USA > Indiana > Shelby County > History of Shelby 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 58
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
615
BRANDYWINE SKETCHES.
where they have ever since resided. The life occupation of Mr. Goodwin has been that of a farmer, and as such he has been very successful. He and wife are the parents of six children, as follows: James A., born March 23, 1856; Alice A., born April 26, 1858, died December 15, 1875: Maggie A., born March 28, 1861; Louie A., born May 3, 1866: Ora E., born May 19, 1870, and Carrie C., born February 20, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and a Democrat in politics. He was elected Trustee of Brandywine Township in 1867, and served one year. In IS70, he was again elected, and was re-elected in 1872, and again in 1874, and in 1876. In 1882, he was again re- elected, and served two years. In all he served his township in that capacity eleven years. He made a reliable and trustworthy official, and discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, evidence of which they gave by prolonging his term of office. Mr. Goodwin is an enterprising, industrious and success- ful farmer, and he and wife are among the worthy and esteemed citizens of the county.
JOHN GOODWIN, a native born citizen of this county and at pres- ent a prominent citizen of Fairland, was born in Hendricks Town- ship, November 10, 1831. He was the second of nine children, three sons and six daughters, born to James and Patsy (Landing- ham) Goodwin, the former of whom came to this county with his parents, John and Martha Goodwin, in 1822. The mother of our subject was born in North Carolina. When the latter was about ten years old his parents removed to Addison Township, where his youth was spent assisting to clear and cultivate a farm. As soon as he became of age he took up the vocation of a farmer himself, and continued to devote his entire attention to that pursuit, until 1883, when he retired and moved his family to Shelbyville. On the 26th day of March, ISS5, he removed to the town of Fairland, where he has since resided. For the past year he has acted as salesman in the general store of J. W. Parkhurst. In connection with that he also performs the duties of Assistant Post Master. He was married December 31, 1851, to Margaret Ray, a native of Addison Township, this county, born November 8, 1832, and daughter of Barnabus and Lydia (Truitt) Ray, both natives of North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of Shelby Lodge F. & A. M., No. 28; Shelby Chapter No. 20; Shelby Council No. 3, and of the Baldwin Commandry No. 2. Politically he is a Democrat. He is a reliable and influential man and he and wife are worthy and esteemed citizens.
ยท
616
SHELBY COUNTY.
JAMES S. GRAY, a prominent farmer and influential citizen of Brandywine Township, was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 20, 1821. He was the fourth of six children, three sons and three daughters, born to Robert and Margaret ( Sheaffer) Gray, the former a native of Chester County, Pa., of Irish and German descent, and the latter a native of Lancaster County, Pa., of German descent. His two brothers were both named William, the older one having died before the younger one was born. The younger one died at the age of sixteen. His sisters were Elizabeth, Sarah Ann and Mary Ann, of whom Mary Ann is deceased. His paternal grandfather was James Gray, who was born in Ireland and emigrated with his parents to America when he was eighteen years old. The great French General, Marquis de La Fayette, crossed over to America with the same fleet, and assisted the Colonies to secure their indepen- dence. On reaching this country his grandfather espoused the Col- onial cause and served during the entire Revolutionary War. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Gray were Peter and Catharine Sheaffer, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former having been born in 1757, and also served as a Colonial soldier throughout the en- tire Revolutionary War. His wife, Catharine Sheaffer, was born in 1761. They were the parents of ten children, only one of whom, Mrs. Mollie Boggs, of Wayne County, this State, is still living. She was born in Lancaster County, Pa., December 22, 1783, and is therefore now in the one hundred and fourth year of her age. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and early youth in his native county, working upon a farm. At the early age of eighteen, or in 1839, he accompanied his parents to St. Clair County, Ills. The country was new and the deer and other kinds of game were plenty. Amid a great deal of work devolving upon James, he found time to shoulder his gun and join in the chase and hunt-a thing he frequently did. He enjoys the credit of killing more than 800 deer during his twelve years of residence in that county. - In 1849, he came to Shelby, and here on the 9th day of September he was married to Eliza Vanpelt, a native of Liberty Township, this county, born Septem- ber 10, 1831. She was the fourth of ten children-five sons and five daughters-born to Aaron and Margaret (Robertson) Vanpelt, the former a native of New Jersey, of Dutch descent, and the lat- ter a native of Warren County, Ohio, of English descent. Imme- diately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gray went out to St. Clair County, Ills., where they resided upon a farm five years. In 1854, they returned to this county and located near Waldron, Liberty Township. They removed to Brandywine Township and settled where they now live in 1867. The life occupation of Mr. Gray has been that of a farmer, and as such he has been very suc-
617
BRANDYWINE SKETCHES.
cessful. He and wife are the parents of seven children, as follows: Mary E., born January 30, 1851, died October 11, 1852; William R., born October 27, 1852; John M., born February 10, 1855; Mar- garet A., born March 22, 1857; Laura E., born May 27, 1860; Rosa May, born July 27, 1862, and Cassius E., born December 20, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics the former is an ardent Republican. He has a good farm of eighty acres, nearly all of which is in a good state of cultivation.
WILLIAM HANKINS, an old and honored pioneer of Shelby County, and one of the prominent farmers of Brandywine Township, was born in Franklin County, this State, January 14, IS21. He was the second child and only son of a family of three children, born to Robert and Sarah (Curry) Hankins, the former, a native of East Tennessee, of French descent, and the latter a na- tive of Virginia. When the subject of this sketch was yet a young child, but six weeks old, his parents removed to this county and lo- cated upon a tract of wood land about one mile north of Shelbyville, in Addison Township. A year later, they removed to Brandywine Township, where William spent his early life, assisting to clear and cultivate the farm. At the age of twenty-two, or November 21, 1843, he was married to Iluldah G. Salla, who was born in Rush County, this State, February 15, 1823. She was the daughter of Lewis and Julia Ann (Gordon ) Salla, the former a native of Ver- mont, and the latter a native of Virginia. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hankins located upon the farm they now occupy, in Section 12, Brandywine Township, where they have ever since continued to reside. It has now been more than forty- three years since they moved into the little log cabin in a wilder- ness that has many years since, been replaced with a fine residence and a beautiful and well tilled farm. The life occupation of Mr. Hankins has been that of a farmer, and as such he has been very successful. He and wife are the parents of eight children, as fol- lows: Sarah, born March 4, 1847: Lewis C., born October 13, 1851: Alice, born August 20, 1854, died September 7, 1877; Julia Ann, born August 28, 1856, died AAugust 8, 1885: Dolly and Molly (twins), born October 22, 1860, the former died July 3, 1884, and the latter died January 31, 1861; Mettie, born December 15, 1862, and Katie, born August 26, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Han- kins are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The for- mer is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and an ardent Repub- lican in politics. He owns a fine farm of 200 acres, about 160 of which is in a high state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with
handsome frame residence, which, with other substantial im-
a
23
618
SHELBY COUNTY.
provements, makes one of the most desirable locations in the county. He is a reliable and influential man, and he and wife are among the worthy and esteemed citizens of the county.
LEWIS C. HANKINS, an enterprising and successful young farmer of Brandywine Township, was born in the township in which he resides, October 13th, I851. He was the second child and only son in a family of eight children born to William and Hul- dah G. (Salla) Hankins, a history of whom appears above. He was reared upon the farm and continued with his parents until his marriage, which occurred February 12, ISSo, when Nancy M. Wright became his wife. She was born in Addison Township, this county, September 22, 1859, and was the youngest of seven children born to Matthias and Amanda ( Young) Wright, a biography of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hankins located upon a farm in Sections 13 and 14, Brandywine Township, where they have ever since resided. They are the parents of three children: Julia A. G., born Febru- ary 5, ISSI, William, born November 13, ISS2, and Matthias W., born March 9, 1886, all of whom are living. Mr. Hankins is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge and an ardent Republican in politics. He owns a fine farm of 120 acres, about ninety of which is in an excellent state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with a handsome slate-roofed frame residence, which with a good barn and other substantial improvements, makes one of the most attractive and desirable places in Shelby County. He is an industrious and successful farmer.
ZACHARIAH HULSOPPLE, a prominent citizen of Brandywine Township, was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., May 23, 1830. He was the third of eight children, four sons and four daughters, born to Zachariah and Betsey (Curtiss) Hulsopple, the former of whom was born in the State of New York July 3, 1806, and died in this county September 24, 1884. His mother died in Herkimer County, N. Y., June 28, 1837. His three brothers were: George W., born February 28, 1829, died March 7, 1882; Henry, born Decem- ber II, 1831, died May 8, 1861, and Curtiss, born June 25, 1837, died February 1, 1866. His four sisters were: Maria, born Feb- ruary 4, 1827, died May 1, 1858; Catharine, born August 1, 1833, died in 1864; Betsey, born October 19, 1834, died October 23, 1834, and Elizabeth, born September 6, 1835, died May 14, 1838. As will be observed by this record, the subject of this sketch is the only member of the family now living. He was reared upon a farm in his native county. His mother died when he was seven years old, after which he was taken in charge by John Hadley, a farmer and dairyman of Herkimer County, with whom he re-
619
BRANDYWINE SKETCHES.
mained until he was twenty-one years of age. Following this, he worked upon a farm by the month one year. By this time he had made up his mind to join the throng that was then flocking to Cal- ifornia, but owing to a financial disappointment he was compelled to abandon that notion, and in the fall of 1852, he went to Tren- ton, N. J., whither he had been recommended to a position as an overseer in the State Insane Asylum of that place. He reached his destination on the 29th day of September, and immediately en- tered upon the discharge of his duties. He continued in that capacity for about three years and three months, or until January 7, 1856. He immediately started for Shelbyville, this county, where he arrived four days later, or on January II, 1856. Here he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Arm- herst Harwood, in the dairy business, which they conducted in Ad- dison Township during one summer. December 24, 1856, he was married to Milissa Snyder, a native of Brandywine Township, this county, born October 13, 1834. She was the eldest of four child- ren, two sons and two daughters, born to Albert and Betsey Eliza- beth (Landingham) Snyder, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respec- tively. The two brothers of Mrs. Hulsopple are John W., born April 26, 1846, and Warren W., born August 18, 1848. Her sister is Sarah E., born October 18, 1842, now Mrs. Springer, of Addison Township. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Huls- opple located upon a farm in Addison Township, in which they continued to reside until December 3, 1873, when they removed to Brandywine Township, and located where they now live. They have had two children - a daughter born December 17, IS57, died in infancy, unnamed, and Flora C., born March 23, 1859, mar- ried to Levi V. Mann, August 21, 1879, by whom she has had three children, a daughter, born June 3, 1881, died in infancy, un- named; Harry L., born August 22, 1883, and Albert Z., born April 8, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Hulsopple are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics the former is a Demo- crat. He owns sixty-two acres of first class land, nearly all of which is in a good state of cultivation. He is an intelligent man, an industrious and successful farmer, and he and wife are worthy and esteemed citizens.
MARTIN JONES, an industrious farmer of Brandywine Town- ship, was born in Fleming County, Ky., March 4, 1847. He was the sixth of eleven children born to John F. and Lucinda (Myers) Jones, with whom he went to Brown County, Ohio, when he was about three years old. There his boyhood was spent upon a farm. At the age of seventeen, or in August, 1864, he entered Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with
-
620
SHELBY COUNTY.
which he served until the close of the war. On returning from the war he took up farming in Brown County, Ohio; but a year later he came to this county, a resident of which he has been ever since. Here he first found employment upon a farm by the month and thus continued until his marriage, which occurred March 6, 1870, when Elizabeth L. Boles became his wife. She was born in Brown County, Ohio, March 17, 1850, and daughter of David and Mary J. (Dickson) Boles. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Jones located upon a farm in Brandywine Township. In 1880, they removed to Hendricks Township, and in ISSI, to Addison Town- ship. They returned to Brandywine. Township, and settled where they now live in the spring of 1884. They have two children: Elnora, born September 1, 1870, and Audra M., born June 1, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics the former is a Republican. He owns a farm of eighty acres. about sixty-five of which are in cultivation. He is a successful farmer and a first-class citizen.
JOHN E. MONTGOMERY, a prominent young farmer and stock- raiser of Brandywine Township, was born in Addison Township, this county, December 15, IS53. He was the ninth of thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters, born to Joseph and Eliza- beth (Steers) Montgomery, both natives of Scott County, Ken- tucky. The former was born July 4, 1812, and was the son of William Montgomery, with whom he came to this county when he was about twelve years of age. His death occurred in Brandywine Township, January 28, 1878. The latter was born in about the vear 1819, and was the daughter of William Steers, a native of Kentucky, with whom she came to this county in childhood. She died in Brandywine Township. November 26, 1868. The four brothers of our subject, were William W., Alfred, James M. and Columbus, of whom Alfred and Columbus are deceased. His eight sisters were Frances J., Tabitha, Emeline, Susan, Isabel, Eliza, Mary and Lizzie, all of whom are living, except Emeline nnd Liz- zie who died, the former at the age of twenty-five and the latter at old, his parents removed to Brandywine Township, and located up- the age of five. When he was yet a child, less than a year on the farm, upon which they lived during the rest of their lives, and the one upon which our subject now resides. The latter was reared upon the farm and at about twenty years of age he took up the vocation of a farmer for himself. His entire attention has been given to that pursuit in which he has been fairly successful. He was married May 20, 1880, to Laura Campbell, who was born in Hendricks Township, this county, December 13, IS6I. She was the eldest of five children, two sons
62I
BRANDYWINE SKETCHES.
and three daughters, born to John W. and Mary E. (Riley) Campbell, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter a native of this State of Irish descent. Her paternal grandfather was David Campbell, a native of Ohio. Her maternal grandparents were William and Margaret (Kennedy) Riley, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. Her two brothers were Franklin, born October 13, 1863, died February 11, 1867, and William A., born October 29, 1871. Her two sisters were Ida, born August 18, 1865, and Electa, born May 29, 1868, both of whom are living. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery located where they now reside. They are the parents of three children: The first was a daughter, born June 18, 1881, died in infancy unnamed. The others are Ethel, born May 18, 1883, and J. Walter, April 23, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics the former is an ardent Republican. He owns 113 acres of fine land, about 100 of which are in a high state of cul- tivation. His farm is fitted up with a handsome residence which, with a good barn and other substantial improvements, makes a very desirable location.
OBADIAH NAIL, a pioneer of Shelby County, and an old resi- dent of Brandywine Township, was born in Roann Co., N. C., September 22, ISIS. He was next to the youngest of thirteen children, born to Henry and Mary ( Keller) Nail, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His brothers and sisters in the order of their ages were: John, Doretha, Katie, Daniel, Samuel, Lydia, Henry, Martha, Emily, Greenberry, and two others that died in infancy. In 1824, while the subject of this sketch was yet a young child, he came with his parents to Shelby County, where he grew up to manhood and where he has almost ever since resided. He was reared upon the farm and at the age of nineteen, on March 28, 1838, he was married to Jane Allison, who was born in Frank- lin County, this State, May 11, 1819. She was the daughter of Timothy and Nancy (Walker) Allison, the former a native of Ohio, of German descent, and the latter a native of Georgia, of English descent. Her paternal grandparents were John and Sarah Allison. Mrs. Nail was the eldest of fourteen children as follows: Jane, Martha M., Sarah W., La Fayette, Eliza Ann, George W., Eunice, Thomas, Elizabeth, Elbert, John, Isabel, James and Ellen, of whom Eliza Ann, George W., Eunice, Elizabeth, Elbert and James, are deceased. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nail continued to reside upon the former's old home place in Brandywine Township for about ten years. They then removed to another farm in that township, but in May, IS51, they went to
622
SHELBY COUNTY.
the State of Illinois, but in the following November they returned to this county and again settled in Brandywine Township, in which they have ever since resided. They located where they now re- side in March, 1878. They are the parents of seven children as follows: Mary E., born December 10, 1841, died October 15, 1841; Lottie, born October 30, 1843; Martha A., born November 15, 1845; William H., born March 25, 1849; Nancy E., born March 14, 1851; Warren, born March 26, 1855, and James A., born June 22, 1858. Mrs. Nail is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. In politics, Mr. Nail is a staunch Democrat. He and wife have a comfortable home where they reside in a quiet, happy way.
JAMES PARKER, one of the prominent farmers of Brandywine Township, was born in Hendricks Township, this county, February 19, 1841. . He was the second of seven children, four sons and , three daughters, born to Squire G. and Merrib ( Updegraff) Parker, the former a native of Kentucky, of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Csthan HOLLAND descent: His paternal grand- father was James Parker. The parents of his mother were Mar- tin and Rebecca Updegraff. His three brothers were: William, Washington and Martin D., of whom Washington is deceased, hav- ing been killed in the army. His three sisters were: Sarah J., Elizabeth, and Frances A., of whom Sarah J. is deceased. He was reared upon his father's farm in his native township, and on the 31st day of December, 1863, he was married to Maria Clark, who was born in Dearborn County, this State, October 27, 1842, and was the daughter of James M. and Mary (Mason) Clark, the former a native of Newport, R. I., born August 2, 1809, and the latter a native of England, born about 1814, both of English de- scent. Her paternal grandparents were George W. and Desire Clark. Her mother's parents were Robert and Elizabeth Mason, with whom she came to America when she was three years old. Mrs. Parker had six brothers and three sisters, whose names, in the order of their ages, are as follows: John M., George W., Ann Elizabeth, Robert M., William, Charles H., Clara L., Edward J., and Mary J., all of whom are living except Mary J., who died at the age of fifteen. For two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Parker resided upon a farm in Hendricks Township. They then removed to Brandywine Township, and two years later they became residents of Addison Township. They returned to Bran- dywine Township in September, 1883, and located upon the farm they now occupy. The life occupation of Mr. Parker has been that of a farmer and as such he has been very successful. He and wife are the parents of five children: They are: Mary J., born
623
BRANDYWINE SKETCHES.
July 4, 1865; Cora L., born January 4, 1868; Charles F., born June II, 1870; Roy J., born July 2, 1877, and Merrib, born No- vember 13, 1882. These children are all living, and strange to say, none of them has ever needed the service of a physician. The oldest daughter, Mary J., was married March 16, 1887, to Henry Bass, a native of Brandywine Township, born November 16, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are members of the Christian Church. In politics the former is a Republican. He owns a handsome farm where he lives, of ISo acres, nearly all of which is in a high state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with a good residence, which, with other substantial improvements, makes a very desirable loca- tion. Besides this he owns a good farm of eighty acres in Addison Township. He is an enterprising, industrious and successful far- mer and a first-class citizen.
NATHANIEL POLAND, a prominent farmer of Brandywine Township, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, January IS, 1825. He was the fourth of eight children-four sons and four daugh- ters-born to Nathaniel and Eleanor (McChesney) Poland, the former a native of Essex County, Mass., of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Monmouth County, N. J., of Scotch descent. He was reared upon a farm in his native county, and at the age of twenty-one he began to learn the cooper's trade. This was finished in due time, and for several years he worked as a journeyman cooper in the States of Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. In March, IS53, he came to Shelby County and located in the woods of Van Buren Township. There he immediately set about clearing up a farm, and he also erected a cooper shop which he conducted in con- nection with farming until in the spring of 1865, when he removed to Brandywine Township and located upon the farm he now occupies. There he also erected a cooper shop which he con- tinued to operate in connection with the management of a large farm until ISS5. His entire attention is now given to superintend- ing his farm. His marriage to Elizabeth Bass occurred March 17, IS53. She was born in Marion Township, this county, June 27, 1827, and is the daughter of Henry and Judith (Fox) Bass, the former a native of Randolph County, N. C., of English descent and the latter a native of Bunkam County, N. C., of Dutch descent.' Mr. and Mrs. Poland are the parents of seven children, as follows: John H., born December 23, 1853; William, born March 8, 1856: Albert, born January 5, 1859; Mary E., born August 9, 1861; Charles, born April 28, 1864; Juda, born No- vember 24, 1867, died February 9, 1874; Amanda Belle, born August 12, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Poland are members of the Chris- tian Church. The former is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge,
624
SHELBY COUNTY.
and a Republican in politics. He owns a handsome farm of 225 acres. about ISo of which are in a fine state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with a handsome brick residence, erected at a cost of $9,000, which, with other substantial improvements, makes one of the most desirable locations in the county. He is a reliable and influential man, and he and wife are among the worthy and esteemed citizens of the county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.