ABEL

ELIAS ABEL, one of the oldest living settlers of Monroe County, was born in Wythe County, Va., June 7, 1800. He was the eldest of three children born to Lewis and Hannah (Davis) Abel, and was reared in a log cabin. His opportunities for gaining an education were limited altogether to about six months spent in a log schoolhouse with nothing but the bare ground for a floor, and greased paper windows. His father dying about the year 1820, he took care of his mother, who was an invalid, and by working at days' work for four years the was enabled to save enough to immigrate to Indiana. After twenty one days of weary travel, on the 26th day of August, 1824, he reached the residence of his brother-in-law, Luke Ward, in Monroe County. Having nothing to begin on, he worked by the day, until April 28, 1828, when he was married to Hannah Ottwell, daughter of Naomi Ottwell, a resident of Monroe County. After his marriage, he farmed in Monroe County until December, 1841, when he removed to Bloomington, to enter upon his duties as County Treasurer, to which office he had been elected in the preceding August. He filled this office successfully and with credit to himself for thirteen years. He then served as Deputy County Treasurer until October, 1856, when he was elected to represent Monroe County in the State Legislature, and served during the winter of 1856,57. After the expiration of his term in office he again served as Deputy Treasurer until 1862, at which time he retired from active business life. His wife died in March, 1864. October 3, 1870, he was married to Cerelda Worley, daughter of Isaac Worley, one of the earliest settlers in Monroe County. Mr. Abel began on nothing, and has been the recipient of no legacies or bequests. He is the architect of his own fortune, and by his industry and energy has acquired a competency. He is at present enjoying good health, and is still considered one of the " old wheel horses" of the Democratic party in Monroe County. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Page 549

ADAMS

BENJAMIN F. ADAMS, a native of Monroe County, Ind., was born in Indian Creek Township January 2, 1827. He is the eldest son born to George and Mary (Freeland) Adams, natives of Kentucky, who located in Indian Creek Township in 1818. There the father died July, 1853, and the mother in November, 1871. "When about nineteen years of age, our subject began teaching school, and continued about two years. For some time following, he assisted his father on the farm, and when twenty three years of  age he formed a partnership with William Dudley in the general merchandise business at Stanford, Van Buren Township, Monroe County, continuing three years. At the death of his lather he/purchased the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead farm, and engaged in farming until September, 1872, at which time he removed to Bloomington for the purpose of educating his children. There he embarked in the administrator's business, and at present is the assignee and administrator of many estates. On the 8th day of May, 1853, he was married to Harriett J. Baker, daughter of Absalom Baker, an early settler in Monroe County. His wife dying February 14, 1865, he was married December 8, 1880, to Elizabeth (Betty) Evans, of Mason County, Ely. He was a charter member of Stanford .Lodge, No. 173, A, F. & A. M., and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He served some time as Councilman, and is at present a member of the City Board of School Trustees. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Pages 549 - 550

ALEXANDER

CAPT. W. M. ALEXANDER was born in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., on December 19, 1836. His parents, John H. and Margaret J. (Clark) Alexander, were natives of Kentucky. They came to Monroe in an early day, and located in Bloomington, where the father engaged in farming, and ran a mammoth tannery. In July, 1855, his death occurred, the wife having been dead for some time. Capt. Alexander was the youngest in a family of four children, and was reared in his native place until after his mother's death, when he began work by assisting the farmers in his immediate vicinity, and working at odd jobs. When twenty years of age, he began herding cattle, which he did both in Iowa and Minnesota for two years. Returning to Bloomington, he learned the blacksmith's trade with Seaward & Sons. In the spring of 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Eighteenth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Charles, and served for about four and a half years, taking part at Pea Ridge, Black Water, Cotton Plant, Magnolia Hills (after which battle he was promoted to Second Lieutenant), Champion Hills, Black River, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Mustang Island, Tex., Ft. Esperanza. and then came home on furlough. August 1, 1863, he was sent to the army of Virginia, and took part in the battles at Richmond, Winchester, Fisher Hill and Cedar Creek, after which he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and soon after, for meritorious conduct, to Captain. November, 1865, he received an honorable discharge at Darien, Ga., and, returning to Bloomington, followed his trade for a number of years. He then opened a meat market, and one year later was appointed Deputy Sheriff, which position he held until the fall of 1876, when he was elected Sheriff and two years later was re-elected by quite a large majority. He then farmed until 1882, when he was elected County Auditor, which position he at present occupies and tills with great credit to himself and benefit to the county. Mr. Alexander is a stanch Republican and a member of the Christian Church, as is also his wife. He was married September 19, 1868, to Jennie Burch, a native of Monroe County, by whom there was one child, which died December, 1880. His wife died one year and three months after marriage, and he was next married to Mrs. Jennie Hoover, daughter of Capt. John Sluss, of Monroe County, on January 7, 1883. Mr. Alexander is a member of the K. of P., Franklin Lodge, No. 22. He is highly esteemed by all who know him, both as a citizen and as an official. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Page 550

ALLEN

WILLIAM J. ALLEN, only son of John W. and Fannie J. (Clark) Allen, was born September 8, 1836, in Putnam County, Ind. He was reared on a farm in Perry Township, Monroe County, Ind., whither he came with his parents when but three months old. In September, 1850, he entered the State University, and remained until the death of his father September 8, 1852. In April, 1853; he came to Bloomington with his mother, and entered the employ of W. O. Fee, a dry goods merchant, with whom he remained for nearly a year. March 13, 1854, he went to California, where he mined until the spring of 1857, when he returned to Bloomington. Removing thence to Iowa, he remained a short time. In September, 1857, he was married to Harriet L. Swearingen, daughter of Charles and Harriet Swearingen, residents of Monroe County. They had three children, John C, Fannie C. and Joseph H. His wife died on November 8, 1865, and in July following he was married to Eliza J. Allen, daughter of Robert N. and Elizabeth Allen, of Greencastle, Ind. They have six children, Robert N., Eliza L., Mary M., William D., Eva O. and Arthur G. He farmed after his first marriage until the war broke out in 1862, and then enlisted in Company A, Fifty fourth Indiana Light Artillery, serving for three years, taking part in the battles at Atlanta, Jonesboro and Nashville, and on July 5, 1865, received an honorable discharge. Returning to Bloomington, he he was engaged in the stove and tinware business with M. E. Benegar, afterward with Samuel Osborn, until 1870, when he purchased the whole stock, and at present does a lucrative business in stoves, tin and hardware, also agricultural implements, and all kinds of building material. Mr. Allen is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and politically he is a Republican. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Page 550 - 551

AXTELL

DR. A. J. AXTELL, one of the leading physicians in Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., was born October 18, 1827, in Washington County, Penn., where he was reared until nine years of age. He then went to Knox County, Ohio, with his parents, Thomas and Mary (Weir) Axtell, natives of Pennsylvania, entered the Martinsburg College, attended two years, and afterward taught school for some time. In .1847, he began to study medicine with Drs. Connors & Welsh, in Noble County, Ohio, continuing for three years. In 1850, he entered the regular practice of his profession there, and four years later removed to Greene County, Ind., remaining there for nearly twenty years. In 1873, he came to Blooming­ton, where he has since been successfully engaged. In August, 1863, he was elected Captain of Company A, Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteers, organized at Terre Haute, and sent to Memphis, Tenn., where, on account of ill health, he was compelled to resign. He has served two years as Coroner of Monroe County. On November 7, 1850, he was married to Susan M. Gilkerson, daughter of Thomas C. and Sarah Gilkerson, of No­ble County, Ohio. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living, Charles J., William F., Mattie, Henry O., Mary B., Harry A. and an infant. Dr. Axtell is Secretary of a Masonic Lodge, is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church. - Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana Historical and Biographical, By Charles Blanchard, Published by F. A. Battey & Co, 1884, Page 551

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