USA > Indiana > Daviess County > Living leaders, an encyclopedia of biography : special edition for Daviess and Martin counties, Indiana > Part 24
USA > Indiana > Martin County > Living leaders, an encyclopedia of biography : special edition for Daviess and Martin counties, Indiana > Part 24
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ANDREW J. CUNNINGHAM, of Barr Township, Daviess County, was born in this county April 30, 1853, and is a son of Michael and Julia A. (Shircliff) Cunning- bam. His father was born in Ireland, and in early lite emigrated to the United States. He was a sailor, and after coming to this country followed steamboating on the Mis- sissippi River for a number of years. He then came to Daviess County, married and settled down in life on a farm in Barr Township, where he had previously entered land. In 1879, he purchased near 100-
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gootce, Ind., a farm upon which he removed and resided until his death, which occurred June 20, 1887. His widow survives him and resides on the above farm. These par- ents had eleven children, viz : Mary, John, deceased, Elvira, deceased, Patrick J., Ber- nard, deceased, Andrew J., Eliza A., Louis F., Michael P., John R. and Francis J.
Andrew J. Cunningham was reared to farming, a pursuit he has always followed. He was married in Daviess County May 5, 1874, to Mary A., daughter of William B. and Minerva J. (Beal) Padgett. Mrs. Cunningham was born in Daviess County, Ind., February 16, 1858. She has borne her husband the following children : Flor- ence A. born July 12, 1875, married Wil- liam Madden January 23, 1894, and died November 9, 1895; Charles B. born Octo- ber 15, 1877, Martha E. born June 10, 1879, Leo W. born March 25, 1881, Anna E. born October 25, 1885, Andrew, born January 31, 1888, William A. born Decem- ber 9, 1889, Mary A. born August 2, 1891, Alice B. born May 27, 1893.
Mr. Cunningham is a successful and prac- tical farmer, and is the possessor of one hundred and sixty acres fine land.
REV. JOSEPH P. MATTHEWS, pastor of St. Michael's Church at Trainor, Daviess County, Ind., is a native of this county, born October 30, 1859. His father, Mich- ael Matthews, was a native of County Langford, Ireland. He emigrated to the United States and first settled in Baltimore, Md., where he married Ellen Owen and subsequently located in Madison, Ind., whence he came to Daviess County in 1867 and settled on land in Barr Township. He died here May 20, 1874. His wife died April 3, 1896. They had nine children, Owen, Margaret, deceased, James, Mary E., deceased, Edward, Ann, Michael P., John and Joseph P.
Rev. Matthews received a good common school education and at the age of fourteen began studying for the ministry. In 1873 he entered St. Meinrad's College in Spencer County, Ind., where he spent three years and then attended St. Joseph's, Bardstown, Ky., completing a course there in 1881. In 1884 he completed the course of studies in the Ecclesiastical Seminary at Louisville, and on the tenth day of June the same year he was ordained priest by Rt. Rev. McCloskey, Ordinary of the Diocese of
Louisville. Rev. Matthews was then sent to Indianapolis where he remained two years, serving as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Church. For two years there- after he was assistant pastor of the Holy Trinity Church at New Albany, Ind. He then came to Daviess County and organized the church over which he now presides, and erected a beautiful church building. He also has a mission in Martin County.
Father Matthews, although a young man, has done much good and effectual work for his church. St. Michael's Church with its membership of sixty-five families is one of the fruits of his labors.
W. L. STOY of Odon, Daviess County, owner and proprietor of the famous "Stoy's Inn," one of the finest little hotels in South- ern Indiana, the leading druggist of Odon and altogether one of the central figures of that small city, was born in Tuscarawas County, O. The next year his father em- igrated westward and settled on a farm near Odon and died there in 1873. He was a gentleman in moderate circumstances, and his wife, who survives him and is now past seventy, there were born the following children: A. F. Stoy, one of the leading and wealthy farmers of Daviess County, an old soldier and altogether a self-made man. Catherine and W. L. Stoy, the subject of this review.
John Stoy, our subject's father was de- scended from French stock, was born in the same county as his children, and was a son of Ohio pioneers. His wife's parents were Pennsylvanians.
W. L. Stoy did not pass beyond the com- mon schools in his effort to secure an edu- cation, and in beginning business he entered the drug store of D. J. Smith of Odon as a clerk and at the same time-took up the study of pharmacy, as was necessary to be- come an efficient and reliable druggist. He took a course in pharmacy at Valpa- raiso, Ind., and in the year 1882, engaged in the drug business alone. His first be- ginning was in rather a small way. He had the more essential thing than money ; he had energy and push and system and all these things he applied to his business, and of course he succeeded. Out of this small beginning in scarce more than a dozen years has come his business property, the Odon livery barn, Stoy's Inn and other property about town. The Inn is a two-
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story brick, with twenty-one rooms, water works, sewage and furnace heat, and is the one building in the town that the people of Odon are especially proud of. Mr. Stoy is also proprietor of the Opera House at Odon.
In point of public spirit and progress, W. L. Stoy is in advance of the procession. He was a potent factor in the movement to incorporate the town of Odon and was on the first Board of Trustees. He never dis- courages an enterprise that possesses any merit, but puts his hand in his pocket, if necessary, and gives it financial as well as moral support. He is a gentleman of superior judgment and fine business sense. He hás a system to follow in all his busi- ness and knows at the end of each day whether he has made or lost money.
In politics the Stoys are Republicans. Are ardent in behalf of their party and its candidates, and although polities as a busi- ness is entirely foreign to them, they are fair manipulators when a point must be carried and are not infrequently found on the winning side.
ELIJAH S. PERSHING, the recently retired Assessor of Daviess County, and a resident of Elmora, was born in Tus- carawas County, O., February 2, 1827. He was brought into Daviess County, Ind., at the age of 15 years. His father, Solomon Pershing, now a resident of Elnora, settled on a farm and amid the purest and most healthful surroundings, he reared his fami- ly to become strong and useful men and women.
The Pershings are believed to be of Swedish and German descent. Christian
Pershing was our subject's grandfather, and his wife was Mary Buzzard. Their son, Solomon, was born seventy-three years ago. He married Magdalene Pesler, whose father, David Pesler, was a minister of the gospel and the father of a Westmoreland County, Penn., farmer. The children of this union were ; E. S., Rachel, Susan, Mary, Wm. A., Jacob W., David M., Harvey, Elmer and Malinda.
Elijah S. Pershing obtained the ednca- tion of his boyhood in the schools of Canal Dover, New Philadelphia and at Regles- ville, O., completing his career as a student in an academy in Washington. He began life as a teacher in this, Daviess County, and followed the profession successfully for eighteen years continuously. He gave it up in 1892 when he was elected to the of- fice of County Assessor. He entered upon the duties of this office immediately after his election. Justly, honestly and with great efficiency, he administered the affairs of this offiee for four years and retired from it with the appreciation and the gratitude of a well-served public.
Mr. Pershing was married in Daviess County, November 9, 1868, to Sarah, daughter of George Winklepleck. She died June 6, 1891, leaving the following children : Isabel, wife of Levi Neiswander, of Brown County, Kan .; Eva J., wife of C. Edmonson, of Daviess County ; J. E., Charles A., George R., John D. and Su- san E.
June 4, 1893, Mr. Pershing married again, wedding Ida M. Litherland.
He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Red Men fraternal orders.
MARTIN COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
S. P. YENNE, ex-sheriff of Martin Coun- ty, and one of the leading spirits of Shoals, is all but a native of the county in which he now lives. He was brought here by his father the year of his birth and is noth- ing if not a Hoosier. He was born in Carroll County, O., January 25, 1853. His father was the late George Yenne, who set- tled in the woods one-and-a-half miles south of Shoals and began the slow process of
hewing out a home for his family. He was interrupted in this by what he felt a nec- essity, from motives of patriotism, by his enlistment in the army in 1862. Joining Company A, 17th Ind. Vol. Inf. as a private. He was soon promoted to be foreman of repairs of his train and it was while sery- ing in this capacity that he died at Mur- freesboro, Tenn., April 14, 1863. Hc married Sarah, a daughter of William Al-
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baugh, of Carroll County, O., and to her, who still survives, has fallen the responsibi- lity of rearing and training her large fam- ily to become honorable and useful citizens. She is now past seventy-five and is partieu- larly spry for one who has endured the hardships and trials of a soldier's widow. Her children are Sabina, the wife of L. C. Fish of this county ; J. W., a stockman and farmer of Perkins County, Neb .; Mary C., wife of James Williams of this county ; S. P .; J. A., a merchant of Perkins Coun- ty, Neb .; E. P., who died in February, 1892; Dr. Oharles H., of Washington, Ind., and Jennie, wife of Thomas Acre of this connty.
The Yennes are descended from the sturdy Germans and are the grand children of John George Yenne, a German who settled first in Pennsylvania, moved to Ohio, and finally came to Martin County, and here died in 1864 at the age of eighty- four.
" Pete" Yenne, as he is most familiarly addressed, remained with his mother on the farm till the age of thirteen when he secured employment as bailer in a shingle mill. In two years he became a cutter and remained in the business till the year 1877. He was as proficient in this as he has dem- onstrated himself to be in all his under- takings, having made a record of 40,000 shingles a day, and when he retired from it it was to take up a new line. He en- tered the store of Capt. E. M. White and clerked for him and his successor till 1880 when he formed a partnership with Corne- lius Hill for the same business, and were together one-and-a-half years when Mr. Peek succeeded Mr. Hill, and the firm of Yenne & Peek was succeeded in turn in another year and a half by the retirement of Mr. Peek and the accession of J. A. Yenne. The next year the brothers sold the business to Tavener & Davis, but some time later the stoek was resold to S. P. Yenne and he resumed charge of it. He owned it till 1889 when he sold out and engaged in the livery business and is now the veteran and the only liveryman, except his partner, in Shoals.
For some time prior to last spring Shoals was without first class hotel accommoda- tions, with the result that every commer- cial man made it convenient, when at all possible, to do business here and pay his
hotel bills in some other town. This con- dition was greatly to be regretted and was only to be averted by some energetic action on the part of some progressive citizen of this town. Mr. Yenne saw the opportun- ity, believed he understood the needs of the " Knights of the grip," purchased the Commercial House property, refitted and refurnished it and is realizing his hopes from his investment and at the same time con- ducting what the town most needs, a popu- lar hotel.
" Pete" Yenne is notorious for his in- tense Republicanism. It seems natural for him to be engaged in some political contest. He has done it all his life in behalf of his party, and with the continuance of existing conditions it is safe to say he always will. He has all the qualifications for the success- ful but legitimate manipulator. His wide acquaintance, his cordial manner and his sincerity of purpose render him one of the most formidable competitors for votes in this county.
He was the nominee of his party for Sheriff in 1884 against Democratic odds of 340 and was defeated by only twenty-one votes. Two years later he was nominated by acclamation for the same office, and in spite of the declaration of his opponent that " he would beat him if it cost him $3,000." Mr. Yenne was elected by over 200 votes. He was a candidate to succeed himself in 1888, but was defeated by twenty-six votes.
Mr. Yenne made a popular and ex- emplary officer. He executed all mandates of the court with absolute fidelity and was a careful and conservative official. During his term of service one of the most im- portant murder cases of this county was tried. In 1863, Jack Ballard, a union soldier, from this county returned home to take back to the army Allen Anderson, a friend of his who had deserted and was known to be in the neighborhood. He had decided not to go back to the army without resistance and advised with some of his copperhead friends as to the best means of disposing of their neighbor when he should undertake to execute the orders of his gov- ernment. It was decided that he should be killed and parties were stationed on the different roads leading to the house of the deserter. One morning before breakfast Jack Ballard told his wife that he would
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run over and tell his prospective prisoner to get ready to go back with him at such a date and would be right back. But he never came and when she next saw him he was dead in the road literally shot to pieces. Thirty years afterward family trouble arose between some of those implicated in the murder and one of them, Albert Quaken- bush, turned states evidence. This result- ed in the arrest of J. G. Jones, William Stanfield, James Archer, Dr. Stone, who was then in Illinois, and Quakenbush. The court armed Mr. Yenne with bench war- rants and he landed them all in jail. The evidence showed in the trial of these men that they were present when Jack Ballard was killed and that they were parties to the murder, yet, by some means they secured an acquittal and the murder of Jack Bal- lard remains unavenged.
Mr. Yenne was Chairman of the Re- publican County Central Committee for eight years from 1888 and during that time the party gained the entire Board of Commissioners, the County Auditor, Coun- ty Recorder and the Circuit Court Clerk.
In 1890 he was elected Trustee of Hol- bert Township and served efficiently till Angust 14, 1895.
Mr. Yenne was married September 28, 1876 to Melissa, a daughter of Thomas Peek, a prominent stockman and a descen- dent of a pioneer family of this county. His father was once a member of the In- diana Legislature, and made the trip on horseback to the State Capitols at Corydon, Vincennes and Indianapolis.
Mr. and Mrs. Yenne's only child is a danghter, Mabel, a junior at DePanw Uni- versity. She is an intelligent and accom- plished young lady, with a bright and promising future.
Mr. Yenne is a Chapter Mason and is Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias order, and a member of the I. O. O. F.
SAMUEL A. CHENOWETH, ex-County Auditor of Martin County, a prominent citizen of Shoals, and an estimable gentle- man. is a son of Wilson Chenoweth, a central figure in the commercial and indust- rial history of Shoals in ante bellum, bellum and post bellum days. The latter was born in Washington County Ind., in 1827. In 1857 he cast his lot with Martin County people. He was engaged in milling, mer- chandising and farming near Shoals, be- 5
coming a merchant in 1867. He was suc- cessful in business, and when he died he left a modest estate to be divided among his children. He was a strong Uuion man during the war and gave aid and comfort to the friends and defenders of the flag at every opportunity. He was a son of Joseph Chenoweth of Kentucky stock, who died in Washington County, Ind., about 1882, aged 85 years. Wilson Chenoweth mar- ried Mary, a daughter of James McIntosh, of Scotch extraction. Mrs. Chenoweth has been a widow thirteen years, and is enjoy- ing her last years in the society of her chil- dren, viz : John A., Daniel A., Samuel A. and Laura, (wife of Charles A. Gorsuch).
Samuel A. Chenoweth was born in Wash- ington County, Ind., March 13, 1856. His boyhood was spent in Shoals, and his cdu- cation finished in the State University of Indiana, having reached the junior year in that institution, when he was forced to cease his studies for lack of funds. He en- gaged in farming, at which he succeeded, and in the course of time drifted into buy- ing and shipping horses and mnles. To this latter business he is especially adapted. He is a natural trader, being the possessor of the most unique and at the same time honest methods for driving a good bargain. His judgment regarding the value of a horse is as good as the best. His earnings in this business have been such as to enable him to own two of the best bottom farms in Martin County.
Mr. Chenoweth became interested in politics in 1884, when he was named by the Republican party for the office of Town- ship Trustee. His election to this office in a Democratic township by a majority of 91 votes was a compliment to his popularity and integrity as a citizen. His first term was filled with such efficiency as to secure a re-election in 1886. He was nominated in 1888 for County Auditor, and was de- feated, but in 1892 he was again made the Republican candidate for this office, and was this time elected by a plurality of 139 votes. He succeeded Philip MeGovern, and made one of the most efficient officers the county ever had. His service merited the gratitude of all, and he retired to pri- vate life with the confidence of his party and his people. In 1884 and 1888 Mr. Chenoweth was chairman of the Republi- can C'entral Committee of this county.
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September 4, 1889, Mr. Chenoweth mar- ried Susan B., a daughter of Dr. J. C. L. Campbell, of Loogootee, Ind. The chil- dren of this union are : Ida A., Laura A., Wilson and Enslie C.
Mr. Chenoweth has passed the chairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Shoals, and is a Master Mason.
In matters of public affair Mr. Cheno- weth associates himself with the side of progress and liberality yet not to the point of extravagance, and no meritorious cause appeals to him and leaves his presence without a courteous hearing. He is eco- nomical in the administration of his private affairs, but by no means to the extent of parsimony. Socially, he is genial and af- fable, and possesses a warm and sympa- thetic nature for those in affliction.
SAMUEL O. GRAY, County Recorder of Martin County, and the only Republican who has filled that office for years, was born in Dubois County, Ind., March 14, 1863. His boyhood opportunities were those of the country youth of his time in Ruther- ford Township, and his schooling can well be said to have been obtained by two terms at Marengo, Ind., and an attendance at the Martin County Normal of four terms. When he set ont for himself it was as a farm hand, at which he was content to re- main for nine years. He obtained an in- terest in a thresher about this time, and while operating it in 1891 he met with the accident that deprived him of his left hand. Upon his recovery from this he engaged in teaching in the schools of this county , and continued it with success up to near the time of his taking his office. He was elected in the fall of 1894 by a plurality of 73 votes.
Mr. Gray is a son of Wm. L. Gray, M. D., born in Muskingum County, O., seventy-four years ago. He was a gradu- ate of the Cincinnati Medical College, and his professional life was passed in Indiana. He came to Dubois County in 1858, and to Martin County ten years later. He mar- ried Julia A. Davidson and died in 1892. The children of this union were: Polly L., Chauncey A., Samuel O., Joseph O., Thos. A., Wm. L. and Florence J.
February 25, 1896, our subject was mar- ried in Martin County to Nancy E., dangh- ter of John A. Chattin, an ex-soldier, a farmer and a descendant of pioneer Hoosiers.
Mr. Gray is a Methodist and is a self- made man, having accomplished success by his individual efforts.
DAVID GAREY, of West Shoals, is the veteran officer of Martin County. He is now the Deputy Circuit Court Clerk, and has reigned within the walls of Martin Coun- ty's public building longer than any other man. His long service with the different offices has so equipped him with knowl- edge of County affairs that he can, with propriety, be referred to as the "walking court-house."
Mr. Garey was born in Guernsey County, O., May 5, 1844. His father, Wm. Garey, was a farmer and a native of Pennsylvania. There is no doubt of the origin of this num- erons family. Their ancestors were Irish, and tradition has it that the real pioneers to America separated upon the castern shore into three groops; one going to Vermont, one to Pennsylvania and the other to South Carolina. Our subject is of the Keystone branch, and is removed several generations from the pioneers of the family in this County.
David Garey spent his youth upon his father's farm, acquired a fair education in the district schools and at the age of 17, came to this county and sojourned for some months. He returned to Ohio and spent the winter of 1861 in school and in the spring enlisted in Company F, 85th Ohio Vol. Int., three months service. Upon the expiration of the term of service he re-enter- ed the service with Company K, 122nd Ohio Vol. Inf., and participated in all the engage- ments of the army of the Potomac. He vet- eranized at Columbus, O., and when he was discharged at the close of the war he was as First Sergeant, having served a little more than three years. In the spring of 1866 he returned to Martin County, and en- gaged in carpentering, for the succeeding two years, during the summer seasons, and during the winter seasons taught school. In 1868 he went into the County Record- er's office as deputy, and two years later re- ceived an election to this office. Upon the expiration of his four years term he went into the office of the Circuit Court Clerk to which he had been elected and to this office he was again elected in 1878, for a second term of four years. In 1884 Mr. Garey was elected County Surveyor and when his term expired he was invited to the deputy-
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ship in the Clerk's office and served there till 1890, when the Democrats crowned all his honors with another election to the Clerk'soffice. He stepped from this posi- tion to deputy when Mr. Gates succeeded to the office. He is also postmaster of West Shoals.
Mr. Garey's mother was Mary Kinkaid. Her children are : David and Mrc. Eph. M. Moser. The former was married in this county in 1871, to Mattie Mitchell. She died in August, 1889, leaving : Willard S., Herbert A. and Kate B. His second mar- riage occurred December 7, 1892, when he wedded Kate, a daughter of William Som- merville, and who was a Mrs. Ritter at the time of this marriage.
Mr. Garey is a Royal Arch Mason ; a member of the Knights of Pythias fraterni- ty and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
WM. A. STEWARD, County Commissio- ner of Martin County and a substantial and representative farmer has been a citizen of this county since the year 1886, when he located on the farm he now owns a short distance south of Shoals.
Upon casting his fortunes with the peo- ple of Martin County, Mr. Steward entered into the spirit of progress which has pos- sessed a large per cent of the population of Martin County since war days, and has manifested that interest in all matters of public concern which marked him early as a gentleman of public spirit and push.
He became a counselor in the manage- ment of Democratie politics soon after con- ing to the County and his advice has been as safe and honest as his own labors have been active and efficient. He has never sought office, and when his party named him as its candidate for the office he now fills it was against his protest. He was elected in November, 1894, by the small majority of 4 votes. It was a year of Democratic disaster the nation over and the wonder is that he had any majority at all when the votes were counted. His clean record as a private citizen and his known integrity aided in stemming the tide against Democracy and saved to the County an officer in whom there is no guile.
Mr. Steward was born in Meigs County, Ohio, October 10., 1853. His father was a farmer and consequently he was reared in the country, with only the advantages of a common school education. He married at
the age of 21, and located near the old homestead and remained in his native county till the year, he came to Martin County, Ind.
Mr. Steward is a son of Wm. Steward, born in Harrison County, Ohio. He spent his early life in that county, but his last years were passed in Meigs County, O., where he died in 1865. He married Mary, a daughter of Abe Moore, and their children are Charles, James, Christopher (died in Libby prison), Martha, John, Josiah, Wm. 1., Mary E., Miles, George and Dayton.
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