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 74
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VALENTINE Posz, a prominent old citizen of Union Township, is a native of Rheinpfalz, Germany, born January 15, 1830, the son of John Adam and Margaret (Schuhmacher) Posz. Valentine grew to manhood in his native country, receiving a good common school education in the schools there. In 1852, he emigrated to the United States. He stopped for one year in Cincinnati, coming to Shelby County in 1853, and has always lived in the county since. March 9, 1854, his marriage with Margaret Becker was solemnized and to their union nine children have been born, these eight now living : Mary, wife of Daniel Callahan; Catharine, unmarried; Adam, Emma: Maggie, now Mrs. John Gaheimer; Conrad, George and Barbara. Mr. Posz has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns 120 acres of well im- proved land. He and wife are members of the St. Zion's German Protestant Church. His political views are Democratic.
OLIVER SWAIN, of Union Township, is a native of Union County, Ind., born December 22, 1829, being the next youngest in a family of four children, born to Elihu and Hannah (Stanton) Swain, who were natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respect- ively. They came to Union County in a very early day, where they continued most of the time until their deaths, he dying in 1839. His widow survived him, married again, and lived for a time in Ohio, but returned to the old homestead and died there October, 1886, in her eighty-second year. Oliver remained with his parents and assisted them until he attained the age of twenty years, receiving a common
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school education, such as the facilities of those days afforded. Mr. Swain has always made farming his occupation, and he has been quite successful. He now owns 193 acres of well improved land. He and family are members of the Friends Church. He has always been a Republican since the organization of the party, and he usually manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the Nation, State and county in which he lives, where he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.
JOSEPH TALBERT, deceased, was a native of North Carolina, where he was born August 13, 1774. Rahah Beason was also a native of North Carolina, born July 30, 1779. They were married, and most of their family were born in that State. They came to Indiana in a very early day, and were the parents of twelve child- ren, as follows: Thomas, Edward, William, Polly, Jesse, Eliza- beth, Anderson, Margaret, Paris C., Sally, Charity and Joseph A. Paris C. was born March 3, 1814. January II, IS38, his and Nancy Sleeth's, daughter of Judge John Sleeth, nuptials were cel- ebrated, and to their union ten children were born. Paris C. Talbert died December 3, 1864. His wife was born March 12, 1817, and still survives him. Paris C. was an extensive farmer, owning at the time of his death over 400 acres of well improved land. Of his children, these five are now living: Sylvanus, Will- iam, Louise J., now Mrs. Bower: Barton M. and Madison. The latter was born December II, 1855. He was reared to manhood in Union Township, remaining at home and assisting his mother until he attained the age of twenty-three years, receiving a limited education, his help being needed on the farm. April 12, 1879, his marriage with Capitola E. Gunning was solemnized, and to their union these three children have been born: John W., Clara B. and Walter B. He has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns 180 acres of well im- proved land. In politics he is a Republican.
BARTON M. TALBERT was born in Union Township, February 20, 1854. He was reared to manhood on the farm, remaining at home until he attained the age of twenty-three years, receiving a common school education owing to his help being needed on the farm, and sickness. March 21, 1877, his marriage with Margaret J. Fisher was solemnized, and to their union these five children have been born: Luella, Arthur F., Effie A., Lizzie M., and Lelia A. He has always made farming his occupation and he has been very successful. He now owns 256 acres of well improved land. Ilis political views are Republican.
MICHAEL THEOBALD, of Union Township, is a native of Rhein- pfalz, Germany, born March 13, 1820, the son of George M.
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and Catherine (Haehl) Theobald, who were also natives of Ger- many. The family emigrated to the United States in 1840, coming immediately to Shelby County, settling in Union Township, where they continued to reside until their deaths, the latter dying in 1875, and the former in 1881. Our subject remained with his parents about one year after their settlement in the county. He received a good education in his native country and mother tongue. No- vember 11, 1845, his marriage with Catherine Haehl was solem- nized, and to their union twelve children have been born, these ten now living: John J., who married Rosina Haehl; Julia E., wife of Henry Weingarth; Charles H., whose consort was Sophia L. Haehl; Rosa, now Mrs. G. G. Winters; Caroline E., unmarried; Louisa, wife of George Fuchs; George H., who espoused Elizabeth Horst; Julius E., Theodore and William. Mr. Theobald has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns 260 acres of well improved land. He and family are mem- bers of the St. Zion's German Protestant Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has never sought any political preferment.
JACOB H. THOMAS, merchant, grain dealer and proprietor of the saw mill located at Ray's Crossing, is a native of Ripley County, Ind., born March 5, 1827, being the fourth in a family of eight children, born to George and Elizabeth (Elder) Thomas, who were both natives of Tennessee. They came to Indiana in a very early day, located for a time in Ripley County, then removed to Rush County, where they continued to reside until their deaths, both dying in the year 1869. Our immediate subject remained with and assisted his parents on the farm until he attained his ma- jority, receiving a common school education. December, 1847, his marriage with Elizabeth Heflin was solemnized, and to their union two children were born, this one now living, Mary E., now Mrs. James Muse. June 8, 1854, Mr. Thomas suffered the be- reavement of losing his beloved wife. March 29, 1855, his and Amanda Bramble's nuptials were celebrated, and one child blessed their union, since deceased. Their union was also of comparative short duration, death removing her January 8, 1857. March 19, 1859. Delilah Titus became his wife. By her he is the father of two children: James J., who married Eliza J. Branson, and William R. August 8, 1866, death again visited the home of Mr. Thomas, taking his companion. In 1876, he became a permanent resident of Shelby, and engaged at times since at grain dealing and saw milling. In 1878, he established his store. From a financial point of view, Mr. Thomas has been quite successful. He is a member of the Independent Order of Red Men. In politics he has always taken a part, and always manifests a good, live interest in
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the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives, where he enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
HENRY WEINGARTH is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born January 5, 1844, being the fifth in a family of seven children born to Henry and Barbara (Zimpelmann) Weingarth, who were also natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in 1852, and landed at New Orleans, where the father died in April of the following year. The family then came to Shelby County, where his widow lived until 1867, when she also died, at New Or- leans, while on a visit to one of her daughters who had remained there. At the early age of nine years our subject was thrown upon his own resources. He made his home at different places in the community, when he enlisted in Company K, Eighteenth Reg- iment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, where he served three years, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, August 20, 1864. He was present and participated in the following important engage- ments: Pea Ridge, all the battles incident to the seige and capture of Vicksburg, Fort Esparanza, Texas, and numerous minor skir- mishes. February 22, 1868, his marriage with Julia Theobald was solemnized, and to their union these eight children have been born: Albert, Charles, George, Katie, Nora, Emma, Louise and Nellie. His principal occupation has always been farming, in connection with which he taught school for about eighteen years, and he has been quite successful, now owning 160 acres of well improved land. He and wife are members of St. Zion's German Protestant Church. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., Blue Ridge Lodge No. 554. His political views are Republican, and he was honored with an election to the office of Township Trustee in 1880, and re-elected in 1882.
JACOB R. WESTERFIELD is a native of Henry County, Ind., born July 3, 1830, being the youngest of a family of seven children born to John, M. and Nancy (Downing) Westerfield, who were both natives of Ohio. February, 1833, the family removed from Henry County, to a farm three miles south of Manilla, where he con- tinued to practice his profession, that of physician. In 1838, they removed to Manilla, where he died in 1840. He had an extensive practice in this and Rush County. Jacob remained with his mother until her death, which occurred June 10, 1849. He received a limited education, such as the facilities of the neighborhood schools of those days afforded. January 8, 1851, his marriage with Nancy Headlee occurred, and to their union five children were born, these two are now living: Mary A., widow of Franklin Tal- bert; Sarilda, now Mrs. Kimball Barnes. February 7, 1862, Mrs. Westerfield died. February 12, 1863, his and Mary J. Hurst's
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nuptials were celebrated, and this union has been blessed with these five children: Granville G., Roscoe W., Maggie E., Erastus and John E. Mr. Westerfield has always been farming, in connec- tion with which, from 1859 to 1866, he operated a saw and grist mill, and he has been quite successful. He now owns 130 acres of well improved land. In politics he is a Republican, and he usually manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives. Mrs. Westerfield was born July 23, 1833, she was a daughter of Elder Emmons Hurst, a min- ister of Baptist denomination of considerable note in this section of the State.
TEVIS WHEELER, a citizen and native of Union Township, was born July 5, 1839, the seventh in a family of eleven children born to Reason and Polly (Batterton) Wheeler, who were both natives of Madison County, Ky .: the former was born January 10, 1803, and the latter April 16, 1805: they married in their native county October 13, 1825: two years later, in 1827, they came to Shelby County, and settled on the farm where Tevis now lives, and where they lived the rest of their days, she dying May 20, 1878, and he January 3, 1882. Our immediate subject always lived at the old homestead, caring for his parents in their declining years. He re- ceived a common school education, such as the schools of the vicin- ity afforded. February 14, 1870, his marriage with Nancy J. Cooper was solemnized, and to their union one child has been born, Jeremiah. Mr. Wheeler, like his father before him, has always made farming his occupation, and he has been quite successful. He now owns 160 acres of well improved land. He and wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican.
THOMAS WICKER, an old resident of Union Township, is a na- tive of Stokes County, N. C., born March 9, 1821, being the eighth in a family of eleven children, born to Talley and Betty Ann (Linville) Wicker, who were both also natives of North Carolina. They emigrated to Shelby County in 1827, settling in Union Town- ship, December 6, of that year, where they continued to reside until their death, the former dying August 26, 1854, aged nearly seventy- one years, and the latter, December 4, 1870, at the good old age of eighty-three years and seven months. Our immediate subject remained with his parents until he attained the age of twenty-seven years, receiving what was for those days, a good education, such as was to be obtained in the subscription schools those days afforded, in keeping with the primitive log school-houses of that time. February 28, 1842, his marriage with Nancy Zike was solemnized, and to their union eleven children have been born, of whom these eleven are now living: William T., David, Catharine,
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Mary E., Sarah A., Dorothy, Nancy J., Hester A., Thomas N., Jasper L. and George A. Mr. Wicker has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns 217 acres of well improved land. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought any political preferment.
WILLIAM R. ZIKE, farmer and stock raiser, and native of Union Township, was born August 3, 1851, being the third in a family of nine children born to William and Mary ( Phares) Zike, who were natives of Kentucky and Maryland, respectively. They both came to this county with their parents in a very early day, and . remained residents. William R. remained at home and assisted his parents until he attained his majority, receiving a good common education, sufficient to enable him to teach, which he did at inter- vals for ten years. November 2, 1871, his marriage with Cynthia E. Talbert, was solemnized, and to their union five children have been born, of whom these four are now living: William W., Joseph F., Eddie E., and Mary E. He has alway made farming his occupa- tion, and in connection, he has devoted a great deal of attention to breeding and raising fine cattle of the Short Horn variety, and he has been very successful. He now owns 150 acres of well improved land. He also has a fine herd of cattle. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. He is a man of pronounced temperance views, and as such votes the Prohibition ticket.
VAN BUREN SKETCHES.
CAROLINE BORING was born in Rush County, November 27, 1824, and is the sixth of eight children born to William and Mary ( Wheeler) McCartey, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Kentucky in an early day, and afterward came to Indiana, and settled in Rush County, and there lived until 1862, when they came to Shelby County, and here her father died in 1869, in his seventy-sixth year, and the mother died two years previous in her seventy-fifth year. Mrs. Boring was married to Jacob L. Boring, a native of Ohio, born October, IS21; he was a son of Jacob and Catharine (Ruskiser) Boring. Seven children were the produc- tion of that marriage, viz. : William, born 1842; Cyrus, born 1844; Lawrence, born 1846: Mary, born 1849, and died in 1850; Frank P., born 1853: Jacob, born 1855 and John L., born 1858. Byoccupation the husband of Mrs. Boring was a farmer, which he continued until his death in August, 1865. Mrs. Boring now owns 200 acres of well improved land, and is a devoted member of the Methodist
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Protestant Church. Cyrus Boring remained at home until twenty- two years of age, when he was married to Catharine J. Wins- ton, who was born in Shelby County, and is the mother of these nine children: Jacob L., William R., Irvin, Lawrence, Adda M., Flora B., Mary E., Franklin W. and George C. In 1878, Mr. Boring was elected Trustee of Van Buren Township. He be- gan teaching school when nineteen years of age, and continued that occupation until 1885. He now owns forty acres of land in Van Buren Township, is a Mason and a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. John L. Boring, another member of this family, was reared on the old home farm and received a fair edu- cation, is by occupation a farmer and owns a sixty-acre farm. He was married in 1877, to Miss Mary, daughter of John and Sarah (Lapham) Hendricks, and is the mother of these two children : Emily L. and Eunice P. Jacob W. Boring, another representative of this family, received an ordinary education and at nineteen years of age was married to Miss Lucinda Crud, who was born in Shelby County, and is the daughter of Allen and Louisa (Ballard) Crud, natives of Ohio and Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Boring are the parents of four children, viz. : Addie L., Myrtle, Murry E. and Ezra L. Mr. Boring continued farming until 1882, when he engaged in the mer- chandise business in Carlton, Ind., which he continued one year, and then resumed his former occupation. His farm consists of nearly 100 acres. Politically, he is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.
JOSEPH E. CAMPBELL was born in Shelby County, August 7, 1843, being the fourth of ten children, born to John and Ametia (Ruggles) Campbell, and is of Irish origin. The grandparents of Mr. Campbell came to Indiana in a very early day, and first settled in Franklin County, and later removed to Rush County, and then came to Shelby County. The parents of our subject were married in Shelby County, and began life for themselves in Moral Town- ship, where the mother of Mr. Campbell still lives on the old home farm, and where his father died in ISSo. The subject of this biography was raised on the farm, and at the common schools obtained a fair education. He remained at home until eighteen years of age when he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-first Indiana Volunteers. He was at the siege of Corinth, battles of Stone River, Franklin and Nashville. For four years and three months he served his country in that memorable and terrible conflict. After the war he engaged in farming, which he continued until 1884, when he began general merchandising at Fountaintown, and which he still continues, and is doing a good business. Mr. Campbell was married in the spring of 1866, to Miss Matilda Ruggles, a
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daughter of William and Sarah (Wilson) Ruggles, natives of Kentucky. Mr. Campbell is a well-known and honorable man.
WILLIAM B. DAVIS, a native of Union County, Ind., was born August 16, 1847, and is the second of eleven children born to Da- vid T. and Rachel (Snodgrass) Davis, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana. His father was born in ISI7, and came to Indiana in 1839. The mother of Mr. Davis was born in 1825. The maternal grandfather af Mr. Davis was a soldier in the War of ISI2. By occupation, the father of our subject was a carpenter, and now re- sides in Hancock County. Mr. Davis was reared on a farm, and. received an ordinary education. His life has been that of a farmer, and he now owns 140 acres of land in Van Buren Township, where he now resides. January 2, 1873, he was united in marriage to Fannie, daughter of Nathan and Phebe (Trimble) Moon, natives of Kentucky and Ohio. To this marriage have been born these children: Isaac, born October 23, 1873; Mona, born December 24, 1874, died May 5, 1877; Nathan David, born January 22, 1877. He is a Republican, and a prosperous farmer.
JACOB K. MILLER was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Feb- ruary 7, 1835, and is the ninth of seventeen children born to Jacob and Elizabeth (Kem) Miller, and is of German descent. The Miller family emigrated to Ohio in 1826, and settled in Fairfield County, and, in 1839, came to Shelby County, Ind., and settled in Van Buren Township, and here the father of Mr. Miller died in 1850, and the mother in 1887. Mr. Miller was reared on a farm,
and received a limited education. His life work has been that of a "tiller of the soil," and he now owns a valuable farm in this township. He was married November 25, 1858, to Miss Eliza T. Bass, born in Shelby County, January 6, 1843, and is a daughter of George and Anna (Copple) Bass, natives of North Carolina, who emigrated to this county and settled in this township in 1830. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born the following children: Nicholas A., Anna M., Lewis C., Noah L., and Cynthia F. Mr. Miller is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the United Breth- ren Church, and he is an industrious and honorable citizen.
JACOB S. NIGII, a native of Shelby County, was born Decem- ber 8, 1845, and is the youngest of eleven children, born to John and Cynthia (Fix) Nigh, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Indiana and settled in Shelby County, in an early day. The father of Mr. Nigh died August 26, 1856, and his mother Sep- tember 4th, of the same year. The subject of this biography, was a student at the common schools of this county, and at which he received a fair education. Mr. Nigh was a member of Company E, One Hundred and Second Regiment Indiana Volunteers, of the
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one hundred days' service, and in 1864 he again enlisted in Com- pany F, Indiana Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. Returning home he engaged in farming and now owns 100 acres of fine land, in Van Buren Township, where he now resides. In politics he is a Republican, and in 1884 was elected Trustee of Van Buren Township, and two years later was re-elected to the same office, and is without question one of the best Trustees the township has ever had. January 15, 1870, he was united to Miss Mary E. Wicker, a native of this country, born October 27, 1847, and daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Zike) Wicker, native of North Carolina. The following children survive their mother, who died September 4, 1886: Minnie, born December 23, 1870; Nannie, born September 23, 1872; Thomas A., born March 10, 1876; Verly M., born September 7, 1878 and Mary L., born October 20, ISSO. Mr. Nigh is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and is a man in prominence in this county.
DR. WILLIAM M. PIERSON, a native of Indiana, was born Au- gust 10, 1850, and is the youngest of two children, born to Morris and Lucena (Burtch) Pierson, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. Ilis father emigrated to Indiana, and settled in Switzerland County, in 1816, where he was married to Eliza Mon- roe, who departed life in 1844. In 1827, he came to Hancock County, and was the first Treasurer of that county, and also held the offices of Surveyor and Civil Engineer. the eighty-fourth year of his age. The mother of Mr. Pierson
He died in 1878, in came to Indiana with her parents, and settled in Dearborn County, and in 1826, came to Shelby County, and in 1838, was married to Dr. William Silcox, who died five years later, and in 1844, Mrs. Dr. Silcox, was married to the father of our subject, and now re- sides in Greenfield, Indiana. The subject of this biography was educated at the public schools of Greenfield, and at the Normal College at Lebanon, Ohio. Having served an apprenticesphip at the painting trade for three years, and later for one year, was en- gaged as a drug clerk, and then in the office of Dr. Adams, of Greenfield, he began the study of medicine. Continuing with Dr. Adams for three years, he then attended the Indiana Medical College, and graduated in 1874, and has since successfully contin- ued the practice of his profession, at Fountaintown. Dr. Pierson was married June II, 1878, to Miss E. B., daughter of Hon. Jacob and Maria (Snepp) Mutz, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, res- pectively. To Dr. and Mrs. Pierson were born these children : Oscar (deceased), Dessie M., Alma, and an infant daughter, yet un- named. He is a Republican, a Mason and a K. of P. Dr. Pierson is a careful practitioner, and has attained for himself a lucrative practice.
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MRS. RIODA A. RIGDON, a native of Shelby County, was born May 9, 1826; she is the daughter of Henry and Sarah (Pannel) Coalscott, natives of Maryland and Indiana. The subject of this. biography was married in 1855, to William J. Buckingham, who was born in Ohio, December 22, 1833. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company E, Seventy-ninth Indiana Volun- teers, in August, 1862, and died at Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham were the parents of two chil- dren: Sarah A. and James W. Mrs. Buckingham was married in 1868, to William Rigdon, who was born in Fleming County, Ky., March II, 1822, and was the son of James and Nancy (Shelly) Rigdon, natives of Scotland and Ireland. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812. To the Rigdon-Buckingham union, were born three children, viz .: Charles A., Thaddeus L., and an infant that died unnamed. The Rigdon family came to, Indiana in 1826, and settled in Rush County. In early life Mr. Rigdon began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Kennedy, where he remained some- time, and in 1854, graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College, and for a number of years thereafter he was engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in the northern part of Shelby County. Early in life Dr. Rigdon became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and later in life he joined and became a minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, and was admitted to the Indiana Con- ference about 1863. As a preacher, Rev. Rigdon was comprehen- sive and earnest; as a physician he was successful, and as a citizen he enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him. Mrs. Rigdon is a woman of culture and has been long and favorably known in this part of the county.
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