History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 89

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032

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careful and prudent in saving money. He had learned this through being thrown on his own resources when a lad, a stranger in a strange land, and among a people who spoke to him in a strange tongue. He not only worked hard, and saved his earnings, but he also observed the way in which a large brewery was carried on. In 1868 he returned to Terre Haute, and formed a partnership with Mr. Koffman in the establishing of and carrying on a brewery, which had then a capacity of about only 2,500 barrels per year. They had been in business about eleven months when Mr. Koffman died, and Mr. Mayer then assumed sole control. By careful man- agement and many hard days' work he built up from that small beginning a very large and prosperous business, the capacity of the brewery in 1888 and 1889 reaching 25,000 barrels per year. Mr. Mayer sold the plant and retired in 1890. He is the owner of con- siderable real estate in Terre Haute, also of valuable farm land in the vicinity and in other places. His farm of 300 acres in Lost Creek township is being improved continually. Mr. Mayer was married in Terre Haute, April 29, 1879, to Miss Sophia, daughter of Stacy Miller, and a native of Germany, which union has been blessed with a family of three children: Herman, Bertha and Ada. In politics Mr. Mayer votes for the man and not for the party. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and in their social life have many warm and valued friends and acquaintances. Mr. Mayer is a quiet, unassuming man, of a retiring and modest nature.

FRANKLIN MAYHEW, retired farmer and stock-grower, Su- gar Creek township, P. O. Macksville, was born in New Hampshire, January 17, 1807, and is a son of William and Hannah ( Haryman) Mayhew, natives of New Hampshire and of English origin. The father and son came to this county in 1849. The father, who was a farmer and school teacher, had a good education, having grad- uated at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, in the class of 1801, with Daniel and Ezekiel Webster. He died in 1862. His family consisted of four sons and four daughters, of whom Franklin, the third in order of birth, was reared on the farm, and learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed, however, only a short time after he had mastered it. He owns a farm of 360 acres. He was married in Ohio November 30, 1840, to Miss Clara Richmond, a cousin to the well-known writer, Dean Richmond. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mayhew were as follows: Jane, who was the wife of Henry McElfresh; Rhoday, who is the wife of Marion Mc- Quilkin (both these daughters are living, and each is the mother of five children) ; Thresia, wife of Merril Underwood, and Julia A., wife of William C. Calvert. Mr. Mayhew's grandfather was a full- blooded Frenchman, and was mail-carrier for Gen. Washington;

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was also a pilot and French interpreter, holding a captain's com- mission in the Revolutionary war. He and Col. Holland surveyed Nova Scotia, and the grandfather married one of the Colonel's daughters, our subject being a descendant.

CARL LEO MEES, M. D., professor of physics, Rose Poly- technic Institute, Terre Haute, is a native of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, born May 20, 1853, and is a son of Rev. Conrad and Eliza- beth (Adams) Mees. The parents were Germans, who located at Columbus, Ohio, on their arrival in the United States, and the father is a minister of the German Lutheran Church, being still in the active service.

Prof. Mees, who is the youngest in a family of five children- four sons and one daughter-attended the schools of his native place, and then took a post-graduate course at the Ohio State Uni- versity. From 1872 to 1876 he was assistant chemist in the Ohio State Geological Survey, also a private assistant in toxicological work to Dr. Theo. G. Warmley. During this period the pub- lished work on the photography and comparative measurements of blood corpuscles was done. In 1876 he was called to the pro- fessorship of physics and chemistry in the University of the Pub- lic Schools of Louisville, from which he resigned in 1880 to study in Europe-attending the University of Berlin, Germany, and the University of South Kensington, England, besides doing some special work in the laboratories of Helmhulz and Frankland. In 1882 he returned to America, having been called to the chair of physical science in the Ohio University, where he remained until called to the Rose Polytechnic Institute, Terre Haute, Ind., as assistant professor of physics in 1887. Upon the appointment of Dr. Mendenhall as superintendent of the coast and geodetic survey, he was put in charge of the entire department of physics. He has been a fellow of the American Association for the advance- ment of science since 1878, having been an officer in various positions, the last as general secretary in 1889. His published works have been mainly in periodicals and proceedings of associ- ations.

JOHN MEIGHEN, farmer and stock-grower, Riley township, was born in Butler county, Ohio, July 4, 1829, and is a son of Patrick and Abagail (Little) Meighen, latter born in Greene county, Penn., of English and German descent. The father was a native of Ireland, and came to Pennsylvania when ten years of age, where he lived until he reached his majority. He then removed to Butler county, Ohio, and settled in Liberty township, where he was engaged in stock-growing and tilling the soil; he died in 1844, in Butler County. His family consisted of ten children,

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of whom John, the youngest by birth, was reared on the farm, attending the common schools, and chose farming and stock-grow- ing as his business, in which he has met with success. In 1859 he came from Ohio and settled in Riley township on Section 22, where he owns a well-improved farm. He was united in marriage in Butler county, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Mendenhall, and by her had two children: Zendora, wife of Aaron McMaster, and Duell, wife of Charles Propes. Mrs. Meighen died in Ohio in 1856, and Mr. Mei- ghen married in 1859, Miss Martha, daughter of Jonah and Nancy (Mount) Nixon, natives of Ohio and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Meighen's children are Emma, wife of Benjamin Jordan; Charles D., at home; Mary C., wife of Frederick Fox; Olivine, wife of John Ray; Elmer Ross, a farmer and school-teacher; Bertha P. and Myrtle Maud. The sons are all farmers, and four of the chil- dren are school-teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Meighen take a great in- terest in the education of their children. Mrs. Meighen is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics Mr. Meighen is a Democrat.

S. B. MELTON, physician and surgeon, Nevins township, P. O. Fontanet, was born in Nevins township, this county, December 27, 1848, and is a son of William S. and Julia E. ( Williams ) Mel- ton. The mother is sixty-nine years of age, having been born in Otter Creek township, Vigo county, and is a daughter of Mark Will- iams, a pioneer farmer. The father was a native of North Carolina, and came to this county many years ago, where he followed paint- ing, and died in 1872. During the Civil war he was a member of the Forty-third Ind. V. I. He was an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and for many years was a local minister. Dr. Melton's grandfather was a soldier in the Mexican war, and served under Gen. Scott in his brilliant campaign. S. B. Melton is the eldest of five children; he was reared on the farm, receiving his early schooling in the district school. He subsequently studied medicine in the medical college of Indiana, where he graduated in 1877, and has been engaged in the active practice of his profession ever since. He was united in marriage, in 1885, with Miss Ada, daughter of Mark and Phebe (Smith) Payne, natives of Tennessee, and of German origin. Dr. Melton is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the I. O. O. F. He has met with encouragement in his professional life, and with more than the average success in his financial affairs.

JOHN C. MENEELY, farmer, Nevins township, P. O. Clover- land, Clay county, is one of the prominent farmers residing on Section 36, Nevins township. He was born in Clinton county, Ind., December 19, 1843, and is a son of Noble C. and Sidney A. Me-

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neely, former of whom was born in New York, of Irish descent, and latter in Ohio, of Scotch origin. They came from Butler county, Ohio (where they had been married ), to this State, locating in Clin- ton county, but afterward removed to Clay county, thence to Vigo county in 1853, where they made their permanent home. The father died in 1879; the mother is still living. John C. Meneely was married in Clay county, in 1861, to Hannah K., daughter of Samuel B. and Martha (String) Elwell. Mr. Elwell is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four; Mrs. Elwell died in 1887; they were the parents of ten children, five of whom survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Meneely have been born eleven children, ten of whom are living, viz .: Charles C., born September 1, 1862, married to Flora M. Frazie (they have one child, French A. ) ; Albert R., born August 29, 1864, married to Rena Naff (they have two children, John H. and Orval D.); Thomas G., born July 12, 1867; Mary E., born February 16, 1870, married to Elijah Allen (they have one child, Clifford) ; Samuel F., born September 3, 1872; Sarah A., born No- vember 4, 1874; Rebecca Florence, born January 11, 1877, and died March 20, 1880, aged three years, two months and nine days; Dora D., born September 25, 1880; William H., born January 8, 1883; Myrtle, born Sept. 2, 1885; Ollie, born July 11, 1888. Mr. Meneely enlisted in the Civil war, September 30, 1864, in Company F, Fifty-seventh Ind. V. I., and was in the battles of Spring Hill, Nashville, Franklin, and in fact in all the engagements and skir- mishes during his term of service, especially in pursuit of Hood. On the expiration of his term he was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., June 16, 1865; he receives $24 a month pen- sion. He is a member of the F. M. B. A. Mr. Meneely has accumulated all his property by his own efforts, assisted by his faithful wife, and is now the owner of 159 acres of excellent land. This is one of the prominent and highly respected families of the county. Mr. Meneely affiliates with the Republican party, but far more as a patriot than as a partisan.

THOMAS H. MENIFEE, engineer Vandalia Railroad, Terre Haute, is a native of Luray, Page Co., Va., born March 9, 1852, and is a son of G. G. and Elizabeth (Lillard) Menifee, also natives of Virginia. The father, who was a farmer and cooper, now resides in Virginia; the mother died in 1880, in her fifty-fourth year. Thomas H. is the third in a family of four children, and was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the common schools of his native home. He learned the cooper's trade with his father, which he followed until the breaking out of the war, and after the close of that struggle he resumed his trade, carrying it on until 1870, when he came to Terre Haute and commenced firing on the Van-

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dalia Railroad. After two years and four months at this work, he was promoted to engineer, and has since continued in that position, running from Terre Haute to East St. Louis. Mr. Menifee was married in Effingham, Ill., November 18, 1875, to Miss Susie, daughter of John and Lizzie Kelker, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a locomotive engineer for a number of years, and is now master mechanic in the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad shops at Pueblo, Colo. Mrs. Menifee is the second in a family of seven children, and was born in Salem, Ohio, May 23, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Menifee have three children, viz .: Nannie, Charlie and Lizzie. She is a member of the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Terre Haute, No. 19, Chapter 11, Council 8, Eastern Star No. 43; also of the K. of H. No. 1220, and of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In politics he is a Republican.

BENJAMIN MEWHINNEY, retired, resides on Section 1, Riley township. He was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1809, and is a son of John and Margerett (Barnes) Mewhinney, the former a native of Tyrone, Ireland, latter of Scotland. They were married in Ireland, came to America in 1791, and were the parents of thirteen children, of whom Benjamin, who is next to the youngest child, is the only one living. John Mewhinney died in 1835, Mar- gerett Mewhinney in 1824. The son was reared on a farm and to the occupation of a farmer, also learned the cooper's trade early in life, and for a period of twenty-five years he followed same in the winter months, farming during the summer time. He had received a common-school education in the subscription schools of his time, Gov. Whitcomb being his first teacher. Mr. Mewhinney was mar- ried in Franklin county, Ind., in 1830, to Emily Wyeth, who was born in that county December 20, 1815, and died in 1876. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are living, viz .: Johnson, in Kentucky; Mary A., wife of Thomas M. Callins, of Vigo county; Clarissa, wife of George W. Light, and Howard, who was born April 15, 1846. and was married in this county, in 1869, to Martha Lyon, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, born in 1849 (they are the parents of four children: Etta M., Nellie, Elsie and Myrtle; Howard lives on the home farm of seventy acres, and will inherit it at his father's death). Benjamin Mewhinney is one of the pioneers of Vigo county, having settled on the same land when it was in a state of nature, and which he purchased from the Gov- ernment. He has done his share in bringing about the wonderful change in this country. He served three years as township trustee, and also as county commissioner, three years. Mr. Mewhinney is highly respected in the neighborhood of where he resides. Mrs.

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Mewhinney died in 1876, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. Politically Mr. Mewhinney is a Democrat.

JAMES MICKELBERY, farmer and stock-grower, Sugar Creek township, P. O. St. Mary's, was born May 6, 1815, in Har- rison county (then in the Territory of Indiana). He is a son of George and Barbra ( White) Mickelbery, former of whom was born and reared in Tennessee. They were of Irish, Welsh and German descent. The father came to this, then, Territory of Indiana in 1812, and settled in Harrison county, where he was married in 1828. On coming to this county he entered land in Fayette township, and improved his farm. He was twice married, and our subject is the eldest child by the first wife, and the only one of her children now living. He was reared in Sugar Creek township, this county, be- fore people had the advantages of schools as we have them now, and therefore his education was limited. In 1835 he purchased of the Government the land comprising his farm. He cut the first stick of wood that ever was cut by white man on the farm, and on the place built the log house where he now resides, and where he has lived over fifty years. The writer of this sketch had the pleasure of eating dinner in this house, which was cooked by James Mick- elbery in true old pioneer style. Mr. Mickelbery is a Republican in politics ; has never held any office, and has lived a quiet unassum- ing life. At one time he owned 600 acres of land, but was unfort- unately drawn into a lawsuit, and lost heavily, but he is still the owner of a farm of 200 acres, situated near St. Mary's, in this county, Mr. Mickelbery was married November 5, 1840, to Miss Martha Sanders, who was born in Edgar county, Ill., in 1819, and died January 20, 1888. Her father, Anthony Sanders, was a lieu- tenant in the War of 1812; her mother, whose maiden name was Esther White, lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years. Her parents were of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Mickelbery's union was blessed with twelve children, seven of whom grew to maturity, five now living; all of them received a fair start in life from their father. Their names are as follows: Elizabeth, Robert, Eliza ( de- ceased), Mary, Franke Eugene, James H. and Phebe Alice; all are married and are prospering.

GEORGE W. MILLER, day mailing clerk at Terre Haute post-office, was born January 1, 1841, at West Milton, Miami Co., Ohio, where his parents resided many years. His father, William D. Miller, was a native of Pennsylvania, of English and German descent, and his mother, Ethalinda ( Flack) Miller, was a native of Ohio, of German origin. Their union was blessed with three chil- dren, George W. being the eldest, and the only son. His father was a cabinet-maker, and carried on that business in Ohio, where

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he died May 3, 1849. At the age of fourteen, after a limited time spent in the district school, our subject started out in the world to " make his fortune," and was first employed by the month at com- mon labor with meager wages. When he reached his eighteenth year he concluded to learn the shoemaker's trade, working at same for eighteen months. The confinement of the shop not agreeing with him, he went to work on a farm in Ohio, as a farm hand, until he came to Parke county, Ind., in February, 1861. In September, same year, he came to Terre Haute, where he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being subsequently pro- moted to a non-commission office. Serving nearly three years, he re-enlisted in the same regiment and, going to Texas, was mustered out with the regiment January 10, 1866. He was in all the battles and skirmishes that the regiment participated in, with the exception of two, until he was shot in the left hand, whereby he lost one finger, at the battle of Resaca, Ga., in 1864. He was then placed on detached service. The officers wished him to accept a discharge, but as he was disabled for life he concluded to stay until his wound was healed. Mr. Miller has a certificate from William H. Sinclair, assistant adjutant-general, Fourth Army Corps, dated at San Antonio, Tex., December, 1865, of his integrity, ability, etc., and of his refusing an honorable discharge from the service. At the close of the war Mr. Miller rented lands and carried on farming for four years. In 1871 he engaged in hardware business at Wave- land, Ind .; in 1872, he lost nearly all he had by fire; in 1879 he accepted a position in the post-office at Terre Haute as general de- livery clerk; in 1880 he was promoted to carrier, and in 1881 to superintendent of carriers. During the change in administration he was out, but when Gen. Harrison was elected he was offered and accepted his present position. He has met with many reverses and discouragements in a financial way, but by industry and economy has succeeded better than the average man in his position. He is the owner of the handsome residence where he now resides, No. 1631 North Ninth street.

Mr. Miller has been twice married, the first time to Miss Eliza- beth A. McCampbell, who was of Scotch descent and a native of Parke county, Ind. She died in 1876, leaving three children: William H., assistant stone inspector for the Lake Erie & Wabash Railroad; Lewemma, clerk in a store at Indianapolis, and Frank A., who is on a railroad in Kentucky. In 1877 Mr. Miller married Miss Mary J., daughter of Adam Keifner, of Terre Haute, and of German descent. They have one child, Elizabeth C. Mrs. Miller is a member of the German Lutheran Church, Mr. Miller is a Presbyterian in religion and a Republican in politics. He is past

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worthy chancellor of the K. of P., and a Master Mason in the Masonic fraternity. He is a member of Morton Post No. 1, G. A. R., and has held many offices connected therewith. He has written a history of the Thirty-first Regiment, and has been a frequent contributor to the newspapers on subjects pertaining to the inter- ests of the G. A. R. He served as senior vice commander of the Department of Indiana, and as department inspector under four inspectors; also served three terms as adjuster of Morton Post, and one term as commander. He is now a member of the Council of Administration of the G. A. R., of Indiana. Mr. Miller organized the S. of V. at Terre Haute, and was elected an honorary life member of the Indiana Division; also took an active interest in organizing the Woman's Relief Corps here, and formed their charter for them in 1885.

SIMEON MILLER (deceased) was a native of Burlington county, N. J., and was born February 10, 1827, a son of Gilbert and Rebecca (Scull) Miller, both of whom died in New Jersey. Gilbert Miller was a farmer, and instilled in the son the principles of industry and economy, which in after life enabled him, with the assistance of his most excellent wife, to achieve success in almost all that he undertook. He received the rudiments of an education in the schools of New Jersey, and after his marriage came to Vigo county, where he soon after became the possessor of land. After- ward he sold, and removed to where his family reside, and at the time of his death he was the owner of one of the best located farms in Vigo county. Mr. Miller was married in 1850, to Miss Sarah C., a daughter of Brazier Cordery, and born in Burlington county, N. J., February 27, 1831. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born ten children, six of whom are living: Lewis, Stelman L., Lidie E. (at home), Samuel P., Daniel W. and Charles B .; those dead are as follows: Anna May, born January 23, 1851, died March 23, 1885, and was the wife of George Long, of Pierson township, Vigo county ; Alonzo B., born October 30, 1856, died November 4, 1870; Josephine, born January 15, 1869, died August 7, 1878; Martha J., born April 6, 1863, died September 27, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was steward for many years. Politically he affiliated with the Democratic party. He died July 1, 1880, a leading farmer of the county, of excellent judgment and good common sense, and highly respected by all who knew him. Not only the family but the entire community mourn his death.

WILLIAM W. MILLER, farmer and stock-grower, Lost Creek township, P. O. Seelyville, was born in Warren county, Ohio, November 13, 1835, and is a son of Joseph B. and Hannah ( Collins)

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Miller. The father was born in Ohio of Irish descent, September 6, 1807, and died in 1872; the mother was born in Pennsylvania, of German descent, July 5, 1809, and is still living. John Collins, grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Joseph B. Miller came to Vigo county in 1836, and settled on a farm where he spent the remaining portion of his life, and where his widow is still living, at the advanced age of eighty years. They reared two children, of whom William W., who is the eldest, was reared on the farm in Lost Creek township and attended the district school. Early in life he learned the cooper's trade, and followed same until 1855, when he bought a farm of sixty acres, and has since carried on farming. He enlisted in 1861, in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, Company A, and was in the battles of Corinth, Pittsburg Landing and others; was also in the Grayson raid. He served his full term of enlistment, and returning home in 1864 rented a farm, where he has since followed agricultural pursuits. He is a Democrat in pol- itics, and was an active member of the P. of H. . He was married in Clay county, Ind., to Miss Mary E., daughter of Daniel and Emily (Carter) Harris, who were of English and German descent. This union has been blessed with three children: Louisa, James C. and Ira H. The venerable mother resides with Mr. and Mrs. Miller.

DELOSS W. MINSHALL, Terre Haute. Of the many men who have prominently identified their names with the institutions of the city of Terre Haute, there are none who will be longer remembered than this gentleman. Coming here forty-two years ago, in 1848, a young man on the very threshold of active life, he was pleased with the place and the people, and, to the good fortune of the struggling little town, he made this his home for life. Mr. Minshall's place of birth is Franklin county, Penn., where he was born in Novem- ber, 1828, a son of Robert and Lucy (Nimocks) Minshall, natives of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, respectively, and of pure En- glish descent. The father was a minister in the Methodist Church, a strong, quiet man, much respected by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He departed this life in the year 1828, the same year his son was born. Young Minshall spent his childhood and youth in his native place. His boyhood surroundings were plain and simple, neither more nor less than the average of farmers' boys, when they commence quite early to aid and assist in the work in the summer, and in the winter to give a sparse attendance at the dis- trict school. While this station in life sometimes seems a little hard to the farmer lad, yet it is a fact that where there is latent merit thus circumstanced, the condition has never yet either blighted or destroyed his future career. As soon as she was old

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 89

Author: Bradsby, Henry C Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co. Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032