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 60
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WILLIAM F. HANDY, Auditor of Shelby County, is a native of Hancock County, Indiana, born December 10, 1852, and is the fifth son of twelve children, born to William and Sarah A (Smith) Handy, natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. The father was the first Post Master of the office at Morristown, Shelby County. Mr. Handy was the recipient of a common school education, and was raised on a farm, where he remained, until he became of age, when he engaged in teaching for about seven years. In ISSI, Mr. Ilandy and his brother August C., embarked in the grocery business at Morristown, by purchasing a stock of goods of Mr. J. V. Shipp, and are now doing a fair share of the business of this town. His marriage to Miss Carrie M. White, of Rush County, Ind., occurred December 24, 1884. Mrs. Handy is a daughter of Will- iam and Susan (McGaughey) White, of Rush County, where she was born Feburary 7, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Handy have one son, Clifford W., born September 2, 1886. Our subject owns a com- fortable residence in Morristown. He was elected to the office of Township Trustee of Hanover Township, in April, 1884, which position he held two years. November, 1886, he was elected
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County Auditor, by the Democratic party, with a majority of 102. His term of office began September 1, 1887. He is a member of Navarre Lodge No. 157, Knights of Pythias of Morristown, and is one of the trustees of that lodge.
GEORGE O. HANDY, of the firm of Handy & Cremeens, drug- gists, was born in Hancock County, Indiana, February 10, 1861. He is the youngest son of William and Sarah (Smith) Handy. He received a common school education, was reared a farmer and to this occupation gave his attention until he was twenty years of age, when he was employed by his brother August C., then a butcher in Morristown, where he remained two years. The following two years, he was engaged with C. T. Williams, as a drug clerk. He then received the appointment of Postmaster at Morristown, in which capacity he officiated until January 1, 1887, when he was suc- ceeded by the present incumbent, George A. Spurrier. November 9, ISS5, Mr. Handy and his partner Mr. James Cremeens, pur- chased the drug store of Mr. C. T. Williams, and have since been conducting a good paying business, to which Mr. Handy, has de- voted his entire attention. He was elected to the office of Town Clerk, of the incorporated town of Morristown, in ISSI, and was re-elected in 1882. He is a member of Navarre Lodge No. 157, Knights of Pythias, of the above named place, and holds the posi- tion of Master at Arms. Politically, he is a Democrat, and is highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens.
ALEXANDER M. HARGROVE, a native of Maryland, was born December 9, 1814, and is the only son of Benjamin and Milcah (Harrington) Hargrove. The death of the mother occurred when our subject was but an infant, and the father died in Indiana about I854. Our subject never received any education so far as attend- ing school is concerned, but he has acquired sufficient knowledge to enable him to transact his own business matters in a satisfactory manner. In IS28, our subject came to Ripley County, Ind., with his father, who had previously emigrated to Kentucky. At the end of two years he returned to Kentucky, where he remained two years, and then returned to Indiana, where he has since resided. When he was twenty-one years of age, he located in Morristown, Shelby Co., Ind. September 22, 1837, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Smith, a native of Washing- ton County, Va., born March 30, 1816, daughter of Williamkand Ann (Alexander) Smith, natives respectively of Virginia and Penn- sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove are the parents of ten children, viz .: Benjamin F., deceased; William S., Ann E., Leonidas, Theophilus, Sarah J., Mary E., James F., Indiana A. and Florida E. Our subject owns 160 acres of land in Hanover Township, which
* 2. 6.50
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is under a fair state of cultivation. He also owns one acre of land in the corporation of Morristown, on which he has a commodious resi- dence, besides other property. This aged couple have been members of the church for the past forty years; they formerly belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, but are now members of the Chris- tian Union denomination. Mr. Hargrove, for a number of years, took an active part in religious work, and assisted in many ways to advance the cause of religion, he having been a preacher for a number of years. He has never had a law suit, and has accom- plished a great deal of hard work since his residence in Shelby County. Politically, he is a Democrat. In social and religious circles Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove are held in high esteem by their acquaintances. They began life in poor circumstances and have encountered many hardships, but by perseverance they have ac- quired a comfortable fortune.
WILLIAM W. HINDS, one of the pioneers of this county, is a native of Franklin County, Indiana, born September 14, 1821. He is the third of eight children born to Michael and Mary (Smith ) Hinds, natives of Pennsylvania, who in 1816 emigrated to Franklin County, where they lived until the spring of 1825, when they re- moved to Shelby County, near Shelbyville, where the father died in 1844 and the mother in 1861. They were of German descent. Our subject received but little education, having attended school but three months. He was raised on a farm, which pursuit he has always followed. Starting in life a poor boy, surrounded by dense forests, he has, by hard work and strict frugality, obtained a fair competency. He was never married, and for many years has made his home with his brother George, the youngest of the fam- ily, and was born in Shelby County, February 25, IS34, who was married April 25, 1861, to Eliza Bassett, daughter of Sylvester and Susan (Maroney) Bassett. By this marriage, there were born eight children, as follows: Melvin B., 1862; Susan F., 1864; William B., 1866: Leonard, 1868: Jesse, 1870; Sylvester, 1873; James, 1875, and Mary, ISSO. Politically, they are both Republicans. George was a soldier in Company F, Thirty-eighth Indiana. He was mustered out June 22, 1865, and was as gallant a soldier as ever carried a musket. William now owns eighty-three acres of land in Section 19 and George 205, on same section. These brothers have both lived industrious lives, and are now among the leading citizens of Hanover Township, loved and respected by all who know them.
ARTIIUR F. KINSLEY, merchant and Postmaster at Freeport, was born on what is known as the old Kinsley farm, near Freeport, April 5, 1858. He was the third son of nine children, born to
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Andrew E., and Harriet (Lisher) Kinsley, both natives of Shelby County. The father of Mr. Kinsley died in this county, May 18, 1856. He was a member of the Protestant Church. The mother of our subject now resides at Hartsville, Indiana, and is an ener- getic member of the United Brethren Church. She was largely instrumental in establishing the first place of religious worship at Freeport. The immediate subject of this sketch first attended the common schools and then was a student at Hartsville University, where he completed the collegiate course of that institution, and subsequently engaged in school teaching for six years, with more than ordinary success. Later, Mr. Kinsley engaged in the mer- chandise business, which he has since successfully continued. The marriage of Mr. Kinsley occurred July 14, ISSI, to Miss Irene Tyner, who was born September 6, 1860. She is the daughter of Captain William H. and Nancy Tyner, whose maiden name was Sloan, natives of Franklin and Bartholomew Counties, respectively. The mother of Mrs Kinsley died September 6, 1881. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kinsley were born these children, viz .: Gladys, born May 13, 1884, and died October 15, ISS4, and Guy, born August 28, 1885. Mr. Kinsley is a Knight of Pythias and a member of Lodge No. 157. He is a successful merchant and a prominent and useful citizen.
WILLIAM H. LEISURE, a native of Rush County, was born March 30, 1847. the son of Joseph P. and Dorinda (Fresh) Leis- ure, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to Indiana in 1835, and located in Rush County, where they have since resided, and where the mother died in 1875. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are still living. Our subject attended the common schools, and received a fair education. He was reared on a farm, where he remained until seventeen years of age, when he ran away from home and joined the United States Army, enlisting in Co. K, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Indiana Volun- teers, May 4, 1864, and served until September 2, of the same vear, as a private soldier. He was married October 4, 1866, to Miss Margaret Jane Holford, also a native of Indiana, born Decem- ber II, 1846. They are the parents of eight children, viz .: Alva J., born August 9, 1867; Minnie M., born September 16, 1870: an infant daughter (deceased); Carrie B., born October 5, 1873; Charles B., born December 7, 1876; John E., born December 13, 1880; Grover E., born March IS, 1883, and Dora R., born July 1, 1886. Mr. Leisure is the owner of forty acres of fine farming land, on Section 16, Hanover Township, which is well improved. He is a member of the Elwood Hill Post No. 372, G. A. R., of Carth- age, Rush County, and also holds a membership in Gwynneville
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Assembly, Knights of Labor. Mr. and Mrs. Leisure are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a staunch Democrat. He is a partner of W. W. Wilcoxon, dealer in agricul- tural implements, hardware and groceries at Gwynneville, having purchased an interest in this establishment, October IS, 1886.
DAVID S. McGAUHEY, M. D. (deceased), was a native of Ham- ilton County, Ind., born October 24, 1809, and was the son of David and Mary (Lytle) McGauhey, natives respectively of Ireland and New Jersey. He received a common school education, and at the age of twenty-four years began the study of medicine with Dr. Guett, of Montgomery, Ohio. He graduated from the Ohio Med- ical College, with the first honors of the class. In 1835, he located in Morristown, Ind., and engaged in active practice of medicine, which he continued until a short time prior to his death. He was considered one of the leading physicians of this part of the State. He was married in the year 1838, to Miss Amelia Handy, and by her became the father of four children, viz .: John E., George F. (deceased), Mary H., and Martha (deceased). The wife died in 1874, and the son, George F., in 1880. Mr. McGauhey was again married December 12, 1876, to Martha Jane Handy, a sister of his deceased wife, who yet survives him. He was detailed by Governor Morton, as Hospital Physician during the war, and was sent to the field at the Battle of Shiloh as a special detailed physician. His death occurred March 17, 1884, at Morristown. He was a highly respected member of the Masonic fraternity, and an influential member of the Presbyterian Church. In political matters he was not an enthusiast, but in his own quiet way voted with the Repub- lican party. He was a devoted lover of music and instructed vocal music classes from an early age, and about 1840 organized a class in Morristown, the remaining members of which yet hold annual meetings for the purpose of rehearsing the songs they used to sing, and which always attract large crowds. The Doctor was the leader of these singings until his death, and since that sad event, has been succeeded by Dr. Adams, of Marion. As a financier the Doctor was successful to a remarkable degree, and at one time was said to be worth $100,000, but an unavoidable accident in litigation depreciated it so that his possessions did not exceed $10,000 at the time of his death. His two sons were practitioners, and received all the advantages of good judgment and financial assistance that was necessary. The daughter is a graduate of the Ohio Female Seminary of College Hill, near Cincinnati. Mrs. McGauhey is now living on the property formerly owned by her mother, but purchased by her husband in late years. She is the owner of nine acres of land in Morristown, which is nearly all laid off in town lots. She
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has been a resident of the town nearly sixty years, coming from Scott County, Ky., with her mother, on horseback, when about one and a half years of age. Her father died when she was but three weeks old, and owing to a promise made the father, the mother, with her family of nine children, left that State for one in which slavery did not exist. The mother died in I852.
WILLIAM B. MOHLER was born September 22, IS39, in Rush County, Ind., being the second son of twelve children born to Frederick and Christiana Mohler, natives of Switzerland and Virginia, and of Swiss-German descent. In boyhood, the father of our subject was taken to France, where he lived until he had reached man's estate, and then came to America and located in Ohio, where he was married about the year IS24. The mother of Mr. Mohler came to Ohio with her parents in the early days of that State. The family lived in Ohio for about two years after their marriage, and then came to Rush County, Ind., where the father of our subject died in October, 1886, at eighty-six years of age, and the mother died in 1861, at fifty-two years of age. The subject of this memoir was reared on a farm and received a common school education. At ten years of age he was " bound out " to Mr. An- drew Hinchman, with whom he continued to live about three years, and then began life's battle for himself, and for some time worked
by the month and year for various men. In 1856, he rented land and began farming on his own account. Mr. Mohler now owns 160 acres of land in Hanover Township, and is a prosperous farmer. Mr. Mohler was married August 10, 1860, to Miss Ann Finney, a native of Rush County, born April 10, IS4I. To this union were born seven children, as follows: Charles Z., born April 20, 1861: John E. (deceased), born October 12, 1862; Me- lissa E., born March 17, 1864; Luther F., born December 25, 1866; Anna C., born July 25, 1870: Lyman G., born May 30, IS72, and Estella C., born March 10, 1877. In politics, Mr. Mohler was formerly a Democrat, but for the last few years he has been supporting the men, who in his judgment, are best fitted to fill the positions to which they aspire. Mrs. Mohler is a member of the Christian Church, and the family is well known and greatly respected.
JOSHUA MOORE is a native of Kentucky, and was born in ISIS. He is the fourth in a family of eight children born to Lee and Mary (Law) Moore, who were natives of Maryland, of English ances- try, and who settled in Kentucky at a very early date. In the fall of 1827, they emigrated to Rush County, Ind., where they resided until their deaths, which occurred as follows: the father, in 1832, and the mother, January 22, 1869. The father was a soldier in
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the War of ISI2. Our subject received little education. He was reared on the farm, and came to Indiana with his parents, with whom he remained until the death of his mother. He has farmed continuously all his life, starting a poor man. He has, by hard work and strict economy, accumulated a large amount of property. Considering his opportunities, his success has been miraculous, as he now owns 600 acres of land in Shelby and Hancock Counties, all under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He was married April 7, 1875, to Mary McNaman, a native of Ireland, who was born February 25, 1842, daughter of John and Sarah Mc- Naman. By this marriage there has been one child, Eddie Lee, born September 6, 1876. Mr. Moore is an ardent Republican, is not a member of any secret order or church, but is an honored and respected citizen.
MYER MYERS, a native of Germany, was born August 29, IS35; son of Isaac and Fanny (Levi) Myers, both natives of Baden, Germany. Mr. Myers was educated in his native country, and received a careful German commercial education. Subse- quently he engaged in the grocery business, which he continued until 1855, when he came to America and located at Hamilton, Ohio, and later removed to Cumberland Gap, Ky. In 1864, he came to Shelby County and located at Morristown, where he imme- diately engaged in the merchandise business and which he success- fully continued until 1887, when he exchanged his stock of goods for a farm in Hanover Township. Several years of the early busi- ness life of Mr. Myers were spent in peddling various kinds of merchandise. April 29, 1859, he was united in marriage to Rachel, only daughter of Samuel Carl. To this union were born three children, viz .: Fannie, born April 13, 1860; Yette, born May 26, 1862, and Ella, born September 12, 1870. Two of these are mar- ried, Fannie, uniting with Mr. Isaac Kaufman, March 12, 1879, and Yette, whose marriage occurred October 29, 1879, to Mr. J. C. Turkenkoph. After the marriage of our subject, he formed a partnership with his father-in-law, which continued until the break- ing out of the war, when he disposed of the business, and the fol- lowing year, he engaged in buying and shipping cattle in various parts of Ohio, and then he removed to Grant County, Ky., where he purchased a general store, and did a thriving business for thir- teen months, at the end of which time his store was entered by guerrillas, who took everything of value in his possession. Mr. Myers then emigrated to Shelby County, Ind., and located in the little hamlet of Morristown, November 12, 1864, where, by the aid of friends, he was again enabled to establish himself in a business venture, with a capital of $5,000, of which one tenth was his
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own. January 24, 1887, he exchanged this business for a farm, which is located in Hanover Township, and consists of eighty-nine and one-third acres, and in addition to this, he owns fifty-six acres in the same township, all of which is well improved. In 1873 he was made a member of the Morristown School Board and held the position for twelve successive years. He is a member of Morris- town Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M., and an affiliate with Abraham Lodge No. 56, L. O. B. B., of Indianapolis. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Reformed Jewish Church, as is also his en- tire family. Mr. Myers has been a resident of Morristown a long time, and since his coming, has been recognized as an exemplary and enterprising business man, and a kind and agreeable neighbor, thereby commanding the respect of the citizens of the entire com- munity with whom he has come in contact.
JOSEPH V. POER, a representative farmer of Hanover Town- ship, was born in Cass County, Michigan, April 19, 1846, and is the youngest son of four children born to General Lee and Rebecca (Vanbuskirk) Poer, natives of North Carolina, and of Irish-Ger- man descent. The parents of Mr. Poer settled in Henry County, Indiana, about 1834 or 1835, and there resided until 1839, when they removed to Michigan, and in that State the mother of our subject died in the early part of 1847, and his father died in the same State June 6, 1853. After the death of our subject's parents, he lived for six years with his maternal grandfather, in Tipton County, Indiana, and subsequently he lived with other relatives until he had reached the age of seventeen years; in the meantime, however, he had received his education at the district schools. Sep- tember 10, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, Fifty-first Indiana Volunteers, and continued in the service of his country until Jan- uary 6, 1886, when he was honorably discharged at Indianapolis. He was wounded at the battle of Nashville, December 16, 1865, and while crossing the plains of Texas, in July of the same year, he received a sunstroke which affected his vision. At the close of the war he returned to Shelby County, Ind., and in partnership with his brother Edward, purchased a small farm in Union Town- ship. Three years later he purchased a farm of eighty acres in the same township. Mr. Poer now owns 200 acres of land in Hanover Township, which he purchased in ISSI, and where he now resides. In 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Georgie E., daughter of James and Lydia (Smith) Spurrier. Mrs. Poer was born February 20, 1851. To the above marriage were born these children: Robert L., born December 16, 1871; Irena, born October 2, 1873 (and died October 3, 1877) ; J. Claudius, born March 31, 1876; Chauncy C. and David E. (twins), born
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October 2, 1878, and Jacob E., born February 16, 1880. Mr. Poer is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. The success attained by our subject is indebted to his own energy, faithful toil and strict economy.
ALEXANDER D. POLLITT, a prominent and influential citizen of Hanover Township, was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, July, 1832, and is the second son born to Nehemiah and Jane (Hoffer) Pollitt, natives respectively of Maryland and Virginia. At an early date, the parents of our subject emigrated to Kentucky, where they were married. In 1834, they came to Indiana and located in Han- over Township, near Morristown, where the mother died, Decem- ber 31, 1850. Soon after this sad event, the father married Mrs. Mary Huston. His death occurred December 31, 1851. The sub- ject of this sketch was reared a farmer, and remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, when he secured employment with the Jeffersonville Railway Company, on the central branch which ran from Shelbyville to Edinburg. He was engaged in the various departments of railroad work until 1856, when he engaged in the saw mill business, where the town of Gwynneville now stands. Here he remained eighteen months and then removed to Shelby- ville, where he followed the same business two years, in the employ of McGavin & Murdock. In 1859, he returned to Hanover Town- ship, and he gave his attention to the same line of trade, until 1873, when he, in partnership with Thomas Evans and O'Brien Gwynne, established a tile factory, at what was then known as Gwynne's Mills. This firm was known as Gwynne, Pollitt & Evans, and continued until 1882, when they disposed of the same to Mr. F. W. Pusey. He was married June 6, 1881, to Miss Ann Evans, born in Worchestershire, England, February 21, 1848, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (Pitt) Evans, natives of Eng- land, and of Welch-English lineage. They are the parents of one child, Herbert D., born January 22, 1885. Mr. Pollitt is the owner of 107 acres of land, which is in a fair state of cultivation and well improved. He is a member of the Beech Grove Lodge No. 399, I. O. O. F., at Arlington, and also of the Encampment No. 12, at Rushville. Politically, he is a Democrat, and an enthusiastic worker for the success of his party. To Mr. Pollitt, is due much credit for the progress of the eastern portion of this township, and it was he who established the thriving little town of Gwynneville.
FRANCIS W. PUSEY was born September 7, 1852, in Hancock County, Ind., and is the third son of seven children born to Jesse F. and Jane W. (White) Pusey, natives respectively, of Ohio and North Carolina, and of English extraction. The subject of this biography received a good common school education, and was
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reared on a farm, where he remained until his twenty-first year, when he began life for himself, by farming rented land in Kansas for three years, when he returned to Rush County. The marriage of Mr. Pusey occurred September 25, 1882, to Miss Laura E. Ball, daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (Addison) Ball, natives respectively, of Pennsylvania and Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Pusey are the parents of one child, Leonore, born August 24, 1883. In ISS4, he came to Gwynneville and purchased a tile factory of Messrs. Gwynne, Pollitt & Evans, to which he has since given his attention. Mr. Pusey now owns considerable real estate. His parents were members of the Friends' Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and is a careful business man, who is held in high es- teem by his acquaintances. He is an enterprising citizen, and to himself he is indebted for his success.
FRANK RIGLESBERGER, one of the prominent and most enter- prising business men of Morristown, was born in Baden, Germany, September 15, 1851, and is the eldest son of seven children born to Andrew and Katherine (Ambuster) Riglesberger, natives of the same place, and of German lineage. The father was engaged in farming, and was also a dealer in various branches of merchandise, by which our subject was enabled to fit himself for the business world. He received a splendid German education, but only a limited English one, having attended night school for about three weeks. About May 17, 1870, our subject left his native land for America, and in a short time reached Piqua, Ohio, where he remained one month, laboring in a stone quarry. From there he came to Shelbyville, Shelby County, where he began working at the carpenter trade as an apprentice with his uncle, Mr. John Riglesberger, where he remained two years, and then for a short time he sold the Victor sewing machine in Shelby County. In the spring of 1876 he began farming, and continued the same for five years, farming rented land there and then purchased forty acres, to which his father-in-law added forty more, in Moral Township. In January, ISSI, he came to Morristown and established a saw mill. with a capital of $5,000. This investment has proven a profitable one, as he now employs from twenty to twenty-five men, and an equal number of teams every year. He saws and ships about 2,500,000 feet of lumber yearly, and ships saw-logs to other mills, mostly eastern markets. He now owns a farm of eighty acres in Hancock County, which is moderately well improved. He was married to Miss Phebe Yarling, October 20, 1872, born Feb- ruary 14, 1853, daughter of Philip and Katherine (Mohr) Yarling, natives of Germany. To this union six children were born, viz .: Joseph E., Frank, Kate, Emma, Maggie and Allie M., all of whom
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