Franklin Township

Franklin Township

In 1822, in the first half of the year, as is supposed, William Burkhart, from Green County, Ky., and Levi Moore, built the first cabins in Franklin Township. They came by the way of the Indian trail, and Burkhart built his cabin on the banks of the little creek, where Michael Canary afterward lived and died, while Moore went out as far as the Big Spring, and then turning to the east, located at the knoll, a few hundred yards west of Young's Creek, where John McCaslin's house stands. Moore afterward moved to the farm now owned by Aaron Legrange, and there built a mill, the third built in the township ; but he moved to a newer country within a few years, leaving an unsavory reputation behind him. Moore's Creek commemorates his name.

In the spring of 1823, George King, Simon Covert and David W. McCaslin, accompanied by Isaac Voris, a young man, moved from Kentucky, and began clearings near the mouth of Camp Creek, or, as it afterward came to be known, Covert's Creek, after which, it took its present name of Hurricane. There was no road cut out beyond John Adams' place, now Amity, and the movers being joined by Robert Gilchrist, " bushed " the way out to their future home. On the afternoon of a day in March, they reached Camp Creek ; but finding the stream high, and not knowing the fords, they encamped for the night on the high ground, where stand the college buildings. All returned to Adams, save Covert and Voris, who, when night came, milked the cows, milking into and drinking out of the cow bells that had been brought for use in the range. The next morning, the pilgrims crossed over the turbulent stream, and at once began the work of building King's cabin on a knoll west of the present crossing of the Cincinnati & Martinsville Railroad and Jefferson street. ^ That being up, McCaslin's was built on the south side of Young's Creek, and Covert's on the east side of the Hurricane.

During the following summer, Franklin was laid out, and made ready for settlers ; but it was not until the spring after that a house was built within the plat. At that time, a man named Kelly put up a house on the west side of the square, and kept a few articles in the grocery line for sale, chief among which seems to have been an odd sort of beer and cakes. He was for some

In the summer of 1824, William Shaffer built the court house, and, in the fall, he built himself a house on the southeast corner of the square. The same year, John Smiley put up a log house of two stories, on the northwest corner of Main and Jefferson streets, where Wood's drug store now is, and moving into it the same year he hung out a " tavern sign." At the same time, a cabin was put up adjoining Smiley's house on the west, and into this Daniel Taylor, from Cincinnati, brought a stock of dry goods and groceries. Edward Springer, that year or the next, built and operated the first smithy in the township on the west side of the square. In 1825 or 1826, Joseph Young and Samuel Herriott, partners in business, erected the first frame building in the town and township, near to Shaffer's house ; and, in the south side, a tavern was opened under the immediate supervision of Young; and in the north side was opened a general store under the care of Herriott. In 1828, George King built a brick house on Main street, in which he lived until his death, in 1869. The somewhat elaborate beadwork on the door and window casing, which many will remember, Was cut out by the carpenters with pocket-knives. Among the early settlers was Thomas Williams, who came in 1823 or 1824 ; John K. Powell, a hatter ; Caleb Vannoy, a tanner ; Pierson Murphy and James Ritchey, physicians ; Fabius M. Finch and Gilderoy Hicks, lawyers ; Samuel Headly and Samuel Lambertson, tailors.

In another place (Chap. VII) is an account of the drift of settlement in Franklin Township, and it only remains to add such of the names of the pioneer settlers as the memories of those caring to impart their knowledge will give. In 1825, Moses Freeman, Daniel Covert, Joseph Voris, Thomas Henderson and, probably, John Davis, moved into and not far from the Covert neighborhood, at the Big Spring, near Hopewell. Henry Byers settled near the west side, and about the same time Joseph Hunt came in by Burkhart's, and Isaac Beeson over on Sugar Creek. John Smiley, in 1822, had settled on the same creek and had built a mill. John Mozingo and Squire Hendricks were living on the east side, as heretofore stated.

The same year Franklin was located, Cyrus Whetzel ran a line and marked it, with a compass, through the woods from the Bluffs to the new town, and in 1824 the Bluff road was cut out, and this afforded movers easy access to the northwest parts of the township. In 1825, Isaac Vannuys, Stephen Luyster and David Banta moved in, and, the year after, Peter Legrangeand his sons,.

Peter D. and Aaron, all then settled in what is now known as the Hopewell neighborhood. Following, at intervals, during the next few years, we find coming into the same vicinity John Voris, Simon Vanarsdall, Zachariah Ransdall, Cornelius Covert, Melvin Wheat, John P. Banta, John Bergen, Peter Demaree, Samuel Vannuys, Theodore List, Stephen Whitenack, Joseph Combs, Thomas Roberts and Peter Banta. On the south and west sides and southwest corner of the township, we find that Thomas Mitchel, Michael Canary, Robert McAuly, Jacob Demaree, Ebenezer Perry, James Forsyth, came in quite early, and then passing up the south side are the names of Major Townsend, John D. Mitchel, John Gratner, Joseph Ashly, John Harter, Alexander McCaslin, James McCaslin, John C. Goodman, John Gribben, and Jonathan Williams. In the central and northern parts were Wm. Magill, Garrett Bergen, Peter A. Banta, Milton Utter, the Whitesides brothers - Henry, James, John and William - and Stephen and Lemuel Tilson, Thomas J. Mitchel, John Brown, Elisha Dungan, Edward Crow, David McCaslin, Harvey McCaslin, Robert Jeffrey, John Herriott, Middleton Waldren, Therrett Devore, Travis Burnett, David Berry, Jesse Williams, Simon Moore, John High, Samuel Overstreet, John Wilson, David, Thomas and George Alexander, William and Samuel Allison and John Wilson ; while upon the east side, in addition to those mentioned in Chapter VII, may be named Landen Hendricks, William Garrison, Joseph Tetrick, Jesse Beard, Thomas Needham, Jacob Fisher, Samuel Owens, David Wiles and J. C. Patterson.

The next mill built in the township, after Smiley's, was by John Harter, on Young's Creek, two miles below Franklin. Harter bought his mill-irons from John Smiley and agreed to pay him in corn, two bushels being due on Wednesday of every other week until paid for ; and in this connection, it may be stated as an evidence of the straits to which men were put in those days, that Jefferson D. Jones had a supply of bacon but no meal, while Harter had the meal but no bacon, and that they made an arrangement whereby Jones took a half-bushel of meal every other week, and gave Harter of his bacon, in payment therefor at the same intervals of time.

About 1827, Levi Moore got a little mill in operation on Young's Creek, at the mouth of Moore's Creek, and, still later, Cornelius Covert built a mill on the same stream higher up.

In 1826, a little child of Joseph Young's died, the first in the township. In 1829, a school was taught in the log court house. John Tracy, of Pleasant Township, was a pupil, walking not less than five miles night and morning. James Graham was the teacher. About 1825, Thomas Williams married, as is now believed, the first couple in the township. Their names have not been remembered, but the groom, having no money to pay the Squire, proffered that he would make rails and his wife work in the kitchen for Williams in lieu of money.

Furnished 1Sy Dk. W. T. Stott

On the 5th of June, 1834, a number of Baptist ministers and laymen met at Indianapolis to form an education society. Their names were William Rees, J. L. Richmond, E. Fisher, H. Bradley, John Iiobart, S. Harding, L. Morgan, J. V. A. Woods, E. Williams, John McCoy, John Mason, Moses Jeffries and Reuben Coffey.

Bids were advertised for a place in which to plant a school. Among four places, Franklin was chosen, and the " Baptist Manual Labor Institute" was organized. In 1844, a college charter was secured, college functions were assumed, and Rev. G. C. Chandler, of Indianapolis, was elected President.

The curriculum would, at any time, compare favorably with that of any other college in the State, and the attendance was always fair. The finances were not so favorable. Many attempts were made to raise an endowment, but with only partial success. The largest effort was begun in 1852-53; the sum of $60,000 was subscribed, on what was known as the "scholarship plan." A large proportion of the scholarships were used ; not half of the subscriptions, however, were paid. In 1853, Rev. Silas Bailey, D. D., was elected President. His reputation was so well established, and his leadership so marked, that he soon gathered an able Faculty, and had a good attendance of students. There was yet no endowment worth the naming. An additional building was put up, capable of accommodating sixty students with rooms. It was found to be impossible to collect the subscriptions to the endowment without recourse to law, and, after several trials, the collection was given up. Why men were not willing to recognize their own obligations to their own institution is not known. Failing health obliged President Bailey to resign in 1862. Instruction was kept up for some time ; but, as the war was taking all the young men from the country, the college was obliged to suspend, its last term having but two students, and they were both lame, and so could not enter the service. What a fine comment on the patriotism of the young men, who, in times of peace, would have been pursuing a course of study in our colleges ! In 1869, the Board of Directors again undertook the work of providing instruc- i tion. Rev. W. T. Stott, Pastor at Columbus, was elected to the chair of natural science, and was made Acting President. An able corps of teachers was selected, and the school was soon in a prosperous state. In 1870, Rev. II. L. Wayland, D. D., of Kalamazoo College, was elected President. Vigorous efforts were now made to so present the needs and importance of the college, that the Baptists of the State would raise at least $ 100,000. After repeated efforts, President Wayland became discouraged, and resigned. The board had incurred a considerable debt in repairs and in advancing the pay of the instructors, and so in the early part of 1872, the college property was taken to secure the debt, and the board dissolved. Within a few months, however, the citizens of Johnson County and other friends, organized a Joint Stock Association ; over $50,000 were subscribed, and, in September, 1872, the college was again ready to give instruction. Rev. W. T. Stott was chosen President, and it was decided to offer the advantages of the college to young men and young women on the same terms.

The subscriptions of stock have, up to this time, amounted, in round numbers, to $100,000. The total net assets of the college are, as per statement in catalogue for 1879-80, as follows :

The officers of the board are J. L. Bradley, President ; Rev. G. E. Leonard, Vice President ; E. C. Miller, Secretary ; Dr. B. Wallace, Treasurer. Rev. W. N. Wyeth, D. D., is employed as General Financial Agent.

* The campuB consists of about twelve acres, on a portion of which stand the original forest trePB. There are two high brick buildings, each 80x40 feet,and three sjtories high. These furnish recitation rooms, society rooms, laboratory, music room, painting room, chapel, library, studies for professors, and forty-eight rooms for students.

The Faculty consists of Rev. W. T. Stott, D. D., President and Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy ; Rev. C. H. Hall, B. D., Professor of Greek Language and Literature ; Miss R. J. Thompson, Professor of Mathematics, pure and applied ; A. B. Chaffee, A. M., Professor of Latin Language and Literature; D. A. Owen, A. B., tutor in Natural Science; W. C. Thompson, A. B., tutor in Preparatory Department ; Mrs. Bel. R. Stott, teacher of Painting and Drawing ; J. M. Dungan, teacher of Instrumental and Vocal Music.

Among those who have given the largest subscriptions to the present endowment may be named Grafton Johnson, W. W. Lowe, James Forsyth, James L. Bradley, William Needham, U. P. Schenk, E. H. Shirk, J. L. Allen and John Kenower.

Source changes here: from History of Johnson County, Indiana : from the Earliest Time to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Notes, Etc. Together with a Short History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana, by Banta, D. D. (David Demaree), published 1888; 8,336 words in this source stream.

Franklin Township

and was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Button) Whitesides, who lived and died in Kentucky. Their children are: John T., November 19, 1823; Eusebia, October 11, 1825; James A., March 3, 1828; Joseph W., April 11, 1831: Samuel M., April 2/1834; William S., April 6, 1837; Asa F., April 29, 1840; Naihan W., April 29, 1840; Robert H., August 11, 1843; Mary E., September 19, 1846; infant son, October 9, 1850; Leander T., Tune 20, 1852. Of the children, one daughter and five sons are deceased. Asa B. Nay, father of Mrs. Terhune, died December 1, 1876. His wife died March 8, 1876. The maternal grandparents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Button) Whitesides, were parents of four children : John, Mathew, Lucinda, and William. To our subject and wife the following children have been born: Thomas L., April 17, 1844; Asa G., September 29, 1846; William D., August 11, 1849; Lucinda M., November 18, 1852; John W., May 5, 1856, and died October 18, 1879; Ermina A, January 5, 1S61; Dillard W., Januarv 7, 1864, and died November 7, 1865. Both our subject and wife are members of the Baptist Church. Stephen, the great grandfather, was a native of Holland, and came to the United States in colonial times. .

Isaac M. Thompson, one of the leading citizens, and a member of the firm of Thompson, White & Co., proprietors of the Franklin Starch Works, was born in Blue River Township, Johnson Co., Ind., August 22, 1831, and is the son of James and Susan (Collier) Thompson. (See sketch of James Thompson, deceased, elsewhere in this work for history of parents.) Our subject was educated in common schools of Edinburg. He engaged in the milling and mercantile business with his brother in Edinburg, in 1859, and continued at the same until 1868, and then dropped the mill, but is at present engaged with his brother in merchandising at Edinburg. In 187 1, Mr. Thompson was elected as a republican, to the ottice of circuit clerk, of Johnson County, and taking the office in 1872, served eight years, being re-elected at expiration of first four years. In 1880, he engaged in the starch business at Franklin. He is a member of the Masonic order, is a Knight Templar and is also a member of the K. of P/lodge. He was married on March 7 1858, to Harriet A. Pinney, who was born in Vermont, and is the daughter of Haskel N. Pinney. To Mr.' and Mrs. Thompson four children have been born: Laura E., born September 6, 1859; Jesse B., October 29, 1861; Alfred C, May 8, 1864; George Edna, July 7, 1868. The whole family are members of the CnnsaV ^Thompson, general blacksmith, and a representative citizen of Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., was born in Jennings County, lnd., on January 18, 1835, and is the son of Harrison and Delilah (Finney) Thompson. The grandfather was Robert Thompson, a native or Kentucky, his father being a native of Virginia. Robert, the grandfather, emigrated to Indiana at an early date, and was one of the pioneers of Jennings County. He and his son Harrison and all the family were pioneers and frontiersmen by nature. Harrison, the father, lived and died in Jennings County. He was a hunter. The mother was born in Jennings County, and died when our subject was between four and five years of age. The Thompsons were of Scotch, and the Finneys were of Irish, descent. Both parents are dead. To the parents three children were born, and two are dead. The father re-married, and to this union eight children, seven girls and one boy, were born. Our subject was reared on the farm until his twenty-third year. He secured a limited education, attending school three months during winter, and worked during summer. He was married on October 20, 1858, to Abigail Williams, who was born in Jefferson County, lnd., in 1840. He learned a trade after marriage, in Jefferson and Jennings counties, and came to Franklin on the 25th of January, 1868, and went to work for David Tagg. He next was in the employ of Alex Turner, and in 1878 engaged in business for himself, and now runs a shop. He has met with success and has a good trade, is a good workman, and his trade is increasing. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Presbyterirn Church, of which his wife is also a member. To our subject and wife three children have been born: William H. and Lillian L., and Marilous. A curious feature of this family is the representation of three generations, Robert, S. W. H., and Fred, father, son and grandson, all born on January 18, a most singular affair.

William C. Thompson was born at Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio, February 6, 1856. His father, John C. Thompson, was superintendent of the public schools of that place at the time of our subject's birth, but died when he was but a week old. His mother, Lucinda (Craven) Thompson, was a daughter of Rev. Thomas Craven, formerly of Oxford, Ohio, but afterward a resident of Jefferson County, lnd. His grandfather, Joseph Thompson, was a resident of New Jersey, and lived at Monmouth, in that state, until after the birth of our subject's father. He moved west and settled at Middleton, Ohio, about the year 1818, and afterward removed to Lebanon, Ohio. His father spent his early years on a farm, and then learned the carpenter's trade, and afterward attended college at Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated in 1843. He followed the profession of teaching until his death. His death left his family in reduced circumstances, and with four small children, the oldest being but eleven years of age, and the youngest but an infant, the subject of this sketch. In September, 1S56, his mother removed from Ohio to Lancaster, Jefferson Co., Ind., to take care of her aged parents. He lived there until seventeen years of age, working on a farm in summer and attending district schools in winter. He also attended the College Hill Academy at the same place, for two or three winters, and in the summers of 1871 and 1872, worked as a hired hand on a farm near Greenwood, in this county. In March, 1873, he removed with his mother to Franklin, and immediately began working at the printer's trade, and continued working at this trade, with the exception of a few months spent in the Franklin high school, until September, 1875, when he entered Franklin College. He continued at college with the exception of teaching a district school one winter, until 1880, when he graduated. In the year 1880-81, he was a tutor in the preparatory department of Franklin College, and at the same time filled the office of the clerk of the city of Franklin, to which office he was elected on the republican ticket in Ma), 1880. He began the study of law in 1878, during his summer vacation, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1881. In May, ,1882, he was elected mayor of the city of Franklin, and served one term in that office, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of law, giving especial attention to abstracts of title. He has also been a member of the board of trustees of Franklin College since 1882, and held the position of secretary of that body for three years. He has also held the position of secretary of the Building, Loan and Savings Association for about three years. He was married October 19, 1882, to Miss Georgia P. Marrs, a formei teacher in the public schools of Franklin, and daughter of James A. Marrs, late of Marion County, Ind. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and in politics is a republican.

Harvey Townsend was born where he now resides, in Franklin Township, March 16, 1838, son of Major and Phebe rBriggs) Townsend; the former born in Ma^-land, and died in Franklin Township; the latter born in Clark County Ind., about 1805, and now' resides in this county. The family came to this county in i73TOur subject is the sixth in a family of eight children, and received a limited education. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming for himself, and now owns 228 acres of well improved land. In 1861, Mr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Mary Vandiver, born in this county in 1836. To this union are these four children: William S., born 1866; Joseph M., 1868; Sarah E., 1872; and Jesse T., 1875. He is a true republican, and cast his first vote for A. Lincoln. For fifty years he has lived in this county, and is an honest, upright citizen, esteemed for his ma good qualities by all who know him. He and wife have been members of the Christian Church about thirty years.

Cornelius D. Vannuys, retired farmer, was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 18, 1824, son of Tunis and Catherine Vannuys. Our subject was a student at the country schools of Kentucky, and at the age of twelve years came with his parents to Johnson County, and here attended a private school at Franklin, and subsequently spent some time at Hanover College. In the spring of 1845, he began farming for himself, settling on a farm in Union Township, where he remained until the winter of 1848, when he removed to a farm just south of Hopewell, and in the fall of 1878, removed to his present residence at Hopewell. As a farmer he was very successful, and by industry, and good management has secured a good farm, and a comfortable home. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers, and was honorably discharged in September, 1864. The marriage of Mr. Vannuys, occurred March 18, 1845, to Miss Jane Ditmars, born in New Jersey, December 5, 1819, daughter of Garrett and Sarah (Verbryke) Ditmars. They have had four children, one of whom is yet living; Chauncy'L., born April 10, 1852. Those deceased were: Electa J., Sarah B., and Cornelius. Chauncy L. was married October 3, 1877, to Miss Anna Powers, who died May 25, 1884, leaving two children: Nina A., born 1878, and Rosco G., born 1882. Mr. Vannuys was formerly a whig, and since the birth of the republican party, has been one of its most ardent supporters. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1839, an<^ his wife became a member of the same church in 1840. He is a thorough-going, industrious and liberal supporter of all laudable public enterprises.

Isaac N. Vannuys was born in Franklin Township, Johnson County, April 30, 1830, being the second in a family of ten children born to Samuel and Anna (List) Vannuys; the former born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1803, the latter a native of the same state, and died in this county at an advanced age. The family came to this county in a very early day. Our subject was a student at the Hopewell school-house. Mr. Vannuys makes farming and stock-raising his principal employment, and by industry and good management, has secured a valuable farm comprising ninety acres of well-improved land, which he purchased in the spring of 1862. He was married in February, 1852, to Miss Minerva A. Lagrange, born in Franklin Township, April 25, 1833, daughter of Peter D. and Patsy (Ransdall) Lagrange. To the above marriage are these three children: Mattie, born November

10, i860; Emma V., January 22, 1865, and Samuel W., November 7, 1866. In politics, Mr. Vannuys is an active republican, and since 1845, has been a member of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Vannuys became a member of the same church in 1848. He is an honest, upright citizen, esteemed for his many good qualities by all who know him.

John Henry Vannuys was born in Shelb}^ County, Ky., August 16, 1820, being the tenth in a family of fifteen, born to Tunis and Catherine (Demaree) Vannuys, and is of Holland-Dutch extraction. His father was a native of Somerset County, New Jersey, born in 1772, and died in Johnson County, Ind., in 1847. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and died in this county, in 1844. The family came to Johnson County in 1836. The subject of this sketch received a good common school education, having attended school in Kentucky, and afterward, the public schools and Baptist College of Franklin. In the fall of 1847, Mr. Vannuys settled on his present farm, which consists of- 175 acres of valuable land. Since 1878, he has been engaged in dairy business, and now has fifty head of Jersey cattle, and during the year 1887, sold to the Gualt House at Louisville, 6,500 pounds of choice butter. Mr. Vannuys was married April 15, 1840, to Miss Caroline Ditmars, a native of New Jersey, born in 182 1, and died in 1872. Of five children born to this union, three are yet living: John D., Charles C. and Mollie Kate. The eldest child, Samuel W., born January 22, 1841, was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in the fall of 1861, Company F, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was first made a captain, and at the time of his death, which occurred September 29, 1864, while making a charge at the battle before Richmond, held the rank of assistant adjutant general. He was a true and brave soldier, and a man of rare attainments. The second marriage of Mr. Vannuys occurred in 1874, to Mrs. Nannie E. Voris, whose maiden name was Richie. Mrs. Vannuys is a native of Jefferson County, Ind., born December 25, 1832. Politically, our subject was formerly a whig, but is now a member of the republican party, and has been a justice of the peace. In 1835, he united with the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky, with which denomination he has since been a leading and consistent member, and since 1872 has been an elder in the church at Hopewell. Mrs. Vannuys is a member of the same church.

Abram A. Voorhies was born where he now resides, May 25, 1846, son of Andrew C. and Ann (Lagrange) Voorhies, natives of Mercer County, Ky., and died in Johnson County, Ind. Our subject is the fifth in a family of six children, only two of whom are now living, three brothers being killed in the late war. Mr.

Voorhies has always lived on his present farm, which was entered by his paternal grandfather, John Voorhies, and which centains 129 .acres of good land. Mr. Voorhies was married in 1867, to Miss Mattie Wheat, a native of this county, born near her present residence, May 17, 1846. To this marriage were born seven children: Mary H., Vassie L., Emma K., Gilbert and Gertrude (twins), Leta G., and Melvin W. Politically, Mr. Voorhies is a staunch republican, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Hervey D. Vories, superintendent of public schools of Johnson County, Tnd., was born in Hensley Township, that county, on August 27, 1855, and is the son of Hervey and Alazannah (Carter) Vories. Hervey, the father, was born in Kentucky in January, 1822, and immigrated to Johnson County, Ind., in about 1830, with his father, John Vories. He has followed farming as a life vocation, and is at present a citizen of Hensley Township. Alazannah, the mother, was born in Virginia in 18 16, and with an uncle came to Johnson County during the thirties. To the parents eight children were born, five of whom survive. The early life of the subject of this sketch ,was spent on the farm. He attended the district schools, not a great deal, however, until after he was seventeen years of age. Then, attending school for about seven months, he began teaching, and in the summer of 1875, entered the Valparaiso, Ind., College, where he remained for nearly five years, graduating August 19, 1880. He was soon afterward appointed superintendent of the Oscoda (Mich.) public schools, where he remained for three years, and then removed to Trafalgar, Johnson Co., Ind., where he taught for two terms, and a summer normal. In 1880 he taught a normal in Franklin, the first one ever held in Johnson County, and altogether Jias taught seven normals in Johnson and Brown counties. He was appointed superintendent of public instruction of Johnson County, in June, 1885, and the following August removed to Franklin. He was re-appointed in June, 1887. Mr. Vories was united in marriage with Emma M. Ragsdale, in December, 1881. Mrs. Vories is the daughter of Rev. John W. Ragsdale, of Morgantown, Ind., and was born in Brown County, Ind., in 1855. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vories are members of the Baptist Church.

Harrison R. Voris, one of the pioneers of this county, is a native of Mercer County, Ky., born September 27, 1829, and a son of Isaac and Jane (Vanarsdall) Voris. The father of Mr. Voris was born in 1804, and died in Johnson County at a good old age, and the mother of our subject is a native of Kentucky, borr in 1807, and now resides in this county. Mr. Voris came to Johnson

County in the fall of 1829, and grew to manhood on the farm, and at twenty-one years of age settled on his present farm, where he is now the owner of 190 acres of good land, for which he paid $65, per acre. The marriage of Mr. Voris occurred in 1856, to Miss Mary J. Voris, who was born in Kentucky, and died in Johnson County, March 13, 1886, at forty-eight years of age. To the marriage relation there were born these two living children, viz. : William M., born 1859, and Jesse, born 1870. Edward, another son, was killed in July, 1886, by a vicious mule. In politics Mr. Voris is a democrat, and in religion is a Presbyterian. By energy and strict economy Mr. Voris has been successful in life, and is now in good circumstances.

Robert Waggener, contractor and builder, and proprietor of the City Planing Mill, at Franklin, Johnson County, Ind., was born in Shelby County, Ind., about six miles from Franklin, on August 27, 1830. He is the seventh of fourteen children born to Burges and Nancy (Shipp) Waggener. Our subject was reared on the farm until his eighteenth year, and attended the common schools and Franklin College. In 1849, ne served an apprenticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade in Franklin, and for the next year followed his trade at Edinburg. In about 1853, he located at Trafalgar, Johnson County, and began contracting and building, and remained at that place for about a year. He located in Franklin, in January, 1865, and continued contracting and building. In February, 1882, he leased the planing-mill of Payne & Payne, and was burned out the following year. Previously, in 1872, he was one of the organizers of the Builders and Manufacturers' Association, of which he served for a while as president. In 1883, he leased the brick building, formerly used as Baldwin & Payne's woolen-mills, and fitted it up with planing-mill machinery, and in 1887, purchased the buildings. He manufactures doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, brackets, mantles and all kinds of finished lumber, and deals extensively in pine and hard wood lumber. He also carries on contracting and building. During his life he has erected the following buildings, beginning with ja. small frame school-house near Jolity, Shelby County (his first contract), which building was occupied first as a school, taught by the present recorder of Johnson County; high school buildings at Trafalgar and Williamsburg; new high school building and colored school building; Presbyterian and Baptist churches, and he now has the contract for the erection of the college building, at Franklin, J., M. & I. depot at Edinburg, Presbyterian Church at Martinsville, and numerous other public buildings, all monuments of his skill and ability as a contractor and workman. His building is about 30x60 feet, three stories, with wing same height, 25x50 feet, and employs about twenty men during the season. It is furnished with new and improved machinery, and forty horse-power engine. He is now" making arrangements for putting in a saw -mill plant. He is a member of the K. of H. fraternity, and also of the Baptist Church. He was married, January 3, 1850, to Nancy Shipp, who was born in Shelby County, Ind., June 12, 1830, and was the daughter of Easton and Nellie (Brockman) Shipp. She died in 1861. To their union seven children 'were born, three of whom survive. Mr. Waggener was married a second time, January 1, 1863, to Martha J. Alexander, who was born in Johnson County, Ind., in 1838, and was the daughter of Thomas Alexander. She died April 28, 1875. To this union six children were born, two of whom survive. On January 13, 1876, he was again married to Nancy Bryan, who was born November 17, 1842. To this union three children have been born, all surviving. Burges Waggener, the father, was born in Culpepper County, Va., in 1798, and was the son of Herbert, who at an early date emigrated with his family to Kentucky, where he died. Burges emigrated from Kentucky to Shelby County, Ind., in 1821, and settled on Blue River, being one of the pioneers of this portion of the state. At that time the country was a vast wilderness, covered with a thick undergrowth of hazlt-brush, game abounded and he has many times stood in his door and killed deer. He was a deacon of the Baptist Church, and was a charter member of the first Baptist Church organized in Johnson County, the same being in Blue River Township, and is known as Blue River Baptist Church. This, it is claimed was the first church of any kind in Johnson County. He died October 20, 1880, after a long and useful life, his death occuiring near Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., to which county he had removed in about 1875. The mother of our subject was born in Hardin County, Ky., March 18, 1800, and was the daughter of Richard and Mary Shipp, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. She died in Monroe County, Ind., in 1867.

D. D. Waldren, carpenter and contractor of franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., was born in Nineveh Township, Johnson Co., Ind., on December 22, 1842, and is the fourth of twelve children, born to Middleton and Mary J. (Johnson) Waldren. Middleton was born in east Tennessee in 181 3, and the mother was born in Mercer County, Ky., in 181 8. Father died the 3d of February, 1883, in Johnson County, Ind., three and one-quarter miles south of Franklin. The mother died October 18, 1887. The father removed to Indiana and located in Johnson County, at a very early date. He was a farmer by vocation, and left a farm of forty-five acres.

Our subject was reared on a farm, and left the farm and enlisted on August 17, 1 861, in Company I, Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, enlisting as private, and was promoted to corporal. Was wounded in the knee of the left leg at Pea Ridge, Ark., on March 17, 1862, and at the battle of Magnolia Hills, Miss., in the rear of Vicksburg, on May 1, 1862, in the left hip. At Winchester, Va., on September 19, 1864, in the left shoulder and wrist. Is deaf in the left ear from the bursting of a shell at Vicksburg. Was mustered out August 28, 1865, at Darien, Ga. Returning to Indianapolis, was paid off, and then went to his home on the farm. Began to learn the trade in 1870, and has been at it ever since. Was married June 13, 1866, to Elizabeth Ware, who was born in Franklin Township, Johnson Co., Ind., July 21, 1844, and is the daughter of William Ware. One child was born: Frankie O., April 7, 1867, and died March 9, 1870. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Waldren is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 107, F. & A. M., Franklin Chapter, No. 65, and of Commandery No. 23, of K. of P., and G. A. R.

Elmer E. Walker. - Among the younger of the representative citizens of Franklin, none, probably, are more worthy of a notice in a work of this character, than the one whose name heads this brief biographical sketch. He. was born in Franklin, Ind., October 5, 1861, and is the son of Michael and Mary (Andrews) Walker. (See sketch of M. Walker.) Our subject was educated in the public schools, going through the same. After leaving school he entered his father's cooperage establishment, and in 1886 erected a cooper-shop of his own. The building was 60x30 feet. In 1887 he consolidated with his father's, and two shops run by Walker & Sons. He was married March 16, 1886, to Mary Wallace, who was born in Morgan County, Ind., on June 20, 1864, and is the daughter of James Wallace. To this union one daughter, Mary, was born December 18, 1887. In 1881 he joined Hesperian Lodge, No. 12, K. of P., and is also a member of Sam Oyler Division, uniform rank, K. of P. He has filled all the chairs, and has represented Hesperian Lodge in the Grand Lodge at Indianapolis. He joined Franklin Lodge, No. 107, F. & A. M., and is at present, master of the same, having passed through all chairs up to that position. Mr. Walker is a member of the Christian Church, and is a republican.

M. Walker, a cooper and leading citizen of Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., was born in Baltimore, Md., on September 21, 1831, and is the son of Benjamin and Ann (Blakley) Walker. Benjamin Walker was born in Hull, England, in 1784, and emigrated to America in 1829, and located at Baltimore. The mother was a na- tive of York, England, and was born in 1799. The father was a potter by trade, and in 1834 removed to Milford, Ohio. He died in 1847. The mother died in 1878, in Cincinnati, Ohio. To the parents seven children were born, of whom only two survive. Our subject was reared in Milford, Ohio, and attended the schools of that place. He came to Indiana in 1854, and' located in Indianapolis, and engaged in the coopering business. His establishment was destroyed in 1855, by fire, and then he came to Franklin and worked at his trade. In the year 1861, he opened a shop of his own, and has continued here up to the present, and together with his two sons, owns and operates the only cooperage establishments in Franklin. He was married in 1854, to Mary Andrews, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 20, 1833, and was the daughter of Thomas Andrews. She was a devout Christian, and a member of the Christian Church. She died July 5, 1885, leaving three children out of four born. The living children are : Alonzo B., now a citizen of Martinsville, Ind. ; Ada B., living with her father, and Elmer E., a citizen of Franklin. Our subject is one of the most highly respected citizens of Franklin, and has served two terms in the city council. He is a great secret society man, and is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities. Also a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Walker is a republican in politics, and has voted for every republican candidate for president of the United States.

John S. Webb was born in Shelby County, Ind., November 11, 1833, son of Zachariah and Nancy (Hough) Webb, and is of English descent. His father was born near Lexington, Ky., April 9, 1808. The mother of our subject was born near Xenia, Ohio, in April, 181 2, and died January 14, 1887. The Hough family came to Shelby County in 1820. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Hough, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Shelby County, Ind., about 1844. He was a fifer in the War of 181 2. The Webb family came to Indiana about 1818, and settled in Clark County, and in the spring of 1821 removed to Shelby County, Ind. The immediate subject of this biography grew to manhood on his father's farm in Shelby County, and for a brief period attended the country schools. In 1859, ^e came to Johnson County and settled in what is now Needham Township, and, in 1875, removed to his present farm, which contains 193 acres of excellent land. The marriage of Mr. Webb was solemnized March 13, 1859, to Miss Nancy E. Welliver, born in Butler County, Ohio, May 20, 1842, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Sample) Welliver, natives of Kentucky, the former born in 1804, and died in 1849, anc^ ^he ^atter born in 1809, and died in 1886. They have these ten children:

Thomas White, leading citizen of Franklin, Ind., and member of the firm of Thompson, White & Co., proprietors of the starch works, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, February 4, 1847. Our subject is the son of John and Mary (Duffy) White, both natives of Ireland. Parents left Ireland in 1850, emigrating to Cape Town, Africa, and in 1855, came to America, landing in Boston, Mass.; a month was next spent in New York, then a year in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1856, the family located in Bartholomew County, Ind., six miles north of Columbus. They came to Johnson County in 1858, but subsequently returned to Bartholomew County. In 1861, they located in Edinburg, Ind. The mother died in 1876, and the father in 1882. Our subject " received a common school education, and in 1863, enlisted in Company M, Twenty-first Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served until January 22, 1866, veteranizing in the meantime. Returning to Edinburg, he entered the postoffice as clerk, in 1S66, and continued there until 1869, and then began clerking for C. C. Winterburg, at Edinburg, at which he continued until 1870, when he began keeping books for the Edinburg Starch Company. November 1, 1880, he located in Franklin. Mr. White was married February 3, 1869, to Nannie Appleton, who was born in Johnson County, and to this union four children have been born, two of whom survive.

Nort Whitesides, one of the live, energetic merchants of Franklin, Ind., and proprietor of the leading clothing and gents' furnishing establishment in the city, was born in Johnson County, three miles northeast from Franklin, on December 22, 1853, and received a fair education in the district schools and Franklin College. He remained on the farm until his eighteenth year, and in 1873, entered a store in Franklin as clerk, at which he continued, with different parties, for a number of years. On December 17, 1877, he engaged in the clothing, hats, caps, and gents' furnishing business, for himself, in Franklin, beginning on a small scale, investing not to exceed $1,500. His business has prospered, and has been enlarged from year to year, until he now carries an average stock of about $15,000, and does an immense business annually. He carries the largest stock in his city, and has a large and commodious room, and in fact has an establishment equal to those found in large cities. He was married February 14, 1877, to Miss Maggie Slater, daughter of M. R. Slater, of Franklin. Mrs. Whitesides was born in 1858, and died in 1884, leaving one son, Virgil, who was born March 12, 1878. Mr. Whitesides is a member of the K. of P. lodge, and of the uniform rank of same. The father of the subject of this sketch is John Whitesides, one of the leading farmers of Johnson County, who was born in Oldham County, Ky., in 1816, and located in Johnson County, in 1835.

S. S. Whitesides, senior member of the firm of Whitesides & Lane, proprietors of the Franklin, Ind., steam laundry, was born in Johnson County, Ind., on October 19, 1843, and is the son of John and Sallie (Tilson) Whitesides. The father was born in Kentucky (See Nort Whitesides' sketch). The mother was born in Virginia,'and died in 1850. Our subject was reared on the farm, and secured a limited education in the public schools. He has followed farming and stock-trading, and located in Franklin in October, 1886. He engaged in his present business in February, 1887. He was married in January, 1872, to Mary Conover, who was born in Shelby County, Ind*, in 1850, and is the daughter of Nelson Conover. To this union two children have been born, one of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Whitesides are members of the Baptist Church.

John M. Winchester, deceased, was born in Jefferson County, Ind., on March 23, 1826, and died October 28, 1887. His parents were Serrill and Mary &. (Miller) Winchester. The father was born in Hardin County, Ky., on March 4, 1804, and the mother in Rutherfoid County, N. C, on April 2, 1803. Their deaths occurred October 1, 1854, and June 3, 1867, respectively. To the parents the following children were born: John M. (subject) ; Nancy S., June 16, 1827; Jane S., June 28, 1828; William R., March 1, 1830, died November 18, 1844; Harvey C, March 16, 1832; Minerva, September 17, 1833, died March 20, 1861; Jordan M., January 23, 1835, died September 8, 1858; Malissa A., born May 31, 1837; Washington N., December 27, 1838, died July 13, 1841; Louisa, born June 27, 1844, died June 27, 1844. The subject of this sketch followed farming as a vocation, and returned to Franklin, in August, 1 88 1. On August 20, 1851, he was married to Harriet B. Demaree, and to this union eight children were born, five of whom still survive. The wife died October 17, 1864, and on December 26, 1865, he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Fisher, who was born in Johnson County, Ind., on January 20, 1839, and is the daughter of James H. and Jane (Dobbins) Graham. James Graham was born in Shelby County, Ky., on June 6, 1809, and died April 29, 1886. Jane Graham was born in Pendleton District, S. C, on November 10, 181 5. They were married March 13, 1834. To this union the following children were born: Man- A., born March 24, 1835; Charles H., November 14, 1836, who served in Company F, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and was a prisoner in Libby, Salisbury and Andersonville prisons, escaping from the latter; John F., born December 30, 1840, served in Company I, Seventeenth Indiana Regiment, died in West Virginia in 1861; Robert G., born October 15, 1843, deceased; Margaret J., September' 3, 1845, deceased; Thomas W., February 12, 1849; James W., December 24, 1850; Belle C, April 12, 1853; Washington F., October 22, 1856. To the union of our subject and Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher, no children were bora. On October 29, 1857, Elizabeth A. Graham, widow of our subject, was married to. James M. Fisher, who was born December 15, 1839, ^n Johnson Countv, Ind. He enlisted in August, 1861, in Company F, Seventh. Regiment Indiana Infantry, and left Franklin August 29, of the same year. He was a non-commissioned officer of the company, and was killed in the skirmish line on North Ann River, Virginia, during the Wilderness campaign. On May 24, 1864, and his remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. To the union of Mr. Fisher and Elizabeth A. Graham, two sons were born, as follows: Irwin, August 14, 1858, and Charles L., August 15, i860.

William J. Williams, A. M., superintendent oj public, schools, Franklin, Ind., was born at Welsh Hills, Licking Co., Ohio, June 4, 1845. His father, John Williams, was a native of Brecenshire, South Wales, and emigrated with his parents to this country when sixteen years of age. He located in Ohio, first in Delaware County, then in the city of Columbus, and finally in Licking County, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in March, 187S. At the age of thirty-seven years, he married Miss Esther Jones, also a native of Wales. The result of this union was six sons and five daughters. Mr. Williams, until ten years of age, attended school continuously, but after that period his lessons were limited to a winter term of four months. At twelve, years of age he began to contribute to his own support, and from that time to the present all the money he has expended, whether in acquiring an education or in procuring the necessities of life, has been the product of his own efforts. At the age of sixteen he prepared to enter Denison University, when his plans were frustrated by a serious accident which befell his father. Being the eldest son, the farm work devolved upon him, and the idea of obtaining a collegiate education was for a time being abandoned. His father's recovery gave the young lad an opportunity to take a school during the winter. He taught three months, receiving therefor $50 as remuneration. This he considered fair wages in compaiison with farm work, which averaged from 25 cents to 40 cents per day. He next conducted a successful school and with what remained of his salary at the close of the session, paid his way through the spring term at college. He began a regular classical course in September, 1862, and continued it for three months, when, his funds becoming exhausted, he was compelled to stop. During his connection with the university he taught different terms. He remained in college seven years, graduating in the scientific and classical courses. After obtaining his diploma, he was undecided which of the professions, teaching or the ministry, he should adopt." It should be remembered in this connection, that he had united some years previously with the Baptist Church, at Greenville, but a year later removed his membership to the church at Welsh Hill. By this last organization he was given a license to preach. The Ohio Baptist Educational Society voted him sufficient aid to begin a theological course at Newton Center, Mass. He chose to teach instead, and went to Bradford, Ohio, where he opened a private school, but ill-fate seemed to have singled him out as its victim. He had taught but two weeks, when the prevalence of small pox in town broke up the attendance. To his great joy he succeeded a few weeks later in obtaining the position of principal of the Winamac high school. Here he remained two years. From Winamac «he removed to Rochester, Ind., and became superintendent of public schools, from 1873 to 1881, when he was elected co-superintendent, and served two terms, after which he was called to take charge of the teachers' department of Franklin College, which position he held for two years, when he was elected superintendent of the public schools of Franklin, Ind. The political affiliations of Mr. Williams have always been with the republican party. He was married June 20, 1878, to Miss Rosa Brackett, daughter of Dr. Charles Brackett, who died in the service of his country, at Helena, Ark., February 23, 1863, where he was stationed as surgeon of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry. Mrs. Williams combines all the qualities of the "excellent woman." She is a lady of education and refinement, and possesses those graces of mind and heart that make her especially attractive. Their union has been blessed with one son and two daughters: Fred, Margorie and Edith. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are highly esteemed where ever known.

Thomas W. Woollen was born in Dorchester County, Md., April 26, 1830. He was the second son of Edward and Anna Woollen, whose maiden name was Wheeler. The Woollens are of English descent. In the forepart of the seventeenth century, Mr.

Woollen, wife, and several children , emigrated from London to this country, and on the voyage the father and all the children died of disease incident to such journeys, the wife alone, who was encicnte, reaching Philadelphia. This woman afterward gave birth to a son, from whom sprang all of the name now known to be in this country, so far as their history has been traced. In 1642, when Capt. Lamberton led an English colony from New Haven into Delaware, John Woollen, who seems to have been something of a backwoods linguist, and who is supposed to have been the son of Mr. Woollen, before mentioned, was employed by Lamberton as Indian interpreter. Mr. Woollen drifted down the peninsula to the eastern shore of Maryland, where there was an English settlement, and settled upon Taylor's Island, in the Chesapeake Bay. Thomas W. Woollen's grandfather, William Woollen, was born on Taylor's Island, something over a hundred years after old John Woollen settled there. The youngest son of William Woollen was Edward, the father of the subject of this sketch, who was born in 1803, in the same county that his fathers had lived in for a century and a half. Edward Woollen was a farmer in moderate circumstances. During the summer months Thomas worked upon his father's farm, and in the winter he attended the country schools. At fifteen years of age, he removed to Baltimore. He applied himself to the carpenter's trade, studying every book to which he had access. With none to guide him in the selection of books, it may well be supposed his reading was of a very miscellaneous character, but even such reading was better than none. In 1844, his brother, William Wesley Woollen, left home and went to Madison, Ind. There he was successful in getting public employment, and of course wrote the fact to friends at home. Upon a boy far in his teens, this newTs could have but one effect. Thomas W. laid aside his miter-box and handsaw and set out for Indiana; this was in the spring of 1848. John Taylor was at that time clerk of the Jefferson circuit court, and William Wesley Woollen had been his deputy. A deputyship opening for him in the auditor's office, Thomas was installed as .deputy in the clerk's office under Taylor. There he continued 'up to the spring of 1852, when he became deputv treasurer under his brother, who had in the meantime been elected to that office. In the fall of that vear, Col. John Chambers was elected county treasurer, and he continued Thomas in the office as deputy up to 1854, when, his term being about to expire, the deputy was placed in nomination as the democratic candidate for the office itself. But that was a disastrous year for democratic nominees all over the countrv. Know-Xothingism, which had sprung up in a night, met with great triumpns that year, and of those who failed to with- stand its assaults was the democratic candidate for treasurer in Jefferson County. The entire democratic ticket was defeated. While in the clerk's office, at the suggestion of the Hon. A. C. Downey, then judge of the Jefferson circuit court, he had been industriously reading law, intending to prepare himself for that profession as soon as he should be able to do so. Under a liberal arrangement with Col. Chambers, while his deputy, he was able to acquire the means to carry out his purpose. Having, in 1850, been married to Harriet J. Williams, daughter of the late Judge Williams, of Jackson County,, and now having been defeated and was out of public employment, he sat down in the shade of his own house and continued the study of law. This he kept up to the spring of 1856, when he left Madison and went to Vernon, where Benjamin F. Lewis had just been elected clerk, and, on the suggestion of Judge Downey, Woollen was employed for a few months in the office to introduce the new clerk to its duties, after which he commenced the practice of law. This, however, did not suit him, and, in a short time, he moved to Franklin, and in connection with Jeptha D. New, opened a law office there. But Mr. New returning to Vernon soon after, Woollen was left alone to push his way as best he could. It is not necessary to say he succeeded. As a safe and sound adviser, whether in affairs political or legal, he ranks deservedly high. By reason of his activity in political affairs, he was chosen, in 1862, to make the race on the democratic ticket for joint representative from Johnson and Morgan counties, and was elected over his opponent by 5^° votes. The subject of this sketch was elected cashier of the First National Bank in 1S65. In 1866, he was the democratic candidate for circuit judge, but was defeated in a circuit overwhelmingly republican by a party majority. In 1868, while actively engaged in his banking business, he was presented before a democratic nominating convention, held at Morgantown, as a candidate for common pleas judge. The directory of the bank now made him president of that institution, and it was thought, with the clerical aid rendered in the bank by the other officers, he would be able to serve as judge, and at the same time supervise the general business of the bank. This arrangement proved unsatisfactory. He was able to attend to his judicial duties up to about the beginning of 1870, when it was thought by the directory of the bank that his active services in that institution were imperatively demanded. In the spring of 1879, his wife had died, leaving him with a large family of children, who needed his presence at home, and he concluded to accept the offer of the board of directors to again take full charge of the bank. During the six years of his connection with the bank, not a dollar was lost to the stockholders by any act of his, and when he left it, its stock was selling readily at $130 to the share. On his retirement from the bank, he resumed the practice of the law, in partnership with Cas Byfield, Esq. In 1872, Mr. Admire, candidate for the lower house from Johnson County, refusing to support Mr. Greeley, the central committee displaced him and put Judge Woollen on the ticket as the democratic candidate. Admire having been regularly nominated and refusing to withdraw, it made the race a doubtful one, but Judge Woollen was elected by a majority of 341 votes. During the legislative term that followed, he took a leading part in the legislation of the state. He was, in some respects, uthe acknowledged democratic leader of the house." In 1874, he was a candidate for the office of attorney-general, but was defeated; but, in 1878, being again a candidate for that office, he was nominated, and, at the general election of that year, was elected to the office over his opponent, Judge D. P. Baldwin, by a majority of 14,461 votes, and it was found that he was singularly well qualified for the position. In 1880, he was again nominated, this time by acclamation, but, at the October election, he went down with the residue of the state ticket. Judge Woollen returned to Franklin and resumed the practice of the law in partnership with his former partner, Judge Banta.

E. W. Wyrick, dry goods merchant of Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind., is a native of Virginia, having been born in Wythe County, that State, on June 15, 1829. He is the youngest of nine children, born to Nicholas and Elizabeth (Leonard) Wyrick. The father was born in Virginia, in 1785, and his parents were Germans, their parents being natives of Germany. The mother was also born in Virginia, in 1793, and like her husband, was of German descent, both her parents being natives of Germany. In the fall of 1831, Nicholas Wyrick emigrated to Indiana, and located in Johnson County. At that time but few white settlers were in the county, the settlements being few and far between. He located on Stott's Creek, in what is now Union Township, where he had entered a tract of eighty acres of government land. To this he subsequently added forty acres more. He followed farming during his life, never entering public life, as his inclinations were for the quiet and independent life of a farmer. While a religious man in principle, he was not a member of any church organization, though early in life was christened. His death occurred in 1846. The mother was a member of the Methodist Church, and died in 1875. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and secured a limited education, the schools during his boyhood being meager, and the opportunities for securing an education limited. At the age of seventeen years, he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed the same for a period of seven years. During the above time he saved some money, and at the end of the same, he purchased the interests of the heirs of his father's farm, and removed thereon, where he remained until 1856. He then removed to White River Township, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres, and remained there until 1871, and then engaged in merchandising at Browntown, Johnson County. In 1875 he removed to Franklin and continued merchandising, and now owns one of the leading dry goods and notion houses in the city, situated on the corner of Jefferson and Water Streets. He was married October 10, 1850,. to Elizabeth Garshwiler, who was born in Johnson County, Ind., in 1833, and is the daughter of George Garshwiler, a native of Kentucky. To this union a son and daughter have been born, the son, George W., being born on August 7, 1851, and the daughter, Nancy Belle, on November 10, 1853. Mr. Wyrick, wife and daughter, are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Wyrick is a democrat in politics, and was elected trustee of White River Township two terms.