RAY TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHIES
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BOOK COUNTIES OF MORGAN,
MONROE & BROWN,
INDIANA. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
proceeds, about $18,000, to his
children, retaining the residue for himself. Mrs. Bowen died, December 13, 1882, and
Mr. Bowen married a second wife,
Mrs. Margaret, widow of John Asher. Mr. Bowen is a member of the
Christian Church, as was his
first wife, who left at her death, a legacy of about $5,000 and eighty acres to her youngest
daughter. Mr. Bowen gave his first vote for Henry Clay, and has been
recently Republican.
HENRY E. GOSS was born December 8,
1862, and is one of the two
children of Sims H. and Margaret J. (Stranger) Goss, the former of German descent. Henry attended
the public schools, and was
brought up a farmer, having inherited 200 acres of excellent land from his father. He is an energetic
and promising young man, an
earnest Republican and a good citizen.
PHILIP HODGES, the oldest living
settler in Ray Township, was born
October 31, 1797, in Randolph County, N. C, and is the youngest of the
seven children of John and Margaret (Lacy) Hodges, of English and Irish
descent respectively. John Hodges was a native of Herfordshire,
England, was born in 1749, and by trade a glover. About the beginning
of the Revolutionary war, he emigrated to America and served three
years in that heroic campaign, soon after which he married Margaret
Lacy. Philip Hodges was reared to farming, with the advantage of
some schooling. When of age, October, 1818, he moved to Indiana,
or Northwest Territory, and took a lease of land near Gosport, and
where, May, 1819, he wedded Miss Mary Goss (then but fifteen years
old), daughter of Ephraim and Anna (Workman) Goss, founders of the town
of Gosport. Ten children were born to them, Ephraim, John (deceased),
Bethsheba (deceased), Noah, Joseph, Sarah (Mrs. Sims), Thomas, Anna
(deceased), Harvey (deceased) and Henry C. In 1820, at the Terre Haute
land sale, he purchased 160 acres in Sections 1 and 2, Range 1 east, 11
north, the first land sold from the Indian purchase of 818. In 1824, he
located on eighty acres of land he had entered in Ray Township, among
the hills, and afterward entered 220 more, where he remained until
1833, where he entered and occupied 160, where he now resides. To this
he added 140 acres, all of which he constantly improved, thus
possessing 810 acres of good and well-cultivated land. In 1837, he
built his residence, then one of the finest in that section. With but a
legacy of $150 he began life, and has succeeded by industry and skill.
Mr. Hodges is yet hale, and useful and benevolent. His present politics
is Republican; he was formerly a Whig, and gave his first Presidential
vote for Mr. Adams. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
EPHRAIM HODGES, stock raiser and
farmer, was born July 19, 1820, in Owen County, Ind., where now stands
Gosport. He is the eldest of the ten children of Philip and Mary (Goss)
Hodges, natives of North Carolina. Our subject attended the
subscription schools of his boyhood, and was reared to farming.
Afterward he became an instructor, and taught many terms of
school. * September 5, 1845, he married Ann, daughter of Daniel T. and
Polly (Crums) Smith, with the issue of nine children, Noah (deceased),
May, John Q., Clarinda, Joseph C, Charles S., Malinda, Philip S. and
Cora. Mr. Hodges was a member of the first Board of Trustees held in
his township, and served as Commissioner from 1862 to 1868. He is
possessed of about 600 acres of land under fair cultivation and with
many improvements, good residences, barns, outbuildings, orchard and
the like, all of which possession is the outcome of his energy and able
management. Mr. Hodges is a member of the Masonic
order, the Republican party and the Christian Church, a generally
respected citizen and liberal gentleman.
DR.
JOHN KENNEDY is a native of
Lamb's Bottom, this county, and was born September 30, 1833. his father
was a native of Kentucky, and of Irish descent; his mother was also of Kentucky, and
of German descent. Both have been residents of this county since 1830.
After receiving home instruction, Dr. Kennedy attended Belleville Academy, and also the Edinburg
Grammar School, of which he became an assistant teacher in 1855.
About this time, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Clark, of Edinburg. Soon
afterward, he returned to the home farm to recover his impaired health, after which he
taught school in Sangamon County, Ill., and spent his leisure time in studying
medicine, and in 1858 became a student of Dr. Osgood, of Gosport. During the winter
of that year, he attended lectures at the Cincinnati Medical Institute, and afterward
commenced practice near his old home, where he obtained a reputation for being one
of the ablest practitioners in his neighborhood, and he is now at Gosport, which is
his residence. April, 1862, he married Angeline, daughter of Richard Laughlin, of Owen
County, with an issue of eight children. In 1874, Dr. Kennedy was elected to the
State Legislature, where he served two years most faithfully. He is a
Republican, a member of the Christian Church, and active as a Sunday school worker.
CASPER LINGLE, a prominent
stock raiser and farmer, was born in Burke County, N. C., March 7, 1823, and is the
eighth of the ten children of Adam and Catherine (Tipps) Lingle, of German
descent. In 1829, he came with his parents to what is now this township; was reared to
farming, and has been an important personage in the development of the county. The
first township election was held at his father's house, and continued so to be for twenty
years, when the same were held at Salem. June 7, 1845, he wedded Matilda,
daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Goss) Ratts, who died about three months after his
marriage. August 9, 1856, he married Catherine, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Sandy,
to which union succeeded five children, John S., William A., James E.,
Jeremiah S. and Thomas Lincoln. In 1857, he removed to Missouri for three years,
after which time he returned home. While there he built a Methodist Episcopal
Church, the last payment on which he made after leaving that State. Mr.
Lingle has been a successful man, having acquired a possession of 700 acres of land, but
now having sold some, and given much to his children, retains only 132 acres,
which are, however, well cultivated, stocked, improved and adorned. His only
ally was his faithful wife, who died August 9, 1882, a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mr. Lingle is an enlightened citizen, an advocate of public education, an
active Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JEREMIAH S. LINGLE was born in Ray
(now Ashland) Township October 10, 1855, and is the fourth of those comprising
the family of Caspar and Catherine (Sandy) Lingle. Jeremiah, in common
with the other sons of his father, was reared to the dignified and ancient calling of tilling
the soil. After attending school for a time in his boyhood, he continued to labor at home until
he attained his majority, whereupon he married Martha E., daughter of John and
Catherine (Haase) Shelton. These young people have had born to them four children,
of which number three are living Orville E., Minnie Catherine and Orra E.
Mr. Lingle has largely assisted his father in developing the home place, and is an
enterprising, able and promising young farmer.
WILLIAM A. LINGLE, a successful
stock raiser and farmer, was born in Ray (now Ashland) Township, November 16, 1849,
and is the second in the family of five belonging to Casper and Catherine
(Sandy) Lingle, respectively of Dutch and Irish descent. William worked on his father's farm,
and went also to school, when not so engaged, until manhood. May 11, 1871, he
wedded Martha J., daughter of Hiram Groun, and this marriage was made happy by two
children, Newton D. and Perry E. (deceased). Mr. Lingle is the possessor of forty
acres of land which are in a state of superior cultivation, with good dwelling, barns,
stock in variety, a young orchard and every necessary improvement for comfort and
profit. Mr. Lingle is a leading Republican, and has served as Township Assessor
one term. He is a liberal minded man, and a promising and enterprising
agriculturist.
FIELDING MARSH, a leading farmer and
stock raiser, came into live December 26, 1826, in Washington County, Ind., and
is the fifth of the nine children of Cyrus J. and Elizabeth (Shultz) Marsh,
respectively of English and Dutch descent. During his majority, Fielding worked by the month, with
occasional attendance at school. In May, 1847, he volunteered for the Mexican war,
in the Fourth Indiana Regiment; was landed at Brazos Island, and marched up the Rio
Grande to join Gen. Taylor. After his discharge in 1848, he resumed farming for a
time, then followed flat boating on the Mississippi River, and afterward located his land
warrant for 160 acres in Marion County. March 24, 1853, he married Rachel, daughter of
Benjamin and Rachel (Milton) Mugg, a union which produced three children, Amanda
E. (Mrs. Smith), Cincinnatus and Curtis. February 14,1865, he enlisted in the
One Hundred and Forty eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in
September of that year. Mr. Marsh is possessed of a
good home, comprising 157 acres of
excellent land, well cultivated, stocked and improved, being the homestead of his
father; there is also a good orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are members of the Missionary
Baptist Church.
GABRIEL ROBINSON is a native of
Anderson County, Ky.; was born January 31, 1828, and is the sixth of the eight
children of Gabriel and Mary (Rice) Robinson, of Irish and German
extraction. Our subject was reared on a farm, and secured but one month's schooling
during his youth. At the age of thirteen, he became a learner of the
blacksmith trade, at Middletown, Ky., where he remained until 1852;
then moved to Washington County, and thence to Leesville, Ind., where he worked
at wagon making, and also managed a blacksmith and wagon shop until 1864,
when he came to this county, where he carries on the same business.
December 25, 1847, he married Mary E. Gwathmey, to which union were born
two children, Kate M. and Camden. In May, 1846, Mr. Robinson enlisted for
the Mexican war, in Company I, First Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He
served in the battles of Monterey, having made a forced march of sixty nine
miles in seventeen hours, and Buena Vista, being discharged in May, 1847.
Mr. Robinson was also in our late war, a recruit of Company K, Sixty seventh
Indiana Regiment, going out as private, and being promoted to a Lieutenancy,
as which he resigned in April, 1863 having served at Munfordville, siege
of Vicksburg and other engagements. Mr. Robinson is a member of the I. O.
O. F.
JOHN A. SANDY, stock raiser and
farmer, was born in Montgomery County, Ind., March 19, ,1843, and is the sixth of
the eleven children of William H. and Lucinda (Thompson) Sandy, natives
respectively of Tennessee and Kentucky, and of English and Irish
descent. William H. Sandy emigrated to Washington County, Ind., about 1810, thence
moved to Owen County about 1812, and after his marriage settled near Gosport,
about 1830, and thence moved to
Montgomery County, locating near
Crawfordsville. In 1852, the family moved
to Morgan County, where Mr. Sandy yet
resides. John H. Sandy passed his boyhood on the paternal farm, and in
going to school. In 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty third Indiana
Volunteer Infantry; was assigned to the Fourth Corps, Army of the
Cumberland; was mostly engaged in skirmishes, and was discharge November, 1862, after
which, being unable to work, he went to school for a time, then farmed until
February, 1865, when he re-enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and
Forty eighth Regiment, and served until
September. August 30, 1866, he
married Susanna, daughter of Robert and Nancy Walters, to which union was
born one child, James S. Mr. Sandy owns eighty two acres of good land,
well cultivated and improved, thus being in comfortable circumstances. In
1880, he engaged in the drug business of one year with fair success. Mr.
Sandy is an Odd Fellow, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM A. SHARP is a native of
Ellettsville, in this State; was born April 10, 1855, and is the third of the five children
of George W. and Agnes (Ashbrook) Sharp, both natives of Indiana. William A.
was reared on a farm, and obtained some education from the common schools. His father
died when he was seven years old, after which he lived with his grandfather until May 13,
1877, when he married Theresa, daughter of Gideon Holiday, by which union were born two
children Ida and Roy C. After his marriage, Mr. Sharp moved to Ellettsville,
where he labored as a quarryman for thirteen years. In July, 1883, he moved to Paragon,
to take charge of his mother's farm of ninety three acres on White River
bottoms. Mr. Sharp is in comfortable circumstances, having a house and two lots in
Ellettsville. He is a member, and was First Commander of Sons of Veterans' Camp, No. 2, and
is a Republican in politics. His father, George W. Sharp, was a soldier of the
late war, and died in the service. Mrs. Sharp is a member of the Baptist Church.
JOHN A. STIRWALT, stock raiser and
farmer, was born November 18, 1849, in the house in which he now
dwells, his father having purchased the same about 1828, and is the eighth of the nine
children of Adam and Lucy (Sandy) Stirwalt, natives of North Carolina, and of
Dutch English extraction. John was brought up to labor on the home farm, and when
not so engaged attended the free schools, thus receiving the rudiments of an
education. November 2, 1872, he married Martha E., daughter of Andrew and
Elizabeth (Lingle) Knox, natives of North Carolina, a union which produced
three children, two of whom are living, Jasper E. and Mary Lavina. Mr.
Stirwalt is the owner of 100 acres, well improved, cultivated and stocked, with good
residence, young orchard and the like. He has been largely successful, and is a
diligent, careful manager. He is a Democrat in politics, a most reputable citizen,
and a trusted member of the Baptist Church.
DANIEL
H. VOSHELL, pioneer farmer and
stock raiser, was born in this township February 8, 1826, about one mile west
of his present residence, and is the second of the ten children of William H. and
Polly (Sandy) Voshell, natives respectively of Delaware and North Carolina, and of
French and German descent. William H. Voshell emigrated from Maryland to
Ohio, and thence to Jackson County, Ind., about 1820. He also lived in
Owen County about 1825, and located land, likewise, in this township, making an aggregate
of 400 acres. Daniel lived with his parents until he was twenty years old, having
entered 160 acres. His opportunities for education were of the most meager
character, having to labor almost incessantly. February 17, 1846, he wedded Delilah,
the widow of Joseph Goss, which union gave issue to six children, three
being now alive, Mary A. (Mrs. McGinnis),
William S. and Thomas S. Mr.
Voshell is possessor of 307 acres in Morgan and 180 in Knox County, Ind., all under
the best cultivation, well stocked, improved, and with as good a residence as one
may find in the township. Mr. Voshell is one of the most upright and respected of
citizens, a man whose record is duty well done. He and wife are members of the
Christian Church.
JOHN M. VOSHELL, farmer and
stock raiser, was born August 15, 1848, where he now resides, and is the second of
the five children, two of whom are yet living, born to Thomas S. and Catherine
(Stierwalt) Voshell, natives of Owen County, Ind. John was reared on a farm and to the
honored and independent business of farming. His father died when he was but five
years of age, so that he acquired only a spare education, having to give his
services at home. September 3, 1874, he married Miss Mollie, daughter of Adam and Annie E.
(Miller) Renner. Mr. Voshell has a good home and farm of 133 acres, which are
well improved, in fine cultivation, and supplied with stock and all necessary
appurtenances. For the past few years, he has given most attention to stock
trading, in which enterprise he has been fairly successful. He is an active
young Democrat, and he and his wife and mother are consistent members of the Baptist
Church.
LEVI J. VOSHELL, farmer and
stock raiser, was born at his present residence the land having been entered by his father
about 1825 passed his boyhood on the farm, and received but little schooling.
He remained at home until his majority, and October 19, 1859, married Miss Sarah, daughter of
William R. and Rebecca S. (Chambers) Mannan, natives respectively of Virginia and
North Carolina. To this union were born three children, two of whom are living, Manda A.
(now Mrs. Whittaker) and Emma R. In September, 1864, Mr. Voshell enlisted in
Company F, Twenty fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Atlanta
campaign; he was also in Gen. Sherman's famous march to the sea, and was engaged in the
taking of Savannah and Columbia. After the grand review at Washington, he
was discharged June, 1865, and returned to his home and the duties of his farm,
having 588 acres in Morgan, Owen and Putnam Counties, which are well improved,
cultivated and adorned, containing a number of short-horn cattle and other
stock. Mr. Voshell, aided by his wife, has been more than usually successful. They are
members of the Baptist Church, and respected members of their community. Mr. Voshell
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a very earnest Democrat.
ASHBEN W. WALTERS was born in this
township October 3, 1856, and is the sixth child of Robert S. and Nancy A.
(Duckworth) Walters, the former a native of Owen County, Ind., the latter of
Kentucky. Our subject was brought up on a farm and remained there until he was
twenty two years old, when he engaged in the dry goods business at Paragon, and also attended
two terms at Bedford Academy in 1878. He remained in business one
year; then returned to the farm for two years, after which he engaged with his
brother-in-law in the drug business at Paragon; he afterward went to Colorado, and engaged in
mining for a short time, when he returned home and resumed farming on the land
entered by his grandfather. Mr. Walters is a radical Democrat, a member of the
Baptist Church, a liberal gentleman and an esteemed citizen.
S. G. W. WALTERS, a young,
successful
and enterprising farmer, was born at his present residence September
11,1864 a farm cleared by his father and is the youngest of the eleven children of
Robert S. and Nancy Walters, who were among the earliest settlers of this
township, both members of the Baptist denomination, and known as liberal and benevolent
persons; the father died July, 1881; the latter June, 1877. They were possessed
of 300 acres of land, acquired by diligence and perseverance. Mr. Walters
politically is a Democrat.
DR. E. D. WHITAKER was born in this
township November 27, 1834, and is the fourth of the seven children of
Grafton B. and Margaret (Gregg) Whitaker. During his boyhood, our subject
worked at farming and attended subscription school, and at the age of twenty two,
at an academy in Belleville, Hendricks County. Soon after, he began the study of
medicine under Dr. Stuckey, of Gosport, and attended lectures at Louisville
during the sessions of 1858, 1859 and 1860. In April, 1862, he entered the
service; went to Pittsburgh Landing, was assigned to the Medical Department as Acting
Assistant Surgeon, and after six months, commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the
Fifteenth Kentucky Infantry. After the expiration of this regiment's term of
service, he was made Surgeon of the Thirty eighth Indiana, as which he continued until
the war was closed. Succeeding his discharge, he located as a practitioner at
Gosport, which, after one year, he gave up for the purpose of attending to his
farm. December, 1867, he married Martha J., daughter of Wiley and Rebecca (Crow) Williams,
who died November, 1874, leaving one child, Wiley W. December, 1877,
he wedded Amanda A., daughter of Harman and Elizabeth (Guy) Vickery, to which
marriage succeeded two children, Eli G and Margaret Elizabeth. Dr.
Whitaker has a most excellent, highly cultivated and well stocked farm of 240 acres, a
portion of which was entered by his father.
He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity and of the Baptist Church, and is a liberal gentleman and a
Democrat; he was once nominated for representative, but declined the same.
DR. RALPH B. WILLIAMSON was born
near
Watford, Ont., March 4,1851,
and is the ninth of the fourteen
children of John and Margaret (Calbert) Williamson, the former a native of Ireland, the
latter of France. Dr. Ralph B. Williamson was reared on a farm, and when fifteen
years old clerked for his father, and continued so to do for five years. He
attended the public school, a commercial college at London, and afterward began the study
of medicine with Dr. Harvey, and attended lectures at Ann Arbor, and at the
Cincinnati College of Medicine, from each of which he received a diploma. In
July, 1876, he located at Vandalia, remained three years, removed thence to Santa
Fe, Owen County, and thence to Paragon. October 9, 1877, he married Alice E.,
daughter of William and Jane Williams, of Owen County, This union
furnished two children, Lionas Listwell Dufferein and Damietta Bell. Dr.
Williamson was formerly an Odd Fellow, and is in politics a Democrat. He and wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN H. YOUNG, farmer and
stock raiser, was born in this county, and is the tenth of the eleven children of Scott
W. and Polly (Mathews) Young, natives respectively of Virginia and
Kentucky. John H. was reared on a farm, and has had good advantages for education,
having attended a high school two terms, the Indianapolis Commercial School and
the Normal School at Terre Haute. He has been some time teacher in this State
and in Kansas. After his father's death, in 1873, he took charge of the home
farm, entered by his father, who came to the State in 1822. Our subject is
owner of 140 acres, well cultivated, stocked and improved, with commodious residence,
built about forty years ago. Mr. Young is an active Republican, a good
citizen, and one of the best informed men in his township.