"COUNTIES OF MORGAN, MONROE &
BROWN, INDIANA. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL."
CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR.
CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS.
1884.F. A. BATTEY. F. W.
TEPPLE
CLAY TOWNSHIP, MORGAN CO., INDIANA
WILLIAM BLACK, J.P., Brooklyn, is
the
second of four children of Samuel J. and Mary J. (Lewis) Black, and born in
Mooresville, Morgan County, on
February 29, 1836. Samuel J., the father, was born in Erie
County, Penn., on June 16,
1812, and came to Indiana in 1824, settling near Indianapolis, but coming soon to Mooresville, Morgan
County. On October 17, 1833, he married Mary J. Lewis. He died on
March 19, 1851; his wife, September 5,1855. Our subject was reared upon
a farm, and received but a limited education. In 1848, he went to Iowa
with an uncle, sojourning in that State ten years, when he returned to Indiana in
October, 1859. On July 6, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty first
Indiana Infantry, served until December 16, 1863, when he "veteranized: and
continued in the service until the close of the war. On the organization of
his company he was made Corporal, but
was promoted to First Sergeant before
his discharge. He participated in the battle of Baton Rouge, sieges of Port
Hudson, Fort Morgan, Fort Spanish and Fort Blakely. At the time of his
discharge, January 22, 1866, he had contracted a disability from which he
will probably never recover. While at home on a furlough, he was married, on
December 7, 1865, to Sarah Steele, a native of Morgan County. Mrs.
Black's father was in the Mexican war, and died in that service. To Mr. and
Mrs. Black have been born four children. Both are members of the Christian Church,
as is also their eldest daughter. Mr. Black is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
and a stanch Republican. He held the office of Trustee of Clay Township
from 1872 to 1874. He is at present a Justice of the Peace of this
township. By trade he is a carpenter.
W. C. GREESON, harness-maker,
Brooklyn, is the youngest of fourteen children born to John and Barbara (Spoon) Greeson,
natives of North Carolina, and
respectively of German and English extraction. The parents
emigrated from their native
State to Indiana in about 1840, coming to Mooresville, Morgan County, and there lived until their
death, respectively in 1851 and 1852, both members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. W. C. Greeson was born in Mooresville November 18, 1844, and grew
to manhood upon a farm, receiving a common school education. At about
eighteen years of age, Mr. Greeson enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Indiana
Infantry, and served three years. He was promoted to Corporal in 1863.
He took part in battle of Richmond, Ky. He was here captured August 27,
1862; was paroled on the 30th, and in November was exchanged. He was sent
from Indianapolis to Cairo., Ill., and thence to Memphis, and finally to winter
quarters at Tallahassee Bottoms.
In the spring the regiment went to Vicksburg, and there took part in
that severely contested
engagement. In September, after the evacuation of the city, they went to Memphis, Tenn.
Corp. Greeson was also engaged in the battles of Jackson, Miss., Missionary
Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope
Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Savannah, Griswoldville, Columbia, S.C.,
Bentonville and Raleigh, N.C., and in
Sherman's "march to the sea."
Through exposure, our soldier subject became afflicted with chronic diarrhea, and also
received a severe wound with an ax in his left leg at Vicksburg. He
was discharged June 20, 1865. He was married November 9, 1865, to Mary A.
Peek, a native of this township, and a member of the Christian Church. Mr.
Greeson is a Mason; was Junior Warden for three and Senior Warden for two
years, and was also Trustee of Clay Township for five years, and is a
Republican. Mr. Greeson owns ninety three
acres of land, well improved, six
lots, two dwellings, and a shop in Brooklyn. In 1876, Mr. Greeson left
his farm and came to Brooklyn, where he is engaged in harness making, and has
since been doing a good business.
BARNARD B. BUSH, of the firm of Bush
& Brother, dealers in general merchandise, was born in Orange County,
N.Y., on September 18, 1856, and is a son of George B. and Mary (Lyon) Bush,
having been the second of their
four children. The firm of Bush & Brother does a thriving
business, is carrying a stock
of $3,000, and trading annually to the amount of $10,000 at Centerton, Ind. Barnard B. was
reared on a farm, and attended the public schools a sufficient length of time to
enable him to teach. Mr. Bush, Sr., and his wife came to Indianapolis from
New York, and from there moved to Centerton. On the breaking out of
the war, he went into the service, but never returned to his home. Barnard
B. began life for himself at nineteen years of age, at farming, and continued
in that pursuit until 1880, when he engaged in the mercantile business, and
ever since has been doing a thriving trade in that line at Centerton.
Mr. Bush was married, on September 30, 1878, to Emma Ferguson, a native of
Morgan County, Ind., and by her he has had two children, May, born May 2, 1880,
and Lee, born September 23, 1883. Mrs. Bush is a consistent member of the
Christian Church, Mr. Bush is a
Republican and holds the office of Trustee of the township, being now
in his second term.
After his first election, he made a special levy of 35 cents on the $100, for the purpose of building
a graded schoolhouse of four rooms.
This became an issue in his second
election, and he having been successful, the building was completed, and a school
is taught there which is a credit to any township. Mr. Bush is a self
made man, not having depended upon any one for help in climbing the ladder to
prosperity.
CALVIN ELY is the fourth of the five
children born to David and Mary E. (McCracken) Ely, natives of Virginia and
North Carolina, and of English
descent; was born in Clay Township, Morgan County, Ind., May 3,
1849, and passed his childhood
on his father's farm. He received instruction at the public schools sufficient to enable him
to become one of our county's
teachers. Mr. Ely attended the
State Normal School at Terre Haute during 1874 and 1875, and also graduated from
the International Business College of Indianapolis June 1, 1872. As he
was then fully competent as a teacher, he followed that profession for about eight
years, at the same time engaging in book-keeping. In the meantime, he
served as Deputy in the Auditor's, Treasurer's and Clerk's offices at
Martinsville. On January 10, 1878, Mr. Ely was married to Frances A. Stafford, a
native of Morgan County, and
daughter of Wiley and Sarah (Slaughter) Stafford, natives of Morgan
County, Ind., and of English
and German descent. By this union they have had one child born to them, Charles, born August
2, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Ely belong to the Christian and to the Methodist
Episcopal Churches respectively. Mr. Ely is a member of the A. F. & A.
M. Since his marriage, he has been engaged in farming 192 acres which he
owns, and has highly improved. On this place is a fine residence, barn,
fences, orchard, etc.; it is stocked with hogs, horses, sheep and cattle, and
further provided with all necessary farming implements. In collecting
this, Mr. Ely has depended upon himself only and has received nothing from any
man.
A. J. FIELDS was born in Madison
Township, Morgan County, August 20,
1830, and is the son of Allen
and Elizabeth
(Ritcher) Fields, natives respectively of North Carolina and Virginia.
The parents came to Indiana in 1828, and located in Madison Township, where
they resided until their death. Our subject was reared upon a farm,
received a rather limited education, and came to Clay Township on January 1,
1853, and continued farming, being at present located upon a farm of 138
acres of well improved land, of which he
is the owner. He has been twice
married. First to Clarissa Butterfield, on December 18, 1853. She was
native of Morgan County, and daughter of Veloris and Clarissa Butterfield. Seven
children were born to them, Omer A., born February 12, 1856, died July 17,
1870; Francis O., born August 10, 1860, died March 30, 1882; Martin A.,
born November 30, 1868, died May 18, 1882; George A., born December 4, 1871,
died November 25, 1874; Ada A., born August 18, 1858; William F.,
born July 13, 1864; Annetta, born July 15,
1862. The mother of these
children died on October 2, 1872, a consistent member of the Christian Church.
He was next married, on March 20, 1874, to Eleanor Butterfield, who was born on
January 15, 1837. She is the daughter of John H. and Eleanor Butterfield.
They have no children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fields are members of the
Christian Church, in which he has been Deacon for the past twenty years. Consistent
in his piety, lavish in his gifts to charity, upright in his dealings with
his fellow-man, Mr. Fields is
respected by all who know him.
Mr. F.'s father, Allen Fields, was born on March 18, 1789, and died on October
24, 1877; his mother, Elizabeth Fields, was born on December 2, 1793, and
died on April 24, 1864.
JOHN HINER GREGORY (deceased) was
born in Morgan County, Ind., July 4, 1842, and is the son of Daniel and Mary
(Cox) Gregory, of English lineage. John H., was reared upon a farm, and was
educated at the common schools.
February 7, 1866, he was married to
Amanda J., a native of Morgan County, born February 14, 1844, and a
daughter of William and Eleanor (Clark) Rinker. Three children were
given them, Oliver L. (deceased), Albert and Melva I. The father died on
April 7, 1882, in the membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which
his wife belongs. Mrs. Gregory is living upon a farm of 122 acres of
land, well improved and abundantly stocked. Mr. Gregory enlisted
August 6, 1862, in Company H, Seventieth Indiana Infantry, and served three
years. He participated in the following battles: Russellville, Resaca,
Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach
Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah, and was also with Sherman on his "march to
the sea." He was honorably discharged on June 8, 1865. He then resumed
farming, was always a most devoted husband and father, as well as a respected
citizen. Being early left an orphan, Mr. Gregory lived with an uncle until he
had nearly attained his majority, when he returned to Morgan County,
Ind. Mrs. Gregory is residing on the old homestead of Levi Rinker.
ALEXANDER HARDWICK was born November
10, 1842, in Clay Township, Morgan County, Ind. His father,
William Hardwick, was born in Tennessee in 1808, and while he was quite young his
parents moved with him to Kentucky. He then went with them to Mooresville,
at the age of fifteen, and in 1835 married Elizabeth Cox, who was born
in Pennsylvania in 1815. She went to Ohio with her parents in early youth,
and thence to Morgan County. Here she was married to William Hardwick, and
they have been living in this county ever since. Mr. Hardwick was of
English Scotch, and his wife of Irish Dutch descent. Alexander, their son,
and our subject, was born and reared near Centerton. His advantages for
an education were limited, but he improved such opportunities as he had, and
thus acquired sufficient learning to become a successful teacher.
This profession he has followed for about ten years. He has been for six
years engaged in the flouring mill and in the grain business. For about two
years he was engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Hardwick never
aspired to any public office, but was elected Trustee of the township in 1874,
which position he resigned at the expiration of the first year.
He has been a member of the I. O. O. F., Martinsville, Lodge No. 274, since
1868. In 1860, he began to do business for himself, and in March, 1868,
married Eliza E., daughter of Joel and Elizabeth Matthews. Joel was a
son of Hiram, or Judge Matthews, as he is commonly known. Elizabeth
Rooker is a daughter of Wilson and Polly Rooker, all old settlers of Morgan County,
and have lived and are living near
Mooresville. Mr. Hardwick's
present occupation is teaching, of which he is seemingly fond.
HON. FRANKLIN LANDERS was born in
Morgan County, Ind., March 22, 1825. His father, William Landers, was one of
the pioneers of the New Purchase, and here Franklin was reared a farmer and
educated at the country schools.
After reaching his majority, he
followed teaching a few terms, and with his earnings therefrom, added to those
from his farm labors, in company with his brother, Washington, he opened a
general store at Waverly, Ind. A few years later, he purchased a section of land
in this township, laid out the town of
Brooklyn, brought his merchandise
here, and for several years sold goods, farmed, reared and dealt in stock,
and before he was of middle age, became one of the wealthiest men in the
country. He accumulated money without an apparent effort, and spent it like a
prince. Objects of charity and benevolent institutions were the
recipients of his bounty, and the poor and the needy who knew him have every
reason to bless him. He has established no less than five churches upon his
lands, and to their support has given liberally. In 1860, he was
nominated for State Senator, and defeated his opponent, Samuel Oyler, one of the
most popular men of Indiana, by a large majority. In the Legislature,
he acquitted himself with honor, and to the satisfaction of his
constituency. He favored a vigorous prosecution of the war for the preservation of the
Union; he advocated the enforcement of military law where civil law was
overthrown, and upon all questions tending to establish the supremacy of a
united government, his voice was in the affirmative. He moved to the
city of Indianapolis in 1864, where, in company with other well known
gentlemen, he engaged in the wholesale dry goods business, which he has since
followed. He is also the head of the firm of Landers & Co., pork
packers and commission merchants, and is one of the most extensive farmers in the
State. He owns four fine farms, aggregating 2,100 acres, in Morgan
County, one of 250 acres in Marion, and one of 160 acres in Hamilton, all of
which receive his personal supervision.
He was candidate for Presidential
elector on the McClellan ticket in 1864. In 1874, he was elected to Congress,
where he took rank as leader upon all questions of finance. In 1875,
the Greenback party nominated him for Governor, but the Democratic
convention before which his name was presented for endorsement, finding the contest
between Mr. Landers and the Hon. W. S. Holman to be so warm as to preclude
the possibility of harmony in the party, both those gentlemen were withdrawn,
and a compromise effected upon the Hon.
James Williams. Over his
protest, Mr. Landers' friends nominated him for Congress in 1876, and through
defeated, he ran ahead of his ticket over 800, and his candidacy added much to the
strength of the Democracy, and led to the election of Mr. Williams as
Governor, and carried the State of Indiana for Tilden and Hendricks. In
1880, he led the Democratic hosts as their candidate for Governor, the result of
which campaign is a part of the
history of our country. Mr.
Landers has been twice married; first to Miss Mary Shuffleberger, who died in 1864,
leaving two children, and next to Mrs. Martha Conduitt, by whom he has had
born to him four children.
DR. CHAMBERS M. LINDLEY was born in
Crawford County, Ill., on January 1, 1832. His father came from
North Carolina, and settled in Orange County, Ind., while the country was yet a
wilderness and inhabited by the Indians. Shortly afterward, he moved to
Crawford County, near Huntsville, Ill., and the country being wild and unsettled,
he with all the early settlers,
endured many hardships and
privations. He was a member of the Friends' Church, and this ten children were
brought up under its influence. He died in 1837. Chambers M., the
subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm. At the age of fifteen, he lost an arm by
a runaway horse. After a season at the pioneer schools, he came to Parke
County, Ind., and attended the
Bloomingdale School, conducted by the
Friends. Then he taught for a period of three years. He then began
the study of medicine, and attended the medical colleges at Ann Arbor, Mich.,
and Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from the latter institution in 1860.
He then began the practice of medicine at Waverly, Morgan County, where he
continued in his profession ten years. Failing in health, he retired to a
farm, where he remained six years; thence came to Brooklyn, where for
twelve years he has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and
surgery. In May, 1856, he was married to Elizabeth J. Province, of
Pleasureville, Ky. She has borne him two children, Ella and Minnie. The
Doctor and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a
member of the Brooklyn Lodge, No. 471, A. F. & A. M. As a farmer, he
owns 260 acres of well improved land. The Doctor has a fine medical library, as well
as the works of nearly all the standard authors on miscellaneous subjects.
P. S. MCNEFF was born in 1834, near
Brooklyn, Morgan County. He
lived on the farm until the
autumn of 1852, when he went to Iowa, where he worked on a farm for two years, and then served
time at the carpenter's trade, and worked at it until the spring of 1856,
when he returned to Indiana, and
remained until September of the same year. He then returned to
Iowa, and in 1858 went to
Lawrence, Kan.; thence again, in 1859, to Iowa; thence, in September of the same year, to New
Albany, Ind.; thence to Salem, Ind. After a short sojourn South, he returned
to Salem, Ind., where he remained until March, 1861. In that
meantime, he was married to Catharine, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Winslow.
After a trip to Iowa, he returned to Salem and bought a farm near that town,
on which he remained until March, 1869, owning meantime different
farms. He then sold out and moved to French Lick, Orange Co., Ind., and engaged in
the dry goods business, following it several years. When he closed out
his stock and returned to Brooklyn, Morgan County, having been absent
nineteen years. Here he purchased a stock of goods, formed a partnership with his
brother, W. A. McNeff, and remained in the business five years, when our
subject retired from the firm and moved to Monrovia, Ind., and again engaged in
the mercantile trade. After over two years' experience in the business, he
moved his stock to Louisville, on the county line between Morgan and
Owen. In February, 1881, he disposed of his stock and again returned to Brooklyn
and purchased another stock of
goods. At the end of sixty days, he again sold out, and
purchased his brother's stock,
and is, just at this time, engaged in the mercantile business, having a successful trade.
WILLIAM A. MCNEFF, farmer, was born
in Brown Township, Morgan County,
Ind., March 25, 1838, and is
the seventh of the ten children born to Thomas W. and Sarah (Smith) McNeff, natives of Kentucky
and Pennsylvania, and respectively of Scotch Irish and German descent.
William A. was reared upon the home farm, and attended the subscription
schools. His father brought him to Indiana in an early day, coming to
Harrison Township. There he was married, and afterward came to Morgan
County. In 1852, William A. went from Indiana to Iowa with his father, and there
remained until 1862. Mr. McNeff, Sr., died in 1856. After returning to
Indiana, William A. went to Washington County, and afterward went to Orange
County, and came to Morgan County in 1871. Since that time, he has
resided in this township. He is engaged in cultivating a farm of 120 acres,
improved, and having a fine residence, besides other appliances necessary to a
finished farm. It is also stocked with horses, hogs, cattle and
sheep.
On December 28, 1872, he was married to Mary C. Rinker, a native of Clay
Township, Morgan County, and a daughter of William and Eleanor Rinker. They
have had two children, Leslie, born February 8, 1874, and Don Clyde, born
September 13, 1882. Mrs. McNeff is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Democrat, having
cast his fist ballot for James
Buchanan. In earning a competence, he has been aided by no one,
having been dependent entirely
upon himself.
DR. GRANT MONICAL, resident of
Brooklyn, was born February 18, 1857,
and is a native of Morgan
County, Ind. He was reared upon a farm, but received a good education, and finally began
teaching school, which pursuit he followed for five years. On March 1, 1879,
Grant began studying medicine with Dr. C. M. Lindley, and afterward took a course
of study at the Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from that
institution in 1881. Dr. Monical then located at Brooklyn, Ind., and has a
good practice. He is universally regarded as a most promising young
physician, and one who is rising rapidly in his profession.
O. C. MOON, farmer, was born in
Brown
Township, Morgan County, Ind., May 1, 1852, and is the second of three children
born to L. D. and Rachel
(Thornburg) Moon, natives of Warren County, Ohio, and of Morgan County, Ind., and of English ancestry. O.
C. was reared upon a farm, and received sufficient instruction to enable him to
teach school, later, in the schools of this county. He was very
successful in this, and followed it for ten years. He attended the business
college at Indianapolis, and graduated from there in 1877. March 13, 1879, he
was married to Jennie Griggs, a native of this county and township, and daughter of
Clark and Margaret (Marrow)
Griggs. After marriage, Mr. Moon engaged in farming, and is now
living upon a farm of 360
acres, near Brooklyn, and which belongs to his father-in-law, Clark Griggs. Mr. and Mrs. Moon
belong to the Methodist Episcopal and Christian denominations
respectively. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a Republican.
PERRY O. PHILLIPS, dealer in
groceries and stationery, was born in Clay Township, Morgan County, Ind., May 22,
1857, and grew to manhood upon a
farm. He received some instruction in the common branches
of study, and after he had
attained his majority, began life independently, by farming. Mr. Phillips has been married
twice. On February 2, 1879, he wedded Nancy J. Everling, a native of Johnson County,
Ind. She died on November 24, 1880, leaving an infant, which died
soon after. Mrs. Phillips was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Phillips was next married to Eliza E. (Stafford) Koons, who was born June 1,
1855. One child was born to them, on August 28, 1883. The parents
belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Phillips is a Republican and a Mason,
and is now holding the office of
Assessor of Clay Township.
ELI T. RINKER (deceased) was born in
Ohio, May 15, 1812, and while yet a small boy, came with his parents to
Washington County, Ind. He came to Morgan County some forty years ago.
On October 21, 1841, Mr. Rinker was married to Charity, daughter of David and
Sarah (Claypool) Ely, Virginians. David Ely emigrated to Indiana, located
in Hendricks County, and remained there until his death, July 20,
1845. Sarah Ely died at the residence of her sons, in Morgan County, October 25,
1857, in her seventy fourth year, having been a faithful member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church for
fifty two years. For sixteen or seventeen years, her house was
used as a place of holding
services, and the weary, wandering minister always found a welcome home at "Mother Ely's."
Mrs. Ely was the mother of twelve children. To Mr. E. T. Rinkers' marriage have been
born two children, one of whom died
in infancy, and the other, Simeon K.,
at twenty years of age. On March 12, 1873, Mr. Rinker departed this
life. Since 1837, he had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and as a
consistent Christian, and in losing him the community sustained a bereavement
which will long be felt. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and is living upon the home place of 140 acres, which her husband had
improved. She is over sixty four years of age, and dwells there alone, having
neither husband, children, father nor
mother, and being much loved and
respected by all her friends. In Morgan County, on January 18, 1862, Simeon K.
Rinker departed this life, aged
twenty years, and was the only child of Eli and Charity Rinker.
Simeon K. was trained in
religious matters by his parents, and at thirteen years of age united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He was a kind, affectionate and obedient son, and, although the
Master called for him so early, his work was done, and as he left his weeping
friends in his father's house below, it was but to pass to the fellowship of
those who had "gone before" to his Father's house above.
NOAH R. RINKER was born in
Washington County, Ind., March 22, 1820, and
is the son of Levi Rinker, who
was born October 5, 1790, and died July 24, 1858. Levi Rinker married Elizabeth
Cracraft, who was born October 13, 1794, and died December 22, 1852.
They were natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, and were married
in Ohio, in 1815. They came from Ohio to Indiana in an early day, locating
in Washington County, and from
there coming to Morgan County in 1830. They were early pioneers,
and lived here until their
death. Levi was a soldier of 1812; Noah was reared upon a farm and received a limited
education. On September 1, 1842, he was married to Lydia Ann Griggs, who was born
November 15, 1819, in Clinton County, Ind. By her he had born to him seven children,
of whom four are living, Elizabeth (Allen), Margaret (Underwood), Martha E.
(Williams) and Christopher C. The mother died October 7, 1855, a member of
the Christian Church. On March 27, 1856, Mr. Rinker took for his second wife
Lydia E. Johnson, a native of
North Carolina, who was born August
19, 1823. They have had seven children, three of whom are living, A. Dayton, Mary
A. and Orlando O. Mr. and
Mrs. Rinker are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Since
his tenth year, Mr. Rinker has
been a resident of this county and township. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is a
Democrat. Through his own exertions, he has become independent.
SILAS
RINKER was born September 17,
1835, in Clay Township, Morgan Co., Ind., and is the son of Levi and
Elizabeth (Cracraft) Rinker. Silas was reared upon a farm, received ordinary
school advantages, and at the age of eighteen started out for himself.
Since that time he has followed farming, with the exception of fifteen months in
the mercantile business. He is living now upon fifty seven acres of land
near Brooklyn. Mr. Rinker has been twice married. On October 10,
1852, he was married to Melissa Jane, of Monroe County, and daughter of Joseph and
Lucinda (Harper) Hiatt. By this union there were eight children, of whom
four are living, George W., William E., Louella J. and Silas E. The
mother died Mary 26, 1876, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
Rinker was next wedded, on August 12, 1876, to Lu E. Reaves, a native of Gibson
County, Ind., and a daughter of William and Eleanor (Burton) Reaves, Indianians,
of Irish and German extraction
respectively. Two children have crowned this union, Levi R. and
Burton C.
Both Mr. Rinker and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to the I. O. O. F. Mr.
Rinker is a politician of Democratic proclivities, and through life has risen
by his own efforts to his present independent position.
WILLIAM RINKER (deceased) was born in
Washington County, Ind., on July 30, 1816, and died in Morgan County on May 6,
1881. He came to Morgan County with his parents in 1830, where he lived
until his death. In 1846, he became a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and for thirty five years testified his faith in the Savior, his
joy in the Holy Ghost, and his hope of a blessed immortality. His
disease was erysipelas, and for four long weeks his sufferings were terrible, but
he endured them with Christian
fortitude, and he was never head to murmur or complain. When
questioned as to his feelings,
he replied that he was trusting in the Lord, that all was well with him, and that he had not missed
praying every day for fifty years. Although he was remarkably diffident as
to his ability as a useful man, he remained an affectionate husband, ever
treating his companion kindly and tenderly, and ever striving to render her
life agreeable and happy. As a father, he dearly loved his children, by
whom in return he was beloved. His children, some of whom are young men
beginning life for themselves, miss his wise counsels, his kind advice, his
Christian example. In his temporal affairs he was signally successful, never
undertaking anything that he
considered in the lest hazardous, and
by his industry and frugality he
accumulated considerable means, which, while it afforded him and his
family luxury as well as
comfort, also enabled him to contribute liberally to charity, and in being a kind neighbor and
useful citizen. At his death, he owned a farm of 500 acres of land well
improved and stocked. In politics,
he was a Democrat, being at the time
of his demise a member of the Board of County Commissioners. On January
25, 1844, he was married to Eleanor Clark, a native of Ohio, born January 16, 1823,
and daughter of John and Rebecca
(Matthews) Clark. Eleven children were born to them, John M., E.
A. (deceased), Amanda J., Mary
C., Leonidas, Margaret A. (deceased), Rebecca (deceased), Lewis A. (deceased), Ida E.
(deceased), George D. and Oscar B.
Mrs. Rinker a consistent Christian, a kind mother, yet survives her
husband. Although she mourns
the loss of her husband, father, sister, three of her grown children, a son and
daughter-in-law, all of whom have passed away within the last two years, she still
holds fast to her faith in the Lord, with a hope of meeting them.
BARTLEY SELLERS, a prominent farmer
and stock raiser, was born in
Guilford County, N.C., October
21, 1830, and is the second of nine children born to Jordan and Mary (Mason) Sellers, natives
of Virginia and of English and
Irish extraction. Mr. Mason was a soldier of the Revolutionary
war. Bartley's parents came
from north Carolina to Indiana in the fall of 1850, and located in Brown Township, in this
county, where they remained until Mrs. Sellers' death, in 1856. She
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sellers, Sr., is also a
member of that church, and he is now residing with his son Peter, in Hendricks
County. Bartley was reared upon a farm, received limited schooling, and at
nineteen years of age began life
independently in North Carolina, and when he had earned money enough
for the trip, he came to
Indiana in 1851, and located in Morgan County with $1 in his pocket, engaged in farming, and
worked at $15 per month. August 12, 1855, Mr. Sellers was married to Mary a
daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth
Wright, and a native of Morgan County, by whom he has had three children, Andrew, John and an infant
unnamed. Mr. Sellers and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He owns and manages a farm of 140 acres of well improved land, all
cultivated. His farm is supplied with a fine orchard and a commodious residence, and
stocked with horses, hogs, cattle and sheep. Mr. Sellers is engaged
extensively in shipping stock to Indianapolis,
Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. He belongs the A. F. & A. M. Lodge, No. 78, Mooresville, Ind., and has
had three brothers who were in the late war. Mr. Sellers has built up
his own fortune, has had no assistance whatever from anybody except his
industrious wife, and the couple are rewarded by the possession of their
comfortable home.
BENJAMIN STAFFORD, pioneer farmer of
this county, was born in Highland County, Ohio, May 28, 1810, and is the
third of the seven children born to Robert and Sarah (Bullick) Stafford,
natives of North Carolina, and of English ancestry. Benjamin
accompanied his parents from Ohio to Indiana in 1818. They located in Monroe
County, and remained there until March, 1820, at which time the family came to this
county. The county was then a wilderness, and was not then organized,
the Indians roaming at their sweet pleasure through the leafy forests.
Robert Stafford entered land, and made a home in the wilderness, amid bears,
wolves, panthers and other wild animals, and, with the poorest advantages for an
education, Benjamin grew to manhood.
On February 15, 1830, he was married
to Ruthie Gifford, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Jesse and Sarah
(Marshall) Gifford. They had one child, Sarah (deceased), and the mother dying,
Mr. Stafford was married to Margaret Price on March 17, 1835. Eight
children were born to this union, of whom six are living, Nancy J. (Woods), John,
Marion, William Benjamin, Barnard and Grant. Mrs. Stafford having
departed this life, Mr. Stafford was again married. He took for his third wife
Mrs. Susan Fry, by whom he has had seven children, of whom six are living,
Mary (Passor), James, Priscilla
(McKinley), Martha (Myrick), Emeline (Gooch) and Oliver P. M. Mr.
Stafford and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Stafford began life by clearing out a farm in the
wilderness, and enduring great
privations. He has succeeded, and now owns seventy acres in this
township. He alone has made
from the green woods the home which he now occupies. His only help has been a faithful and saving
wife, who has been indeed a
help meet in all his struggles and adversities. Although Mr. Stafford is seventy three years of age, he has a
robust constitution and promises to live many years of usefulness in the
township which he has helped to build up. He is very strong in Christian faith,
and faithful in the performance of his duties, and has read his Bible
through nearly fifty times during the last twelve years. He could not
read a word until he was forty years old. Mr. Stafford is much prized as a good
neighbor and citizen, and is fully appreciated in the community in which he
has moved so long.