History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 31

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954

USA > Indiana > Orange County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 31
USA > Indiana > Washington County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 31
USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 31

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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REV. ROBERT M. PARKS was born in Bono Township, this county, December 16. 1815, one of seven children born to Pleasant and Esther (Carlton) Parks, who emigrated from Burke County, N. C., to Lawrence County. Ind., in 1815, and made it their home the remainder of their days. Pleasant Parks was elected from this county to the Indiana House of Representatives two terms, and in early days was a Colonel of State militia. He and wife were charter members of the Baptist Church of this county. Robert M. Parks was educated in the country schools of the county and Lawrence County Seminary. At twenty-one years of age be began teaching school, which he continned for twenty years. and in March. 1837, united with the Baptist Church four miles east of Bedford. Since that time until the present the greater part of his life has been passed in preaching and teaching, largely in his native county. March 1. 1842, his marriage with Miss Jane T. Short was solemnized. and this lady has indeed been his helpmate, taking an active interest with her husband in all matters pertaining to religion or education. For nearly twenty years Mr. Parks served as Clerk of the Bedford Association of Baptists. at the same time acting as Moderator. He undoubtedly has married more couples and attended more funerals than any man now in the county. In politics he is a Democrat but was opposed to slavery and is an active worker in the temperance cause. For a time he was Post. master under President Pierce's administration. and by an upright life has gained many warm friends and few enemies. MIrs. Parks has been a church member fifty.two years, joining when only twelve years old.

LUCIEN E. PAYNE, Trustee of Shawswick Township, was born in Lawrence County. Ind .. June 25, 1846, one of fourteen children of George and Sarah (Woody) Payne. who emigrated West in 1822 and set. tled in this county. George Payne, besides being a pioneer of this locality, was a man widely known for his many virtues. He was a farmer and stone.mason and by a life of hard labor acquired a competence. Until the breaking out of the war he was a Democrat, but after that was a Republican. He was an influential member of Roberts Chapel, situ- ated six miles east of Bedford. as was also his wife, and their respective deaths occurred June 25. 1566, and May 17, 1550. Lucien E. Payne received his education in the common schools of his native county and has passed the greater part of his life upon a farm. January 17. 1565. he enlisted in Company B. One Hundred and Forty- fifth Indiana Vol- nuteer Infantry, but the war soon afterward closing he did not get to see any active service. August 2. 1566, he was married to Sarah J. Younger. who has horne bim four children. named Emma F., Charlie A., Nellie MI .. and Willie E .. deceased. Both parents are members of the Christian Church. MIr. Payne belongs to the G. A. R., the I. O. O. F. and the Blue Lodge in Masonry. He is an active Republican in politics and in the spring of 1884 was elected to his present position.

JUDGE E. D. PEARSON, a pioneer of the Lawrence County bar, was born at Springville. December IS. 1829, the eldest of eleven children born to Eliphalet and Amelia (Lemon) Pearson His father was a native of Waltham. Mass .. and in ISIS settled at Jeffersonville, Ind., where he kept a ferry until 1526, when he was married. After their removal to Lawrence County. they resided at Springville until 1563, when Mr. Pear- son died. His widow moved to Bloomington after his death, remaining there until 1882. when she came to Bedford. where she is yet living. E. D. Pearson attended the common schools in early years and in 1847

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entered the State University, where he remained two years. He received a diploma from the Law Department of the State University in 1850, after which he immediately engaged in legal pursuits al Bedford. The fall of 1852 he purchased the White River Standard, a paper published at Bedford, which he edited until 1855, when he sold out and turned his attention to the exclusive practice of his profession. In 1852 he was elected State's Attorney for Lawrence and Jackson Counties, and October 11. 1853, married Caroline, daughter of Woodbridge and Harriet (Thornton) Parker. In his profession Mr. Pearson has made a success, both in legal and pecuniary sense. In early life he was a Whig, but since 1856 has been an outspoken Republican. As the nominee of his party he was elected Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit in 1873, serving until 1879. He and wife have had born to them eleven children, only Mabel, Caroline, Martha, Henry, Rena and Charles E. yet living. Mrs. Pearson and three daughters belong to the Presbyterian Church. Judge Pearson is a Camp Degree Odd Fellow. The death of Mrs. Pearson occurred March, 1583.

JESSE T. PHIPPS was born in Shawswick Township May 1, 1823, the fourth of nine children of Lewis and Margaret (Rector) Phipps, the father a native of North Carolina born July 19, 1783, the mother a native of Grayson County, Va., born February 17, 1793. In the winter of 1822 the parents located near Bedford where the father became prominent and well known, and owned at his death November 22, 1858, a farm of 146 acres. The father was a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Our subject's youth was passed without event, and at the age of twenty-six he married (March 29, 1849.) Nancy MI. Dothitt, who bore him six chil- dren, of whom four are living: Henry C., Sarah M., Oliver M., Par. thena A. Henry is in Kansas: the others are with their parents. Mr. Phipps has followed farming principally through life, though for four vears he was a merchant in Daviess County. He owns 156 acres of land, is a Republican, takes an earnest interest in all public enterprises, and is universally respected.

JEFFERSON RAGSDALE was born in Lawrence County, August 15, 1547, being the third of nine children of Gabriel H. and Elizabeth (Cain) Ragsdale. His father. a native of Kentucky, came to this county about 1823. His mother was a native of this county. Our subject remained with his parents on their farm until the age of twenty-four years, and November 1, 1571, was united in marriage with Minerva E. Alexander, the issue of which union was one child-Alden C., born August 23, 1875. On the 18th of July, 1576, their little boy died. a loss that will be ever mourned by the parents. Mr. Ragsdale is a successful farmer, now own- ing seventy-one acres of good land. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Democrat of the practical school.

JOSEPH RAWLINS. the oldest settler now living in Lawrence County, is a native of the town of Danville, Boyle County, Ky., born April 21. 1796, one of five children born to Charles and Aristicia (Gre- gory) Rawlins. early settlers of Kentucky. In the fall of 1812 he set- tled in what is now Lawrence County. Ind., and has made that his home ever since. His father dying when he was four years old, he was left to the care of an uncle. with whom he came to Indiana. He served as a Ranger in 1814. from which service he saved money enough to buy eighty acres of land. In December. 1817, he married Miss Sallie Mc-

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Manis, and began farming, taking his produce to New Orleans by tiat- boat. In 1826 Mr. Rawlins began doing a general mercantile business at Bedford, which had only then been made the county seat, and which was named at the request of Mr. Rawlins, from Bedford County. Tenn .. from whence his uncle had brought him. He built a flouring mill. also. Mr. and Mrs. Rawlins raised a family of teu children: James, Sarah J. (Denson), Miranda, Benjamin F., Mary (Hickman), Homer. Joseph. Susan (Mitchell), Emeline (Farmer), and Nettie (Voris). Angust 5. 1955, Mrs. Rawlins died, and about the same time he abandoned the wercan- tile trade entirely. He was the first Assessor of the county. He was elected County Commissioner, but resigned that office. He has generally been a Republican, although not strictly so, as he has always voted for men and principles. not party.

THOMAS T. RAY is the eldeet child of seven of Squire and Sallie A. (Woolery) Ray, and was born May 16. 1>43. The father. Squire, while yet a boy, came to Indiana from Kentucky in company with: Jacob Woolery at an early day, and his parents came later and lived to the age of eighty years. When our subject was in his tenth year his parents died. and he went to live with his uncle, Thomas Stafford: but four years later made his home at his grandfather Woolery's, where he remained two years, and then enlisted in Company G, Fourth Indiana Cavalry. and served with distinction for one year. and was then dischargel for disability. November 24. 1863, he married Susan E. Kern. who has presented him with eleven children as follows: Elmer C., Viola E .. Wallace E., Ethel R., Harry R., Jesse G .. Charlie N .. Dailey C .. Thomas E., Freddie M. and Sallie. Our subject has been a successful farmer, now owning 375 acres of well-improved land. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow. a Granger, and affiliates with the National party.

HORATIO B. RICHARDSON was born at Waltham, Mass. Febru. ary 10, 1813, and was one of ten children born to Ruel and Orra . Bird) Richardson. He was educated in the common schools of his native State and Connecticut, and when a young man learned the machinist's trade of his father. When only about fifteen years old he wa- made second overseer in a cotton spinning mill at Glastonbury. and besides having worked at this business in Glastonbury he was also at Lowell and other places. In 1833 be came to Bedford to start the woolen mills. then in course of erection, and remained one year, then went to Louis. ville, Ky , and from there a year later to Missouri. Two years later he returned to Bedford, which has ever since been bis home. In 1847 he embarked in merchandising which for thirty-seven years he ha- con. tinued without interruption, and to-day represents one of the oldest and most reliable business houses of Bedford. He owns. besides his grocery and provision store and building, nine dwellings and other business property in Bedford and Springville, and eighty acres of farming land. He has served in local positions of trust in the county, is a Republican and has always been identified with the best interests of his county and particularly in the erection of the High School building in Bedford. On the 19th of May 1842. Nancy A. Webb became his wife. and to their union eleven children have been born, only the following being yet alive: Henry. Horace, Allen, Orra, Mary, Ellen and Louise.

JOHN RILEY, attorney at law, was born in Harrison County, Ohio. September 19, 1524, and is one of ten children born to William and

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Nancy (Ewing) Riley. He was reared in his native State, educated in the common schools and began when a young man to teach school at the same time studying both law and medicine. In October, 1843. he mar- ried Rebecca Agnew, who died during the summer of 1548, leaving one -on-Clinton C .- to survive her. The fall of 1549, MIr. Riley removed to Lawrence County. Ind., locating near the present town of Mitchell, where he continued to reside until 1864. when he was elected County Clerk. He moved to Bedford. served one term of four years, was re-elected to a second term and served in all eight years, after which he resumed the practice of law, associating himself in partnership with George O. Iseminger at Bedford. This partnership has since continued, and is recognized as one of the leading legal firms of Bedford. August 14. 1551, Mr. Riley was united in marriage with Nancy J., daughter of John R. Nugent. and the following named of their nine children are yet living: John R., Euphemia (Mrs. Dunn), Mary (Mrs. Erwin), Sarah A .. Nancy J. und Lonise. As a member of the Masonic brotherhood, Mr. Riley has several times served as Worshipful Master. In early years he was a Whig in politics, but on the death of that party, joined the Amer- ican party, and in 1860 was an Elector for the Bell and Everett ticket. When the war broke out he unhesitatingly united with the Republicans, and has since been an active worker in that party.

JOHN SCOGGAN was born in this township December 10. 1931. the fourth of ten children of Samnel and Lucy (Martin) Scoggan, natives of Kentucky. Each of the parents was the eldest of his or her father's family, and is the only one now living. They came to this State at the early date of 1529, when the country was vet a wilderness. Jolin had no such school advantages as exist at present, but managed to secure the rudiments. His youth was passed withont event on his father's farm at hard work. January 11, 1555, he married Elizabeth (Austin) Nolan, und nine children are the issue. seven now living: Thomas W .. who married Mary I. Smith: Margaret M., who married Jesse Mitchell, Jr .; Katharine B., who became the wife of Hugh Gray; Sarah A .. who mar- ried Samuel E. Mitchell; Susan E .. Clara M. and Albert W. Mr. Scog- gan is a successful farmer and owns 195 acres of good land. He is a Republican in politics, and one of the county's best and most influential farmers.

REUBEN B. SCOTT was born in Rush County, Ind., May 30. 1839. the third of five children born to Joshua and Nancy (McCoy) Scott, both of whom died when our subject was quite young. At the age of eight years. he came with his grandparents to Lawrence County. and here in youth by diligence secured a fair education, teaching afterward about five years. October 4. 1565. his marriage with Mary E. Miller was cele- brated. July 15. 1961, he enlisted in Company B. Twelfth Illinois Regi- ment, and served three months. and was then discharged for disability. He came home and taught a term of school, and at its termination re-en- listed in Company A. Sixty-seventh Indiana Regiment, and served three years, participating in the very large number of seventeen engagements, among which were the siege of Vicksburg, capture of Forts Morgan, Gaines. Blakely and the city of Mobile, and Fort Hindman in Arkansas. He was twice taken prisoner and paroled, and was confined fifty-two days in the rebel prison at Alexandrin. La. Since his return from the army he has been an invalid. He is now United States Pension Claim Agent. He owns 107 acres of land. is a member of the G. A. R., is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

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JOSEPH H. SHERRILL was born in Shawswick Township, Feb- ruary 24, 1845, being the fifth child of six born to John and Thursa (Woody) Sherrill. The father was born in North Carolina in 1800, and came to Indiana at an early day. Joseph H. remained with his parents in charge of the old place until their deaths. His youth was passed as that of all other boys of pioneers-without advantages of schooling or society, and at hard work in the woods. He chose the occupation of farming, which he has followed to the present. He now has a fine farm of 253 acres of well-improved land. He is a Democrat politically and a member of Bedford Lodge. A. F. & A. M., No. 14. October 21, 1870, he married Emily Payne, and to this union two children have been born. as follows: Minnie M. and Henry W. Mr. Sherrill is prosperous in his occupation, and is an enterprising citizen.

ELIAS SITLER is a native of Columbia County. Penn., born May 8, 1825, the seventh of twelve children, of Samuel and Christina (Fry) Sitler, both natives of Germany. In 1933 Elias Sitler, in company with his brother-in-law, came to Indiana, locating at Indianapolis, where he remained until he was eighteen years old. learning in the meantime the carpenter and joiner trade. He then went to Illinois for three years, then to Vicksburg, Miss., and soon afterward to this county. His edu- cation is limited through no fault of his own. In August, IS52, he mar- ried Emily Brown, and to this union five children have been born : Alice, who married Daniel Cupps, William, Ann, Ada and Mary. The last four are at home with their parents. Mr. Sitler's occupation has been his trade. together with farming on his place of over 100 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Sitler are members of the Methodist Church. He is a Republican and Mason, and one of the substantial citizens of the county.

JOHN V. SMITH. a native of the township in which he now resides and the owner and editor of the Bedford Journal . was born November 6, 1531, the next youngest in a family of three sons and six daughters, born to Peter and Margaret (Ford) Smith. The parents were natives of Kentucky and Tennessee respectively; were married in the former State, and when Indiana was yet in its infancy immigrated to Lawrence County, first settling in Indian Creek Township, subsequently removing to Shawswick Township where the father died in 1\49, followed by his widow in 1867, at the home of our subject. who then lived in Daviess County. John V. Smith was raised a farmer, receiving such educational advantages in yonth as were common at that early day. After the death of his father he began doing for himself. and in July, IS51, was united in marriage with Miss Susan A. Collins, of Monroe County. Until during the war he followed farming. but in January, 1564. became a private in Company I, One hundred and Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. served through the Atlanta campaign, but after the reduction of Atlanta was detached from Sherman's army and sent in pursuit of Hood. After the war Mr. Smith was retained in the service for provost duty in the South until January, 1866. when he received his discharge. He engaged in merchandising at Clarksburg. Ind .. continuing about ten years, the last five years of his stay being also editor and proprietor of the Clarks. burg Spy. In 1877 he returned to Lawrence County, and in June of that year established the Bedford Journal, which he has since edited with ability and managed with financial success. Mr. Smith is a Repub- lican and a member of the Masonic and G. A. R. fraternities. Both be

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and wife belong to the Christian Church and are parents of eight chil- dren, all of whom are now dead. Mr. Smith has lately bought the Mitchell Commercial.

FRANKLIN P. SMITH, Superintendent of the Bedford Public Schools, is a native of Washington County, Ind., born July 9, 1854. the oldest of four children born to Lewis N. and Nancy J. (Worrall Smith, who were also natives of that county. Until his eighteenth year he worked on his father's farm and attended the district schools of his neighborhood. At that age he began attending the Salem Public Schools, which he pursued for two years and teaching vacations. At twenty years of age he commenced a course in the State University of Bloomington, where he graduated in June, ISTS, having taken the Ancient Classic Course. In August, ISTS. he went to Fisherville, Ky .. and took charge of the public schools at that place for six months. On Octo. ber 23 of the same year he was united in matrimony with Miss Amanda E. Brewer, of Salem, Ind., and to their union two children. named Daisy B. and Anna M. were born March 21, 18SO, and March 1, ISSI, only the former now living. In February, 1870, he returned to Salem and worked on a farm until the following September. At that time he took charge of the Salem High School, which position he held for three years. After that he taught in the public schools at Orleans, Ind., as Superintendent for one year. At the end of that time he came to Bedford, where he has ever since held the place he now occupies with good success and satisfaction. Professor Smith is a member of the Methodist Church and his wife of the Christian Church at Salem. In politics he is a stanch Democrat of the old Jacksonian type, and always takes a lively interest in the public affairs of the day.

HAMILTON STILLSON. A. M., M. D., was born in Bedford. Ind., February 14. 1557. and is one of four children now living born to Dr. Joseph and Eliza (Reddick; Stillson, who were among the early settlers of the county. Hamilton Stillson. after attending the common schools of Bedford until fourteen years of age, went to the May Academy at Salem. Ind .. for two years. after which for one year he was a teacher in the common schools of Lawrence County. At the age of eighteen he commenced a course of study in Hanover College, from which he gradn. ated in 1870. receiving the degree of A. B., and three years later the degree of A. M. from the same institution. Immediately after his graduation he began teaching in the Southern Indiana Normal College at Mitchel !. delivering a course of lectures on the Nervous System. The winter of 1551-2 he entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, which graduated him with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine in March of the latter year. He is now occupying the chair of (ierman and Natural Science in the Normal School at Mitchell, and is one of its ablest instructors. Dr. Stillson took a special course on the diseases of the eve and ear, the winter of 1852-53 at the New York Eye and Ear Institute, after which he returned to Bedford making a specialty of those diseases in connection with nose and throat troubles. He is the author of " Normal Outline of the Essential Elements of Human Physiology." which is used a- text book in the Normal at Mitchell. He is also now engaged ou a work on " School Room Diseases of the Eye, Ear. Nose and Throat." and is the present Secretary of the Southern Indiana Microscopical Society.

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ELI STULTS was born in Stokes County, N. C .. January 27, 1827. being the eldest of four children born to William and Anna (Holder) Stults, who emigrated to this county about the year 1831. They were natives of North Carolina. Subject remained at home until he attained his majority, and on December 21. 1$54, married Sarah A. Shields, and to this union seven children have been born: David R., who married Ruthey Allen; William D .. John C., whose wife was Dora Mitchell: Henry C .. Mary E., Nathaniel V. and Sallie. He has followed farming all his life, and now owns 260 acres of well-improved land. He also owns and operates a corn-mill and tile machine. Mr. and Mrs. Shults are members of the Christian Church, and he always contributes to the support of all landable undertakings. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. and his political views are Democratic. He is one of the county's best citizens.

JOHN D. THOMASSON, one of Bedford's oldest business men. wa- born in Henry County, Va .. December 17. 1512, and is one of seven children of Fleming and Margaret (Davis) Thomasson. Eleven months and eleven days is the sum total of his schooling. confined to the primi. tive log-cabin schools of his day, and antil 1535 he followed farming. In that year he embarked in the grocery and provision trade in Coffee. ville. Miss., continuing until March. 1841. when he came to Lawrence County, Ind .. where he has alinost constantly been engaged in merchan. dising since, residing at. Bedford since 1953. Here he has been identi. tied with many of the business industries of the town. and has always taken an active part in landable enterprises. April 20. 1534. he married Miss Jane Robertson, by whom he was the father of one daughter-Mary M., born September 5. 1840, died February 25. 1864. He is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, and is the present Secretary of Lodge No. 14. and from 1870 to 1SS3. was Trustee of the Bedford schools. Mr. Thomasson was a Whig in politics, afterward a State Central Com. mitteeman on the Bell-Everett ticket. On the breaking out of the Rebell- ion he became a Republican. and from 1863 until the abolishment of the office was Provost Marshal of Lawrence County. lu 1572 he united with the Liberal Republicans, and was a delegate to the Cincinnati Con. vention that nominated Horace Greeley. Since then he has been a Den- ocrat. Mr. Thomasson has served years as a Justice of the Peace in Lawrence County, and in that capacity rendered general satisfaction.

GEORGE A. THORNTON. deceased. was boru at Lexington. Ind .. October 16. 1821. a son of Heury P. and Martha (Ward Thornton and a grandson of Thomas Thornton. the latter a untive of County Donegal. Ireland, coming to this country when eighteen years oldl in 1576. and serving the Colonies in their struggle for independence He was wounded at Entaw Springs, and after the war. marrying Elizabeth Robinson. he removed to Bourbou Conuty, Ky .. in 1778, where both died. Heury P' .. Benjamin and Margaret were their children. The former was born in North Carolina in March. 1754. was educated in Kentucky, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention and Legislature of the latter State. and during the war of 1512 rose to rank of Captain in the com- pany of the regiment commanded by Col. Thompson. the same that is credited with the killing of Tecumseh. He removed to Indiana Terri. tory at an early day. serving in the Con-titutional Convention andl Logis- lature of this State: practiced law at Salemi and New Albany for years. and June 6. 1565, died at Bedford. George A. Thornton read law with

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History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 31

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 199-?] Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.] Number of Pages: 954

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954