USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Richmond > Memoirs of Wayne County and the city of Richmond, Indiana; from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Wayne County, Volume II Pt II > Part 10
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their deaths. He passed away Nov. 14, 1892, at the age of sixty- eight years, and her death occurred Nov. 30, 1909. They became the parents of five children, of whom the second in point of birth is Mrs. Emma F. Hahn, widow of the subject of this memoir. Carrie V., the eldest, is the wife of Reverend Murray ; Jeffie Ver- milyea resides in New York City, and Maude and Judge are de- ceased.
Addison St. Myer, for many years a carpenter and also a pros- perous agriculturist in Green township, was born in that town- ship, three miles northwest of Williamsburg. Ile was born March II, 1858, son of Samuel and Charlotte (Study) St. Myer, and is one of two children born to these parents. His paternal great-grand- father, George St. Myer, was born in Virginia and emigrated to Warren county, Ohio, with his family. His son, John St. Myer, was born in Virginia, Jan. 14, 1799, and came to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1826, settling on the farm where he lived out the resi- due of his life, and where his son Samuel was born Sept. 25; 1838. His wife was Nellie Swords, a native of Tennessee. Samuel St. Myer, father of Addison, lived on the old homestead forty years, until 1878, when he removed to Williamsburg and engaged in the grocery business until 1890, when he moved to Seattle, Wash., and engaged in the wholesale commission business. Ilis first marriage was to Charlotte Study, born Oct. 28, 1839, on a farm two and one- half miles northwest of Williamsburg. They were married in Sep- tember, 1856, and the wife died May 22, 1879, the mother of two children : Addison, and Charles, who was born Oct. 18. 1859, and resides in Seattle, Wash. The second marriage of Samuel St. Myer was on Nov. 17, 1880, to Wildy Cranor, and of this union there is a daughter, Nellie, born Dec. 10, 1891. The maternal grandfather of Addison St. Myer was Joseph Study, born in Maryland and came to Indiana in 1828, entering the land where Mrs. St. Myer was born, and there he spent the residue of his life, dying in 1881. Ile was twice married. His first wife was Hannah Way and of that union were born eight children, of whom two died young and the others were John, Elizabeth, Sarah Ann, Matilda, Charlotte, and Washington, who lived to maturity. The second marriage of Jo- seph Study was to Elizabeth Hutchins and of this union there was a daughter, Mary. Joseph Study died Aug. 1, 1904, and his widow resides at the old homestead, which has been her home for the past fifty years. Addison St. Myer acquired his educational training in the district schools of Green township, also attending three terms at the Williamsburg school, and worked upon his parents' and neighboring farms until sixteen years of age. He then com- menced to work at the carpenter trade at Economy. In 1878 he went to Kansas, where he worked on a cattle ranch until 1880, and then returned to Williamsburg. He followed the carpenter trade until 1889, when he was appointed postmaster at Williams- burg by President Harrison, serving in that position until 1893. He then was engaged in the grocery and hotel business until 1895, when he returned to carpenter work and followed that occupation until 1900, when he purchased a farm and followed agricultural
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pursuits two years. In 1900 he was elected trustee of Green town- ship and served in that position until Dec. 31, 1904. On Dec. 15, 1905, he was again appointed postmaster at Williamsburg and is still the incumbent of that position. In politics he is active in Re- publican circles, and concerning religions matters entertains very liberal views and is not affiliated with any particular denomination. On Sept. 4, 1877, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane York, daughter of Thomas G. and Mary ( Marine) York, of Randolph county, and of this union there are two children: Victor, born Oct. 19, 1881, married Mande White, resides in Williamsburg, and they have three children-Lee, Ralph, and Dale; and Carl, born Dec. 19, 1886, resides in Williamsburg. The wife died on Dec. 28, 1892, and on Ang. 14, 1803, Mr. St. Myer married Miss Mattie Study, daughter of Jesse and Jane Study, of Wayne county.
William A. Lewis is one of those energetic and progressive in- dividuals who have attained success in agricultural pursuits and is numbered among the prosperous and popular citizens of Green township. Hle is a native of that township, born on the old Lewis homestead, Oct. 16, 1851, a son of Allen W. and Lucy T. (Hollings- worth) Lewis. The Lewis family is of Welsh-English extraction and, as the old traditions have it, was founded in the U'nited States during the Colonial days by several brothers, one of whom settled in North Carolina, and from him the subject of this narrative de- scended. Allen W. Lewis was the youngest of twelve children born to John and Sarah (Roukman) Lewis. One of the elder sons, Richard, who was married and had several children, accompanied the parents when they came to Green township, in 1811, having spent the winter in Cincinnati, Ohio, then a village. The two fami- lies located near each other. An unbroken forest covered this sec- tion and Indians and wild beasts were numerons. During the fear- fnl wars waged between the red men and the white settlers about the time of the war of 1812, when Tecumseh and his brother, called the Prophet, tried in vain to turn the tide of the Anglo-Saxon civili- zation which threatened their rights, the Lewis family seemed pe- culiarly exempt from molestation. They had always treated the Indians kindly and received similar treatment in return. Indeed, some of the red men who lived in the neighborhood of John Lewis went to him and requested him to wear a broad-rimmed hat, which, they said, would insure him protection from their race, and it is needless to say that he lost no time in agreeing to do as they ad- vised. The land upon which he located, and where he ultimately developed an excellent farm, is still in possession of his descendants, as is the original deed thereto, as issued by the government and signed by President James Madison, under date of May 27, 1816. The land is thus described: "The northeast quarter of section 7, township 17, range 14 east of the second principal meridian." An- other government deed to land owned by John Lewis is thus de- scribed: "The southwest quarter of section 8, township 17, range 14 east of the second principal meridian." This deed is dated Feb. 21, 1817, and bears the signature of Madison, who was still Presi-' dent at that time. After he had accomplished more than the ordi-
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
nary man, twice told, John Lewis was summoned to his reward at the old homestead which had been his abiding place for many long years. His death occurred May 4, 1848, and that of his wife had taken place but a few months before, Sept. 20, 1847. The old home- stead which he had ably assisted in clearing and improving was inherited by Allen W. Lewis, the father of William A. Allen W. Lewis, a native of North Carolina, first beheld the light of day in Randolph county, that State, June 14, 1809, and was but one year old when the family removed to Indiana. He tenderly cared for his parents during their declining years, performing his entire duty toward them, as he always did to every one who, in any wise, looked to him for help or protection. He was domestic in his tastes and had no greater pleasure than to make his home beautiful or improve his property in some manner. Generous and hospitable to a fault, lie loved to entertain friends and neighbors, and the poor and needy found him kind and sympathetic. In all of his business dealings his course in life was remarkably upright and just and no one had reason to complain of him in this respect. Blessed with a liberal vein of humor, he looked upon the bright and happy side of things and brought cheer wherever he went. Loved and sincerely mourned by the entire community, he entered the silent land, Feb. 13, 1895. The marriage of Allen W. Lewis and Miss Lucy T. Hol- lingsworth was solemnized May 23, 1839. She was born in Union district, South Carolina, Jan. 31, 1817, daughter of Aquilla and Tamer ( Kenworthy ) Hollingsworth. The father died when she was about eleven years old, and in 1829 she came to Wayne county with her mother. Two sons and six daughters were born to AAllen W. Lewis and his estimable wife: John died in infancy and Frances H. when about five years of age; Nancy married Larkin T. Bond; Naomi is the wife of Benjamin Beverlin ; Rebecca is Mrs. John Mil- ton Ilarris; Sarah is the next in order of birth ; William A. is the subject of this review ; and Luzena Medora is the wife of William II. Jones. William A. Lewis acquired his educational training in the public graded schools and the high school at Williamsburg. After his marriage his father gave him 160 acres of land, located one and one-half miles northeast of Williamsburg, and he resided there from February, 1873, until December, 1907, engaged in gen- eral farming. By hard work and good management he became in- dependent and made the best of improvements on his place. On every side are evidences of thrift and prosperity. Upon leaving the farm he removed to Williamsburg, where he has since resided. In February, 1907, the First National Bank of Williamsburg was or- ganized and Mr. Lewis was chosen president of the institution, a position he is still the incumbent of. From 1891 to 1898 he was associated with Morton E. Edwards in a general store in Williams- burg, and he has served as Ditch Commissioner for Wayne county during the past four years. He is held in high esteem in the com- munity, and while he has never fostered any personal ambition for public office, takes a great interest in public affairs and is a stanch supporter of the "Grand Old Party." He is a member of the Ma- sonic order, having joined Acasia Lodge, No. 242, at Green's Fork,
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in 1873, but the following year transferred his membership to Wil- liamsburg Lodge, No. 493, and in 1910 he became a member of Richmond Lodge, No. 649, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In January, 1873, Mr. Lewis was united in holy matrimony to Miss Ella C. Edwards, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Study) Edwards, the former born in Wales, and the latter a daughter of William and Harriett (Stigall) Study, was born in Green township, Wayne county, Indiana. The father was a millwright by occupa- tion and built the Williamsburg mill, one at Green's Fork, and the. St. Louis mills, between Green's Fork and Williamsburg. Mrs. Lewis was born in Williamsburg, Feb. 7, 1854, and of her union to Mr. Lewis were born two children-Edith, who is the wife of Clarence Pitts, and Paul E., who graduated at Earlham College and is now engaged in the general mercantile business in Williamsburg.
Dor Cuykendall, an industrious and successful miller of Wil- liamsburg, is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Crawford coun- ty, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1847. The paternal grandfather, John Cuyken- dall, was born in New York State and came to Ohio about 1816, entering the land on which his son William was born. Ilis death occurred in 1872, and his wife preceded him, dying in 1871. His father, William Cuykendall, was a native of Ohio and a miller by occupation, and the mother, Alzina (Ross) Cuykendall, was also born in the State of Ohio. The father died Sept. 19. 1910, and the mother on May 5, 1857. The father then married Matilda Miller and they had two children : Henry, who resides in Wichita, Kan., and Jennie ( deceased) became the wife of John Conklin, and they had one child, Charley. Dor Cuykendall acquired his educational training in the schools at Plymouth, Ohio, dividing his early days between the school room and his father's mill, thus learning at a tender age the lessons of arduous labor and self-reliance, at the same time acquiring a practical knowledge of milling. At the age of seventeen he enlisted as a private in Company G of the One Hundred and Ninety-first Ohio infantry for service in the Civil war. This regiment was organized in the State of Ohio at large in January and February, 1865, to serve one year. It left Columbus on the day of its organization under orders to proceed to Winches- ter, Va., and report to Major-General Hancock, then organizing the First corps at that place. At Harper's Ferry the regiment was halted by command of General Hancock and ordered to report to Gen. John R. Brooke, by whom it was assigned to the Second bri- gade, Second division, Army of the Shenandoah. Its only service was garrison duty in the valley, marching as far sonth as Win- chester, where it remained until Ang. 27, 1865, when it was mus- tered out in accordance with orders from the War Department. Mr. Cuykendall then returned to the home of his parents, who were living in Huron county, Ohio, and worked in his father's mill eight or ten years. In May, 1880, he removed to Wayne county, Indiana, and located north of Richmond, where he operated the Crawford mill until it burned, about 1883. lle then moved to Richmond, where he worked in the Bush mill until 1886, when he purchased the mill at Williamsburg, where he has since resided. Thus it will
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be seen that he has continued to follow milling throughout all of his business career and has always met with success in this, his life's vocation. On Nov. 22, 1869, he was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Connell, daughter of George and Mary (Chamberlin) Connell, of Richland county, Ohio, and of this union were born two children-Dessa and Katharina-the last named being the wife of Harry Sheppard, and they have two children-Francis and Richard W. Dessa resides at the parental home. Mr. Cuykendall is a mem- ber of Chinkorror Lodge, No. 120, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and also of Williamsburg Lodge, No. 193, Free and Accepted Masons, and has passed through the chairs of the local organization of the first named fraternity. Politically he is a Republican.
John Davis, a thrifty farmer and a scion of pioneer families of Wayne county, now living retired in Williamsburg, was born on his father's farm, one-half mile north of that village, in Green town- ship, April 2, 1845. Ile is a son of Drewry and Susannah (Hutchens) Davis, born in Wayne county, the father in 1823 and the mother in 1820, and the respective families came from North Carolina. John Davis is one of five children born to his parents. He enjoyed the limited scholastic advantages afforded by the dis- trict schools of his boyhood days and the schools of Green town- ship and Williamsburg, which he attended until March, 1864, and then, seized with a martial enthusiasm, enlisted as a private in the Fifty-seventh Indiana infantry for service in the Civil war. With his regiment he joined the Fourth corps, May 5, and took part in the Atlanta campaign, being engaged at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, Allatoona, New Hope Church, and in the heavy skir- mishes about Kenesaw Mountain. In the assault of June 27 the regiment formed the skirmish line in front of the assaulting column of the Fourth corps; was on the skirmish line at Peachtree Creek ; was then in the trenches before Atlanta until Aug. 25, and was en- gaged at Jonesboro. It accompanied its division to Chattanooga, took part in driving Hood into Alabama, and was with Thomas' army which resisted the enemy's invasion of Tennessee. It was en- gaged at Franklin, where Mr. Davis was wounded, and was in the battle of Nashville, after which it moved to Huntsville, Ala., in pur- suit of Hood, remaining there until spring. It moved into Tennes- see in April, 1865, proceeding from Bull's Gap to Nashville, in July was transferred to Texas, being stationed at Port Lavaca, and was mustered out Dec. 14, 1865. Mr. Davis participated with signal valor in all of the engagements in which the regiment was involved, from the time of enlistment until mustered out with the other mem- bers. After the cessation of hostilities he returned home and at- tended a district school a short time, and then worked on his father's farm until married. After his marriage he remained on the . farm two years, renting the same of his father, and then purchased eighty acres of land of his father, located in the southwest corner of Green township. Moving to that farm, he resided there thirty- one years, successfully conducting a general farming business and devoting himself to no one particular branch of the science. In 1901 he removed to his present home in Williamsburg and has since
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lived practically retired. In his political relations Mr. Davis is unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party, but has never been an aspirant for public office, and he is identified with the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 159, at Williamsburg, and the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 90, at the same place. Ile is a stockholder in the banks at Williamsburg, Green's Fork and Econ- omy. In February, 1868, was solemnized Mr. Davis' marriage to Miss Emma Roberts, daughter of Elias and Susannah Roberts, of Wayne county, and five children were the issue of this union : Cora died in infancy ; Charles married Katharine Bird and they have four children-Everett, Edith, Clyde, and Alice; Ella married Charles Johnson, of Randolph county, and they have two children-Lena and Roy; Nettie married Fred Gunckel, and they have one child, Ora; and Harry C. married Grace Kelley, of Franklin county, and they have a son, Basil. Mrs. Davis died March 22, 1904.
Leander Anderson, for many years a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Wayne county, is a native of this county, born near Bethel, July 29, 1848. Ilis paternal grandparents were Na- than and Elizabeth ( Fortner) Anderson, natives of Kentucky. Ilis father, William Anderson, first beheld the light of day in Kentucky, and the mother, Lucinda (IIarlan) Anderson, was a native of the same State. They immigrated to Wayne county about 1819 and located near Bethel, where the father entered eighty acres of land, which he continued to reside on and cultivate the residue of his active career and up to the time of his demise, in 1888. He and his devoted wife were the parents of eight children-five sons and three daughters-Elihu, Mary, Martha, Samuel, Jacob, John, Anna, and Leander. The subject of this sketch received his educational training in the district school at Bethel, which he attended until eighteen years old. While not engaged with his studies he as- sisted his parents about the farm and thus became familiar with the "ins and outs" of farming at an early age, and for years con- tinued to make this his chief occupation. He continued on the old home place the greater part of the time until 1890, when he removed to Richmond and lived in retirement eight months. He then re- moved to Bethel, where he resided four years, engaged in the buy- ing and selling of live stock, shipping hogs, etc., and then pur- chased a farm on the Arba pike and moved to it in 1894, still con- tinuing the buying and shipping of live stock. In 1900 he removed to Madison, Ohio, where he purchased a half interest in the grain elevators, but after eight months there sold out and returned to Bethel. In 1902 he purchased the elevator at Williamsburg, and in 1903 built the one at Economy, both of which he continues to operate. In 1903 he removed to Economy, but in 1908 established his home in Williamsburg, where he has since continued to reside. Politically Mr. Anderson is affiliated with the Republican party, though he has never sought public office. On May 21, 1870, he was married to Virginia Heironimus, daughter of John C. and Mary J. Heironimus, natives of Virginia, who removed to Darke county, Ohio, where Mrs. Anderson was born. Of this union there were born two children : Mabel, born Dec. 18, 1872, died at the age of
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five months, and Ethel, born Sept. 5, 1874, was married on Sept. 16, 1893, to William E. Ilollingsworth, and she died Nov. 15, 1908, hav- ing become the mother of four children-Lucinda, Shirley, Virginia (deceased), and Marjorie.
Milton H. Woolley, for many years a prominent citizen of Wil- liamsburg, first beheld the light of day in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1851. His father, Reuben H. Woolley, was a native of New Jer- sey, born Feb. 17, 1812. At the age of sixteen he went to New York City, as a maker of grates, and afterward removed to Cin- cinnati, where he engaged in the same business until 1865. In April, 1866, he removed to Green township, this county, where, in part- nership with William Campbell, he conducted a saw mill at Wil- liamsburg until the time of his death, in July, 1899. The mother, Martha J. (Wagoner) Woolley, was also a native of the State of New Jersey, born June 28, 1817. She passed to the Great Beyond, Aug. 7, 1903, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, the mother of ten children. The paternal grandfather was Abram Woolley, while the maternal grandsire was William Wagoner, both natives of New Jersey, where the former lived out his allotted days, and the latter died in Illinois. Milton H. Woolley acquired his education in the public schools of Cincinnati, attending until about fourteen years old. In April, 1866, he came to Williamsburg, where he served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade with Reichter Brothers and Elias Roberts. After working at the trade three years he was compelled to give it up owing to a physical weakness and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed ten or twelve years. Later he purchased a saw mill and has since been connected with the lumber business, meeting with success as a follower of that industry. In connection with his lumber business he has quite an extensive plumbing and pump establishment, and also does insur- ance and notary work. Politically he is an ardent Democrat, for four years in the early '8os was the incumbent of the office of jus- tice of the peace, and in 1906 was the Democratic candidate for State Senator, being beaten by only 160 votes in a district that is overwhelmingly Republican. On Dec. 24, 1873, he was married to Mary Yelvington, daughter of Thomas and Mildred (Hollings- worth) Yelvington. Mrs. Woolley's paternal grandparents came from North Carolina to Wayne county and her father was born while enroute through Tennessee. He was named Thomas Nathan Knox Yelvington, Knox county being the place of his birth. He was born in 1819 and died at Williamsburg, April 30, 1855, when Mrs. Woolley was six months old. Her mother was born Feb. 15, 1822, daughter of Pierce and Martha Hollingsworth, natives of North Carolina. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Woolley were born nine children : Mildred, born Ang. 17, 1875, married Leonidas Martin and they have five children ; Echo, born Jan. 31, 1878; Mar- tha, born Sept. 5, 1880, died Dec. 12, of the same year; Reuben, born May 5, 1882, died Dec. 20, 1883 ; Leota, born Oct. 8, 1884, mar- ried Denver Coggshall; Ruford Horton, born Aug. 3, 1887, married Mary Davis; Lovicia, born March 24, 1890; Marie, born Ang, 18, 1892; and Asher Donald, born Oct. 15, 1897. Mr. Woolley is a
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member of Williamsburg Lodge, No. 193, Free and Accepted Ma- sons; Chinkorror Lodge, No. 120, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; and Williamsburg Lodge, No. 459, Knights of Pythias, at Williamsburg, and has gone through the chairs in each of the last two named organizations.
William Elmer Brown, one of the prosperous merchants of Green township, and whose general grocery store is at Williams- burg, was born in Tipton county, Indiana, July 30, 1866. Ile is a son of George W. and Mary (Smith) Brown, the former born in Grayson county, Virginia, and the latter was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The father came to Wayne county in the early '3os, later purchased a farm east of Centerville and followed the occupation of farming all of his life. He and his wife became the parents of nine children. William E. Brown received his pri- mary education in the schools at West Grove, in Center township, which he attended until nineteen years old. After completing his scholastic training he became engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he met distinct and exceptional success. He did not devote himself to any one especial branch of the science, but de- voted his land to the cultivation of general products. After his marriage, in 1880, he rented a farm in Abington township, where he resided until 1891, and then removed to Fayette county, where he farmed eight years. He then returned to Wayne county, first locating in Jackson township, but later came to Green township, where he rented a farm west of Williamsburg and resided ten years, engaged in general farming. He gave up his farm interests in April, 1910, and engaged in the general grocery business in Wil- liamsburg. Ile has been unswerving in his allegiance to the men and principles of the Republican party and as the successful candi- date of that organization is now serving as trustee of Green town- ship. Fraternally he is prominently identified with the Masonic lodge, No. 493, at Williamsburg, and is also an active worker in Cambridge City Lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias. On Dec. 25, 1880, Mr. Brown was married to Elmeda Wagner, daughter of Amon and Dorothy Wagner, of Washington township.
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