JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHIES
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BOOK COUNTIES OF MORGAN,
MONROE & BROWN,
INDIANA. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
DONALD BAIN, SR., is a native of
Scotland, was born March 14, 1809, and is descended from James and
Margaret (Murray) Bain, both natives of Scotland. The grandfather of
our subject, John Bain, was a native Scotland, who married a Miss
Christina Tait, with an issue of four children, William, Robert, Ellen
and James. James Bain was born in 1781, and was married in
Scotland to Margaret Murray,
who died in 1814; he subsequently married a second time, and died
in Maryland August,
1841. He was father of ten children, Catherine, John, Donald, Christina, William, Robert, margaret,
Ozena, George and James. Donald Bain, March 17, 1839, in Scotland, married
Jeannette Davidson, and in the same year emigrated to America and located in the
State of Maryland. In 1843, he moved to this county and State, and here has made a
home. Mrs. Bain died October 13, 1863,
having borne seven children, James
(deceased), John, Esther, Christina, Catherine, Donald and
William. Mr. Bain is a highly regarded citizen.
J. G. BAIN, editor Martinsville
Republican, and Postmaster, was born in Jefferson Township, Morgan County, on
April 29, 1844, and is the son of John and Bridget (Gallagher) Bain, early
settlers of Jefferson Township. Our subject passed his early life on a farm
and attending a district school until he was seventeen years of age, when he
enlisted in Company C, Thirty third Indiana Infantry, in August, 1861, for
three years and participated in every march, battle and skirmish which the
regiment was in. Near the close of the three years' term, the regiment
"veteranized." During the Atlanta campaign, the regiment elected officers, and was
under the fire of the enemy while balloting, and one man killed. Mr. Bain
was elected Second Lieutenant, and remained with his command until the close
of the war, having been mustered
out August 20, 1865, after four years' service. Some of the battles and
skirmishes in which the regiment was
engaged are as follows: Wildcat,
Cumberland Gap, Thompson's Station, Tenn. (where the entire brigade was captured and confined in Libby Prison two
months), Resaca, Cassville, Burnt Hickory, Golgotha Church, Pumpkin Vine,
Peach Tree Creek, the Atlanta
campaign, Sherman's "march to the sea," and through the Carolinas,
being in the battles of
Averysboro and Bentonville; thence to Raleigh, on to Richmond, and in the "grand review" at Washington;
thence to Louisville, Ky., where the
regiment was mustered out. After his
return home, our subject attended Mooresville Seminary six months, then
Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., three years, and then the State University at
Bloomington, graduating from that institution in the law course in the
spring of 1870, after which he came to Martinsville and engaged in the practice
of law. In August, 1870, he became connected with the Republican, which
sprang into existence that year, and was made its managing editor. In December,
1870, with H. A. Smock, he purchased
the paper, and continued its
publication for four years. Since September, 1874, Mr. Bain has been the sole
proprietor. He has added to and improved the paper, now using a Campbell steam press,
with a circulation of 1,700. In
October, 1872, Mr. Bain was made Postmaster of Martinsville, and has
held the office ever since. He
has always been an active, influential politician in the Republican party, and is ranked among
the energetic and progressive
citizens, and as one of the representative men of Southern Indiana. In February, 1876, he was married to Sallie
Johnson; a native of Morgan County, and daughter of Dr. J. J. Johnson. Four
children have been born to them, Mary E., Katie R., Jarvis J. and Dora I. Mr.
Bain is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity,
and of the G. A. R. Since Mr. Bain has been Postmaster, the office has
increased its receipts threefold; and it is at present one of the best appointed
and conducted post offices of any town of its size in the State.
W. G. BAIN was born in this county
August 23, 1846, and is a son of
John and Bridget (Gallagher) Bain. John Bain was born in County Caithness, Scotland, October 13,
1806; emigrated to America, landing at Halifax, in 1827; came to the
United States in 1828, and was for several years contractor for stone work
on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
In 1841, at Hancock, Md., he married,
and in 1843 moved to this State;
located near Martinsville, and there continued to remain until his death, September 24, 1872. After he
came West, he abandoned his trade of stone-cutter and adopted farming,
being the owner at his death of
several hundred acres. After the death of his wife in 1855, he
wedded
Mrs. Bethsheba Abbott in 1859, who
survived him. He was a Christian man, a consistent member of the
Presbyterian Church, and father of eleven children, James G., William G.,
Mary C. (deceased), John E.,
Charles F., Benjamin F., Emma E. (deceased), Emma, Alfred M., Henry and Harvey. Our subject, W. G. Bain,
received his education at Richmond,
this State. In 1867, he was
appointed Deputy Sheriff of this county, and afterward acted as clerk at
Martinsville. July 29, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Seventieth Indiana
Volunteers, from which he was
discharged March, 1863, by reason of disability. In 1869, he
purchased an interest in the
Martinsville Flouring Mills, which he relinquished after about a year, and has since engaged
in farming. October 5, 1869, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of
William and Susanna Hynds, who
died February 11, 1874, the mother of two children, Lillie B. and John E. October 25, 1877, Mr.
Bain wedded Laura J., daughter of William W. and Sarah A. Yeager, and born
in this county July 18, 1851,
which marriage was followed by two children -- Maudie E. and Mary
E. In 1878, Mr. Bain
was elected County Auditor for one term. He is a highly respected citizen, a member of the
A., F. & A. M., the K. of P. and G. A. R. fraternities.
WILLIAM BEST was born in Muskingum
County, Ohio, February 11,
1814, and is descended from George and Sarah (Kelly) Best, both natives of Ireland. The grandfather of our
subject, William Best, was born, married and died in Ireland at the age of one
hundred and four years, the father of six children. George Best was
married in Ireland, and in 1812 emigrated to America; located in Muskingum
County, Ohio, whence he removed to Morgan County, Ind., where he and his
wife died, the parents of twelve
children, Valentine, William, Robert, George, Walter, James, Elizabeth, John, Richard H., Joseph, Isabelle and
Sarah. Our subject, William Best, began work when eighteen years of age in a
flouring mill, which he continued for twenty one years. September 15,
1836, he married Lydia, daughter of Amos and Nancy Longshore, who died July
12, 1844, the mother of four
children, Sarah, George, Thomas E. and Josephine (deceased). He
subsequently married Ann Bond,
a native of New Jersey, who died in 1863, the mother of nine children, Harriet
(deceased), James (deceased), Valentine, Charles H. (deceased), William S.
(deceased), Emma E., Lydia N., and two infants deceased. Mr. Best
finally married, in 1864, Beulah L. Bond,
sister of his second wife, who gave
birth to four children, Martha J., Albert M., Franklin O. and Cora E.
DAVID BOTHWELL was born in Ireland
June 9, 1815, and is a son of
Hugh and Ann J. (Gordon) Bothwell, both natives of Ireland, the former born in 1788, the latter in 1796.
They were married and died in Ireland, he in September, 1854, and she eight
years later. Their family was Mary, David, Jane, Sarah A., Samuel, John,
Elizabeth, Martha, Henry, James,
Margaret and two which died in
infancy. David Bothwell emigrated to America in 1841, visited Ireland in 1846,
returned to this country in 1852, settled in New Orleans, and shortly
afterward removed to this county, where April 8, 1855, he married Miss
Letitia, daughter of Robert and
Jane Wilson, and born in Ireland in 1825, who died September 18, 1878,
the mother of eight children, Ann J.
(deceased), Hugh H., John J., Mary, David, Charles, William and Andrew.
Mr. Bothwell is a highly respected citizen.
WILLIAM A. CUNNINGHAM was born in
this county January 13, 1847,
and is a son of William N. and Nancy Cunningham. William N. Cunningham was born in Woodford County,
Ky., March, 1804, whence he
moved to Johnson County, Ind., and afterward to Morgan County, where he married Nancy Lankford. He
was twice married, and the father of six children, Eliza, Nancy, Marion,
Perlina, Norman T. and William A. Our subject married in Owen County, Ind.,
November 10, 1867, Mary J.,
daughter of George and Margaret Dittemore, and born in Owen County January 6, 1850. In 1871, Mr.
Cunningham moved to and occupied his present home and farm, which numbers 445
acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are parents of six
children Emma J., Laura E., Edward, Benjamin F. and two which died before
receiving names. Mr. Cunningham is generally greatly esteemed and is a
hospitable gentleman.
CAPT. WILLIAM A. DILLEY was born in
Darke County, Ohio, January 7,
1840, and is a son of Arthur M. and Elizabeth (McInturf) Dilley, the
former born in Ohio, December
27, 1814, the latter in Tennessee, July 29, 1816; they were married in Preble County, Ohio,
December 27, 1835, and in 1842, moved to and settled in this county.
Their family was Sarah J., William A., Martha A., Mary E., John W., Lucretia E., Elmira M.,
Oliver C., James M. and an infant deceased. William A. Dilley
enlisted April 20, 1861, in Company K, Seventh
Indiana Volunteers; served
three months and re-enlisted August 15, 1861, in Company A, Thirty third Indiana
Volunteers. In January, 1863, he was made Orderly Sergeant, and in February, 1864,
again re-enlisted. In April, 1864, he married Lucy A., daughter of Stephen
L. and Maria A. Dane. In November, 1864, he was promoted First Lieutenant,
and March, 1865, Captain of Company A, Thirty third Indiana Volunteers,
and served as such until July 21, 1865. Mr. Dilley saw considerable service;
he was wounded in the left ankle at Thompson's Station, March 5, 1863, and was also
a prisoner in the famous "Libby"
one month. In 1866, he settled on his present farm, which he sold
and moved to Wilson County,
Kan., but returned and repurchased his farm in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Dilley have five
children Augustus M. (deceased), Minnie V., Effie M., Pearl M. and Ruby; they are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THOMAS H. DIXON was born in this
county Mary 4, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Hynds) Dixon, both
natives of Ireland. Thomas Dixon is a son of Henry and Sarah Dixon, who
married and remained in Ireland until their deaths, and were parents of nine
children. Thomas Dixon married in Ireland, emigrated to America, and in 1837
moved to this State and settled in this county, where he now resides. Mrs.
Dixon died August, 1866, the mother of seven children, Sarah, Mary, Margaret,
Thomas H., William, John and Robert.
Thomas H. Dixon, our subject, married
in this county, April 11, 1861, Sarah, daughter of Isaac and Rebecca Kenworthy,
and born in Marion County, Ind.,
May 30, 1844. In August, 1862, Mr. Dixon enlisted in Company H,
Seventieth Indiana Volunteers,
and served until January, 1865, during which he participated in all the engagements of the
company. In 1871, he purchased a saw mill, and engaged in the lumber trade until 1874,
when he sold out, removed to Martinsville, and was elected Sheriff of this
county, which he held for two terms. In
1881, he moved to his home and
farm. Mr. Dixon is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and K. of P.
WILLIAM H. DIXON a son of
Thomas and Margaret Dixon, is a native of Morgan County; he was born
October 18, 1844, and was married in this county, October 24, 1869, to
Rebecca, daughter of William and Mary Brown, and born November 16, 1841.
Mrs. Dixon died June 13, 1883. Mr. Dixon is a much esteemed citizen, a
practical man, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
and Mrs. Dixon are parents of five children, whose names are as
follows: Robert H., John P., Morgan, Mary, and Lawson J. (deceased).
WILLIAM DOWNEY is a native of County
Tyrone, Ireland, and was born
April 17, 1843, being a son of John and Mary Downey, also natives of
County Tyrone. The
grandfather of our subject, James Downey, was a native of and married in Ireland, where he closed his
life. John Downey was born June, 1806. After his marriage he emigrated to
America in 1857, located in Coschocton County, Ohio, and in 1863 moved to this
county. His family consisted of Margaret,, James, William, Jane, Andrew,
Robert, John, Mary, and three which
died in infancy. Our subject,
William Downey, came with his parents to this county, where, February 2, 1868, he
married Rebecca J., daughter of William and Sinah R. Bragg, and born in this
county December 15, 1848-a union which gave being to a family of five Harriet
T., William M., Mary E., Pearl A. and Edna. Mr. Downey is the owner of 248
acres of superior land, a comfortable home and valuable property. He is
also a worthy gentleman and a member of the Masonic brotherhood.
JAMES M. DUCKWORTH is a native of
this county, was born September
10, 1833, and is a son of John and Mary (Gwin) Duckworth, both natives
of Virginia. They were
married in Kentucky, whence, shortly afterward, they moved to this State, and settled first in
Ray Township, and then moved to
Martinsville, where they finished their courses of life he, October
17, 1867, and she three years
thereafter. Their family comprised Nancy A., William M., Malinda, Melvina, Andrew J., Mary A.,
Minerva G. and James M. Our subject married in this county, November 8,
1860, Nancy M., daughter of William
and Susanna Hynds, and born in this county February 14, 1842, who died April 15, 1882, the mother of eight
children Ellen M., Mary B., Edward
M., Susanna, Minerva G., William H., James M. and John L. After marriage, Mr. Duckworth settled on the
farm where he now resides, and
where he has spent most of his life. His farm embraces 404 acres
of excellent and well improved
land. Mr. Duckworth is a valued citizen, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
JAMES R. ELMORE is a son of John and
Andalusia Elmore, natives of
Virginia. The grandfather of our subject, James R. Elmore, was a
native of Virginia and a
soldier of 1812; he afterward moved to Muskingum County, Ohio, and there finished his life,
the parent of six children. John Elmore was married in Ohio, and in 1861
moved to Clarke County, Ind.,
where Mrs. Elmore died in 1865.
Mr. Elmore is yet living, the parent of the following family: Levi R.,
Elizabeth J., John T., George A., Andalusia N. and James R. Our subject,
James R. Elmore, married in Clark County, in 1864, Malvina C., daughter of William
and Sarah Sligar, who died in 1871, leaving three children, John W., Selby S.
and Mary R. In 1872, Mr. Elmore married Mrs. Sarah, widow of Levi
Devore, which marriage gave issue
to four children George A., Jennie J., Levi I. (deceased) and Benjamin F. In 1874, Mr. Elmore moved
to this county. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
LEWIS T. HANCOCK is a native of
Anderson County, Ky., was born
May 22, 1825, and is a son of Stephen F. and Martha (Lacey) Hancock, who, in 1826, moved to Owen County, Ind.,
and thence, in 1847, to this
county, where he remained until his decease, in 1869, aged seventy six. Mrs. Hancock is yet living, at the
advanced age of eighty six. Their family
comprised six children Levi E., John
W., Martha A., Stephen L., Elizabeth
F. and Lewis T. Our subject married, December 24, 1849, Harriet Farley, who died March 17, 1872, having
borne seven children, Lorenzo
D. (deceased), Nancy A., Sinah R., William L. (deceased), Thomas F., Mary J. and George A. After his
marriage, Mr. Hancock settled in Ray
Township, and later, in 1854, moved
to this township, and to the farm which is now his home. November 23,
1874, Mr. Hancock wedded Miss
Emeline, daughter of Lewis and Margaret Fonville, and a native of Tennessee, born August 20, 1836.
Mr. and Mrs. Hancock are respected members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
W. J. HARRISON is a native of Morgan
County, Ind., was born October
5, 1851, and is a son of William R. and Elizabeth J. Harrison, of
Martinsville. In the year
1872, on the 18th of July, subject married Miss Margaret E., daughter of Christopher C. and Julia A.
Bishop, and born in Guilford County, N. C., February 28, 1856. After his
marriage, Mr. Harrison settled on the farm which he now cultivates and calls
home a comfortable and valuable property. Mr. Harrison is now
Township Trustee, and is a member of the ancient brotherhood of Freemasonry.
He and wife are parents of three children, Bettie J., Maud E. and William R.
BRICE M. HOWELL was born in
Hendricks
County, Ind., January 7, 1847,
and is one of the eight children of Millar and Martha (Deanty) Howell, both natives of North Carolina,
the former born in 1808, the
latter in 1814. They were married in Chatham County, N.
C.; moved to
Hendricks County, Ind., and later to Morgan County, where he now resides. Millar Howell was twice
married, and the father of fourteen children eight by his first, and six by
his second wife. Brice M. Howell enlisted, July, 1863, in Company D, One
Hundred and Seventeenth
Indiana Regiment; served 100 days; again enlisted February,
1865, in Company A,
Thirty third Indiana Regiment, and served until June, 1865. October 3, 1869, he married Isabella,
daughter of Robert and Ellen Foster, a native of this county, born June
12, 1852. This union was
productive of six children, Martha E. (deceased), Theodosia E., Emma R., Robert M., William W. and Ethel
E. In 1869, Mr. Howell moved to the farm on which he now
resides. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
L. C. KENNEDY was born in Hardin
County, Ky., August 31, 1804, and is the fourth of the family of Peter and
Rachel Kennedy, both natives of
Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject, John Kennedy, was also a Pennsylvanian, and of Irish descent,
who removed to Hardin County,
Ky., in 1780, where he closed his valued life, having been a soldier of the Revolutionary war; he had been
twice married and the father often
sons. Peter Kennedy was born in 1769. When twelve years of age, he was stolen by the Indians; remained nine
years a captive, and escaped
and returned to his parents, in Hardin County, Ky. He afterward
was engaged as Government spy
on the Kentucky frontier, then married Rachel
Calvin and settled on a farm, where
he passed his life. He was the
father to seven children -John, James, Nancy, Luke C., Sarah, Charles and Decker. Our subject, Luke C. Kennedy,
married, June 20, 1830 in
Hardin County, Ky., Miss Jane, daughter of William and Sarah Blackford. In October following, Mr. Kennedy moved
to this county, and purchased
and settled on the farm where he now lives. In 1850, Mrs. Kennedy died, and in 1855 he married Isabella, daughter
of William and Mary Hindes.
Mr. Kennedy is the owner of 220 acres of good land, and is comfortably situated. He is the parent of seven
children - Samuel (deceased), John, James, Decker, Mary, William and Daniel
P.
DANIEL KIRK was born in Shelby
County, Ind., October 1, 1828. His parents were William H. and Elizabeth
(Depew) Kirk, natives of
Kentucky. The grandfather of our subject, Daniel Kirk, was an early settler of Marion County, Ky.,
where he died, the father of
two children, Lydia and William H. The latter was born March 1,
1799. In 1819, he and his
wife, moved to Shelby County, Ind., where Mrs. Kirk died. Mr. Kirk subsequently married
Susanna R. Sloan, and in 1838 came to this county, where he died in 1865,
the father of sixteen children.
Daniel Kirk, the subject of this
sketch, married December 7, 1856, Martha E., daughter of Nathan and Matilda
Dow, and a native of Clarke
County, Ind., born September 9, 1835. This union was cemented by
thirteen children, Ellen
M., William H. (deceased), Charles H., Harvey A., Mary E., Benjamin R. (deceased), Susan
M. (deceased), James E., Daniel P., Nathan F., Benjamin A., Martha J. (deceased) and
Maggie R. (deceased). Mr. Kirk is a generally respected citizen.
JAMES H. LANKFORD is a native of
Morgan County, Ind., was born
November 6, 1850, and is one of the family of William L. and Martha (Kirk) Lankford, natives respectively of
Indiana and Kentucky. The
grandfather of our subject, Nathan Lankford, was a native of Virginia, where he married, and in an early day
moved to this county, where he
remained until death. He was the father of seven children.
William L. Lankford was born
August 16, 1828, married Martha Kirk, who was born July, 1830, and died December 5,
1883. They were parents
of ten children Minerva G., James H., Nathan M., William P., Maggie M., Harvey M., Edward S., Joseph H., John
H. and Toney H. James H.
Lankford, our subject, married, March 17, 1875, in this county, Mrs. Mary J. Stine, widow of James P. Stine,
and daughter of Emanuel and
Cynthia Isenhower. Mr. and Mrs. Landford have a family of two
children, Ida B. and Iva D.
(twins). Mr. Lankford is a worthy and much respected citizen.
L. B. LEWIS is a native of this
county, was born October 2, 1828, and is a son of Gideon and Lewis (Huston) Lewis,
the former born in Kentucky in
1794. After marriage, Gideon Lewis settled in this county,
married, and afterward moved
to near Martinsville, and in 1836 to a farm in this township, where they remained until their decease,
he dying in June, and she in May, 1844, leaving the following family:
Elhanan, James, Hunstead, Harriet, Jeannette, Kellis, William H., Angeline,
Sarah and Leander B. In December, 1847, Leander B. Lewis married Julia A.,
daughter of Benoni and Abigail
Pearce, and a native of Chatham County, N. C., born February 12, 1823. After his marriage, Mr. Lewis settled in
this township, and has a very fine and well improved farm. Mr. and
Mrs. Lewis are the parents of ten children, Louisa J., William H., Elizabeth F.,
Benoni, Gideon, Ruth E. (deceased), Daniel A., James A. M. (deceased).
He and wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
ROBERT MILLER is a native of
Greenbrier County, W. Va.; was born July 21, 1810, and is descended from John and Jane (Hodge)
Miller, both natives of Virginia. They were
married in Augusta County, Va., and
afterward moved to Greenbriar County, where they ended their lives, having been blessed
with the following family: Henry, James, Jane, Ervin B., Mary A., Margaret E.,
Alexander, William and Robert. Our subject married in Monroe County, W. Va., February 13,
1834, Miss Ankey, daughter of James and Elizabeth Alderson, which union was
favored with seven children, Alexander, Louisa (deceased), Robert (deceased), Oliver,
John, Martha and Isabelle (deceased). After his marriage, Mr. Miller moved to Hancock
County, Ind., and in 1836, to this county, where he located on the identical farm on which
he now resides. Mr. Miller is a practical farmer and an esteemed gentleman and
citizen.
W. C. MILLER was born in Lincoln
County, N. C., June 18, 1827, and is a son of Henry and Anna Miller, both natives of North
Carolina. Henry Miller was born in North Carolina in 1805, and married in Lincoln
County. In 1830, he moved to Owen County, Ind., and in 1835 to Morgan County, where his wife
died in 1858, the mother of fifteen children. His
second wife was Nancy Reins, who is
the mother of two children. In 1879, Mr. Miller moved to Missouri, where he remains.
Our subject was married, March 31, 1853, to Hannah, daughter of Archibald and Lucinda
Taylor, and a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born May 6, 1836. This union was
productive of fourteen children Henry A., Lucinda, Sarah R., Mary E., Anna E., John E.,
William J., Luther L., Silas C., Albert E. and four which died in infancy. Mr. Miller
is a respected citizen.
JOHN MOSER was born in
Randolph
County, N. C., April 8, 1801, and is a son of John and Mary Moser, natives
of North Carolina, and respectively of German and Irish descent. The
grandfather of our subject, Tobias Moser, was a German, and emigrated hither
previous to the Revolutionary war, during which struggle he was a soldier. He
settled in North Carolina, and afterward moved to La Fayette, Ind., where he died,
aged one hundred and seven years.
He was also a soldier of the war of
1812. His wife died in Orange County, Ind., aged one hundred and eleven
years. They had a family of seven. John Moser was married in North Carolina,
moved to Hamilton County, Ohio,
in 1812, and one year later to Orange County, Ind., where he was killed
in 1821. After this
event Mrs. Moser moved to Owen County, and thence to Morgan County, where she died in
1861. The children of these parents were named Rebecca, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary,
Sarah, Kezia, Jane, Tobias,
Joseph, Adam, Jacob, Alexander, Jeremiah and John. Our subject,
John Moser, married in Owen
County, September 13, 1830, Miss Mary, daughter of David and Catherine Lukinbill, a
native of Washington County. In 1831, Mr. Moser moved to this county,
which has since been his home.
He and wife are parents of eight children, Kezia, David (deceased),
Catherine, Julia A., Mary E.,
Margaret, John and William.
JAMES R. MOSIER was born in Lawrence
County, Ind., August 16,1844,
and is a son of John and Esther
(Burris) Mosier, natives of North Carolina and Ohio respectively, who
moved to this county in 1845, where Mr. Mosier died twenty years
later. Mrs. Mosier subsequently married Joseph Lain, and still latter George
Moore. Our subject, James R. Mosier,
enlisted August 14, 1862, in Company
H, Seventy ninth Indiana Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and served until
April, 1863, having been shot through the shoulder at the battle of Stone
River. September, 1863, he re-enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and
Seventeenth Indiana Regiment, serving six months, and again enlisted March,
1864, in Company K, First Indiana Regiment, and served until January,
1866. August 28, 1868, he married Mrs. Ann, widow of David Anderson,
and daughter of John and Ann
Dixon, by which union they had five
children, Sarah R., James R., Hester A., and two infants, deceased.
Mr. Mosier is a highly respected citizen.
WILLIAM R. NOSLER was born in Owen
County, Ind., November 9,
1835, and is a son of John and Mary
(Pirtle) Nosler, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. The
grandfather of our subject, Conrad Nosler, moved to this State in an early day,
and finished his days here. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and
father of five children. John Nosler was born January 4, 1806, came to Indiana
in 1827, married, and settled near Spencer, where he and wife ended
their lives, he in September, 1837, and she in February, 1837; they had
three children, Sarah A., James and William R. Our subject was
reared by his uncle, James L. Pirtle, after his parents' death. In 1850, he
moved to Fayette County, Ind.; thence, in 1851, to Connersville, where he
learned saddle and harness making, and in 1855, to Rushville, where he
pursued his vocation. September 13, 1857, he married Viola, daughter of
Nathaniel and Mary Moore, who died July 13, 1873. In 1858, he
moved to Missouri, and in 1861 returned to Rush County, Ind., after which, in
1876, he came to this county, and
November 9, 1879, wedded Mrs. Matilda
J. Garrison, widow of William
Garrison. Mr. Nosler is the
parent of six children, Alethea M. (deceased), Mary A. (deceased), William E., Sarah
A. and two that died in infancy.
JOHN REEVES is a native of Mason
County, Ky., and was born February 20, 1802, and is a son of James and
Sarah (Holton) Reeves, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of
Maryland. John Reeves, Sr., emigrated with his parents, Isaac and Margaret
Reeves, to America previous to the Revolutionary war, and when sixteen
years of age entered the army under Gen. Washington, serving the seven
years. He then married and settled in Mason County, Ky., where he and
wife ended their days. John Reeves, our subject, is the only child of his
father living. In 1823, he moved to Monroe County, Ind., and in 1824 to
Owen County, where he married,
in 1828, Mrs. Eleanor Hayward.
In 1829, he removed to this county,
where Mrs. Reeves died in 1861, the
mother of eight children James,
Nancy, Abigail, Austin S., Sarah,
Samantha, Benjamin and Julia A. In 1863, he married Mrs. Ann
Edwards. Mr. Reeves is an excellent gentleman, and he and wife are members of
the Christian Church, of which
Mr. Reeves has been an active worker
for fifty years.
S. R. STILES, SR., was born in
Orange
County, Ind., October 12, 1830,
and is one of the family of William
and Mary (Bragg) Stiles, natives respectively of Georgia and
Tennessee. William Stiles was born January 22, 1798; was married in Tennessee, thence
moved to Washington County, Ind., and thence to this county, where he ended
his life in 1872. He and wife were parents of eight children Sarah,
Nancy, John B., Abigail, Jesse, Stakley R., Harriet and Mary A. Our
subject, S. R. Stiles, was reared in this county. December 24, 1852, he married
Elizabeth Foster, who died August 24, 1854. He next wedded Louisa Miller, who
died in 1858, and in 1859 he married Eleanor Secrest. In 1865, Mr.
Stiles enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty eighth Indiana Volunteers,
in which he served for seven months, and after which he purchased and
occupied his present home and farm, comprising 420 acres of desirable and
productive land. Mr. Stiles has been the father of four children Indiana,
Ida B., Candace, and an infant, deceased. He and wife are consistent members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.