USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Indiana > Part 80
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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V., of Franklin. The deceased are William, Mrs. Mary Hall, Mrs. Jane Van Nuys, Mrs. Margaret McCaslin, Mrs. Caroline Van Nuys, Peter, Magdalena, Jacob and Edward.
OTIS M. VANDIVIER.
The importance that attaches to the lives, character and work of the early settlers of Johnson county and the influence they have exerted upon the cause of humanity and civilization is one of the most absorbing themes that can possibly attract the attention of the local chronicler or historian. If great and beneficent results-results that endure and bless mankind- are the proper measure of the good men do, then who is there in the world's history that may take their places above the hardy pioneer. To point out the way, to make possible our present advancing civilization, its happy homes, its arts and sciences, its discoveries and inventions, its education, literature, culture, refinement and socal life and joy, is to be the truly great benefactors of mankind for all time. This was the great work accomplished by the early settlers and it is granted by all that they builded wiser than they knew. Among the pioneer families of Johnson county who are still identified with this locality no family has as large a. representation in the county as the Vandivier family, members of which have played an important part in civic and public affairs. A worthy representative of this family is the gentle- man whose name appears at the head of this sketeh; who is not only a suc- cessful farmer, but is also giving efficient service as trustee of Clark township.
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The Vandivier family is originally from Germany, the first emigrant ancestor, Peter Vandivier, who was born in 1760 and died in 1823, having first settled in Pennsylvania, later moved to Virginia, and finally made his home in Kentucky, where he died. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Lagrange, was born in 1769 and died in 1855. They were the parents of six children, one of whom, Peter, was born in 1785. On March 2, 1801, he married Sarah Garshwiler, a native of Kentucky, and in 1826 they came to Johnson county, settling on the Martinsville road, where he entered a home- stead in Union township. To him and his wife were born a large family, fourteen children in all, and all settled on the Martinsville road, the family owning practically all the land from that locality to the Morgan county line. These children with the dates of their birth are as follows : Madison, December 15, 1809; Eliza (Mrs. Byers), February 9, 1811 ; Strawther, August 30, 1812; John. April 18, 1814; William T., January 29, 1815; Susan (Mrs. Byers), May 27, 1817; Peter, November 1, 1818: Joseph S., January 6, 1820;
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James H., January 13, 1823; Mary ( Mrs. Deer), September 18, 1824; Isaac, July 15, 1826; Henry, December 25, 1827; Jefferson, August 25, 1829, and Harriett, the wife of Willis Dobbins, November 23, 1834.
Madison Vandivier, the eldest of the above children, who was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, came with his father to Johnson county, Indiana, in 1825. Here he engaged in the mercantile business, running a country store, and was also an extensive live stock dealer. He served as county tax collector, in the prosecution of the duties of the office traveling over the country on horseback. On November 10, 1831, he married Mildred Admire, who was born July 13, 1813, and died on March 10, 1854. To them were born the following children : William A., born September 28, 1833; Sarah Ann (Mrs. Davis), April 27, 1836; James Sylvester, October 1, 1838; Susan, June 6, 1840; James M., July 11, 1842; Francis M., December 2, 1853. On Septem- ber 6, 1855, Mr. Vandivier married Matilda Davis, and to them was born a daughter, Emily, who became the wife of James Woods.
James M. Vandivier, as stated above, was born on July 11, 1842, died on November 15, 1898. At the early age of ten years he was left to his own resources, but he was equal to the demands upon him and made a success of his business career. His early life was spent on a farm, but later he became a merchant at Bud, where he has prospered and attained to a respectable position in the community. In 1864 he married Ida C. Ragsdale, daughter of Henderson Ragsdale, and to them were born the following children: Ara V., an undertaker at Franklin ;; Otis M., the immediate subject of this sketch; Minnie D., who married a Mr. Eccles and now lives on the old homestead; Annie E., who died in 1890, and Rollie J., also on the old home- stead. Ara V. was born January 20, 1865, married Josie A. Kerlin, who was born October 22, 1864, their marriage occurring on August 5, 1886. They have devoted their lives to farming, in which they are successful to an eminent degree. To them have been born two children: Kenneth V., born November 10, 1887, died March 8, 1895; Clancy C., born May 24, 1890. The mother of these children died on March 26, 1898. From 1899 to 1903, Ara V. Vandivier was a deputy sheriff of Johnson county under Sheriff J. S. Brown. In 1899 he married Isabella W. Daugherty, to which union were born three children : James Rheil, July 15, 1900; Mary Catharine, April 16, 1902, and Robert Polk, December 26, 1903. In 1905 Mr. Vandivier en- gaged in undertaking, in which he has been successful. Minnie D. Vandivier, who was born February 6, 1870, was married to F. M. Eccles, and they have one child, Mildred, born in December, 1902. Rollie J. Vandivier, who was born February 20, 1879, married Esther W. Demaree on September I,
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1899, and they have two children; Paul M., born July 25, 1902, and Margaret L., born December 22, 1904.
Otis M. Vandivier, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his education in the country schools of his locality and in the normal school. He was the first pupil enrolled in the high school in Union township and after the completion of his studies, in 1890, he began teaching school, in which vocation he was engaged for eighteen years in the district schools of this county. During the same period he was also in agricultural work, to which he devoted his time during school vacations. In 1900 he bought one hundred and three acres of his present farm, and in 1910 bought eighty-five acres ad- ditional. He is now the owner of one hundred and eighty-eight acres of good, tillable land and all in cultivation except about thirty acres of timber which is used largely for grazing purposes. He gives his careful attention to every detail of his farm work. He feeds large numbers of live stock, averaging an output of fifty head of hogs annually, six cattle and about eighteen to twenty-five sheep. His farm is in many respects one of the best in the township, and owing to his persistent industry, progressive methods of carry- ing forward his work, Mr. Vandivier has met with a gratifying degree of success, being generally considered one of the best farmers in his section of the county. He has a splendid residence with all the modern improve- ments and the general appearance of the place is a credit to the owner.
On March 22, 1893, Otis M. Vandivier was united in marriage to Blanche C. Hamilton, the daughter of William H. Hamilton, and they are the parents of two children: Harold Henderson, born January 26, 1904, and Aaron Augustus, born November 19, 1910. Politically, Mr. Vandivier gives his support to the Democratic party, and in 1908 was elected trustee of Clark township, in which position he is now serving, his term having been extended to six years by legislative enactment. Religiously, he is a member of the Bush Grove Baptist church, in the success of which he takes a deep interest. His fraternal membership is with the Providence lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Vandivier has taken an active and intelligent interest in local affairs and is counted upon always as a supporter of any movement for the betterment of the community in which he lives. He is the historian of the Vandivier family reunions, this being, as before stated, the largest in Johnson county, and he has recorded many interesting and valuable facts of local history, especially as pertaining to his family. Because of his sterling personal qualities, his genial disposition and the material success to which he has at- tained, he is held in high regard in the community where he lives and his friends are in number as his acquaintances.
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RUFUS WEBSTER TERHUNE, M. D.
Johnson county, Indiana, has reason to take pride in the personnel of her corps of medical men from the earliest days in her history to the present time, and on the roll of honored names that indicates the services of dis- tinguished citizens in this field of endeavor there is reason in reverting with gratification to that of Dr. Rufus Webster Terhune, of Whiteland, who has attained eminence in his chosen calling and for a number of years has stood . among the scholarly and enterprising physicians in a community long dis- tinguished for the high order of its medical talent. He realized early that there is a purpose in life and that there is no honor not founded on worth and no respect not founded on accomplishment. His life and labors have been eminently worthy because they have contributed to a proper understanding of life and its problems.
Rufus Webster Terhune was born near Samaria, Johnson county, In- diana, October 21, 1866. He attended the district schools and afterwards the Trafalgar high school, where he graduated March 14, 1884, with first honors. Having industriously studied to complete the high school course during the winter terms of six months each and having devoted his summer vacations to a special training for teaching, he obtained a high grade teacher's license two months after his high school commencement and began his work as a teacher September 14, 1885. He had long felt a preference for the science of medicine, the study of which he began upon reaching his majority and continued with energy not only during his vacations, but also at nights while devoting his days to the work of teaching. He entered the Kentucky School of Medicine in 1889 and graduated June 18, 1891, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and on February 15, 1892, he located at Whiteland and en- tered at once upon the active practice of his profession. He soon demonstrated his ability and for several years has been numbered among the successful physicians of his county. He has been actuated throughout his professional life by the highest ideals and has never compromised his usefulness by countenancing any but noble and legitimate practice. He has always main- tained the high dignity of his calling and has keenly felt the responsibility resting upon him as a minister of the healing art. He possesses a thoroughly disciplined mind and is a close and critical student of medical literature and of the trend of modern thought in the science to which his life and services have been devoted.
His ability and success have earned for him a high reputation in his community and the genuine respect of his professional colleagues. In the
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Posting hre 45 ter ile work of teaching. He entered the Kentucky Schus NAEste wondered Fine 18, 1891, with the degree of Doctse W- Fourniary 15. 1892, he located at . Whiteland and we med at wier ingowe für motive practice of his profession. He soon demonstrate wypad veurs has been numbered among the succes-be
He has been actuated throughout his professions Wie Je the higher ideals and has never compromised his usefulness ny coghtenanoing any hon nable and legitimate practice. He has always awide tained the high digits of his calling and has keenly felt the responsibility resting upon him as a minister of the healing art. He possesses a thoroughts disciplined mind and is a close and critical student of medical literature sand of the trend of modern thought in the science to which his life and servir have been devoted.
His ability and success have earned for him a high reputation in community and the genuine respect of his professional colleagues. In
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R. W. Terhune M.W.
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public and civic life of his community Doctor Terhune has long been a prominent and influential figure. He served as town clerk and treasurer of Whiteland for the year 1897. In 1898 he was elected coroner of Johnson county, and was thrice elected, making a total of eight years in which he served in this responsible position. He was again elected town clerk and treasurer of Whiteland for the years 1910 and 1911. Since the expiration of his term as clerk and treasurer he has served as president of the board of trustees of Whiteland and has been instrumental in building cement side- walks on every street in town; has opened up new streets, built sewers, secured electric light service and paved Main street. He has been health officer for the town since 1908, and has assiduously given his time and energy to establish those conditions which so largely promote the healthfulness of the community. His interest in public health, preventive medicine and child welfare caused him to be the pioneer medical inspector of schools in Johnson county. He prepared a series of papers on "School Hygiene," which he read to teachers' institutes and thus helped to arouse a public sentiment in favor of improve- ment which resulted in the erection of the present commodious and sanitary high school building in Whiteland. Doctor Terhune is a member of the Johnson County Medical Society, the Indiana State ,Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He has served the County Medical Society as president and secretary for several years. By way of recreation, Doctor Terhune reads history. . He has a good historical library and takes an intelligent interest in the intensive study of the annals of Johnson county and has done much original research.' The results of his investigation he has published under the title of "Historical Sketches of Medicine and Medical Men in the Early Days of Johnson County." He contributed the article regarding the early physicians of Johnson county for Dr. G. W. H. Kem- per's "Medical History of Indiana" (chapter on Medicine in Branigin's His- tory). For ten years he has been a laborious collector of Terhune genealogy in all parts of the United States. This material he has published under the title of "Albert Albertsen ter Huen and his Descendants." A few years ago he prepared and published an illustrated chart and "A Manual of Scientific Temperance," several thousand copies of which were placed in the public schools for use in teaching the harmful effects of alcohol upon the human system.
Politically, Doctor Terhune is an active and enthusiastic member of the Democratic party. Fraternally, he is a Modern Woodman of America and a Knight of Pythias. Religiously, his affiliations are with the Bethany Presby- terian church at Whiteland.
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Doctor Terhune has been twice married. His first marriage was with Mrs. Lena Enfield Doran, of Louisville, Ky., on June 21, 1892, whose death occurred on the 15th day of October, 1898. His second marriage was with Evabel Robinson, of Minneapolis, Minn., on the IIth of August, 1909. To this union have been born two children: Helen Irene Terhune, September 7, 1910, and Webster Lucian Terhune, January 7, 1912.
During the period of his professional practice in this community, Doctor Terhune has not only gained the respect of his confreres in his chosen profession, but has also sustained a sound reputation for uprightness and nobility of character in all the relations of life. He has realized that to those who attain determinate success in the medical profession there must be not only given technical ability, but also a broad human sympathy which must pass from mere sentiment to be an actuating motive for helpfulness. His useful life as one of the world's workers has been one of devotion to his calling and he merits specific mention in the annals of his county, where he has given the best of his powers and talents for the aiding and betterment of his kind'
Doctor Terhune is descended from a long line of sterling ancestors, who have been particularly distinguished for their courage and integrity. The patient genealogist laboriously delving in the quaint and musty records of New Amsterdam is rewarded by discovering early in the year 1650 a name not previously found therein. And a prosecution of the search is rewarded by finding an occasional repetition of the same name in a variety of forms. Sometimes it appears as "Albert Albertse," or "Elbert Elbertse"; again it is written "Albert Albertsen ter Huen," or "Alberzen ter Heun," or "ter Hunen," or "ter Huyn," or "ter Huen." These forms are but variants of the modern name Terhune. (I) "Albert Albertse," the first of the name in America, is the common ancestor of all the Terhunes that have lived and died through- out the years since that early day. His wife's name was Geertje (Gertrude), and they were the parents of two sons and four daughters :
I. Jan Albertsen (John Albert).
2. Heyltje (Hail) Albertse, born January 12, 1650.
3. Albert. Albertsen, Jr., born August 13, 1651.
4. Annetje (Anna) Albertse, born March 3, 1653.
5. Styntje (Christiana ) Albertse (in Cloes Janse Romyn May 2, 1680).
6. Sarah Albertse, married Hanse Van Noorstrant.
Albert Albertse, the immigrant, was born about the year 1615, evidently in Hunen (Huinen or Huynen), Holland, where his father, Albert, and family had located after their flight from France. Old records and family traditions
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establish the fact sufficiently well that the family was of French Huguenot origin, and that it has suffered the same senseless persecutions that were in- flicted upon thousands of other families of the noblest people of France in that cruel, intolerant age. The confiscation of their estates and their expulsion from their native land left them utterly destitute in stange lands. People of re- finement and affluence were compelled to resort to manual labor, sometimes of the most menial kind, in order to earn a scant livelihood. Albert Albertse chose the less laborious handicraft of ribbon weaving. But he was ill con- tent in Holland, even though he had married one of its fair-haired daughters. Visions of the New World, with its alluring call to the down-trodden and the oppressed of all nations, kept arising in his mind. He longed to recoup the ruined fortunes of the family and own once more a landed estate. So he finally braved the stormy Atlantic and sought a home in New Amsterdam. The voyage was probably made in the year 1637.
In a roll call of the residents of King's county, province of New York, who took the oath of allegiance to the English king on the 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th days of September, 1687, the name of "Elbert Elbertse" heads the list of residents of Flatlands with the declaration that he had been a resident of the country for fifty years. His career was one of trial and stress. He found that a little Dutch village in the New World was no place in which to build up a great ribbon-weaving industry. Besides the failures of this enterprise he had various other troubles and was engaged in much litigation for two or three years. Finally he turned to the soil for a livelihood and in 1657 rented and cultivated a farm on the Nyack or Najack tract in New Utrecht, Long Island, owned by Cornelius Werck- hoven and held for the heirs of the estate of Jacques Cortelyou. Here he built a rude home, after the manner of the Dutch pioneer farmers, consisting of a dug-out cellar and a small house covered by a heavy thatch of straw and located on a hillside for drainage and near a spring that fresh water might be available. But he was soon deprived of this poor, squalid excuse for a home. As a result of danger from Indian hostilities, Albert Albertse, with other scattered farmers, was ordered by the director-general and council of New Amsterdam to destroy their homes and repair to the garrison village of New Utrecht for protection from the savages. This flight from danger Albert Albertse flatly refused to make. He was consequently haled before the council and fined fifty guilders for non-conformity to the orders of the government. He refused to pay the fine and was remanded to prison, but was finally released upon his promise to join in the erection of a house in the village of New Utrecht. But no sooner was the house completed than
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he left New Utrecht and went to Flatlands where he bought fifty acres of land of Jacob Van Couwenhoven. To obtain a deed as provided in the agreement to purchase he was obliged to appear before the burgomaster's and schepen's court which forced Cowenhoven to make good the terms of the agreement.
On July 16, 1660, he obtained a deed for a piece of land in Flatlands from Jacob Stendman, the deed being recorded in Dutch on page 214 of "Calendar of New York Historical Manuscript." He sold the lease of his New Utrecht farm to Nathaniel Britton, April 3, 1664, and in 1665 pur- chased more of the Cowenhoven tract and a tract from Elbert Elbertse Stoot- hoff, and on the Stoothoff land he erected a dwelling house. In the tax-roll of 1676, his personal property in Flatlands was assessed for £129 sterling and his real estate, 20 morgans of land (50 acres) at £58 sterling. His name, with that of his wife, Geertje, appears on the records of the Dutch Reformed church of Flatlands as members. About this time he joined with Jaques Cortelyou and other residents of Flatlands, including the Gerretsons, Van Winkles and Spiers in the purchase of the Acquaehanock (Passaick) patent of five thousand acres of land on the Passaic river in Bergen county, East New Jersey, which purchase was the beginning of the settlement that resulted in the town of Hackensack. The proprietor of the Acquaehanock patent received a conformatory patent from the governor-general and council of East New Jersey in 1685, as recorded on page 118, volume i, of the journal of the government and council.
(II) Jan Albertse, eldest son of the ribbon weaver, was born probably in New Amsterdam, but no record of his birth has been preserved. He ac- companied his parents to Flatlands, where he was a farmer. His name is on the records of the Dutch Reformed church of that place as a member in 1677; as a deacon in 1687. He took the oath of allegiance to the English crown, as a native, in 1687, and he was a lieutenant of militia in 1691, and a captain in 1700. In 1690 he and others obtained a tract of land near Duck Creek, at St. John's on the Delaware. (Vol. III, Documents of Colonial History.) He married Annetje Roelefse Schneck, at Flatlands, July 1, 1683. She died in 1688 and he married June 6, 1691, Margrietje Van Schyellen (Van Sichlen). According to the records of the Dutch church at Flatlands, he. paid November 1, 1686, sixteen guilders for a grave for his son; on March 25, 1688, nineteen guilders for a grave for his wife; April 15, 1693, twenty guilders for a grave for his mother; December 1, 1703, twelve guilders, ten st., for a grave and the use of a pall; and November 5, 1704, twenty-two guilders for graves for two of his children. His will is
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dated February 20, 1696. He died, it is supposed, in 1705. He signed his name "Jan Albertsen Ter Hunen." His children were as follows: Albert, born at Flatlands, April 13, 1684, married Aeltje Voorhees, October 17, 1708; (III) Roelof (see sketch) ; Ancke, of whom there is no further trace.
(III) Roelof Terhune, son of Jan Albertse and Annetje Roelefse (Schneck) Terhune, was born in Flatlands, Long Island, in 1686. He married Morretje Gerretse Wyckhoff, daughter of Gerret Pieterse Wyckhoff, at Flatlands, May 5, 1706. They were the parents of eight children, as fol- lows: Albert (IV), Gerret, Willemtje, Marya, Hyntie, Aeltie, Margrietje, Ante. Roelof continued to live at Flatlands. He was captain of the Fifth Con:pany of King's county, Long Island, militia in 1715. Below is a copy of his will :
Will of Roelof Terhune.
Dated February 20, 1753 Proved April 30, 1761 In Name of God, Amen,
Page 3, Liber 23 New York Wills.
February 20, 1753, I, Roelof Terhune, of Gravesend, in King's county, Being very sick, will that, after payment of debts, etc., etc., I leave to my son, Gerret "my great selver kop, and my keenen swoord, and my leder britses, and the selver botten hoels."
I give to my son Roeloff-a gun, to that child of my son Albert named Roelof, my gun and great Bybel. To son Albertus-All that farm where I now live and the meadow that lies in the Flatlands meadow, and he shall pay one hundred and fifty pounds to each of my daughters, Willimentie, Marya, Hyntie, Alise and Margaret. To my son Gerret, one hundred and twenty pounds out of a piece of land in Flatbush bounded by Bernardus Ryders or Johanes lot and so by the highway. The surplus of money to my children and to children of daughter Ante, deceased-named Roelof, Johanes and Marya. Roelof, twenty pounds, Johanes, forty pounds and Marya, sixty pounds. To my wife, five pounds and bed and bedstead with its furniture. If she lives with my son, Albertus, he shall pay her ten pounds a year. If not, he shall pay her sixteen pounds a year. Two sons and "son- in-law Jooster ye Younger" executors, they shall sell the lot above mentioned and use the interest for the use of my wife, but if she is not in want, they shall pay to my "poer sister, Geroeb, reclase, three pounds, eight shillings and seven
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