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 79
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is a republican. He and wife are very highly respected. Mr. Demaree's great grandparents were both natives of Holland, where they were reared and married. They came to America in about 1642.
FRANCIS DICKSON, a prominent grain-dealer of Whiteland, was born in Owensboro, Daviess County, Ky., August 8, 1850, and was the son of Francis and Maria S. (Bliss) Dickson, the former of whom was born in Belfast, Ireland, and grew to early manhood in his native country, but immigrated to America about the age of twenty-four. Reaching this country he spent some time in Phila- delphia. He afterward came west and was married in the State of Illinois, to Ellen Clark, who died about 1840. About 1842 he married Maria S. Bliss, the mother of our subject. She was born in Rehobeth, Mass., April 17, 1819, and was the daughter of Leonard and Lydia (Talbot) Bliss, natives of Massachusetts. Leonard Bliss was the son of James Bliss, a Revolutionary soldier. The father and mother of our subject were married in Louisville, Ky. The father died at Owensboro, Ky., December 26, 1851. His widow was married to Niles Hardy, in Salem, Washington County, this state in about 1855. He was a physician by profession, and later a jeweler. He died in about 1857, since which time the mother of our subject has been a widow. The first marriage of Francis Dickson, St., resulted in the birth of three children: Edwin, William and Joseph, of whom only Edwin is living. Joseph died while in the service of the Union Army. His second marriage also resulted in the birth of three children: Charles H., Ellen M., and Francis, all of whom are living, and the last of whom is the subject of this sketch. By her second husband, Niles Hardy, his mother had one child: Edward M., who now re- sides at Edinburg. When our subject was three years old, his widowed mother removed to Salem, Ind., where he remained until the age of fifteen years. He had a common school education. He then went to New Albany, Ind., where he spent five years working at the miller's trade. In 1869, he came to this county, and spent about ten months in a mill at Franklin. He then purchased an interest in a flouring mill at Whiteland, in which place he has re- sided ever since. He became the sole owner of the milling prop- erty in 1875, and in connection with the operation of this property, he bought and shipped grain, until about 1884, when he converted his mill into an elevator, and has since given his whole attention to the grain business and raising of live-stock. Mr. Dickson was married October 1, 1872, to Etha Jane Brewer. She was born on the old Brewer homestead, in Pleasant Township, October 6, 1853, and was the daughter of John D. and Fannie (Webb) Brewer,
50
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whose history appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson are the parents of three children: John B., born August 22, 1875; Una, February 2, 1880, and Mino, December 5, ISSI, all of whom are now living. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
DR. KENNERLY P. DOBYNS, a successful physician of White- land, was born in White River Township, December 11, 1848, and was the son of John B. and Elizabeth (Gaston) Dobyns, the former of whom was born in Montgomery County, Va., of English and German descent, and the latter was born in Clermont County, Ohio, of English descent. His father was the son of Dangerfield Dobyns, a native of Virginia. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in his native township, and in addition to a common school education he received a knowledge of several of the higher branches of learning in an academy at Southport, Marion County. In the fall of 1871, he took up the vocation of a teacher, and was thus engaged for six winters: with the exception of one term in this county, his labors as a teacher were all performed in Marion County, this state. In the meantime, in the fall of 1870, he entered Bryant & Stratton's Business College, at Indianapolis, in which he graduated in 1871. In 1874 he took up the study of medicine, and in the fall of 1877 he entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Indiana, and attended one term. During the vacation which followed, he read medicine in the office of Doctors R. N. and L. L. Todd, of Indianapolis. During the winter of 1878-9 he took his second course of lectures in the Medical College of Indiana, department of Butler University, graduating February 28, 1879. Shortly after this he went to Kansas, and, in June, 1879, he located at Arkansas City for the practice of medicine. There he soon be- came initiated into an extensive and lucrative practice. In the month of June, ISSo, he removed to the town of Hunnewell, Kan., where for a few months he practiced his profession and conducted a drug store. During his entire residence in the State of Kansas, he was the partner of Dr. James T. Shepard, of Arkansas. In January, 1882, he located at Whiteland, only five miles from his birth-place, where he has since been in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice. Dr. Dobyns is a member of the Indiana State Medical Society, the I. O. O. F. lodge, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a republican. Though young in his profession, he is very successful, and already has a creditable rank among the leading practitioners of the county.
JOSEPHI DORRELL, a well-to-do and influential citizen of White- land, was born in White River Township, this county, December 12, 1836, and was the son of Jacob and Mary (Alexander) Dor-
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rell, who were married in Dearborn County, this state, and came to Johnson County about 1832, and settled in White River Township, where both spent the rest of their lives. Our subject was reared on a farm in his native township. His early education, considering the very limited advantages, was thorough and complete. He was married in White River Township, January 14, 1858, to Louisa Doty; she is also a native of White River Township, born Febru- ary 1, 1837, and daughter of Samuel and Mary (Mitchell) Doty, who were respectively natives of Virginia and Tennessee. In the spring after his marriage Mr. Dorrell located on a farm in Pleasant Township, upon which he pursued the vocation of a farmer until 1865. On the 17th day of February of that year, he entered the service of the Union Army, in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, with which he served until the close of the war. He received an honorable discharge at Nash- ville, Tenn., September 5, 1865. He then returned to this county, and in the fall of 1865, he removed with his family to Howard County, this state. In the fall of 1867 he returned to Johnson County and located on the farm he had previously occupied, in Pleasant Township. He has resided in that township ever since, with the exception of about a year and a half, which was spent on the old homestead in White River Township. In about 1882, he removed to the town of Whiteland, where he has resided ever since. He was one of the foremost men who perfected the organization of the Whiteland Fruit Packing Company, of which he is a director and one of the heaviest stockholders. The marriage of Mr. Dorrell has resulted in the birth of five children: Mary L., born January 15, 1859; Julia M., July 16, 1861; Samuel A., June 15, 1866; Tillie A., November 29, 1872, and Effie May, December 13, ISSI, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dorrell are members of the Methodist Church. In politics, Mr. Dorrell is independent. He is the owner of two farms, one of eighty-seven and one-half acres, in Pleasant Township, and one of forty acres, in White River Township. He is an influential and prosperous citizen, and he and wife are highly respected.
GARRARD D. ECCLES, a citizen of Pleasant Township, is a native of Mercer County, Ky., born March 3, 1820, and was the son of Samuel and Jane (Darland) Eccles, who were respectively natives of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. His father was born March 15, 1788, and was the son of Joseph and Jane ( Carr) Eccles, both of whom were natives of Ireland. His mother was born January 22, 1785, and was the daughter of Garrard Darland, who was a native of Scotland. His parents were married in Mercer County, Ky., about 1815. They emigrated from Mercer County,
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Ky., to Johnson County, Ind., in 1835, and located on the farm our subject now occupies, in Pleasant Township, which lias been his home ever since, and where his parents both spent the rest of their lives. His mother died Novem- ber 5, 1853, and his father died August 30, 1859. At the age of twenty he took up the carpenter's trade. This was finished in due time, and furnished his chief employment for a number of years. He also occasionally worked some' upon the farm. In 1843, he and his brother, Joseph, went to the State of Iowa. They started on the 14th day of February, and reached Washington County, Iowa, some time in March. During the three seasons following this, our subject was employed breaking prairie land in Washington and Johnson counties, that state. In 1846, he returned to this county, but in 1854, he wentto Washington, Tazwell Co., Ills., where, for three years, he worked at the carpenter's trade and clerked in a store. He then returned to the old Eccles homestead, where he has resided ever since. Since IS58, his un- divided attention has been given to farming. He has owned the old homestead himself since 1859. He was married December 9, 1857, to Mary G. Lemasters. She was born in Pleasant Town- ship, this county, November 14, 1833, and was the daughter of David and Elizabeth ( Alexander) Lemasters. Her father was born in Virginia, November 14, 1805, and was the son of Richard and Gemima Lemasters. Her mother was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Crary) Alexander, the former of whom was a na- tive of Kentucky. Her parents were married in Pleasant Town- ship, in 182S. Her mother died in Pleasant Township in April, IS43. Her father died in White River Township, in August, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Eccles are the parents of three children, as follows: Samuel B., born November 15, IS58; Albert C., October 20, 1861, and John C., January 25, 1864, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Eccles, and all of their children, are members of the Presby- terian Church. In politics, Mr. Eccles is a staunch democrat; he has served his township in the capacity of assessor two terms. Mr. Eccles owns a farm of 14412 acres of land, about 100 of which are in cultivation.
W. ELMORE FITZPATRICK, a prosperous business man of Whiteland, is a native of Clark Township, this county, born De- cember 27, 1854, and is the son of Salem D. and Mary E. (Shaf- fer) Fitzpatrick; the former of whom was born in Shelbyville, Shelby Co., Ky., and the latter was born in Franklin Township, this county. His boyhood was spent on a farm, and he received in the district schools a knowledge of the ordinary branches of learning. At fifteen years of age he became engaged in the pro-
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duce business, having entered the employ of his cousin, R. S. Fitz- patrick. For him he traveled on a salary for a period of nearly ten years, through the States of Indiana and Illinois. The nature of his work was to purchase large quantities of produce for the New York City market. The trips he made to this city were very frequent, making sometimes as many as forty in one year. He became the partner of R. S. Fitzpatrick in 1881, and continued in that business with headquarters at Indianapolis until the year 1884. In September of that year he opened up a general store at Whiteland, this county, which he has conducted ever since. His store is well stocked, and he is in the enjoyment of a liberal trade. Mr. Fitzpatrick was married November 25, 1879, to Mary A. Car- son. She was born in Pleasant Township, this county, December 23, 1858, and was the daughter of Daniel C. and Mary J. (Graham) Carson. She died January 24, ISSI, and on the 3Ist of May, IS83, Mr. Fitzpatrick was married at Indianapolis, to Mrs. Laura L. Smith. She was born in Sugar Creek Township, Shelby County, this state, July 7, 1855, and was the daughter of Henry and Margaret E. (McPherson) Gird. She was married to William O. Smith, October 16, 1873. The first marriage of Mr. Fitzpatrick resulted in the birth of one child, a son, who died unnamed. The first marriage of Mrs. Fitzpatrick resulted in the birth of one child, Bertrand Lee Smith, born December 19, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and son, Bertrand, are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, our subject is an uncompromising re- publican. He is a successful business man, and he and wife are very highly respected.
DAVID N. FOSTER, a farmer and stock-dealer of Pleasant Township, was born in Clark Township, this county, November 21, 1843, and was the son of Henry and Permelia A. (Barngrover) Foster, both of whom were natives of Ohio. His father was the son of Christian Foster, and his mother was the daughter of Six Barngrover, who was born in Germany, but who was sent to Amer- ica when he was but six years old. That was during the Rev- olutionary War. He fell in with the British soldiers, who named him Six. Our subject was reared on a farm in his native township. He was married in Greenwood, this county, April 18, 1867, to Fan- nie McGuire. She was born in the city of Indianapolis, February 26, 1844, and was the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Stagg) McGuire; the former was born in Versailes, Woodford County, Ky .; the latter was born in Harrodsburg, Harrison Co., Ky. For a short time after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Foster resided in Clark Town- ship. They then removed to the farm they now occupy. They have now resided there continuously for twenty years. He buys and sells
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a large amount of live-stock, and makes a specialty of dealing in fine horses. There is scarcely anything in any branch of merchandise, but what he deals in. He and wife have had eight children, as follows: Millie Grace, born September 16, IS68; Lizzie Gertrude, August 7, 1871; Dora Lellie, March 28, 1873, deceased: John Morrison, October 11, 1875: Julia Alice, De- cember 17, 1877; Jessie Hannah, January 23, ISSO; Dollie May, April 19, 1882; Guy Chester, June 11, 1885. The wife of Mr. Foster is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Foster is a republican. He owns about 100 acres of land, which is well improved.
SAMUEL GREGG, one of the well-to-do farmers of Pleasant Township, was born in Scott County, Ky., January 11, 1830, the son of George W. and Mary (McMurtry) Gregg, both of whom were also natives of Kentucky. When he was but nine months old his parents came to Indiana and located in Rush County, where his boyhood and youth were spent on a farm. In winter he at- tended the district school, receiving a good knowledge of the ordi- nary branches of learning. He was married January 13, 1853, to Harriet Myers, daughter of Henry and Hannah (Salisbury) Myers. She was born February 26, 1834, in Rush County, this state, and was reared and married there. Her father and mother were respectively natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. For a period of five years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gregg re- sided in Rush County. In January, 1858, they removed to John- son County, and they have ever since occupied their present home. The entire attention of Mr. Gregg is given to agriculture and the raising of live-stock. He owns a fine farm of 112 acres, about eighty-five of which are well-improved and in a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg have had five children, as fol- lows: Harley E., born December 9, 1853, deceased; Manson D., June 27, 1857; Orlando L., September 21, 1859; Frances O., August 30, 1864, deceased; George J., December 8, 1866, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg are members of the Christian Church. Their two sons are also members of the same church. In politics, Mr. Gregg is an ardent republican. He is a prosperous farmer, an in- telligent man, and he and Mrs. Gregg are among their township's respected citizens.
JAMES M. HOWARD, a citizen of Pleasant Township, was born in Switzerland County, Ind., August 19, 1840, and was the son of John W. and Aletha ( March) Howard, both of whom were natives of the State of Kentucky. He grew to manhood in his native county on the old homestead, and was married in that county, Jan- uary 24, 1866, to Lydia Rayl; she is also a native of Switzerland
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County, born December 29, 1845, and was the daughter of Eli and Elizabeth (Lineback) Rayl, both of whom were natives of Switzerland County. Mr. and Mrs. Howard began their married life in Switzerland County, but in August, 1867, they came to this county, and located on the farm they now occupy. The entire at- tention of Mr. Howard has been given to farming. His farm contains 140 acres, about ninety of which are in cultivation. It contains a handsome residence, and is substantially improved. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had six children: Authur, born November 16, 1866, deceased; Ammi U., January 26, 1868; Clara B., No- vember 2, 1869: Clarence E., September 3, 1874, deceased; Stella V., January 13, 1879, and Grace, December 12, ISSO. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Howard is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having reached the Royal Arch degree. In politics, he is a republican. Ile is one of the prosperous farmers of his township, and he and wife are among its best citizens.
CAPTAIN GIDEON JOHNSON, a retired farmer, and prominent citi- zen of Whiteland, was born in Clark County, this state, November 14, 1829, and was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Mosley ) Johnson, the former of whom was born in Maryland, in November, 1763, and was the son of Jonathan Johnson. By occupation his father was a farmer. He served in the Revolutionary War three years. His death occurred in Scott County, Ind., May 31, 1847. The mother of our subject was born in Scott County, Ky., July 25, 1798, and died in Scott County, Ind., in October, 1860. Our sub- ject's early life was spent on a farm. He received a good common school education, and at the age of twenty-one he took up the voca- tion of a farmer in Scott County, and continued to follow that pur- suit in that county until July, 1862, when he became a Union soldier in Company K, Sixty-sixth Indiana Regiment, with which he served till the close of the war. He enlisted as a private, but was soon promoted to second lieutenant, and served in this capac- ity one year. He was then given the rank of first lieutenant and quartermaster, and eight months later, or in November, 1863, he was made captain of his company, and served as such to the end of the war. He was in the battle of Richmond, Ky., the siege of Atlanta, and several other smaller engagements. He commanded his company July 22 and 28, 1864, in the battle of Atlanta, the march to the sea, and the many engagements attending and fol- lowing this march. He received an honorable discharge at Indian- apolis, June 15, 1865. Ile then resumed farming in Scott County, and remained there until 1876, during which time he served as county commissioner two terms. In 1876 he came to Johnson
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County and located in Whiteland. Two and one half years later he removed to his farm one mile and a half north of that place. In November, ISS7, he retired from the farm, and again became a ' resident of Whiteland, where he now resides. Mr. Johnson was married December 7, 1848, to Martha B. Wilson. She was born in Scott County, Ind., December 22, 1827, and was the daughter of Hugh A. and Margaret E. (Dickey) Wilson. She was thrown from a wagon in a runaway, July 19, 1878, and was instantly killed. He was married March 3, 1879, to Mary M. Duke. She was born in Morgan County, Ind., and was the daughter of George and Mary (Brunnemer) Duke. Mrs. Mary Johnson died April 6, 1879, only two weeks after her marriage. On the 27th day of November, 1879, Mr. Johnson was married to Eliza E. Duke, who was a cousin of his second wife, and who was born in Morgan County, Ind., January 15, 1844, and was the daughter of William and Nancy (Glassburn) Duke, who were na- tives of Virginia. Mr. Johnson is the father of eleven children, as follows: Albinus A., born February 8, 1852; Mary S., August 20, 1853; Sarah L., December 25, 1855; Martha F., May 22, 1858; James A., January 11, 1860; David B., November 12, 1861; Gideon E., May 11, 1866; Hugh E., October 12, 1867; Willie R., December 5, ISSO: Daisy M., November 16, 1882, and Ora O., October 4, ISS4; all of whom are living. The first eight are the children of his first wife, and the last three are the children of his present wife. Captain Johnson is a member of the Methodist Church, and the Masonic lodge, and the Grand Army. In politics, he is a republican. He has served as justice of the peace in Pleasant Township, one term. In 1886 he was the candidate of his party for the state legislature, but failed to overcome an op- posing majority. Three of the sons of Mr. Johnson, Albinus A., James A. and David B., are graduates of colleges, the first and last of Depauw University, and James A. of the Northwestern Uni- versity, of Evanston, Ill. Albinus A. Johnson is now president of the Texas Wesleyan College, of Fort Worth, Tex. These three sons are all ordained ministers in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
GRAFTON JOHNSON, late of Greenwood, this county, was born in Mercer County, Ky., December 14, IS19, and was the son of James and Mary (Taylor) Johnson, who were respectively natives of North Carolina and Virginia. While he was yet a small boy, his parents came to this state and located in Brookville, Franklin County, and later on, in his youth, he accompanied them to Miami County, this state, the family locating on a farm near Peru. In addition to a common school education, he received two years' in- struction in Franklin College. In his early manhood, he located
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at Greenwood, this county, where, soon afterward, he engaged in mercantile pursuits : for thirty-six years he was extensively engaged in the retail of general merchandise. He accumulated consider- able property, and, at the time of his death, he was one of the county's wealthiest men. His marriage occurred near Greenwood, February 21, 1859. The lady that became his wife was Miss Julia A. Noble, daughter of George and Louisa (Canby ) Noble, who came to this state from Boone County, Ky., in about 1831. This mar- riage resulted in the birth of eight children, as follows: Mary L., born August 22, 1860; George T., August 3, 1861, deceased; Charlotte I., June 6, 1863; Grafton, September 14, 1864; Julia N., June 27, 1867; Grace, August 10, 1869; Martha E., October 10, 1870, deceased, and J. Albert, November 6, 1871. The eldest child, Mary L., is a graduate of Depauw University, and is now the wife of H. B. Longden, professor of Latin in that institution; Charlotte I. is the wife of Thomas B. Felder, an attorney at law, of Dublin, Ga .; Grafton is a graduate of Franklin College; Julia N. is a graduate of Wellesley College, and Grace has pursued her studies in both Wellesley College and Depauw University. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Baptist Church, and politically, he was a republican. He was one of the directors of Franklin College, and was a member of the Indianapolis board of trade. Ile died October 2, IS83. His surviving widow, who is an estimable lady, continues to occupy the family residence in Greenwood. She is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DAVID JUSTUS, an old and honored citizen of Greenwood, was born in Guilford County, N. C., January 24, 1810, the son of Garrison L. and Tasitis (Purdue) Justice, both of whom were na- tives of Granville County, N. C. His mother died when he was nine years old, and some three or four years later his father came westward to Jennings County, Ind. Our subject remained in Guil- ford County, and was employed as a farm hand. In 1830 he joined his father in Jennings County, this state. November 13, 1830, he married Minerva, daughter of Edward Wilson. For a period of nearly twenty years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Justus re- sided in Jennings County, and during the first fifteen years of this time he was engaged at farming. In about 1846, he became em- ployed as section hand on the Madison & Indianapolis R. R. In the fall of 1850, he removed his family to Pleasant Township, this county, with the intention of resuming agricultural pursuits. He had hardly settled in this county, when he was waited upon by the superintendent of the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad. who urged him to take charge of the road between Greenwood and Franklin as section foreman. He accepted this position, and during
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the ten years which followed he gave his whole attention to rail- roading. His labors finally extended to various parts of the road, and he frequently had in his charge as many as fifty men. Some idea of the appreciation of his services may be had from the fact that his wages were increased from 75 cents per day without board, to $3.25 per day with board. In 1859 he retired from the road and resumed the management of his farm near Greenwood, and has given his attention to its management ever since. It contains 153 acres, of which 130 acres are in cultivation. It is splendidly improved, and is situated on the pike just one mile and a half east of Greenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Justus passed their golden wedding anniversary November 13, ISSO, and they were permitted to re- main together until December 24, ISS3, when the hand of death removed Mrs. Justus from earth. Since her death Mr. Justus has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Peas, of Indianapolis, and with his sons, Sylvester and Marquis L. Justus, of Greenwood. Hle and wife had a family of twelve children: William L., Rebecca, Sarah A., Alanson L., Sylvester, Elizabeth, Catharine, Daniel, Melissa J., Marquis L., David and Edward W., of whom Elizabeth, Daniel and Melissa J., are deceased. In politics, Mr. Justus is a republican. His first presidential vote was cast for Jackson. He is now in the seventy-ninth year of his age.
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