Gregg Township

The Fiest White Men

THIS fine tract of country was not settled as soon as those portions along the river. The real influx of pioneers occurred in the thirties, but about six or seven families appeared for permanent residence late in the twenties. The first families were those of Solomon Dunegan, Allen R. Seaton, Charles D. Seaton, Philip A. Foxworthy, Daniel Smith, John Williams and others. Solomon Dunegan was perhaps the first permanent settler in the township. He was a Baptist minister, and came from South Carolina in 1826, and purchased a tract of land since known as the Thomas Wilhite farm. He became a very infiuential man in the township, -was strictly moral and did a great deal for the early churches in his vicinity. Philip Foxworthy came to the township in 1827 or 1828, and entered eighty acres of land upon which he erected ahewed-logcabin. This was on the Jefi" Wooden farm. He had a rough time clearing his first land, worked day and night, and was assisted by his wife, who burned brush. His nearest neighbors were Solomon Dunegan, the Shipleys and Joseph Moser. In 1829, he had a few hogs of which he thought a great deal. They had cost him hard labor, and he was careful to have them properly marked with " an under half crop in the right ear and a swallow fork in the left." They ran wild in the woods, requiring no feeding other than the rich and abundant mast of nuts, twigs, herbs, etc., which covered the forest ground at all seasons of the year, especially during the fall. So abundant was this mast that hogs feeding exclusively on it often attained a weight of 200 pounds. But they generally were poorer, and when designed for the market or for home consumption were usually fed corn in addition to the mast. Every few weeks they were carefully looked up, especially if they had been missing for a few days. The owners usually fed them a little corn in the morning for the purpose of keeping them at home or in the neighborhood of home. Sometimes the owner did not care to take the trouble either to feed them or watch them. They then wandered off into the depths of the unsettled woods in quest of food, and quite often were lost. Some of them became utterly wild, especially young animals, littered out in the woods, far froim any house. They would run like wolves through the brush at the sound of a human voice or the sight of a human being, and it was often necessary to shoot them like any other wild animal in order to get them. When they were looked up to be marked or killed late in the fall, they were often so savage that they were managed with great difficulty and danger. They were usually enticed into some pen, which was then hastily closed, but the process of enticing them was often unaccompanied with favorable results only after the lapse of weeks of gradual advances. The males were extremely savage, with tushes sometimes six inches in length, and when pushed too closely would turn with tigerish ferocity upon man or dog.

Then there would be a scattering. All of the prominent early settlers who owned hogs had their individual ear-marks. Solomon Dunegan's mark was " a swallow fork in the left ear, and a slit in the right." His number was 133, showing that 132 had established before him. Mr. Foxworthy, in 1829, had a fine drove of sus scrofa. One night they were attacked by one or more bears where Hall now is, and one or more of them was killed and partly consumed. A bear did not stop long to inquire the name of the owner before falling upon wandering swine and making a merry meal of them. It is even doubted whether they cared . seriously who the owner was. '^hey probably thought that " possession was nine points in law," and accordingly took possession without further ceremony. They would rush upon a drove of hogs, seize one by the back of the neck, and begin to tear with teeth and claws regardless of the piercing death cries of the struggling victim. In a few minutes the hog would be torn to pieces, and would then furnish a sweet repast for bruin. Mr. Dunegan had hogs killed by bears, as did many others of the earliest settlers.

Among the early residents was John Williams, who came to the township in 1830. The first winter, his own and two other families lived in a log cabin 18x18 feet, and, as is humorously stated by an old settler, "had room to spare for another family." The men worked constantly in the woods. Mr. Seaton came in 1832; his cabin was built of round logs, had a clapboard roof, stick and clay chimney, huge fire-place, dirt hearth and a loft communicated with by a pole stairway. Here was where the children slept. His first stable was built of rails, and his oxen were as proud as could be expected. They were not " stuck up " and aristocratic as cattle are nowadays. They chewed the cud of contentment (that was often all the cud they had), and were honest in all their dealings with their master. The settlers of Gregg (it was Adams Township then) obtained their mail at Mooresville. They paid 25 cents for a letter, and the envelope and letter were one and the same piece of paper. Letters were appreciated in those days, and people when they wrote letters did not cut their friends ofi" with "a half dozen lines. They wrote half a dozen pages, and then carefully folded them with a blank page on the outside, upon which the superscription was written. Philip Foxworthy claims to have planted the first orchard in the township. The apples were seedlings, that is, they grew from the seed and not from grafts. Daniel Smith settled in the township in 1833. During the following winter he cut down seven acres of timber and burned the brush. Early in the spring he spent four consecutive weeks in rolling logs for his neighbors, and in turn had his logs all nicely rolled. While he was away helping his neighbors for five or six miles around, his wife finished burning brush at home, and when he returned of nights he would work until 10 or 11 o'clock at night "mending up" the fires which she had started. He would also split rails, during the time, to inclose his first little field. Hundreds of such incidents might be narrated.

Later Settlement

by Blunk, William Hinkle, Nathan Ludlow, Jacob and Isaac Crum, William Pruitt, John R. Robards, R. S. Frederick, W. W. Philips, Anderson Williams, V. W. H. H. King, Joseph Nicholson, Washington Knight, Frederick Brewer, C. Marvin, Harlan Stout, David Shields, Simon Moon, Abijah Bray, Samuel Hackett, John Moots, William Harvey, S. D. Dooley, Ezekiel Dooley, William Brewer, Archibald Boyd, James W. Ford, Hiram W. Williams, Noah Wilhite, Frank Garrison, Jeremiah Sturgeon, S. C. Yager, Maddox, Harper, Craven, Bartholomew, Russell Wilhite, John Caveness, Joel Kivett, Walker Caveness, Iram Hinshaw, James Cummings, Fred Gaveness, Benoni Pearce, Zachariah Ford, Jackson Jordan, Ed Shipley, Wilson Moore, Joseph Moore, * Aaron Kivett, Tamech Wilhite, Henry Wood, George Brown, John Murphey, Enoch Myers, Tobias Moser, N. B. Brown, John Brown, Andrew Knoy and many others. A few of this list never resided in the township. They owned the land which was afterward conveyed to other parties.

Poll Tax List Of 1842

The township of Gregg has three spots that are called villages. Wilbur and Herbemont are of a late origin, and consist of one or two stores, a blacksmith or two, a carpenter, a saw mill, a post oflSce, and from a half dozen to fifteen families. The only, village of note is Hall. The first residences there were built long before the town was thought of. Philip Foxworthy and Michael Pruitt both erected dwellings there soon after 1830. The town really started about the year 1861 or 1852. A man named Breedlove erected a storehouse, and he and a Mr. Porter, under the partnership name of Porter & Breedlove, placed therein about $1,500 worth of a general assortment of goods. The store soon attracted a few families, and soon a blacksmith, a carpenter and other tradesmen appeared. " Mr. Brewer bad some interest in the store of Porter & Breedlove. John Whitaker opened a store soon afterward. Jacob Stogsdill was connected with him. John Williams and Benjamin Young began selling goods some time afterward. After them, from time to time, in about the order here given, the following merchants were present in the village : Brewer & Mattox, Joshua Wilhite, Col. Hendricks, A. J. McCoy,

Sparks & Hendricks, John B. Johnson, Milton Johnson, Frank Philips, Philips & Co., Philips & Brown, and Henry Brown at present. Rader & Wilhite erected a saw mill at Hall in about the year 1869, which is yet in successful operation. The grist mill was built in 1875 by Long & Wilhite at a cost of about $3,500. It is yet running, and is doing a fair business. Mechanics and artisans have - held forth from time to time. The village and vicinity has a brass band which took the second premium at the county seat on the 4th of July, 1883. The villagers are frequently regaled with strains of sweet music. Perhaps, too, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, and even the trees and shrubs gather around to listen to the divine melody as they did in mythologic time to the music from the harp of Orpheus. Hall was not laid out until the autumn of 1861, at which time John P. Rader, Noah Wilhite, Michael Pruitt and Jefferson H. Woodsmall employed a surveyor and laid out ten blocks, several of them being large and the others small. The village is on Section 21, Township 13 north, Range 1 west, and has had a population as high as 200.

Education

The first school in the township was taught near Hall, but when- it was or what the teacher's name was cannot be stated. It was not far from the year 1884. The children of Solomon Dunegan, Philip Foxworthy, Joseph Moser, John Williams, Daniel Smith, Allen Seaton and others attended the school. After a few years, probably about 1838, a log schoolhouse was erected in the northern part of the township, which, for many years, was the principal seat of learning. Schools were started in the eastern and southern portions about 1840, or very soon thereafter. In 1840, if reports are reliable, there were only three established schools in the township, and one of them was not in a house that had been built expressly for school purposes. A dwelling which had been vacated was transformed into a temple of learning. During the forties, several new houses were erected, and by 1850 there were five or six good schools. Now there are seven schoolhouses.

Religion

The Mount Pleasalit Christian Church at Hall was organized in the thirties, and about the year 1841 the first church was erected. Among the early members were the families of Richard L. Frederick, Joshua Wilhite, Bryson Martin, Noah Wilhite, John Williams and others. The class is yet in existence, and has its second building. A Methodist class was organized in the schoolhouse near Hall late in the thirties, the leading members being Michael Pruitt, Tamech Wilhite, Thomas Callahan, Hiram Williams, J. S. Phelps, Daniel McDaniel and Thomas Edwards. Their church was built in the forties, on land that had been donated by Michael Pruitt. The Harmony Methodist Church was organized late in the forties, or early in the fifties, and meetings were held at schoolhouses and at the residences of the members. Rev. Dane is said to have organized the class. Among the members were Terrell Hinson, Moses Dooley, Jesse Griffith, Simon Carsley, Abraham Long, Stephen L. Dane, John Faulkner, James Mason, George Kirkham and Marshall E. Dane. The church was built at Wilbur late in the fifties. Several other church organizations have flourished in the township.

GEOEGE RILEY BRIANT was born in Clay Township, this county, August 17, 1843, being a son of John S. and Rachel (Burris) Briaat, who came at an early day to this' State, married, and reared nine sons and one daughter. George R. Briant, after working on the farm and going to school, enlisted August 12, 1 861, in Company A, Thirty- third Indiana Volunteer Regiment, and served actively for three and a half years; he experienced many hard battles, and May 25, 1865, had his left arm shot off at the sh(julder, which led to his discharge in February, 1865. He was previously taken prisoner at Thompson's Station, and held thirty-three days in Libby Prison, and afterward, in February, 1864, became a veteran. After the war he engaged in farming, and in 1879 commenced the photographic business at Wilbur, in which he is now engaged. While on veteran furlough, April 26, 1864, he married Emily S. , daughter of W. Gordon (deceased), which union gave issue to seven children - Franklin Sherman, Bennie Ellsworth, Lodema Ellen, Naomi E. (deceased), Viola Eldora, Letitia Evaline and Dudley Erech. In 1878, Mr. Briant came into this township, and has for some years resided at Wilbur. He was Township Assessor from 1876 to 1878, and has served eight years as Constable. He is owner of 120 acres in Jefferson, and of 12^ acres in this township. Mr. Briant is an active Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

RICE EVANS BROWN was born in Oldham County, Ky., January 27, 1819, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Wilson) Brown, natives of Virginia, whero they married in 1796. Mr. Brown came to Indiana in 1834, after living in Kentucky for some years, where Mrs. Brown closed her life in 1829, aged fifty-two years. He afterward married Elizabeth Phillips, and died in 1854, aged eighty years, in this township. Rice Evans Brown was reared on the farm, and received the rudiments of education from the subscription schools. September 7, 1837, he married Ann C, daughter of Bright and Elizabeth Pruitt, by which union were born to them ten children - William B., Andrew C, Emily S., James M., Sarah E., Amos (deceased), Alvin H., AlmiraJ., Mary M. (deceased) and Ida May. Mrs. Brown departed this life August 5, 1883, aged sixty-two years, a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Brown owns and cultivates 160 acres, of which Mrs. Brown inherited eighty from her father. Three of their sons - William B., Andrew C. and James M. - were soldiers in the late war. Mr. Brown is a pillar of the Christian Church, and a respected citizen.

JAMES HENRY BROWN was born in this township September 15, 1842, and is a son of Oliver H and Betsey (Carter) Brown, natives of Kentucky, whose parents moved to Indianain the early time, and located in Morgan County, where the parents of our subject were married. James Henry is the eldest of this family, and assisted his father on the homestead farm. September 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Regiment, served three years, and in February, 1864, became a veteran. He took part in the battles of Wild Oat,

Besaca, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, the historic " Sherman's march," and during his service was promoted from Corporal to Captain of his company, as -which he left tbe army. After his return, he pursued farming for some years, and in February, 1871, engaged in mercantile business at Hall, which enterprise he has successfully continued. While at home on furlough, April 17, 1864, he married Miss Bmeline, daughter of Michael Praitt, to which union have been bom six children - Leroy N. (deceased), Oraola, Josephine (deceased), Tna Bell, Daisy D. and Ralph Edwin. In 1866, Mr. Brown was elected Township Trustee, and has been Postmaster at Hall since 1876. He is a stanch Republican and a Master Mason, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

BENJAMIN CORNWELL was born in Oldham County, Ky., December 8, 1844, and is the eldest of the five children of John and Minerva (Williams) Comwell, natives of Kentucky, who located in Washington County, Ind., where our subject grew to manhood and obtained the common education the schools afforded. During boyhood, Benjamin learned the blacksmith trade, at which he labored until August, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Fifty-third Indiana Volunteers, and served actively at Vicksburg, Black River, Bolivar, Jackson, 8hiloh and on other fields; received an honorable discharge in 1864, aod afterward engaged at farming for one year; then resumed blacksmithing, at which he has since continued. November 16, 1865, he wedded Vernilla Ludlow, of this county, and they have become parents to five children, three of whom are living - John Milton, Altha and Levada. Mr. Cornwell is an excellent man and a patriotic citizen. Lite all the soldiers, glory nestles around him and shows him worthy of confidence and support. He is an esteemed citizen, and Mrs. C. is a member of the Christian Church.

JAMILS COX was born in Dayton, Ohio, August 8, 1823, and is a son of John W. and Nancy (Swisher) Cox, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to this State in 1824, and settled in this county, about three miles from Martinsville; they reared a family of five - two sons and three daughters. James Cox, after reaching manhood, in conjunction with G. W. clapper, purchased his father's interest in a mill, and managed the same until 1868, when Mr. Clapper retired, and he conducted the same alone. In 1846, he married Sarah Rogers, a union cemented by six children - John W., William (deceased), Mattie, Emma, Sarah (deceased), and Aquilla B. ; Mrs. Cox died in December, 1863, a memlaer of the Christian Church. May 5, 1864, Mr. Cox wedded Elizabeth J. Hoyt, and to this marriage were bestowed three children - Edgar G. , Hattie and Minnie Bell. In 1868, his mill at High Rock having burned, Mr. Cox moved to Martinsville, and in company with another, erected a steam flouring mill, which was continued nine years. In November, 1882, he removed to Hall, and purchased a half interest in the steam saw and flouring mill, to which he has since devoted his time and energy. Mr. Cox is an esteemed and worthy citizen, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

REV. JESSE BROOKS JOHNSON was born in this county, January 20, 1837, and is a son of Brooks S. and Anna B. (Green) Johnson, natives of North Carolina, who came to this section about 1835, and settled in Adams Township, where Mrs. Johnson ended her life in 1858; Mr. Johnson is still living, aged eighty-five years. Rev. Mr. Johnson was reared at home, and is the youngest son of eight children. He early acquired a good education, and afterward taught for some time, instructing in penmanship for five years. He grew up in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and being gifted as a speaker, naturally leaned toward the ministry; he afterward, however, affiliated with the Christian Church in 1867, and was ordained Elder in 1870. in which denomination he has continued to preach efficiently. October 20, 1859, he married Mary E., daughter of Allen R. Seatou, and to this union have been bestowed six children - Lieusely, Charles S. , Melvin A., Carrie, Ernest F. and Oliver. The mother of this family came to her death March 29, 1882, aged forty-three years, a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Johnson removed to his farm in 1871, comprising 107 acres; but he has never neglected the service of God and the welfare of his fellow-man. During 1883, he was pastor of Mount Pleasant Church at Hall. He is a noted temperance orator and Sabbath school worker, an upright man, a persuasive preacher, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

HOWARD C. JONES, M. D., was born in Hendricks County, Ind., May 4, 1853, and is the only child of William W. and Mary Ann (Poe) Jones, both natives of Kentucky, but married in this State. Dr. Jones was reared at home, in Clayton, and afterward worked three years in a woolen factory, but attended the common schools a due time. After preparing himself, he entered, in 1874, the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, from which he graduated in 1877, as Doctor of Medicine. His first experience was at Pittsboro, whence he removed to Marion County, and became physician to the Marion County Asylum. December 23, 1877, he married at Clayton, Julia A., daughter of Robert S. and Elizabeth Pearson, to which union were bestowed three children - Rilus, Pearl (deceased) and Irwin. Two months succeeding his marriage, he moved to Hall, in this county, and began the practice of his profession, taking rank immediately as a practitioner. He is an old-school regular physician, and enjoys the confidence of his fellow-citizens, having graduated No. 1 in a class of thirty-four. Dr. Jones is a Republican and an esteemed citizen.

WILLIAM KIRK is a native of Shelby County, Ind., having been born February 7, 1830, and his parents having been William H. and Elizabeth (Depew) Kirk, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, who came to this State in the early days, and in 1838 to this county. They were blessed with five sons and four daughters. Our subject was reared at home and on a farm, obtained some rudimental education from the common schools, and began life for himself when twenty-two years of age. In 1851, he married, in this county, Mary E , daughter of Nathan Dow, and to them were bestowed five children - Nathan H (deceased), David B., Daniel R., Martha Alice, and Nancy Elizabeth. Mr. Kirk is owner of 217 acres of good farming land in two tracts, both in this township, and most of which is in fair improvement and cultivation. Out of this property, he received but sparse assistance from his father's estate. Mr. Kirk is a practical farmer, a successful man in business, a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are strict members of the Christian Church.

SmTH LABERTEW, farmer, is a native of Owen County, Ind.; was born September 25, 1841, his parents being Joseph and Mary Ann (Hart) Labertew, natives of Ohio, who came to Indiana in an early day and settled near Gosport, where Joseph Labertew died in 1846. Mrs. Labertew is still living, and is about eighty years of age. Smith worked on the farm and attended school as a boy, receiving a mediocre education.

September, 1861, 'he enlisted in the Thirty-third Indiana Eegiment, became a veteran, and served in all nearly -four years. He was detailed for hospital duty in 1863, and continued therein until the end. March 18,

1865, he was captured at Blackwater, S. 0., and held eight days. Soon after, he was sent to Tennessee from Resaca with wounded men, and returned to hospital duty at Resaca. November 22, 1866, he married Asenath Lewallen, from which union has resulted one child - Carl A. Mr. Labertew came to this township in 1870, settled where he now li ves on 120 acres of well-improved land, the earning of his own industry and care. Mr. Labertew is a Master Mason; in politics a Republican, and, in company with his wife, a member of the Christian Church.

ROBERT W. McNAUGHT is a native of Morgan County, Ind., wasborn November 28, 1837, and is the youngest son of Robert W. and Martha McNaught; the former a native of Scotland, the latter of Pennsylvania, who removed to this State and settled in Owen County, and still later in this county, where they finished their lives - Mr. McNaught in December, 1847, aged forty-eight, and Mrs. McNaught in November,

1866, aged fifty-five years, having reared four sons and four daughters. Our subject was reared in Martinsville, attended the usual schools, and afterward the University at Indianapolis; and afterward married Mary 0. Garrison, with an issue of eight children in all - Ada L., Lora B., Emma A., Olive M., Cora, Joseph W., Prank and Walter. Mr. Mc- Naught served as Justice of the Peace in 1865, and was re-elected in 1869. In the spring of 1871, he moved into Hall, and there engaged in the harness trade, but is now a journeyman. May 25, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, served three years, waa^ engaged in the battles of Resaca, Lost Mountain, Rich Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Marietta, Atlanta and others. Mr. McNaught is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

JOHN WESLEY MINTON was given birth in Knox County, Tenn.,. November 19, 1833, his parents being Ebenezer and Dorcas (Baldwin) Minton, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Tennessee, who moved to this State in 1849; settled in Clark County for two years, and thence came to this township, where Mr. Minton died in 1877, aged sixty-nine; Mrs. Minton yet lives, aged seventy-five years; they had fivesons and five daughters. Our subject grew up on the home farm, and when of age went to Illinois for five years, attending and teaching school ; but the greater part of his education was obtained after hismarriage, which took place September 20, 1856, in Illinois, the bride being Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph Norton, now of Kansas. The result of this union was twelve children - Maria Elizabeth, Mary Alice, Emma (deceased), Ida May, Delilah, Rufus Carlton, Elbert, "Cuty" (deceased), Doliie, Lida, Clyda and Liliie. In 1858, Mr. Minton moved to Kansas, where he farmed for twelve years. September 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Seventh Kansas Cavalry, became Second Sergeant, served three years; re-onlisted in 1864. He was at the battles of Corinth, luka, Pilot Knob and many skirmishes. In 1871, he returned to Indiana and settled in Wilbur, where he engaged in mercantile business, and was made Postmaster in 1872; he was appointed Trustee in 1874, and elected in 1876, and served in all five years, Mr. Minton has a farm of 217 acres, which he owns and manages. He is an active Republican and a progressive citizen.

(Gresham) Nicholas, natives respectively of North Carolina and Virginia, who emigrated to Orange County, Ind., in 1815. where Mr. Nicholas died. Our subject settled in this county in 1830, near Mooresville, and in this township' in 1848. Mr. Nicholas has been twice married - first, October 23, 1828, to Sarah Kearby, a native of Kentucky, with an issue of seven children - Edward C. (deceased), Nancy M., Giles H., Elizabeth B., Sophia Jane, Mary and Thomas K. (deceased). The mother of these died in 1843, and November 1, 1853, Mr. Nicholas married Mrs. Lena Hancock, by which marriage succeeded five children - Delphina (deceased), Samuel, Loretta F., Lena Piuefta (deceased) and Arlita T. Mr. Nicholas is owner of eighty acres of excellent and improved land, which possession is wholly his own acquirement He is in political matters a Republican, and he and wife are communicants of the Mefliodi&t Episcopal Church.

ALLEN R. SEATON was born in Jefferson County, Ky., April 28, 1808, a son of George and Sarah (Drake) Seaton, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, who dated their ancestry back to the Scots and Britons. They were married in Kentucky in 1803, and raised a family of ten. Allen grew to manhood with his parents and remained with them until he was twenty -two years old. August 11, 1830, he married Sarah Pound, a union which produced nine children - John P., George W., Charles, Richard (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), James P., Sarah J., Gi-afton "W. and Apphia M. (deceased). In 1832, he came to and settled on a tract of land entered by his father in this township. His sons Charles and Grafton are prominent physicians of this county, the former being now Treasurer thereof. Mrs. Seaton died at Hall January 31, 1884, aged seventy-two years. She, with her husband, joined the Christian Church in 1835. Mr. Seaton owns a comfortable eighty-acre farm given to him by his father. He was once a Whig, but is now a Republican.

Gkafton W. Seaton, M. D., was born March 5, 1846, in this county, and is a sou of Allen R. Seaton. He was bred to the farm, attended public schools, and also the N. W. C. University for two terms. In 1868, he commenced the study of medicine with his brother Charles, a physician at Hall, and at the end of a year attended Rush College, Chicago; then, later, the Louisville Medical College, from which he graduated in 1870, and began practice with his brother the same year. From 1878 to 1881, he was in the drug business. March 2, 1871, ho wedded Sarah E. Welman, with a bestowal of four children - Harry A., Guy, Edna E. and Nellie. Dr. Seaton is a Freemason, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

ELI P. SHAKE, farmer, was born in Gregg Township, Morgan County, Ind., May 21, 1841, and is the second child in a family of five children born to George W. and Catherine H. (Pruitt) Shake, the former a native of Jefferson, and the latter of Oldham County, Ky. They were of German- Scotch and German descent respectively. George W. Shake received his early education in his native State, and while yet a young man, in 1835, came with his parents to Morgan County, Ind. He was married at the age of eighteen, and soon after bought 160 acres of wild land in Gregg Township, where he subsequently improved the farm upon which he still resides. He was once elected Commissioner of Morgan County, but did not qualify. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity. Eli P. Shake, the subject, received a limited common schpol education in youth, and was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then leased forty acres of wild land in Gregg Township for six years, which he cleared. In the fall of 1870, he removed to Bates County, Mo., where he settled on ninety acres of wild prairie land deeded to him by his father. Here he built a house, improved a farm and resided three years. He then sold this place and returned to Gregg Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he bought eighty acres of the old homestead, upon which he resided until the fall of 1883, when he sold out and came to Adams Township, same county, where he bought the farm of eighty acres upon which he now resides. He was married, July 24, 1862, to Miss Mary E. Yager, a native of Gregg Township, Morgan Co. , Ind. , and a daughter of William W. and Sarah A. (Hinkle) Yager, who were among the pioneers of Gregg Township. Three children have blessed their union, of whom two sons - William W. and Howard J.i are yet living. Both Mr. Shake and wife are and have been from early youth devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Shake is a Democrat.

JACOB ALONZO SHIPLEY first saw the light of this world on March 4, 1846, in Jefferson Township, Morgan County, being the second son of Tolbert and Sarah (Mclnturf) Shipley, natives of Tennessee and Ohio respectively; they were pioneers of this county, having lived in this township for forty- five years. Jacob Alonzo Shipley spent his boyhood in farm work and pursuing education in the schools. August 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Thirdy-third Indiana Volunteer Regiment, and served four years, having become a veteran in February, 1864. He was made a Corporal, and was captured at Thompson's Station, held thirty-three days and exchanged. After the war, he engaged in saw milling for five years in Jefferson Township, after which he resumed farming, which he has since followed.' October 19, 1871, he married Victoria Rouseau, from which union descended five children - Bertie (deceased), Percy (deceased), Myrtie, Jesse and Hazel. Mr. 'Shipley was elected Trustee of this township in 1882, and still serves as such. He is 3 Republican in politics, a member of Blankenship Post, G. A. R., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HENRY B. SMITH, farmer, is a native of Owen County, Ind., was born February 11, 1827, his parents being Daniel and Elizabeth (Crum) Smith, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Kentucky, later to Indiana in 1825, and settled in Owen County until 1831, whence they moved to this township, made a home on entered land, and there remained until 1875, at which time they removed to Clayton, where Mr. Smith closed his life in 1879, aged about seventy-nine. After this event, the mother returned to the homestead, now occupied by our subject, and ended her life in 1881, aged seventy-six years; they had a family of ten children. Henry B. Smith was reared on the homestead farm, and at seasons attended the subscription schools. December 2, 1847, he married Jane Carder, a native of Kentucky, to which union have been given nine children - Vernilla A. , Ruth J., Sanders, Theodore R. , Harvey M. , Stephen, Henry K., Eva J. (deceased) and Martha R. Mr. Smith is the owner of a good farm of 160 acres, and has a desirable home - most of which he has acquired by his own efforts. He is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

ELIJAH SMITH, farmer, is a native of Owen County, Ind., was born February 23, 1829, and is the second son and third child of Daniel and Elizabeth (Crum) Smith. He was brought up aud grew to manhood on the home farm, after he had had some advantages from the schools of the time. August 24, 1852, he married, in this township, Mary Carder, by which union they had a family of two children - Lafayette C. and James H. Mr. Smith came to this county in company with his parents, and here be has made a home, which embraces eighty acres of well-improved and cultivated land, the most of which has been gained by his own unaided exertions and exacting frugality. By political preference, he is a Democrat, and by cotemporary judgment a good citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Christian Church.

BARTHOLOMEW SMITH, farmer, was bom in Owen County, Ind., February 5, 1837, and is the eldest of seven children born to Marcus M. and Malinda (Pierson) Smith, the former of whom was a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and the latter of Bourbon County, Ky. They were of English and Irish descent respectively. Marcus M. Smith received only a very limited education in youth, at the rude log schoolhouses of the Indiana frontier; but by his own exertions, and by the light of a shell-bark fire afterward acquired a fair, practical business education and became of the best historians in the country. After his father's death, in the fall of 1824, the family removed to Owen County, Ind., and settled on some 600 acres of land on the White River, which his father had entered some years before. Here young Marcus learned the miller's trade, which he followed for several years, and here he was afterward married. Later he bought a farm in Owen County, where he still resides, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church, in which church he has been a minister for more than thirty years. The father of Mrs. Malinda Smith, Bartholomew Pierson, served under Gen. William H. Harrison at the battle of Tippecanoe and in that General's other campaigns, against the Indians, and his father, Shadrach Pierson, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, having served seven years, or through the entire struggle. Bartholomew Smith received such an education in youth as could be obtained at the primitive log schoolhouses of the frontier, and was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty- one years old. He was then employed as a salesman for the Turner Scale Company for about two years. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Tenth Indiana Battery, and served with the same in all its marches and engagements until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Indianapolis in June, 1865. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign, as well as many other lesser engagements. At Dallas, Ga., he was severely injured by the recoil of a piece of artillery, resulting in partial paralysis. For two years after his return from the army, he was engaged in railroading. He then bought a farm in Ray Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where he resided until October, 1876, when he sold and bought another in Gregg Township, where he still resides. - He was married, September 21, 1861, to Miss Mary J. Hancock, a native of Franklin County, Ky. Five children, two sons and three daughters, have blessed their union, all of whom are yet living. Mr. Smith is a member of Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M., and is also a member of the G. A. R. In politics, he is a Republican, and is a respected citizen of Gregg Township.

WILLIAM H. SMITH, dealer in general merchandise, Herbemont, Ind., was born in this township November 5, 1846, and is the sixth of the twelve children of Allen and Elizabeth (Brown) Smith, natives of

Kentucky and of English descent. William H. Smith was reared to farming, and received hig education at the common schools. December 6, 1866, he married Mollie E. , daughter of Thomas Dickson, and became the father of seven children - Ida B., Thomas &.., Esta D., Lura E., Iva (deceased), Maggie and Herman. In 1874, Mr. Smith embarked in mercantile business at Herbemont, where he has done a thriving business. He is a Master Mason, and has acted as Past Master. In 1882, he purchased an interest ia a saw-mill, with which he has done fairly. He is owner of a good and improved farm of sixty acres, which will always furnish a fine home and revenue. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN B. STALET was born in Randolph County, N. C, February 21, 1821, and is the third son of the thirteen children of Eli and Mary (Rhodes) Staley; the former born January 6, 1794, the latter January 4, 1796, married in 1813, and both natives of North Carolina, who moved to this State in 1832, and settled in Adams Township on Government land, where they resided for thirty years, and reared a family of nine daughters and three sons. John B. was reared at home and to farming, but without education. July 18, 1840, in Paris, 111. , he married Sarah Brown, a native of Virginia, as a result of which contract were born twelve children - an infant (deceased), George T. (deceased), Mary (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Lucinda, Matilda (deceased), Margaret, Malinda J. (deceased), Martha Ann (deceased), Delphina (deceased), Sarah Emily and Luella Mr. Staley is owner of a fine farm of 160 acres near the town of Hall, which, after eleven years' residence, he has rented and retired to the town. He has been liberal to his children in matters of education, and is an exemplary man generally. He is Democratic in politics, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

WALTER C. STOUT was born in Randolph County, N. C, October 11, 1828, and is the second son of Allen and Sarah (Brewer) Stout, who moved to this State in 1831, and settled in Monroe Township, where they resided five years; then removed to Hendricks County, and entered 320 acres. There Mr. Stout died in 1841, aged forty-six years, and Mrs. Stout died at Monrovia in 1852, aged fifty-two years. Walter C. Stout passed his boyhood on the home farm, and in school going. In 1844, be began learning brick-masonry, at which he worked fourteen years. May 16, 1848, he married Candace Williams, a union productive of eight children - Elvina E., Howard, John Wesley, Crittenden C, Mary, Byron, Thomas and Ira. The mother of these children died December 8, 1864, when about thirty-eight years old, a member of the M. E. Church. February 17, 1868, he married Mrs. Dartula Wolf; this marriage gave being to four children - Joseph, Cordelia, Leotis and Ollie (deceased). In 1844, Mr. Stout began studying law, which he afterward gave up and went to farming. In 1852, he was engaged in mercantile business at Hall. In 1856-58, he was Deputy Sheri£f of this county under Dick Williams. In 1867, he resumed his legal studies, and is at present Deputy Prosecutor of this township. In 1870, he located in this township, since when he has lived at Wilbur. He is a prominent stump speaker, and a radical Republican.

THOMAS WILHITE, the seventh son of the fifteen children born to Noah and Polly (Williams) Wilhite, came into the world at Oldham County, Ky., October 9, 1831. His parents moved to this State from Kentucky in 1835, and here resided until death. Th(pmas was reared to farming in this county, receiving by times some education from the common schools. After his majority, in March, 1852, he married Miss Candace Wilson, which union was united by the birth of four phildren - Perry, Mary, John A., and Grant (deceased). The mother of these children died March, 1871, and five years thereafter Mr. Wilhite married Eleanor Kirns, and to this alliance was vouchsafed one child - Ernest. For some years, Mr. "Wilhite has been engaged in the saw and flouring mill enterprise, which he has managed very encouragingly; previous to this departure, his business was farming and stock-raising. He is a Republican in politics, and an earnest temperance advocate. He is prominent in good and benevolent works, an honored citizen, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

NOAH H. WILHITE is a native of this township, was born April 26, 1835, and is a son of Noah and Mary (Williams) Wilhite, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, who came to this State from Kentucky in 1834 and settled on land in this township, where they reared thirteen children. Our subject was reared to the honorable pursuit of farming, acquired a fair education from the public schools, and became an adept in luusic, both instrumental and vocal. October 6, 1855, in Adams Township, he married Mary A. Hobbs, by whom he has become father to five children - Saletha Belle, Urban C, John E., Emma G. and George W. In 1872, Mr. Wilhite removed to Illinois, remained three years in Effingham County, where he taught the science of music, and later returned, from ill health, to Indiana. For the last five years, he has managed the homestead. The father of our subject died in March, 1860, aged sixty-nine, and his mother in July, 1858, aged sixty-two years. The daughter of our subject - Mrs. Deer - is- also a teacher of vocal and instrumental music.

AARON L. WILHITE is a native of Oldham County, Ky., was born June 16, 1824, and is a son of Lamech and Mary (Koebler) Wilhite, natives of Virginia, who moved first to Kentucky, and later, in 1836, to Indiana, where they settled on a tract of Government land in this township; thence they moved to Monrovia, wheretheyclosed their lives - he at about seventy- four, and she at about seventy-nine years of age - and they had a family of seven sons and seven daughters. Aaron worked for his father and attended school until he reached the age of twenty-two. November 19, 1846, in Hendricks County, he married Rebecca Wiltz, which union was cemented by five children - Alexander, Sarah (deceased), Mattie, Elnora and Lafayette. Mr. Wilhite is agreeably located on a fine farm, comprising ninety-nine acres, cultivated and improved. He is a liberal, charitable man, a strong temperance advocate, a practical farmer and an honored citizen. One of his sons and one of his daughters hold positions as teachers. He and wife are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Wilhite is a Steward.

THOMAS J. WILHITE was born in what is now this township March 25, 1840, and is the fifth child of Joshua and Virginia A. (Brown) Wilhite, natives of Virginia, who married in Oldham County, Ky., whence they came to this State in 1831, and settled in this county, where they remained until 1858; then removed to Kansas, where they died, the father in 1867, aged sixty-two, the mother in 1879, aged seventy-four years, having reared a family of six children. Thomas J. was bred to farming, and attended the schools of the time. July 6, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-first Indiana Heavy Artillery, in which he served actively ixntil January, 1866, being then honorably discharged. He took part in the battles' of Baton Rouge, Port Hudson, Port Morgan, Spanish Fort, Mobile and many skirmishes. Returning home on veteran furlough March 15, 1864, he married Miss Candace, daughter of John H. Phillips. This union was strengthened by seven children - Minnie C, Clara I., Gertrude, Frank E., Beryl E. , Tennie E. and an infant (deceased). In 1873, Mr. "Wilhite was elected Justice of the Peace; moved to Plainfield in 1876, and to this county in 1879; farmed one year; embarked in the harness business at Monrovia, and came to Hall in 1881, where he engaged in the harness business for himself. In politics, he is a Greenbacker. Mr. Wilhite has considerable property, for which he has labored actively and honorably. He and wife belong to the Christian Church.

JACOB A. WILHITE is a native of this township, was born June 10, 1849, and is the eldest child of Elijah and Jane (Pruitt) Wilhite, natives of Kentucky, who came to this State in early life with their parents; they married in this township and reared a family of seven children. Jacob A. Wilhite ^was reared to farming, and educated at the common schools. April 7, 1870, he married Miss Maggie, daughter of John B. Staley, and to them were bestowed four children - Clara, Minnie, Bertha and Sarah. Mr. Wilhite is a practical, experienced and successful farmer, who manages his improved and adorned farm of 160 acres, which is situated about one and a half milea west of the town of Hall. Mr. Wilhite is a member of the fraternity of Odd Fellows, and a Republican in political choice. He and wife are consistent and useful members of the Christian Church.

JOHN WILLIAMS was born in Shelby County, Ky., August 19, 1801, and is a son of John and Sarah (Kirkendall) Williams, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. He grew to manhood on a farm, and acquired a rudimentary education at the Kentucky subscription schools. February 1, 1821, he married Elizabeth Pruitt, and to them were born nine children - Zerilda (deceased), Tabitha (deceased). Candace (deceased), Perlina (deceased), John B. , William, Matilda, Rice (deceased) and Levi (deceased). The mother of these children died March il, 1845, agfed about forty-eight. August 7, 1848, Mr. Williams wedded Elizabeth K. Whittaker, from which marriage resulted one child - Mary M. This mother also died (October 6, 1883,) aged seventy-two. Mr. Whittaker came to this State in 1830, and located on Government land. He now owns a good farm of 300 acres.

William Williams was born June 20, 1832, and is a son of John Williams. He was reared a farmer, and March 25, 3854, married Martha A., daughter of Samuel Wilhite, deceased, to which marriage , were allotted five children - Delphina, Olive E., Charles, Calvin and Elvin. January, 1861, at Austin, Mo., he enlisted in Company B., Fourteenth Missouri State Guard: served fourteen months, and in a skirmish suffered a broken hip. In 1863, he returned to and settled in this State. Mr. Williams has more than once been engaged with the James and Younger outlaws. He resides with his father, and is owner of eighty acres of superior land. He is a brave, courageous man, and feared, but respected.

JOHN A. WILSON is a native of this county, was born August 28, 1843, and is a son of John F. and Hannah (Pruitt) Wilson, natives of Kentucky. John A. Wilson obtained an ordinary education and remained at home until he was of age. July 20, 1863, he enlisted in Company L,

Twenty-first Eegiment, First Heavy Artillery, served until February, 1866, and was discharged honorably. After long and active service his only casualty was an injury to his little finger. After the war, he engaged in farming, where he has since made his home. November 22, 1866, he married in Cumberland County, 111., Mary M., daughter of John Williams, and a native of this township. To this union were bestowed six children - Otis E., Olin M., Ira E., Myrtie, Myron L* and Chauncy L. Mr. Wilson manages his home farm of fifty-five acres - a good, improved and valuable property. Except some little time passed in Missouri and Kansas, Mr. Wilson has made his home in these parts. He is Republican in political principles, and he and wife are consistent and honorary members of the Christian Church.

JEFFERSON WOODEN was born in Jefferson County, Ky., May 27, 1821, and is the eldest son of Robert M. and Malinda Wooden, natives of Kentucky, and respectively of Irish and Scotch descent. Jefferson was brought up on a farm and educated in the subscription schools of Owen County, Ind., where his parents had located, and where they ended their days. He left his father's home when he was twenty years of age, and January 14, 1844, married Mary E. Wilson, and to them were bestowed four children - Leannor, Thena, John R. and Malinda B. (deceased). Mr. Wooden is located on 165 acres of improved land, making a very comfortable home, nearly all of which is his own acquirement. He is a Republican, was elected County Assessor in 1872, and is an esteemed, quiet and useful citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Wooden are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and greatly regarded in their church and community.

JOHN B. COX, deceased, was born November 12, 1829, in Morgan County, Ind., and here made his home until the day of his death, which occurred October 11, 1865. He was reared as a farmer, and educated at the public schools and at Franklin College, in Johnson County, Ind. September 20, 1853, he was married in his native county to Harriet Landers, daughter of the Hon. William Landers, an early settler of Morgan County, and had born to him three children - Florence C, Emma S. and Ida B., all of whom were still living at the time of his death. Mr. Cox was one of the most, extensive farmers and stock-dealers in MorganWounty, and was one of the firm of Fee, Conduitt & Cox, wholesale dry goods merchants of Indianapolis. He was a cheerful and honorable man, a liberal and consistent Christian, a devoted, active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Upon his death-bed he appropriated $1,000 to be expended in annual payments toward supporting the circuit minister in charge of the church to which he and his family belonged. He was also a prominent Mason, by the rites and ceremonies of which order his funeral and burial services were conducted. He left an extensive property, most of which had been acquired by his own industry. The three little girls, under the care and guidance of a Christian mother, have grown to womanhood. Two of them - Mrs. J. L. Matthews and Mrs. C. H. Sheets - reside at

THOMAS ELY is the tenth of twelve children born to David and Sarah (Claypool) Ely, natives of Virginia, and of German and English descent. Thomas Ely was born in Lee County Va., January 2, 1826 ; in 1837, he came with his parents to Hendricks County, this State, where his father died in 1845 ; he came with his mother to this county, in 1847, and located in Brown Township, but a short time afterward came to this township, and here his mother departed this life in 1857. Mr. Ely has cleared from the forest a tine farm of 135 acres, which is well tilled and equipped, and stocked with horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. December 28, 1848, he married Martha J., daughter of Caltonand Nancy {Jones) Grisham, and a native of Morgan County. The children born to this union are Keuben, Elizabeth, Eenjamin F. and Drusilla. Mr. Ely is a Democrat, and was once elected Justice of the Peace of Madsion Township, but declined the office; he is an advocate of temperance and an Odd Fellow, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

DAVID T. EVANS was born in Metcalf County, Ky., August 7, 1843, is the third of fifteen children born to Robert and Lucy (Button) Evans, and came to Indiana in 1861 with his parents. He worked at farming until 1877, when he began mercantile business at Redhouse, now known as Waverly. Three years later, he moved tO' Exchange, Ind. , remained one year, and then came to Landersdale, where he is now doing a first-class business. July 3, 1878, he married SophroniaE. Smith, daughter of William H. Smith, and a native of Kentucky. Three children have been born to this union - Elsie, Elmer and William R. Mr. Evans was Postmaster at Exchange for a year, and has been Deputy Postmaster at Landersdale since March 1, 1881. He is a member of Waverly Lodge, No. 318, I. O. O. F., and also of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Evans is a member of the Christian Church.

ANDREW J. GOODPASTER (deceased) was born in Bath County, Ky., November 24, 1822, was the son of Michael and Margaret (Carpenter) Goodpaster, and was reared a farmer. September 19, 1844, he marrieid Scythia Carpenter, also a native of Bath County, born February 20; 1824, and dau^ter of Michael and Sallie (Jones) Carpenter. The month following his marriage, Mr. Goodpaster came to this township and settled on a farm which had been entered by his father-in-law, built a cabin and reduced the forest to a home, where he lived until his death, July 18, 1865. His widow now conducts the farm, which consists of eighty acres, and is well cultivated and stocked. She is a consistent Christian, an amiable woman, arid the mother of six children - Sarah M., Andrew Jackson, Mary M., Betsy Ann, Nancy J. (deceased), and Lou, the last named now a teacher.

WILLIAM LANDERS (deceased) was born in Virginia December 18, 1789, and died in Madison Township, this county, December 10, 1851. When he was but a mere child, his parents removed to the State of Kentucky, where his mother died, and from whence his father came into Indiana. Our subject arrived in Morgan County in the year 1819, and at once purchased from the Government a large tract of land, upon which he settled and spent the rest of his life. Before leaving Kentucky, he was married to Ibbe Stone, who died in Morgan County October 3, 1821. She had borne her husband five children, viz. , Jonathan,

William, Joshua, Nimrod and Jeremiah, Joshua being the only one now living. November 29, 1822, our subject was married, in Jackson Township, to Delilah Ston^, a younger sister of his first wife. She bore him the following children, viz. , Washington, who died in the thirtieth year of his age; Franklin, now the Hon. Franklin Landers, of Indianapolis; Sarah, wife of Cyrus Vickeiy, of Iowa; Ibbe, who died in 1838 at ten years of age; John, now of Landers & Co., Indianapolis; Martin, died in 1852, about twenty years of age; Harriet, widow of J. B. Cox; and Jackson, now of Landers & Co., Indianapolis. The mother of these children died March 11, 1883, and the following from the obituary notice published in the Indianapolis Journal of the following day pays a fitting tribute to a noble woman: "The pioneers of the 'New Purchase' are leaving one by one, and in a few years none will remain to tell of the early settlement of this section of the State. The last to leave was Mrs. Delilah Stone Landers, the venerable mother of the Hon. Franklin Landers, who died in this city yesterday morning, at the* home of her son, Jackson Landers, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. Mrs. Landers was born in Mercer County, Ky., November 15, 1798. In the fall of 1819, her father emigrated to Indiana, and settled in Morgan County, near the Marion and Johnson County lines. In 1822, she was married to William Landers, one of the earliest settlers of this section of the State. She bore him nine children, six of whom are now living, three of them - Hon. Franklin Landers, John Landers and Jackson Landers - being well known residents of this city. When Mrs. Landers was married, her husband had five small children by a former wife. These, with the nine she bore him, grew up under her care and guidance, and became respected, and honored citizens. What brighter crown than this could gild her brow ? * * * After her husband's death, she continued to reside upon the farm and diredt its cultivation until some ten years ago, when she removed to this city, and has since lived here with her sons. She conducted her farming operations with success, and added much to the patrimony left by her husband. She was a member of the first Baptist Church organized in the section where she lived. * * * gjjg (jie,j in the assurance of a blessed immortality. * * * jjgp memory will be revered by those who grew up around her, for she was a good woman, abounding in those virtues which honor womanhood and make the world better." At his death, William Landers had been for several years one of the Associate Judges of Morgan County; he was also County Commissioner for a number of years, and at a very early date was elected Justice of the Peace, and held the office for about sixteen consecutive years. About the year 1835, he made the race for the Legislature against Dumont, the issue being based upon the internal improvement schemes so largely under^ken by the State about that time, Landers maintaining that the undertaking was too great, that the State was financially incapable of meeting such gigantic obligations, and, though defeated, he lived to see his opponents go down, and the correctness of his theories demonstrated. In politics, our subject was an uncompromising Democrat, and his life and infl.uence were such as to mold and shape the politics of the commanity in which he lived, and it is somewhat remarkable that, though he has been dead nearly a third of a century, the township in which he lived and died has never once given a Kepublican majority. At the time of his death he was a Master Mason, and had been for many years a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

GEOEGE W. LOWE was born in Guilford County, N. C., July 4, 1832, and is the fifth of seven children born to Absalom and Sarah. (Coble) Lowe, natives of North Carolina and of German extraction. In 1882, while George W. was yet an infant, the family came to Hendricks. County, this State, remained a year, and then came to this township, purchased a farm, developed it from the wilderness, and here the father died in July, 1877, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; his widow, now eighty-three years of age, still survives. On this farm George W. Lowe was reared until eighteen years old, when he entered upon an apprenticeship of three years at carpentering. June 20, 1858, he married Sarah J., daughter of John Simpson, a native of Kentucky; and DOW the mother of three children - William W., Anderson and Noel. In politics, Mr. Lowe is a Democrat, and is Assessor of Madison Township, having been elected for four years. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his son William is now a teacher. The home farm contains 161 acres, and is well stocked and improved.

EZRA A. OLLEMAN was born in Mercer County, Ky., October 6, 1828, and is the eldest of four children born to James and Mary (Tisinger) Oileman, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina. At tne age of fourteen, Ezra' lost his father; he was then employed at driving cattle from Indianapolis to New York, at $6.50 per month; was thus engaged, alternating with farming, until 1846, when he began a three years' apprenticeship at cabinet-making in Cincinnati. In 1849, he came to Mooresville, and for three years conducted business as cabinet-maker, then sold out and engaged in merchandising at Waverly until 1858; he next purchased 320 acres of land in this township, on which he has since resided, with the exception of three years, when he was employed as associate editor of the Indiana Farmer at Indianapolis. During this period he also established, in company with James Buchanan, the Sun, the first paper ever published in the interests of the Greenback National party, of which party he was the first Chairman of the State Central Committee, and also first Chairman of the State Executive Committee. Through the regular session of the Legislature of 1863-64, and the' called session of 1864-65, he served as a Republican, having been elected from a district that usually gave 700 Democratic majority. In the spring of 1863, he enlisted in Company D, Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but was discharged on account of physical disability. Augusts 16, 1849, he was married to Amanda M. Kelley, daughter of James S. and Eliza (Whetsel) Kelley, natives of Harrisburg, Penn., and Wheeling, Va Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and the Whetsel family came to Indiana in 1819, and settled on the banks of the White River, in Harrison Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley were married in December, 1826; were the parents of four children, and died respectively in 1862 and 1852, members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. OUeman are the parents of five children - Orlando A., Alma Belle, Flora E., Laura E. and Edward L., and are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. IMr. O. is also a member of the Mooresville Masonic Lodge, No. 78.

JOHN B. RINKER, farmer and stock grower, was born in Washington County, Ind. , May 2, 1825, and is the son of Levi and Elizabeth (Craycraft) Rinker. In 1829, the family came to Clay Township, thia county, where the parents closed their lives. John R. Rinker was educated at the subscription schools of his early days, and remained upon the home farm until February 2, 1851, when he married Elizabeth Clark| a native of Morgan County, and daughter of John and Rebecca (Matj thews) Clark. The children born to this union were three - Frank, El M. and Anna E. Their mother died January 29, 1874, a member of the Methodist EpiRCopal Church, and on March 30, 1875, Mr. Rinker married Ella Beckley, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of James and Elizabeth (Christie) Beckley. One child, Walter A.., has crowned this union. Mr. Rinker is a Democrat, and for three years was Township Trustee. He owns a well-improved farm of 100 acres, made by his own exertions. His daughter, Annie E., is a prominent teacher in the schools of the county, and his wife, Mrs. Ellen Rinker, for twelve years taught in Hendricks and Morgan Counties, this State, and one term in Missouri. Mr. Rinker is a Methodist and his wife a Baptist.

JOHN SAWYERS, farmer and stock grower, was born in Guilford County, N. C. , January 22, 1825, and is the youngest of the eight children born to John and Sarah (Tansy) Sawyers, natives of the same State, and of English descent. The family came to this State about the year 1832, the parents dying in this county. John Sawyers was reared on a farm, and after reaching his majority traveled through a number of the Western States. On his return, he married Phoebe Lindley, daughter of Edward and Joanna (Kirk) Lindley, and to this union have been born ten children: Dayton, Ella (now Eversol), Anna, Ola, Li Hie (now Pugh), Mattie, Ida, Lewis, Bernice and Wallace. Mr. Sawyers has always provided for himself and is now the owner of 740 acres, well improved and stocked. He makes a specialty of stock-raising, and ships largely to Indianapolis. He is a member of the Society of Friends, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

RUFUS B. SMITH was born in Harrison Township, this county, October 16, 1845, and is the second of nine children born to Robert and (Stotts) Smith, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively, and of English extraction. He was reared on the home farm, and was educated at the common schools. February 7, 1865, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, served seven months, and was honorably discharged in September of the same year. February 3, 1868, he man-ied Harriet P. Paxton, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of William and Mary Paxton. The following children were born to this marriage: Anna G., Guy O. (deceased), Dovie, Nellie, Robert Walter and Bertha. Mr. Smith is the owner of 495 acres of wellimproved land, and is largely engaged in the live stock trade - growing and buying, and shipping extensively to Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. On his land is also one of the township schoolhouses. In politics, Mr. Smith is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HENRY T. SWEARENGIN was born in Randolph County, N. C, April 19, 1819, and came with his parents to Morgan County' in 1836. On the 27th of December, 1843, he was happily married to Mary M. Parks, who bore him eight children, of whom two died in early childhood. In July, 1846, he and wife were baptized in the Christian Church at Mt. Gilead,, in which he became a Deacon in 1847 and a Trustee in 1860, and of which he continued a leading and consistent member until his death, January 20, 1884, at the age of sixty-four years nine months and one day. His widow still resides on the old homestead of 500 acres, in the management of which she is assisted by two of her sons - the youngest now twenty-three years old. Mrs. Swearengin was born in

Mason Gonnty, Ky., April 10, 1826, and is the daughter of William and Henrietta (Thomas) Parks, natives of Kentucky, and of English extraction; they came to Indiana in 1840, located in this township, and here died in 1849 and 1879 respectively, at the ages of lifty-tive and seventynine years.

CYRUS A. WATSON, farmer and stock-grower, was born in this township August 17, 1829, and is the eldest of five children born to Thomas and Mary Ann (Eoyston) Watson, natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee, and of Welsh and Irish descent. They erected the iirst log cabin in Madison Township in 1819, and came here to reside in 1823, having purchased two farms, and also having entered about 400 acres of land. Here Thomas Watson, who had served his country in the war of 1812, died in 1856; his widow still survives, at the age of seventyseven. Cyrus A. Watson was reared a farmer, and at his majority began for himself by clearing away the forest, the country still being more or less a wilderness; he is uow the owner of a well improved and well stocked farm of 200 acres. December 12, 1869, he married Susan, daughter of Daniel and Frances (Langyer) Thornberry, all natives of Virginia. To this union one child, Samuel, was born January 17, 1871. Mr. Watson is a Freemason, an Odd Fellow and a Democrat, and has held the office of Township Trustee four terms. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

BENJAMIN E. WATSON, farmer and carpenter, was born in this township October 21, 1838, and is the fourth of the five children born to Thomas and Mary (Royston) Watson, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, and respectively of Irish and English extraction. Benjamin Watson was reared on a farm, but received a good education at the subscription schools, and subsequently taught in the public schools of Morgan County for seven and one-half years. November 22, 1859, he married Elizabeth Woodward, a native of Morgan County, who bore him four children - Thomas B., Mary M., Andrew I. and Alfred. December 14, 1874, Mr. Watson, having lost his wife, married Rachel M. Perisho, a native of Clarke County, 111. As a farmer, Mr. Watson owns and manages a farm of fifty-six acres, and as a carpenter has followed the trade for over thirty years. He was one year Secretary of Grange Lodge, No. 1246, at Brooklyn, Clay Township, and in politics he is a Democrat.

ANDREW WRIGHT, a pioneer of Madison Township, was born in Harrison County, Ind., August 8, 1808, and is the eldest of ten children born to William and Mary (Inyard) Wright, natives respectively of Kentucky and Pennsylvania! William Wright served as a Lieutenant in the war of 1812, and came from Kentucky to Indiana about the year 1807; he settled in Harrison County, and there died, a respected pioneer. Andrew Wright was reared a farmer. May 15, 1834, he married Elizabeth Blunk, who bore him ten children, two of whom are yet living - Mary A. and James. The mother of these having died, Mr Wright married Roema Harden, who bore him two children; she died in 1865. Mr. Wright next married Delia Hornady. In the spring of 1884, Mr. Wright came to this township and purchased 120 acres of unimproved land, to which he has since added eighty acres. His farm is now well improved, and well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs, sheep and the necessary farming implements. In politics, Mr. Wright is now a Republican, although his first ballot was cast for Andrew Jackson for President. He is an advocate of temperance, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.