Greene County Biography Ref. Page

SAMUEL MILLER was born in Surry County, N.C., March 15, 1811. His father, Frederick Miller, was born in Pennsylvania February 26, 1783, of German parents. His mother was Welsh, but whether born in this country, is not known. His father, while a young man, went to North Carolina, married, and settled in Surry County, where he engaged in farming until he moved with his family to Indiana in 1830, stopping first at Salem, Washington County. The subject of this sketch procured work in the cotton factory at that place, where he worked until the following spring, when he moved with is parents to this county, settling in Eel River Township on the farm know as the Alex Watson farm. For a few years he worked as a farm hand and day laborer, receiving wages $5 to $8 per month, until he had accumulated sufficient money to enter his first land, which he did by walking to Vincennes in 1837, and entering the northwest forty acres of Section 10. Recieved his patent under the seal and signature of President Van Buren. Soon after this, he built a log house on the same and moved his father's family to it. Some two years later, he made a second trip to Vincennes, and entered the southwest forty acres of Section 3. In 1835, he built his first flat-boat, and sold it to two brothers, Joe and Jerry Raridon, from whom it is said he never received a cent. For a number of years, flat-boating was his principal business during the spring, oftentimes going as far as New Orleans. His last trip was made in 1847. In 1843, the Allisons having bought a set of wool carding machinery, he learned the business of carding wool, and ran the machinery for them two seasons. The next season he bought them out and continued the business himself. In 1845 or 1846, the grist and saw mill was built on Eel River by Daniel G. Ingersol and James Jessup, and in 1848 he procured water-power of them to run his carding machinery. In the early spiing of that year, he put up a building adjoining the mill, and moved his machinery to it. This business he carried on until 1851. In 1855, he added to his business on the same premises the machinery necessary to manufacture wool into cloth, which was successfully carried on until the close of the late war in 1865. In 1858, he bought the school lands adjoining the mill seat--Lots 3 and 4, Section 16. Improved and farmed them until 1864, when he built a large, comfortable dwelling on the south line of said lands, near the mills, his home during life, and now the homestead of his widow and youngest son and family. In April, 1838, he married Sarah Newsom, daughter of James B. Newsom, a soldier of the war of 1812, who came to this settlement the same year he did. Of this union were born five children, three boys and two girls. Only two of the children are now living -- James E., born May 3, 1841, and Frederick N., born October 20, 1850. He died June 19, 1873; sixty-two years of age. Politically, a Republican; previously Whig and strong Union. Religious faith, Methodist.

"HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, STATE OF INDIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC." CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1884.
JEFFERSON TWP.
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Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn

J. E. MILLER, a native of the county in which he now resides, was born May 3, 1841, and is one in a family of five children born to Samuel and Sarah (Newsom) Miller, appropriate mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. His early years were passed in his father's grist and woolen mills and in going to school, and after attaining his majority he took charge of the woolen mill at Point Commerce. In 1865, he beacame a partner of W. C. Andrews in merchandising, continuing seven years; but in 1871 he had the woolen factory at Point Commerce removed to Worthington where he now carries on an extensive business in manufactuing, carding, spinning, buying wool, grain, seeds, etc., and transacting by far the largest cash business of any man in Worthington. Mr. Miller is one of the stanch business men of the place, and to his energy and forethought the town is largely indebted for its prosperity and just reputation as a live business point. In politics, he is a Republican, following in the footsteps of his father, who was first a Whig and afterward a Republcian. He is a member of the Episcopal Church and the Masonic brotherhood; is a genial and intelligent gentleman, and an esteemed citizen. On the 10th of May, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Katharine R.Andrews, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, July 15, 1842, a daughter of W. C. Andrews, whose biography precedes this.

L. P. MULLINNIX, M. D., Worthington. The parents of the subject of this sketch, David and Eleanor (Hurst) Mullinnix, were natives respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee, and his grandfather, Greenbury Millinnix, was a pioneer of Indiana, locating in Washington County in 1816, and after living there two years moving to Putnam County, where he passed the greater part of his remaining years. David Mullinnix and wife were married in Putnam County, this State, where they made their home until 1856, when they moved to Effingham County, Ill. In 1865, Mr. Mullinnex returned to Indiana, his wife having died the year before, and he has since made it his home. Dr. L. P. Mullinnix is one in a family of nine children, and his birth occurred in Putnam County, Ind., June 5, 1839. He was raised on a farm, secured a practical education, and when twenty years old began the study of medicine. On the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and, after serving out his term of enlistment, he again volunteered his services, and was made a member of Company G, Sixty-second Illinois Volunteers, serving as such until the close of the war. He was in a number of hard-fought battles, among them being Belmont, Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing. After his return home, he completed his medical studies, graduating from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indianapolis. He began the practice of his profession in Greene County, and being a close student of pathology and a successful practitioner, he has not only gained a lucrative practice, but is recognized as one of the ablest physicians the county affords. He has been a life long Democrat in politics, and is a recognized leader of his party in northern Greene County. He is a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor, and he and wife belong to the Protestant Episcopal Church. October 15, 1870, he married Miss Jennie Inman, who was born June 15, 1850. One son--Maston Parke--is the result of their union.

GEORGE RAETH was born in Bedford, Lawrence Co., Ind., April 17, 1845, son of Joseph and Margaret (Paoth) Raeth, both natives of Germany. They both came to the United States when young and were married in Lawrence County. Father was a baker and followed that and mercantile pursuits in Bedford. Father is dead; mother lives in Bedford and is married to Joseph Hircher. Mr. Raeth was the only child born to his parents. His father and also his step-father were in wars in their native country. Subject received a common education. When twenty, began working at carpenter's trade. In1865, subject enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. Then he began working at his trade, which he followed three years; then went at blacksmithing and wagonmaking, which he followed some time, and thereafter working at carpentering a short time. In 1873, he came to Worthington, Ind., and began in a bakery; began in a small way and has made what he now has. Has done it by hard work and economy, and is a self-made man. He is now doing a general grocery business, in connection with which runs a first-class bakery. He has built up a good trade, which is steadily increasing. He has always voted with the Republican party. Has been a member of the Town Council and held other offices. Belongs to A. O. U. W., K. of H. and K. of P. Married Miss Catharine Bowman, June 11, 1871. She was born in Morgan County, Ill., July 29, 1853. From this union, two children, viz., Leetus and Charles A. Subject and wife are members of the Christian Church. Has always favored good schools and all needed reforms and worthy public enterprises as far as his means would permit. Leetus was born in Martin County, Ind., near Harrison, March 11, 1872; Charles A. was born in Worthington, Ind., May 8, 1877. Pleas Bowman and wife, Clarissa Williams, the parents of Mrs. Raeth, were natives of Indiana, the Bowmans settling in Lawrence and the Williamses in Washington County, Ind., in a very early day, and were well known to the early settlers of those counties. To Pleas Bowman and wife were born a family of three children. They moved to Morgan County, Ill., soon after their marriage, and remained there some years, when they returned to Indiana and there passed the remainder of their days. They were good and highly respected people.

CHARLES G. SANDERS was born in Greene County, Ind., February 1, 1841, son of John and Mary A. (Jessup) Sanders. The father was a native of North Carolina, and the mother of the same State. John Sanders, father of John, subject's father, was a native of North Carolina, who came with his family to Greene County, Ind., in about 1819. The mother's father, Caleb Jessup, also came from North Carolina about the same year, both families settling in Eel River Township, where they reared large families, and where they ever afterward resided. They endured many hardships and privations, and were highly respected by all who knew them. Subject's parents married in Eel River Township, and they had eleven children, four of whom are now living. Both parents are dead. The father died in 1860, and the mother in 1880. Subject was reared upon a farm, and had a common school education. In 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served three years. He was at the siege of Corinth, the battles of Corinth, Jackson, Champion Hills, the charge of Vicksburg on May 22, 1863, and siege of Vicksburg, and in a number of lesser engagements. After his term of enlistment was out, he returned home, and for some six years was engaged in farming. He then began in the livery business in Worthington, in which business he remained about eight years, and then engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he has since remained. He keeps a general stock of groceries, and is doing a good and steadily increasing business. He married Miss Mary J. Dickey September 7, 1870. She was born in Webster County, Ky., in 1853. From this union, one daughter -- Katie M. -- was born. Subject is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R. He favors good schools, and all enterprises that tend to build up the community in which he lives or benefits his fellow-man.

GODFREY SHRYER was born March 25,1827, in Hamburg on the Rhine, Prussia. He is the son of Jasper B. and Matilda (Koehnen) Schroer (the original name of Shryer was Schroer, but after the family came to this country the name was changed toShryer), both native Prussians, where they resided, the father being a coal and lumber dealer, having a barge on the River Rhine. On the 16th of April, 1849, they embarked at Rotterdam, Holland, for the United States, arriving in Boston June 17 following. There were in the family ten children, eight of whom came with the parents to this country. In a few weeks after their arrival at Boston the family came to Indianapolis to visit friends and look for a home. Soon after they arrived in Indiana, at Columbus, several members of the family died. The surviving members of the family, with the exception of one sister, who was married, settled in Greene County, where they have since resided. Our subject at the time of the family's coming to United States was in the Prussian Army, and the rebellion of 1849 having broken out and not liking to fight his friends and neighbors, and against his principles, he deserted and accompanied the family to this country. He had received a good education, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits while in his native country. After coming to Greene County, he, in the year 1850, visited Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa, but not liking it in those States he returned to Indiana, and embarked in mercantile pursuits at Indianapolis, where he remained a short time, and then came to Worthington, which had just started, and embarked in mercantile pursuits. He was in this business continously until 1869, when he sold out and has since been in the real estate, insurance and business of a legal character. He was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Sheepers March 28, 1851. She was born at Wesel on the Rhine April 24,1825. From this union nine children, viz.: George H., Emily, Otto, Tillie, Henry W., Emma, Mollie E., G. William and Louisa May. Five of these children are dead. Mr. Shryer is a thorough business man, and has by his energy and perseverance accumulated a goodly share of this world's goods. He has been Notary Public for a number of years, and has held positions of honor and trust. He is a Democrat in politics, but in local elections he is very conservative, voting for whom he considers the best man. He has twice visited the Old World since living at Worthington, in 1861 and in 1873, the last time being appointed by Gov. Hendricks as Assistant Commissioner to the Vienna Exposition. He is not a member of any church organization, but is ever ready to contribute to all moral, educational and other enterprises that tend to build up the country in which he lives, or benefit his fellow-man. He is one of the county's best and most prominent citizens. His object in leaving Indianapolis and coming to Worthington was that at the last-named place the hunting and fishing were good, and he was very fond and very successful at these sports. He is an Odd Fellow, and the oldest member of the order in Greene County, and has been a member of the Grand Lodge and Encampment since 1856.

M. V. B. SMITH, Worthington, a native Hoosier, was born August 4, 1844 in Fountain County. Henry Smith, father of M. V. B., was a native of the Buckeye State, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Smith. They were married in Greene County, this State, having removed here with their respective parents when children, but shortly after their marriage they removed to Fountain County, where they made their residence sixteen years. They then returned to Greene County, where they passed the remainder of their days, Mr. Smith dying in 1859, and his wife some years previous. They were the parents of ten children, and were hard-working and industrious people, commanding the respect of all who knew them. M. V. B. Smith was raised upon a farm, secured a fair education, and in 1862 he became a volunteer for the preservation of the Union. He served his country faithfully and with credit to himself until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged as Orderly Sergeant, although he was a commissioned Second Lieutenant. His commission not having reached him, he was discharged as Orderly Sergeant as stated above. He was an active participant in the battles of Richmond, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Big Shanty, the Atlanta campaign, Nashville and Franklin, and is spoken of in the highest praise by his comrades. Since the war, he has been engaged in farming, carpentering and merchandising. Mr. Smith is one of the enterprising men of Greene County; is a Democrat in politics, although not radically so as regards local politics; is a member of the G. A. R. and K. of P. fraternities. To his marriage with Miss Arabell Barker, which occurred in 1870, this family has been born: Eliza, Nellie, Frederick, David and Charles.

DR. W. B. SQUIRE, Worthington, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, January 17, 1830, a son of Samuel and Jane (Stilwell) Squire, who were natives respcetively of Vermont and West Virginia. Both sides of the family are of English extraction, their advent in America dating previous to the Revolutinary war. The Stilwells first settled on Staten Island the the Squires in Vermont. Members of each family served in the early Indian wars, and also in both wars with Great Britian. In 1813, Bradley Squire removed with his family from Vermont to Coshocton County, Ohio, where he embarked in agricultural pursuits and passed the remainder of his days. This man was the father of Samuel Squire and grandfather of Dr. W. B. Squire, of Worthington. Samuel Squire was a farmer throughout life, and to him and wife were born four sons and four daughters. Both he and wife are now dead. W. B. Squire was raised on a farm, his early years being passed in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen years he began his career as a public instructor. When eighteen years old, he began the study of medicine, and in February,1856, graduated from the Cincinnati School of Medicine. In the meantime (1855), he had come to Greene County, Ind., located where Jasonville now is, and, laying out that village, named it in honor of Jason Rodgers, a merchant of the place. In July, 1861, he helped recruit what afterward became Company F, Thirty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but after serving about seven months he was compelled to resign his commission on account of illness. In 1863, he reenlisted, and was made Surgeon of the Fourteenth Regiment, which position he held until the close of the war. He had moved to Worthington in 1862, and on his return from the army began the practice of medicine, at which he has ever since contnued to a greater or less extent. In 1871, he embarked in the drug trade, and in addition to this he opened a dry goods store in 1877, and in both branches of trade is doing a first-class business. Dr. Squire and Miss Rebecca J. Thrasher were married in 1852, and four children blessed them--Azubia J., Samuel F., E. Byrd and Ida May. The mother was a native of Clark County, Ohio, and her death occurred in Greene County, Ind., in 1871. Mrs. Hattie A. Walker became Mrs. Dr. Squire in 1872, and Ethel L., is the only child born to this union. Mrs. Squire was born at Newtonville, Mass., in 1841. Dr. Squire has always voted the Whig and Republican tickets, but has never aspired to any political prominence, preferring to confine his entire attention to private business matters. He is a Mason and a K. of P., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN H. TRENT, one of the best farmers of Jefferson Township, is a native of what was formerly Eel River Township, Greene County, Ind., born February 2, 1833, one of six children born to Josiah and Margaret (Crabtree) Trent, who were among the earliest settlers of Greene County, they coming from Virginia. In early life, Mr. Trent, our subject, was put to hard work, and has kept at that most of his life. His advantages for an education were limited, but he is giving his children all the opportunities in that direction that lie in his power. He says the only trade he learned was to grub, maul rails and chop wood. January 28, 1859, he married Parmelia Galletly, and six children have blessed the union--James W., May 11,1861; Alice, November 26, 1862; Calvin G., April 23, 1867; Minnie B., November 11, 1869; Eva D., November 20, 1874; Billy P., March 6, 1877. Mr. Trent owns 240 acres of land under a high state of cultivation, and raises considerable stock. He is a Democrat, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Oak Grove.

WILLIAM WILKINS, banker, Worthington, the only survivor and son in a family of two children, is a native of Rhenish Prussia, born October 30, 1830. his grandfather was a veterinary surgeon of note in the old country, and his parents, William and Mary (Wusthoff) Wilkins, who were natives respectively of Hanover and Rhenish Prussia, were descendants of an esteemed and honored family. His father served his country with credit in the Prussian Army against Napoleon the First. Until twelve years of age, our subject attended the common schools of his native country, subsequently attending academy four years, and for about four years longer was employed as an instructor in a graded school. Succeeding this, he attended a teachers' training school at Moers two years, and in 1853 he bade farewell to his native land and emigrated to the United States. He remained in the city of New York about a year, and six months in New Jersey when he came to Indianapolis, Ind., and from there to Worthington the fall of 1854, which has since been his home. For two years he was employed by Godfrey Shryer as a clerk, after which he began merchandising on his own responsibility, and continued with success until 1875. In that year he became a stockholder in the Worthington Bank, and three years later was elected President, a position he now holds. Mr. Wilkins is one of Worthington's self-made and influential citizens, is independent on all subjects, preferring to rely on his own judgment of right and wrong to catering to the isms and dogmas of churches, poliical parties or corporations. October 28, 1855, his marriage occurred with Miss Augusta Voigt, who wasin Saxony, Prussia, April 3, 1834. Their children are Emma L., Willie, Alma, Mamie, Lizzie and Dora.

GEORGE WILLS was born in Abthorpe, Northamptonshire, England, April 14,1843, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Watts) Wills, both natives of England. Thomas Wills was a brewer in his native country. He came with his family to America in 1848, and located near Akron,Ohio, where he followed gardening until 1860, when he moved to Hillsboro, Ohio, where he was engaged in a like business. The mother died in 1865, and the father in 1867. They were parents of two sons, George and William, the latter dying at Hillsboro, as did the parents. George learned the pottery business at Akron, and was working at this in Hillsboro when the war broke out. He enlisted in Company D, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served three years, and was in the battles of Rich Mountain, Stone River, and numerous lesser engagements. After being honorably discharged, he worked at his trade for a time in Springfield, Ohio, Saline County, Mo., and Brazil, Ind. In 1870, he came to Worthington, and finding excellent material for his trade, erected a building and embarked in the pottery business, at which he has since continued with gratifying success. Mr. Wills, by his long experience in the business, has perfected his trade to such an extent that he has all he can attend to. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Alice Baker, who was born in Parke County, Ind., in 1849. Two children have been born to them, Kate and Garfield. Mr. Wills is a Republican, a member of the I. O. O. F., and is one of the enterprising and go-ahead men of Greene County.

Deb Murray