History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 74

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 74
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 74
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 74

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).

WILLIAM NOBLITT was born in Washington County, Ind .. November 1, 1817, and is one of the following family, children of Abra-

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ham and Amelia (Vandeveer) Noblitt: Vandeveer; William, Nancy, wife of James Lynch; Cynthia, wife of Benjamin ML Holaday. and John T. The parents were natives of North Carolina, and were taken in child- hood to Kentucky, where they became acquainted, and married in 1814. The father's birth occurred October 2, 1780. Soon after his marriage, he with his wife's people immigrated to Indiana. This was in 1814, a very early period in the history of the State-in fact, the State had not yet been organized or admitted into the Union. They located first in Washington County, and later moved to this township, where the father died in 1840, and the mother in 1861. They were sober, industrious, honest, Christian people, and lie buried in Dauner's Cemetery, in Stamp- ers Creek Township. William lived with his parents until his father's death, obtaining a rudimentary education at the subscription schools. October 2, 1842, he married Mary, daughter of Joshua and Sarah (Beard) Holaday, and to this union the following children have been born: Abraham, James L., John V .; Nancy J., wife of William Wright; and four that died in infancy. Mrs. Noblitt died February 3, 1860, and January 20, 1861. Mr. Noblitt married Mrs. Nancy J. (Radcliff) Max- edon, who has borne her husband four children, as follows: Martha, David R., Josephine and Louisa. His second wife died May 6, 1881. She, as well as her husband, were Baptists. Mr. Noblitt has lived on his present place fifty four years; he has 132 acres with fair improvements He is a stanch Democrat; has served as Trustee and Justice of the Peace. Mrs. Maxedon, second wife, had one child-Mary-by her former husband; this daughter lives with Mr. Noblitt. Her grandfather's name was Mar- quis De Lafayette Maxedon.

JONATHAN PETER, a prominent citizen and farmer of this town- ship, was born here July 16, 1830, and was one of the following family: Charles, Simon; Hannah, wife of George W. Ball; Benjamin F .; Rebecca, wife of Mir. Stalcup; Jonathan, John A., William. Amos, and Elizabeth (deceased). These were the children of William and Elizabeth (Stephens) Peter. natives of Kentucky, who were married in Harrison County, Ind. They were people of much worth and respectability. The father died in 1841, and the mother in 1SS4, the latter death being occasioned by the buttings of an enraged sheep. Jonathan lived with his mother until the age of nineteen, receiving in youth a fair education, and then commenced lwarning the tanner's trade, which business he followed about ten years, but later engaged in farming and stock-raising. He now owns 153 acres of fertile land. April 30, 1856, he married Mary Aun. daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca (Wellman) Peter, and to this union two children have been born: Enoch W. and Stephen W. March 9, 1SS1, Enoch married Martha E. Tarr. Our subject is a Dem- ocrat, and he and wife are Regular Baptists The county has no better people.

THOMAS SANDERS was born November 5, 1831, being one of the following children of John and Sarah Sanders: Thomas, William, Eliz- abeth (wife of Andrew J. Pearson), John, Eli, Charles, Isaac N., Aaron and Samuel. The parents were natives of North Carolina, and excell- ent people. Our subject's paternal grandparents came to this county in 1805, and his maternal grandparents in 1807, and both families were therefore among the very first in the county. John Sanders, father of Thomas. was an exemplary citizen and a useful'public man, serving with fidelity in the various township offices. His death occurred July 3, 1876;

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his wife survived him at the age of seventy. Both belonged to the Chris- tian Church. Thomas passed his youth at work on the farm, and Sep- tember 26, 1852, married America Maxedon, daughter of Robert and Mary (Pearson) Maxedon, and to them eight children have been born: Mary E., who married J. W. Tower: Sarah E., who married J. E. McIn- tosh; John M., Rachel, who married J. A. Weathers: Anna, who mar- ried J. L. Walker; Robert W., Nancy. Jane and Franklin E. Mr. San- ders is comfortably situated, owning 176 acres of land. He is a Demo- crat and an influential man, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.

YOUNG L. STALCUP was born in this county September 30. 1848, being the oldest of seven children of Charles M. and Mary J. (Wright) Stalcup. The children of these parents were: Young L., Benjamin F., Isom G. (deceased), Ruth A., Johu W., Clara E. (deceased), and Rebecca (deceased). The parents were natives of Indiana. and were married about 1846, and were people of high respectability. In August, 1861, the father enlisted in Company D, Sixty-sixth Regiment Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, and after faithfully following the fortunes of war, finally died in Andersonville Prison, December. 1863, a martyr of the slave. holders' rebellion. There his dust lies buried His wife yet survives, at the age of about sixty.two years, and is a member of the Regular Baptist Church, and the wife of Henry Stalcup. Our subject lived with his mother until thirteen years of age, and then worked in varions places in this State and Illinois, securing what education he could. At the age of twenty he began to teach, which business he followed until his mar riage to Miss Charlotte M., daughter of James and Eleanor (Hollowell; Walker, February 18, 1877. These parents have five children: Cora A .. James O., Benjamin F., Arlie O., and an infant deceased. Mr. Stalcup is a Republican, and is now Township Trustee, being elected in the spring of 1854. He owns seventy-two acres of land, and he and wife are inem bers of the Christian Church.

THOMAS M. THOMPSON is a native of Chatham County, N. C .. born August 24, 1834, being the eldest son of the following six children: Elizabeth, Martha, Mary, Sarah, Thomas MI. and John, the family of John B. and Polly ( Archey) Thompson. Of these children Martha and Mary are deceased, Elizabeth married Alvin Scott, and Sarah married John Hart. The parents were natives of North Carolina, and immi. grated to Orange County about 1845. locating near where subject now lives. About this time the mother died, and the father moved to Canada, where be likewise died. He was a Baptist and she a Methodist, and both were consistent Christian people. Our subject was reared on a farm, receiving fair education. He married Mrs. Sarah (Roberts) Chavis April 10, 1858, and to this union five children have been born: Noah. Elizabeth, wife of Henry Harris; Clara A. P .. Mary C., and Homer (deceased). Mr. Thompson is one of the prominent farmers and stock. raisers of the township. He owns eighty-five acres of land; is a Repub- lican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church, and are worthy people.

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ABNATHA BOLTON, a prominent old citizen of Orangeville Town- ship and one of the first settlers of the county, was a native of Mulberry District. S. C., where he was born October 10, 1808, being the youngest of five children born to James and Rebecca (Lambdin) Bolton. His father was of Irish. his mother of Welsh, descent. The latter died when he was but five years of age, and his father having entered the ser- vice in the war of 1812, and not having returned, our subject was brought to this State in the year 1815 by Lewis Thomas, and has been a resident here ever since. He remained with Mr. Thomas until he attained the age of sixteen years, when he served an apprenticeship of three years at the blacksmith trade with Silas Dixon, after which he followed that business for ten years. He received a very limited education, such as the schools of his day afforded. December 6, 1832, bis marriage with Fan- nie Stone was solemnized, and to their union two children were born, of which only this one is now living-Rhoda-who was united in marriage to Silas Halbert. His occupation since he quit the blacksmith business has been farming. and he has been very successful in that pursuit. He now owns 200 acres of land; he also raises considerable stock. March 26. 1883. Mr Bolton lost his wife and life. long companion. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having been connected with it for over fifty years. He has been Class-leader and Steward for thirty years. His political views are Republican, and he takes a lively interest in the political affairs of the community.

ALFRED BRUNER, one of the early settlers of Orangeville Town- ship. was born April 5, 1815. in Breckinridge County, Ky. He was the oldest of a family of ten children born to Adam and Nancy (Arnes) Bruner. who were respectively of German and Scotch English descent, the former having been the first white child born in Hardin's Fort, in that county. In the year 1823 his parents brought him to this State, locating in Lawrence County, he remaining with and assisting them on the farm until he was twenty-two years of age, receiving a very meager education. December 20. 1836, he was married to Mary Wilson, daughter of Maj. Andrew Wilson, who has borne him ten children, of whom these six are now living: Amanda J., wife of Moses F. Ham; Hester A., wife of Joseph Bruner; Lucy A., who is the wife of Silas J. Halbert; Maria, who was united in marriage to John Millis; Ellen, wife of John Hudel- son. and Alfred W .. who married Flora Faucett. He is a farmer, now owning 178 acres of well-improved land situated in one of the best agri- cultural districts in the county. Himself and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which they contribute very liberally. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and he belongs to the Odd Fellows' fraternity.

MATTHEW CLEVELAND, son of one of the early settlers of Orange County, was born in Shelby County, Ky., February 2, 1812, the fourth in a family of thirteen children born to Ezer and Martha (Wadkins) Cleveland, whose respective places of nativity were New York and Vir-

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ginia, and of English and Welsh descent, having first come to this State in the year 1813, settling in Clarke County, remaining but a short time. thence removing to Paoli Township, Orange County, living there nine years, when he removed to Orangeville Township, and was a resident there until the year 1834, then moving to Lawrence County. Matthew, in consequence of the pour educational facilities, coupled with the farm duties which devolved on him in aiding his parents. received a very lim- ited education. The day after attaining his majority, February 3, 1833, he married Elizabeth Jenkins. To their union four children have been born, of which these three are now living: Jane, wife of Samuel Slusser; William J., who married Anna Pickthall; and Louisa, consort of Harlan D. Burnett. By occupation Mr. Cleveland is a farmer, although he has retired from actively performing any of the duties of that vocation, hav- ing deeded his land to his children in consideration of support by them. He is a member of the Baptist Church-his wife of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

TOLBERT DILLINGER, a prominent citizen of Orangeville Town. ship, is a native of Harrison County this State, where he was born October 26, 1822, being the oldest of five children born to Miles and Anna (Hickman) Dillinger. His father was a native of Virginia. his mother of Harrison County, and both were of English descent. Our subject remained at home until the death of his parents. his mother . having died when he was ten. his father when he was fifteen years of age. He received a limited education, such as the schools of his day afforded. February 28, 1842, hin marriage with Lydia Fields was cele- brated and to their union six children have been born. of which these four are now living: Caroline, who was united in marriage to George McFarland; Anna, who is the wife of James A. Thompson; Abigail E., and William T., who married Lydia Campbell. Our subject's occupa- tion has always been farming, and he has been quite successful in that pursuit. He now owns 160 acres of well improved land. His political views are Republican.

GEORGE W. FAUCETT, County Superintendent of Schools, is the oldest of five children of James and Sarah B. (Dickey) Faucett, bis birth occurring in this county, September 19, 1845. His parents were natives of North Carolina and came to this county about 1832. The youth of George W. was passed on the farm. and at the age of seventeen, the war being in progress, he went to Cumberland Gap, Tenn., to enlist, but was prevented by his father on account of his immaturity. While there he was taken Rick with typhoid fever, and in this helpless condition fell into the hands of the enemy, remaining thus for about one month, when he was paroled and exchanged. October 19, 1863, he volunteered in Company B, Eighty Ninth Illinois Regiment, with which command he served until May, 1865, when he was transferred to Company B. Fifty-Ninth Regiment, and served until January 13, 1866. and was then mustered out at Springfield, Ill. During his military service he participated in the following battles, expeditions. etc .: Lookout Moun- tain, Mission Ridge, Knoxville, the entire Atlanta campaign, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville. besides others of less importance. He may well be proud of his military record. October 1, 1868, he married Elizabeth Mathers, who bore him siz children: Cora E .. Euphenia J., Cameron, Charles T .. James N. and Orville R. In youth Mr. Faucett. received a fair education, which, since the war, he has greatly improved.

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For the past fifteen years he has been engaged in teaching, and his suc- cess in this profession is measured by his election in 1881 for the office of County Superintendent. He owes his success to his own persistent efforts and his love of the work of the instruction of youth. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities and of the G. A. R., and is a Republican. In 1874 he removed to California, but returned in 1876.

SILAS J. HALBERT was born in Hancock County, Ill., Decem- ber 7, 1843, the second of three children born to John and Mary (Fox) Halbert, who were born respectively in Martin County, Ind., and Ohio, the former of Welsh, the latter of German descent. They remained residents of Illinois until 1848, when our subject's father started for California and perished on the plains en route to that place. The widowed mother and family returning to this State. Silas received a common school education and in 1861 enlisted as a volunteer in Company G, Forty-ninth Regiment, and served until December, 1864, when he

was honorably discharged. He was engaged in the following battles: Cumberland Gap, Champion Hills, Black River and Fort Gibson, in con- nection with the siege of Vicksburg, where he was wounded in the right arm, and other less important engagements. Mr. Halbert and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he belongs to the Odd Fellows and is a Republican. He has followed farming all his life and now owns 120 acres of improved land.

SAMUEL HICKS, one of ten children of Solomon and Lucy (Butts) Hicks, was born December 11, 1809, in Vermont. His father was a native of New York, his mother of Massachusetts, and were respectively of (terman-English and English descent. In the year 1822 they and family immigrated to Switzerland County, this State, where, August 21, 1837, Samuel was licensed to preach according to the doctrine of the Methodist Episcopal Church. by the Rev. E. G. Wood, and was ordained Local Deacon of that church by Bishop Wall. September 29, 1844. at Bloomington. Ind., and Local Elder October 4, 1847, at Evansville. He traveled the Patriot Circuit nine months in 1843, Manchester in 1844, Wilmington in 1845, Orleans in 1846 and 1847, Washington in 1848. and was a supply on the Stanford Circuit in 1857. July 11, 1837, he married Grace E. Greenleaf. and one child was born of this union- Samuel G .- who died in the late war at the battle of Champion Hills. The death of his wife took place January 22, 1839. September 11, 1845, he again married, this time Eliza Lee. Two children have been born to them: Mary E., wife of William Shirley, and William T., the present County Clerk, whose sketch appears in this work. Soon after the date of this marriage they moved to Orleans.

JAMES HICKS. a prominent citizen of Orangeville Township, is a native of the State of Tennessee. where he was born August. 20, 1818. being the oldest child of tive born to Daniel and Sarah (Chelders) Hicks. His parents came to this State and county in the year 1523, and settled in the vicinity of Orangeville. James remained at home with his mother and assisted in taking care of his younger brothers and sisters until he attained the age of twenty two years. He received a limited education. January 13, 1546, his marriage with Mary M. Porter was solemnized, and to their union eight children were born, of which these three are now living: James T., whose present wife's name was Maggie Berry; Laura A., who was united in marriage to Henry Herman; Samuel R.,

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who married Ida Hudelson. October 23. 1859, Mr. Hicks suffered the loss of his wife, and January 8, 1860, the nuptials of his marriage with Clorinda Morris were celebrated, and their union has been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are now living: Emily E., Mary M., William J., John H., Edward H., Charles W. and Ruth E., all at home with their parents. Our subject's occupation has been principally farm- ing, and he has been quite successful in that pursuit, and now owns 160 acres of well improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his political views are Democratic.

DANIEL H. HIGGINS, a prominent citizen of Orangeville Town. ship, is a native of Washington County, Tenn., where he was born March 19, 1823, being the third of eight children born to William and Nancy (Harrison) Higgins. His parents were natives of Rockingham County, Va, his father of German, his mother of Scotch descent, and came to this State and county from Tennessee about 1831. Our immedi- ate subject remained at home and assisted his parents on the farm until he attained the age of twenty-three years. He received a very limited education in the primitive log schoolhouses of his day. June 14, 1846, his marriage with Jane (Shirley) Hudelson was solemnized, and to their union one child was born-Eliza -who was united in marriage to Marion Critchfield. Our subject's occupation has always been farming, and he has been quite successful in that pursuit and now owns 320 acres of well improved land; he also raises considerable stock. November 27, 1878, Mr. Higgins lost his wife. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Orangeville, and is a liberal supporter of that institution. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. His political views are Democratic; he is one of the best farmers in this part of the county.

JAMES H. HUDELSON, a native of Orangeville Township, was born April 1, 1844, being the youngest of four children of James and Jane (Shir- ley) Hudelson. The father was of English and the mother of Franco-Ger- manic descent. Our subject is a posthumous child, his birth occurring six months after the death of his father. He received in youth a limited education, and was reared a farmer. September 1, 1800, he married Cordelia Pinnick, who bore him one child, Effie J. In July, 1865, his wife died, and March 3, 1881, he married Ellen Bruner. Mr. Hudelson has made farming a success, now owning eighty-four acres of well improved land. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and one of the leading men in this part of the county.

JAMES H. MATHERS, one of the leading citizens of Orangeville Township, of which he is a native, was born February 3, 1831, being the next youngest in a family of nine children born to Moses and Catherine (Donnell) Mathers, the former being a native of Pennsylvania and came to this State from Kentucky about the year 1831, first settling in Wash- ington County, coming to Orange County two years later. James remained at home with his parents until their deaths, receiving an educa- tion in keeping with the facilities of his day. August 31, 1854, he mar- ried Amanda J. McKnight, to which union three children have been born: Elizabeth C., wife of William P. Jenkins; Lawrence A. and Joseph E. By occupation he is a farmer, owning 420 acres of land, raising stock quite extensively. August 25, 1862, he enlisted as a volunteer private in Company G, Forty ninth Regiment, serving a period of nine months, and was discharged at Memphis, April 13, 1563, on account of disability

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arising from a wound received at Chickasaw Bayou. He is a member of the Odd Fellow and Grand Army of the Republic fraternities. In pol- ities he is a stanch Republican and active worker in the party and has been elected to fill the office of Township Trustee for three terms, being his party's nominee for County Auditor, but failed in election in conse- quence of his party being in the minority.

SAMUEL MATHERS, brother.of the subject of the foregoing sketch. was born December 18, 1821. He also remained at home and assisted his parents on the farm until he was thirty-three years of age, receiving a limited education. February 17, 1853, he married Annie Wyman, by which union two children were born: James L., who married Maria Stackhouse, and Florence MI., wife of Richard Burton. March 9, 1856, Mrs. Matbørs died, and January 1, 1857, he again married, this time Nancy Fields, to whom were born two children: Marion F. and Margaret R. December 12, 1876, he was again compelled to witness the death of his wife. He, like his brother, is a farmer, making stock. raising one of the principal branches of that pursuit. He owns over 400 acres of well improved land. In company with his brother be also enlisted as volun- teer in the same company and regiment, serving for a period of two years and nine months. and was honorably discharged at New Albany, May 24, 1565. He took part in the following important engagements: Chicka- saw Bayou, Champion Hills, Arkansaw Post, Grand Gulf, Fort Gibson, Black River. and during the entire siege of Vicksburg. He is a Repub- lican. and belongs to the Odd Fellows fraternity.

THOMAS N. MATHERS, auctioneer and farmer, is a native of Bour- bon County, Ky., where he was born August 23, 1819, one of a family of six children born to James and Jane (Ardrey) Mathers, who came to Orange County in the year 1840. Our subject received a very meager education in the subscription schools of his time. He has a wide repu- tation over the county and adjoining territory as an auctioneer, and as a farmer he has been very successful, owning a farm of 241 acres of improved land. He is an active political worker, using his influence in the advocacy of the principles of the Republican party, by whom he has been elected to the office of Township Trustee for five terms, and was their nominee for County Treasurer, failing in election in consequence of their minority, but succeeding in reducing his opponent's majority. Jannary 20, he married Lean Ham, who has borne him eight children, five of whom are now living: Laura, wife of James A. Jenkins; James W., Lizzie, consort of George W. Faucett; Amanda C., wife of John T. Laswell, and Theophilus P. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church.

JAMES MCCAULEY was born in Guilford County, N. C., January 21. 1812. the fifth of eight children of James and Margaret (Kimmons) McCauley. Both parents were of Irish descent, the father a native of South Carolina and the mother of North Carolina. The father came to this State about the year 1822, the family coming later and settling in this township and county. When our subject was about sixteen years ohl his father died, and he remained with his mother until he was about nineteen, receiving a rudimentary education. After that he began in earnest for himself. He worked industriously and now has a comfortable home and a good farm. He is a prominent, Democrat and a member of the Christian Church, and a citizen of exemplary character and habits. He has been Justice of the Peace several times. April 22, 1838, he mar-

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ried Sarah Laffaty, and eight of their nine children are now living, as follows: Albert M., who married Lucretia Griggs; Mary E., who married Robert Knight; Susan J., who became the wife of S. T. Able; Margaret E., who married J. A. J. Able; John, who married Maria Stackhouse; Lydia C., unmarried; Joseph K., whose wife was Emily J. Felkner, and James W .. who married Sarah Duncan. The McCauleys are people of worth and respectability.

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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 74

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