Lewis Cass. . 28


1876-Rutherford B. Hayes


217


Martin Van Buren 19


1852-Winfield Scott 123


77


Peter Cooper. 12


Franklin Pierce. 46


1880-James A. Garfield .. 204


91


Jobn P. Hale 1


1856-John C. Fremont. .127


68


Winfield S. Hancock .113 James B. Weaver 9 Neal Dow .. 1


James Buchanan 59


Millard Fillmore. 1


1884-James G. Blaine. 192


84


1860-Abraham Lincoln .15


Stephen A. Douglas. . .. 58


John C. Breckinridge .. 5


77 Grover Cleveland. .108 Benjamin F. Bu ler. ... 4 John P. St. John 3


STATISTICAL.


The census of 1880 gave Franklin a population of 1,363, and a . safe estimate now would be 1,500. The following statistics of property and taxation are for 1885: Acres of land assessed, 18,- 910.80; value of same, $.ISS,744; value of improvements, $50,- 720; value of lots, $4,337; value of improvements, $15,893; value of personal property, $189,758; total taxables, $749,452; polls, 212; dogs, 143; State tax, $1,005.34; county tax, $2,198.06; town- ship tax, $299.78; tuition tax, $952.35; special school tax, $1,701.79; road tax, $1,498.90; endowment tax, $37.47; bridge tax, $749.45; total tax, $10.041.15; delinquent tax, $683.SS.


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, STILESVILLE


was laid off as a village in 1828, and a small settlement started. The opening of the National Road through this county in 1830, passing direetly through Stilesville, made this point of some int- portance. It was a station at which all emigrants to the great West aimed to take a dinner or a night's lodging. The village prospered, and, though in time it lost its relative importance, it has held its own in population, having now 350 inhabitants. There is not a village in Indiana that has a more orderly, intelligent and kindly population than Stilesville. All the place needs is a rail- road, and this it may have in a few years. It has a daily mail and back to the Vandalia Railroad, which is but five miles distant. The present business firms of Stilesville are: Jacob Bruce, hack


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1868 -- Ulysses S. Grant. 192 87 James K. Polk. 33 James G. Birney 5


123 Samuel J. Tilden. 94


HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY. 593


and mail line; A. N. Crawford, blacksmith; Elder & Crawford, meat market; Mrs. Ellmore, millinery; William H. Ellmore, shoe shop; E. N. Evans, carpenter; B. M. Gentry, postoffice; Gentry Bros., general store; J. N. Green, physician; A. Heavenridge, druggist and physician; A. W. Johnson, boarding house; A. D. Kelley, merchant tailor; A. L. Masters, dry.goods; N. G. Mas. ters, physician; W. Mckenzie, saddlery and harness; Alvin Mondy, grocery; A. Osborne, druggist; W. A. Shoptaugh, hotel; Samuel Swope, undertaker; Tignor & Richardson, blacksmiths.


Stilesville has a fine new brick school building, which is now, in the spring of 1SS5, being completed at a cost of $5,000. It is two stories and a basement in height, and will have three rooms and a vestibule, with three teachers. This building, with the three churches, adds very much to the looks of the village.


RELIGIOUS.


The Missionary Baptist Church, has been organized between forty-five and fifty years. The frame church first used was built in 1840. Among the early members of the society were Davis Bos- well, Abraham Bland, James Walls, Moses Crawford, Josiah Gar- rin, their wives, and Mary Reese. The present fine brick church was completed in 1882, at a cost of $3,000. It has a handsome slate roof, and will seat 300 people. The membership is about seventy-five. Among the early pastors were Revs. John Jones, " Uncle Ben " Arnold, John Mugg, Jacob and John Rynearson.


The Christian Church was organized and their first house of worship was erected in 1812. This was a frame church, and cost $1,000. Among the first members were Daniel Osborne, John W. Bryant, John R. Robards, George W. Snoddy, James Snoddy and their families. After using their first church over thirty years, a nice brick one was erected, with neat slate roof, costing altogether $2,500. The membership of the society is approxi- mately 100. Services are held monthly. George W. Snoddy preached over forty years, dying in April, 1882. Commencing somewhat before his death, Rev. A. J. Frank, of Greencastle, took charge of this parish, which he managed three years. Then Rev. A. M. Connor and a brother officiated for three months, after whom came Rev. Mr. Gilchrist, of Irvington, who remained nine months. He was the last regular pastor. The present officers of the society are: Elders, J. N. Green, Daniel Osborne, C. Robards


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594 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.


and J. W. Brown; Deacons, William A. McAninch, Jr., and William Page; Clerk, W. A. Shoptangh.


The Methodist Episcopal Church has been organized at least forty years. Services were held for many years in the school- house, and in 1850 they built their present church, at a cost of $1,600. It will seat about 200. Among the early members were Isaac Smart, William Cline, John Clark, John Richardson, James Borders, Joseph Bishop, Edward Jackson, Elisha MeAnineh and their wives. The ministers have been, in order, James Williams, Joseph Woods, J. F. Woodruff, Elias Gaskin,-Bridges, Miles Woods, W. W. Pewett, William Ginnis, Asa Beek and J. V. R. Miller. The last named, the present pastor, commenced his labors here in the fall of 1884. The present membership of the society is about fifty.


SOCIETIES.


Larabee Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M., was organized in May, 1852, and has now thirty-one members. The present officers are : James Pratt, W. M .; William Applebee, S. W .; John S. Ellmore, J. W .; A. Heavenridge, Sec .; William Page, Treas .; James Tincher, S. D .; William Ellmore, J. D .; W. A. MeAninch, Tyler. The lodge meets the Monday evening on or preceding the full moon of each month.


Enoch Alexander Post, No. 265, G. A. R., was mustered in the fall of 1SS3 with thirteen members. The membership has now increased to forty-seven. The present officials are: J. B. Garri- son, Com .; L. S. Rector, S. V. C .; O. P. Bowen, J. V. C .; Alfred Benbow, Adj .; F. M. Osborne, O. D .; 1William Houston, Q. M .; A. N. Crawford, Chap .; Smith G. York, O. G.


BIOGRAPHICAL.


John Wesley Brown, section 26, Franklin Township, is a son of Amiel and Susannah Brown. He was born Sept. 26, 1836, on the farm where he now resides. He was married Sept. 26, 1859, to Sarah J. Smart, daughter of Isaac Smart, who came from Ohio to this township in 1851, at present living in Cass County, Mo. To them were born two children-Virgil died at the age of six months and Effie died at the age of two years. "Mrs. Brown died Jan. 21, 1862, aged twenty-one years, and Mr. Brown married for his second wife Mrs. M. W. Critchfield, widow of J. G. Critelifield. She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., a daughter of Robert and


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HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY. 595


Eliza Turner. They have two children-Ora A. and Jessie W. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are consistent members of the Christian church. Mr. Brown has served acceptably as Township Trustee, and has been prominently identified with all enterprises for the good of his township. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Amiel Brown, father of our subject, was born Sept. 10, 1810, in Guil- ford County, N. C., and in 1826 his parents, James and Rebecca Brown, moved to Wayne County, Ind., from thence to Morgan . County, and subsequently settled in Iowa, where they died. Amiel Brown was married in 1832 to Susannah Burris, a native of High- land County, Ohio, and a daughter of John Burris. They reared seven children-Mrs. Lonisa Jane Crawford, died at Stilesville, May 22, 1884; John W., our subject; Mrs. Elizabeth A. Swope, a resident of Stilesville; Mrs. Mary F. Dunnington, deceased; Verlin G., living in Kansas; Mrs. Carrie E. Hollingsworth, deceased, and Laura P., residing at Stilesville. After his marriage Mr. Brown settled in Liberty Township, and in 1835 moved to Clay Township. He came to this township in 1844, settling on a farin on section 26, which contains 160 acres of excellent land and is now owned and occupied by our subject. Amiel Brown died at the old home- stead April 13, 1869. His wife died Ang. 2, 1883, in her seventy- fourth year. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.


Bary M. Gentry, of the firm of Gentry Brothers, general mer- chants, Stilesville, Ind., is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Hendricks County. His father, Blaxton Gentry, was born in Culpeper, Va., June 1, 1766, and was reared in Culpeper . and Lee counties. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Brush, who died in Virginia. He afterward moved with his children to Kentucky, where he was married in September, 1816, to Nancy Hongh, a native of New Jersey, who moved with her parents to Kentucky when a child. In the autumn of 1832 Mr. . Gentry came from Kentucky to Hendricks County, Ind., with a four-horse team. His family at that time consisted of eight chil- dren, the eldest of whom, Garland, the only child by his first mar- riage, was married and brought his wife and child. They located in what is now Franklin Township, Mr. Gentry buying 155 acres of land. They cleared and cultivated a farin where they reared their family, and where the father died April 9, 1845, and the mother May 23, 1853. They are buried on the homestead on land selected for that purpose by the father. Mr. Gentry was prom-


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596


HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.


inently identified with the early history of Franklin Township. Politieally he was in early life a Jackson Democrat, but in 1840 voted for General Harrison. He was a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church. Seven children were born to this see- ond marriage-Melvin A., Eliza J., Bary M., John'W., Sarah Ann (deceased), Jeremiah and Hezekiah. Bary M. Gentry was born in Kentucky, Jan. 16, 1821. After attaining manhood he engaged in agricultural pursuits till 1871, and still owns a fine farm in Adams Township, Morgan County. He has aceumnlated a fine property by industry and frugality, being in limited eireumstances when he started in life. In Mareh, 1871, he became associated with his brother Hezekiah and established the general mercantile bnsi- ness in Stilesville, where they have built up a good trade which is constantly increasing. . Mr. Gentry married Elizabeth J. Ludlow, a native of Kentucky, daughter of Nathaniel Ludlow. They have had a family of ten children, six of whom are living-Melvina A., Nancy J., Joanna, Harrison, Candace and John W. Mr. Gentry's brother Hezekiah was born in Kentucky, Aug. 16, 1830. He mar- ried Mary A. Wilcox, a native of Hendricks County, born Dec. 29, 1834. They have one daughter-Sarah A., born March 19, 1854, now the wife of James M. Tineher.


Jonathan N. Green, M. D., Stilesville, Ind., was born in Guil- ford County, N. C., Ang. 23, 1825, a son of John and Charity (Swaim) Green. In 1835 his parents moved to Hendricks County, Ind .. and settled on a farm near Plainfield. In 1837 they bought a farm in Center Township, where the father died in 1840. The mother survived her husband several years. They had a family of eight children, four of whom are living-Leno W., of Center Township; Martha, wife of John Lamb; Martin I., a Methodist minister, at West Lebanon, and Jonathan N. Dr. Green began the study of medicine in 1846 with Drs. Henry G. and David Todd, of Danville, and remained with them three years. He then located in Stilesville and began the practice of his profession. In the win- ter of 1857-'58 he attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, Ill., and gradnated in the spring of the latter year. He lias built up a large practice, having won the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He was married to Eva V. Pope, a native of Liberty Township, born in 1833, a daughter of James N. Pope, a pioneer of Hendricks County.


John A. Grimes, a resident of section 10, Franklin Township, was born Aug. 17, 1824, in North Carolina. Ilis parents, John and


Lehm. Hadley


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597


HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.


Mary Grimes, were born, reared and married in that State and emi- grated to this county in 1833, locating in this township. They brought four children with them-Elias, Elihu, William and John, of whom the latter is the only one now residing in this county. The father died here in 1855, his widow surviving him till 186S. John A. Grimes was married Oct. 17, 1849, to Rebecca Morgan, a native of Tennessee, whose parents settled in Hamilton County, Ind., where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have seven children -Oliver Morton, Charles F., Rozilla E., Hannah D., Ellsworth, Francis M. and Rhoda L., all living at home. Mr. Grimes is in comfortable circumstances, owning a fine farm of 137 acres. Politi- cally he is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Reg- ular Baptist church.


Jehu Hadley is one of the most prominent farmers of Hendricks . County. His farm is one of the best in the county, and none have required more labor to change from a state of nature to that of high productiveness. March 4, 1838, Mr. Hadley bought 320 acres of land on section 11, Franklin Township, at that time a swamp adjacent to Mill Creek, which flowed through it, a sluggish stream. The part of his purchase which was arable was covered with a heavy growth of timber. Old settlers pronounced the estate value- less and predicted starvation to the owner, but to-day it is the model farm of the county. This change has been wrought by incessant toil and perseverance. Two thousand rods of tile drainage, 400 rods of open ditch, one mile of levee on the banks of Mill Creek, indicate the character of the improvements. Every acre of the land is improved. The fine park and amphitheatre was built for the use of the old settlers, who have held their annual re-unions there for thirteen years, with an average attendance of 6,000 per- sons. Mr. Hadley at one time owned 650 acres, nearly all of which he improved. Probably no other man in Hendricks County has cleared and improved as much land as he. Part of this he has sold. and part he has deeded to his children till his farm is now reduced to 200 acres. His beautiful brick residence, built in 1876,. is a model of convenience and comfort, and cost, with surrounding out-buildings, over $10,000. No man in Hendricks County is more widely known, and certainly no one is more highly respected for the many qualities that combine to make a true manhood than Jehn Hadley. In deal he is more than just, he is generous. Hon orable himself, he never distrusts a man till he has proved him. Liberal and charitable, he never refuses aid to a worthy man or 38


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598 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.


objeet, and for forty years the needy have known that in him they had a friend who never turned any empty-handed away. Strong in his likes and dislikes, he loves his friends but eschews his ene- mies. Mr. Hadley was born in Chatham County, N. C., Oct. 19, 1810, and in 1825 accompanied his parents, James T. and Mary (Richardson) Hadley, to Hendricks County and located in Center Township. He was married Aug. 3, 1837, to Jerusha Stiles, a native of Vermont, born July 19, 1819, daughter of Jeremiah and Sibyl Stiles. Her father was the founder of Stilesville, locating there in 1821. Mrs. Stiles died in January, 1828, and was the first married woman who died in that place. Mr. Stiles subsequently married again. He died of cholera, at Savannah, Mo. But three of his children are living-Mrs. Hadley, Mrs. Sibyl Whieker, and Lewis (son of the second marriage). One son, Luke, a physician, of Chicago, Ill., died in 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Hadley have been born ten children-Mrs. Nancy Daggy, of Danville; Mrs. Mary Gibben, of Butler, Mo .; Henry, of Eel River Township; Sibyl, deceased, wife of William Wilson; George Washington and Marcus Lafayette, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion and died in the serv- ice; Mrs. Alice Matlock, of California; Mrs. Laura Masten, of this township; John and Jerusha (twins), at home. Mr. Hadley is a member of the Christian and Mrs. Hadley of the Missionary Bap- tist church.


Thomas Harrison, deceased, was born in North Carolina in 1800, and removed with his parents to Kentucky, where he mar- ried Nancy Bryan, a native of East Tennessee, born Nov. 28, 1807. In the fall of 1832 they moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled on seetion 19, Franklin Township, where Mr. Harrison died Nov. 11, 1846. Mrs. Harrison still lives on the homestead, which contains 160 acres of valuable land. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison had a family of six children, three of whom are living-Mrs. Mar- tha Walls, John and Mrs. Emeline Swinler. James died at the age of fifteen years, Nathan aged seventeen years and William aged forty years. The latter was married and left a widow and four children-Iva, Oscar, Ada and Wilmie. Mrs. William Har- rison, whose maiden name was Eliza Bartholomew, daughter of Benjamin and Sabrina (Johnson) Bartholomew, lives on the home- stead with Mrs. Harrison.


A. Heavenridge, M. D., Stilesville, Ind., was born in Union County, Ind., May 22, 1829. His father, William Heavenridge, born 1791, was a native of Louisiana, and when fifteen years of


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HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.


599


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age moved with his parents to Tennessee, and thence to Union County, Ind. He subsequently located in Henry County, and from there moved to Putnam County, and thence to that part of Morgan County which is now a part of Hendricks. He afterward moved to Wabash County, where he died Feb. 17, 1864. His wife died April 16, 1862. Our subject was reared on a farm, and March 1, 1853, began the study of medicine with Dr. Moody, of Stilesville, remaining with him two years. He attended two courses of lect- ures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., in the winters of 1854-'5 and 1857-'S, graduating in the spring of the latter year. He then located in Stilesville and, with the exception of three years spent in Putnam County, has since resided here. He is a close student of his profession and has built up a large practice. He was married to Sarah Mckenzie, a native of Virginia, who removed with her parents to Kentucky, where her father died, and in 1844 she accompanied her mother to Patnam County, Ind., removing to Hendricks County in 1849. To Dr. and Mrs. Heav- enridge have been born three children, but two of whom are living -Eugenia and Frank M. Gertrude died in childhood.


Melville F. MeHaffie, section 29, Mill Creek Township, Putnam Co., Ind., is so prominently identified with the material and social interests of Hendricks County that its history could not be consid- ered complete without mention of him. He was born in Knox County, Tenn., Dec. 27, 1826, a son of Andrew E. and Nancy (Woods) MeHaffie. His mother died when he was three years of age leaving three children-Nancy E., widow of William P. Rob- erts; Melville F. and Thurza Jane, who died aged twelve years. In October, 1832, his father settled in Franklin Township, Hen- dricks County, three-fourths of a mile from Stilesville, living a short time in a tent. He bought 640 acres of Government land, coming to this county with some money compared to the majority of the early settlers. He improved his farm rapidly and soon had a good home. He married a second time, in August, 1838, in Blount County, Tenn., Naney D. Kilburn. One child was born to them, Mary Angeline, now a resident of Stilesville. Andrew MeHaffie was one of the prominent, enterprising citizens of Hendricks County, noted for his honorable dealings and benevolence. He died Oet. 17, 1863, aged sixty-five years and six months. His widow died in Arkansas in 1SS1. His father, John McHaffie, served nearly six years in the war of the Revolution, and was pres- ent at the surrender of Cornwallis, and for his gallantry won a




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