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 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
530
MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
Frank C. Williams, a well known and respected citizen of Green township, was born near Peru, in Miami county, Indiana, Oct. 10, 1861. His paternal grandfather, Christopher Williams, came from Guilford county, North Carolina, to Hamilton county, Indiana, in an early day, and there spent the remainder of his life. The father was Richard Williams and the mother was Sarah ( Bor- ton) Williams, born in New Jersey. Mr. Williams received his edu- cational training in the district schools of Green township and the schools of Williamsburg, attending until nineteen years old and working on the farm in the meantime. He remained at home until twenty years old and then rented a farm of Elwin Born, north of Fountain City, where he resided five years. After his marriage he purchased forty acres of land, between Williamsburg and Fountain City, and resided thereon seven years, engaged in general farming and stock raising. Ile then purchased his present faim of 210 acres, two and one-half miles northeast of Williamsburg, but afterward sold fifty acres of this tract and purchased eighty acres, adjoining on the east and known as the Blair farm. He is an enthusiastic ad- herent to the Republican party, but never acquired the habit of seeking public office. His wife is a birthright member of the Friends' church, affiliating with the Cherry Grove Monthly Meet- ing. On Feb. 16, 1886, he was united in matrimony to Miss Almede Marine, daughter of Ira and Clarkey (Nichols) Marine, of Ran- dolph county, Indiana, natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Williams was born in Randolph county, Oct. 8. 1865. Of the union of herself and husband have been born five children : Blanche, born June 5, 1889, graduated in the Williamsburg schools and at a business col- lege in Richmond, and is at the present time the stenographer at the Murray Theatre in the city of Richmond; Esther, born Oct. 23, 1890, is the wife of Leslie Carper, superintendent of the Safety Gate Works, and they have a son, Everett, born Oct. 29, 1908; Paul Marine, born Feb. 29, 1892, graduated at the Williamsburg High School at the age of eighteen and is now assisting his father on the farm; Edith, born Feb. 14, 1896, is a student in the Williamsburg High School; and' Jessie, born May 17, 1902, is also in school at Williamsburg. Mr. Williams has been a Royal Arch Mason many years, first joining Whitewater Lodge, No. 159, and later transferr- ing his membership to Fountain City Lodge, No. 667. Ile is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Aldene Lodge, No. 322, at Fountain City, having been a member of that lodge the past twenty years.
Benjamin F. Wright is a native of this county and was born on his father's old homestead in Abington township, Jan. 28, 1865. All his life has been spent in this and adjoining counties and he is numbered among the successful farmers and wide-awake citizens of his district. His parents were Joseph and Sarah (Ranck) Wright, the former a native of Abington township, this county, and the mother was the daughter of George Ranck, who came from Penn- sylvania to Wayne county. The paternal grandfather was Henry Wright, an early settler of Abington township. Our subject's father spent his early days after the manner of the boys in the' early
531
BIOGRAPHICAL
Wayne county settlements and obtained his education under diffi- culties. He followed farming all of his life, and about 1870 removed to Fayette county, where he spent the remainder of his career. Ben- jamin F. Wright was one of six children born to his parents, and was a small boy when the family removed to Fayette county. He attended the district schools in Waterloo township, in that county, until sixteen years old. After his school days were completed he continued to work on the farm, and at the age of twenty-six years took charge of and operated a farm belonging to his aunt in Wayne county. After his marriage he returned to Fayette county and lived on a rented farm eight years, at the end of which period he removed to Brownsville township, Union county, and rented a farm three years. He then removed to Boston township, Wayne county, where he rented a farm one year, and then purchased the farm of 156 acres in New Garden township which he now owns and resides on, engaging in general farming and stock raising. He is a believer in thoroughbred stock as the best for all purposes, but does not specialize in any particular breed. In politics he is a member of the Democratic party, his politics in local matters, however, being independent, and he has never aspired to hold public office. On Dec. 25, 1891, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Brookley, born in Butler county, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1870, and came to Wayne county with her parents when six years old. She is a daugh- ter of Wyndall and Ann (Stover) Brookley, of Jackson township, this county. To Mr. Wright and his wife have been born three chil- dren : William Leslie, born Oct. 17, 1892; Earl, born Dec. 29, 1896; and Geneva, born Dec. 29, 1899. Mrs. Wright is a member of the Evangelical church.
George Washington Study, who has been prominent in the public and agricultural life of Wayne county a number of years, was born on a farm northwest of Williamsburg, in Green township, July 4, 1856. Both parents-John W. and Marguerite (Massey) Study, were born in Wayne county, and they became the parents of six children : Hannah L. is the wife of Winfield Smith, of Illinois, and they have a son, Paul; George W. is second in order of birth ; Mayberry, a farmer in Wayne county, married Elizabeth Duke and they have two children-Roy and Harry ; Andrew is deceased ; Cora married Elihu Swayne, of Economy, and they have three children- Mabel, Ermine, and Earle; and one child died in infancy. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Study, was a native of North Caro- lina and his wife was HIannah Wade. George W. Study's educa- tional advantages were limited to the district schools in the vicinity of his boyhood home. From the time he finished the prescribed courses until twenty-three years of age he assisted his father in the management of his farm in Green township. In 1881 he rented the farm where he resides, going in debt for his team and other equip- ments, and in fact his wagon was the only utensil that was free of incumbrance. Ile rented this farm twenty years and then purchased it. Ile made improvements in the way of fences and buildings, and to-day the farm is one of the most valuable and productive pieces. of property in the county. He does a general farming business and
532
MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
the land is in a splendid state of cultivation. In the matter of poli- tics Mr. Study is liberal in his views. On Sept. 27, 1879, was cele- brated his marriage to Miss Cassie Kennedy, daughter of John W. and Mahala M. (Cook) Kennedy, of Williamsburg, and of this union was born a daughter, Belva, April 8, 1885. She is the wife of Dorsey Thurston and they have two children-Delia, born Nov. 27, 1909, and Emerson, born Sept. 3, 1911. Mrs. Study is a mem- ber of the Friends' church. The Kennedy family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry and were early settlers in this county. John W. Kennedy was an influential citizen. In early life he was a cooper by trade but later became a farmer. fle was born in the State of Michigan and his wife was born in Wayne county. They were the parents of five children : Martha married Avazana Cates, of Michigan, and they have three children-Ilarry, Elsie, and Hubert; Cassie, the wife of Mr. Study ; Ulysses G., who resides in Williamsburg, mar- ried Cora Duke and they have five children-Paul, Ruth, Alice. Ivan, and Josephine ; and two died in infancy.
Frank Clements, a prosperous young farmer of Green town- ship, was born on the farm where he resides, July 24, 1885. He is a son of Anthony and Laura (Gates) Clements, natives of Indiana, the father born in Randolph county, Oct. 30, 1852. The Clements family has been identified with this section of country since a very early day. Ferguson Clements, the great-great-grandfather, was killed by the Indians a little north of the present site of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Isaac Clements, the great-grandfather, helped to lay out the village of Williamsburg. William J. Clements, the grandfather, was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1825, and at the age of three years was brought by his parents to Indiana. The family settled near Williamsburg, but William J. afterward removed to Randolph county. He died in 1903. During his active career Anthony Cle- ments followed the calling of a farmer and was educated in the schools of Green township. After his first marriage he removed to Randolph county, where he rented land four years and then pur- chased the present home farm in Green township, which he tilled and ditched and brought up to a high state of cultivation. He built a new house and barns on this farm and resided there untl he re- tired, in 1910, and moved to Lynn. Both parents are now living in that village. On May 30, 1878, he was married to Laura Gates, daughter of Elmire and Malinda ( Hatfield) Gates, both families being pioneers of Wayne county, and Thomas Hatfield laid out the town of Green's Fork. Of this union were born five children : Claudia, born Feb. 14, 1879, married James M. Catey, of Green town- ship, and they have four children -- Mildred, Doris, Francis, and Josephine ; Alice, born Ang. 21, 1881, married Ora Pitts, of Green township, and they have three children-Forrest, Kenneth, and Mary Louise; Lulu was born Aug. 5, 1883; Frank is the next in order of birth ; and Edith, born May 26, 1889, married Herbert John- son, of Randolph county, and they have a son, Dudley. Lulu is a graduate of the Boston Training School and is teaching in the Bal- timore Young Women's Christian Association. The educational advantages of Frank Clements were those afforded by the district
533
BIOGRAPHICAL
schools in the vicinity of his boyhood home, the high school at Wil- liamsburg, and Purdue University, and he has always worked on the home farm. Like his father, Mr. Clements is allied with the Republican party, but has never consented to become a candidate for any office. In fraternal matters he is affiliated with Lynn Lodge, No. 119, Knights of Pythias. On June 11, 1910, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Clements and Miss Bessie Jennings, daughter of James M. and Hattie ( Raussen ) Jennings, of Wayne county. The mother of Mr. Clements is a member of the Friends' church.
William A. Duke has been a resident of Wayne county since his birth and is numbered among the honored citizens and success- ful farmers of Green township. He was born at Williamsburg, this county, Feb. 15, 1847. a son of Solomon M. and Eliza ( Bishop) Duke, the former born in North Carolina and the latter in Webster town- ship, Wayne county. The maternal great-grandfather, Benjamin Bishop, was born at Kingwood, N. J., April 5, 1759, and in 1779 vol- unteered for service in the Revolutionary war. His father was also born in New Jersey and was a sea captain. While in London he was "impressed" into the British naval service and was so held seventeen years, for eleven years of the time being kept continuons- ly on a war vessel. After his release he returned to America to find that his family had gone west to occupy some Revolutionary war land grants in Eastern Ohio. From there they had removed to Wayne county, locating at Webster, where he eventually found them, and he lived there the remainder of his life. Solomon M. Duke, a son of John Duke, removed from North Carolina to Ohio and thence to Wayne county. He was a tailor by trade and located at Williamsburg, becoming one of the influential citizens of that village and being held in uniform confidence and esteem. His wife passed away in 1876 and his death occurred in 1888. They were the parents of fourteen children, four of whom are living: Benjamin, a Civil war veteran, resides in Richmond; Wiliam A is the next in . order of age; Marian is the wife of John King, of Centerville ; and George is a farmer in Green township. William A. Duke is in- debted to the schools of Williamsburg for his early educational training and attended until abont sixteen or seventeen years oldl. When a lad of twelve years he worked out by the month, attending school when he could, and he has devoted a good portion of his active career to the agricultural industry, being now the owner of a well improved farm of 150 acres. At the age of nineteen years he purchased a team, earning the money to pay for it, and then rented fields near Williamsburg and farmed three or four years. Hle then purchased a threshing outfit and operated that in season fifteen years. Ile also purchased a half interest in a saw mill with Reuben Woolley and became actively engaged in operating that and two threshing outfits, at the same time buying wahit and other timber and hanling it to Richmond. In 1883 he sold the mill and purchased the place where he now resides. He is a general farmer and stock raiser, and through energy and good management has developed a valuable property, the while he has so ordered his life as to gain and retain the high regard of his fellow men. He is very
534
MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
liberal in his political views, and while he takes a loyal interest in local affairs of a public nature has never been incumbent of office. Mr. Duke has been twice married. His first union was solemnized in 1878 with Miss Mary Smelser, daughter of John and Eliza (Stegall ) Smelser, and she died in 1881, being survived by one son, Frank, a farmer in Green township. In 1883 Mr. Duke contracted a second marriage, being then united in wedlock to Miss Margaret Ellen Outland, born in Randolph county, Indiana, Sept. 29, 1855, a daughter of Thomas J. and Assinith ( Pritchard) Outland; who came to Randolph county from North Carolina, Mr. Outland bring- ing a number of slaves with him and setting them free when he reached the soil of Indiana. Of this second union of Mr. Duke were born six children-Charles, Harold, Mary, Herschel, Robert, and Clifford. Harold married Emma White, daughter of William White, and they have a son, Doyle. Mr. Duke has been a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Williamsburg, since carly manhood, and his wife is a birthright member of the Friends' church.
Stephen A. Hinshaw has been a resident of Wayne county for several years and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this favored section of the State. He is one of the successful farmers and stock growers of Green township, where he resides, and is influential in local affairs. Mr. Hinshaw was born in Randolph county, Indiana, July 10, 1871, a scion of a family founded in Amer- ica in the Colonial era of American history. His paternal grand- father was Jacob B. Hinshaw, who came from Randolph county, North Carolina, in an early day and settled in Randolph county, Indiana. Stephen A. is a son of Meredith and Mary Ellen ( Fudge) Hinshaw, born in Randolph county, Indiana, the former in 1846 and the latter on March 29, 1847. Meredith Hinshaw was recognized as one of the most progressive and influential citizens of the com- munity in which he so long lived and labored to goodly ends. He and his devoted wife became the parents of three children. Stephen A. Hinshaw was reared to maturity on the old homestead farm of his father and his educational advantages were those afforded in the district schools, supplemented by courses at the Danville and Marion normals. At the age of eighteen he began teaching and fol- lowed that occupation in the district schools of Randolph county about seventeen years. But he never found it expedient to with- draw his allegiance from the great basic industry under whose in- fluence he was reared, and in connection with agricultural pursuits has won his present position of independence and definite pros- perity. While teaching he was associated in the work of the farm during vacations, and this represented an incidental feature of the development and cultivation of the "willing soil" of the old home- stead. His present farm is one of the model places of Green townships and many of the improvements on the place were made by him. Everything about the farm indicates thrift and prosperity and Mr. Ilinshaw is thoroughly in touch with the general welfare of the community. His political allegiance is with the Republican party, and he is a member of the Masonic order and also of the
535
BIOGRAPHICAL
Knights of Pythias at Lynn, taking an active interest in the affairs of these local organizations. The year 1892 bore witness of the marriage of Mr. Hinshaw to Miss Anna Rosebone, who died in 1898, leaving a son, Russell, born Jan. 3. 1893, and now a student in the high school at Williamsburg. In 1901 Mr. Hinshaw was mar- ried to Clara Moffett, a daughter of William N. and Rachel Moffett, of Randolph county, and of this union have been born two children : Winifred, born Oct. 25, 1905, and Leslie, born Sept. 15, 1907. After his second marriage Mr. Hinshaw purchased a farm in Randolph county and resided thereon until he purchased his present farm in Green township. He and his wife are members of the Friends' church.
James M. Schroeder, a native son of Wayne county and a scion of a sterling German family, is numbered among the representative agriculturists and stock growers of the township of Green. His well improved farm is located on rural mail delivery route No. 26, from the village of Fountain City. Mr. Schroeder was born in the city of Richmond, this county, Nov. 22, 1855, a son of Henry and Mary (Bushker) Schroeder, natives of Prussia, the father born in the city of Bielefeld, in 1826, and the mother's birth occurred in 1835 in Hanover, Germany. The father came to America in 1848, and after spending two years in New York City came to Richmond, where he helped to construct the first railroad that entered that city. He afterward bought land in New Garden and Green town- ships, where he became a successful farmer and was recognized as a citizen of sterling character and ntmost loyalty-one who ever commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem. The mother came from the old country upon reaching maturity and she and her hus- band became the parents of six children: James M. is the eldest ; Sarah is the wife of William Ergenbrodt, of Webster township, and they have one child, Etta ; John married Elizabeth Driggins, resides at Richmond, and they have five children-Florence, Marie, Inez, Sheridan, and Raymond; William M. (see sketch) ; Lydia is the wife of Barlow Price, of Fountain City ; and Hannah died at the age of six years. James M. Schroeder gained his rudimentary edu- cation in St. Paul's parochial school in Richmond, which he attended until thirteen years old. He then worked in the office of the gas company one year, after which the family moved to the farm now occupied by William M. Schroeder. James M. remained at home until married, since which time he has given his attention to the man- agement of his finely improved farm, which is devoted to diversified agriculture and stock growing. On Ang. 23, 1883, he was married to Mary L. Deitemeyer, daughter of Adam and Louisa ( Langhman) Deitemeyer, of Wayne township, but natives of Hanover, Ger- many, and of this union have been born eight children: Henry A., born July 31, 1884, resides at home and assists in the management of the farm; Herbert J., born Feb. 9, 1886, is a farmer in Randolph county, and is married to Bessie Clark ; Emma died at the age of eight years; Cora, born March 14, 1800; Clarence died in infancy ; Alice, born July 6, 1893 ; and Alma and Edith (twins), born July 28, 1896.
536
MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
John B. Miller, one of the progressive farmers and stock growers of Green township, was born in Pennsylvania and the date of his nativity was July 19, 1852. He is a son of John S. and Maria ( Brinton) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in York county, son of Abraham Miller. The father was a man of impreg- nable integrity and honor and ever commanded the unqualified re- gard of his fellow men. lle and his devoted wife were parents of thirteen children. To the district schools of Pennsylvania John B. Miller is indebted for his early educational privileges, and he at- tended until sixteen years old. He has been identified with agri- cultural pursuits from his youth to the present time and has found ample scope for prolific and gratifying effort in connection with the great basic industry under whose influences he was reared. At the age of sixteen he came to Randolph county, Indiana, and worked in that county on a farm one year, at the end of which period he went to Mason county, Illinois. He returned to Randolph county the following Christmas and continued to reside there until 1884, when he removed to Wilson county, Kansas, where he purchased a farm. Five years later he disposed of his possessions in the Sunflower State and came back to Randolph county, where he lived on rented land for six or seven years. He then purchased the farm where he resides in Green township, this county, and the place is one of the well improved and ably conducted farms of the township. In poli- tics Mr. Miller gives his allegiance to the Republican party and he, as was his wife, is a member of the Christian church. On Oct. 19, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Gullett, born in Randolph county, Indiana, Oct. 3, 1847, a daughter of Ezekiel and Nancy ( Combs) Gullett. She died Nov. 30, 1939, having become the mother of seven children : Winnie Myrtle, born Jan. 4. 1874, died in infancy ; Burley Omar, born Dec. 18, 1875, died in infancy ; Ed- ward Raymond, born Dec. 7. 1877, married Rhoda Ellis, and they have a son, Raymond Ellis, born in 1953; Silas Caldwell, born Oct. 1, 1879, has been principal of the high school at Hagerstown the past three or four years ; Harry Garfield, born Sept. 3, 1881, died in Kansas; Orville Irvin, born Dec. 13, 1883: and Hattie May, born May 13, 1887, died Dec. 10, 1937. Mr. Miller is a member of Lodge No. 332 of the Red Men at Carlos City, having passed through the chairs of that local organization, and he is also a member of the Williamsburg Lodge, No. 493, Free and Accepted Masons, his son, Orville, also being a member of that fraternity.
Orlando B. Catey is one of the substantial farmers and repre- sentative citizens of Green township, and has been a resident of Wayne county, with the exception of a few years, since the time of his birth. Ile is a member of one of the old and honored pioneer families of the county and his personal status is such as to still further contribute to the prestige of the name which he bears. Mr. Catey was born in Green township, this county, on the old homestead farm, and the date of his nativity was Feb. 29, 1848. He is a son of Samuel Catey, who was born on the old Catey home- stead in Green township and resided there until a few years of his death. He and his devoted wife, Priscilla ( atey, lived lives of
537
BIOGRAPHICAL
signal honor and usefulness and their names merit an enduring place on the roster of the worthy pioneers of this county. They became the parents of seven children. The paternal grandfather was John Henry Christian Catey, born in Hamburg, Germany, and came to America as a small boy, first locating in New Jersey. In 1797 he bound himself out in Delaware to John Bispham for a period of three years, and later in life came to Indiana. In 1822 he entered land east of Williamsburg, in Wayne county, and lived there the residue of his life. Orlando B. Catey was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm, in connection with whose work he soon found adequate demands upon his time and atten- tion, and in the meanwhile he was afforded the advantages of the district schools of his native township, also attending the schools in Williamsburg. During the long intervening years he has been almost continously identified with agricultural pursuits in Wayne county, and in Green township he now owns and occupies a fine farm of eighty acres. Ile remained on the old homestead until nearly twenty-two years old and since then has always worked for himself. On Sept. 30. 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Albina J. Smith, a danghter of James and Mary (Johnson) Smith, of Wayne county. Mrs. Catey died Dec. 0, 1800, having become the mother of three children: Mary Etta is the wife of Jesse Bakchorn, of Wabash county, Indiana, and Samuel Merton and James Milton are successful and enterprising young farmers of Green township. Samuel Merton married Anna Newman and of this union has been born a son, Harold George. James Milton married Claudia Clements and to them have been born four chil- dren-Mildred. Doris, Frances, and Josephine. After his first marriage Mr. Catey rented a farm in Randolph county, where he resided three years, and then returned to Wayne county and pur- chased a farm near Economy. In 1897 he moved to his present place of residence, having erected a convenient cottage house, a barn and outbuildings, and his farm now ranks as one among the best improved of the township. On Dec. 9, 1902, he married Mary Elma (Hlaisley ) Parsons, daughter of Franklin and Mazanah (Thomas) Haisley, formerly of Wayne county but now of Win- chester, Randolph county, Indiana. In political matters Mr. Catey is found arrayed as a loyal supporter and advocate of the cause of the Republican party, and the entire family hold membership in the Friends' church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.