USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnston County, Indiana. From the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 43
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sulted as an authority by the stock-men of his neighborhood. In his various business ventures, he was more than ordinarily fortunate, financial success such as falls to the lot of few having attended him throughout his long and useful career. Mr. Thompson was essentially a business man, and as such ranked among the most successful and progressive in southern Indiana. As a financier he had no superior in this section of the state, and as a public-spirited and courteous gentleman, he deserves a prominent place in the rank of Johnson County's representa- tive citizens. In politics, he was an ardent republican, and al- though not a partisan in the sense of seeking official position, was one of the leaders of his party in Johnson County, and ren- dered valuable service in many local, state and national contests. He was a man of deep feelings and true instincts, a devoted mem- ber of the Christian Church, and a liberal contributor to all charita- ble and benevolent purposes. Hehated deceit, underhandedness, and impurity, with the same fervor that he loved honesty, sincerity and uprightness. Those who knew him best loved him most, and his death, which occurred on the 13th day of October, 1886, left a vacuum in the commercial affairs, and was felt as a personal be- reavement by the citizens of Edinburg, and all others with whom he had relations of a business nature. His success in a financial point of view is attested by the fact of his having accumulated val- uable property in different states. His fortune at the time of his death was estimated at above $300,000. Mr. Thompson was united in marriage, January 19, 1860, to Miss Mary Cutsinger, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Cutsinger, a lady widely and favorably known for her many excellent traits of character. The issues of this marriage were the following children, namely: Susan, wife of Henry Bailey, born October 20, 1860; Samuel C., born March 10, 1862; James E., born December 29, 1863: Lillie J., born February 17, 1867; William T., born May 14, 1870, and Isaac C., born July 31, 1873.
JOHN A. THOMPSON, youngest son of A. C. and Maria Thomp- son, was born in Johnson County, Ind., on the Ist day of October, IS55. He was reared and educated in Edinburg, and here he also began his business career in 1878, as partner in the banking house of his father, with which he is still identified. He is thoroughly posted in all the details of banking, and at this time holds the responsible position of cashier. In his business and social relations Mr. Thompson occupies a conspicuous place in the estimation of his fellow citizens, and as a courteous gentleman, few stand higher in the community. He owns a third interest in Thompson & Co.'s Roller Mills, at Edinburg, and occupies one of the most beautiful
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residences in the city. October 2, 1879, he married Miss Clara, daughter of Benjamin J. and Heppy Deming, a union blessed with two children, viz .: Rebie and Frank.
J. M. TINDLE was born in Randolph County, Ind., June 14, IS42. He is the youngest of a family of nine children born to Robert A. and Amy Tindle, the father a native of one of the east- ern states, and the mother of Ohio. Mr. Tindle's paternal ances- tors were Scotch-Irish, and were among the early residents of Ohio. His grandfather was one of the first settlers in Cincinnati, and made brick in that city when it was only a small western town. Robert A. Tindle grew to manhood in Cincinnati, and there learned the trade of brick making with his father. He married in 1822, Amy, daughter of Oliver Kelly, of Cincinnati, after which he came to Indiana and engaged in agricultural pursuits in various parts of the state. In 1852, he abandoned farming, and began the manu- facture of brick in Shelbyville, and later sold out his business and went west for the purpose of purchasing land. Since his departure nothing has been heard from him, and the supposition is that he met his death in some mysterious manner. His wife departed this life in Edinburg in the year 1872. J. M. Tindle was reared prin- cipally upon a farm, and after the mysterious disappearance of his father, looked after his mother's interests until her death. In 1862 he entered the army, enlisting in Company M, Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, and was afterward transferred to the First Heavy Artil- lery, at Baton Rouge, La. He served with the latter until the close of the war, and took part in the last artillery engagement of the Rebellion, which was fought at Mobile, Ala., April 11, 1865. After being honorably discharged from the service he returned to Edinburg, and for about three years or more worked at different places and employments in and around the town. He next opened a blacksmith shop about three miles east of Edinburg, at the Ilar- vest City Mills, which he operated for about fifteen years, and then moved to the town where he has since resided. From ISS2 to ISS5, he followed his trade in Edinburg, but since the latter year has been engaged in various pursuits, being at this time in the in- surance business. Mr. Tindle is a prominent member of the United
3 Order of Honor, and has assisted in organizing lodges in different parts of the state, being at this time employed especially for that purpose. In politics, Mr. Tindle is a republican, and in religion be- lieves in the doctrine as taught and practiced by the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been twice married, first on August 20, 1869, to Miss Clara Dragoo, of Johnson County, by whom he had five children, all living, viz .: Minnie M., Korah, Sylvester K., Abigail and Wilford O. Mrs. Tindle died April, 1883, and on the
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Ist day of August, 1886, Mr. Tindle married his present wife, Mrs. Venia Compton ( nee Pitcher). By her previous marriage Mrs. Tindle had one child, Oscar Compton.
J. L. TONER, one of Edinburg's most enterprising citizens and business men, is a native of Lycoming County, Pa., and the oldest of a family of ten children, born to John and Susan (Latchaw) Toner, of the same state. The parents moved to Indiana in 1853, settling at Edinburg, Johnson County, where their deaths occurred at the advanced ages of eighty-four and seventy-eight years, re- spectively. Of the twelve children of John and Susan Toner, but three are now living, namely: J. L., Solomon and Deborah (Mrs. Sharp), all of whom make their homes in Edinburg. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native state, and at the age of eighteen, went to the city of Pittsburg, thence later, to Shelby County, Ind., where, for about one year, clerked in the dry goods store of N. Teal, Shelbyville. He subsequently accepted a similar position with Isaac Sorden, Esq., in Shelbyville and Edinburg, and in 1856 purchased his employer's stock in the latter place and be- gan the mercantile business upon his own responsibility. Shortly after engaging in business, he erected what is now the Central Hotel, designed for dry goods store and hall, which he subsequently sold, and purchased a flouring-mill, operating the latter quite suc- cessfully for six years. The mill afterward burned, entailing upon him a heavy loss, aggregating over $10,000. The next business venture in which Mr. Toner became interested, was a mill for the manufacture of hominy, which he erected in 1872 at a cost of $15,000. Ile disposed of this in ISS3, and for one year thereafter was engaged as a grain and flour broker, a business which proved financially remunerative. In 1886, he built a large elevator in Edinburg, and began buying and shipping grain, a business which he still carries on. He is at this time one of the largest grain dealers on the J., M. & I. Railroad, buying and shipping as much as any other man similarly engaged in Johnson County. In his va- rious business enterprises Mr. Toner has met with more than ordinary success, which has resulted principally from two causes: first, a wonderful energy, and, second, a remarkably good judg- ment. He has accumulated a handsome competence, much of which has been expended in the material improvement of Edin- burg. He has built a number of substantial buildings in the city, one of which, his private residence, represents a capital of over $23,000. Mr. Toner was united in marriage to Miss Malinda C. Shipp, daughter of Samuel Shipp, of Frankfort, Ind., on the 28th day of September, 1848. To Mr. and Mrs. Toner have been born
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four children, only one of whom is now living, namely: Susan, wife of C. M. Hess, of Indianapolis.
J. P. TOWNSEND, one of the oldest native born citizens of John- son County, and a prominent resident of Blue River Township, is the youngest of a family of four children, all sons, born to Joseph Townsend, a pioneer, who came to the county in IS21. The father was a native of Kentucky, in which state he married Lucy Barnett. When they came to Blue River Township, the family consisted of two sons, and on the 27th of September, 1824. the sub- ject of this sketch was born. Joseph Townsend died in the year IS25. at the age of thirty. His wife survived him three years. de- parting this life in 1828, aged thirty. After his parents' death, the subject was taken by an uncle, Ambrose Barnett, under whose care he grew to early manhood, working the meantime upon a farm. Hard toil being the rule of the times in which his youthful years were passed, he obtained but meager educational training, but by intelligent observation, he has since acquired a fund of val- uable, practical knowledge. He was married September 1, 1845, to Rosa Jane Wells, of Johnson County, daughter of Baker and Sarah (Cutsinger) Wells, who bore him two children, viz .: Joseph T. and George R., the former deceased. Mrs. Townsend died on the 3rd day of August. 1854. March 25, 1855, Mr. Townsend was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Rhoda (McGuire) Russell, of Shelby County. For seven years Mr. Townsend held the position of freight agent for the J., M. & I. R. R. Co., at Edinburg, and later, in 1865, purchased eighty acres of land, one mile northwest of Edinburg, to which he moved the fol- lowing year and began farming. He has since purchased other land, and is now the possessor of valuable real estate, upon which are some of the best improvements in the township. He is a re- publican in politics, and has held the office of constable three terms.
G. W. TUCKER, the gentleman for whom this sketch is pre- pared, is a native of Johnson County, Ind., and dates his birth from the 13th day of September, 1853. His father, George II. Tucker, was an early settler of this county. and died here in' IS55. His mother, whose maiden name was Parthenia Nay, subsequently mar- ried Harris Almond, of Hendricks County, Ind., where she now re- sides. Owing to the death of his father, which occurred when the subject was but two years old, and the consequent dependent con- dition of his mother, he was early in life thrown upon his own resources, and for a number of years contributed his full share toward the family's support. He found employment in different ca- pacities, working at whatever presented itself, until about the year 1875, at which time he rented a small farm and engaged in the pur-
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suit of agriculture. By the exercise of rigid economy, he was enabled to purchase a place of fifty-three acres, which he still owns. In 1887, he engaged in the agricultural implement business, in Franklin, in partnership with W. D. Branigan, and in ISSS, started a similar establishment in Edinburg, where he now has stock to the amount of over $40,000. Mr. Tucker's life is a commendable ex- ample of what energy and determination can accomplish in the face of adverse circumstances. Beginning life with no capital, he has by diligent application, succeeded in establishing a good home and a remunerative business, and is at this time classed among the suc- cessful men of Edinburg. October 17, 1875, he married Miss Si- belia Pritchard, who has borne him three children, two of whom, Florence A. and Anna C., are living.
J. C. VALENTINE, an old and reliable business man of Edinburg, was born in Lycoming County, Penn., August 19, 1819, the son of Jacob Valentine, a native of one of the eastern states. He spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native state, and in 1834, ac- companied his parents to Switzerland County, Ind., where he grew to manhood. While still young, he began working at the carpen- ter's trade, in which he acquired great proficiency, as is attested by the numerous residences, barns, and other buildings he erected while following his chosen calling in Switzerland County. He followed mechanical pursuits for a period of twenty years, aband- oning that work in 1860, and engaging in the mercantile busi- ness at the town of Edinburg, where he has since resided. IIe carried a full line of groceries and queensware; also, feed, lime and cement, in which departments of the trade, he led the town. Mr. Valentine has met with encouraging success in his business, having by diligent attention to the demands of the trade, and by that exercise of economy by which his life has been characterized, succeeded in accumulating a comfortable competence. He was, until recently, associated with his son, under the firm name of Val- entine & Son, but is now living a retired life in Edinburg. Mr. Valentine is an active member of the Methodist Church, and for a period of forty years, has been prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity. He is a democrat in politics, and while not a partisan in the sense of seeking official preferment, has always taken a lively interest in political matters, both local and national .. Mr. Valentine married in Switzerland County, in December, 1842, Miss Elmira Cole, who has borne him ten children, four of whom are living, viz .: Phœbe F., Thomas E., John C., and Horsford E. Like his ancestors, Mr. Valentine possesses a vigorous body, and although nearly seventy years of age, retains, unimpaired, all his
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faculties, both mental and physical, and bids fair to outreach the al- lotted three score years and ten.
J. C. VALENTINE, JR., son of J. C. Valentine, was born in the town of Mt. Sterling, Switzerland Co., Ind., on the ISth day of June, IS59. He was raised in Johnson County, and through industry gained a fair education, which, supplemented, by a practical business experience, has made him an intelligent and well-informed man. In early life he began clerking in his father's grocery store, where he obtained his first knowledge of business, and later, accepted a clerical position in the Edinburg Starch Works, his duties being that of book-keeper and correspondent for the firm. He after- ward became a partner in the establishment, and is at this time a member of the well-known firm of S. Cutsinger & Co., the largest starch manufacturers in Indiana. Mr. Valentine has successfully brought himself to a leading place among the active young business men of this county, and is a gentleman in whom the citizens of Edin- burg have unlimited confidence. He was united in marriage to Miss Ella W. Cutsinger, daughter of Samuel Cutsinger, Esq., in the year ISSo, a union blessed with the birth of two children: Lucy Blish and Irwin Scholler Valentine. Mrs. Valentine is a lady of culture and refinement, and occupies a prominent position in the social circles of Edinburg.
T. D. VAN DORN, manufacturer of wagons and carriages, Edinburg, Ind., is a native of New Jersey, and was born in the County of Monmouth, that state, on the 22d day of December, 1817. His parents were Peter and Catherine (Dubois) Van Dorn, the father of Dutch, and the mother of French-German de- scent. Mr. Van Dorn is the eldest of a family of six children. He was reared in the east, enjoyed the advantages of a liberal educa- tion in his native county and Pennfield, N. Y., and in early man- hood learned the wagon and carriage making trade, in which he acquired great skill and proficiency. At the age of twenty-two he went to Ohio, and was in that state for a period of ten years, work- ing at his chosen calling. While there he met and married Miss Lydia Craig, a native of that state, a union blessed with the birth of eleven children, of whom these are living: Ann, William C., Sarah, David C., Sophia M., Charles D. and Hattie M. In 1850 Mr. Van Dorn came to Edinburg, Ind., and established a good business, manufacturing wagons, carriages and farm implements, besides doing repairing of all kinds, necessary to the trade. He subsequently abandoned the manufacture of agricultural imple- ments, and gave his entire attention to wagon and carriage build- ing, which he still carries on. He has a well equipped establish-
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ment, supplied with all the latest improved machinery and appli- ances, and turns out a very substantial and durable class of work. Mr. Van Dorn is a public-spirited citizen, and during a long period of residence in Edinburg, has won a prominent place in the esti- mation of the people. He has been a member of the town board at different times, and manifests a lively interest in all measures for the public good.
JOHN WALSH (deceased ) .- Among the men identified with the material interests of Edinburg in the past, few, if any, occupied a more conspicuous place than the gentleman whose brief biography is herewith. presented. John Walsh was a native of Ireland, born in County Galway, on the 9th day of August, 1816, the son of John and Margaret (Flannary) Walsh. He was reared amid the active scenes of farm life, and remained in his native country until sixteen years of age, at which time he came to America and located in the city of Quebec, Canada. After spending several years in that place he went to New Orleans, thence a little later to Madison, Ind., where, as in the former cities, his employment was that of clerk and book-keeper. November 16, 1845, he married Miss Mary Dalgleish, who was born in Scotland on the 28th of October, 1821. Mrs. Walsh's parents, John and Margaret (Wallace) Dalgleish, were each descended from old and prominent Scotch families, the Wallaces being among the families noted in the history of that country. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Walsh and wife emigrated to Indiana, and settled in Johnson County, where for a period of thirty-four years he was prominently identified with the mercantile interests of Edinburg. Having by successful manage- ment succeeded in accumulating a comfortable competence, Mr. Walsh transferred his business to his sons and son-in-law, in 1886, from which time until his death he lived a retired life. In ad- dition to his mercantile business, Mr. Walsh was, for a number of years, extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, which added largely to his pecuniary gains. He became the owner of valuable real estate in different counties, which, with his other property, rep- resented the fruits of his own industry. Mr. Walsh was a public- spirited man in all the term implies -fully alive to the interests of the town and county, and all movements having for their object the general good, found in him an earnest supporter and liberal patron. A democrat in politics, he never aspired to official distinction, and a Roman Catholic in religion, he encouraged the dissemination of religious truth, irrespective of church or creed. He was a kind husband and a devoted father, and exemplary citizen, and in his death the community realized the loss of a friend and benefactor. Mrs. Walsh still survives, living at this time in Edinburg.
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Mr. and Mrs. Walsh were the parents of seven children, four of whom are living, namely: Maggie, wife of T. H. Daily; Annie C., wife of W. A. McNaughton; Mary E., wife of W. M. Howell, and Francis V.
ISRAEL J. WATTS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of John- son County, Ind., born in Edinburg on the 3rd day of October, 1848. His parents were Israel and Elizabeth (Dunham) Watts, who had a family of three children, two now living, viz .: the sub- ject, and a brother in Indianapolis. Israel Watts was for some years a merchant in Edinburg. in which town he died a few months previous to the birth of Israel J. The mother departed this life about the year 1851. After the death of his mother, young Israel was taken by his grandfather Dunham, who reared him in Boone County, Ind. He grew to manhood on a farm, and returning to Johnson County, settled on a tract of land which was left him by his parents. Since 1870, he has resided in Blue River Township, be- ing at this time, one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood, owning 184 acres of finely improved land. He is a substantial citi- zen, and has a large circle of friends in Blue River Township, and other parts of the county. November 5, 1874, he married Eliza- beth Compton, daughter of William Compton, a union blessed with three children : William H., Clarence O., and Mary E.
JOIN WELLS was born in Blue River Township, Johnson Co., Ind., March 15, 1848, and is a son of James and Louisa (Cox) Wells, natives of Kentucky, respectively. James Wells came to Johnson County in a very early day, and with the exception of about nine years spent in Louisville, has lived here ever since. His principal occupation has been gardening, which he has carried on in Edinburg. His wife died in the year 1885, leaving a family of five children. John Wells was reared to manhood in Johnson County, and enjoyed the advantages of a practical English educa- tion in the common schools. He began life for himself as a farmer, but subsequently became interested in the milling business in the capacity of flour packer, which he followed in Bartholomew County for a period of three years, and in Tippecanoe County about seven years. From the latter he returned to Johnson County, where he was engaged in milling two years, and at the end of that time began buying and shipping poultry, which he carried on for some time with success and financial profit. In September, 1882, he began the butchering business in Edinburg, which he now car- ries on, being at this time in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative trade. Mr. Wells has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Bush, who was born in Africa while her parents were on a visit to that far-away country. On the return voyage
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to her native country, Germany, Mrs. Bush, mother of Mrs. Wells, died, and was buried in mid-ocean. Mrs. Wells died in 1875. Mr. Wells' present wife, whom he married in 1876, was Miss Elizabeth Clark, a native of Ireland. Her father was a soldier in the late war, and fell in the bloody battle of the Wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are the parents of six children, four of whom are living. Their names are as follows: Elizabeth, John, Samuel and Louisa. Mr. Wells is one of the progressive business men of Edinburg, and a worthy member of the K. of P. fraternity. He is a Democrat in politics.
EZEKIEL WHEATLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, of Blue River Township, was born in the eastern part of Maryland, No- vember 30, 1817, son of William and Rebecca (Tull) Wheatley. William Wheatley was a soldier in the War of 1812. He left Maryland in 1823, emigrating to Ohio and renting on the Big Miami fourteen miles north of Cincinnati, where his death occurred the year following. He was a farmer by occupation, and the father of six children, two of whom are now living, viz .: the sub- ject of this biography and Mrs. Celia McHenry, of Hamilton County, Ohio. Mrs. Wheatley afterward married a Mr. Van Sickle, by whom she had two children, both deceased. By the death of his father, Ezekiel Wheatley early in life was thrown upon his own resources, and for some years worked as a common la- borer, contributing his earnings to the support of his widowed mother and six orphan children. At the age of twenty-three, he married Miss Mary Cone, of Franklin County, Ind., and for one vear thereafter farmed in that county, and then moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, which was his home for four years. At the end of that time he returned to Franklin County, this state, and three years later moved to Nineveh Township, Bartholomew County, where he resided for a period of thirty years. His wife died March 5, 1877. She was the mother of fourteen children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Their names are as follows: Martha Ann, Charles II. (deceased), William H., Re- becca, John N., George W., Joseph F., Adelia, Lizzie A., Joseph E., Alice M., Maggie, Kate and Mollie. Charles H. was a mem- ber of Company I, Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and died from exposure while in the service, July 3, 1863. Of the other children, nine are married, and all but one, George W., whose home is in Kansas, live in this state. Mr. Wheatley's home farm con- sists of 150 acres of finely improved land in the southwestern part of Blue River Township. He is one of the old and substantial citizens of the community, and for a number of years has been an ardent supporter of the republican party.
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