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 71
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THOMAS FRANCIS, an honored citizen of Sugar Creek Town- ship, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, July 17, 1819. He was the third of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, born to Jesse and Catharine (Lowman) Francis, the former a na- tive of Virginia, of Welsh descent, and the latter was a native of the City of Baltimore, of English and Pennsylvania Dutch descent. His father was the son of Thomas Francis, who was a native of Wales. His mother's father was John Lowman. When he was about three years old his parents removed to Lexington, Kentucky, and three years later located in Boone County, where he was reared upon a farm. His father died in that county, in November, 1835. In 1838, he accompanied his widowed mother to Lawrence- burg, this State, where he entered upon an apprenticeship, to learn the carpenter's trade; after finishing this, he continued to work at that trade, in Lawrenceburg, until 1871, when he came to Shelby County, and located in the village of Fairland. A few months later he located upon the farm he now occupies. Since coming to
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this county, his chief occupation has been that of a farmer. His first marriage occurred August 27, 1843, when Mary A. Preston became his wife. She was born in the State of Ohio, and was the daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Fry) Preston. She died Octo- ber 3, 1864, and on the 9th day of April, 1865, Mr. Francis was married to Susan A. Butler, born in Switzerland County, this State, September 15, 1839. She was the daughter of James and Ann (Frv) Butler. The first marriage of Mr. Francis resulted in the birth of eight children, as follows: Lewis E., Lydia C., Mary J., Susanna, Laura E., the next was a son that died in infancy, Isabella and Martha J., of whom Mary J., Susanna and Martha J. are de- ceased. He and his present wife are the parents of five children: Annie May, Alice E., Fannie J., John L. and Edith E., of whom Alice E., Fannie J. and John L. are deceased. Mr. Francis is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. Francis of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Francis formerly supported the principles of the Wig Party, and was an ardent supporter of Henry Clay. Since 1856, he has supported the principles of the Repub- lican party. He owns a farm of 160 acres, about IIO of which is in a high state of cultivation.
MOSES RUMSEY GILLMORE, M. D., one of the senior physi- cian of Shelby County, was born in Geauga County, Ohio, January 12, 1832. He was the fifth of six children, three sons and three daughters, born to William and Jane (Rumsey) Gillmore, who were natives of Massachusetts and New York, respectively. The former who was the son of William and Jerusha (Stewart) Gill- more, was born of Scotch descent, August 7, 1791, and died Sep- tember 22, 1868. The latter who recently died in Bellevue, Ohio, at the advanced age of eighty-six, was the daughter of Moses and Lydia (Miller) Rumsey, born May II, ISO1, and came of English parentage. Her great grandfather was Simeon Rumsey, a captain in the British Army, a native of the Isle of Guernsey. He came to America in 1695, and was engaged in the Indian and French Wars in Virginia and became a large owner of real estate in Orange County and Long Island, New York. The two brothers of our sketch were Hiram and Austin, both of whom died in childhood. His three sisters were: Lydia Ann, married to Rev. Joseph F. Wade, she died in IS86, and he 1885; Elizabeth, now the wife of James S. Coak, of Spencer, Clay County, Iowa, and Huldah S., who is the wife of Isaac Mundy, of Bellevue, Ohio. Dr. Gillmore is a first cousin of L. M. and Moses Rumsey, brothers, who carry on a large wholesale business and operate extensive iron works in St. Louis, Mo., and are noted capitalists and millionaires. Also to John A. Rumsey, a noted iron works manufacturer of Seneca Falls,
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N. Y., and millionaire. He is also first cousin to Gen. Gillmore, of the late civil war. When he was three years of age his parents removed to Sandusky County, Ohio, where he was reared upon a farm. His father was a minister in the Christian Church: but in his latter years resided on a small farm. Of this his son Moses assumed almost entire management when only twelve years of age, owing to the impaired condition of the father's health. The son continued upon the farm until he reached the age of seventeen, when he threw himself upon his own resources and went out into the world to do for himself. He first found employment with a carpenter, with whom he spent a few months learning the trade. He possessed such natural mechanical skill and genius, that before he was nineteen years of age he had a good knowledge of carpentry and was taking contracts for him- self. At twenty years of age he entered Antioch College, at Yel- low Springs, Ohio, the president of which was the distinguished author and lecturer, Hon. Horace Mann. He attended college and taught school alternately for four years. In the meantime he had determined to fit himself for the medical profession, and to that end during his college life he selected studies bearing upon the practice of medicine. Aside from his regular studies he also devoted con- siderable time during his leisure hours to the reading of medical works under the direction of Dr. A. W. Hartmen. On leaving col- lege he went home and continued his studies privately during one summer. In the fall of 1857, he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, and took one course of lectures, and in the following spring he entered upon the practice of medicine in Fulton County, Ohio. In the fall of 1859, he returned to Ann Arbor and took his second course of lectures, graduating with the class of 1860. In January, 1861, he located at Hutsonville, Ill., where he practiced his profession about one year. In 1862, he entered the service of the Union Army as Acting Assistant Surgeon, in which capacity he continued one year. His surgical services were chiefly rendered in the Hickory Street Hospital, St. Louis, in the Hospital at Jefferson Barracks. Mo., and Pine Bluff, Ark. In April, 1883, he located in Shelby County, a resident of which he has been ever since. His professional labors have chiefly been performed in the western part of the county, and they have at times made such de- mands upon him as to imperil the condition of his own health, in con- sequence of which it is now somewhat impaired. In the fall of 1863, in order to be well up with the more recent advancements in the medical science, he entered the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons, Indianapolis, where he took a full course of lectures and received his second medical diploma. Frequently the Doctor has
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yielded to the demands of his friends and delivered a number of lectures upon various physiological subjects, all of which have been highly appreciated by the public. March 9, 1887, he was appointed United States Examining Surgeon at Shelbyville, which position he now holds. Dr. Gillmore was married to Elizabeth Allen, De- cember 28, 1858. She was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., March 25, 1832, and was the daughter of Ira and Betsey ( Wilder) Allen, both natives of Vermont. Her father was born May 20, 1790, and died May 17, 1866. He was a prominent minister of the Christian denomination, reared his family on a large farm, and was a highly respected citizen. Mrs. Gillmore had five brothers and one sister, as follows: Harriet B., Ira W., Albert L., Henry S., Alden and Charles F., two of whom, Harriet B. and Henry S., are deceased. Her brother, Ira W., is president of Allen's Academy, in the City of Chicago; Albert L., a prominent physician in Han- nibal, Mo .; Alden, a talented minister in New York State, and Charles F., a successful farmer on the old homestead, near Pots- dam, N. Y. The Allen family were relatives of the renowned Ethan Allen of the Revolutionary War. Dr. and Mrs. Gillmore are the parents of three children: Allen Rumsey, born Novem- ber 17, 1863, now in the employ, as salesman, of L. M. Rumsey's Mfg. Co., of St. Louis; William Moses, born August 23, 1868, now a student at Purdue University, and Elizabeth Jane, born Au- gust 22, 1873. Our subject and his wife are in their religion, Presbyterians. The former is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was Master, for a number of years, of his lodge at Fairland, Ind., and of Shelby Chapter he is also a member. The wife of Dr. Gillmore was assistant teacher of music in Antioch College when she became acquainted with the subject of this sketch. Dr. Gillmore is a scholarly physician, a very successful practitioner, and he and wife are highly esteemed citizens of this county.
JOHN A. HACK, a prominent farmer of Sugar Creek Township, was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 16, 1841. He was the eldest of four children-all sons-born to George F. and Margaret (Dingfelder) Hack, both of whom were natives of Germany. About the year 1839, the parents came to Baltimore. On reaching this country they made their way to Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, where shortly afterward they were united in marriage. The three brothers of our subject were: Frederick, George and Conrad, the last of whom died in childhood. When John was ten years of age his parents removed from Butler County, Ohio, to Hancock County, this State, where his youth was spent upon a farm. He continued with his parents until the time of his marriage, which occurred January 12, 1865, when Jane Smith became his wife. She was
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born in Moral Township, this county, June 16, 1844. She was the daughter of Tinsley and Sarah (Murnan) Smith, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, of English descent, and the latter was born in this county, of German and Irish descent. Her paternal grandparents were James and Nancy Ann (Vernon) Smith, natives of North Carolina. Her maternal grandparents were Michael and Jane Murnan. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hack located upon a farm in Sugar Creek Township, Hancock County, and there continued to reside until 1872, when they removed to this county, and located in Moral Township. In 1880, they removed to Sugar Creek Township and located where they now reside. The life occupation of Mr. Hack has been that of a farmer, and as such he has been very successful. He and wife are the parents of three children: Frederick T., born July 24, I866; Charles A., born April 25, 1869, and Orin S., born April I, 1876, all living. Mr. Hack is a member of the Lutheran Church, and Mrs. Hack possesses a membership in the Presbyterian Church. In politics the former is a Democrat. He owns a fine farm where he lives, of 160 acres, about 140 of which are in a high state of cultivation. Besides this, Mrs. Hack owns a good farm of 180 acres in Moral Township.
PHILIP Hoop, one of the most successful agriculturalists of Shelby County, was born in Highland County, Ohio, March 19, 1816. He was the tenth of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, born to Peter and Motilena Hoop, both natives of Virginia, of Ger- man descent. He was but five years old when his father died, and but fifteen years old when his mother died. After his father died he remained with his widowed mother upon the farm until her death, and for about two years thereafter he remained in Highland County, working upon a farm. He attended school a part of the time. In the seventeenth year of his age he started out into the world for himself. He walked to Cincinnati where he purchased an ox, and with this he again started out on foot, and some time during the month of March, 1832, he arrived in Shelby County. After spend- ing a short time with his brother, who had previously come to this county, on the 6th day of August, 1840, he was married to Mary J. Francis, who was born in Bath County, Kentucky, January 19, IS22. She was the daughter of William and Sarah ( Hardesty) Francis. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hoop located upon a farm of eighty acres, which the former had pur- chased in Sugar Creek Township. Some eight or ten years later they removed to the farm Mr. Hoop at present occupies, where they continued to live happily together until their union was broken by the death of the wife, May 27, 1876. On the ISth day of May,
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1879, he was married to Susan Baker, who was born in Madison County, Ky., October 1, 1856. She was the daughter of Reason and Elizabeth Baker, both natives of Madison County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Hoop are the parents of two children: Philip E., born February IS, 1884, and Peter, born April 6, 1886, both living. Mr. Hoop is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and a staunch Democrat in politics. He began life a poor boy, but through in- dustry, perseverance and economy he is now one of the wealthiest men in Shelby County. He owns a farm of 600 acres, most of which is in a high state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with good fences and buildings, and a handsome brick residence erected at a cost of $7,000.
HENRY HUNTINGTON, a pioneer of Shelby County, and one among the oldest residents of Sugar Creek Township, was born in Connecticut, August 26, 1816. He was the third of six children, four sons and two daughters, born to Septimius G. and Mary T. (Morse) Huntington, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively, the former of whom was a descendant of Simon Huntington, who left the shores of England with his wife and chil- dren in 1633. and started for America. The father died upon the voyage and was buried in the ocean. The mother brought her children to America, and the latter became the progenitors of a large family, several members of which have attained considerable prominence in this country. A few of the more noted ones may here be mentioned: Hon. Samuel Huntington, Ex-Governor of Connecticut and President of the Continental Congress: Samuel Huntington, a nephew of the former, who became Governor of Ohio; Elisha M. Huntington, Ex-United States District Judge for Indiana; Gen. Jedediah Huntington, Judge Benjamin Huntington and a number of others. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Hunt- ington were Rev. Joseph and Elizabeth ( Hall) Huntington, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. His maternal grandparents were Ezekiel and Mary (Tyler ) Morse, the former of whom was related to the antecedents of Prof. S. F. B. Morse, and the latter was a relative of Col. Tyler, of Revolutionary fame. When our subject was yet a child, his parents emigrated to Lebanon, Ohio. About one year later they came to this State and located at Con- nersville, but in the year 1821, they removed to this county, and settled in the wilds of Sugar Creek Township. That was one among the earliest settlements in the township. He continued at home until the time of his marriage, which occurred April 6, 1850, when Sarah A. Edwards became his wife. She was born in Miami County, Ohio, December 22, 1825, and was the daughter of Will- iam and Sophia (Carson) Edwards. Two years after their mar-
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riage, Mr. and Mrs. Huntington located upon the farm they now occupy, and on which they have ever since continued to reside. They are the parents of eleven children: Kate, born July 3, 1851, died September 30, 1853: Eliza, born January 20, 1853; Thomas H., born September 2, 1854: Abbie, born May 14, 1856; Ella, born March 7, 1858, died September 10, 1858; Maggie, born March 8, 1859: John E., born March 10, 1861; George B., born Novem- ber S, IS63; William ., born November 16, 1865; Samuel, born January 13, 1867, died September 29, 1867, and Frank C., born August 20, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Huntington are members of the Protestant Methodist Church. In politics the former is a Demo- crat. He has held the office of Trustee in Sugar Creek Town- ship thirteen years. He owns a good farm where he lives, of 160 acres, about 100 of which are in a high state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with good buildings and fences, and is a very de- sirable location. Besides this, he owns two other farms in Sugar Creek Township, one of eighty acres and one of thirty-two acres. He is an honest, upright man, and he and wife are among the worthy and esteemed citizens of Shelby County.
THOMAS H. HUNTINGTON, a prominent citizen of Sugar Creek Township and the present Trustee of the township, was born where he now lives with his parents, September 2, 1854. He was the third child and oldest son born to Henry and Sarah A. (Edwards) Huntington, a history of whom appears above in this work. He was reared upon his father's farm, and he still continues with his father and mother, his attention being given to agricultural pur- suits. In the spring of 1882, he was elected to the office of Road Superintendent, and served in that capacity until the office was abolished. In the spring of 1884, he was elected Trustee of his township and was re-elected in the spring of 1886. He is an agree- able, genial man, a reliable and trustworthy official, and he pos- sesses the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
JONATHAN H. KEITHI, an honored pioneer of Sugar Creek Township, was born in Lewis County, West Virginia, August S, ISII. He was the youngest of thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, born to James and Mary Ann ( Allkire) Keith, the former a native of Winchester, Va., of English and Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His boyhood and early youth were spent working upon his father's farm in his native county. In the spring of 1828, he accompanied his parents to Miami County, Ohio, but in the follow- ing fall the family came to Shelby County, and located in the woods of Marion Township. In the spring of 1829, they removed to a farm which the father had purchased in Brandywine Township,
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near the present site of Fairland. In 1832, they removed to Sugar Creek Township, and located upon a tract of land in Section 32, upon which the subject of this sketch has ever since resided. The chief occupation of his life has been that of a farmer. His first. marriage occurred April 10, 1836, when Keziah Hutchison be- came his wife. She was born in Warren County, Ohio, March 27, ISIS, and was the daughter of James and Sarah (Ulry) Hutchison. She died March 31, 1837. On the second day of April, 1848, Mr. Keith was married to Elizabeth Crosby, who was born in Clermont County, Ohio, August 25, 1829, and was the daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Cook) Crosby. The first marriage of Mr. Keith resulted in the birth of one child, Sarah C., born March II, 1837, died September 12, 1837. He and his present wife are the parents of ten children, as follows: Marshall, born January 29, 1849, died in infancy: Mary K., born April 26, 1850; Frances L., born January 23, 1852, died August 19, 1884; Maude, born April 23, IS54; Joseph M., born October 27, IS56; James W. S., born De- cember 22, 1858: William A., born November 25, 1861 : Susan M., born March 6, 1864, died June 6, 1884: Edward E., born February 27, 1867: Oscar H., born April 30, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Keith are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former became a member of the F. & A. M. about thirty-one years ago. In poli- tics he is an ardent Republican. He has served his township as Justice of the Peace five years. He served as Second Lieutenant in Co. H, Third Indiana Regiment, of the Mexican War, from June 1846, to July, 1847. He owns a good farm of 160 acres.
TILGHMAN H. LEE, Ex-Sheriff of Shebly County, and at present a prominent farmer of Sugar Creek Township, was born in Addison Township, this county, May 31, 1839. He was the third of five children, three sons and two daughters, born to Louis M. and Spicy (Campbell) Lee. He spent his boyhood and youth working upon a farm in this county. As early as twelve years of age he began working upon a farm by the month, and thus con- tinued among strangers for a period of fourteen years. February 23, 1865, he was married to Annie Hoop, a native of Moral Town- ship, this county, born July 30. 1848. She was the daughter of Furguson and Nellie (Doble) Hoop, the former a native of Ohio, of German descent, and the latter a native of Kentucky. Imme- diately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lee located upon a farm in Sugar Creek Township. Mr. Lee continued the vocation of a farmer in that township, until the fall of IS72, at which time he was elected upon the Democratic ticket to the office of Sheriff of Shelby County. He was re-elected in the fall of 1874, and at the expiration of his second term, he returned to Sugar Creek Town-
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ship, and resumed the business of a farmer. His attention in this connection, however, has chiefly been confined to the management and overseeing of his farm, owing to the fact that for a period of about seventeen years he has served the public in the capacity of an auctioneer. He is peculiarly adapted for this vocation, and he is universally recognized as one of the most successful auctioneers. Mr. and Mrs Lee are the parents of four children as follows: Gill- more and Elmore (twins), born November 14, 1866, the former died December 23, 1866; Cora A., born September 17, 1869, and Fannie, born February 25, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. The former is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and a staunch Democrat in politics. He owns a handsome farm where he lives, of 174 acres, about 135 of which are in a high state of cultivation.
CHARLES P. MCDONALD, a prominent farmer of Sugar Creek Township, was born in Rush County, this State, June 14, 1831. He was the seventh of ten children - seven sons and three daugh- ters - born to Mordica and Sarah (Varner) McDonald, both natives of Kentucky, the former of Scotch, and the latter of German descent. He was reared upon a farm in his native county and at the age of fifteen he began working upon a farm by the month, and thus continued during the summer time for a number of years. At the age of twenty he took up the vocation of a farmer for himself, and this has been his life occupation. In April, 1851, he came to Shelby County, and became a resident of Sugar Creek Township, in which he has ever since resided. His marriage to Mary J. Bagley, occurred March 9, 1881. She was born in this county July 21, 1858, and was the daughter of Joseph and Mary J. Bagley. They are the parents of one child, Oscar, born August 7, 1883. In politics Mr. McDonald is a Democrat. He owns a good farm of 14812 acres, about 115 of which are in a high state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with good buildings and fences and is situated in one of the best farming localities in Shelby County. He is an industrious and successful farmer and he and wife are worthy and esteemed citizens.
IIUGH MCFADDEN, a prominent farmer of Sugar Creek Town- ship, was born in Centre County, Penn., June 11, 1836. He was the fourth of five children-four sons and one daughter-born to Hugh and Isabella (Hays) McFadden, with whom he came to this county when he was but two years old. They settled in the woods of Sugar Creek Township, where our subject was reared upon a farm. At the early age of fourteen he assumed the management of the farm, his father having died at that time. He has ever since continued in agricultural pursuits upon the old homestead where he
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still continues to reside. His marriage to Cannie Oldham occurred January 2, 1887. She was born in this county, November 25, IS63. She was the daughter of Thomas J. and Louisa (Smith) Oldham, old residents of this county. They, however, removed to Marion County, this State, where the mother died August 15, 1886, and where the father still resides. In politics Mr. McFadden is an ardent Republican. He owns about 100 acres of excellent land situated in one of the best farming localities in Shelby County.
MRS. MARY ELIZABETH MITCHELL, of Sugar Creek Town- ship, was born in Coventry, Conn., May 16, 1811. She was the eldest of six children born to Septimius G. and Mary T. (Morse ) Hunt- ington, a more extended mention of whom appears elsewhere in this work. She accompanied her parents to this county in IS21, and on the 3d day of July, 1836, she was married to Jabez G. Bright, who was born September 9, 1807. They resided in Franklin, Johnson County, and there her husband died April 14. 1843. Oc- tober 20, 1844, our subject became the wife of Seth T. Mitchell, who was born in Maine, in' ISIS, and is now deceased. Her first
marriage resulted in the birth of five children: Maria L., born March IS, 1837, died July 23, ISSO: Mary E., born March 7, 1838, died September 23, 1838: Mary, born April 16, 1839, died Octo- ber 28, 1844: Septimius G., born August 9, 1840, died November 17, 1850, and Elizabeth, born May 20, 1842, died November 15, 1843. Her second marriage resulted in the birth of one child : Em- erson, born June 3, IS49, now a resident of Johnson County. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of the Presbyterian Church. She owns a farm of forty acres in Illinois and ten acres in Brandywine Town- ship, and is altogether in comfortable circumstances.
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