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 66
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R. S. THOMPSON, general blacksmith, and a representative citi- zen of Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., was born in Jennings County,
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Ind., on January 18, 1835, and is the son of Harrison and Delilah (Finney) Thompson. The grandfather was Robert Thompson, a native of Kentucky, his father being a native of Virginia. Robert, the grandfather, emigrated to Indiana at an early date, and was one of the pioneers of Jennings County. Hle and his son Harrison and all the family were pioneers and frontiersmen by nature. Ilarrison, the father, lived and died in Jennings County. He was a hunter. The mother was born in Jennings County, and died when our sub- ject was between four and five years of age. The Thompsons were of Scotch, and the Finneys were of Irish, descent. Both parents are dead. To the parents three children were born, and two are dead. The father re-married, and to this union eight chil- dren, seven girls and one boy, were born. Our subject was reared on the farm until his twenty-third year. He secured a limited educa- tion, attending school three months during winter, and worked during summer. He was married on October 20, 1858, to Abigail Will- iams, who was born in Jefferson County, Ind., in 1840. He learned a trade after marriage, in Jefferson and Jennings counties, and came to Franklin on the 25th of January, 1868, and went to work for David Tagg. He next was in the employ of Alex Turner, and in 1878 engaged in business for himself, and now runs a shop. He has met with success and has a good trade, is a good workman, and his trade is increasing. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Presbyterirn Church, of which his wife is also a member. To our subject and wife three children have been born: William H. and Lillian L., and Marilous. A curious feature of this family is the representation of three gener- ations, Robert, S. W. H., and Fred, father, son and grandson, all born on January 18, a most singular affair.
WILLIAM C. THOMPSON Was born at Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio, February 6, 1856. His father, John C. Thompson, was su- perintendent of the public schools of that place at the time of our subject's birth, but died when he was but a week old. His mother, Lucinda (Craven) Thompson, was a daughter of Rev. Thomas Craven, formerly of Oxford, Ohio, but afterward a resident of Jefferson County, Ind. His grandfather, Joseph Thompson, was a resident of New Jersey, and lived at Monmouth, in that state, until after the birth of our subject's father. He moved west and settled at Middleton, Ohio, about the year ISIS, and afterward removed to Lebanon, Ohio. His father spent his early years on a farm, and then learned the carpenter's trade, and afterward attended college at Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated in 1843. He followed the profession of teaching until his death. His death left his family in reduced circumstances, and with four
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small children, the oldest being but eleven years of age, and the youngest but an infant, the subject of this sketch. In September, 1856, his mother removed from Ohio to Lancaster, Jefferson Co., Ind., to take care of her aged parents. He lived there until seven- teen years of age, working on a farm in summer and attending dis- trict schools in winter. He also attended the College Ilill Academy at the same place, for two or three winters, and in the summers of 1871 and 1872, worked as a hired hand on a farm near Greenwood, in this county. In March, 1873, he removed with his mother to Franklin, and immediately began working at the printer's trade, and continued working at this trade, with the exception of a few months spent in the Franklin high school, until September, 1875, when he entered Franklin College. Ile continued at college with the exception of teaching a district school one winter, until ISSo, when he graduated. In the year 18So-SI, he was a tutor in the preparatory department of Franklin College, and at the same time filled the office of the clerk of the city of Franklin, to which office he was elected on the republican ticket in May, 1880. He began the study of law in 1878, during his summer vacation, and was ad- mitted to the bar in September, ISSI. In May, 1882, he was elected mayor of the city of Franklin, and served one term in that office, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of law, giving especial attention to abstracts of title. Ile has also been a member of the board of trustees of Franklin College since ISS2, and held the position of secretary of that body for three years. He has also held the position of secretary of the Building, Loan and Savings Association for about three years. He was married October 19, 1882, to Miss Georgia P. Marrs, a former teacher in the public schools of Franklin, and daughter of James A. Marrs, late of Marion County, Ind. He is a member of the Bap- tist Church, and in politics is a republican.
HARVEY TOWNSEND was born where he now resides, in Frank- lin Township, March 16, 1838, son of Major and Phebe (Briggs) Townsend; the former born in Maryland, and died in Franklin Township; the latter born in Clark County Ind., about 1805, and now resides in this county. The family came to this county in 1731. Our subject is the sixth in a family of eight children, and received a limited education. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming for himself, and now owns 228 acres of well improved land. In 1861, Mr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Mary Van- diver, born in this county in 1836. To this union are these four children: William S., born 1866; Joseph M., 1868; Sarah E., 1872; and Jesse T., 1875. He is a true republican, and cast his first vote for A. Lincoln. For fifty years he has lived in this county, and is
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an honest, upright citizen, esteemed for his ma good qualities by all who know him. He and wife have been members of the Chris- tian Church about thirty years.
CORNELIUS D. VANNUYS, retired farmer, was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 18, 1824, son of Tunis and Catherine Vannuys. Our subject was a student at the country schools of Kentucky, and at the age of twelve years came with his parents to Johnson County, and here attended a private school at Franklin, and subsequently spent some time at Hanover College. In the spring of I845, he began farming for himself, settling on a farm in Union Township, where he remained until the winter of 1848, when he removed to a farm just south of Hopewell, and in the fall of IS78, removed to his present residence at Hopewell. As a farmer he was very suc- cessful, and by industry and good management has secured a good farm, and a comfortable home. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Com- pany G, One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers, and was honorably discharged in September, 1864. The marriage of Mr. Vannuys, occurred March 18, IS45, to Miss Jane Ditmars, born in New Jersey, December 5, ISI9, daughter of .Garrett and Sarah (Verbryke) Ditmars. They have had four children, one of whom is yet living: Chauncy L., born April 10, 1852. Those de- ceased were: Electa J., Sarah B., and Cornelius. Chauncy L. was married October 3, 1877, to Miss Anna Powers, who died May 25, 1884, leaving two children: Nina A., born 1878, and Rosco G., born 1882. Mr. Vannuys was formerly a whig, and since the birth of the republican party, has been one of its most ardent supporters. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1839, and his wife became a member of the same church in 1840. He is a thorough-going, industrious and liberal supporter of all laudable pub- lic enterprises.
ISAAC N. VANNUYS was born in Franklin Township, Johnson County, April 30, 1830, being the second in a family of ten chil- dren born to Samuel and Anna (List) Vannuys; the former born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1803, the latter a native of the same state, and died in this county at an advanced age. The fam- ily came to this county in a very early day. Our subject was a student at the Hopewell school-house. Mr. Vannuys makes farming and stock-raising his principal employment, and by indus- try and good management, has secured a valuable farm comprising ninety acres of well-improved land, which he purchased in the spring of 1862. He was married in February, 1852, to Miss Minerva A. Lagrange, born in Franklin Township, April 25, 1833, daughter of Peter D. and Patsy (Ransdall) Lagrange. To the above marriage are these three children: Mattie, born November
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10, 1860; Emma V., January 22, 1865, and Samuel W., November 7, 1866. In politics, Mr. Vannuys is an active republican, and since 1845, has been a member of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Vannuys became a member of the same church in 1848. He is an honest, upright citizen, esteemed for his many good qualities by all who know him.
JOHN HENRY VANNUYS was born in Shelby County, Ky., Au- gust 16, 1820, being the tenth in a family of fifteen, born to Tunis and Catherine (Demaree) Vannuys, and is of Holland-Dutch ex- traction. His father was a native of Somerset County, New Jer- sey, born in 1772, and died in Johnson County, Ind., in IS47. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and died in this county, in IS44. The family came to Johnson County in 1836. The subject of this sketch received a good common school education, having attended school in Kentucky, and afterward, the public schools and Baptist College of Franklin. In the fall of 1847, Mr. Vannuys settled on his present farm, which consists of 175 acres of valuable land. Since 1878, he has been engaged in dairy business, and now has fifty head of Jersey cattle, and during the year 1887, sold to the Gualt House at Louisville, 6,500 pounds of choice butter. Mr. Vannuys was married April 15, 1840, to Miss Caroline Ditmars, a native of New Jersey, born in 1821, and died in IS72. Of five children born to this union, three are yet living: John D., Charles C. and Mollie Kate. The eldest child, Samuel W., born January 22, IS41, was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in the fall of 1861, Company F, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was first made a captain, and at the time of his death, which occurred Sep- tember 29, 1864, while making a charge at the battle before Richmond, held the rank of assistant adjutant general. He was a true and brave soldier, and a man of rare attainments. The second marriage of Mr. Vannuys occurred in 1874, to Mrs. Nannie E. Voris, whose maiden name was Richie. Mrs. Vannuys is a na- tive of Jefferson County, Ind., born December 25, 1832. Politi- cally, our subject was formerly a whig, but is now a member of the republican party, and has been a justice of the peace. In 1835, he united with the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky, with which denomination he has since been a leading and con- sistent member, and since 1872 has been an elder in the church at Hopewell. Mrs. Vannuys is a member of the same church.
ABRAM A. VOORHIES was born where he now resides, May 25, 1846, son of Andrew C. and Ann (Lagrange) Voorhies, natives of Mercer County, Ky., and died in Johnson County, Ind. Our subject is the fifth in a family of six children, only two of whom are now living, three brothers being killed in the late war. Mr.
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Voorhies has always lived on his present farm, which was entered by his paternal grandfather, John Voorhies, and which centains 129 acres of good land. Mr. Voorhies was married in 1867, to Miss Mattie Wheat, a native of this county, born near her present resi- dence, May 17, 1846. To this marriage were born seven children: Mary II., Vassie L., Emma K., Gilbert and Gertrude (twins), Leta G., and Melvin W. Politically, Mr. Voorhies is a staunch republican, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
HERVEY D. VORIES, superintendent of public schools of Johnson County, Ind., was born in Hensley Township, that county, on August 27, 1855, and is the son of Hervey and Alazannah ( Carter) Vories. Hervey, the father, was born in Kentucky in January, IS22. and immigrated to Johnson County, Ind., in about 1830, with his father, John Vories. He has followed farming as a life vo- cation, and is at present a citizen of IIensley Township. Alazannah, the mother, was born in Virginia in 1816, and with an uncle came to Johnson County during the thirties. To the parents eight child- ren were born, five of whom survive. The early life of the sub- ject of this sketch was spent on the farm. He attended the district schools, not a great deal, however, until after he was seven- teen years of age. Then, attending school for about seven months, he began teaching, and in the summer of 1875, entered the Val- paraiso, Ind., College, where he remained for nearly five years, graduating August 19, ISSO. He was soon afterward appointed superintendent of the Oscoda (Mich.) public schools, where he remained for three years, and then removed to Trafalgar, Johnson Co., Ind., where he taught for two terms, and a summer normal. In ISSo he taught a normal in Franklin, the first one ever held in Johnson County, and altogether has taught seven normals in John- son and Brown counties. Ile was appointed superintendent of public instruction of Johnson County, in June, ISS5, and the fol- lowing August removed to Franklin. He was re-appointed in June, ISS7. Mr. Vories was united in marriage with Emma M. Ragsdale, in December, ISSI. Mrs. Vories is the daughter of Rev. John W. Ragsdale, of Morgantown, Ind., and was born in Brown County, Ind., in 1855. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vories are mem- bers of the Baptist Church.
HARRISON R. VORIS, one of the pioneers of this county, is a native of Mercer County, Ky., born September 27, IS29, and a son of Isaac and Jane ( Vanarsdall) Voris. The father of Mr. Voris was born in 1804, and died in Johnson County at a good old age, and the mother of our subject is a native of Kentucky, born in IS07, and now resides in this county. Mr. Voris came to Johnson
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County in the fall of 1829, and grew to manhood on the farm, and at twenty-one years of age settled on his present farm, where he is now the owner of 190 acres of good land, for which he paid $65, per acre. The marriage of Mr. Voris occurred in 1856, to Miss Mary J. Voris, who was born in Kentucky, and died in Johnson County, March 13, 1886, at forty-eight years of age. To the mar- riage relation there were born these two living children, viz .: Will- iam M., born 1859, and Jesse, born 1870. Edward, another son, was killed in July, 1886, by a vicious mule. In politics Mr. Voris is a democrat, and in religion is a Presbyterian. By energy and strict economy Mr. Voris has been successful in life, and is now in good circumstances.
ROBERT WAAGGENER, contractor and builder, and proprietor of the City Planing Mill, at Franklin, Johnson County, Ind., was born in Shelby County, Ind., about six miles from Franklin, on August 27, 1830. He is the seventh of fourteen children born to Burges and Nancy (Shipp) Waggener. Our subject was reared on the farm until his eighteenth year, and attended the common schools and Franklin College. In 1849, he served an apprenticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade in Franklin, and for the next year followed his trade at Edinburg. In about 1853, he located at Trafalgar, Johnson County, and began contracting and building, and remained at that place for about a year. He located in Franklin, in January, 1865, and continued contracting and building. In February, 1882, he leased the planing-mill of Payne & Payne, and was burned out the following year. Previously, in 1872, he was one of the organ- izers of the Builders and Manufacturers' Association, of which he served for a while as president. In 1883, he leased the brick build- ing, formerly used as Baldwin & Payne's woolen-mills, and fitted it up with planing-mill machinery, and in 1887, purchased the build- ings. He manufactures doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, brackets, mantles and all kinds of finished lumber, and deals extensively in pine and hard wood lumber. He also carries on contracting and building. During his life he has erected the following buildings, beginning with a small frame school-house near Jolity, Shelby County (his first contract), which building was occupied first as a school, taught by the present recorder of Johnson County; high school buildings at Trafalgar and Williamsburg; new high school building and colored school building; Presbyterian and Baptist churches, and he now has the contract for the erection of the college building, at Franklin, J., M. & I. depot at Edinburg, Presbyterian Church at Martinsville, and numerous other public buildings, all monuments of his skill and ability as a contractor and workman. Ilis building is about 30x60 feet, three stories, with wing
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same height, 25x50 feet, and employs about twenty men during the season. It is furnished with new and improved machinery, and forty horse-power engine. He is now making arrangements for putting in a saw mill plant. He is a member of the K. of H. fra - ternity, and also of the Baptist Church. He was married, January 3, 1850, to Nancy Shipp, who was born in Shelby County, Ind., June 12, 1830, and was the daughter of Easton and Nellie ( Brock- man) Shipp. She died in 1861. To their union seven children were born, three of whom survive. Mr. Waggener was married a second time, January 1, 1863, to Martha J. Alexander, who was born in Johnson County, Ind., in IS3S, and was the daughter of Thomas Alexander. She died April 28, 1875. To this union six children were born, two of whom survive. On January 13, 1876, he was again married to Nancy Bryan, who was born November 17, IS42. To this union three children have been born, all surviving. Burges Waggener, the father, was born in Culpepper County, Va., in 1798, and was the son of Herbert, who at an early date emi- grated with his family to Kentucky, where he died. Burges emi- grated from Kentucky to Shelby County, Ind., in 1821, and settled on Blue River, being one of the pioneers of this portion of the state. At that time the country was a vast wilderness, covered with a thick undergrowth of hazle-brush, game abounded and he has many times stood in his door and killed deer. He was a deacon of the Baptist Church, and was a charter member of the first Baptist Church organized in Johnson County, the same being in Blue River Township, and is known as Blue River Baptist Church. This, it is claimed was the first church of any kind in Johnson County. He died October 20, ISSO, after a long and useful life, his death occurring near Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., to which county he had removed in about 1875. The mother of our subject was born in Hardin County, Ky., March IS, 1800, and was the daughter of Richard and Mary Shipp, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. She died in Monroe County, Ind., in IS67.
D. D. WALDREN, carpenter and contractor of Franklin, John- son Co., Ind., was born in Nineveh Township, Johnson Co., Ind., on December 22, 1842, and is the fourth of twelve children, born to Middleton and Mary J. (Johnson ) Waldren. Middleton was born in east Tennessee in 1813, and the mother was born in Mercer County, Ky., in ISIS. Father died the 3d of February, ISS3, in Johnson County, Ind., three and one-quarter miles south of Frank- lin. The mother died October IS, 1887. The father removed to Indiana and located in Johnson County, at a very early date. He was a farmer by vocation, and left a farm of forty-five acres.
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Our subject was reared on a farm, and left the farm and enlisted on August 17, 1861, in Company I, Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, enlisting as private, and was promoted to corporal. Was wounded in the knee of the left leg at Pea Ridge, Ark., on March 17, 1862, and at the battle of Magnolia Hills, Miss., in the rear of Vicks- burg, on May 1, 1862, in the left hip. At Winchester, Va., on September 19, 1864, in the left shoulder and wrist. Is deaf in the left ear from the bursting of a shell at Vicksburg. Was mustered out August 28, 1865, at Darien, Ga. Returning to Indianapolis, was paid off, and then went to his home on the farm. Began to learn the trade in 1870, and has been at it ever since. Was married June 13, 1866, to Elizabeth Ware, who was born in Franklin Town- ship, Johnson Co., Ind., July 21, 1844, and is the daughter of Will- iam Ware. One child was born: Frankie O., April 7, 1867, and died March 9, 1870. Both are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. Waldren is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 107, F. & A. M., Franklin Chapter, No. 65, and of Command- ery No. 23, of K. of P., and G. A. R.
ELMER E. WALKER .- Among the younger of the representa- tive citizens of Franklin, none, probably, are more worthy of a notice in a work of this character, than the one whose name heads this brief biographical sketch. He was born in Franklin, Ind., October 5, 1861, and is the son of Michael and Mary ( Andrews) Walker. (See sketch of M. Walker.) Our subject was edu- cated in the public schools, going through the same. After leav- ing school he entered his father's cooperage establishment, and in 1886 erected a cooper-shop of his own. The building was 60x30 feet. In 1887 he consolidated with his father's, and two shops run by Walker & Sons. He was married March 16, 1886, to Mary Wallace, who was born in Morgan County, Ind., on June 20, 1864, and is the daughter of James Wallace. To this union . one daughter, Mary, was born December 18, 1887. In ISSI he joined Hesperian Lodge, No. 12, K. of P., and is also a member of Sam Oyler Division, uniform rank, K. of P. He has filled all the chairs, and has represented Hesperian Lodge in the Grand Lodge at Indianapolis. He joined Franklin Lodge, No. 107, F. & A. M., and is at present, master of the same, having passed through all chairs up to that position. Mr. Walker is a member of the Christian Church, and is a republican.
M. WALKER, a cooper and leading citizen of Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., was born in Baltimore, Md., on September 21, 1831, and is the son of Benjamin and Ann (Blakley) Walker. Benjamin Walker was born in Hull, England, in 1784, and emigrated to America in 1829, and located at Baltimore. The mother was a na-
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tive of York, England, and was born in 1799. The father was a potter by trade, and in 1834 removed to Milford, Ohio. He died in 1847. The mother died in 1878, in Cincinnati, Ohio. To the parents seven children were born, of whom only two survive. Our subject was reared in Milford, Ohio, and attended the schools of that place. He came to Indiana in 1854, and located in Indianap- olis, and engaged in the coopering business. His establishment was destroyed in 1855, by fire, and then he came to Franklin and worked at his trade. In the year 1861, he opened a shop of his own, and has continued here up to the present, and together with his two sons, owns and operates the only cooperage establishments in Franklin. He was married in 1854, to Mary Andrews, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 20, 1833. and was the daughter of Thomas Andrews. She was a devout Christian, and a member of the Christian Church. She died July 5, 1885, leaving three children out of four born. The living children are: Alonzo B., now a citizen of Martinsville, Ind .: Ada B., living with her father, and Elmer E., a citizen of Franklin. Our subject is one of the most highly respected citizens of Franklin, and has served two terms in the city council. He is a great secret society man, and is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities. Also a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Walker is a republican in politics, and has voted for every republi- can candidate for president of the United States.
JOHN S. WEBB was born in Shelby County, Ind., November II, 1833, son of Zachariah and Nancy ( Hough ) Webb, and is of English descent. Ilis father was born near Lexington, Ky., April 9, 18OS. The mother of our subject was born near Xenia, Ohio, in April, 1812, and died January 14, 1887. The Hough family came to Shelby County in 1820. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Hough, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Shelby County, Ind., about 1844. He was a fifer in the War of 1812. The Webb family came to Indiana about ISIS, and settled in Clark County, and in the spring of IS21 removed to Shelby County, Ind. The immediate subject of this biography grew to manhood on his father's farm in Shelby County, and for a brief period attended the country schools. In 1859, he came to Johnson County and settled in what is now Needham Township, and, in 1875, removed to his present farm, which contains 193 acres of excellent land. . The marriage of Mr. Webb was solemnized March 13, 1859, to Miss Nancy E. Welliver, born in Butler County, Ohio, May 20, 1842, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Sample) Welliver, natives of Ken- tucky, the former born in 1804, and died in 1849, and the latter born in ISog, and died in 1886. They have these ten children:
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