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 61
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his father fell a victim to the devastation of cholera, and, in 1835, his mother left their home in Kentucky and removed with her family to this county, whither two of her sons had preceded her. They settled in White River Township, on Section 25. Here William H. grew to manhood, taking charge in the main, of his mother's farm. He had an early desire to obtain a good educa- tion, and, by earnest effort, obtained a fair share for one who lived in those days, working through the day on the farm and prose- cuting his studies nights, with hickory bark for a candle. At the age of twenty-eight, he went to Greencastle and obtained a posi- tion as clerk in a store, where he remained about one year; then he returned to Franklin and employed with one Dr. Peggs, then in trade there; he remained with him not to exceed two years. In August, I849, he was elected sheriff of Johnson County on the democratic ticket, and re-elected in I851, serving his two terms with honor and ability. In 1853, he was elected county treasurer, and was also elected to a second term in this responsi- ble position. In the meantime, on August 6, 1850, he was mar- ried to Margaret J., daughter of Robert R. and Jane Lyons, of Scotch and Irish extraction. IIer parents came from Mercer County, Ky., to this state. To this union the following children were born: William B., Laura E., Robert D. (deceased), Harry B. and Emil H. The year after his marriage, in the fall of 1851, his mother died, having fulfilled her life's work, and leaving those whom she had reared to manhood and womanhood to mourn her loss. To his mother, the subject of this sketch was ever the same kind and affectionate son, and his nature was of that consid- erate kind that sought to relieve and assist his mother, wife, fam- ily and friends, and he was ever the happiest when doing some kind action. Immediately after Mr. Jennings' successful career in county politics, he received the nomination and election for state senator for Morgan and Johnson counties, and to fill the vacancy occasioned by Capt. John Slater's abandonment of that office, and he served in the senatorial capacity at the special legis- lative session held in 1858, and again at the regular session held in I859 and 1860. He was somewhat wearied with political strife, and, after the expiration of his senatorial term, felt like taking a rest. He consequently devoted himself to private busi- ness, and, being the possessor of two farms, gave the most of his attention to them for a while, and afterward went into the mercan- tile business, changing to the agricultural implement trade, and dealing in real estate more or less. In fact, he was a man who suc- ceeded at almost all kinds of business, and took an active interest in public improvements, such as building pikes, etc. During the
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war, he engaged in buying horses and mules for the government agents: also shipped to Atlanta and other points on his own account, always accompanying his consignments to their destination. At the close of the war, he again returned to the more quiet duties of pri- vate life for awhile. In the spring of IS70, he was nominated and elected mayor of Franklin; he was re-elected in 1872. The fact that the city was decidedly republican, and he was a democrat, showed plainly his strong hold upon the people. It was during his second term as mayor that his death occurred. He was stricken down in his fifty-third year, leaving a family when they most needed his advice and sympathy, and deeply regretted by the com- munity of which he had made himself so prominent a factor. The cortege that followed him to his last resting place bore witness to the esteem in which he was held. by the citizens of his county. His wife is still living; she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has done her part well in rearing her family and finishing what her husband left to her care.
WILLIAM B. JENNINGS, the subject of this sketch, is a promi- nent young citizen of Franklin, an ex-official of Johnson County, Ind., and president of the Johnson County Creamery Company. He was born in Franklin, Ind., on January 4, 1852, and is the son of William H. and Margaret J. (Lyons) Jennings. He attended the public schools of Franklin until his seventeenth year, and then entered Hanover College, where he remained about two years. Returning home, he entered the county auditor's office as a clerk, under E. N. Woollen, auditor, and continued in that capacity for three and a half years. In June, 1876, he went to Indian- apolis and took a position as clerk in the auditor's office of Marion County, holding the same for about three years. In IS78, he was nominated by the democrats for county auditor of Johnson County, and was elected by a handsome majority. So satisfactory was his administration of that office, that in ISS2, he was re-nominated and elected, thus holding the same for eight years, the constitutional term, retiring in 1887. In September, 1886, he assisted in estab- lishing the Johnson County Creamery Company, of which he was elected president, a position he now holds. In April, 1879, he was united in marriage with Mary E., daughter of William H. and Car- oline Donahey.
JOHN L. JONES .- Among the older citizens of Franklin, John- son County, Ind., none are more worthy of mention in a work of this character than the one whose name heads this biographical sketch. He is the oldest merchant in the place in point of local experience, and is one of the most honored and respected of the citizens. His grandfather was John Jones, who was a native of
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Orange County, Va., and was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, being with the Continental Army at Yorktown, at the surrender of Cornwallis. He lived and died in Virginia. He raised a large family, the youngest son among the children being John L., father of the subject of this sketch, who was born in Orange County, Va., on August 7, 1797. John L. served in the War of 1812, being a mere boy at the time, and a year or so after the termination of that conflict removed to Shelby County, Ky., where, on October 2, ISI7, he was united in marriage with Anna Lewis, who was born in the above county and state, on March 22, 1799. John L. emi- grated to Indiana, in December. IS22, and settled near where Red- ington now stands, in Jackson County. He remained there until December, 1831, and then removed to Johnson County, and settled in a cabin about one-fourth of a mile north of where Union village now stands. He was one of the pioneers of that section, and his neighbors were Bennett Utterback, Guinnie Utterback, William Utterback, Willis and Wesley Deer, Josiah Simpson, James Rivers, Adam Lash, James Vaughn, and others, all of whom are now dead except Mahala Deer, widow of Wesley Deer. John L. Jones, father of our subject, was a pioneer preacher, of the Christian, or Disciple's faith, traveling and preaching as an evangelist in Johnson and adjoining counties, after coming to Johnson County. There were no roads in Union Township then, except one leading from Franklin to Bluffs on White River, there being only blazed traces through the woods for the accommodation of the settlers in going from one point to another. Deer and turkeys were frequently killed near the cabins, and the howl of the wolf was no unusual sound. There he resided and followed farming until about 1850, and then engaged in business at Waverly, in Morgan County, and next removed to Cannelton, Ind., and continued merchandising. He returned to Johnson County and carried on merchandising in Franklin until the beginning of the late war, and then removed to Indianapolis, where he died on December 20, 1883. His wife also died in Indianapolis, on August 12, 1876. To the parents, nine boys and three girls were born, of whom our subject, John L., was the fifth in number. He was born in Jackson County, Ind .. on December 8, 1824. Early in life he received only a common school education, but in about 1845, he entered Franklin College, and attended the same for about one year. He located in Franklin in September, 1853, and engaged in clerking in a store for several years, and then engaged in business for himself, and has continued uninterruptedly up to the present, a portion of the time in co-part- nership with other parties, but most of the time by himself. He
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was married September 19, 1847, in Clark County, Ind., to Eliza Deaderick, was was born near Utica, N. Y., in about 1822, and is the daughter of Daniel and Adaline Deaderick. To this union three children have been born, all of whom are living. The wife and children are members of the Christian Church.
J. T. JONES, M. D .- The subject of the following sketch is the oldest physician and surgeon now in active practice in Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., being now in the forty-second year of his pro- fessional life. He was born in what is now Blue River Township, on a farm about two miles east of Amity, in a log cabin which was without a floor, on January 23, 1825 (the day upon which this sketch is written being his sixty-third birthday). His father was Jefferson D. Jones, who was born in Virginia, in 1799, and emi- grated to Kentucky when a boy, locating in Mercer County. While living in Kentucky he was married to Eleanor Frary, the wedding occurring in 1820 or 1821, in the town of Harrodsburg. Eleanor Frary was born in Mercer County, Ky., in 1801. In 1823, they came to Johnson County and settled on the farm where our sub- ject was born. In about IS35, they exchanged farms with his brother and removed to the same, which was east of the Franklin College, and is now partly in the corporate limits of Franklin. The father died January 10, 1877, and the mother died August 26, 1885. To the parents six children were born, of which our subject was the second; a brother and sister are the only surviving members of the children, save our subject. The brother is William L., who was born June 30, 1838, and is now a practicing physician of Marys- ville, Utah, and the sister is the wife of William L. Peggs, now living near Indianapolis, Ind. Our subject was reared on the farm, and secured his early education in the Franklin schools and college. He began reading medicine in the office of Drs. Webb and Thomas in Franklin, Ind., and in 1846, began practicing. In the fall of i860 he entered the University of Ann Arbor, Mich., graduating from the medical department of that institution in the spring of 1861. He returned to Franklin and resumed his practice, and has continued up to the present. He has held various public positions of trust, among which were those of city councilman of Franklin four years, secretary of the county board of health, and is at pres- ent city health officer, and coroner of Johnson County, having been elected to the latter office in ISS6. He was married December 28, 1847, to Isabella Peggs, who was born in Trimble County, Ky., December 23, 1825, and is the daughter of Jacob Peggs, now a resident of Franklin Ind., and probably the oldest citizen of John- son County, being in his ninety-fourth year. His wife died July 7,
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ISS4. To this union nine children were born, of whom five are living, three daughters and two sons. In politics, the Doctor is a democrat, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM C. JONES is the third son of Bazil G. and Maria S. (Tucker) Jones, born near where he now resides August 17, 1844. His father was born in 1802, and died in this county, May 9, 1847; his mother born in Kentucky, in ISII, and died in this county October 30, ISSI. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, was Horatio Jones, born in 1783, and died in Johnson County, in 1860. This family came to this county in a very early day, and some of them were prominent in local politics. At sixteen years of age our subject began life for himself, and for some time supported the family. In 1877, Mr. Jones settled where he now lives, and owns IIS acres of good land, and in addition is engaged in stock- raising. The marriage of Mr. Jones occurred in 1874, to Miss Maggie Painter, a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born in 1846. They have these four children: Estella, Lela, Chester C. and Nora. In politics, he is a true republican, a K. of P., and a member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. Jones is an honest, upright citizen, esteemed by all who know him.
JOSHUA P. JORDAN, miller, and one of the leading citizens of Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., was born near Georgetown, Brown Co., Ohio, on February 16, 1820, and is the son of Joshua, who was born in Ripley, Brown Co., Ohio, and was a soldier of the War of 1812. He emigrated to Indiana in about 1850, and located in Jennings County, where he followed the carpenter's trade, and died in 1873. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary Williams, who died at his birth. Our subject served an apprentice- ship at the cabinet-maker's trade in Clermont County, Ohio, and came to Indiana in 1840, and located in Jefferson County. He fol- lowed his trade until about 1850, but in about 1845, began milling. He removed to Jennings County in about 1862, and came to Frank- lin in 1865, and has been milling up to the present time, being for seventeen years in the employ of Baldwin & Payne. He assumed charge of the Franklin mills in January, 1887. He became a mem- ber of the Christian Church in about 1870, and is now an elder of the Franklin Church of that denomination. He was married in August, 1841, to Casandria Clemans, who was born in Jennings County, Ind., August S, 1822, and is the daughter of John Clemans. To this union eleven children have been born, nine of whom survive.
T110MAS J. KELLY, farmer, is a native of Clark County, Ind., born November 14, 1833, being the eldest of six children, to the marriage of Madison and Elizabeth (Patterson) Kelly, natives of
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Kentucky; the birth of the former occurred February 14, 1809, and his death April 21, 1857, the latter was born in IS12, and died in 1850. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Kelly was Anthony Kelly, a native of Virginia, born February 26, 1774, and his death took place February 15, 1844. The Kelly family came to Johnson County in 1837. Our subject grew to manhood on the farm, and was a student at the subscription schools. His life has been that of a farmer, and in 1875, settled on his present farm, just outside the corporation limits of Franklin. In 1861, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Letta J. Bone, a native of Butler County, Ohio, born June 21, 1836. They have five children: Thomas E., born 1863; Smith, 1865; Harry, 1867: Lillie, 1870, and David B., 1876. He is a republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
JAMES KERLIN, deceased .- Among the citizens of Johnson County, Ind., worthy of mention in a work of this character, none, perhaps, are more so than the subject of this brief biographical sketch. James Kerlin was the son of George and Rachel (Banta) Kerlin, and was born in Henry County, Ky., on February 12, 1825. His parents were natives of Kentucky, and emigrated to Johnson County, Ind., in about 1832, when their son was but seven years of age. The parents upon coming to Johnson County, located in Union Township, where they lived out their lives, and died on the old homestead. The mother survived her husband, and for many years was fondly and tenderly cared for and comforted by her son, our subject. He was reared of the farm, and secured a good com- mon school education, to which he added by means of a vigorous brain and desire to improve himself, a fund of practical knowledge which made him conversant with literary works, and particularly with the Scriptures, all of which he read with an understanding, grasping and retaining the true inwardness and purport of the works he read. With the exception of three years spent in manu- facturing coverlids, in Indianapolis, and two years at Union village, Johnson County, in the saw-milling business, his life was spent on the farm in Union Township. He was an excellent farmer, a very fine manager, and was very successful in life, leav- ing his family a comfortable home. He was united in mar- riage on August 24, 1871, near Knobnoster, Mo., to Miss Lou J. Tyler, who was born near Louisville, Ky., September 24, 1838, and is the daughter of Milton W. and Mary (Seaton) Tyler, na- tives of Kentucky, who removed thence to Johnson County, Ind., where they resided for about eighteen years, and then removed to Johnson County, Mo., where they reside at present on the farm. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kerlin, one son and two daughters
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were born, as follows: Seaton Tyler, born November 23, 1872; L. Leona, August 24, 1875, and M. Wyota, May 7, 1877. Mr. Kerlin died July 8, 1887, from heart trouble, his death occurring very suddenly, leaving a widow and the three children to mourn his sudden death. He was an exceptional man in point of integ- rity, honesty and purity of character, and led an upright and vir- tuous life, and by his example wielded an influence for good on all who came in contact with him. He was a practical Christian, read and believed in the Scriptures, and more, followed out their teachings to the letter, and had been converted, but had never joined any church organization. He vas a devoted and kind husband and companion, a wise and loving father, and was in return loved and venerated beyond power of speech by his deso- late and grief-stricken family who to-day sadly mourn his loss. To know him was to love and respect him for his many virtues, and he is to-day remembered by a host of friends and acquaintances who followed his remains to the burial ground, and keep fresh and green his memory. Mrs. Kerlin and family removed to Franklin on September S, ISS7, in order to give her children an opportunity of securing good education. She is a woman who was a fit com- panion for her deceased husband, and is no doubt able to complete the life-work begun and laid down by her husband-that of rear- ing and making good men and women of their children. Mrs. Kerlin is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
L. W. KNOBE, proprietor of one of the leading retail grocery houses in Franklin, Ind., and in local experience the oldest grocery dealer in the city, was born in Jennings County, Ind., September 29, IS40, and is the son of Balzer and Magdaline Knobe, the former being a native of France, and the latter of Germany. The parents were married in Europe, and emigrated to America in about 1838. They at once came west to Indiana, and located on a farm in Jennings County, where both died in 1849, of cholera, their deaths occurring within a week of each other. To the parents five children were born, three of whom survive. After the death of his parents, our subject went to live with a cousin, and at the age of fourteen years was " bound out " to a lady at Madison, Ind. He was subsequently in the employ of D. J. Vawter, at Vernon, and with that gentleman came to Franklin, and altogether spent five years in his employ. He was next with Brooks & Jones, grocery dealers, and, in 1859, engaged in the restaurant business in Franklin, and continued until July, 1861, when he volunteered in Company I, Eighteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was appointed orderly sergeant at its organization. Eight months later he was promoted second lieutenant, and in 1863 he was promoted
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first lieutenant. He served as such until September 1, 1863, when he resigned on account of physical disabilities. Returning to Franklin, he entered into co-partnership for the purpose of doing a grocery and bakery business. March 5, 1865, his business was entirely destroyed by fire, upon which he had not a cent of insur- ance. Receiving support from friends, however, he was enabled to make another start in the same business, with his former partner. This firm, which had done a prosperous business, continued for three years, and his partner then sold out to James Hamilton, who, about eighteen months later, sold out to James Richey. Our subject next bought out William Mains, who was dealing in groceries and provisions, and has since carried on that business, together with a full line of candies, fruits, toys. etc., and has now probably the leading store of the kind in Franklin, and does an immense busi- ness. Mr. Knobe was married on March 10, 1865, to Damaris Kimbel, who was born in the State of New York, and to them have been born four children, three of whom survive. Both Mr. and Mrs. Knobe are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the G. A. R., Wadsworth Post, No. 127, at Franklin.
A. B. LAGRANGE, the subject of this sketch, is a dentist and grocery dealer of Franklin, Johnson County, Ind., and was born in Johnson County, on August 18, 1841. He is the son of Aaron and Catherine (Banta ) Lagrange. The father was born in Kentucky, and came to Johnson County, when but eighteen years of age, with his parents, who were among the pioneers of the county. He was a farmer by occupation, and was in the Black Hawk War. He is now a citizen of Franklin; is a Presbyterian in religion. The mother died in 1847. Her father was Peter Banta, an early settler of Johnson County, Ind. To the parents of our subject, four child- ren were born, of whom he is the second, and the oldest of three boys (one sister), all survive. He was reared on the farm, and at- tended the schools at Hopewell. Later he attended Franklin College. He entered the Federal Army in 1863, joining Company G, of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Regiment of Volunteers, and served until his discharge in the fall of same year (ninety days' enlistment). He taught school in Kansas for several years after the close of the war, and, in 1870, entered the medical department, of Ann Arbor (Mich.) University, where he graduated in 1872. He then returned to Franklin, and engaged in the dental profes- sion, and has continued up to the present. He was connected with the grocery business in 1883, doing good business. He was mar- ried in 1872, to Fanny Butler, of Johnson County, who was born in Ohio, and is the daughter of Eli Butler. To this union is one
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son, George, who was born in 1877. Mr. Lagrange is a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church; he is also a member of Wadsworth Post, No. 127, G. A. R.
DANIEL C. LAGRANGE, retired farmer, was born in Mercer County, Ky., February 9, 1826, son of Peter and Lemima (Co- vert) Lagrange, and is of French-German lineage. His parents were natives of New Jersey, and in 1826, came to Johnson County, and settled in Franklin Township, where they died. Mr. Lagrange is the youngest of three living children, and received a common school education. At the age of twenty-two years he began farm- ing for himself, and now owns 167 acres of fine land in this town- ship. Mr. Lagrange has lived at Hopewell, for eighteen years. His marriage to Miss Catherine List, occurred in 1848. Mrs. La- grange was born in Switzerland County, Ind., in 1829. They have four children : Maggie, Samuel, John and Edith. In politics, Mr. Lagrange is an ardent republican, and is a representative of one of the early families of this county. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
W. H. LAGRANGE, vice president of the National Bank of Franklin, Ind., was born three and one-half miles northwest from Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., on January 13, 1841, and is the son of Peter D. and Patsy M. (Ransdell) Lagrange, both of whom were natives of Mercer County, Ky. The father was born in ISo2, and was the son of Peter Lagrange, a native of Virginia. Peter, the elder, removed to Kentucky, and thence to Johnson County, Ind., in 1826, and was one of the early pioneers of the county. Peter D. was a farmer, and died on the old homestead near Franklin, in 1878. The mother was born in 1806, and was the daughter of Wharton Ransdell, who lived and died in Kentucky. She died in Johnson County in 1873. To the parents seven children were born, two of whom survive. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and secured a limited education in the district schools. In 1875 he Ieft the farm and located in Franklin, and in January, 1878, was elected president of the Second National Bank of Franklin (now defunct), of which he was at the head for five years. He was then elected vice president of the National Bank, and holds that position at present. He was married in 1862, to Clarinda J., daughter of Daniel Brewer, who was born near Franklin in IS44, and to their union six children were born, as follows: Jasper W., Mary O., Frank E., Elenore J., Charles B. and Clarinda L., all living. Mr. Lagrange and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
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