HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

THOMAS NICHOLS, one of the oldest settlers of Hendricks County and Justice of the Peace at Danville, is a native of Kentucky, born near Bardstown, Nelson County, Nov. 5, 1803, a son of James and Rachel (Jackson) Nichols. He was reared a farmer. He came to Indiana in April 1821 with his father's family, settling with them about two-miles below the bluffs of White River, in Morgan County, but in the following year they came to Hendricks County, and settled on the east fork of White Lick Creek, in what is now Guilford Township. At the time of their arrival there were but few settlers in the county. In 1825 they moved to what is now Center Township, locating two-miles west of Danville. His father being aged and infirm, he remained with him until Dec. 27, 1827, when he was married to Martha Hadley, daughter of James and Mary (Richardson) Hadley, of Center Township, he removed to Danville, where he has since resided. He has served as Sheriff of Hendricks County twelve years--from 1828-1832, 1844-1848 and 1860-1864, the term of office being two years, but he has been re-elected for the second term each time. In the winters of 1833-'34 and 1835-'36 he represented Hendricks County in the Indiana State Legislature as Assemblyman. In the spring of 1873 he was elected Justice of the Peace of Danville, and has held the office by re-election, his present term extending to April 1889. In 1832 he was Captain in command of a company in the Black Hawk war, in the regiment known as "the Bloody Three Hundred." He has six children living---Nancy, widow of George W., Powell; Serena, wife of Charles A. Rose, of Putnam County, Ind.; William H., Deputy Auditor of Hendricks County; Erasmus D., a druggist at Danville; Julia A., wife of R.H. Harney, of Lebanon, Ind., and Oliver E., clerking in the drugstore of his brother in Danville. One child died in infancy, and two, a son and a daughter, after reaching maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Master, Royal Arch and Council Mason, and was the first Mason made in Hendricks County. He served as Worshipful Master of his lodge fourteen years and High Priest of his chapter two years. Politically he was originally an old-line Whig, and his first presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay in 1824. He now affiliates with the Republican Party.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

WILLIAM H. NICHOLS, Deputy Auditor of Hendricks County, Ind., was born near Danville, in Center Township, Hendricks County, Feb. 24, 1841. He is the second of four sons of Thomas and Martha (Hadley) Nichols. He had the advantage of obtaining only a common school education. His father being a carpenter he began to work at that trade when quite young but abandoned it before becoming of age. From the age of twenty to twenty-two years he worked in a printing office at Danville. He was then variously employed until June 1863, when he enlisted as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Infantry, for six months, and served in Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee. The Colonel of his regiment was Thomas J. Brady of Star Route fame. After his discharge at the expiration of his term of service he returned to Danville and worked mostly at the carpenter's trade until April 1872, when he became Deputy Auditor under W.M. Hess, and served as such until April 1875. He was then employed as bookkeeper in the bank of the Danville Banking Company until November 1879, when, having been elected Auditor of Hendricks County, in November 1878, for a term of four years, he assumed the duties of his office. On retiring from the office at the expiration of the term, he resumed contracting and building. In October 1884, he was deputized County Auditor by County Auditor John Kendall. He was married to Miss Laura, daughter of the late Coleman C. Cash, of Danville, May 8, 1868, by whom he had one child---Jessie Pearl, who died at the age of nearly three years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Danville. He is a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 26, F. & A.M.; Danville Chapter, No. 46, R.A.M., and of Colestock Council, No. 26, R.S. & M., and of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G.A.R. He has served as Secretary and Junior Warden of the lodge, High Priest in the chapter, Recorder of the council, and Sergeant Major of the post.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

ADRIAN PARSONS Recorder of Hendricks County, was born in Guilford County, N. C., Nov. 7, 1846. His parents, Nelson and Elvira (Swain) Parsons, came to Indiana in 1852, first settling in Bridgeport. His father was a millwright by trade. Mr. Parsons lived with his parents in Hendricks and Marion Counties until he was seventeen years of age. He enlisted in the Union army in Company I, Ninth Indiana Calvary, Dec. 23, 1863, to serve three years, or during the war as a private. He was discharged at the close of the war at St. Louis, Mo., in August 1865, having participated in numerous battles and skirmishes during Hood's raid in Tennessee. After his discharge he returned to Washington Township, Hendricks County, and being disabled by a gunshot wound received at the battle of Spring Hill, Tenn., he attended the Danville Academy two years and the Earlham College at Richmond, Ind., one term, when, having expended all his money, he taught school during the winters and worked on farms in the summer seasons until 1872. He then engaged solely in farming in Washington Township till 1876 when he added bee-keeping to his farming pursuits. In the fall of 1882 he was elected on the Republican ticket Recorder of Hendricks County for a term of four years, which office he still holds. April 10, 1870, he was married to Miss Mary M., daughter of Barney and Hannah (Gosset) Fox, of Washington Township, Hendricks County. They have six children ---Lester, Norman, Ethel, William, Edith and Gilbert. He is a member of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G.A.R.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

FRANK PIERSON, druggist, of Danville, was born in Washington Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, July 30, 1856, a son of Isaac H. and Mary (Clark) Pierson. His mother died when he was an infant, and at the age of ten years he came with his father to Danville, where he attended the public school until he was fourteen years of age. At that age he began to provide for himself by working by the month, and when he was sixteen he began working in a saw-mill with his father during the summers and attending school in the winters till he was twenty years old. He then clerked in Indianapolis one year and in 1877 returned to Danville, where he was employed in John Misler's heading factory for a short time. Mr. Misler then placed him in his drug store as a clerk, where he was employed by him and by his successor, J.M. Roach, several months, when in August, 1878, he purchased the drug store of Mr Roach and established his present business. He was married April 3, 1884, to Miss Madie McKee, of Center Township, Hendricks County. They have an infant daughter---Ruth Alice. Mr. Pierson is a Knight of Pythias and has passed all the chairs of Danville Lodge, No. 48, and is a member of the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

JAMES W. TODD was born on the homestead on section 31, Center Township, where he now lives, June 15, 1843, and has always lived in Hendricks County. His father, James Todd, Sr., settled in Center Township in an early day, and entered 260 acres of land from the Government in 1834, the deed bearing the signature of President Andrew Jackson. James W. owns a part of the old homestead, and has been a successful and worthy descendant of his father. He was married to Mary Mitchell, daughter of Lorenzo and granddaughter of Hiram Mitchell. They have three children---Alice L., Amanda J. and Maggie E.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

WILLIAM A. VAWTER, merchant, of Danville, Ind., was born in Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., May 22, 1858, the eldest son of A.J. and Elizabeth (Richardson) Vawter. His father followed teaching, and taught in various places. He was Superintendent of the Lafayette public schools five years, and Principal of the Baptist Seminary at Ladoga, Ind., five years, and in those schools our subject received the most of his education. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to Wright, Baker & Co. to learn the book and job printing, with whom he remained nine years. In November 1881, having given up the printing business, he went to Plainfield and engaged in the dry good business. In April 1883, he removed his stock of goods to Danville, where he still carries on the business. Sept. 24, 1881, he was married to Miss Alice R., daughter of Harlan Hadley, of Plainfield, Ind. they have two children---Cora C. and William B. Mr. Vawter and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Danville.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

GEORGE W. WAYLAND, dealer in books and stationery, and fire insurance agent, at Danville, Ind., was born near Visalia, Kenton Co., Ky., April 28, 1829. His parents, Joseph and Catharine (Shaver) Wayland, were of German descent, and came to Kentucky in 1808. He lived with his parents until 1848, when he went to Independence and commenced to learn the trade of saddler and harnessmaker, working as a journeyman at the same place till 1851. He then engaged in the same business for himself till 1856 in Independence, wen he removed to Lebanon, Ind., where he carried on the business until 1858, when he removed his business to Jamestown, Ind. In January 1862, he changed from harness and saddlery to a general mercantile business. In December 1861, he was appointed Postmaster of Jamestown by Montgomery Blair, which office he held until Jan. 1, 1856. In the following February he removed to Danville and worked at his trade as a journeyman in the harness shop of W.H. McPhetridge until October 1856, when he established himself as a harness-maker and carriage-trimmer, which he followed till 1876, since when he has carried on his present business. In 1868 he was elected Coroner of Hendricks County for a term of two years. In 1872 he was elected one of the School Board for a term of three years and was again elected in 1878. He was married May 2, 1850, to Nancy Kelley, of Versailles, Ind., who died at Jamestown, Ind., Feb. 20, 1860, leaving three children---Lucy, wife of F.D. Roberts, of Danville; Adelia, who died Feb. 2, 1857, aged three years; Calista (Kitty) still at home, and Confucius Lane, of Seattle, Wash. Ter. Mr. Wayland was again married, Jan. 22, 1867, to Nancy J. Barnett, of Danville. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Danville, of which he has been Class Leader nineteen years. He is now a trustee, having held that position many years, and has been Treasurer of the Sabbath-school for the past fifteen years. He is a member of Silcox Lodge, No. 123, I.O.O.F., at Danville, of which he is Past Grand.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

ALFRED WELSHAUS, a merchant of Danville, was born at Crawfordville, Montgomery Co., Ind., July 25, 1840. When an infant his parents, William and Elizabeth (Britton) Welshaus, moved to Milton, Pa., where they lived until his twelfth year, when they settled in Hendricks County, Ind., living at Brownsburg and Springtown, he began to learn the shoemaker's trade which he finished at Danville. At the age of sixteen he began to maintain himself and also assisted his parents. His father dying in 1865, he wholly supported his mother till 1877. In response to the first call of President Lincoln he enlisted April 24, 1861, in company A, Seventh Indiana Infantry, as a private for three months, and was on duty in West Virginia. Being mustered out at the expiration his term of service, he returned to Danville and worked at his trade till June 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, Fourth Indiana Cavalry, to serve as a private three years. He was soon promoted to Duty Sergeant and then to Quartermaster-Sergeant of his regiment. He was discharged at Nashville, Tenn., at the close of the war, in July 1865. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Allatoona, Franklin, Columbus, Selma, Tullahoma, Atlanta, New Market, and a number of others. He then returned home and followed shoemaking in Danville about one year, after which he carried on a boot and shoe store in connection with shoemaking. In 1869 he was elected on of the trustees of Center Township, which position he held till 1875. In 1876 he discontinued the boot and shoe store, being elected Treasurer of Hendricks County, serving one term of two years. He then purchased a farm in the vicinity of Danville and pursued farming until 1882, since which he has carried on the clothing and merchant tailoring business at Danville. In 1882 he was elected one of the members of the school board and was chosen Treasurer by that body, still holding that position. In June 1876, he was married to Miss Emma J. Parker, of Danville. They have three children---Gracie, Bertha and Sammie. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Master Royal Arch and Council Mason and was Worshipful Master of the lodge of Danville for four years. He is also a member of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G.A.R.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

CHARLES A. WHITE, M.D., was born near Salem, the county seat of Washington County, Ind., Jan. 4, 1845. His parents were Maximilian and Martha (Miles) White. He removed with them to Hendricks County in the autumn of 1851, locating in Liberty Township, two miles south of Belleville, then the principal business town in the county. He was reared a farmer, and received a good common school education. At the age of nineteen he began the study of medicine in the office of Drs. R.C. Moore and L.H. Kennedy, at Belleville, remaining under their preceptorship about four years, entering Rush Medical College, Chicago, in the class of 1867-'68. In the spring of 1868 he began the practice of medicine in Monroe County, Ind., near Bloomington. He formed a partnership with John Dancer, M.D., of South Milford, LaGrange Co., Ind., March 15, 1869, with whom he remained for two years, during which time he took a second course of lectures and instruction at Rush Medical College, where he graduated Feb. 1, 18871, and was unanimously chosen by the class numbering eighty-five, to deliver the valedictory address. In April following his graduation he located at the flourishing village of Wolcottville, LaGrange Co., Ind., continuing his partnership with Dr. Dancer, which relation was sustained until April 1, 1873, when on account of the failing health of his wife he returned to Hendricks County, the place of her birth, and home of their parents. He located in Danville Jan. 1, 1874, having formed a partnership with Henry G. Todd, M.D., for a period of three years. From March 1878, till Oct. 1879, he had associated with him in the practice, Wilson T. Lawson, M.D., since which time he has practiced alone. Jan. 21, 1873, he married Miss Dee a., daughter of Toliver B. and Matilda (Gill) Miller, near Clayton, Hendricks County. They have had born to them two children---Geraldine Max Miller, born June 14, 1880, and Glyndon De Laskie Miller, born Nov. 1, 1881. Dr. and Mrs. White are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Danville. He was made a Master Mason in Ionic Lodge, at Wolcottville, in 1870. He is a Royal Arch and Council Mason, has passed the chair of Worshipful Master in both the lodges to which he has belonged, which station he now holds in Western Star Lodge, No. 26, F. & A.M., of Danville. He is a member of the county and State medical societies. He served as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers, during the war of the Rebellion.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS was born in Clark Co., Ky., Nov. 22, 1831. He came with his parents, William and Margaret (Braley) Williams to Hendricks County in the fall of 1836. They settled in Marion Township, where they lived till 1844, then removed to Middle Township, where our subject lived till he was twenty years old. He began life for himself in Center Township, buying forty acres of land, to which he has added from time to time, and now owns 300 acres of well-cultivated land. Feb. 25, 1855, he was married to Miss Eliza Swain, daughter of John and Matilda (Darnall) Swain, of Center Township. She died Dec. 29, 1859 leaving two children---John W., of Union Township, and Sarah E., living at home. He was again married Dec. 22, 1861, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Turpin) Craig. Mrs. Williams had one son, Charles, by her first husband. She was born Oct. 9, 1828. Mr. Williams was one of the prime movers of the Grange organization in 1872, and was one of the charter members of Talbot Grange, No. 757, of Center Township, of which he is now Master; he is Past Grand of Silcox Lodge, No. 123, I.O.O.F., at Danville. His parents were natives of Clark County, Ky., and are numbered among the worth pioneers of Hendricks County. Both lived to a good old age; the father died in 1882 aged seventy-three years, and the mother in 1883 aged seventy-one years, both being members of the Regular Baptist Church. Mrs. Willaims' parents were Roberson and Rachel (Powell) Turpin, both natives of Scott County, Ky., where they lived until 1834, when they came to Hendricks County with a family of three children. They settled in Lincoln Township on a farm of eighty acres, to which they had added until their farm contained 500 acres. Her father died Aug. 31, 1880, aged seventy five years, and her mother, July 31, 1880, aged seventy-three years, leaving eight children, five of whom, three sons and two daughters, are living in Hendricks County, one in Boone County, Ind., and two in Illinois.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

ELDRIDGE C. WILLS, janitor in the Hendricks County courthouse, at Danville, was born in Liberty Township, this county, July 31, 1842, where he was reared a farmer and lived with his parents, Amos S. and Lucinda (Tatman) Wills, until manhood. June 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry, to serve three months, and was out nearly five months on duty in Kentucky. He re-enlisted Feb. 13, 1865, in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana Infantry, to serve one year, and on the organization of his company he was made a Corporal. He was mustered out at the close of the war at Indianapolis, Sept. 5, 1865, and after receiving his discharge from the war he returned to Clayton, Hendricks County, where he followed farming until 1869, when he worked at the carpenter's trade till 1870. He then engaged in teaming in Danville until 1878, when he was appointed janitor of the Hendricks County courthouse by the county commissioners, holding this position until 1882. He then held the office of Deputy Sheriff for several months during 1882, and in 1882 also served as City Marshall. In 1880 he was elected Coroner of Hendricks County, and served as such two years. In 1883 he served as Constable of Center Township, and in 1884 he was again appointed janitor of the county courthouse. Jan. 1, 1866, he was married to Miss Julia Bell, of Danville. They have two sons---Charlie A. and Harry. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G.A.R., and has held the position of Master of Finance in Danville Lodge, No. 48, K. of P., for two years.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

JAMES A. WILSON, attorney at law, was born at Peoria, Ill., Sept. 15, 1854, and is the youngest son of William and Sarah F. (Hosea) Wilson. His father having gone to California and not having been heard from, was supposed to be lost, he was reared by his grandfather, W.F. Hosea, of New Philadelphia, Ind., until his sixteenth year. He worked on the farm till he was thirteen, after which he supported his grandparents, by working in a stave-mill, for three years. After leaving his grandparents he continued to work in a stave factory until the fall of 1870, and during that time he attended school for the first time, working for his board. During the spring and summer of 1871 he worked on a fruit farm near Seymour, Jackson Co., Ind., and in the following winter he again attended school, working on a farm for his board. In the spring and summer of 1872 he again worked on a farm in Jackson County, part of the time attending the Normal School at Little York, Ind. He again attended school in the winter of 1872-'73, working for his board as before. In the spring of 1873 he attended the Blue River Academy near Canton, Ind. During the summer of 1873, while working on a farm in Jackson County, he broke his arm, which caused him to be laid up till the following winter, when he was engaged as a teacher in a school in Du Bois, Orange, Brown and Morgan counties until the spring of 1881, and attended school at Blue River Academy or the Southern Indiana Normal at Palo, Ind. he also studied law under his brother, E.G. Wilson, and in the spring of 1880 he became associated with his brother, L.F. Wilson, in the practice of law at Nashville, Ind. After he gave up teaching, in 1881, he engaged solely in the practice of law with his brother. In November 1881, they removed to Danville, his brother retiring from the firm in May 1884. In connection with their law practice, he and his brother published at Danville the Hendricks County Gazette, a Democratic paper, until August 1884, since which he has devoted his time entirely to his law practice at Danville. June 15, 1881, he was married to Miss Julia A. daughter of William B. Cooper, of near Mooresville, Hendricks County. They have one child---Grace. Mr. Wilson is a Master Mason. Politically he is a Democrat and is the chairman of the Democratic Central Committee.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek